Please, Don't Cry

Su Qiu turned and exchanged a look with his Uncle, Su Wuyan.

At once, both saw the amusement in each other's eyes as they desperately held back their smiles.

"Ahem." Afraid that he would burst out laughing if he stayed any longer, Su Wuyan hurriedly grabbed Su Qiu and led him outside.

"Old Chen, I just remembered that I still need to help Xiao Qiu with his school enrollment. We'll be leaving first."

Every year, the Awakening Day was immediately followed by the start of the school term. All six-year-old children began attending school to receive an education.

This was a Sun Moon Federation regulation. Every child had to receive nine years of compulsory education: three years at a junior academy and six years at an intermediate academy.

Naturally, those nine years of education were free, a welfare policy of the Federation.

After that, anyone who wanted to advance to a higher academy could only rely on themselves—either by achieving outstanding grades or spending a great deal of money.

If they could do neither, they could only attend a vocational school.

Now that his Martial Soul had awakened, it was time to prepare for enrollment at a junior academy.

According to Su Wuyan, he would handle Su Qiu's Soul Master training, while Mu Chen would teach him forging. The main reason Su Qiu was being sent to school was to receive basic education beyond Soul Master knowledge.

Besides, interacting more with children his own age would benefit the little boy's physical and mental health.

Thus, Su Wuyan took Su Qiu to complete the enrollment procedures for East Sea Junior Academy.

However, along the way, they came across a particularly eye-catching little girl.

The girl had a rare head of silver short hair that gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight, dazzling to the eye.

She was squatting by the roadside, her little face filthy and her clothes tattered, looking as pitiful as a small beggar.

Suddenly, as though she had sensed something, the little girl abruptly raised her head. Her clear purple eyes looked at Su Qiu and met his gaze.

Something was wrong.

Su Qiu shuddered, and a chill flashed through his heart, though the feeling came and went in an instant.

For that brief moment, his Intuition had issued a warning, only to fall silent again for some unknown reason.

Unable to figure it out, Su Qiu quietly retreated behind Su Wuyan.

"Little sister, where are your father and mother?" As if on cue, several thug-like young men approached the little girl.

After getting a clear look at her, greed gradually filled their eyes.

"What a rarity. That silver hair, and those eyes are beautiful too. Tsk, tsk."

One of the young men crouched down and said in a frivolous tone, "Little sister, where's your family?"

The little girl shook her head slightly without saying a word.

The young man immediately pressed his advantage, smiling as he said, "You must be hungry, right? Big brother will take you to get something tasty. Once you're full, I'll help you find your family. How about it?"

This time, the little girl shook her head even harder.

Pretending not to see it, the young man reached out. The others surrounded the little girl.

"A bunch of animals." Su Qiu could no longer stand it. Suppressing the doubts in his heart, he charged forward.

Su Wuyan did not move and merely watched in silence. They were just a few petty thugs without even a trace of Soul Power. There was no way a Super Douluo like him needed to step in.

Su Qiu rushed into the crowd and stood in front of the little girl. He immediately cursed, "You stupid bastards, your daddy's here!"

"Just a little brat, and you want to play the hero saving the beauty... Huh?" One of the young men's eyes lit up after he got a clear look at Su Qiu's face, which was no less attractive than the little girl's. His luck was incredible today—buy one, get one free.

What the hell, man?

That disgusting look enraged Su Qiu, and he launched an attack without warning.

Though he had barely fought in either his past or present life, he had stats!

A simple, unadorned elbow strike landed on the young man's chest, sending him flying like a kite with its string cut. Accompanied by the sound of cracking bones, he collapsed limply onto the ground.

The horrifying sight made the others turn and flee without hesitation.

"Hmph, trying to run?"

A green Soul Ring rose into the air, and howling gusts appeared, dragging them back and crushing them together in a heap.

Su Qiu stepped forward and gave each of them another elbow strike, knocking them all flat.

After settling everything, he turned to the little girl.

"It's all right now. Do you have any family?"

The little girl remained silent, only shaking her head.

"Then I guess you don't." Su Qiu flashed a bright smile. "Don't be scared. I don't have any either."

"You brat!" Su Wuyan could not stand it any longer. He walked over and smacked Su Qiu on the head.

After thinking for a moment, Su Wuyan decided to see how Su Qiu would handle this matter.

"What are you planning to do next, kid?"

"What else? Call the police and wait for the Administrator to deal with it."

"Heh, I thought you were going to see it through and take her home to raise her. Such a cute little girl, after all."

"How would that make me any different from those animals?" Su Qiu snapped irritably. "Besides, when you come across a homeless little girl, what kind of decent person's first reaction is to abduct her and take her home? Obviously, you call the police first!"

Su Wuyan fell silent. There was nothing wrong with handling it that way.

"Na... Na'er." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Who said that?" Su Qiu dug at his ear.

The little girl grabbed the corner of Su Qiu's clothes. She seemed a little shy, lowering her flushed little face as she said gently, "I... My name is Na'er. I'm willing to go home with you."

Su Wuyan: "Hm?"

Su Qiu: "Huh?"

"I saved your life, and you still want to latch onto me?"

The little girl froze. A mist gradually filled her large violet eyes, and she looked as though she was about to cry.

Su Wuyan: This child is beyond saving.

Su Qiu raised his hand impatiently, intending to pull Na'er's hand off the corner of his clothes, but suddenly stopped.

Huh?

Na'er?

That sounded awfully familiar.

Na'er!

A chill shot straight up Su Qiu's back to the top of his head. He carefully sized up the little girl again.

Silver hair. That matched.

Wandering the streets. That matched.

Even the name was right.

This was bad.

So that momentary Intuition from earlier had been about this!

Just let her keep holding on. Su Qiu obediently lowered his raised hand.

It wasn't that he was cowardly. This was the Silver Dragon King!

Inside the harmless-looking little girl before him was the Silver Dragon King, invincible in this era!

Why had she come to Eastsea City? Shouldn't she have been in Aolai City?

Then she was supposed to be harassed and abducted by a few hooligans, after which Tang Wulin would save the damsel in distress.

Huh, this development felt awfully familiar.

Damn it, wasn't that exactly what I just did?!

Su Qiu was horrified. It seemed like he had been set up.

Swallowing hard, Su Qiu looked into Na'er's eyes once more. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he felt as if a Giant Dragon was hidden within them.

"Don't... don't cry." Su Qiu's voice came out in fits and starts. "I'm begging you."

Hearing that, Na'er sniffed hard and held back her tears. Big brother told her not to cry, so she would not cry.

"Yes, just like that."

Just wait for the Administrator to arrive like this. He could dump the karmic entanglement on the Administrator. Na'er's family definitely would not be found, unless the Administrator could find Di Tian. When that time came, he could still have Na'er sent to an orphanage.

On the street, the boy stood stiffly frozen in place. The girl obediently clutched the corner of his clothes, drawing frequent stares and backward glances from passersby.

Su Wuyan had long since vanished. He had taken the few hooligans away, preparing to secretly dispose of them.