Old Jack: Tang Hao, There's Something Wrong with Your Brain

"Bang!"

The instant Han Yu's Clear Sky Hammer struck Tang Hao's arm, a tremendous noise rang out.

Even the entire smithy shook twice. Countless specks of dust drifted down from the ceiling, and visibility inside the smithy rapidly dropped.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Two figures, one big and one small, rushed out of the dust. Tang Hao looked at his arm, which Han Yu's Clear Sky Hammer had smashed out of shape, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

After all, Han Yu had put every last ounce of strength he had into that blow. Although Tang Hao was a Titled Douluo whose body was far tougher than an ordinary person's, he had been in such a panic, and he hadn't used Soul Power in many years.

Tang Hao truly deserved to be called a tough man. Besides, he didn't want to lose face in front of Han Yu, so even with beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead, he stubbornly refused to make a sound.

"Old man! Aren't we forgetting something?"

Han Yu looked around. Dust was still floating through the air inside, and they certainly couldn't go back in anytime soon. But what had they forgotten?

"We forgot Little San inside."

Tang Hao had also noticed that someone was missing. He let out a long breath to ease his pain a little, then gritted his teeth and went back inside, dragging Tang San out like a dead dog. He also tossed the bedding, which was already soaked through, aside to dry in the sun.

Tang San's face was ashen, his eyes tightly shut and his pale lips trembling. His arms were wrapped tightly around himself, and his legs were bent as he curled up as tightly as he could, his whole body shivering.

"This..."

Looking at Tang San, Tang Hao's face showed disgust. A single night of storms had left him like this. How could a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast be such a sorry sight? No wonder he wanted to seize the Blue Silver Emperor's inheritance.

"Let's take him to Grandpa Jack's house. He should be fine after taking some medicine."

Han Yu crouched down and checked Tang San's nose and mouth, then stood and made the suggestion to Tang Hao.

So be it.

After shutting the smithy's door tight, Han Yu soon arrived at Old Jack's door and knocked.

Old Jack opened the door to see the adorable Little Hanyu before him, with Tang Hao behind him, his arm injured, and Tang San slung over Tang Hao's shoulder.

"Th-this is...?"

Old Jack was a little bewildered, unsure what had happened.

"Grandpa Jack, Tang San stayed out playing too late last night, and the rain was so heavy. The old man and I were really worried, so we went looking for him as soon as the rain stopped this morning. But that silly kid didn't even know to find somewhere to shelter and got rained on all night. The old man hurt his arm looking for him, too. Sigh."

Han Yu explained everything to Old Jack with an obedient look on his face. At the end, he walked over to Tang Hao with a look of concern and gently stroked his injured arm.

"Oh dear, quick! Quick, bring Little San inside!!"

Now that he understood the gist of it, how could kindhearted Old Jack stand by and do nothing? He hurriedly ushered the three of them inside.

While Old Jack busied himself preparing medicine, Tang Hao looked proudly at Han Yu's somewhat small and thin figure.

The child's mischievous, troublemaking, lying nature was exactly like his own when he was little.

As if recalling his childhood days in the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Hao's gaze softened somewhat.

"Old man, old man, is your arm all right?"

Hearing Han Yu's concerned words, Tang Hao gradually came out of his memories. Looking at Little Hanyu in front of him, he reached out with his uninjured arm and rubbed Han Yu's head, laughing heartily.

Old Jack, who was preparing medicine in the inner room, couldn't help feeling curious when he heard Tang Hao's laughter.

Tang Hao's arm is injured that badly, and his younger son is unconscious, yet he can still laugh? Could there be something wrong with his brain? No, no, Tang Hao is so tall and strong. I have to keep a close eye on him, or if he tries to do something bad, probably no one in Holy Soul Village can stop him.

And so, after feeding Tang San his medicine and applying some to Tang Hao's injured arm, Old Jack stood in front of Tang Hao, solemnly held up one finger, and asked,

"Tang Hao, look at me. What is this?"

Tang Hao was puzzled, but he answered patiently all the same.

"One."

Old Jack's heart sank, and he said,

"It's a finger."

Then he asked another question.

"Who do you think Little Hanyu is most like in the family?"

Tang Hao was somewhat perplexed, unsure what Old Jack meant. He lowered his head and thought for a moment before answering.

"Naturally, he's most like me."

It's over.

Old Jack felt as though he had been struck by a great hammer, as though he had fallen into an icy stone cave. He pulled Han Yu over from where he stood nearby and whispered a few words to him. Han Yu then glanced at Tang Hao, got up, and left.

Tang Hao sat in a chair at Old Jack's house, unsure what Old Jack was up to. He scratched his head but didn't ask.

Old Jack's house immediately fell silent. Old Jack's eyes were fixed firmly on Tang Hao as he sat in the chair, as if afraid he would leave. Tang Hao, however, didn't mind; he closed his eyes, and it was unclear what he was thinking about.

A good while after Han Yu left, a jumble of footsteps sounded from the street outside the door. The door opened, and a group of people walked in, with Han Yu, who had just left, at the front.

"Grandpa Jack, they're all here."

"Village chief, what happened?"

"What's wrong, village chief?"

"Uncle Jack, what is it?"

The villagers all spoke at once, asking Old Jack questions in such a clamor that it was impossible to make out who was saying what.

"Quiet, quiet!"

Old Jack cleared his throat twice, and only then did everyone gradually quiet down. They looked at him curiously, waiting for him to give his orders.

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Old Jack turned back to Tang Hao and asked,

"Tang Hao, I'll give you one last chance. What's between good and bad?"

Hearing Old Jack say something like that with such a serious expression, Tang Hao opened his eyes and glanced at him, then swept his gaze over the villagers filling the room. Completely baffled, he answered somewhat hesitantly,

"...What's between them? Neither good nor bad?"

As soon as Tang Hao finished speaking, Old Jack gave the villagers an order in a decisive tone.

"Tie Tang Hao up!"

Tang Hao didn't know what was happening and was afraid that if he hurt the villagers, he would expose himself to Spirit Hall. He could only let them tie him up, all the while asking,

"Old Jack? What are you doing?"

"Hiss! My arm, my arm... Who's touching my belly? Ow, who's touching my little Tang Hao? Can't you keep your hands to yourselves?"

The villagers faithfully followed the orders of Old Jack, their old village chief, and tied Tang Hao securely to the chair. Only then did Old Jack ask Han Yu gently in a low voice,

"Little Hanyu, did your father hurt himself... here, while he was looking for Little San?"

As if afraid his words would frighten Han Yu, Old Jack pointed a finger at his own head.

"N-no, I don't think so."

Although Han Yu hated hearing people take Tang Hao for his father, this was Old Jack, who had been good to him since he was little, so Han Yu answered hesitantly.