Repaying Kindness, Repaying Kindness, How Can I Repay Kindness Without Embracing It?

Repaying kindness, repaying kindness—how could you repay it without an embrace?

A year later, Red Mountain Academy.

"Class Monitor, how did your Soul Power break through to level fourteen? Why have I only reached level ten?"

When Tang Wulin learned that Long Yuan's Soul Power had already broken through to level fourteen, his face filled with envy.

Only after striving desperately to catch up under Long Yuan's encouragement had his own Soul Power barely reached level ten.

Tang Wulin simply could not understand it. He often worked so hard that he forgot to eat and sleep, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not catch up to Long Yuan's pace.

Aside from being unable to catch up in Soul Power, Tang Wulin discovered that after only one year of studying at Mang Tian Workshop, Long Yuan was already close to catching up with him in forging as well.

He had been studying forging at Mang Tian Workshop for three years.

Whenever Long Yuan practiced forging, he practiced too, and he even worked harder than Long Yuan.

"Maybe this is what they call being exceptionally gifted!"

Faced with Tang Wulin's question, Long Yuan did not know how to answer either.

Tang Wulin had also noticed that he had grown past 1.4 meters tall, making him somewhat taller than others his age.

Yet the height he had been so proud of was still overshadowed by Long Yuan.

Now, although they were both nine years old, Long Yuan had already grown past 1.5 meters.

In terms of appearance, he was even less of a match for Long Yuan.

Because of his long-term training and forging, which always left him drenched in sweat, Tang Wulin's facial pores were coarse, and his complexion was somewhat dark.

Long Yuan, on the other hand, had fair, tender skin that was even more delicate and smooth than a woman's.

Without realizing it, he had become the handsome boy of the class, even of the entire Red Mountain Academy.

Wherever Long Yuan went, he always drew the attention of quite a few girls.

"Class Monitor, um... my Soul Power has reached level ten. Could you go buy a Soul Spirit with me?"

Long Yuan was the class monitor and also the fastest cultivator in the class.

Without realizing it, Tang Wulin had become somewhat reliant on Long Yuan. Whenever he encountered difficulties in cultivation, he would come seek his advice.

To advance from the lowest rank of Soul Scholar to become a Soul Master, one needed a Soul Spirit of one's own and to obtain a Soul Ring.

Long Yuan was already level fourteen, so Tang Wulin assumed that he had long since acquired a Soul Spirit of his own.

Yet even now, Long Yuan had not rushed to purchase a Soul Spirit.

That was because when his Soul Power had reached level ten, the Golden Dragon King Bloodline had condensed a Blood Essence Soul Ring—the Golden Dragon Body—allowing him to reach level eleven and become a true Soul Master.

At the time, he did not fully understand his own situation, so he had not rushed to buy one.

Now that Tang Wulin had asked him about it, he also wanted to see what exactly a Soul Spirit was.

He wanted to see whether he could obtain a powerful Soul Spirit as well.

Moreover, after three years, they had already completed their studies at the Primary Academy. To attend an Intermediate Academy in a medium-sized city, one had to possess a Soul Spirit before being admitted.

"Sure. Go back and prepare the money for the Soul Spirit. We'll go together then!"

Tang Wulin was delighted for a long while when Long Yuan agreed to go with him.

Long Yuan shook his head. In the future, Tang Wulin's achievements would differ greatly from those in the original story.

Once he entered the Intermediate Soul Master Academy, he would have to rely entirely on himself.

After school, Long Yuan went to wait for Na'er at the school entrance as usual.

Before long, a flash of silver light came running out from the direction of the Comprehensive Teaching Building.

"Na'er, don't rush. I'm waiting for you. Don't fall!"

Na'er still had a head of short silver hair and was still an exquisitely adorable little girl.

Three years had passed, but she had not changed much. She was only a tiny bit taller than before.

She was practically a little loli who would never grow up.

"Brother Long Yuan, I just wanted to see you as soon as possible."

Just as before, Na'er ran up to Long Yuan and immediately leaped into his arms.

She clung to Long Yuan's body, and he held her with one arm as they headed toward the Snack Street nearby.

He and Na'er lived in Lin Ximeng's apartment, which was right beside the school, so there was no need to hurry back.

"Brother Long Yuan, I want Sugar-coated Haws, and... and Lollipops!"

Na'er pointed excitedly toward the entrance of the Snack Street across from them.

They happened to sell Sugar-coated Haws and Lollipops there.

"Alright, I'll take you to buy some!"

Everyone had long grown accustomed to the intimacy between Long Yuan and Na'er. They all envied Long Yuan for having such an adorable little loli sister.

Na'er had no martial soul, so she could only attend Red Mountain Academy for regular schooling.

She had entered the academy two years ago.

"Na'er, how old are you already? Why do you still want me to carry you everywhere?"

"Big Brother, I often hear people say that even a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Repaying kindness, repaying kindness—if I don't hug you, how can I repay you? So I have to hug you more, hehe..."

Long Yuan was rendered speechless by Na'er's answer.

After buying some snacks, Long Yuan took Na'er home, then went to Mang Tian Workshop to continue learning forging.

"Long Yuan, you're here!"

When he arrived at Mang Tian Workshop, a young man in his twenties greeted Long Yuan.

The man was tall and burly, with highly developed muscles from frequent forging.

"Brother Long, what task did Master assign today?"

Mang Tian Master assigned Long Yuan tasks every day. On one hand, it was to improve his forging skills; on the other, it was to sell the finished products for some money.

"Quite a few. Go take a look. I'm a little jealous of you, kid. You're only nine, yet your workload is already catching up to mine!"

The more forging work one did, the more one naturally earned.

Over the past year, Long Yuan had picked things up quickly, and the forging tasks assigned to him had steadily increased.

He had now become quite a wealthy child.

Mang Tian Workshop had four people: Mang Tian, Brother Long, Tang Wulin, and Long Yuan.

Brother Long, Tang Wulin, and Long Yuan were all Mang Tian's disciples.

Each of them had their own workshop. Mang Tian took on jobs forging mecha parts from outside, then distributed them among them.

He gave the simple jobs to his three disciples and handled the complicated ones himself.

The higher the quality of one's forging, the more tasks one would be assigned and the greater the pay one would receive.

Arriving at his own workshop, Long Yuan found a large pile of raw materials already stacked on the Forging Table, with blueprints placed beside them.

After briefly looking over the blueprints, he began forging.

The rhythmic clanging of metal rang out.

"That kid really is enviable. In less than a year, Master gave him a pair of Tungsten Steel Hammers."

Brother Long glanced toward Long Yuan's Forging Room, his face full of envy.

Mang Tian was extremely strict when it came to forging. Giving Long Yuan the Tungsten Steel Hammers meant that he had already become an official forger.

Tang Wulin was highly talented, yet it had taken him a full three years to reach Long Yuan's current level.

Although there were many tasks, they were no trouble at all for Long Yuan, who possessed Innate Divine Power, high comprehension, and Spiritual Power far beyond the norm.

He finished them before long.

"Master!"

After completing today's tasks and washing up, Long Yuan prepared to go home.

But at that moment, Mang Tian entered his workshop.

Mang Tian walked over to the Forging Table and carefully examined Long Yuan's work. He nodded, an approving look appearing on his face.

Besides checking the finished product, Mang Tian had mainly come to settle Long Yuan's wages for the previous month.

His pay was substantial—he was nearly earning more than Brother Long, who did not attend school.

After taking the money, Long Yuan hurried home. He now had enough money to buy a Soul Spirit.

Tang Wulin also received his wages from Mang Tian. His face was full of excitement; he had finally saved enough money to buy a Soul Spirit.

Tomorrow, he could go buy a Soul Spirit together with Long Yuan.

As for what they would buy, they would only find out tomorrow.

PS: The Blood Essence Soul Ring Golden Dragon Body also counted as a soul ring. In the original work, it was gold.