This Is Tang San's Mom, Not Mine

The three of them, one adult and two children, sat around the table for a long while. Tang San looked up at Tang Hao, then at Han Yu. Finally, he sighed and got up to make lunch.

Han Yu stayed where he was, ignoring Tang Hao's burning gaze. He either picked at his fingers or fiddled with his dead-branch Martial Soul.

"Ahem, Han Yu. Let Dad see that little hammer Martial Soul of yours again."

Tang Hao coughed twice, his burning gaze fixed firmly on Han Yu.

"No."

Han Yu looked up and glanced at him, then snorted. With the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, he felt more confident and wasn't afraid of Tang Hao using their Martial Souls for a paternity test. At worst, he'd just sing "Only Mom Is Good in This World" again. That trick worked every time.

"Xiao Yu, how about this? Let me see your hammer Martial Soul, and I'll grant you a wish."

Tang Hao was nearly frantic. Though he was already certain it was the Clear Sky Hammer, how could a single glance be enough? A Clear Sky Hammer that tiny wasn't something he got to see every day.

"Old geezer! You mean it?"

Han Yu's eyes lit up at that, but the light immediately vanished. He looked at Tang Hao with disdain.

"Our family's so poor. What wish could you possibly grant me?"

What the fuck!

Tang Hao was so angry he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. He was the illustrious Clear Sky Douluo. What couldn't he obtain? Yet his own son doubted he could even grant one little wish.

"Just say it. I'll definitely grant it."

Tang Hao waved a hand, refusing to look at Han Yu's utterly heart-piercing look of disdain.

"Then I'll say it."

The old geezer had told him to ask for anything, so Han Yu wasn't going to hold back.

"I want a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

"And a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone."

"I need lots and lots of Gold Soul Coins."

"But where would I put all those Gold Soul Coins? That's a bit of a problem."

"Old geezer, why aren't you saying anything?"

Tang Hao had already stopped wanting to pay him any attention the moment Han Yu made his first demand.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring? A little brat who had only just awakened his Martial Soul dared ask for one? Even if he were given one, he couldn't absorb it. As for a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, well, there actually was one. But...

Tang Hao's face alternated between green and white. In the end, he realized that the only wish he seemed able to grant was the one for something to store Gold Soul Coins in. Seeing the disdain in Han Yu's eyes grow ever stronger, Tang Hao steeled himself and gritted his teeth. He glanced at Tang San, who was still cooking, then whispered to Han Yu.

"Come with me."

Tang Hao then rose and headed into his inner room, with Han Yu close behind. Han Yu wanted to see just how the old geezer Tang Hao was going to get himself out of this today.

Even those careful movements caught Tang San's attention. Recalling that Tang Hao had offered to grant Han Yu a wish, he felt deeply upset. Even the hand stirring the rice soup with a ladle moved less briskly than before.

It's all because of Big Brother. Big Brother stole my love. If Big Brother were gone...

Tang San's eyes gradually darkened, but a sudden burn on his hand jolted him awake.

How could I think like that? I'm the Tang Sect's Third Young Master. How could I do something so despicable? This is the big brother who loves you.

An elder brother was like a father. In some ways, Han Yu counted as Tang San's father. So he felt extremely guilty that such a thought had even crossed his mind.

Meanwhile, Han Yu followed Tang Hao, the two walking one behind the other into the room where Tang Hao rested.

There wasn't a clean spot anywhere in the room. Ever since Han Yu became independent, he had barely set foot in it, so naturally no one had tidied it up. Tang San? What the hell did he know about that?

"Xiao Yu, come here."

Han Yu was still inwardly grumbling that Tang Hao's room was less clean than a pigsty when Tang Hao, facing a corner by the wall, beckoned him over with a solemn expression.

Seeing Tang Hao's expression, Han Yu had a few guesses. He slowly walked over to him.

"Kneel."

Tang Hao didn't even look at Han Yu. His clear eyes were fixed on the corner as he gave Han Yu the order.

"No."

Han Yu shook his head. He seemed to know who was in that corner.

"You... sigh. Forget it."

Tang Hao turned and glanced at Han Yu, then let out a long sigh. He lifted the bedding in the corner and took out a small wooden box, then immediately put the bedding back over it.

"Haven't you always been curious about who your mother was? This is something she left behind."

His large, rough, blackened hand gently stroked the wooden box. Tang Hao's tall figure stood motionless, his eyes vacant, as though he were lost in memories.

"Old geezer? Old geezer?"

This was Tang San's mom, not his. Han Yu was getting a little impatient. Could he be about to let me absorb that Soul Bone right now? But this box is so small. What Soul Bone could be that tiny? What is this old geezer going to give me?

Puzzled, Han Yu reached out and tugged at Tang Hao's clothes, bringing him back to his senses.

Tang Hao came back to himself and glared at Han Yu. There were even a few tears in his eyes.

But he had never had a good way to deal with Han Yu. Letting out a long breath, he opened the wooden box.

The inside of the box looked completely different from its crude exterior. When it opened, a ring set with a blue-gold gemstone came into view. The stone wasn't large, and it didn't look out of place atop the ring. A circle of small blue-gold gemstones adorned the shoulders on either side. Set off by the gems, the blue-gold ring looked exceptionally beautiful.

At the sight of the ring, Tang Hao's eyes had already turned red. Tears flowed from them despite himself, falling onto the small gemstones in the wooden box.

"This was a token of love between your mother and me. It's also a Soul Tool."

Tang Hao took the ring out with his fingers. The blue-gold gemstone reflected a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.

"You'll have to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast yourself. As for a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone..."

At that, Tang Hao glanced out the window, as though gazing into the distance. Then he looked at Han Yu and spoke solemnly.

"I'm giving you this ring, but you must keep it safe. It has ten cubic meters of space inside, which is enough for you right now."

Han Yu took the ring. A tiny character, "silver," meaning "silver," was engraved on the back. The band had actually been made by entwining several exceptionally fine strands of Blue Silver Grass. The entire band was blue-gold, and when he put it on, it adjusted itself to wrap around his finger.

"Don't ask me how it was made. Your mother made the band herself, including the one on mine."

As he spoke, Tang Hao took a matching ring out from beneath his heel, inside the cloth shoe that had long since turned pitch-black. But the smell...

"Dad, Brother. Time to eat."

While Tang Hao and Han Yu were still occupied with their own thoughts, Tang San had finished cooking in the outer room and called the two of them to eat.

During the meal, Tang San looked at the beautiful ring on Han Yu's hand, making no attempt to hide the envy in his eyes. At the same time, he glanced at Tang Hao from time to time, looking somewhat hopeful.