The sight of that incomparably familiar face sent Su Qing's thoughts drifting into the distance. Remembering the other's resolve when she had stayed behind alone to hold off their pursuers, he couldn't help but laugh at himself. If only he'd been a little stronger. If only he'd planned things a little more carefully...
"Xiao Qing, what are you thinking about? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Tang Ya hadn't even had time to marvel at how Su Qing had become as pretty as a girl when she saw mist clouding his eyes. What was going on with this kid? Had he awakened an insanely powerful Martial Soul and burst into tears of joy? Or had his entire family been slaughtered when he was little, leaving him with a blood feud?
Tang Ya's voice pulled him back from his thoughts. That was right. He would grieve over Gu Yuena's departure, but he wouldn't let himself be crushed by it. He would carry on living with Gu Yuena's hopes in his heart. With Su Qing around, the Soul Beast Clan she cared about would never become helpless prey for others to butcher.
"It's nothing. I just awakened such a powerful Martial Soul all of a sudden, and it's a little hard to take in. I haven't quite come around yet."
He waved a hand and turned his gaze to Tang Lin, who stood nearby holding a Soul Power testing crystal.
"Uncle, could you test my Soul Power for me?"
"Sure."
Tang Lin nodded. He already had a few guesses about Su Qing's Soul Power. Just from the strange phenomena that had appeared when his Martial Soul manifested, he could tell the boy's Innate Soul Power had to be at least rank eight. As for why he didn't guess Innate Full Soul Power? Come on, he'd been in Heaven Dou City for ages and had never seen anyone with Innate Full Soul Power. How could you just run into a genius like that? Did he think this was a novel?
The moment Su Qing touched the crystal, a dazzling light filled it from end to end. Tang Lin's eyes went wide. It really was Innate Full Soul Power! This kid... was incredible.
"Wow!"!!
Tang Ya's mouth fell open in an O, but her astonishment didn't last long. Her face lit up with delight, and she cried, "I had no idea Xiao Qing was this amazing! No wonder he's the top dog of Heaven Dou City's little brother. He hasn't let me down!"
"Of course! The top dog of Heaven Dou City's little brother has to look good!"
Su Qing played along. Tang Ya was carefree and a little scatterbrained, but she meant no harm. When a friend awakened a powerful Martial Soul, she was genuinely happy for him. Girls as good as her were rare, so of course Su Qing wouldn't spoil her fun.
As he gazed at the crystal before him, Tang Lin's heart churned like a storm-tossed sea. He knew all too well what Innate Full Soul Power meant. Add that blinding silver-white spear to the mix, and once this kid matured, he would surely become a peerless master capable of dominating an entire era.
Unfortunately, someone with Su Qing's talent would never take an interest in the Tang Sect. And even if he did, the Tang Sect couldn't provide him with enough resources to cultivate. As its sect master, Tang Lin had a good enough eye to know that. Still, helping him awaken his Martial Soul today had forged a good connection between them. If Tang Ya ever ran into trouble in the future, he would certainly lend her a hand. Thinking of this, Tang Lin felt a little more at ease.
Throughout Heaven Dou City, nearly every sect, big or small, was watching the Tang Sect like a pack of hungry wolves. The Iron Blood Sect in particular was always looking for a chance to swallow them up. If something happened to him and his wife someday, he hoped at least Tang Ya could stay out of it and live happily.
"Dinner's ready!"
Before long, Tang Rou's voice came from the kitchen. The father and daughter, accustomed to home cooking, didn't react much. Su Qing was the only one drooling just from standing at the kitchen door. Damn it, who knew what Youyou fed him every day? It was bitter and astringent, and the more he chewed, the more bitter it got. The worst part was, if he didn't chew it, he couldn't swallow it. If things went on like this, he honestly thought he'd develop a taste for eating strange things.
At last, the clouds had parted and the moon had come out. Folks, who else could understand? He was finally getting a proper meal!
Then, after Su Qing unleashed a combo of wolfing down food and inhaling it like a storm, all that remained on the table were a few plates—and the three people staring at him, dumbfounded. They even instinctively clutched their bowls to their chests. Su Qing's manner of eating was certainly impolite, but the couple felt more sorry for him than anything else.
Such a beautiful, gifted child, and he'd never even had a proper meal! How could there be such heartless parents in the world?
"Xiao Qing, if you're still hungry, Aunt Tang will make you something else. And you can think of the Tang Sect as your own home. Whenever you're hungry, just come by and Auntie will make you something delicious. You're still growing, after all. You mustn't go without."
With tears in her eyes, Tang Rou pulled Su Qing into her arms and rubbed his head, her heartache plain to see.
"Mom, you've never said that to me."
Tang Ya, standing nearby, wasn't pleased. Why had her parents never been so patient with her? Minus points.
"You silly girl, isn't the Tang Sect your home? And don't you eat more than anyone else at every meal? Don't bring up this meal. Xiao Qing's situation is special. How could it be the same?"
Halfway through her scolding, Tang Ya meekly pointed at the spotless table. But Tang Rou had anticipated her and cut her off before she could get a word in.
"No wonder Tang Ya is so lively. Kids who grow up surrounded by love really are different."
Feeling the warmth between Tang Ya and her family, Su Qing smiled. It was much like how things were at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Youyou would sometimes scold him like that too, especially when he was picky about food. Though at the time, he couldn't really be blamed. He didn't recognize the other medicinal herbs, but what Youyou had served him that day was crushed Chinese rhubarb.
After they'd eaten their fill, Tang Ya's parents asked Su Qing a little about his situation. When they learned he was all alone at home, Tang Rou regretted having assumed his parents were heartless. She felt she shouldn't have jumped to the conclusion that they were negligent.
Tang Lin patted Su Qing's shoulder and said earnestly, "Xiao Qing, now that you've awakened your Martial Soul, your future is boundless. Uncle hopes you won't stay trapped in the sadness of the past. Look ahead and live a wonderful life. That way, your parents' spirits in heaven will surely be comforted."
He had also seen what happened when Su Qing awakened his Martial Soul, but hadn't said anything at the time. The boy must really have wanted his parents to know he'd awakened a top-tier Martial Soul.
"I know, Uncle. But before I left, I promised the older brothers and sisters from the neighborhood who raised me that I'd go back and let them know I was safe as soon as I awakened my Martial Soul. I can't stay here too long, or they'll worry."
He knew Tang Ya's parents were good people, and the conditions here were better than at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. But leaving without a word the people who had raised him, Youyou and the others, just wasn't his style. So he told the couple he had to take his leave.
"So that's how it is. Then you mustn't delay. Your older brothers and sisters are surely worried about you. How about this? I'll escort you out of the city myself."
Tang Lin was afraid Su Qing might get lost in Heaven Dou City, so he even escorted him beyond the city gates. Su Qing couldn't help thinking that he really was lucky. At least so far, everyone he'd met had been a good person.
"Okay. Thank you, Uncle!"