Stay, A Proposal

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

In no time at all, she had finished all the cookies, little buns, and milk in front of her.

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

When Na'er unconsciously looked toward his portion of cookies, Tang Wuyang realized that she had already finished her own.

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

Na'er looked at Tang Wuyang, then at the cookies, and shook her head.

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

Na'er hesitated for a moment, but she 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 the whole time.

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

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 how to contact your family? Anything at all?"

Na'er still shook her head.

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

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

"Oh, then I'm your big brother. I'm older than you—I'm already six!" Tang Wuyang said excitedly.

Lang Yue shot him an annoyed glare. "Later, Mom will take Na'er to the administrative officer to check whether we can find her family."

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

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

But for some reason, as he watched Na'er leave with Lang Yue, an inexplicable reluctance welled up in Tang Wuyang's heart.

Lang Yue took Na'er out. Na'er still spoke very little, merely following 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.

They recalled what the teacher had taught them in class that day, sat cross-legged, and concentrated and calmed down.

Meditation first required quietness—feeling oneself and feeling nature. That was the first step.

Tang Wuyang cast aside the distracting thoughts in his heart and silently sensed his Qilin Martial Soul.

During the initial stages of Meditation, one could sense one's Martial Soul and Soul Power. Once one's spirit maintained close contact with them, one could truly begin.

In his mind, a Qilin floated in midair, surrounded by continuously circling bands of seven-colored light. He sensed that each color seemed to represent an element.

A faint realization came over Tang Wuyang, and he felt tiny things 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 woke from his meditative state. His whole body felt cleansed, as though countless elemental particles had enveloped him.

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

"Dad, why are you back 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 at school went pretty well!"

Tang Wuyang nodded firmly. "Yes, Dad. I could feel tiny things merging into my body, and then my Soul Power started getting stronger. That means I've learned it, right?"

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

Although Tang Wulin had awakened half an hour before Tang Wuyang, both boys had experienced the most correct meditative state. That was not something teaching alone could achieve.

"Looks like Yangyang and Linlin are both quite gifted!" Tang Ziran praised his two children without reservation.

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 his father'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 if realizing something, Tang Wuyang hurriedly protested, "Dad, I didn't do anything wrong. You said that a man should be brave and dare to fight bad people!"

"Besides, at school today, the other students laughed at Brother's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and made fun of 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 isn't wrong, but bravery alone isn't enough. It must go hand in hand with wisdom."

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

"If you hadn't scared them off by displaying your Martial Soul, you would have been in danger too."

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

Tang Wuyang thought seriously for a moment, then lowered his head. "Dad, I was wrong."

Only then did Tang Ziran smile again. He understood his two sons well. Since Yangyang was willing to admit his mistake now, it meant he had truly recognized it.

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

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

"Although you made a mistake, Dad still wants to praise you for protecting others." Hearing Tang Ziran's words, Tang Wuyang happily looked up at his father.

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

"Right, Na'er. Did Na'er find her family?" Only after Tang Ziran reminded him did Tang Wuyang remember Na'er's situation.

Tang Ziran shook his head. "Your mother took her to the administrative officer to check, but they couldn't find any registration for her."

"So Dad wants to ask you: what do you want to do?"

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

Tang Ziran looked at him with a faint 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 merely smiled and did not answer him. "All right, let's eat first. Linlin has already gone over."

When they arrived in 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 and skipped over to her, naturally taking hold of her soft, fair little hand.

Lang Yue sighed. "We couldn't find any records for this child. We can only send her to an orphanage."

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

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

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

His small body was not tall or imposing, but seeing him protect her in front of him, Na'er's eyes reddened uncontrollably.

Lang Yue crouched down and looked directly into Tang Wuyang's eyes. "Yangyang, that's only what you want. You still need to ask whether Na'er wants to stay."

Tang Wuyang immediately turned around to look at Na'er. "Na'er, will you stay? My dad and mom are really nice. You can live with me, and I'll protect you. Stay and be my little sister, okay?"

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

Having received her answer, Tang Wuyang excitedly hugged Na'er and jumped around. "Oh yeah, that's great! I have a little sister!"

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

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, the two still seemed unsatisfied.

There were only two rooms in the house. Since Na'er was staying, she naturally had no choice but to 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.

Seeing Tang Ziran standing in the room deep in thought, Na'er looked helplessly at his back.

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

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

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

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

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin sat together on the top bunk. In perfect unspoken understanding, both sat cross-legged on the bed. They exchanged a glance and understood that the other was thinking the same thing.

"Dad, Brother and I will meditate for a while before sleeping." Tang Wuyang spoke to Tang Ziran, who was diagonally below them.

While Tang Wuyang was speaking, Tang Wulin had already assumed the meditative posture their teacher had taught them and was ready to begin at any moment.

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

At the same time, Tang Wuyang suddenly became highly motivated 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. 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 little sister!

"Wait. You two, come out with Dad for a moment." Tang Ziran suddenly interrupted them, then took the lead in heading toward the living room.

The brothers exchanged a glance, neither understanding why their father wanted to see them.

Though puzzled, they obediently climbed down from the bed and left the room.

When they reached the living room, Tang Ziran was already sitting on the sofa. He beckoned them over, signaling for them to sit beside him.

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

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

Tang Wuyang sat beside Tang Wulin, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked at his father.

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 a Soul Master."

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

"These won't only be difficulties in your studies. There will also be difficulties at home."

"Whenever a Soul Master cultivates to a whole-number multiple of ten in Soul Power, a Soul Ring is needed to complete the breakthrough."

"In ancient times, Soul Rings could be obtained by hunting Soul Beasts."

"But after tens of thousands of years of research, it was discovered that Soul Spirits had greater advantages than Soul Rings. Soul Spirits of 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: buying one from the Spirit Pagoda."

"Dad isn't very capable, and his salary is meager. It's enough to support our family, but now there's Na'er too."

"You've both seen it. Since your Martial Soul Awakening, Linlin's appetite has doubled. As for Yangyang, there's no need to mention it. Na'er's appetite is even on par with Yangyang's."

"So when your Soul Power reaches Level Ten, it will be very hard for Dad to save enough money to buy even one lowest-grade Soul Spirit for you, much less two."

"There are two ways to obtain a Soul Spirit from the Spirit Pagoda. One is for students with especially 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's clear that neither Linlin's Blue Silver Grass and Holy Dragon Spear nor Yangyang's Qilin has that opportunity."

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

The two brothers listened to their father, and for a moment, neither spoke.

They truly had not considered this issue. That was right—Soul Masters needed Soul Rings, and Soul Rings could be directly provided by Soul Beasts or obtained after fusing with Soul Spirits.

But in this day and age, Soul Beasts were already exceedingly rare. It was nearly impossible to see one, leaving them with only the option of buying Soul Spirits.

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

"Dad, then what should we do?"

It was not only Tang Wuyang who looked helpless. Tang Wulin wore the same expression.

Tang Ziran gave a bitter smile. "This is all Dad can do. Dad will work hard over the next few years and try to save more money to help you when the time comes."

"But Dad alone definitely won't be enough. You'll need to work hard too. Do you still 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 fierce-looking, tall middle-aged man involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Seeing that the two children remembered him, Tang Ziran continued, "Uncle Mang Tian is an outstanding Forging Master. Dad told him about our family's situation, and he is willing to give you an opportunity to become apprentice workers."

"Two hours a day. The first three months will be for learning. After three months, if you can forge some simple things, 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 seriously at Tang Ziran. "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 do it?"

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

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

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

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