Chapter 40

After Shen Hanyu finished speaking, Shui Bing'er was visibly stunned. Then, almost instinctively, she took the gray pearl from Shen Hanyu's hand.

The Shark Pearl felt warm and smooth in her hand, giving off a faint fragrance. A fluorescent glow seemed to flow across its jade-like surface, while a gentle yet vast energy surged within. Carrying it on her gave her an unusual feeling.

"This is..."

Shui Bing'er stroked the Shark Pearl and asked curiously.

Shen Hanyu froze for a moment before suddenly understanding.

Soul Masters of this era knew little about treasures produced by Sea Soul Beasts. It could even be said they knew nothing at all. Even if they obtained one, they would likely only keep it as an ordinary collectible.

"This is a Shark Pearl. It can only be produced by shark-type Soul Beasts in the ocean. The chance of one appearing is very low, but its effects are excellent. Ordinary people simply do not know how to use it."

Shen Hanyu explained.

Shui Bing'er hummed in acknowledgment, then frowned slightly, her delicate brows knitting together as she said softly:

"Isn't that very precious? Are you sure you want to give it to me on our first... second meeting?"

Shen Hanyu smiled indifferently.

"It's fine. Take it. If you don't want it, I'll give it to your Sister or Ayu."

Shui Bing'er hesitated for a moment before slowly withdrawing her hand. She asked curiously:

"Shen Liuyu really is your sister?"

Shen Hanyu nodded and smiled softly.

"Absolutely. It's just that my family kept me well hidden, and I went out on my own to make my way in the world from a young age. Even many old acquaintances in Four Seasons City have forgotten I exist. I've never been able to sit still. If I don't go out, I can never stay at home for long..."

"Oh..."

Shui Bing'er responded, then looked toward the two people eavesdropping outside the fence. After hesitating for a moment, she said:

"May I ask what your Martial Soul is? I mean no offense. It's just that I feel like something in you is resonating with my Martial Soul. If you don't want to say, that's fine too..."

Shen Hanyu glanced over, then shifted his gaze back and said:

"My Martial Soul is the Cold Sky Spear. It came from a fusion mutation between my mother and father's Martial Souls. This may be your first time hearing its name, but spear-type Martial Souls are not uncommon on the continent. For example, the Soul Breaking Spear and Dragon Soul Spear both have lineages on the continent..."

Shen Hanyu paused before continuing:

"Shen Liuyu should have inherited my father's Ice Crocodile Martial Soul, but a beneficial mutation occurred when her Martial Soul awakened, so it became the Enamel Crocodile."

Shui Bing'er nodded in agreement. Her Martial Soul had also undergone an ancestral reversion, leaping from her family's inherited Martial Soul to the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, one that stood at the peak among bird-type Soul Beasts. But having a Martial Soul that was too powerful was not entirely a good thing, at least not for now.

"That sudden surge in Shen Liuyu's cultivation last time was your doing too, wasn't it?"

Shui Bing'er asked.

The last time Shen Liuyu went out, her cultivation had risen by several levels at once. It had even caught the attention of Shui Bing'er's aunt, the academy dean.

After all, Shen Liuyu and the others were all being trained as the future Skywater Team. There could not be the slightest mistake. In the future, they would become the academy's pride.

Her aunt carefully examined Shen Liuyu's body. After finding no problems whatsoever, she asked Shen Liuyu what had happened. Shen Liuyu stammered and failed to explain it clearly, so the matter was eventually dropped. Shui Ningbing did not press any further, merely reminding her to be more careful in the future.

Now that she thought about it, Shen Liuyu had an Older Brother who seemed unreliable yet exuded mystery in every way. Suddenly, everything seemed explainable.

As the sun tilted westward, Shen Hanyu and Shui Bing'er slowly chatted about related topics, getting along quite harmoniously.

Shen Hanyu was amazed. She was only nine, yet her mind was already so mature and composed. No wonder she would later overpower the other members of the Skywater Team, most of whom were two or three years older than her, and become their undisputed captain. She would lead the Skywater Team to outstanding results. Both her temperament and abilities were undoubtedly first-rate.

Shen Hanyu liked talking to intelligent people. It made him feel relaxed and equal, rather than standing alone on high and looking down on everyone else. That feeling of disregarding all things was not what he sought.

It was rather amusing. He had been in this world for more than fourteen years, yet the first time he felt this way was with a nine-year-old girl. He did not even feel this way with Dugu Bo. After all, Dugu Bo was not a bad person by nature. One could even call him a moral paragon from another perspective.

The two chatted in the courtyard as if no one else existed, completely ignoring the two younger girls outside, who had nearly been driven mad by mosquitoes and other little bugs. By the time they noticed, the resentment radiating from Shen Liuyu and Shui Yue'er had nearly shot into the heavens.

Holding back his laughter, Shen Hanyu handed the two girls a jar of ointment and motioned for them to apply it.

Shui Bing'er, on the other hand, felt somewhat guilty. She went over to help them personally while pouring each of them a drink.

Shen Liuyu glared at Shen Hanyu and said in feigned grievance:

"Older Brother~ Are you really my biological brother? You've never given me the things you gave Bing'er. I finally see you for who you are. You're a scumbag who values girls over his sister..."

Shen Hanyu knocked her on the forehead, carrying a hint of reproach.

How old was she now? It was true that feelings should be nurtured from a young age, but saying such things in front of the girl herself was still inappropriate. He did not have such filthy thoughts right now. At most, he was playing a little raising game, only to personally harvest the flower he had planted in the end...

"Enough. Why are you pretending to be pitiful? Don't you know whether I'm your biological brother or not? You still haven't even finished using everything I gave you. Heh, I really don't know how you cultivate so slowly. My investment in you has been completely wasted..."

Shen Hanyu mocked.

But that was indeed the truth. Nearly half a year had passed, yet Shen Liuyu had only barely reached level twenty-eight. She had gained just over one level. That was truly slow.

At this pace, who knew what she had been doing? This was also what displeased Shen Hanyu.

He could slack off because he had the memories of his previous life. He could obtain many opportunities, and even becoming a god was not particularly difficult for him. But apart from him, Shen Liuyu had almost no major support. Rather than relying on him all the time, she still needed to grow stronger herself. Only true personal strength was the way forward.

Shen Liuyu lowered her head somewhat sheepishly. She admitted that because she felt she had an Older Brother to back her up, she had indeed become somewhat lax in cultivation.

Shen Hanyu did not want to blame her too much. He merely ruffled her neat short hair and said nothing more.

At that moment, Shui Yue'er, who had finished applying the ointment, popped out from the side. She flashed Shen Hanyu a wide smile, then righteously held out her hand and said:

"Sis... no, Brother Yu~ You gave my sister a gift, so where's mine? I might not be as good as my sister in anything, but you can't be so biased, can you?"

Her tone was rather affected, making Shen Hanyu laugh. This little girl really was interesting.

Shui Bing'er was also embarrassed by her sister's boldness. She came over, grabbed Shui Yue'er's hand, and reprimanded her quietly:

"Yue'er, we are guests. Don't fool around!"

A trace of fear appeared in Shui Yue'er's eyes. She turned her head and looked at Shen Hanyu with a pleading gaze, wearing a pitiful little expression.

Shen Hanyu took out a lotus-shaped flower from his Soul Tool and handed it to Shui Yue'er with a smile.

"This is a Sea Contained Lotus. It's about five hundred years old. Refining it can increase your Soul Power. It's for you."

Shui Yue'er glanced at her sister before happily accepting it.

Shui Bing'er was somewhat helpless as well. She pulled Shui Yue'er by the arm and thanked Shen Hanyu.

Shui Yue'er also said sweetly:

"Thank you, Brother Yu. I'll bring my sister to visit you often in the future~ Hehe..."

Shui Bing'er lowered her head and rubbed her forehead, no longer bothering with her.

Shen Hanyu smiled and nodded without refusing.

Life was too monotonous. A little more fun was always good.

He was a living, breathing person. Naturally, he could not completely sever himself from desire. Everything came with bumps and stumbles, but life had to go on. Ordinary days had their own peaceful ease, their own unique beauty, just waiting to be discovered.

P.S.: I'm swamped to death. The day after tomorrow, I'm flying to Shandong, then to Gansu and Sichuan...