Planning the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer

"Xiao Jiu, blacksmithing is hard work. If you want to train your body, you don't have to go to that drunk Tang Hao's place! You can train at home."

The moment Old Jack heard that Hu Jiu wanted to train with Tang Hao, his brows furrowed. In his eyes, Tang Hao was practically synonymous with unreliability. Besides, training at the Blacksmith Shop was simply too exhausting, and he couldn't bear to see Hu Jiu suffer.

"That won't do. I want to train in a harsher environment. Grandpa, please agree. I know you have a way." Hu Jiu had completely thrown away his pride. In order to mooch the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer from Tang Hao, he had even resorted to acting cute.

He remembered that this was precisely the period when Tang Hao was teaching Tang San the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. If he missed this chance, he would never get another one.

After all, Tang Hao couldn't possibly teach him the Clear Sky Sect's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer specifically. Whether he could mooch off it along the way would depend on his luck.

"Fine, fine, Grandpa agrees. I'll go see Tang Hao in a while. That drunk should agree to something this small." Old Jack sighed helplessly and ultimately agreed to Hu Jiu's request.

As for whether Tang Hao would agree, he didn't think much about it. After all, in Old Jack's mind, he was still the Village Chief of Holy Soul Village. A trivial matter like this should be no problem.

"Hehehe! Then I'll come along too. It'll show that we're more sincere." Seeing Old Jack agree, Hu Jiu gave an honest-looking grin.

"Fine, let's go!"

To make sure things went smoothly, Hu Jiu specifically went home and carried out two jars of Hu Rui's prized liquor. With the small basket strapped to his back, he headed to Tang Hao's home with Old Jack.

Tang Hao's home was on the western side of Holy Soul Village, near the village entrance. It wasn't far from Hu Jiu's house, and a little over ten minutes later, he and Old Jack arrived at Tang Hao's door.

That was only because Old Jack walked too slowly. If Hu Jiu had come alone, he would have arrived in just a few minutes.

"Tang Hao! Tang Hao!" At the courtyard gate, Old Jack didn't stand on ceremony at all, shouting loudly before he even entered.

"Who's making such a racket?" Tang Hao's impatient voice came from inside. The door curtain parted, and Tang Hao appeared before them.

"Old Jack, what are you here for?"

"Of course I'm here because I need something." Seeing Tang Hao's slovenly appearance, Old Jack frowned. But since he had come to ask for help today, he didn't lash out at him. If it had been before, they would probably already be arguing.

"Speak," Tang Hao said flatly.

"This is my grandson, Hu Jiu. Didn't he awaken his Martial Soul a few days ago? I want him to train here with you and help out while he's at it. You should be secretly delighted!" Old Jack planted his cane on the ground and spoke proudly.

From the look of it, it was as though Tang Hao ought to be thanking him for sending Hu Jiu over.

"No." Without even looking at Hu Jiu, Tang Hao rejected him outright.

"Uncle Tang Hao, please help me out. Look, I know you love drinking, so I specifically brought you two jars of good wine today." Seeing that things were going badly, and that Old Jack looked ready to lose his temper, Hu Jiu hurriedly stopped his grandpa. He stepped forward, set down the basket on his back, swiftly broke the wine seals, and at once, the distinctive fragrance of rice wine wafted through the air.

As a drunkard, how could Tang Hao resist that? On top of that, he hadn't had a drink for days because he had been trying to make sure Tang San ate better.

The craving in his gut surged up, impossible to suppress. Tang Hao didn't stand on ceremony at all. He strode straight over to Hu Jiu, grabbed a wine jar, and tipped it into his mouth.

Gulp, gulp, gulp!

"Tsk! This wine isn't bad. For the sake of the wine, you can come here to train from now on. But I won't teach you anything. Whether you do it or not is up to you." Tang Hao gave Hu Jiu a flat glance as he spoke.

"You, Tang Hao! This old man..." Old Jack couldn't stand hearing that. Hu Jiu was his precious grandson, yet Tang Hao dared say he wouldn't teach him anything. This was outrageous.

"Grandpa." Seeing this, Hu Jiu hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. He was beginning to regret asking Old Jack for help. If two jars of wine were enough to settle it, why had he gone through all this trouble?

"Thank you, Uncle Tang Hao. I'll be here on time tomorrow morning," Hu Jiu said obediently.

The first step of his plan had succeeded, and Hu Jiu immediately felt at ease.

There was still one thing worrying him. Although Old Jack had agreed to let him use the Work-Study Student slot, he remembered that Tang Hao had ultimately allowed Tang San to attend Soul Master Academy. He just didn't know what changes his presence would bring when the time came.

Winning over Xiao Wu would be a long and arduous task!

Trying to steal Xiao Wu from Tang San, the Child of Destiny, really made him feel like he had gotten too full of himself.

But who could blame him for liking Xiao Wu? Though he had never met her, having read the original novel and watched the anime, he had long been captivated by her!

Early the next morning, Hu Jiu walked alone toward Tang Hao's home, holding two meat pies in his hands.

As for the meat pies, they were naturally meant to build a good relationship with Tang San. He remembered that Tang San was still drinking porridge every day at this point, probably not getting enough to eat!

When he arrived at Tang Hao's home and found the courtyard gate still shut, Hu Jiu waited outside. Since he had come to train and learn, he had to show the right attitude.

After waiting for a short while, Hu Jiu saw Tang San briskly walking toward him from down the road. He had returned from his morning practice.

"Little San!" Hu Jiu called out.

"Xiao Jiu!" Tang San replied without yielding an inch.

"Hehe, I came here to learn. Have you eaten yet?" Hu Jiu stopped competing with Tang San over forms of address and asked with a smile.

"Not yet. Come with me!" Tang San shook his head, walked to the courtyard gate, opened it, and led Hu Jiu inside.

"Little San!"

"Hm?" Tang San turned around and looked at Hu Jiu in confusion.

Hu Jiu took out the two meat pies from his clothes and handed them to Tang San. "My mother made these meat pies. I brought them for you to try."

Tang San stared at the meat pies in Hu Jiu's hand, stunned for a moment.

A companion giving him food—he had never experienced something like that before. His feelings were a little complicated.

"What are you standing there for? Take them!" Hu Jiu feigned impatience, shoved the meat pies into Tang San's arms, and took the lead into the courtyard.

Although Tang San had lived two lives, he had spent his previous one in the Tang Sect and knew nothing of the ways of the world. How could he be a match for an old hand like Hu Jiu?

With just two simple meat pies, he had drawn closer to Tang San.

Inside the house, Hu Jiu declined Tang San's invitation to eat with them. After accompanying the father and son through breakfast, the three of them went to the Blacksmith Room together.

"Little San, teach him how to work in a bit." Tang Hao hugged the wine Hu Jiu had brought yesterday and started drinking first thing in the morning.

"Okay, Father!" Tang San nodded obediently, then turned to Hu Jiu and gestured for him to come over and watch.

Once Hu Jiu stepped forward, Tang San began pulling the bellows and started explaining how to operate it.

Both of them had mature minds, so communicating wasn't difficult. One was willing to teach, the other willing to learn, and they got along fairly well.