Lin Nuo took the question seriously. It was a good one. How should he answer? In truth, he had plenty of answers in mind.
For instance, he didn't want her to become like her father. He wanted her to stand on his side instead. That was what he thought.
Of course, he couldn't possibly say that out loud. After thinking it over for a moment, Lin Nuo replied, "Tang Wuling, do you have a dream?"
"A dream?"
"That's right, a dream!"
Tang Wuling looked at Lin Nuo, who was gazing at her expectantly. She nodded firmly. "Brother Lin Nuo, my dream is to become a great Soul Master. It's just a shame about my Martial Soul and Soul Ring..."
"No!" Lin Nuo shook his head, interrupting her. "Wu Ling, the moment you have a dream, you shouldn't doubt yourself—you should pursue it. Don't let a few people's words make you waver. You have to hold fast to the dream in your heart."
Maybe Yu Xiaogang, that good-for-nothing, would think those words were nothing but empty talk, but they were just right for Tang Wuling. She truly had that potential.
There was one more thing: he had to keep subtly making himself more important in Tang Wuling's heart, until Old Tang had no room to worm his way in!
"Wu Ling, remember this: people's dreams never end!" Lin Nuo looked into Tang Wuling's eyes and spoke each word clearly.
At his words, goosebumps rose all over Tang Wuling. In her eyes, Lin Nuo seemed to grow taller once more.
"I understand, Brother Lin Nuo. I'll stay true to the dream in my heart and keep moving forward. I won't let you down." Tang Wuling was now brimming with confidence. No one would be able to discourage her again; she would keep pushing ahead.
Seeing Tang Wuling's reaction, Lin Nuo nodded in satisfaction. "That's the spirit. Then I'll take you home."
"Okay." Tang Wuling nodded.
When Lin Nuo brought Tang Wuling home, Tang Ziran and his wife were already waiting at the door. Seeing Lin Nuo return with Tang Wuling, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lin Nuo, thanks for going to the trouble of bringing our little princess home," Tang Ziran said, stepping forward.
Lin Nuo shook his head. "Uncle, it was the least I could do. I'll be going now."
Lang Yue, standing beside Tang Ziran, hurriedly asked, "Won't you come in for a while?"
"No." Lin Nuo offered his reason for refusing. "Na'er is waiting at home for me to go back and comfort her."
The couple understood at once. Lang Yue quickly said, "Then hurry back, and be careful on the way."
"I will, Auntie." Lin Nuo said goodbye to the three of them and hurried toward home. Na'er was probably still sulking.
Only then did Tang Ziran and Lang Yue notice the box in Tang Wuling's arms. As former Mecha designers, they had seen all kinds of Soul Tools and immediately realized this one was extraordinary. They asked, "Wu Ling, what's that?"
"It's the Soul Spirit Brother Lin Nuo gave me."
"A Soul... Soul Spirit?" Tang Ziran and Lang Yue echoed in shock.
Tang Ziran quickly collected himself. "Wu Ling, how could you accept it?"
"That's right, Wu Ling," Lang Yue added, naturally sharing her husband's opinion.
Something this valuable was far beyond what their family could afford right now...
"Um, Dad, Mom, hear me out." Looking at her shocked parents, Tang Wuling explained calmly.
After hearing her out, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue exchanged a glance. They understood what she meant: an investment meant someone had chosen to invest because they saw great potential in her.
Their little princess had only Blue Silver Grass as her Martial Soul and an Innate Soul Power of level three!
"Dear..."
"Yes, dear?"
Though a thousand thoughts crowded their minds, neither of them knew what to say.
In the end, they could only leave the decision to their daughter.
Facing her parents' gazes, Tang Wuling spoke slowly. "Mom, Dad, I have my own ideas. And Brother Lin Nuo is my light. I want to keep up with him!"
Oh no. Hearing that, the couple realized their daughter's heart had been stolen by Lin Nuo.
"Dear..." Tang Ziran felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his chest. His voice was full of helpless defeat, and even trembled slightly. He couldn't hide his dejection.
"It's okay, it's okay. Lin Nuo has Innate Full Soul Power and is so outstanding. Let's look on the bright side." Lang Yue tried to comfort her husband, though she felt a little helpless herself.
Seeing one parent hang his head in dejection while the other tried to look composed, Tang Wuling tilted her little head. Confusion filled her bright eyes as she muttered, "Mom, Dad, what's wrong? Isn't it good for Brother Lin Nuo and me to work hard together?"
Lin Nuo had no idea, back at the apartment, that Tang Wuling's family was holding a family meeting over the Soul Spirit he had invested in her.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't care. Once he gave something away, it would never return to his hands. He opened the door and saw Na'er standing there, glaring at him with resentment. "Brother, so you do know how to come home!"
"Sorry, Na'er. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Lin Nuo stepped forward and hugged her.
Na'er had been ready to let out her pent-up frustration, but she immediately stopped. She hugged her brother tightly and fell silent for a moment. "Brother, I'm sleeping with you tonight."
"Okay." Lin Nuo didn't refuse. As expected, his Na'er was so easy to appease!
Late that night, at the Tang family home, Tang Wuling was meditating in her room. Now that she had a Soul Spirit, she had to train harder and make faster progress. She had to keep up with Brother Lin Nuo.
At that moment, Old Tang, who had been asleep, woke again. Seeing Tang Wuling cultivating, he couldn't help praising her. "This child really takes after me. So diligent."
"Still, I should teach her how to conduct herself and a few cultivation techniques." Old Tang immediately sought out Tang Wuling, ready to talk with her.
As Tang Wuling meditated diligently, she suddenly heard a voice calling her from within her mind.
Curious, she opened her eyes and looked around her room. "Is someone calling me? Or am I hearing things? I guess I should get some rest."
Just as Tang Wuling stopped meditating and was about to go to sleep, Old Tang's voice rang out again. "Wu Ling."
"Who?"
A few minutes passed without a response. Tang Wuling decided she really must have imagined it. It was time to sleep.
The moment she fell asleep, she found herself in her Sea of Consciousness, where she saw a blurry figure. She asked in confusion, "Who are you?"
Seeing that his daughter had finally appeared, Old Tang let out a breath of relief. He had finally managed to draw her in. He slowly replied, "Wu Ling, I'm your father!"
"?" Tang Wuling froze at his words, then remembered what Brother Lin Nuo had taught her that day. She fired back—and even took it up a notch: "If you're my dad, then I'm your ancestor!"
Old Tang: "?"
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