"Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast" Tang San

I thought he was naturally gifted, but now it seems he may just be a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. His strange trips to the valley every morning, and his constant meditation every day-all of it must have been this hundred-thousand-year soul beast's disguise, meant to keep me, a Titled Douluo, from seeing that a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was right under my nose!

At that thought, Tang Hao could not help laughing at himself, his heart brimming with anger. No matter how hard he tried, he could not remember when Tang San had begun doing all those things.

How ridiculous. I thought the boy was my own flesh and blood, and that he had learned those things from some book when he was little. Unfortunately, because of Ah Yin's death, I only started paying attention to them when they turned three.

Three years old. No wonder Tang Hanyu isn't close to me. But Tang San, on the other hand, played the devoted son without a word of complaint, no matter what I did. So all of it was in the hope that, if his identity were exposed one day, I would spare him for the sake of the past. So that's the truth. What a Tang San, what a hundred-thousand-year soul beast! He actually muddled the truth right in front of me, and I nearly took Han Yu for the child I picked up.

Ah Yin, I hope you won't blame me. If I mistake the wrong child for ours, then our child will be replaced by this evil hundred-thousand-year soul beast. He'll take everything that belongs to our child, even your Blue Silver Emperor bloodline.

The thought of taking Tang San for his own child made Tang Hao burn with rage. His stomach churned, and he could not suppress his nausea. Even his teeth creaked as he ground them together.

Tang San was cooking when he heard Tang Hao grinding his teeth. Thinking his father could no longer wait for the meal, he quickened his movements until several afterimages appeared, and spoke reassuringly.

"Dad, the food will be ready very soon. Please wait a little longer."

But in Tang Hao's eyes, the afterimages trailing Tang San's spoon-wielding hand were a provocation.

Even Tang San's words sounded different to him.

"Old geezer, I'm standing right here. What can you do about it? You raised me for nothing all these years, and you nearly let me steal your wife's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline too, didn't you?"

Just as Tang Hao could no longer contain his anger and was about to make a move to suppress Tang San, Han Yu came out of the inner room, yawning.

Still bleary-eyed, Han Yu did not notice Tang Hao's expression or movements and merely asked lazily, "Isn't the food ready yet?"

Seeing Han Yu come out, Tang Hao suppressed his restless feelings and repeatedly comforted himself.

I'll let him be arrogant for a few more days. When Little Hanyu can absorb a hundred thousand year Soul Ring, it'll be time for him to die.

Normally, to absorb a hundred thousand year Soul Ring, the optimal Soul Ring configuration was essential: two yellow, two purple, and four black. Only with that configuration could the ninth Soul Ring be a hundred thousand year Soul Ring, and even then, there would still be danger.

So Tang Hao, who had been through it himself, snuffed out the thought of having Han Yu absorb a hundred thousand year Soul Ring himself as soon as it appeared. For Han Yu's safety, he was already planning how to get Tang San to sacrifice his Soul Ring to Han Yu of his own accord.

Yes, a sacrifice.

Just as when the Blue Silver Emperor had sacrificed herself to Tang Hao, there would be no danger at all. All it would mean was a gleaming red Soul Ring added to the Martial Soul, as well as a hundred thousand year Soul Bone. During his time with Ah Yin, Tang Hao had already begun to guess what Soul Skill the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone would provide.

That was why he had left the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone to his own child, though his selfish desires had played an even greater part. With a powerful restorative Soul Bone skill at hand, one that would not affect the Martial Soul's Soul Ring configuration, it might also protect his child.

If one person absorbed two Blue Silver Grass Soul Bones at the same time, then...

At that thought, Tang Hao's gaze toward Tang San was no longer so dangerous. On the surface, it looked more like approval.

"All right, all right, the food's ready."

Tang San turned around and met Tang Hao's gaze. Having never been treated like this before, he was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor. He could hardly walk, and his left foot tripped over his right. With a yelp, he fell to the ground, making his still-unrecovered body hurt even more.

Before he could get up, the hot soup that had flown from his hands came down over his head. The steaming rice soup spilled all over him, and he howled in pain.

"Little San, Little San. Daddy will blow on it for you."

When Tang Hao saw this, he thought, This won't do! If you're scalded to death just like that, what will happen to Little Hanyu's Soul Ring and Soul Bone? He hurriedly rose from his chair and helped Tang San up. With an expression of distress, he opened his great, stinking mouth and blew on Tang San, hoping it would make him feel a little better.

Tang San, who had never been treated like this before, felt dizzy. With Tang Hao's stinking breath enveloping him, he could hardly breathe. His head lolled to one side, and he fainted.

"Tang San! Tang San!"

This gave Tang Hao a fright. Thinking Tang San had died just like that, he spread his broad hand and slapped Tang San's face for all he was worth, hoping only to slap him awake.

But things did not go as he wished. Tang San's face swelled up like a "pig's head" in an instant. His face, which the Mysterious Heaven Skill had only just healed the day before, returned to its former state, and was even more swollen than yesterday.

"Old geezer, stop slapping him. He's not dead."

Thoroughly fed up with the sound of slap after slap, Han Yu spoke to Tang Hao impatiently and pointed at Tang San's faintly rising and falling chest.

Seeing that Tang San, the "hundred-thousand-year soul beast" he had prepared for Han Yu, was not dead, Tang Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief. He let go and allowed Tang San to fall to the ground, then ladled out a bowl of porridge and was about to drink it. On second thought, he handed it to Han Yu and ladled out another bowl for himself.

Han Yu looked in surprise at the chipped bowl full of rice soup in his hands, then at Tang Hao, wondering which way the sun had risen today.

Under Han Yu's gaze, Tang Hao's old face reddened. He coughed awkwardly twice, finished the hot porridge in his hands, and hurried back to his inner room to continue resting. He still had to plan how to obtain the Soul Ring and Soul Bone of Tang San, the "hundred-thousand-year soul beast," for Han Yu.

Han Yu, who had no idea what was going on, looked at the rice soup in his hands, then at the "pig's head" lying on the floor. Unconcerned, he stepped over Tang San, treading on him as he passed, and sat at the table to eat.

After eating, Han Yu left the smithy and went out for a stroll. When Tang Hao heard the smithy door close, he came out and glanced at Tang San, who was still lying on the floor. He stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, then grabbed Tang San by one foot and tossed him onto his own bedding to rest. He also checked Tang San's breathing with his hand before returning to his room, satisfied.

An unknown amount of time later, Tang San woke groggily from his faint. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw his familiar bedding and knew that his father and older brother had carried him to bed. His eyes reddened slightly, and he was nearly moved to tears.

Sure enough, Dad and big brother still love me.