Finally able to leave, Jiang Chen couldn't wait to get out the door, planning to go home and study his zombie martial soul properly.
Tang San and his father had been watching from the side the whole time. When Jiang Chen walked out, they immediately followed.
"Little friend, wait a moment." Tang Hao, holding Tang San's hand, suddenly called out to stop Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen turned back in confusion and realized the person calling him was actually Tang San's father, Tang Hao.
He had only ever observed Tang Hao from a distance before. This was the first time he had been so close to a Title Douluo.
Tang Hao was as unkempt as ever, his hair like a bird's nest, looking as if it hadn't been washed in ten days or half a month.
His face was weathered, his build sturdy, and the clothes on his body were covered in patches.
Tang Hao was the only blacksmith in the surrounding villages. Logically speaking, he shouldn't be living so poorly, but unfortunately, all the money he earned was spent on alcohol.
"Uncle, is there something you need me for?" Jiang Chen asked curiously.
He could now freely control the corpse energy inside his body, so he was no longer afraid of Tang Hao. He figured Tang Hao wouldn't be so cruel as to smash him with a hammer.
"The day before yesterday, it was you who sent a fish to my little San, right? That was very thoughtful of you. Come to my uncle's house to play for a bit today. You and little San are about the same age, so you can interact more." Tang Hao said with a smile.
Jiang Chen thought for a moment and said, "Okay."
Tang San, beside him, was stunned. In all these years, he had never seen his father smile. He never expected that it would be because of that hateful Jiang Chen.
Instantly, the way Tang San looked at Jiang Chen was like he was looking at a monster, though deep in his heart, he felt extremely grateful.
All these years, his father had been drowning his sorrows in alcohol, living in a daze. Today, because of Jiang Chen, he actually showed a smile. This was undeniably a good thing.
Seeing Jiang Chen agree, the smile on Tang Hao's face became even gentler. He reached out wanting to take Jiang Chen's hand, but was firmly held back by Tang San.
Tang San gripped his father's hand tightly with both hands, using strength from his waist and legs at the same time, even employing the Thousand Catties Drop technique, trying to prevent Tang Hao from walking toward Jiang Chen.
"Dad, don't go near him, he's dangerous." Tang San quickly shouted.
Even he himself had almost fallen victim before. He was very worried about his father; if he were to be infected by Jiang Chen's corpse poison, he'd definitely get seriously ill.
Moreover, the momentum when Jiang Chen had just awakened his martial soul, the black mist emitted by that zombie martial soul, contained corpse poison who-knew-how-many-times stronger than Jiang Chen's previous one. In Tang San's mind, Jiang Chen's danger level had risen another major tier.
"Hm?" Tang Hao looked down in surprise. He knew Tang San was very strong, but he hadn't expected that at just six years old, he would already possess such power.
He slightly exerted force in his arm and very easily lifted Tang San, who was using every ounce of strength he had, into the air.
Tang Hao smiled and said, "What danger could a child possibly have?"
Being held in the air by his own father, Tang San was shocked by how powerful his father was. He had secretly used his soul power just now, his strength reaching several hundred jin, yet he was effortlessly lifted by his father.
Helpless, he could only let go and fall to the ground.
"Dad, you don't know. Jiang Chen has the nickname 'Plague God'. It's very easy for people who get close to him to get poisoned." Tang San said worriedly.
Jiang Chen had a playful expression on his face. His pitch-black gem-like eyes rolled around once, then he ran forward and directly wrapped his arm around Tang San's shoulders.
Caught off guard by being hugged by Jiang Chen, Tang San's whole body immediately stiffened like a startled hen with its feathers standing on end.
"Uncle, let's go then." Jiang Chen smiled. With one arm firmly hooked around Tang San's shoulder, his smile was extremely bright.
A smile appeared on Tang Hao's face. He nodded and led the way ahead.
"Let's go, little San." Jiang Chen brought his mouth close to Tang San's ear, licked his lips, and said.
Looking at the two small tiger teeth Jiang Chen revealed right next to his neck, Tang San remembered how Jiang Chen looked when his martial soul possessed him earlier, and instantly felt his blood run cold.
He was really afraid that Jiang Chen's teeth would suddenly pierce through his neck, puncture his blood vessels, and then drink his blood.
Other people on the Douluo Continent might not know what a zombie was, but he knew very clearly that they were beings that especially sucked human blood.
Tang San fully activated his inner strength, twisted his body, and in one movement broke free from Jiang Chen's hold, darting a few steps to his father's side.
Jiang Chen was somewhat speechless. Tang San's courage was really too small. He had only bared his teeth a little; was there really a need to react so dramatically?
"But that kid's neck actually smells quite nice." Jiang Chen couldn't help swallowing a large mouthful of saliva. He had never drunk human blood before. Being so close to Tang San just now, he suddenly felt a fatal temptation. In his eyes, Tang San's neck seemed to have turned into a fragrant chicken leg.
He shook his head, suppressing that desire, and quickly caught up with the Tang father and son.
He still didn't understand why Tang Hao had suddenly invited him. This was somewhat abnormal.
"Could it be that Tang Hao has taken a fancy to my peerless talent and wants Tang San to become friends with me?" Jiang Chen thought to himself.
When they passed by the group of watching villagers, those villagers scattered in fright. Previously, they had dared to approach within five meters of Jiang Chen, but now they wouldn't dare come within fifty meters.
"That Tang Hao is really bold. Isn't he afraid of dying?"
"Exactly. I think we shouldn't ask him to make farm tools for us anymore in the future."
"Mm, well said. I'll also tell my boy to stay away from Tang San."
...
Tang Hao held one of Tang San's hands and one of Jiang Chen's, walking toward their home.
Tang San kept turning his head, looking at Jiang Chen from behind his father's butt. He was really afraid Jiang Chen would do something improper and hurt Tang Hao.
He had even already begun calculating in his heart the methods to deal with corpse poison.
Although in his previous life he had never seen corpse poison, he had still read about it in the Hundred Poisons Scripture.
Mild corpse poison could be detoxified using glutinous rice.
"Luckily, there is still some glutinous rice at home." Tang San felt slightly relieved in his heart.
...
When they arrived at Tang San's house, Tang Hao smiled and said, "Little Chen, right? Make yourself at home, don't be polite."
Jiang Chen smiled and sat down.
Tang Hao suddenly realized that after inviting Jiang Chen over, he actually had nothing to offer him as a host.
"Ahem... Little San, come in for a moment." Tang Hao said as he walked into the inner room.
Tang San quickly followed. "Dad, what did you call me for?"
Tang Hao made a shushing gesture and said softly: "You know how to catch fish, right?"
Tang San nodded, not understanding why his father would suddenly ask this. Although he had never actually caught fish before and had no experience, with his hidden weapon skills, catching these things would be extremely easy for him.
"Ahem... Look, we have a guest at home now. Go catch a couple, and we'll make dinner." Tang Hao's old face actually showed a hint of redness.
Tang San finally understood. He gave his father a strange look, extremely puzzled. His father seemed like a completely different person today.
Though puzzled, this feeling was actually quite nice. He had never seen his father as happy as he was today.
"Maybe I should actually thank Jiang Chen." Tang San thought to himself.
After coming out of the inner room, Tang San leaned close to Jiang Chen's ear and threatened, "Don't you dare hurt my dad, understand?"
Jiang Chen nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'm a good person."
Tang San gave Jiang Chen another warning look, then went out the door.
Jiang Chen felt quite speechless inside. "Your father is a hidden big shot. How much guts would I have to have to dare bite him? Wouldn't that just be courting death?"