The Old Blacksmith Shop

"Don't worry, Dad. I won't hurt Big Brother's feelings."

Tang San silently made up his mind: no matter what he encountered in the future, his brother would come first.

Tang Hao watched Tang San's series of changes from the shadows, his brow furrowed. He had no idea what Tang San was thinking. After all, even a god couldn't possibly see through a person's heart, could they?

Throughout the letter, Tang Hao had subtly revealed that he regarded Tang San as his biological child. If nothing unexpected happened, everything would proceed according to Tang Hao's plan, until the day Tang San became a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring on Han Yu.

Xiao Wu's identity had long since been exposed to him. To keep Tang San from developing any thoughts about her, he had briefly mentioned his own past at the very end of the letter.

Don't hurt your brother's feelings.

At the thought, Tang Hao let out a long sigh. How could he not know how his brother felt about Ah Yin? But he was selfish. Even if he could do it all over again, he still wouldn't give Ah Yin up to Tang Xiao.

"Little San? You're back? Where's Han Yu? Didn't he come back with you?"

An elderly man walked into the blacksmith shop. He was in his sixties, with a hunched back and clean, tidy clothes. He was Old Jack, the village chief of Holy Soul Village.

"Grandpa Jack, you're here."

Tang San was startled to see Old Jack, then smiled and invited him inside.

Han Yu had also heard Old Jack and came out from the inner room.

"Grandpa Jack."

"Han Yu. Where's your father? I was just about to call him to go to Nuoding Academy to pick you up, but it seems..."

Old Jack chuckled when he saw Han Yu and stroked his beard, wondering where Tang Hao had gone. But seeing the dim look in Tang San's eyes, he closed his mouth and said no more.

"The old man went on a long trip. He won't be back anytime soon."

Han Yu wiped some dust off a chair and helped Old Jack sit down, speaking softly.

"Oh, that Tang Hao."

Old Jack sighed. Looking at the furnishings and dust in the room, he knew Tang Hao had been gone for quite some time.

That made sense. Ever since people discovered last time that Tang Hao had something wrong with his head, most of them had been too afraid to come buy farming tools from him. That was why no one had noticed he wasn't home. Even if someone had come to buy something and gotten no answer at the door, they would only have thought he'd gone out to buy wine.

"Come eat at Grandpa's place in a little while. I'll make you something good."

Old Jack took Han Yu's hand in one of his and gently patted the back of it with the other, his clouded eyes full of heartache.

He had watched Han Yu grow up, so he knew just how mischievous the boy could be, and how well-behaved and obedient he could be too.

What a shame.

Old Jack sighed inwardly. It was a shame he had a father like Tang Hao.

"Han Yu? Who's here?"

Xiao Wu also came out of the inner room just then and asked in a sweet voice.

Her watery eyes studied Old Jack curiously, unsure how to address him.

"And, and this is...?"

Old Jack was a little taken aback. With Han Yu's help, he stood and asked him the question.

"A classmate."

After giving it some thought, Han Yu felt that was just the right way to handle the situation before him.

"This is Grandpa Jack."

He then introduced Old Jack to Xiao Wu.

"Hello, Grandpa Jack."

Xiao Wu obediently held her hands in front of her and bowed slightly to greet Old Jack.

"Good, good, good."

Old Jack was beside himself with excitement. He looked at Han Yu, then at Xiao Wu, and the more he looked, the more pleased he was, like an old man looking at his granddaughter-in-law.

Although she hadn't met Tang Hao, Xiao Wu's heart pounded wildly at meeting Old Jack, who had watched Han Yu grow up. She was so nervous she didn't quite know where to put her hands and could only fidget with them in front of her. A rosy flush colored her fair, tender face, making her look utterly adorable.

"You must come to my house for dinner in a little while. I'll make you something good."

Old Jack exchanged a few more pleasantries, then spoke seriously to Han Yu. Without waiting for his response, he hurried off in something of a fluster. With three more mouths to feed, he had to get home and start cooking.

"Grandpa Jack... ah."

Han Yu wanted to stop Old Jack. He couldn't bear to let an elderly man cook for him. But before he could get the words out, Old Jack was already out the door, moving at a pace that showed no sign of his age.

"Come on, don't just stand there. Do you really want Grandpa Jack to cook for us? We can tidy up when we get back."

Han Yu grabbed Xiao Wu by the arm and turned to speak to Tang San, who was about to tidy the room. He would leave lunch to Tang San and let the old man have a good rest.

After lunch, Han Yu set out the things he had bought for Old Jack one by one, making the old man grin from ear to ear. The three returned and cleaned the blacksmith shop from top to bottom, inside and out, since they still needed to stay there for a short while.

The house was old and worn, but once cleaned, it was neat and tidy, a far cry from how it had been when they returned. At least it no longer made them recoil from this home deep down.

"All cleaned up. Xiao Wu, which room are you sleeping in?"

Han Yu sat in a chair and poured himself a cup of water. He had spent nearly the whole afternoon cleaning and was really a little thirsty.

"I'll sleep in your room."

Xiao Wu was a little tired too. Between the journey and the cleaning, she was already yawning nonstop before she had even eaten dinner.

"Sure."

Han Yu had no objection to which room she slept in. After all, he had brought new bedding back with him. He hadn't had money before, but now that he did, there was no way he would keep using the old bedding that could no longer be washed clean.

Tang San sat to one side, breathing slightly hard as he looked at the beautiful things in the blacksmith shop, his heart filled with immense satisfaction. No matter how old the shop was, it was his home, the place where he had grown up. It held his memories with his brother.

"Little San, what do you want to eat?"

Han Yu stood up, intending to cook, and casually asked Tang San.

"Brother, let me do it."

Tang San stood up too and took the food Han Yu had brought out of the Soul Tool. His eyes swept over the two Soul Tools, filled with indescribable envy.

"Sure, you do it, then."

Han Yu didn't stand on ceremony. He handed what he was holding to Tang San, then sat to one side, drinking water and continuing to rest. He took the new tableware he had bought out of the Soul Tool; it still needed washing before they ate.

Han Yu now knew what Tang Hao was thinking, so he naturally had no fear that Tang Hao would favor Tang San. After all, in Tang Hao's eyes, Tang San was now a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast specially prepared for Han Yu.

At that thought, Han Yu studied Tang San's back as he busied himself, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes. He was growing more and more eager to see what the father and son would do if the truth came to light.

(After everyone's vote, the new Blue Silver Emperor will have a brand-new body and the same appearance. She will retain a few of Tang Hao and Tang San's memories, something like inherited memories. Everything will center on the protagonist.)

There's another book too: Douluo: Destroy the World? I'm the Savior!

It focuses on antics and villains, mainly villains. If you're interested, take a look.