A father and son's conversation

By the time they returned to the Blacksmith's Shop, it was nearly noon.

"Tang Hao! Tang Hao!"

Old Jack's voice was sharp and urgent. He truly detested this sloppy blacksmith.

"Who's making all that noise?"

The curtain over the door to the inner room was flung open, and Tang Hao emerged with a frown, looking irritated and impatient.

Tang Hao saw Tang San first, then shifted his gaze to Old Jack's face. "Old Jack, what is it?"

His attitude made Old Jack even angrier. Planting his hands on his hips, he let loose a torrent of scolding. "Today was Xiao San's Martial Soul Awakening. Don't you know how important it was? Everyone else's parents went with them, but look at you—same as always! You're his father. Do you have even a shred of conscience?"

Tang Hao seemed not to hear Jack's scolding. He looked at Tang San again. "Xiao San, what Martial Soul did you awaken?"

Tang Hao's expression did not change at all as Old Jack's spittle flew. He neither argued nor explained, merely listening in silence.

Only after Old Jack finished did Tang Hao turn his gaze back to Tang San. "Xiao San, what Martial Soul did you awaken?"

Tang San ignored Tang Hao and turned to Old Jack instead, a well-behaved smile appearing on his face. "Grandpa Jack, please go on home. I'll come find you later."

Tang San knew that the Clear Sky Hammer could not conveniently be revealed to others, and he also wanted to avoid bringing Old Jack trouble.

Old Jack glanced at Tang San, and the anger on his face gradually gave way to helplessness and heartache. He reached out and stroked Tang San's head, his voice softening. "Good boy. Grandpa will go home first, then."

With that, Old Jack turned back to Tang Hao, his tone serious once more. "Xiao San awakened Innate Full Soul Power. I've decided to give him the village's work-study student slot this year. He'll go study at Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy. I hope you won't hold him back."

As soon as he finished, Old Jack turned and left with determined strides, as though staying in the Blacksmith's Shop for another second was more than he could bear.

Old Jack's figure quickly disappeared beyond the door, and his footsteps gradually faded.

Silence returned to the Blacksmith's Shop.

"Innate Full Soul Power?" Tang Hao finally spoke. "Xiao San, what Martial Soul did you awaken?"

Tang San did not want to get entangled with Tang Hao over the matter. With a thought, he immediately summoned both Martial Souls: Blue Silver Grass in his right hand and the Clear Sky Hammer in his left. The Clear Sky Hammer was a small hammer, pitch-black all over, with a handle about half a foot long and a cylindrical head. Blue arcs of lightning coiled and danced over it.

The moment the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in Tang San's hand, the air in the entire Blacksmith's Shop seemed to grow oppressive.

An invisible pressure radiated from the little hammer. Though faint, it carried an innate overbearing force.

The little hammer's weight was also extraordinary. Tang San's left hand involuntarily sank a little, and the veins in his arm bulged as he plainly strained to support it.

Tang San spoke flatly. "I awakened two Martial Souls. One is Blue Silver Grass, and the other is this hammer."

"Th-this is... Twin Martial Souls." Tang Hao crossed the distance to Tang San in almost a single stride, thrusting out a large, rough hand to grab his left hand.

Tang San had expected this. He immediately took two steps back, neatly avoiding Tang Hao's hand. Then, with a thought, he slowly withdrew both Martial Souls into his body.

Tang Hao was stunned by Tang San's reaction. His large hand froze in midair, still poised to grasp, as he looked at the child he had neglected for six whole years. His lips trembled slightly, and for a moment he could not find the words.

A long while passed.

Tang Hao's hand slowly fell to his side. Pain, guilt... all kinds of emotions intertwined on his face.

Tang San stood where he was, watching him quietly.

Tang Hao opened his mouth, his voice low. "Xiao San, I... I... I'm sorry."

Tang San felt little stir of emotion at his words. He looked at the man who should have been the closest person to him in this world, but now he truly wanted no entanglements with Tang Hao, much less to be drawn into an endless whirlpool of revenge.

Tang San spoke coldly. "There's no need to talk about being sorry. I don't need it anymore."

The words plunged into Tang Hao's chest like a knife. His whole body shuddered, and he seemed to hunch over a little more.

"I'm going to study at Nuoding Academy in three months. From now on, you can live by yourself." Leaving those words behind, Tang San turned and walked to the earthen stove, crouched down, and began preparing lunch.

Tang Hao slowly followed him. After a moment's silence, he asked in a low voice, "...No one else saw that hammer of yours, did they?"

Tang San pulled a flint from beneath the stove without looking up. "No. During the awakening, I only showed the Blue Silver Grass."

"Click, click, click!" The flints struck together, scattering a few sparks onto a small pinch of dry grass. The flames flared up with a whoosh.

Tang Hao stood beside Tang San in silence for a while longer, seemingly weighing his words.

"All right. I agree to let you go to Nuoding Academy, but you have to promise me that you'll never use that hammer in front of anyone, and you won't attach any Soul Rings to it."

Tang San's movements paused. He looked up and asked, feigning confusion, "Why?"

Tang Hao's gaze flickered, as though he were avoiding something. "Xiao San, there are things I can't easily speak of. Some things... it's still too early to tell you."

Tang San lowered his head and pushed several pieces of firewood into the stove. "There's nothing you can't speak of. I may be young, but I learned to be sensible a long time ago. I won't be as contemptible as you."

With that, Tang San stood and shoved Tang Hao out of his way. He walked behind the stove, took out some eggs and a Soft Bone Rabbit he had prepared long ago, then picked up a cleaver and quickly chopped the rabbit into small, even pieces.

Tang San heated the wok, greased it with oil, and added ginger, his movements flowing like clouds and water. The oil sizzled in the wok, and the fragrance of ginger gradually spread.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to tell me. I won't beg you. I can investigate it myself in the future." Tang San spoke as he prepared the food, without looking back.

Tang San deftly tipped the rabbit meat into the wok. With a sizzle, white steam rose, and the aroma of meat mingled with ginger filled the Blacksmith's Shop.

Tang San stir-fried the rabbit meat and continued, "I promise you, I won't use that hammer in front of others or add any Soul Rings to it. But I also hope you won't interfere in my life from now on. For the sake of the fact that you gave me life, I'll try to come back and see you once a year."

At those words, anger surged in Tang Hao's chest. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But just then, Tang Hao's gaze fell on Tang San.

That small figure stood behind the stove, which was a good deal taller than Tang San. He had to stand on tiptoe just to reach the bottom of the wok.

Yet Tang San's movements were so practiced that Tang Hao's heart ached. Washing the rice and cooking it, cutting the meat and stir-frying it—every step was carried out in perfect order.