Night fell.
Wisps of cooking smoke drifted up from the Spirit Pagoda in the city center.
"Brother Long, I'm leaving tomorrow morning to enroll at Eastsea Academy."
After swallowing a huge mouthful with effort, Tang Wulin abruptly said, "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days."
Long Zijin paused, his hand still gently swirling a goblet of purple wine.
"I heard Uncle and Auntie say they can only give you a thousand Federal Coins each month for expenses. That probably isn't enough to cover your meals."
"Don't worry. Your meal allowance will arrive on time every month. It'll be enough."
As he spoke, he set down his glass. A faint glow flashed from his soul tool, and a stack of worn, creased banknotes was pushed over.
Tang Wulin recognized them at once from the folds and marks...
"These are the thirty thousand Federal Coins you used to buy a Soul Spirit. Keep them for yourself."
Long Zijin's tone was utterly calm.
Yet Tang Wulin's eyes reddened, and even his breathing carried a nasal tremor.
He considered himself the man his father had spoken of, yet in less than half a month, he had already cried in front of someone his own age enough times to make up for all the tears he should have shed in childhood.
Long Zijin knowingly asked, "What, did the Mandarin Duck Pot broth turn out too spicy?"
"Brother Long, I'll definitely study hard and forge diligently! I'll make you lots and lots of high-grade parts!" Tang Wulin said, his eyes glistening with tears but filled with determination.
When Mang Tian had mentioned Long Zijin's nearly selfless behavior, he had given Tang Wulin the most reasonable explanation: this young master surnamed Long had taken a liking to his forging talent.
A wealthy young master secretly raised in a small city like this would surely return someday to inherit his family business. A set of mecha, or even Battle Armor, would be the finest competitive advantage.
That was why he was willing to spend so much to cultivate Tang Wulin, this little forging prodigy, in hopes that he could lend him a hand in the future.
As the trembling thirty thousand Federal Coins returned to his hands, restoring the vessel that carried three years of memories, Tang Wulin's heart was filled with sweetness, bitterness, sourness, and saltiness.
In response to this promise of repayment, Long Zijin had wanted to say, Forget it.
After all, he lacked neither design blueprints, forging skill, nor rare materials. He had absolutely no use for that small measure of gratitude.
But to avoid hurting Tang Wulin's pride, Long Zijin could only casually say, "We'll talk about it then."
Tang Wulin said no more. He had always been a man of action and was not good with formal words, so he simply buried his head in the food, hoping each mouthful would help him grow up faster.
The visible delicacies on the table soon all disappeared into the mouth of the child with his head lowered.
At that moment, Long Zijin finished his last sip of Purple Spinal Fluid.
He slowly put down his wineglass and looked at Tang Wulin, who was still wolfing down food—or rather, at the space beneath the collar at his chest.
In his pupils, golden as spring water, a silvery-white scale was reflected.
It was the reverse scale of the Silver Dragon King, fashioned into a pendant and hanging around Tang Wulin's neck beneath his thin clothes.
After Tang Wulin finished his final bite and let out a satisfied, full belch, Long Zijin abruptly stood and said, "Come with me. I have a farewell gift for you."
Tang Wulin had wanted to refuse. He had already received too much in terms of daily necessities and did not want to continue accepting favors.
But Long Zijin had already walked into the shadows of the corridor, so Tang Wulin could only hurry after him.
Following that swaying cluster of Amethyst Flowing Cloud, the two walked deeper and deeper. At the darkest point ahead, a light was switched on with a snap.
Long Zijin stood before the illuminated forging table, picked up an object resting in its center, and handed it toward the doorway. "Here, catch."
It was also a pendant. Its outer layer was purple crystal, while a red-and-white petal was encased within, like a purple amber holding a flower.
Tang Wulin caught it instinctively.
It was still slightly warm in his hand, as though it had only recently been forged.
"Wear it. At a critical moment... it might save your life." Long Zijin stared fixedly at the forging table without looking directly at him.
Tang Wulin did not hesitate. He lowered his head and hung it around his neck.
The amber pendant immediately struck the Silver Dragon Reverse Scale with a soft tap.
As the Amethyst Flower Pendant settled against his heart, an indescribably wondrous warmth, as though their bloodlines were connected, flowed from Tang Wulin's heart through his entire body.
"Feels... so good..." Tang Wulin could not help voicing his feelings.
He actually had an illusion: the child who had shielded his little sister Na'er from wind and rain for three years had finally waited for an older child in the family to return home.
And this returned big "brother" had also opened a large umbrella over Tang Wulin.
It could not help making him feel as though he were being doted on...
The night before his long journey.
Tang Wulin tossed and turned, unable to sleep, so he simply crept into the courtyard.
With a slight dip of his head, he saw Teacher Mang Tian's pair of Deep Silver Bracelets.
Beneath the gentle night breeze and the sweet fragrance of grass, Tang Wulin felt only comfort. Of the two pendants at his chest, one was warm while the other was cool.
For a moment, he felt a heavy weight on his back.
Tang Wulin knew it was the burden of too many unseen expectations: his father, his mother, Na'er, his teacher...
And Brother Long.
His black eyes lifted toward the starry sky as Tang Wulin let the blue-silver ocean draw him into dreams.
Even now, the starry sky and the sea remained the goal he strove toward!
And now, Tang Wulin understood Long Zijin's question: Would you persist along the path of a Soul Master?
The answer was...
Two rows of alloy wheels rumbled over the steel rails.
"The soul-powered express from Aolai City to Eastsea City is about to arrive. Passengers with tickets, please proceed through the ticket gates in an orderly manner."
The announcement echoed throughout the station.
Tang Wulin slung his backpack over his shoulder.
Looking at the ticket gate where boarding had begun, he turned to the two behind him. "Di Bo, Brother Long, I'm heading to Eastsea City!"
"When the academy goes on break, I'll definitely come back to see you!"
Di Guangming rarely showed a smile, but he added, "Go on. Live well over there. You're at a crucial stage of growing, so if you can't keep up with your studies, eat more."
Tang Wulin's face twitched as he grumbled inwardly, Who says something like that?
At that moment, Long Zijin bent slightly and gave him one more hug, whispering in Tang Wulin's ear, "I need to leave too. If we both have time, perhaps I'll be the one coming back to see you."
Only then did Tang Wulin remember that Brother Long seemed to be only a few years older than him and was apparently still at the age of attending school.
Was he going to be taken away by his family too, just like Na'er?
A wave of sadness rose in Tang Wulin's heart.
With the cherishing feeling that every meeting might mean one less chance to meet again, he held Long Zijin tightly and whispered into his ear as well, "Brother Long, don't worry."
"I'll definitely become a great Soul Master!"
"Dad once said: all rivers flow into the sea. We'll always meet again someday."
With that, the Purple-Gold Twins parted once more, breaking free from the haze of chaos as they set out to carve new worlds of their own.
Before you continue