Tang Hao dusted off his backside and left.
Only the brother and sister remained in the Blacksmith Shop.
Tang Yin looked at his sister's deathly pale little face and felt a headache coming on.
A drunkard dad, an AFK mom, a clueless sister, and his broken self.
The scene leaped off the page, enough to make anyone sigh.
"Brother, I'm sorry. Please punish me."
Under her brother's gaze, Tang San Niang went pale. Without another word, she lay facedown on the floor and stuck her little bottom up.
Whenever Er Ya next door did something wrong, her mother spanked her, so Tang San Niang followed her example.
In her previous life, she had been an orphan with no ties or attachments. She had buried herself in researching hidden weapons, ignorant of worldly affairs.
This life was different. She cherished the family bonds that had been so hard to come by.
After all, in this world, she had a brother who dearly loved her-a happiness she had never known before.
She would always remember the day her father, Tang Hao, had given up and refused to cook.
Her brother had gone to beg the Village Chief for food and brought it back for her to eat.
For Tang San Niang, who valued her personal dignity above all else, that memory was undoubtedly carved into her bones and etched into her heart.
From that day onward, she had watched her brother rapidly transform into a mature young man, shouldering the responsibility of caring for their family.
Her brother always left early and returned late, rushing between the village's vegetable plots and orchards just to earn food and keep their family fed.
There were always flecks of mud on him, and his clothes were filthy.
His soft, fair palms grew rough, and his delicate skin turned dark.
Every longing Tang San Niang had for family affection found its fulfillment in her brother.
Tang San Niang treasured that bond like a precious jewel. She absolutely could not let her brother come to dislike her.
So, although she felt a little ashamed, she would do anything to earn his forgiveness.
What on earth was all this...?
Tang Yin rubbed his temples, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Get up. I'm not going to hit you."
Tang San Niang relaxed at his words. Naturally, not getting spanked was better.
She hurriedly got up, keeping her head lowered and not daring to speak.
Her posture made it clear that she knew secretly learning someone else's craft was wrong.
Tang Yin chose his words carefully. "I know you like making hidden weapons, so you've always been interested in forging."
Over the years, after picking up the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Tang Yin had also picked up the Purple Demon Eye, other Tang Sect arts, and the Hidden Weapon Compendium one after another.
Tang Yin knew very well how much these arts meant to Tang San Niang.
That was enough to prove that the siblings exchanged sincerity for sincerity.
Because of that, Tang San Niang could freely reveal the secrets of the Tang Sect's martial arts and hidden weapons in front of him.
Over the years, the siblings had set up little traps and caught plenty of wild game to improve their living conditions.
As a result, now that they were six, they were both very healthy.
Tang Yin cupped Tang San Niang's soft, fair cheeks and said solemnly, "Remember what I'm telling you. When you feel torn over whether something is right or wrong, don't do it."
"Because when you're struggling with that question, it means you already know it's wrong. You're only hesitating because you want to do it."
"You need to learn to tame the devil in your heart. Understand?"
Tang San Niang pressed her lips together and nodded her little head, a pool of clear water gathering in her bright eyes.
"Besides." Tang Yin smiled gently and rubbed her head. "Do you really think I wouldn't teach you once I learned it?"
Those tender words instantly broke the dam holding back Tang San Niang's tears, and she threw herself into her brother's arms.
"Brother... I know I was wrong. Boo-hoo..."
Girls really were made of water.
Tang Yin gently patted his sister's back, soothing her in a soft voice.
Outside the Blacksmith Shop, Tang Hao's eyes brimmed with hot tears. He murmured, "This child is as gentle and sensitive as Ah Yin, unlike a rough, careless man like me."
"With a son like this, what more could a man ask for?" Tang Hao sighed softly and quietly left.
Only after quite a while did Tang San Niang stop sobbing and withdraw from her brother's embrace, a little embarrassed.
She rarely buried herself in her brother's arms to cry and act spoiled the way she had today.
His embrace was warm and reassuring, filling her with a fondness that made her reluctant to leave.
Tang Yin picked up the iron disk and smiled. "Little San Niang, haven't you always wanted to make a hidden weapon? Do you think this piece would work?"
Tang Yin understood that biting off more than he could chew would get him nowhere, so he had not spent too much time studying hidden weapons.
"Mother iron!" Tang San Niang exclaimed.
Mother iron was also known as refined iron. This piece was just right for making a Silent Sleeve Arrow.
Compared with ordinary pig iron, hidden weapons made from refined iron were more powerful, which was why Tang San Niang was so pleasantly surprised.
Tang Yin understood. "Looks like you really like it. Then, over the next few days, let's work together and make the first hidden weapon in the Hidden Weapon Compendium."
Tang San Niang nodded happily. "Brother, I'll work the bellows, and you do the forging."
Tang Yin knew his sister was quite strong, so he nodded in agreement.
As dusk approached, Tang Hao returned carrying a cured pork hock.
He had shaved his beard clean and combed his messy hair neatly into place.
Dressed in a set of presentable clothes, he looked like a completely new man.
Both Tang Yin and Tang San Niang keenly noticed that his eyes were red.
Looks like he went to cry at Ah Yin's grave.
There were conspiracy theories accusing Tang Hao of possibly tricking Ah Yin into sacrificing herself.
In another world, such theories might have held some water, but this was the Douluo Continent-a world also known as the "Love-Brained Continent."
In Tang Yin's opinion, Tang Hao was certainly an utterly inadequate father.
But his love for Ah Yin was beyond question.
From an omniscient perspective, the Blue Silver Emperor, who had turned into a seed, would grow again, and Ah Yin would be resurrected.
But Tang Hao did not know that.
Otherwise, in the original story, he would never have told Tang Yuehua, "Ah Yin is dead, and my heart went with her."
After all, as far as he knew, no one had ever come back from the dead.
In Douluo Continent I, humanity's understanding of Soul Beasts over a hundred thousand years old was extremely shallow.
Tang Yin sliced the pork hock thinly, stir-fried three dishes, and set them on the dining table.
None of them had a habit of talking during meals.
As Tang Hao shoveled rice into his mouth, he pondered how to communicate with his children.
Tang Yin suddenly spoke. "Little San Niang, let me quiz you. The vegetable seedlings in the village have been a little wilted lately. Do you know why?"
Tang San Niang blinked, then answered honestly, "You said that plants and vegetables need careful tending. Sunlight, water, and fertilizer are all essential."
"It's been cloudy a lot lately, so I think it might be because they aren't getting enough light."
Tang Hao stopped shoveling rice into his mouth.
"Correct. You have a good memory." Tang Yin nodded. "Then do you know what happens if a plant goes without sunlight for a long time?"
"It withers and dies," Tang San Niang blurted out.
Clatter!
The scrape of a chair rang out abruptly.
Tang Hao stood up, his face filled with shock. "Little Yin, is that true?"
Did he even need to ask? Had this guy drunk himself stupid??!
Tang Yin nodded in "surprise." "Yes. Grandpa Village Chief taught me that."
Tang Hao's face abruptly turned as white as paper. Without another word, he turned and left.
Tang San Niang hurriedly called out, "Dad, you haven't finished eating! Where are you going?"
"To move your mother's grave."
A glimmer of amusement flashed in Tang Yin's eyes. "Old man, how about Little San Niang and I come help?"
Before you continue