Everything Still Began in Holy Soul Village

Holy Soul Village.

On a small hill to the west stood a massive stone facing east. At that moment, a six-year-old child sat cross-legged atop it.

The child had healthy wheat-colored skin, black hair, and plain, gentle features—ordinary, yet pleasing to the eye. His dark eyes were fixed intently on the first glimmer of dawn in the east.

The next moment, the sun peeked over the eastern horizon. The child's eyes suddenly flew wide, and a faint trace of purple flashed across them.

A little while later, the child slowly closed his eyes. Not long afterward, he opened them again, and the purple in his gaze had vanished completely.

He let out a long breath, then patted the child lying beside him. "Xiao Liu, wake up. It's time to head back."

The child sleeping next to him gave a soft whimper and slowly woke.

"You're done practicing, brother..." the child said, rubbing his eyes.

The child had delicate features—he could even be called beautiful.

He had short, blue-black hair and a pair of blue-black eyes. The color was strange, yet beautiful and otherworldly.

Unlike the child beside him, whose skin was a healthy wheat color, this child had fair skin.

But the two children's features bore four or five parts resemblance, and both wore old, coarse-cloth clothes covered in patches.

These two children were Tang San and his biological younger brother, Tang Liu.

"Mm. I'm done practicing for today. Let's go back and eat." Tang San ruffled Tang Liu's hair, then stood and led him down the hill.

Tang San and Tang Liu's home stood on the western edge of Holy Soul Village. It was the only blacksmith's shop in the entire village.

Once home, Tang San first lifted the lid off the pot on the stove, then filled each of the three bowls Tang Liu brought over with white rice porridge.

"Brother, that's too much. I can't finish it. I'll pour half into your bowl, same as before," Tang Liu said quickly, seeing Tang San heap a full bowl of porridge into his.

Tang San's hand paused. In the end, he could only give in and pour half of the porridge from Tang Liu's bowl into his own.

"You, honestly. Look how thin you are, and you still won't eat more." Tang San carried his bowl to the table.

Tang Liu smiled. "I'll cut up some pickled vegetables."

Tang San shook his head, then walked into a room to call Tang Hao to eat.

As soon as he lifted the curtain, a wave of alcohol fumes hit him, but Tang San was used to it. Stepping over countless empty bottles, he reached the simple wooden bed and shook the tall, well-built middle-aged man lying there, his face haggard with despair.

"Dad? Dad, get up and eat."

The man turned over and slowly opened his eyes, answering with a grunt.

"Dad, Xiao Liu and I will wait for you outside." Tang San said softly, then left the room.

Outside, Tang Liu had already set out the pickled vegetables. He sat on a stool, waiting obediently for Tang San to come out.

"Dad will be out soon." Seeing Tang Liu, Tang San smiled.

"Brother, do you think the traps we set caught any little animals?" Tang Liu asked.

"I don't know. Let's go check together later. If we caught anything, we can have meat tonight," Tang San said, sitting down across from Tang Liu.

Just then, Tang Hao staggered out, sat down, picked up his porridge, and gulped it down in one go.

"Dad, have some pickled vegetables." Tang San put a chopstickful into Tang Hao's bowl. "There's still plenty in the pot. You can finish it."

Tang Hao gave a flat "Mm." After eating the pickled vegetables, he drank the rest of the rice porridge Tang San had just served him from the pot.

Tang Liu watched, deeply displeased, and couldn't help letting out a quiet snort.

Like Tang San, Tang Liu was a transmigrator. Unlike him, Tang Liu had come from modern-day China on Earth. He had been a high school student of only fifteen, and his original name was Tang Liou.

After arriving in this world, he was born to Ah Yin in the same lifetime, and Tang Hao gave him the name Tang Liu.

Tang Liu had considered changing his name back, but since the pronunciation was the same, he couldn't be bothered.

As a modern high school student, Tang Liu had naturally read the classic novel Douluo Continent. It had also been the first online novel he'd ever read, the one that got him hooked.

So, after transmigrating, Tang Liu felt some sympathy and pity for his current father, Tang Hao. But more than anything, he was frustrated with him for wasting his potential. Of course... there was also the love between family.

Tang Liu hated seeing Tang Hao so utterly dispirited. From the age when he could remember things, he had never once given Tang Hao a kind look.

But he respected and cared for his biological older brother, Tang San.

After all, in his previous life, he'd also been an orphan, in a rather miserable way. He'd had no one to rely on, no family or friends, and had struggled all on his own to make it through high school.

"Xiao Liu, what's wrong?" Tang San heard him snort and asked with concern.

Tang San had also been an orphan in his previous life. Now that he had two family members, he cherished their affection deeply—even though Tang Hao had stopped looking after the brothers once Tang San could take care of himself.

"Nothing." Tang Liu smiled and shook his head. Then he glanced at Tang Hao, picked up his bowl, and took a sip of porridge before letting out another quiet snort.

Seeing this, Tang San could only smile helplessly. He said nothing.

He was long used to his younger brother disliking their father. He had tried talking to Tang Liu about it before, but it never worked.

"I'm going to sleep. If any work comes in, take it on first. I'll do it when I wake up this afternoon." After finishing his porridge, Tang Hao wiped his mouth with his sleeve, spoke to Tang San, then got up and headed back to his room.

"Dad." At that moment, Tang San hesitated, then called out to him.

"What is it?" Tang Hao turned around and looked at him impatiently, his voice cold.

Seeing this, Tang San felt a little afraid. "It's... nothing."

Watching this, Tang Liu grew angry. The porridge in his bowl suddenly didn't taste so good. He abruptly stood and scolded Tang Hao, interrupting Tang San before he could finish: "Old man, are we even your own children? Brother clearly has something to ask you. Why are you acting so impatient? You haven't looked after us as a father, and now we can't even say a few words to you?"

"All right, Xiao Liu. That's enough," Tang San hurriedly urged.

"No, brother, stay out of it! I'm going to give him a piece of my mind today!" Tang Liu's handsome little face was full of anger as he glared at Tang Hao, looking every bit like he wouldn't let the matter rest without an explanation.

At that moment, Tang Hao turned around and gave him a cool glance.

Yet that single glance made Tang Liu feel an irresistible pressure bearing down on him, trying to force him back into his seat.