If it hadn't been for Gui Jian Chou's rough estimate that led to the explosion that killed the Tang Sect elder and destroyed the cliff, Xiao Yan would not have to endure the torment he faces now.
Nowadays, he is exceptionally cautious in his actions.
Had he followed his old temperament, he would have treated Tang Hao, that old dog, as a stranger and surely poisoned him with the Tang Sect's deadly toxins.
After years of interaction, Xiao Yan, who had become more cautious, also noticed something different about Tang Hao.
A person who drinks all day and can still swing a heavy iron hammer like it's light as a feather, is no ordinary man.
Even a normal, muscular man would find this hard to achieve. Yet, in the hands of that old man Tang Hao, it seemed effortless.
There's only one explanation for this: Tang Hao is not an ordinary person.
From the villagers' conversations, Xiao Yan learned that this world was called the Douluo Continent. While there is no martial arts system, there exists something called "Martial Spirits," and everyone has one. A few rare people can train to become powerful Soul Masters.
Although Xiao Yan didn't fully understand how powerful Soul Masters could become, he was certain that Tang Hao was likely one of these powerful individuals, not just an ordinary person.
If he really poisoned him, the first person to suffer would be Xiao Yan himself.
After roasting the rabbit, Xiao Yan stood up and ran down the mountain.
With his internal energy mastered, the Ghost Shadow Misty Steps made him move like a ghost, swift and elusive. Even adults couldn't compare to his speed.
Running home, Xiao Yan first placed the roasted rabbit on two plates, then sliced it with a knife.
Returning to the stove, he served two bowls of steaming rice, then called out warmly to the inner room, "Dad, it's time to eat."
He had already reached adulthood before his transmigration, and with his mature mindset, he understood Tang Hao's exceptional nature. Realizing Tang Hao might be a powerful figure, his disguise was flawless.
Since the age of two, when Tang Hao showed signs of cooking, he had become more and more useless, never touching a pot or bowl again.
Once Xiao Yan arranged the food and had finished a bowl, the curtain in the inner room lifted, and a tall figure staggered out.
This was a middle-aged man, looking about fifty or sixty years old, but his body was very tall and robust. However, his attire was anything but flattering.
His tattered robe had no patches, revealing bronze-colored skin beneath it.
His once well-defined features were now covered in a layer of yellowish wax, with a sleepy, disheveled appearance, and his hair was a mess, resembling a bird's nest. His face was unkempt with a beard that hadn't been tidied for who knows how many days.
His eyes were dull and yellowed, and despite the passing of a whole night, the strong smell of alcohol still lingered around him, making Xiao Yan feel like he would get drunk if he stayed too long near him.
If Tang Hao hadn't been by his side since childhood and claimed to be his father, Xiao Yan would have thought he was dealing with a man of his grandfather's generation.
Tang Hao sat down at the table and immediately began eating, taking large mouthfuls without any concern for the heat.
Every time Xiao Yan noticed this detail, he was even more certain that Tang Hao must be a powerful Soul Master.
After Tang Hao finished one bowl, Xiao Yan quickly shoveled the remaining rice from his own bowl into his mouth, then took Tang Hao's empty bowl, smiling brightly. "Dad, slow down, there's still plenty! I'll get more for you."
If anyone could read minds, they would never guess that Xiao Yan, who appeared so obedient and sweet, was actually planning to kill the "dad" he was so kindly calling out to as soon as he became powerful.
After finishing his rabbit leg, Tang Hao casually grabbed the last rabbit leg from Xiao Yan's plate and ate it with relish.
This action made it clear that Tang Hao felt no affection for his child.
As for everything happening, Xiao Yan didn't show any dissatisfaction in his actions. He swiftly served more rice for Tang Hao and casually picked up a piece of meat, continuing to eat.
It was just a rabbit leg; he could always hunt another in the afternoon.
His strength wasn't enough yet, and his understanding of Soul Masters was still shallow.
If Soul Masters could cultivate to the point of flying or disappearing into the earth, then his martial arts skills, though impressive, were still just a few moves. If he flaunted them too much, he'd only be making a fool of himself.
Soon, a large pot of rice and two rabbits were consumed by the two of them.
After finishing his meal, Tang Hao let out a satisfied burp and stuffed the last piece of rabbit meat from the plate into his mouth. He said with his mouth full, "If you have work, go ahead and do it. I'll forge some tools in the afternoon, then go back to sleep."
Tang Hao had a very regular routine—he slept in the mornings, forged farm tools in the afternoons for income, and drank at night.
"Okay, Dad." Xiao Yan nodded.
After a filling meal, Tang Hao stood up. His steps were no longer shaky, and he looked a bit more energetic.
"Dad…" Xiao Yan suddenly called out.
Tang Hao stopped and turned to look at him, his eyes showing signs of anger and impatience.
Xiao Yan, observing it all, felt an even greater desire to kill this old dog Tang Hao.
But he didn't show his killing intent.
Xiao Yan pointed at a piece of raw iron in the corner with a faint black luster. "Can I use this piece of iron?"
The cultivation of martial arts had reached a bottleneck, and without any fortuitous encounters, progress depended more on painstaking effort.
However, the Xuantian Treasure Record contained many clever hidden weapons, some of which required no inner power, while others consumed very little of it.
If he could craft some hidden weapons, his combat strength would greatly increase.
If Tang Hao ever turned hostile, he would have more ways to protect himself.
The metal Tang Hao used to forge farming tools was all sent by the villagers, full of impurities, making it difficult to create good hidden weapons.
The raw iron Xiao Yan pointed to was just delivered yesterday. To his surprise, it contained some iron essence, making it perfect for crafting hidden weapons.
Tang Hao's gaze shifted to the raw iron. "Hmm, this contains iron essence?"
He walked over, lowered his head to inspect it, then looked back at Xiao Yan. "Do you want to be a blacksmith in the future?"
Xiao Yan gave a silly laugh and awkwardly scratched his head. "Dad, you're getting older. In a few years, I'll take over the blacksmithing. I'll forge the tools, and you can sleep easy from then on."
A sleep you might never wake up from.
"A blacksmith? That doesn't sound bad," Tang Hao murmured, lost in thought.
(End of Chapter)