Chapter 3: I have also a hammer
"Xiao San display your martial soul for my inspection," he requested.
Peering out from behind the curtain, a robust, middle-aged man appeared.
"Of course, Father!" affirmed Tang San.
With a fluid motion, Tang San's wrist conjured a blue-silver grass adorned with a delicate shimmer.
Tang Hao, his gaze fixed on the small vine in Tang San's hand, snapped out of his reverie.
Qin Feng, standing nearby, understood that Tang Hao's thoughts had drifted to his wife.
In the land of Douluo, Ah Yin had sacrificed herself for Tang Hao, a tragedy that would forever haunt him.
What could compel a man of such eminence to embrace decadence? Only the loss of a cherished loved one, the absence of the one who had captured your heart. Even under the radiant canopy of stars, the world appeared gray, and no matter how sumptuous the meal, words remained elusive.
"Oh, blue silver grass! It truly resembles like her beloved blue silver grass!" Tang Hao suddenly turned, almost toppling Tang San with his burly frame.
At that moment, the blue silver grass in Tang San's grasp vanished.
"Daddy," Tang San called out to Tang Hao.
"Do not disturb me!" came Tang Hao's chilly retort.
"Daddy, it appears I possess a second Martial Soul," Tang San shared, peering at Tang Hao, who had retreated to the other side of the curtain.
"What?!" The curtain was thrown open in an instant!
Tang San raised his left hand slightly, causing black light to burst forth, followed by a full-body transformation into ebony, resembling a miniature version of a martial soul of a hammer!
Due to its immense weight, Tang San's hands drooped slightly!
"This is!" Tang Hao's eyes shimmered with a faint light, a look Tang San had never seen on his father before.
"Twin Martial Souls, my son possesses twin Martial Souls!" Tang Hao's expression, a mixture of complexity and excitement, conveyed the rarity of such a phenomenon, unseen for centuries.
"Child, remember this well: protect the grass with your right hand and wield the hammer in your left, forever!" Tang Hao's previously cloudy eyes held a newfound luminosity as he retreated into the back room.
"Alright!" Tang San responded, though he didn't quite grasp his father's emotions, he nodded.
"Brother Feng, what's bothering my father? He suddenly seems so melancholic," Tang San inquired as he washed the rice. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he glanced at Qin Feng with a self-deprecating look. After all, Qin Feng was just a six-year-old; what could he possibly comprehend?
"I think he remembered something," Qin Feng replied, while washing vegetables. If there were others present, they'd be surprised. These two children, despite being over six years old, went about their tasks with a level of organization and seriousness that belittle their age. In fact, both of them were indeed adults in a sense.
"Oh?" Tang San looked at Qin Feng with a hint of surprise, evidently not expecting such mature words from him. However, if he agreed with Qin Feng, it might indicate that there were some hidden secrets in his father's heart.
The two continued their chores, washing dishes and preparing the rice. Tang San managed the cooking fire, while Qin Feng took charge of the actual cooking. Having had a bit of experience before making Tang San meal, Qin Feng found himself more at ease than the average person when it came to cooking. As a singleton living in the 21st century, he had dabbled in more than just instant noodles and had a modest taste for culinary arts. At the very least, he could whip up a few decent dishes.
As the orange glow of the setting sun disappeared from the horizon, the only blacksmith's shop in Holy Soul Village became quiet. In the back room, the muscular figure of their father lay in slumber.
Soon enough, the aroma of their cooking filled the house.
"Dad, wake up and have your meal!" Tang San called out. On the table, there were stir-fried radish greens, silky potato strands, and a mustard soup. Compared to their usual fare, it seemed like a holiday feast.
"Yawn!" Tang Hao roused from his bed, wearing a drowsy expression as he seated himself at the table.
"How did you manage to cook up such a feast today? Your culinary skills seem to be improving," he remarked while savoring his meal of vegetables and wine.
"Dad, it's all thanks to Brother Feng," Tang San explained, perched at the table, his head only halfway visible due to its height.
"Oh? Your name is Qin Feng, right?" Tang Hao directed his attention toward Qin Feng.
"Hmm," Qin Feng nodded with just the top of his head visible, confirming that big brothers often tended to forget things.
"Father, Brother Feng is really skilled in cooking," Tang San praised as he ate. This meal surpassed anything he could prepare, and he genuinely admired Qin Feng's culinary abilities.
These six-year-olds were truly remarkable!
"Well, we can work together in the future so we can eat even better," Tang Hao suggested casually.
"By the way, Dad, Brother Feng's Martial Soul seems to be similar to my hammer," Tang San mentioned, and the two idle individuals began discussing their Martial Souls.
"Oh your martial soul is a hammer too?" Tang Hao inquired, studying Qin Feng.
"Yes, I also have a hammer martial soul," Qin Feng replied. But as he spoke, he felt that something about this conversation was a bit peculiar.
"Let me see it " Tang Hao suggested, his interest in this child rivaling that of his son. Today, Qin Feng had displayed an impressive sequence of advancements, and while he maintained an impassive exterior, his heart was in turmoil.
"Sure," Qin Feng nodded. He conjured a hammer into his palm. It resembled an ordinary blacksmith's hammer, with a white-gold top and a black-gold bottom.
"Tiangang Hammer!" Tang Hao exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. His voice trembled. The Tiangang hammer was the pinnacle of hammer-based martial soul, the king of hammers! While a Haotian hammer could occasionally mutate into a two-meter gang hammer, only a legendary ancient powerhouse had ever succeeded.
"Uncle Tang, is this hammer really powerful?" Qin Feng asked, looking at Tang Hao's astonished expression with a hint of confusion. Tang Hao was a Titled Douluo, and the surprise in his eyes suggested that his black-and-white hammer was remarkable. But why didn't Qin Feng feel anything special about it?
"This is the Tiangang hammer the black one shatters the heavens, the white one breaks through the ghostly gate. When you channel the power of the platinum hammer, I think you'll discover its abilities," Tang Hao replied, his expression complex and solemn.
This little guy had truly surprised him. He hadn't expected to stumble upon such a treasure.
"Uncle Tang, how do I activate its abilities?" Qin Feng asked, giving his hammer a few experimental swings but not comprehending its intricacies.
"You use your thoughts to manipulate the soul power within your body and then infuse it into these two celestial gang hammers before focusing it outward," Tang Hao instructed.
It was indeed peculiar that Qin Feng possessed a top-tier Variant Martial Soul but lacked knowledge of how to wield it. Following Tang Hao's guidance, a faint light emanated from the white-gold edges of the two celestial gang hammers, casting a unique red glow, resembling a blossoming blood flower.