Leaving, Proposal

Na'er might not have liked talking, but when it came to eating, she did not hold back at all.

In no time, she had finished all the biscuits, small buns, and milk in front of her.

Tang Wuyang was hungry too, but his curiosity about Na'er clearly outweighed his hunger.

When Na'er subconsciously shifted her gaze to his portion of biscuits, Tang Wuyang finally realized that she had already finished her own.

He pushed his portion in front of Na'er. "Here, have this."

Na'er glanced at Tang Wuyang, then at the biscuits, and shook her head.

"It's okay, go ahead and eat. I had a lot for lunch, so it's fine." Tang Wuyang smiled and pushed the food closer to her.

Na'er hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not resist the temptation of food and began eating again.

Tang Wulin was watching television in the living room, but he had been paying attention to them all along.

When he saw that Na'er had the same appetite as his younger brother, he could not help but feel shocked.

Lang Yue sat down beside them. "Na'er, do you know where you're from? Or where your home is?"

Na'er shook her head.

Lang Yue asked again, "Then do you know any contact information for your family? Anything at all?"

Na'er still shook her head.

Lang Yue refused to give up and asked once more, "Then how old are you?"

Na'er finally spoke. "Five and a half."

"Oh? Then I'm your older brother. I'm older than you—I'm already six!" Tang Wuyang said excitedly.

Lang Yue shot him an irritated look. "In a little while, Mom will take Na'er to the administrator to see whether we can find her family."

"You and Linlin stay home and behave yourselves, understand?"

"Okay." Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin nodded obediently together.

Yet for some reason, as he watched Na'er leave with Lang Yue, Tang Wuyang felt an inexplicable reluctance rise in his heart.

Lang Yue took Na'er outside. Na'er still spoke very little and merely followed silently behind her.

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang exchanged a glance, then returned to their shared room together without a word, deciding to try Meditation.

Recalling what their Teacher had taught them in class that day, they sat cross-legged and began to Concentrate and calm down.

Meditation required quietness first. One had to sense oneself and sense nature. That was the first step.

Tang Wuyang cast aside the distracting thoughts in his mind and silently used his awareness to sense his Qilin Martial Soul.

In the early stages of Meditation, one could sense one's Martial Soul and Soul Power. Once one's spirit maintained a close connection with them, one could truly begin.

In his mind, a Qilin floated in midair, surrounded by constantly circling bands of seven-colored light. He seemed to sense that each color represented a different element.

A faint realization came over Tang Wuyang. He felt tiny particles in the air enter his body and merge into his weak Soul Power.

The fusion was neither fast nor abundant, but he could still feel his Soul Power slowly and steadily increasing through it.

He did not know how much time had passed before Tang Wuyang naturally awoke from his Meditation. His entire body felt cleansed, as though countless Elemental Molecules had wrapped around him.

However, when he opened his eyes, he was startled by Dad, who was sitting not far in front of him.

"Dad, why did you come home so early?" Tang Wuyang asked in surprise.

Tang Ziran smiled. "It's not early anymore. It's already dark. Looks like you and Linlin have both learned Meditation. Your first day of school went pretty well!"

Tang Wuyang said confidently, "Yes, Dad. I could feel tiny things merging into my body, and then my Soul Power started growing. That means I learned it, right?"

Tang Ziran was shocked inwardly. They had learned Meditation in just one day.

Although Tang Wulin had awakened half an hour earlier than Tang Wuyang, both boys had experienced the most correct sensation of Meditation. That was not something that could be taught.

"Looks like Yangyang and Linlin are both very talented!" Tang Ziran praised the two children without hesitation.

In his view, a child's growth should be accompanied by praise.

For children, confidence was far more important than anything else.

Tang Wuyang was a little pleased by Dad's praise, but before he could say anything, Tang Ziran's expression turned serious.

"Yangyang, Dad has something to ask you."

Tang Wuyang rarely saw his father looking so stern, and the pride on his face immediately faded. "Dad, what is it?"

As though realizing something, Tang Wuyang hurriedly protested, "Dad, I didn't do anything wrong. You said that a man had to be brave and dare to fight bad guys!"

"Besides, at school today, the other students laughed at Ge's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. They also laughed at me for eating too much. We didn't fight them. I was very good."

Tang Ziran stroked Tang Wuyang's head and patiently explained, "Being brave is not wrong, but bravery alone is not enough. It must be accompanied by wisdom."

"When you knew you could not safely save someone from those people, the first thing you should have done was seek help, not rush in by yourself."

"If you had not frightened them away by revealing your Martial Soul, you would have been in danger too."

"That wasn't bravery. That was recklessness."

Tang Wuyang thought about it seriously, then lowered his head. "Dad, I was wrong."

Tang Ziran smiled again. He knew his two sons well. If Yangyang was willing to admit his mistake now, then he had truly realized what he had done wrong.

"A man doesn't make the same mistake twice."

Tang Wuyang looked into Tang Ziran's eyes and nodded heavily. "Um~!"

"Although you were wrong, Dad still wants to praise you for protecting others." Hearing Tang Ziran's words, Tang Wuyang happily looked up at Dad.

Tang Ziran patted his younger son's head. "Now, let's talk about the next matter—the little girl named Na'er."

"Right, Na'er! Did Na'er find her Family members?" Only after Tang Ziran reminded him did Tang Wuyang remember Na'er.

Tang Ziran shook his head. "Your Mom took her to the administrator to check, but they could not find any registration for her."

"So Dad wants to ask you—what do you think we should do?"

Tang Wuyang thought for a moment and asked, "Dad, can we let her stay?"

Tang Ziran looked at him with an amused smile. "Let her stay? Dad and Mom can't take care of three children."

Tang Wuyang hurriedly said, "I-I can take care of her. Once I get out of school, I can take care of her!"

Tang Ziran only smiled and did not answer him. "All right, let's eat first. Linlin has already gone."

When they reached the Living room, Tang Wuyang was delighted to see Na'er already sitting beside Tang Wulin at the dining table, still wearing that silent expression.

"Na'er!"

Tang Wuyang called out, skipping over to her side and naturally taking her pale, tender little hand.

Lang Yue sighed. "We couldn't find any record of this child. We can only send her to the Orphanage."

"No! Mom, let Na'er stay."

Hearing that Na'er was going to be sent to the Orphanage, Tang Wuyang hurriedly spread his arms and stood in front of her. "Mom, don't send her to the Orphanage. Let Na'er stay, okay? I'll eat less from now on."

Na'er raised her head and stared blankly at Tang Wuyang's back.

His tiny body was not tall or imposing, but as she watched him stand protectively before her, Na'er's eyes reddened without her realizing it.

Lang Yue crouched down and looked directly into Tang Wuyang's eyes. "Yangyang, that's only what you want. Shouldn't you ask whether Na'er wants to stay?"

Tang Wuyang immediately turned to Na'er. "Na'er, will you stay? My Dad and Mom are really nice. You can live with me, and I'll protect you. Will you stay and be my Younger sister?"

"Um~!" Na'er actually nodded on her own initiative.

Having gotten her answer, Tang Wuyang excitedly hugged Na'er and jumped up and down. "Oh yeah! That's great! I have a Younger sister!"

Although Tang Wuyang said that, a child's appetite was not something they could control themselves.

Even though Lang Yue had made a great deal of extra food, she still could not satisfy the two Big Eaters.

The two adults and Tang Wulin had already stopped eating, while Tang Wuyang and Na'er were like Bottomless Pits.

Not only did they finish all the food on the table, they even ate the lunch Lang Yue had prepared for Tang Ziran to take to work the next day. Even then, they still seemed unsatisfied.

There were only two rooms in the house. Since Na'er was staying, she naturally could only live with Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang.

Since the small room already had a bunk bed, where Na'er would sleep became a major problem.

As she watched Tang Ziran stand in the room deep in thought, Na'er looked at his back helplessly.

Noticing Na'er's awkwardness, Tang Wuyang took the initiative. "Dad, Na'er can sleep in my bed. I can sleep with Ge."

As he said that, Tang Wuyang made an adorably pleading gesture toward Tang Wulin.

Seeing his younger brother's cute, pleading expression, Tang Wulin nodded helplessly in agreement.

Na'er seemed very tired. Once she lay down, she quickly fell asleep.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin sat together on the top bunk. Both of them tacitly sat cross-legged on the bed. They exchanged a glance and understood that the other felt the same.

"Dad, Ge and I will meditate for a while before sleeping." Tang Wuyang spoke to Tang Ziran below and to the side.

As Tang Wuyang spoke, Tang Wulin had already assumed the Meditation method taught by their Teacher and was ready to begin at any time.

Tang Wuyang was extremely satisfied with the feeling Meditation brought him and eagerly wanted to return to that sensation.

At the same time, Tang Wuyang suddenly found great motivation to become a Soul Master.

Previously, he had wanted to become a Soul Master for two reasons. First, to accompany his Older brother Tang Wulin, and second, to use the status of a Soul Master to lessen his Parents' burden.

But now, he suddenly had the urge to become stronger. He wanted to protect his Younger sister!

"Wait. You two, come out with Dad for a moment." Tang Ziran suddenly interrupted them, then headed for the Living room first.

The Brothers exchanged a glance, neither understanding what their father wanted from them.

Though confused, they obediently got out of bed and left the room.

When they reached the Living room, they saw Tang Ziran already seated on the sofa. He beckoned them over, signaling for them to sit beside him.

"Linlin, Yangyang, come. Dad has something to discuss with you."

"Dad, what is it?" Tang Wulin sat down on the sofa at a right angle to Tang Ziran's, on his right side.

Tang Wuyang sat beside Tang Wulin, his eyes full of confusion as he looked at Dad.

Tang Ziran did not beat around the bush. Looking into the two children's eyes, he said, "Linlin, Yangyang, Dad supports your choice to walk the path of Soul Masters."

"But Dad has also said that you will face many difficulties."

"Those difficulties will not only be in your studies, but also at home."

"Whenever a Soul Master cultivates to a level that is a multiple of ten, a Soul Ring is needed to achieve a breakthrough."

"In Ancient Times, Soul Rings could be obtained by hunting Soul Beasts."

"However, after tens of thousands of years of research, it was discovered that Soul Spirits had greater advantages than Soul Rings. Soul Spirits at the Advanced Stage and above could even grow, and Soul Spirits could be artificially created to a certain extent."

"A Soul Spirit is equivalent to the spiritual existence of a Soul Beast. Soul Spirits of different levels can grant a Soul Master one or more Soul Rings."

"And for Ordinary people like us, there is only one way to obtain a Soul Spirit: buy one from the Spirit Pagoda."

"Dad isn't very capable, and his wages are meager. They are enough to support our Family members, but now we have Na'er too."

"You've both seen it. Ever since your Martial Soul Awakening, Linlin's appetite has doubled. As for Yangyang, there's no need to mention him. And Na'er can eat just as much as Yangyang."

"So when your Soul Power reaches level ten, it will be difficult for Dad to Save money for even one lowest-level Soul Spirit, much less two."

"There are two ways to obtain a Soul Spirit from the Spirit Pagoda. One is for Students with exceptionally outstanding Martial Souls and fast cultivation speed. They can receive a recommendation from their academy and obtain a Soul Spirit from the Spirit Pagoda for free."

"But judging from your Innate Soul Power levels, it is clear that neither Linlin's Blue Silver Grass or Holy Dragon Spear nor Yangyang's Qilin has that opportunity."

"So if you want to obtain Soul Spirits, the only path left is buying them."

The two Brothers listened to their father's words and fell silent for a time.

They truly had not considered this problem. Yes, Soul Masters needed Soul Rings, and Soul Rings could be provided directly by Soul Beasts or obtained after fusing with Soul Spirits.

But in this age, Soul Beasts had become extremely rare. Seeing one was almost impossible, so buying Soul Spirits was the only path before them.

For two children who had just turned six, money was still a very vague concept. Yet the reality of the problem had already been placed before them.

"Dad, then what should we do?"

It was not just Tang Wuyang who spoke. Tang Wulin also looked helpless.

Tang Ziran gave a Wry Smile. "Dad's abilities only go this far. Over the next few years, Dad will work hard and try to Save money to help you as much as possible when the time comes."

"But Dad alone definitely won't be enough. You'll need to work hard yourselves too. Do you remember Uncle Mang Tian?"

Tang Wuyang nodded firmly. "I remember. Didn't he come to our house before?"

As Tang Wulin listened to his younger brother, the image of a tall, fierce-looking Middle-aged man involuntarily appeared in his mind.

Seeing that the children remembered him, Tang Ziran continued, "Uncle Mang Tian is an excellent Forging Master. Dad told him about our family's situation, and he is willing to give you a chance to become apprentices."

"Two hours every day. The first three months will be for learning. After three months, if you can Forge some simple items, you'll be able to earn some money."

After Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang heard their father's words, both their eyes lit up.

Tang Wulin looked at Tang Ziran seriously. "Dad, we're willing. When do we start?"

Tang Ziran looked meaningfully at his two sons. "Forging is very hard work. Do you really want to go?"

Tang Wuyang glanced at Tang Wulin beside him. After confirming the determination in his eyes, he nodded to Tang Ziran. "We want to go. Ge and I can Save money to buy Soul Spirits ourselves."

Tang Ziran smiled. "All right, then go give it a try. If you feel you can't handle it, we won't go anymore. Dad will think of another way."

"Okay, Dad. Wuyang and I will go back to the room to meditate first."

With that, the two of them ran back to their room, preparing for their second Meditation.