Chapter 3

Entering the house, I already smelled fragrant rice.

I see my older brother placing down three worn out bowls on the table and I see my father Tang Hao walking over with somewhat staggering steps.

He was a middle aged man, his appearance seemed close to fifty years old. His stature was still extraordinarily large, though no one would compliment his style of dress.

His worn robe covered with holes, without so much as a patch, exposed bronze colored skin. His previously good facial features now appeared waxen in color. He had a pair of sleepy eyes and a dazed manner; messy hair that looked just like a bird's nest, a beard that had gone who knew how long without being straightened out. A dim and lifeless look was visible in his eyes. Even though the night had already passed, he still reeked of alcohol.

Athough he knew to make a little food for them to eat, but nevertheless, as time passed, right after Tang San started taking the initiative to cook, Tang Hao became even more uncaring of anything. In this way their home was so impoverished that they didn't even have decent furniture. Food also was a problem, mainly due to Tang Hao using all that meagre blacksmith income to trade for alcohol.

' Doesn't he have any money as a titled douluo, does he have to use the income for living all on alcohol and how does a titled doulou even get drunk from such cheap alcohol. '

"Good morning dad."

I greet him.

He just looks at me and nods before going over to eat his food.

Tang Hao grabbed the bowl from the table, not worried about scalding, and with big gulps poured the congee down into his belly. His dull sallow face appeared to gain a bit of luster.

"Father, slow down, it's still hot."

Tang San took the bowl from his father's hand and refilled it with congee. He also picked up his own bowl.

'It's amusing seeing a little boy telling a title douluo that a bowl of congee is too hot.'

I chuckle internally.

I also picked up my bowl and slowly ate.

Very quickly, a pot of porridge with seven or eight bowls all entered Tang Hao's stomach. Letting out a breath, he placed the bowl on the table. The drooping eyelids opened somewhat, looking at Tang San.

"You continue with the work you have, I will work in the afternoon. I'll go sleep a little while."

Tang Hao's work and rest habit had a very regular pattern: sleeping all morning, making a few farm tools in the afternoon, obtaining income, and drinking in the evening.

"Ok, father."

Tang San nodded.

Tang Hao stood up. Having had several bowls of congee, he was no longer swaying, and walked

towards the inner room.

"Father."

Tang San suddenly called out.

Tang Hao stopped, turning his head to look at him, his brows clearly indicating a little impatience.

Tang San pointed at a corner with shining black chunks of pig iron:

"These chunks of iron, can you give them to me to use?"

'Oh it seems this is the part of the story where Tang San talks to dad about becoming a blacksmith but he actually just wants to start creating the hidden weapons of his Tang Sect and temper his body through forging. '

I think while looking over to where he's pointing.

' So that's the fine iron it looks shiny but I wonder how he can make a hidden weapon out of just a lump of iron within 3 months.'

In Tang San's previous incarnation he was Tang Sect's most outstanding outer sect disciple, he was most familiar with the creation of every kind of hidden weapon. Naturally, back then all kinds of material were supplied by Tang Sect. But in this new world, although he practiced for several years, his strength was still too weak. Moreover, he had never wanted to give up on manufacturing the most advanced hidden weapons. By now he had already tried to forge a few hidden weapons, but finding enough materials was the biggest issue.

Tang Hao forged farm tools out of metal received from the villagers. It was all impure, very common iron. It all was very difficult to use for high quality hidden weapons. The pieces of pig iron Tang San currently pointed at, delivered only yesterday, had made Tang San astonished; these chunks of iron ore actually definitely contained iron source, which was perfectly suitable for making hidden weapons.

Tang Hao's gaze shifted to the pig iron,

"Huh. Isn't this fine iron?"

Walking over to take a look, he turned his head to look at Tang San,

"You want to become a blacksmith?"

Tang San nodded slightly. Becoming blacksmith was undoubtedly the most suitable profession for him to make hidden weapons,

"Dad, you're growing older. For a few years, until I grow up a little, please teach me how to forge kitchen implements and let me take over your work."

Previously in Tang Sect all he made were the most precise hidden weapons, but he had never learned the simplest forging.

' Dad is a titled douluo he can easily live another 100 years if not more and I don't remember you ever making any kitchen implement in the series actually I don't think he ever come back to this village more than once. '

I think while listening.

Tang Hao slightly absentminded, murmured:

"Blacksmith doesn't seem bad, either."

Pulling across a single worn-out chair, sitting down directly by that pile of pig iron, he sluggishly spoke:

"Little San, tell me, what kind of blacksmith, is the best blacksmith."

Tang San thought about it, then said:

"The best blacksmith should be capable of divine tools."

' It sounds about right in my opinion but how does he know about divine tools I guess the villagers have a big imagination. '

In Tang Hao's eyes flashed a glint of humour,

"Divine tools? Little San also knows about divine tools. Then tell me, what should be used to create divine tools?"

Tang San thought this was unexpected, and immediately said:

"The best materials, of course."

Tang Hao extended his index finger, wagging it at Tang San's face,

"If you want to become a master blacksmith, remember my words: someone using top class materials to make divine tools, that's not the best blacksmith; at most it is only a synthesizer. The best blacksmith will create divine tools using common materials."

"Using common iron to forge divine tools?"

' That sounds like a load of nonsense old men use to make young people work harder.'

Tang San, somewhat startled, looked at Tang Hao. Ordinarily, Tang Hao very rarely spoke to him; this day already counted as the most at any one time.

Standing up, Tang Hao pointed to a fifty square centimeter big block of iron on the other side of the room,

"If you're thinking about becoming a blacksmith and learning forging from me, then you must first hammer this ten thousand times. Not until then will you be qualified."

That was a block of ordinary iron, containing numerous impurities. Compared to the lump of iron source, he couldn't even tell how much worse it was.

' Is he actually trying to teach or is he just being lazy by giving such an impossible task there's no way a normal 5 year old can even lift the hammer not to mention swing it 10,000 times even if we're half spirit beast we should only be able to swing it a few times at most. '

"Right now, you can still change your mind."

Tang Hao spoke indifferently, already preparing to go back to the inner room to sleep.

"Dad, I want to give it a try."

Tang San's voice was clear and calm, yet resolute.

Tang Hao, somewhat taken aback, looked at him,

"Alright."

With a single word, he walked past, taking up that large lump of iron in his arms, and directly placed it by the bellows on the forge. As long as the coal fire was ignited, it could be used for forging.

After finishing this, Tang Hao returned to the inner room to sleep.