(Ye Lingling · Picture Share 1)
"Father!"
At that moment, Ye Lingling bit down on her lower lip, unable to hold back any longer. She raised her head, her cool voice carrying a hint of resistance.
"I... I don't want to think about this just yet."
Although she was indeed somewhat curious about Tang Yin and had a favorable impression of him,
she still didn't want to enter a relationship with Tang Yin so quickly, let alone agree to an engagement.
It was too soon!
She and Tang Yin barely knew each other!
Seeing that his daughter was also somewhat opposed, Ye Zhilan sighed, set down her teacup, and spoke solemnly.
"Zhantian, Lingling, I understand your concerns."
"I'm not saying we should settle on an engagement right away. That would be far too frivolous."
"I simply think that Tang Yin is an exceptional child. His talent, character, and intelligence are all first-rate, and his future achievements will certainly be considerable."
"He and Lingling are close in age. If they spend more time together and develop feelings for each other, then if things work out in the future, it would be the best choice both for Lingling and for our family."
As she spoke, Ye Zhilan turned to her daughter, her tone softening.
"Lingling, Mother isn't trying to force you."
"It's just that you're at an age when you should start getting to know boys your own age."
"I've observed Tang Yin carefully. He's sincere with others, loyal and devoted, and protective of his younger brother. When faced with danger, he's calm and decisive. He's certainly not the sort to harbor ill intentions."
"Spend more time with him. If you decide you're not suited to each other, Mother won't force you."
"But such an outstanding young man is right before you. Wouldn't it be a shame to miss your chance just because you're too reserved?"
Ye Lingling bit her lip and said nothing, but her cheeks grew even redder.
She couldn't help recalling the way Tang Yin had fought the Vajra Overlord Tiger in the forest, and how he'd spoken with her mother along the way—neither servile nor overbearing, his thoughts clearly laid out...
Her mother was right. He was indeed outstanding.
Ling Zhantian looked at his wife, then at his daughter, and sighed.
"Zhilan, you make a fair point."
"Having such a genius as my Ye family's son-in-law would naturally be a tremendous boon."
"But we need to take our time with this. We can't rush it."
"We should observe Tang Yin's character a little longer, and we also need to respect Lingling's own wishes."
"Besides, you've been so eager to win them over and have even hinted at a marriage alliance. How could someone as clever as Tang Yin fail to see that?"
"If he really has ambition, he might go along with it, but we can't know what he truly thinks."
"We need to test his sincerity."
Ye Zhilan sighed and nodded.
"I understand. That's why I've settled the brothers here. It's a gesture of goodwill, and it also makes it easier to observe them."
"As for their feelings, that should naturally be left to the young people themselves."
"We only need to give them a chance and let things take their course."
Meanwhile, in the East Courtyard,
after Ye Zhilan had left with Ling Zhantian and Ye Lingling,
Tang Yin strolled around the courtyard, looking it over. He nodded, quite pleased.
"This place is really nice!"
Beside him, Tang San still seemed hesitant and uncertain.
"Big Brother, isn't Aunt Ye being a little too nice to us?"
Thinking of how warmly Ye Zhilan had treated them from the moment they first met,
Tang San still felt something was a little odd.
Tang Yin smiled and patted his younger brother on the shoulder.
"It's fine!"
"There's a saying: 'When someone offers you a kindness for no reason, they're either up to something or after something!'"
"But from what I can see, Aunt Ye wants to tie us brothers to the Nine-Heart Begonia Family's chariot. She might even... want me to be her son-in-law!"
"Son-in-law?!"
Tang San's eyes widened.
"It's just a guess."
Tang Yin scratched his head as he spoke.
He couldn't be completely certain, either.
After all, until something happened, there was always room for things to change.
"But whatever the case, for us right now, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks."
Tang Yin continued.
"We don't know Heaven Dou Imperial City well, and we don't have any connections here."
"There are a lot of things I want to do next, and it'll be difficult to get them off the ground relying on just ourselves!"
"But if we can get help from the Nine-Heart Begonia Family, things will be much easier!"
"Sure, we'll owe them a favor, but we can repay it later!"
Tang Yin smiled easily.
"Besides, the Nine-Heart Begonia Family is a family of support-type Soul Masters."
"Plenty of the family's support-type Soul Masters must lack the ability to protect themselves."
"Little San, as long as we can make Hidden Weapons in the future and sell them to the Nine-Heart Begonia Family at a discount, that'll be enough to repay these favors!"
Tang San thought it over and felt the same.
"Then, Big Brother, what should we do next?"
"Heh!"
Tang Yin smiled.
"First, we'll focus on cultivation. Tonight, we'll go check out Heaven Dou's Great Soul Arena!"
"We've been cultivating at the academy all this time, and we haven't really fought anyone properly yet!"
"Taking part in Soul Fighting at the Great Soul Arena will hone our combat skills and earn us some money. Two birds with one stone!"
Afterward, Tang Yin returned to his room with Tang San. They sat cross-legged on their beds and began cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Unlike before, after absorbing his First Soul Ring,
he had broken straight through to level twenty!
This time, although Tang Yin had absorbed a two-thousand-year-old Soul Ring from a Vajra Overlord Tiger, he hadn't broken through to level thirty.
He had only reached level twenty-nine.
So Tang Yin still needed to cultivate to level thirty before he could break through.
And absorbing the Vajra Overlord Tiger's two-thousand-year-old Soul Ring had also released Soul Power that greatly improved Tang Yin's physical strength.
Now, Tang Yin didn't immediately cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Instead, he planned to compress the Mysterious Heaven Skill inner force in his body again, until it reached the limit his current physique could withstand.
In the blink of an eye, night fell.
After successfully compressing his inner force to the limit his body could currently withstand, Tang Yin slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and opened his eyes, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
Compressing his inner force slowed the increase in his Soul Power Level.
But it made his foundation more solid and gave him greater potential for the future!
"Little San, are you ready?"
Tang Yin left his room and knocked on the door next door.
Tang San opened the door. His eyes shone with restrained brilliance, showing that he'd gained something from his cultivation as well.
"Big Brother, I'm ready."
The brothers left the East Courtyard and, guided by a servant, arrived at the main hall of Ye Mansion.
Ye Zhilan was talking with Ling Zhantian. When she saw them arrive, a warm smile immediately spread across her face.
"Xiao Yin, Xiao San, finished cultivating? Are you settling in all right?"
Ye Zhilan asked with concern.
"Thank you for asking, Aunt Ye. It's a lovely place, and our cultivation has gone smoothly."
Tang Yin clasped his hands in greeting.
"Aunt Ye, Uncle Ling, we brothers have only just arrived in Heaven Dou City, and we're curious about everything here."
"We heard Heaven Dou City has a Great Soul Arena famous across the continent. We'd like to go take a look and, while we're there... participate in a few Soul Fighting matches to hone our combat skills."
At that, Ye Zhilan's eyes lit up, and a warm smile appeared on her face.
"You want to train at the Great Soul Arena? You're certainly hardworking!"
"But you've only just arrived, and you don't know Heaven Dou City well. The Great Soul Arena has plenty of rules, too. It could be troublesome without someone to show you around."
As she spoke, Ye Zhilan looked toward her daughter, who was sitting quietly to the side, and said with a smile,
"Lingling, you're free right now, so why don't you take Xiao Yin and Xiao San to the Great Soul Arena?"
"You often go there with Yanyan to take part in Soul Fighting and watch matches, so you know how everything works. You can show them around."
Ye Lingling had been looking down at her fingertips. At this, she paused and raised her head, meeting her mother's meaningful gaze.
She immediately understood what her mother had in mind. This was another chance for her and Tang Yin to grow closer.
A trace of helplessness stirred in Ye Lingling's heart.
But she was only somewhat opposed to getting engaged to Tang Yin.
She didn't dislike Tang Yin himself; she even had a bit of a favorable impression of him.
Besides, Tang Yin and Tang San were guests who had come from afar.
As their host, it was only right for her to take them there.
"Yes, Mother."
Ye Lingling answered softly.
Then she stood and looked at Tang Yin and Tang San.
"Gentlemen Tang Yin and Tang San, please come with me."
"Then we'll trouble you, Miss Lingling."
Tang Yin could guess what Ye Zhilan had in mind, but having Ye Lingling show them around would indeed be much more convenient. He smiled brightly and clasped his hands in thanks.
After leaving Ye Mansion, the three of them headed for Heaven Dou's Great Soul Arena.
The Heaven Dou Imperial City at night was nearly as bustling as it was during the day.
Shops lined both sides of the street, all brightly lit. The crowds streamed past, and hawkers called out without end.
Along the way, Tang Yin asked Ye Lingling all kinds of questions about Heaven Dou's Great Soul Arena.
Before long, the three of them arrived in front of Heaven Dou's Great Soul Arena.
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