When he returned home and stepped inside, he was greeted by that tempting aroma.
Lang Yue saw Tang Heng at the entryway and hurriedly told him to wash his hands and come eat. She also asked where Na'er had gone.
"She's playing outside for a little while. She'll be back soon."
"It's already dark. It's not safe for a girl to be out alone. Heng'er, go bring her home so we don't worry."
Tang Heng smiled helplessly. With Di Tian by Na'er's side, he couldn't imagine what kind of being could threaten her safety.
But since his mother had spoken, he had no choice but to do as she said.
"Mom, I bought you something at the mall. Here, take it. There's something for you and Dad."
Lang Yue accepted the gift Tang Heng handed her and smiled. "Now that you're earning money, spend more of it on yourself. If your dad and I want anything, we can buy it ourselves."
"I know, I know. I'll go find Na'er first. If I'm not back for a while, I'll be eating out with her."
"Fine, fine. Don't stay out too late. Remember to come home early."
"Okay—"
"Oh, right. Buy some more beef stew while you're out. Wulin will probably be hungry after he finishes meditating, and I'm worried we won't have enough food at home for him."
"Okay, I understand."
Tang Heng shook his head helplessly and turned to leave again.
He wondered how things were going with Na'er.
Still, the outcome was good. Na'er hadn't left home as she had in the original story, where Yun Ming took her on as a disciple and brought her to Shrek.
And what about Gu Yue?
Without the bet she'd made with Na'er, he hoped Gu Yue would truly take up her duty as the Soul Beast co-ruler and not disappoint Di Tian and the others.
In the original story, it was because of that so-called bet that Gu Yue came to Tang Wulin's side, gradually fell for him, and successfully unlocked her lovestruck mode.
It was as though she'd been bewitched. After that, she couldn't stop herself, which led to that melodramatic ending later in the original story.
As soon as he stepped outside, Tang Heng spotted Na'er and Di Tian nearby.
However, because Di Tian had laid down a field, outsiders couldn't see anything amiss without his permission or sufficient strength.
Inside the dark domain, besides Na'er and Di Tian, another stunning figure had now appeared.
Her long silver hair flowed down her back to her ankles. It was not only smooth, but had the lustrous texture of silver crystal.
She possessed a beauty beyond words; no description could do justice to her breathtaking features.
Her fair skin was slightly pale, and her eyes were purple. Even in the most ordinary white shirt, she looked strikingly alluring.
Unlike in the original story, Gu Yue had lost the bet, and the human form she'd taken was exceptionally beautiful.
This was the Silver Dragon King's true form—not the ordinary appearance she had deliberately adopted in the original story to get close to Tang Wulin.
Sensing Tang Heng's arrival, all three turned to look at him at the same time.
Na'er's eyes held joy and the relief of having survived a catastrophe. Di Tian's held respect and admiration. Gu Yue's, on the other hand, were complicated, filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Tang Heng understood.
After all, she'd woken from a nap to find not only an additional personality, but also Di Tian recognizing a new master.
What do you mean, the Dragon God is right beside me?
Then what am I?
Those were all the questions in Gu Yue's mind now.
She looked at Tang Heng. The faint yet undeniable pull she felt was the strongest proof that Di Tian had told the truth.
Her origin was calling out to him, along with a yearning and a deep attachment.
It was like a hungry nestling encountering a storm-battered petrel returning home.
"Venerable, as you instructed, Miss Na'er has been separated from our master's body."
"However, with this separation, our master may no longer be able to return to her original strength..."
Tang Heng waved a hand. "That's all right. I can use my own origin to replenish the Silver—sorry, what should I call you now?"
"Gu Yue, I suppose. It doesn't mean anything special. I just picked the name on a whim."
"Very well. I'll replenish the part of your origin lost when Na'er was separated from you. You only need to come to me regularly. The power of Dragon God Transformation can restore your origin, though the process will take a long time and be rather tedious."
Gu Yue was startled.
Na'er had taken three-tenths of her origin with her. That was a genuine part of the Dragon God's other half. Even a human god king wouldn't dare claim they could restore it.
This man really is the Dragon God from another time and space.
Gu Yue was bewildered. For a moment, she had no idea how she should face Tang Heng.
She was part of the Dragon God; one could say that the Dragon God had made her who she was.
So should she call Tang Heng Father?
"Y-yes, sir..."
Tang Heng had no idea what was going through Gu Yue's mind. By the time he found out, it would have become a running joke.
"Brother!"
Na'er ran over. A flash of silver light appeared in her hand, and a long silver-white spear materialized.
The spear was over a zhang long, but slender. Tiny silver scales covered its shaft, each one hexagonal, delicate, and evenly spaced.
The spear had a point at only one end. The point made up about a third of the weapon's length, tapered to a cone, and had twelve grooves.
"The Silver Dragon Spear? Not bad, not bad."
Na'er loved it when Tang Heng patted her head. Watching them, Gu Yue suddenly felt a longing rise within her.
She seemed to want a head pat just like Na'er.
Gu Yue suddenly noticed Di Tian glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Only then did she realize she'd let her feelings show.
"Ahem. What should I do next?"
Gu Yue spoke, trying to steer the conversation in another direction.
Tang Heng withdrew his hand and shielded Na'er behind him. "Join the Spirit Pagoda as the heir to a reclusive family."
"I suggest you approach Leng Yaozhu, the current vice-master of the Spirit Pagoda. For various reasons, her faction has been declining within the Spirit Pagoda. That means they'll definitely accept an olive branch offered at this point."
"Have Zi Ji pretend to be your mother. Xiong Jun and the others can play the other elders in your family."
"As for the rest of the details, you'll have to work them out yourselves. I've given you all the information and guidance you need."
Gu Yue gave a slight nod. Even if Tang Heng hadn't said anything, she was confident she could handle everything, proud as she was.
Suddenly, all three of them raised their heads at the same time. Na'er was the only one whose cultivation was too low to sense the gaze from nearby.
"Venerable, we've been discovered. The person approaching is powerful—probably one of the top human experts."
Tang Heng sensed it too. He'd encountered that aura earlier today; there was no way he could forget it.
"What a clingy pest. Di Tian, help me put on an act in a moment."
"Understood."
Before you continue