Deciding to Erase a Few More Zeros

No one spoke in the courtyard. Everyone silently watched Tang Ling, whose face was full of weariness.

After a while, Tang San lowered his gaze to her, tenderness in his eyes, and asked gently, "Senior Sister, why did you call us here?"

Tang Ling lifted her eyelids at his words, then straightened up. Ignoring the two still holding hands, she announced, "There's still some time before the Spirit Master Tournament. I'm planning to make a trip to Sunset Forest. I'll look for Dugu Bo, and you'll undergo special training there."

"We'll go together." Tang San frowned slightly and tentatively objected.

Tang Ling turned back to look at him. The instant she met Tang San's pitiful gaze, her resolve crumbled. "Fine. Then we'll all go see Poison Douluo's Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."

"Alright!" Seeing that his teacher no longer seemed angry, Xue Qingxi readily agreed.

Tang Ling glanced back at him, then looked away with a complicated expression and turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "How did things go between you and that Dai boy?"

"We talked everything through. Back then, if he hadn't left immediately, he would have died, while I was locked up at home and couldn't get out at all. Now I have somewhere good to go, but he still has to return and fight for the throne, so our engagement was dissolved. He said we could still be family in the future." Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment before answering in a low voice.

"Good. Talking things through is better for both of you." Tang Ling smiled and nodded. What she cared about was not the outcome, but whether Zhu Zhuqing had emerged from her bad mood.

After asking Zhu Zhuqing, Tang Ling could no longer avoid looking at Xue Qingxi and Ning Rongrong.

"Even though this sort of thing is common for you, I'm old-fashioned, so no intimate behavior is allowed!" Tang Ling glared fiercely at their clasped hands.

Ning Rongrong immediately released Xue Qingxi's hand and smiled ingratiatingly at Tang Ling. Xue Qingxi, meanwhile, looked utterly pitiful.

Tang Ling helplessly rubbed her forehead. "It's not that I oppose it. It's just that you're still too young."

"But they're both quite mature for their age." Tang San stood beside her and quietly chimed in.

Tang Ling shot him a glare. Then, as if she had figured something out, she waved a hand. "Do as you please. But before we leave, you need to tell your fathers about this!"

"Got it! Thank you for understanding, Teacher. I'll write to Father King later!" Xue Qingxi shot Tang San a grateful look, then took Ning Rongrong's hand again, his voice brimming with delight.

Ning Rongrong was equally excited. She patted her chest with her other hand and vowed, "Don't worry, Sister Lingling. I'll tell Daddy!"

Tang Ling sighed again. "Arrange your time yourselves, and don't forget to pack."

With that, she immediately dragged Tang San away. Her head ached; she could already foresee Sect Master Ning flying into a rage!

"Senior Sister, did people in your original world marry very late?" Tang San asked curiously as he watched her walk ahead with her head lowered.

"Yeah. You weren't considered an adult until eighteen. Unlike Xuanling Continent and Douluo Continent, where you could get engaged at thirteen." Tang Ling slowed her pace and answered quietly.

"That really is quite a difference." Tang San looked enlightened, then casually asked, "How old were you when you left your original world, Senior Sister?"

Tang Ling hesitated for a moment and decided to erase a few more zeros. Otherwise, A-Xuan would definitely be frightened.

After considering it, Tang Ling lowered her voice and replied, "I was 210 when I left."

Her actual age had a few more zeros added to it. She had already been at the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal when she left. Otherwise, she could never have followed the Grand Dao through different worlds.

"So that's where Senior Sister's imposing presence comes from. After accumulating it for so many years, no wonder you were so frightening when we first met." Tang San was startled inwardly, but his expression remained calm as he joked with her.

"Were you frightened back then? Why do I remember you stubbornly waiting to die?" Tang Ling gave him a sidelong glance.

Tang San immediately defended himself. "What are you talking about? I was just intimidated by Senior Sister's pressure!"

Tang Ling listened to him and looked at him with a helpless smile. "Fine, whatever you say." After all these years, he was still so stubborn.

Tang San smiled sweetly and acted cute toward her. Then he changed the subject. "I wonder if there are any Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest suitable for Fingertip Blade."

Tang Ling gave him a sidelong look and followed his lead in changing the topic. "There should be. Has your Soul Power reached level thirty-two?"

Fingertip Blade's first Spirit Ring had been acquired alongside the Five Elements Faceless Disc when he was level ten. Its second Spirit Ring, however, had been acquired when he was level twenty-two.

Alternating absorption like this could not only maintain a balance between his martial souls, but also keep the strength of his first and second martial souls from differing too greatly.

When they truly encountered danger, his second martial soul, as a hidden trump card, would have a greater chance of securing victory.

"Mm. I've fought too many battles these past few months, so my Soul Power has grown rather quickly." Tang San smiled and nodded.

Although Senior Sister might see him as a child, her indulgence was truly impossible to resist.

A glint flashed through Tang San's eyes. No matter what Senior Sister thinks, I won't let go. Nor can I.

"So you still need to take part in the Spirit Master Tournament. It's very important for your growth." Tang Ling did not notice his expression and spoke as they walked.

"Then we need to hurry and find the other teammates. It would be far too tragic if we couldn't participate because we didn't have enough people!" Tang San concealed his emotions, smiling as he winked playfully at her.

Tang Ling rolled her eyes at him with a smile, then patted his shoulder seriously. "Then this arduous task will be entrusted to Comrade Tang San!"

Tang San froze and repeatedly waved his hands. His mind raced as he considered who he could push the task onto.

A moment later, a mischievous smile appeared on Tang San's lips. He leaned close to Tang Ling and said, "Rongrong and Qingxi are both outgoing. Senior Sister can give the task to them."

"That's right! Then let them work hard at it!" Tang Ling smiled at him. Under his expectant gaze, she nodded in agreement.

A-Xuan's idea wasn't bad. Once they had a task, they would be busy. Those two little brats probably would not have much time left to flirt.

"Then let's tell them when we leave the estate." Having achieved his goal, Tang San did not forget to secure their last bit of leisure time.

Finding suitable teammates would not be easy. Besides, once Senior Sister got the idea, she would definitely intensify their training.

"Alright, you can tell them then." Tang Ling readily agreed.

She was not a rigid parent. She simply felt that the children were still young, and there were too many uncertainties.

But she understood Xue Qingxi. Although that boy seemed carefree, he was actually very cautious in his actions. He would never do anything he was uncertain about.

So although she had a headache over it, she had never considered separating them.

Tang San sensed her attitude and smiled as he nodded.

Over the following week, Tang Estate entered preparation mode. Steward Roger and the kitchen servants made a great deal of food and travel rations.

Tang Ersui and Tang Yiyin, meanwhile, replenished the supplies they would need in their storage spaces.

A week later, Tang Ling and the others eagerly set off for Sunset Forest.

They had completely forgotten about Xue Yang and Ning Fengzhi, who had already received their letters.