White World, Shrek Academy.
"It's finally over."
As the comparison video of Tang San from the dark world came to an end, Ning Rongrong let out a long breath. Watching it had been both painful and frustrating, enough to make anyone want to lash out.
"Hopefully Tang Chuan's story is better," she muttered. "At the very least, don't let him be so blindly filial to Tang Hao."
She simply could not accept that kind of obedience.
After several hours, the sky lit up once more, and the projection returned.
This time, it shifted to Tang Chuan of the white world.
At the beginning, the scene felt familiar.
Tang Hao fled through the mountains with Ah Yin and their newborn child, pursued by Spirit Hall Soul Masters led by Qian Xunji. To ensure their escape, Ah Yin chose to sacrifice herself, allowing Tang Hao to break through to the Title Douluo realm and obtain a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.
With grief burning in his chest, Tang Hao unleashed the Great Sumeru Hammer, detonating all nine spirit rings at once and severely injuring Qian Xunji before escaping with the child.
After that, everything followed the same path.
Until they arrived at Holy Soul Village.
After settling down, Tang Hao prepared to name his son. Thinking of Ah Yin, the third among their sworn siblings, he chose the name "Tang San."
But the moment the name was spoken, the child burst into loud, unrestrained cries.
At Shrek Academy, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but laugh.
"Our Tang Chuan is clearly different," she said with amusement. "He's already rebelling from the moment he gets his name."
Oscar quickly chimed in to agree, eager to please. "Exactly. 'Tang San' sounds so random. No one names their child like counting numbers."
But Tang Hao paid no attention.
After casually tossing the child aside, he picked up a bottle of liquor and drank until he collapsed into a drunken sleep. As for the baby, he was left in a crude cradle given by Old Jack.
Time passed.
More than a year went by in the blink of an eye.
As Tang Chuan grew, his condition became increasingly pitiful. Without proper care and with Tang Hao lost in constant drunkenness, he became frail, thin, and pale, clearly malnourished.
To survive, he had no choice but to fend for himself.
Standing on a small stool, barely steady, he struggled to cook using utensils larger than his own body. More than once, the stool tipped over, sending him crashing to the ground in pain.
Yet inside the house, Tang Hao continued snoring, completely indifferent.
Each time, Tang Chuan would grit his teeth, rub the bruised spots, and force himself back up to continue cooking.
In the Blue Silver Forest, Ah Yin broke down.
"Xiaochuan… my child…"
Seeing it with her own eyes was unbearable. Her heart felt as though it were being torn apart.
She had sacrificed everything for her child, yet the man she entrusted him to had reduced his life to this.
Her grief quickly turned into hatred.
Tang Hao… you hypocritical, despicable man. Not only did you force my sacrifice, you treated our child like this.
I will never forgive you.
Far in the northern ice lands, the Snow Empress and Ice Empress watched in silence.
"That human… he is unworthy of being called a father," the Snow Empress said coldly, anger flickering in her otherwise calm eyes.
Even beings who held little affection for humans could not ignore the suffering of a child.
Over time, Tang Chuan adapted.
He learned to cook steadily, and Tang Hao gradually handed over all household responsibilities to him without hesitation.
Tang Chuan endured everything in silence. He would prepare food for Tang Hao, but never once called him "father." The two lived under the same roof like strangers.
Instead, he grew close to Old Jack, often helping with chores as repayment for the kindness he received.
And in the village, he always introduced himself as Tang Chuan.
Because he preferred that name.
One day, Tang Hao overheard someone calling him Tang Chuan.
When he returned home, his expression turned cold.
"Your name is Tang San. I gave you that name. Who told you to call yourself Tang Chuan?"
Tang Chuan met his gaze calmly.
"I don't like the name Tang San. I prefer Tang Chuan. I love mountains and rivers. Is that not allowed?"
Those words only fueled Tang Hao's anger.
"I am your father. The name I give you is your name. You will not change it."
Tang Chuan let out a faint, mocking laugh.
"Father? What kind of father neglects his child from infancy, leaves all the work to a one-year-old, and spends every day drunk? Does such a father even deserve the title?"
His voice was steady, almost emotionless.
"I may not get to choose who my father is… but I can choose my own name."
That was the breaking point.
Fury erupted in Tang Hao's eyes as he struck Tang Chuan, sending him to the ground.
But Tang Chuan did not cry.
He simply stood up, covered his swollen cheek, and looked at Tang Hao with a cold, distant gaze.
Then he turned and walked out.
Behind him, Tang Hao's furious roar echoed through the house.
"Come back! I am your father. You will listen to me!"
But this time, Tang Chuan did not stop.