Douluo Dalu 1: The Tang Family Rebel

While Yun Chuan is comfortably held in the arms of the Pope, enjoying the nurturing, motherly care from the gentle and kind-hearted woman, his twin brother Tang San is experiencing a completely different life.

In a small village, Holy Soul Village.

In the only blacksmith shop.

The shop is untidy, with the smell of iron and rust filling the air, accompanied by the clanging sound of the hammer on metal.

Inside, on a relatively clean bed.

A baby who was still in swaddling suddenly opened his eyes. His bright eyes seemed far from the typical look of a newborn. They were full of the wisdom and awareness that seemed to belong to an adult.

Clang! Clang! Clang...

Hearing the sound of the hammering from outside, the baby's stomach growled. Tang San had no choice but to open his mouth and begin crying loudly: "Wah! Wah!!"

Unlike Yun Chuan, who was gifted, Tang San at this moment was only three months old. He couldn't even crawl and his vocal cords weren't fully developed, so speaking was out of the question.

Clang...

The blacksmithing sounds stopped abruptly.

A moment later, the door opened.

A middle-aged man, appearing in his thirties or forties and wearing a filthy, sweaty, disheveled appearance, walked in. He was carrying a small bowl of yellowish liquid, which, based on the faint smell of milk, seemed to be some kind of animal milk.

Upon seeing the man, Tang San immediately stopped crying. His eyes widened as he stared intently at the bowl in the man's hands. To the hungry baby, that small bowl of milk was the source of life!

The man, Tang Hao, slowly walked over to the bed with the bowl of milk, gently lifting Tang San in his arms. As the baby was nestled against him, the smell of sweat, urine, smoke, and iron surrounded the child.

Ugh...

If Yun Chuan, who was enjoying the tender care of the Pope, had been here, he might have been overwhelmed by the stench and would have vomited. But Tang San had already gotten used to it. Even though it was unpleasant at first, he had gradually adapted.

After all, this was his father, and at this point, Tang San had no choice but to rely on him. He had to endure it.

Tang Hao held the small bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other. Little Tang San, still lying against his father's chest, stared eagerly at the spoonful of sheep's milk.

The feeding continued, spoonful after spoonful, but Tang Hao's expression remained unchanged. His face looked tired and indifferent, as if it was just a task to complete. There was no love in his actions, no sign of fatherly affection. Since his wife had died, sacrificed to him as a soul beast, his heart had died with her.

Tang San drank the milk slowly. His empty stomach felt warm, though the taste wasn't good. The milk had a strong lamb smell, and since it was from the previous night, there was a faint sourness to it.

But there was nothing he could do. If he didn't eat, he would remain hungry. And since birth, this was the kind of milk he had been raised on. Over time, he had gotten used to it.

If Yun Chuan had seen how his twin brother Tang San had been treated, he would definitely be thankful for being taken away by the Spirit Hall.

What kindness those people showed him! They weren't harming him at all, but rather rescuing him from this misery!

Spirit Hall.

After Yun Chuan, with his innocent and endearing "mama" cry, awakened the Pope's maternal instincts, his life became even more comfortable.

He was moved out of the small infant room where he had spent three months and into the Pope's personal chamber. He now shared the bed with the Pope, enjoying her personal care. As for the nanny who had taken care of him before, she was dismissed. Clearly, the Pope intended to personally take over his care and fulfill her long-suppressed maternal instincts while also relieving her long-standing problem of engorgement.

Every day, after completing her official duties, the Pope devoted all her free time to caring for Yun Chuan, treating him like her own child.

Yun Chuan, for his part, acted as the most charming and lovable child, doing everything he could to win her affection. He played the role of the innocent and adorable baby to perfection, ensuring that he remained the Pope's top priority and her protector in the Spirit Hall.

One month passed.

Yun Chuan was now four months old.

He was now able to stand with some support and could even walk shakily. His speech, though not fully clear, improved, especially when calling her "mama," which melted the Pope's heart.

However, he continued to limit his words, trying not to raise suspicion. While speaking a few words at four months might be seen as a sign of genius, being able to communicate like an adult would surely make people think that something was wrong with him.

For now, Yun Chuan kept his abilities within reasonable limits, so as not to attract unwanted attention or suspicion.

This day.

After feeding Yun Chuan, the Pope went out to handle official business, leaving him alone in the room to play. The room, now free of any dangerous furniture, was filled with toys instead.

Yun Chuan, having become accustomed to his role as a baby, was thoroughly entertained with the toys, acting just like a normal child, showing no signs of being anything but what he appeared to be.

"Click!"

The door gently opened.

Yun Chuan, sitting on a rug and playing with a toy, assumed it was the Pope returning. He instinctively turned his head, ready to call out "mama" but was suddenly caught in his throat. The words couldn't come out.

At the door stood not the familiar figure of the Pope, but a small, slender girl.

She was about ten years old, with long golden hair that seemed to sparkle. Her golden eyes were large and watery, and her delicate features made her seem like a perfect creation of the heavens. She wore a small white dress that added to her appearance of being a perfect little angel.

But at that moment, this golden-haired little girl glared at Yun Chuan with a look full of hostility. She seemed as if someone had stolen her favorite toy, her fair face puffing up with anger as she stared at him!

"Qian Renxue!"

Seeing this familiar face, Yun Chuan instantly recognized her identity. After all, with such distinctive features and the audacity to barge into the Pope's personal chambers, there was no doubt—this was the Pope's biological daughter, Qian Renxue.

End of Chapter