This Kid Sure Knew How to Put on an Act

Over the next three days, Tang Hao cleaned up the house again.

He went to the village to buy rice, flour, grain, and oil, and picked up two new sets of clothes each for himself and Tang San.

The original Tang Hao might have fallen on hard times, but he was still a Titled Douluo. He had some money tucked away.

Yet all these years, he had brooded in silence, refusing to spend it and insisting on feeding his son watery porridge.

A classic case of making life hard for himself for no reason.

Improving their lives was simple enough. The hidden injuries inside his body were another matter.

Several of his meridians were damaged, his internal organs bore hidden wounds, and traces of Qian Xunji's Angel Soul Power still lingered near his heart.

They did not hinder him in daily life, but the moment he fought at full strength, all his injuries would flare up at once.

Thanks to the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone's healing ability, they would not kill him.

But he would probably be coughing blood throughout the fight.

If he wanted to recover quickly, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was his best option.

It held Immortal Herbs and was also a suitable place for Ah Yin to grow again.

Dugu Bo might be a Titled Douluo, but Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison had tormented him for years. With the right approach, Tang Hao could get the herbs and gain a capable underling to boot.

Tang Hao could also choose to hammer him to death, but that would be a terrible waste.

He was not about to make a deal that lost him money.

Just as Tang Hao was wondering how to find the old poison freak, Old Jack's voice rang out beyond the courtyard.

"Tang Hao, Little San, are you ready?"

Old Jack pushed open the gate. At the sight of the tidy courtyard and clean Tang Hao, his face filled with astonishment.

"Who are you?"

Tang Hao's face darkened.

"Old Jack, you're getting old, not going blind."

"Tang Hao?"

Old Jack circled him twice, clicking his tongue in admiration. "Had a bath? I almost didn't recognize you."

"Is it that dramatic?"

"I'm not exaggerating one bit. Even the stray dogs at the village entrance used to shake their heads at you."

Tang Hao: "..."

Just then, Tang San came out of the house in his new clothes.

"Grandpa Jack, you're here."

"Good, you've put on your new clothes. Come with Grandpa."

Old Jack took Tang San's hand, then glanced back at Tang Hao. "Today is Little San's Martial Soul Awakening. Are you coming?"

"I am."

"Did the sun rise in the west today?"

"Everyone wakes up eventually."

Tang Hao patted Old Jack on the shoulder. "The kid's right here. Leave me a little dignity."

Old Jack paused, then snorted. "So you know what dignity is? Where was that thought before?"

The three of them went to the Spirit Hall in the center of the village.

The so-called Spirit Hall was nothing more than a slightly larger wooden house.

Eight children stood outside, and the Spirit Hall attendant in charge of the awakening had already arrived.

He wore fitted white clothes, a black cape draped over his back, and a sword-shaped badge pinned to his chest.

He was Douluo Continent's famous guide for beginners, notorious for misjudging people.

Avoid... no, wait. Su Yuntao!

Jokes aside, the guy spent years traveling between remote villages to awaken ordinary children's Martial Souls for free. He was a model of hard work.

At least he actually did the job.

"Respected Lord Soul Master, all the children are here."

Old Jack bowed slightly.

"My name is Su Yuntao. I'm a rank twenty-six Soul Grandmaster."

Su Yuntao's gaze fell instinctively on the tall Tang Hao. Sensing no Soul Power fluctuations, he looked away.

"Parents stay outside. Children, come in with me."

Tang San entered the wooden house with the other children.

Tang Hao had no intention of following. He knew how this story went whether he watched it or not.

Old Jack, on the other hand, rubbed his hands together nervously.

"I hope Little San has the talent to become a Soul Master!"

"He definitely does."

"You sound confident."

"My son's talent couldn't possibly be poor."

Tang Hao said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Of course, he already knew the answer and was just showing off.

Inside the wooden house, Su Yuntao took out six black stones and arranged them in a hexagon.

"No matter what you see in a moment, don't be afraid."

"Lone Wolf, possess me!"

Gray fur sprouted across Su Yuntao's body, and three Soul Rings—two white and one yellow—rose around him.

The children recoiled in fright. Tang San also stepped back half a pace, showing just the right amount of fear on his face.

Watching with his spiritual power, Tang Hao curled his lip.

The kid had already drawn his right hand into his sleeve, ready to strike at any moment.

Once he was sure Su Yuntao meant no harm, he immediately went back to acting like an ordinary child.

His expression was natural, his reaction perfectly reasonable.

In the world Tang Hao had come from, the kid could at least have made it as a child actor.

Soon, the awakening began in earnest.

Just as in the original story, the first few children awakened sickles, hoes, and wildflowers.

Then it was Tang San's turn.

He stepped into the center of the hexagon. Countless golden motes of light poured into his body before gathering in his two hands.

Su Yuntao prompted him, "Hold out your right hand."

Tang San raised his hand, and a familiar little blue sprig of grass grew from his palm.

"Blue Silver Grass?"

The hope in Su Yuntao's eyes turned to disappointment in an instant.

At the same time, Tang Hao clearly sensed a heavy, domineering power gathering in Tang San's left hand.

It was the aura of the Clear Sky Hammer.

Tang San had clearly noticed something unusual too.

He quickly clenched his left fist and hid his hand behind his back, without letting the slightest hint show on his face.

"Blue Silver Grass is a textbook Trash Martial Soul."

Su Yuntao shook his head helplessly and was about to send him away.

But Tang San spoke up first. "Uncle, I haven't had my Soul Power tested yet."

Seeing him insist, Su Yuntao took out a blue crystal ball.

The moment Tang San placed his right hand on it, dazzling blue light filled the entire crystal ball.

Su Yuntao cried out, "Innate Full Soul Power!"

Outside, Old Jack heard the cry, and his face flushed bright red with excitement.

Tang Hao, meanwhile, caught a faint fluctuation.

When Tang San tested his Soul Power, the Clear Sky Hammer in his left hand had nearly been drawn out and exposed.

Fortunately, he had let go of the crystal ball in time, keeping his twin Martial Souls hidden from everyone.

Tang Hao had to admit it: the kid's reactions were fast.

When the awakening was over, Su Yuntao opened the wooden door and handed the certificate to Old Jack.

"Tang San has Innate Full Soul Power, but his Martial Soul is only Blue Silver Grass. If you wish, you can send him to a junior Soul Master Academy and see how he does."

"The village happens to have a work-study place available!"

Old Jack turned to Tang Hao at once. "You're not still planning to keep Little San here hammering iron, are you?"

"Of course not."

Tang Hao took the certificate and asked casually, "Master Su, has the area around Nuoding City been peaceful lately?"

"Why do you ask?"

"The child's going away to school. Of course I want to know."

Su Yuntao suspected nothing. "The Spirit Hall Branch keeps watch over the area, so Soul Masters rarely cause trouble. The Soul Hunting Forest isn't safe, though. Ordinary people had best stay away."

Tang Hao nodded.

It seemed Spirit Hall had not launched a large-scale search for him in Fasinuo Province. Holy Soul Village was still safe for now.

Tang San was quiet throughout the walk back.

Only after they returned to the smithy did he speak. "Dad, I want to go to Nuoding Academy."

"All right."

Tang San froze. The arguments he had spent so long preparing were suddenly useless.

"Dad, you... agree?"

"You'll have books to read and things to learn. Why wouldn't I?"

Tang Hao set the certificate on the table. His gaze seemed to drift over Tang San's left hand by chance.

"Little San, when your Martial Soul awakened today, was there anything you forgot to mention?"

Tang San's heart tightened.

"No."

"Really?"

"My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and I have Innate Full Soul Power."

Tang San raised his right hand, and the tiny sprig of Blue Silver Grass appeared again.

Tang Hao smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair.

"Don't be nervous. I was just worried that since it was your first awakening, you might have forgotten to ask about something you didn't understand."

Tang San looked up at him, as if trying to decide whether he meant it.

Tang Hao turned toward the forge, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting.

The kid had talent, brains, and a knack for putting on an act. Raise him right, and he could be useful.

As for if that failed...

Tang Hao picked up a forging hammer and hefted it casually.

Then he would teach him the hard way.