Inside the carriage.
Ye Lingling couldn't help picking up on the implication in her mother's words, and her pretty face turned faintly red.
Behind the long, deep-blue bangs covering her eyes, a flicker of astonishment passed through her beautiful eyes, followed by a rush of embarrassment and annoyance.
Although... Tang Yin was quite handsome, he looked even younger than me.
Besides, we've only just met!
How could Mother... How could she be so eager to match us up?
Though Ye Lingling didn't dislike Tang Yin.
But as a young girl, she still held on to her innocent fantasies. She hoped even more to have a relationship that blossomed naturally.
But since her mother had only been hinting around and hadn't said anything outright,
Ye Lingling could only lower her head and remain silent.
The carriage traveled for nearly seven days.
At last, they arrived at Heaven Dou Imperial City.
As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City was far grander than a remote border town like Nuoding City.
Its towering walls, broad streets, bustling crowds, and Soul Masters visible everywhere all proclaimed the city's prosperity and might.
The carriage rolled through the bustling streets before finally stopping in front of a sprawling estate with peaceful surroundings.
A plaque hung above the estate's gate, bearing two ancient, gilded characters in bold, flowing script: "Ye Mansion."
The elegant strokes seemed to brim with a supple vitality.
Beside them was the begonia-flower emblem of the Nine-Heart Begonia Family.
When the servants guarding the gate saw that the family head and young lady had returned, they immediately bowed respectfully. One of them hurried inside to announce their arrival.
Before long, a tall, middle-aged man with a refined face and a hint of heroic bearing came out to greet them, his face bright with joy.
He was Ye Lingling's father and Ye Zhilan's husband—Ling Zhantian.
"Zhilan, Lingling, you're back! Did everything go smoothly? Did Lingling obtain her Second Soul Ring?"
Ling Zhantian strode forward and looked at his wife and daughter with concern.
He was a Soul Douluo-level expert and one of the Nine-Heart Begonia Family's key pillars. He was mainly responsible for the family's external affairs and security.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, his gaze fell on the two unfamiliar boys behind Ye Zhilan and Ye Lingling.
Ling Zhantian paused, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
Who were these two boys?
Seeing this, Ye Zhilan smiled warmly, stepped forward, and naturally slipped her arm through her husband's. Then she said gently,
"Zhantian, let me introduce them!"
"These two are talented young men Lingling and I happened to meet in the Star Dou Great Forest: the brothers Tang Yin and Tang San."
"The brothers went into the forest alone to hunt for Soul Rings. They're both exceptionally gifted and courageous."
"When I saw how much they'd achieved at such a young age, I took a liking to them. I also learned they wanted to settle in Heaven Dou Imperial City, so I invited them to stay with us, where we could look after them."
Then Ye Zhilan smiled at Tang Yin and Tang San and introduced her husband.
"Xiao Yin, Xiao San, this is my husband and Lingling's father, Ling Zhantian."
"You can call him Uncle Ling."
Tang Yin brought Tang San forward, and the two cupped their fists in greeting.
"This junior, Tang Yin/Tang San, greets Uncle Ling!"
Ling Zhantian tamped down his confusion, then smiled warmly and returned their salute.
"There's no need for such formalities, young men!"
"If Zhilan invited you, then you're honored guests of the Ye Mansion."
"You must be tired after such a long journey. Come inside and rest."
As he spoke, Ling Zhantian secretly sized up Tang Yin and Tang San.
The boys were young, but their eyes were clear and resolute, and their bearing was steady.
The blue-haired boy called Tang Yin, in particular, had a sharp edge about him. He was clearly no ordinary youth.
His wife had always been a keen judge of character. If she thought so highly of them that she'd brought them home herself,
then these two boys were likely extraordinary indeed.
The group entered the estate.
Within the Ye Mansion, pavilions and towers stood among winding streams and little bridges. Its layout was elegant yet imposing, and every corner spoke of a century-old family's heritage.
Ye Zhilan personally led the way, first bringing Tang Yin and Tang San to a sumptuous lunch.
Throughout the meal, she warmly served the brothers food, asked about their tastes, and fussed over them like an elder doting on younger relatives.
Ling Zhantian joined the conversation as well, speaking in a mild manner.
But he didn't say much; mostly, he watched them.
After lunch,
Ye Zhilan personally showed Tang Yin and Tang San to a quiet, elegant courtyard on the eastern side of the estate.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it had everything they needed and was beautifully kept. It was clear that care had gone into preparing it.
"Xiao Yin, Xiao San, you can stay here for now."
"Make yourselves at home. If you need anything, just ask the servants, or come straight to me."
Ye Zhilan smiled as she gave them instructions.
"You've only just arrived in Heaven Dou City, so take a few days to rest and get familiar with the place."
"After that, if you have any plans—like which academy you'd like to attend, or anything you want to learn about—you can tell me."
"Thank you, Aunt Ye!" Tang Yin and Tang San said together.
After seeing the Tang brothers settled in, Ye Zhilan left the courtyard and immediately turned to Ling Zhantian and Ye Lingling, unable to hold back her eagerness.
"Zhantian, Lingling, come with me to the study. There are a few things I need to discuss with you."
Ling Zhantian's ominous feeling grew even stronger.
He glanced at his wife, then at his daughter, who had her head lowered and her cheeks faintly flushed. He had a vague idea what was going on.
The three of them entered the study. Ye Zhilan closed the door, released her Soul Power, and spread it around the room to keep their voices from carrying.
"Zhilan, what exactly is going on?"
Ling Zhantian spoke first, his brows knitting together.
"Those two boys... Tang Yin and Tang San. Where did they come from?"
"Why are you being so kind to them and bringing them straight home?"
Ye Zhilan smiled, sat down behind the desk, and took a sip of tea before answering slowly.
"Zhantian, don't rush. I'll explain everything."
Then Ye Zhilan told them how she had met the Tang brothers in the Star Dou Great Forest,
how she had watched the brothers join forces to kill a thousand-year-old Vajra Overlord Tiger,
how Tang Yin had absorbed a thousand-year Soul Ring as his Second Soul Ring, and helped his younger brother Tang San do the same,
and how Tang Yin had created the Thunder Body Tempering secret method. She recounted it all, one thing after another.
Of course, she also mentioned that she hoped to recruit them, and that she had tried to bring Tang Yin and Lingling together during the journey.
The more Ling Zhantian heard, the more astonished he became.
Only seven or eight years old, yet already Soul Grandmasters; able to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring beyond their level; had created their own body-tempering secret method...
Each accomplishment alone was enough to make them geniuses, yet Tang Yin had managed all of them!
And Tang San, though a little less impressive,
had also absorbed a thousand-year Second Soul Ring under his older brother's guidance. He was no ordinary boy, either.
"That kind of talent... is truly astonishing."
Ling Zhantian forced down his shock, then said thoughtfully,
"If everything you've told me is true, Tang Yin's future is limitless."
"Recruiting him would indeed be a great boon to the Nine-Heart Begonia Family."
"But..."
Ling Zhantian changed tack and looked at his daughter, who had her head lowered and was absently twisting the edge of her clothes. He still had some concerns.
"Zhilan, isn't it a bit too soon to try to match him with Lingling?"
"Lingling is still young, and they've only just met."
"Matters of the heart can't be handled so carelessly."
"What if Tang Yin isn't a good person, or has some other motive..."
"Impossible!"
Ye Zhilan's brows drew together, and she flatly rejected the idea.
"I've sounded them out many times along the way. Those two boys may be clever, but they're absolutely the kind who repay kindness!"
"Besides, what do you mean, they've only just met?"
"Didn't my father set you and me up back then? Had we known each other for very long?"
"And look at us now—we're happy, aren't we?"
Hearing this, Ling Zhantian scratched his head, looking rather awkward.
As someone who'd been through the same thing himself, using that as an excuse really wasn't very convincing.
But as a father,
the thought of his little girl being promised to someone so soon
still left Ling Zhantian feeling reluctant and a little heartsore.
Before you continue