Tang Hao and His Mouthful of Nonsense

Three days later.

The morning sunlight streamed through the window and fell across Xiao Yan's face as he lay in bed, bathing him in warmth...

"Whew..."

After sitting quietly for a moment, Xiao Yan drew a long breath and slowly climbed out of bed. He stretched his limbs, then changed his clothes.

Clang, clang, clang-the sounds of hammering rang through the Blacksmith Shop.

After Tang San awakened his twin martial souls, Tang Hao set up a new, small furnace in the Blacksmith Shop and began teaching him the art of forging.

From that day onward, Tang Hao drank a little less, and there was a little more food at home. Unfortunately, none of that extra food was meant for Xiao Yan.

Tang Hao had prepared it solely for Tang San, who possessed twin martial souls.

"Dad, I've finished those ten thousand strikes," Tang San said.

"Oh? Really?" At those words, the light in Tang Hao's eyes seemed to brighten a little. "Bring it here and let me see."

Tang San carried a lump of iron over to Tang Hao. It was black all over, and although its shape was irregular, every surface was extremely smooth.

"Not bad." Tang Hao took the black lump of iron in his hand and held it before his eyes for a careful inspection.

"Dad, you're getting old. In a few years, once I'm a little older, let me take over your work. Being a blacksmith would be pretty good." To Tang San, being a blacksmith was undoubtedly the best occupation for making hidden weapons.

Tang Hao fell into a slight daze at his words and murmured, "Being a blacksmith does seem rather good." He pulled over a battered chair and sat down lazily, then said evenly, "San, tell me. What kind of blacksmith is the best?"

"A blacksmith who can forge divine artifacts," Tang San said after some thought.

"Divine artifacts? San, you know about divine artifacts too?" A gleam flashed through Tang Hao's eyes. His gaze shifted to the pig iron as he continued, "Then tell me, how are divine artifacts forged?"

Without hesitation, Tang San answered, "They're weapons forged from god-level materials, of course."

"No, you're wrong." Tang Hao raised a finger and wagged it in front of Tang San as he explained, "If you want to become a qualified blacksmith, remember what I'm telling you. Someone who forges divine artifacts from superior materials isn't the best blacksmith. At most, he's an assembler. A true Divine Blacksmith forges divine artifacts from mortal iron."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan burst out laughing beside them.

Forging divine artifacts from mortal iron? Wasn't that pure bullshit?

If something forged from mortal iron was called a divine artifact, then what would something forged from god-level materials be?

Forging divine artifacts from mortal iron was like expecting someone with neither a good education nor any real talent to become an outstanding person.

It was no different from expecting a useless wretch like Yu Xiaogang to become a god.

How could that possibly happen?

Besides, in the original story, Tang Hao had talked about forging divine artifacts from mortal iron right from the start. Yet by the later stages, neither he nor Lou Gao, Tai Tan, or Tang San had forged a single divine artifact without relying on high-grade materials.

The materials Tang San needed to make hidden weapons later on only grew more precious. He was forever using things like deep-sea heavy silver, the king of metals. Mortal iron was nowhere to be seen.

When Xiao Yan laughed, Tang Hao's expression turned cold and stern. He stood up, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes, and asked, "Yan, what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. I just think the finest weapons ought to be paired with the best materials. The foundation determines the structure above it." Having said that, Xiao Yan left the Blacksmith Shop.

He had no interest in arguing with a drunk like Tang Hao.

Today was the day Su Yuntao was supposed to come and take him to Spirit Hall.

Xiao Yan's words left Tang Hao slightly dazed as well.

At the entrance to Holy Soul Village, the trees spread their leafy branches above a carpet of green grass.

After leaving the Blacksmith Shop, Xiao Yan went to the village entrance and waited patiently for Su Yuntao. Yet he waited from sunrise to sunset without seeing any sign of him, leaving him deeply puzzled.

After pondering for a moment, he recalled what Tang Hao had said to him a few days earlier, along with how Tang Hao had left Holy Soul Village alone not long afterward. Xiao Yan could already guess something of what had happened.

That Spirit Hall Deacon would probably never come to pick him up.

It seemed he would have to find his own chance to leave this place.

Early the next morning.

Dawn had barely broken, and a faint fish-belly white had appeared in the distant eastern sky.

During breakfast, Tang Hao was unusually quiet. He even ate much less than usual, his gaze falling on Tang San and Xiao Yan from time to time.

After breakfast, Tang San and Xiao Yan began clearing away the bowls and chopsticks out of habit, but Tang Hao called Tang San back.

"Leave that until later. San, let me ask you something. Do you want to become a Soul Master?" Tang Hao asked.

"Yes." Tang San froze for a moment, then nodded.

He did not want to deceive his father, Tang Hao, either, so he spoke his true feelings outright.

In Tang Hao's mind, Tang San possessed twin martial souls, a gift found in fewer than one in ten thousand. In the future, he could surely use Tang San to wrestle with Spirit Hall, and perhaps even revive the sect. He had to find a way to nurture him.

As for Xiao Yan, Tang Hao believed he had little value to exploit.

Unfortunately, Tang Hao had no idea that Xiao Yan actually possessed two martial souls as well.

Xiao Yan would never be like that idiot Tang San, foolishly revealing everything he had.

When Xiao Yan was a baby, Tang Hao had not fed him milk or anything of the sort. Instead, he had poured hot porridge straight into his mouth. That scalding fatherly love had once made Xiao Yan believe he had fallen into an enemy's hands.

He had even thought Tang Hao meant to torture him to death.

Thus, as Xiao Yan grew older, he had always remained wary of Tang Hao. After what had happened a few days earlier, their relationship had reached the freezing point. Naturally, Xiao Yan could not possibly tell Tang Hao everything.

"San, come here. I'll teach you something." Tang Hao finally made up his mind to teach Tang San the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.

At his words, Tang San walked over to Tang Hao.

"San, first tell me this. When you swing the Forging Hammer while forging, which part of your body exerts force first?" Tang Hao asked evenly.

Tang San thought for a moment, then said, "The waist, I think. The waist drives the back, and then the arms swing the Forging Hammer."

"Then tell me, how many hearts does a person have?" Tang Hao did not reject Tang San's answer, but continued questioning him.

"One, I suppose." Tang San was a little uncertain.

Tang Hao shook his head. "No, you're wrong. Remember, a person has three hearts, not one."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a mocking smile again. Had that old fool Tang Hao gone mad?

Tang Hao seemed to be sick again, spouting crazy nonsense all day. Yesterday, he'd talked about forging divine artifacts from mortal iron. Today, he was claiming people had three hearts?

All Xiao Yan wanted now was to leave this "home" as soon as possible.

He was afraid that staying here too long would make him sick as well.

"Three?" Tang San also stared at Tang Hao, dumbfounded. He kept feeling that his father was pulling the wool over his eyes.

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