There is a saying that circulates throughout the clan: No matter how glorious your achievements, no matter how exceptional you are, you can never surpass your bloodline.
Perhaps this saying is the truest reflection of Leonard Tang. At twenty-two, Leonard Tang made countless contributions to the development of the Tang Clan, winning battle after battle in the wars at Grant Territory.
Diligently striving for the clan’s prosperity, Leonard Tang led the Tang Clan to become the largest tribe in the North, with a population exceeding thirty thousand, earning the highest honors from the Grant Family.
Leonard Tang’s prestige within the Tang Clan had completely overshadowed his father by this time, and the war had come to an end. Yet, when summoned by King Grant, an event occurred that left Leonard furious and helpless—a betrayal that chilled him to the core.
His own father, at that crucial moment, handed the leadership over to his elder brother, Thomas Tang—a man who had accomplished nothing and contributed little to the clan. Worse still, Leonard’s achievements were credited to Thomas, so that, in the eyes of outsiders and even the Grant Family, both sons of the Tang Clan appeared equally competent.
Most of the clan members were aware of this, but key positions had already been given to opportunists who fully sided with Thomas Tang. Enraged, Leonard Tang confronted his father.
When Leonard Tang argued that he was the more suitable candidate for clan leader, his father struck him. Leonard’s talents had even aroused his father’s dissatisfaction and jealousy. But tradition dictated that the eldest must lead—an apparently sweet fruit that proved unbearably bitter, which Leonard could only swallow in silence.
The clan entered a period of rapid development. In this era of peace, over the course of ten years, Leonard Tang seemed to become a different person.
At thirty-two, Leonard Tang had completely lost hope in the clan—or perhaps, he had lost all reason to go on living.
Even the woman he loved ended up marrying his elder brother. Gradually, Leonard Tang began to despise his own clan. Deep down, he wished for his father and brother to die—or for the entire clan to be destroyed.
This intense wish was never fulfilled. Instead, people in the clan began to distance themselves from Leonard Tang. He no longer devoted himself to clan affairs. Although many felt he had been treated unfairly, people are creatures of comfort and forgetfulness, and soon Leonard Tang became an outcast.
With the arrival of spring, Leonard Tang went alone into the forest and settled in a cave on a cliffside.
Now at thirty-three, Leonard Tang had lost everything. After years of fighting for the clan, this was all he had left. The thought brought him overwhelming sorrow, and he broke down in tears.
Time blurred by, and autumn arrived. Thomas Tang sent people into the mountains to find Leonard, hoping he would return to the clan. Stanley Tang had just been born, and Thomas wanted Leonard to put aside past grievances and help nurture the next generation.
Many in the clan began to miss the days when Leonard Tang was still around. No matter how dire things got, Leonard always found a way to lead the clan through crisis. Thomas Tang lacked Leonard’s talents, and under his leadership, the clan began to decline in just a few short years.
Those of Leonard’s generation in the clan began to reminisce about his virtues, and even the younger members had heard stories about him.
But Leonard Tang stubbornly refused to return. He had given up on everything related to the clan. He’d heard that Thomas Tang had forced people to clear new farmland in the mountains, trying to grow crops. The attempt failed, and years of effort had ruined their hunting traditions.
Even with aid from other clans and the Grant Family, it was only a temporary reprieve.
Leonard Tang turned away those who came for him, and most left disappointed. Stanley Tang, upon learning Leonard’s decision, was deeply frustrated and then sorrowful. He knew he lacked the ability to improve the clan’s fortunes. Back then, to become clan leader, he had flattered their father and those with power, and after the war, he’d pushed Leonard aside. Now, the clan was in dire straits.
To salvage the situation, Thomas Tang decided to seek out Leonard Tang himself.
Alone in the forest, Leonard Tang was ecstatic, feeling as if his greatest vengeance had been achieved. But as his emotions settled, all that remained was emptiness and loneliness—and even a trace of regret.
When Leonard Tang met Thomas Tang again after so long, he was surprised. Stanley Tang, though only five years older than Leonard, already had white hair at his temples. Their father, it was said, lay bedridden and could not rise, and he too wished for Leonard to return.
At first, their conversation was light and pleasant, but gradually, Leonard Tang’s bottled-up anger erupted. He refused Thomas Tang’s request.
Three years passed. Leonard Tang was now thirty-five, still living alone in the forest. His health had suffered from the harsh conditions, and he coughed often.
Finally, in the third winter, Leonard Tang fell gravely ill. Unable to rise, he coughed up blood and could even see clouds of dark essence swirling around him.
"So, I’m really going to die?"
The desolation in his heart made Leonard Tang go from wanting to descend the mountain to finally accepting that he was close to death.
For three days and nights, Leonard Tang endured agony from illness and the bitter cold, until he reached his final moments. His mind grew hazy—he could no longer tell night from day. Just then, in a daze, he saw a shadowy figure, its body surrounded by dark essence, and a wave of chilling energy swept over him.
Leonard Tang raised his hand and smiled.
"So, something really does come to guide you after death?"
With a soft snap, a hand—cold but still faintly warm—gripped Leonard Tang’s own, accompanied by a voice filled with laughter.
"Do you want to live?"
Leonard Tang nodded weakly.
On the fifth day, Leonard Tang awoke in shock. He stared in surprise at Wraithshade, who sat beside him, eyes full of laughter.
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"Was it you who saved me?"
Wraithshade gazed silently for a moment, then shook his head. He extended his hand, revealing writhing black spectral venomworms, each with a white mouth, emitting a chilling squeal. The sight made Leonard’s hair stand on end and his heart race. The tiny worms crawled across Wraithshade’s palm.
"It was your elder brother who saved you!"
Leonard Tang stared in astonishment behind Wraithshade.
Wraithshade smiled and stood up, continuing to speak.
To be precise, I used certain methods to transfer some of your elder brother’s life force to you.
Once again, Wraithshade extended an invitation to Leonard Tang. This time, Leonard fully believed him—Wraithshade hadn’t changed at all from the figure Leonard had seen as a child and a young man.
Three days later, Leonard Tang returned to the clan with Wraithshade, drawing astonished stares from the clan members. Thomas Tang was ill, coughing up blood for unknown reasons.
Leonard claimed to have brought some herbs down from the mountain for his elder brother. Within days, Thomas Tang recovered—not because of the herbs, but because he still had more than twenty years of life left. Wraithshade had used a ritual to transfer several years of Stanley Tang’s life force to Leonard.
Thomas Tang was not meant to die yet, so he recovered quickly. Leonard Tang decided to help the clan. By day, he advised and directed the clan’s affairs; by night, Wraithshade earnestly taught him many things about ghosts.
Those days were joyful—everything seemed well. Leonard Tang regained his clarity of mind, and the bittersweet memories that had once hurt him now lingered vividly. But now, looking around, he realized no one was left.
A mournful laughter echoed through the woods as Leonard Tang kept laughing, coughing up black blood. He knew his time was running out.
"It seems there’s a ghost hiding in your right eye!"
Again, those words. Leonard Tang slowly removed his eyepatch. With a whoosh and a faint whimper, a vicious Black-Faced Fiend burst out.
"Take me there—the burial site of the Wraith Casket."
Outside the central grassland stronghold, large numbers of Sage Domain and Wynn Domain soldiers rapidly assembled, surrounding the outpost from three sides. Lin Yuan stood atop the watchtower, flanked by generals with tense faces.
"It’s finally beginning—the enemy is preparing to attack."
"We don’t know when Yusheng and the others will return. For now, we can only defend according to Yusheng’s plan."
Tall warhorses arrived before the soldiers facing the stronghold. The attack wouldn’t come at dawn—it would begin tonight.
Bella Liang gazed silently at the stronghold ahead. Behind her, rhythmic shouts rang out as massive war engines were moved into position for the soldiers.
The air was chilling—late autumn nights were already cold. Just at dusk, news arrived from the south: the Zou Clan had been crushed by enemy cavalry. The newly acquired southern territory was lost before it could even be secured.
Though there were only nine wooden siege towers, they were enough. Tonight, the stronghold’s defenses would be breached. If they could break through, all would be well; if not, they could wait for dawn.
"Are both flanks in position?"
Bella Liang asked, and Gus Bull nodded.
"Don’t worry. With Sage Domain and our Wynn Domain cavalry, we have over twenty thousand troops. If the enemy tries to flee, we’ll encircle them and destroy the remnants. There’s no need to worry about the Stampede Battalion tonight—they won’t be able to react in time."
Gus Bull sighed and looked southward.
"The enemy won’t leave us a single grain. Even if we take the stronghold, supplies will be a major problem."
Just then, Cyrus Sage smiled slightly.
"Isn’t there still a granary? The Zou Clan exists for times like this. Since it was their mistake, they should fill the gap. Otherwise, such people deserve extinction."
Bella Liang nodded firmly and shouted.
"All troops, prepare to attack!"