Douluo Dalu - Volume 12 - A Hammer Called Clear Sky

by Tang Jia San Shao

  Tai Tan suppressed his strongly surging heart,

  “This old slave Tai Tan, pays his respects to young master.”

  “Young master?”

  As these two words came out, apart from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School master Ning Fengzhi and the Bone Douluo who had unvarying expression, made practically everyone around turn pale with fright. Especially those teachers and students who had vaguely guessed Tai Tan’s strength were even more unable to hide their shock.

  Tang San was stupefied, a person who had previously been oppressing him until he was unable to breathe was actually kneeling in front of him, for a while he couldn’t adapt to the enormous contrast.

  “Senior, won’t you explain it clearly first.”

  Tang San stepped forward to lend an arm to Tai Tan, but this old fellow was determined to kneel.

  “Young master, this old slave has finally met you. Do you know master’s current whereabouts?”

  “Master?”

  From the meaning behind Tai Tan’s words, Tang San could naturally hear that what he indicated with ‘master’ should be his father.

  His father’s mien flashed through his mind. Tang San was unable to believe that his father, every day soaked in shoddy alcohol, would actually be called ‘master’ by a Spirit Douluo level power.

  The intense shock and sudden news momentarily put Tang San’s heart in disorder. Supporting himself on Tai Tan’s imposing body, for a moment he just stood there rigidly.

  “Hai hai. I think it would be better if you first found somewhere quiet, and then continued chatting about your master and servant situation, alright?”

  Just what is called ‘the participant is baffled, but the onlooker sees clearly’, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School master Ning Fengzhi standing to the side broke the awkwardness.

  Tang San came to himself at this, and hastily said:

  “Just so, senior you get up first, if there are any matters we’ll first find a place quiet.”

  Tai Tan somewhat vigilantly looked at Ning Fengzhi to the side, then stood up,

  “Young master, please follow to this old slave’s home to chat.”

  “This……”

  Tang San glanced at the Shrek Seven Devils next to him as well as Ning Fengzhi, and immediately felt embarrassed.

  Even though he was anxious to know just why Tai Tan had addressed him like that, Ning Fengzhi saved him just now and was moreover Ning Rongrong’s father, his coming here seemed to be in order to find him, if he left it would clearly be grounds for discord.

  What kind of person was Ning Fengzhi, how wouldn’t he see Tang San’s current awkwardness, with a slight smile he said:

  “I think it would be better like this, since we’ve already come to the Shrek Academy we should tour the place. Vigorous God should also be the guardian of a student here, so why don’t we all enter?”

  Even though Tai Tan was inwardly unwilling, as he also saw Tang San’s current awkwardness he forced himself to nod, saying:

  “Alright. Who is in charge of this Academy?”

  His last words were immensely loud, shocking the ears of the watching students so they rang.

  Even though Zhao Wuji wasn’t too willing to confront Tai Tan, right now he also didn’t have a choice. Quickly stepping forward, with a forced smile saying:

  “Old brother Tai Tan, long time no see, have you been well?”

  Seeing Zhao Wuji, Tai Tan looked distracted a moment, a cold light flickering in his eyes,

  “So it’s you kid. I couldn’t find you for all these years, but you’ve actually been hiding here. We’ll think about it under cover, find us a quiet place, I want to have a careful talk with the young master.”

  Whether it was Tai Tan or Ning Fengzhi, neither was someone Zhao Wuji could afford to offend. Right now Flender, Grandmaster, and Liu Erlong’s trio, as well as Dugu Bo, who might suppress an incident were all gone. He couldn’t wish to be ripped apart by this Vigorous God here. Hastily he said:

  “Everyone have come from afar, please come inside. All students return to class, who allowed you to gather here?”

  The students were quickly but gently returned to school by the teachers, while Zhao Wuji personally brought Tai Tan’s family, the people from Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, as well as Tang San into the Academy.

  Zhao Wuji gave Tang San a meaningful look, saying:

  “Little San, you go clean up first and change your clothes, afterwards come to the fourth floor meeting room.”

  Tang San currently wore little more than sweat and bloodstains, and even though his body had recovered under the assistance of Ning Fengzhi’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, his appearance was clearly too unsuitable. Together with the Shrek Seven Devils he headed for the dorms.

  “Ge, how are you?”

  Xiao Wu pulled at Tang San’s arm, gripping his right hand, slowly infusing her own spirit power into Tang San.

  Tang San hurriedly declined her good intentions,

  “Don’t worry Xiao Wu, I’m already fine.”

  Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)

  Ning Rongrong to the side hit her chest, saying:

  “Xiao Wu, don’t worry. My daddy’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has already reached the ideal seven treasure realm, not only can it assist, it also has powerful treatment capabilities. Before when the seven treasures came out simultaneously, even if third brother had stopped breathing he could still recover. There wouldn’t be anything wrong. But what was all that about just now? How does third brother and that old fogey fit together? That old fogey isn’t weak, my grandpa Bone said his strength was on the Spirit Douluo level.”

  Before Xiao Wu could speak up, Oscar already swiftly recounted the events. Seeing Ning Rongrong return, originally he was very happy, but as he saw Ning Rongrong’s father and that tyrannical grandpa Bone, he couldn’t help feel a bit apprehensive. It goes without saying that he had to restrain his original intentions of speaking his mind to Ning Rongrong as soon as she returned.

  Listening to Oscar’s explanation, Ning Rongrong couldn’t help laughing:

  “Beat the son and the father comes, beat the father and the grandfather comes. Does it keep going? Nevermind, third brother, next time they come looking for trouble, we’ll go together. Even though boss Dai isn’t here, with our combined battle strength we can hold them off for a while. If my daddy lends a hand, with his assistance we can hold them down.”

  Tang San’s current mood was very complicated. Tai Tan’s display just now had shocked him, and he vaguely felt that what he had said was related to his father’s disappearance. Could it be his father wasn’t just a drunkard? Was he a person that could make a Spirit Douluo address himself as a slave? Another step up, was perhaps only Title Douluo.

  Returning to the dorm, Tang San first sent back the others, including Xiao Wu. He quickly washed of the dirt and changed his clothes before swiftly running to the fourth floor of the school building.

  To him right now, Ning Fengzhi’s purpose in coming wasn’t important, what he most wanted to know about was what Tai Tan called him.

  Reaching the fourth floor, Tang San just saw Zhao Wuji stepping out from a meeting room.

  Zhao Wuji made a silencing gesture to Tang San, hurriedly pulling him over to a corner.

  “Little San, no matter what they tell you later, you must stay calm. That old fellow Tai Tan and Ning Fengzhi don’t get along, so I arranged them in two rooms. Who you see first is your decision. However, no matter what you mustn’t easily make any promises, if you can’t, you can ask to wait until Grandmaster and Flender returns.”

  Tang San was always calm, and after listening nodded,

  “Teacher Zhao, don’t worry, I know what I should do.”

  Zhao Wuji smiled wryly, right now he was only a foil. With this gap in strength, whether it was the Golden Iron Triangle or the Poison Douluo, as long as one of them was here the Academy wouldn’t be as passive as now.

  Tai Tan wasn’t bad, even tho
ugh his Strength Clan wasn’t weak, with so many teachers at the Shrek Academy, Zhao Wuji still wasn’t worried about him.

  But Ning Fengzhi was different, that leader of one of the seven great clans, those two resident Douluo alone were enough to make the four oceans tremble.

  Among all the seven great clans, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was ranked second, considered one of the upper three, above even Grandmaster’s Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

  Zhao Wuji wasn’t at all worried about Tang San, he was even a bit happy that Tang San had revealed his hammer just now. Even though he was shocked to learn Tang San had twin spirits, these twin spirits had now also become something that made even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School apprehensive.

  When Zhao Wuji had pointed out the two rooms, Tang San without the slightest hesitation first chose Tai Tan’s family, pushing open the door and entering.

  Tai Tan ranked higher, but when he saw Tang San entering he hastily stood up from where he sat thinking, and without waiting for Tang San to react, this Vigorous God once again fell to one knee,

  “This old slave injured young master, young master please choose a punishment.”

  Seeing Tai Nuo and his son follow Tai Tan’s example, Tang San’s face revealed a wry smile,

  “Senior, get up first. We’ll talk properly. Right now I don’t quite understand what’s going on. Why don’t you explain it all to me first. Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else, I’m not someone you’d call young master, my background is only as the most ordinary commoner.”

  Tai Tan looked distracted a moment. Standing up, he sized up Tang San and immediately asked:

  “Isn’t your father called Tang Hao?”

  Tang San nodded,

  “My father’s name is indeed Tang Hao, but he’s not someone you’d call master!”

  Tai Tan lowered his voice,

  “If your father is Tang Hao, then there’s no mistake. Young master, how did you and master live for all these years? How come you would use that Blue Silver Grass spirit?”

  “Hold on.”

  Tang San somewhat impatiently halted Tai Tan’s words,

  “Senior, can’t you first tell me what sort of person my father really is, how come you would call him master?”

  “You don’t know? Master didn’t tell you anything?”

  There was a pondering light in Tai Tan’s fierce eyes, and he paced back and forth within the room,

  “Young master, why don’t you first tell this worthless elder[ Now he’s referring to himself as (老朽) “old rotten”, a self denigrating appellation suggesting he’s gone decrepit with age.] how you lived with master for all these years. If master didn’t say anything, this worthless elder also daren’t speak out of turn.”

  Tang San felt a burst of dejection, and inwardly couldn’t help feel more and more perplexed,

  “From childhood I lived with father in Holy Spirit Village, father was the village’s sole blacksmith, and every day besides working, his only hobby was drinking.”

  “Blacksmith?”

  Tai Tan stared wide eyed, an expression of inconceivability in his eyes. For a moment his hair and beard quivered, and for a long time he couldn’t control himself,

  “Master, how could you be reduced to such a state, at that time, you were……”

  Here Tai Tan’s face was covered with tears, already unable to stop his sobs.

  Tang San was confused, he had already explained how miserably he had lived with his father, why would this formidable Spirit Douluo still believe his father was the one he called master?

  “Senior, I think, you really have the wrong person. My father is only a common blacksmith.”

  Tang San couldn’t keep from emphasizing it once again.

  Tai Tan wiped his tears,

  “Young master, even if I don’t know why master wouldn’t tell you about his identity, I can be certain I’m not mistaking you for someone else. Other things can be mistakes, but can spirits be wrong? Let me ask you, who did you inherit your Blue Silver Grass spirit from?”

  Tang San said:

  “It should be inherited from my mother.”

  Tai Tan questioned closer:

  “Then your other spirit? That little black hammer you held in your left hand before, who was it passed down from? Blue Silver Grass belongs to your mother, then that hammer can only belong to your father. I can make mistakes in other things, but if I couldn’t even recognize master’s Clear Sky Hammer[ (昊天锤) Alternatively “Boundless Heaven Hammer”. The first character is the same hao as in Tang Hao.], then I wouldn’t have the face to keep living in this world. The Clear Sky Hammer’s pattern is unique and unmatched, in those days I always followed at master’s side, how couldn’t I recognize it? This is a unique spirit!”

  Tai Tan’s words in the end revealed a gap, and hearing the words ‘Clear Sky Hammer’, Tang San’s whole body trembled. Grandmaster had taught him for so many years, of course he had told him about the seven great schools of the present age. Among the seven great schools were the three upper and four lower sects.

  The three upper sects were separately the Clear Sky School, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon School. The reason they were called the three upper sects was of course because these three great schools each had at least one Title Douluo guardian. Even though the four lower schools were quite powerful, they still didn’t have a power like those Title Douluo.

  Among them, the Clear Sky School was no doubt the most formidable existence of the three upper sects, in Grandmaster’s assessment, both the Clear Sky School and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had two resident Douluo, but even with the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School’s strongest Support Spirit, those two Title Douluo still wouldn’t stand a great chance of winning against the two resident Douluo of the Clear Sky School.

  As a result, this Clear Sky School could be said to be ranked first among the seven great schools, the first school in the whole Douluo Continent.

  And Clear Sky School’s inherited spirit was a kind of tool spirit, called: Clear Sky Hammer.

  Grandmaster had never said much about the Clear Sky School’s circumstances, this was all Tang San knew. Now hearing Vigorous God Tai Tan in front of him actually say that hammer of his was actually the Clear Sky Hammer, how couldn’t he be shocked?

  Raising his left hand, black light coalescing, the Clear Sky Hammer once again appeared in Tang San’s palm,

  “This is really the Clear Sky Hammer?”

  This time the distance was even shorter, and Tai Tan could observe the black little hammer in Tang San’s hand even more clearly. As soon as the little hammer appeared, he nodded without the slightest hesitation,

  “Only the direct blood relations can possess it. And among the direct blood relations of the school, only master has been away for a number of years straight, also only master’s name is Tang Hao, there’s no mistake. Young master.”

  Even though he didn’t say so in detail, this moment was already enough to tell Tang San that he was from the Clear Sky School.

  “You are saying, my father is directly blood related to the Clear Sky School, and I as well? No, that’s impossible. If father was from the Clear Sky School, why, why would he be reduced to a blacksmith?”

  What kind of position did the Clear Sky School hold in the Spirit Master world? It was a formidable existence even Spirit Hall wouldn’t lightly dare offend, in overall strength being capable of competing equally with Spirit Hall, were only the seven great schools.

  Especially the five Title Douluo of the upper three sects. Among the seven great schools, the Clear Sky School was very mysterious, it was rare for people to even know its location.

  But the Clear Sky School’s dignity wasn’t something anyone dared offend lightly. Even the current Spirit Hall Supreme pontiff would still be extremely respectful to it.

  If his father was born from the Clear Sky School, and was directly blood relate
d, then……

  Chapter 079: Lifetime’s Riddle Of Clear Sky Douluo

  Part 1 (TL by Asphyxia, Bagelson)

  Thinking about all of this, Tang san remembered his father leaving him a letter before he left. Placing his hand on Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges, he took out the already yellowed letter from his belt.

  “Senior, do you recognize this handwriting? When I was six years old, my father left this letter behind and left home and never came back.”

  Tang San showed the letter to Tai Tan, which he often took out to read, this was the only trace of his father. Every time Tang San took out this letter, he couldn’t suppress the longing he had of his father.

  “Little san,

  By the time you see this letter, I have already left.

  Do not bother trying to find me, you can never find me.

  Although you are still young, you have the ability to provide for yourself.

  Young eagles must spread their wings on their own and fly, only then will they soar to great heights.

  There’s no need to worry about me, in your character there is a lot of your mother’s softness.

  Father is a useless man.

  You have grown bigger, father has to go back to get some things that originally belonged to me.

  Someday, we father and son will meet again

  I wish for you to become strong, but at the same time I do not wish for you to become strong. This is your own path and your own choice.

  If one day you feel that becoming a spirit master is not the job for you, you can return to holy spirit village and become a blacksmith like me.

  Do not miss me,

  Tang Hao”

  Tang San had always considered this letter a memory, entrusted with his father’s thoughts of him. But reading it again now, combined with what Tai Tan had suggested about his identity, it suddenly held a completely different meaning.

  Especially the line “I wish for you to become strong, but at the same time I do not wish for you to become strong” showed the mixed feelings Tang Hao had when he wrote this letter. Also, the thing that Tang Hao wanted to take back, what might it be?

  After reading the letter, Tai Tan had a peal of despondency, and could not help but think out loud: