Children Make Choices (No writer's block today, another chapter tonight)

"Hehe, Mom, Sister, my soul power has reached level forty-one, and I'm about to obtain a very powerful fourth soul skill!"

Shui Yue'er said excitedly, but she immediately noticed that apart from her mother, who was still guarding her, everyone else—including her own sister—had gathered around Ling Yun.

Beside Ling Yun lay a scorpion that had been nearly roasted to a crisp.

"Whoa! What a huge scorpion? Where did this thing come from? What just happened?"

Shui Yue'er asked a barrage of questions, but Shui Qingyue gestured for her to be quiet and whispered, "Ling Yun is currently absorbing his fifth soul ring, don't disturb him..."

As she explained what had just occurred, Shui Yue'er nodded in realization, surprised that so much had happened in such a short time.

An hour passed quietly, and Ling Yun slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through his pupils as he looked at the two beauties surrounding him, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Sister Huo Wu, Sister Bing'er, thank you for guarding me!"

Shui Bing'er shook her head with a faint smile, "Don't mention it. You saved my life from the Ice Jade Scorpion earlier; this is the least I could do."

Huo Wu also added, "Little Brother Ling Yun, how are you feeling? That was a thirty-thousand-year soul ring; it didn't have any negative effects on your body, did it?"

"Of course not, I feel better than ever! Not only has my soul power reached level fifty-three, but I've also gained a pretty decent fifth soul skill."

Ling Yun said excitedly. After absorbing the Ice Jade Scorpion's soul ring, he could now transform into an Ice Seal Deer, gaining the ability to control water currents and ice.

With this, his collection of five elemental beast-type warrior forms was finally complete.

"Don't forget me, my fourth soul skill is also very impressive."

Shui Yue'er giggled, "My fourth soul skill is called Ice Body Attachment. It can instantly double the ice power within me, significantly boosting the power of my first three soul skills. It's a self-buffing soul skill."

"Hmm, that is indeed quite good."

The group gave a perfunctory reply. Compared to Ling Yun's feat of absorbing a thirty-thousand-year soul ring beyond his level, Shui Yue'er's skill was hardly worth mentioning.

"Alright, since both Ling Yun and Yue'er have obtained their soul rings, we should head back quickly. It would be bad if we attracted even stronger soul beasts."

Huo Li suggested, then looked at Xue Wu nearby with a slight smile, "Not to mention, we still need to take Xue Wu to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain her soul ring."

"That's true, let's head back."

Shui Qingyue nodded in agreement with Huo Li's suggestion. They immediately led the group out of the Ice Seal Forest, took a carriage back to Skywater Academy, and planned to rest before heading to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Upon returning to Skywater Academy, everyone went to their respective rooms to rest. Ling Yun was no exception; absorbing the Ice Jade Scorpion's soul ring had left both his body and mind exhausted.

Just as he was about to head to his room to sleep, he heard Shui Bing'er call out to him.

"Little Brother Ling Yun, wait a moment."

"Hmm? What is it, Sister Bing'er... Mmph!"

As soon as Ling Yun turned around, his lips touched something soft. Looking ahead, he realized it was Shui Bing'er's lips!

They were kissing...

I'm kissing Sister Bing'er? My first kiss was stolen by Sister Bing'er?

Realizing this, Ling Yun's eyes widened in shock as he stared blankly at Shui Bing'er.

For a moment, he couldn't say a word, left only to savor the sensation of that fleeting instant.

Sister Bing'er's lips... so soft, so warm...

It wasn't just Ling Yun; everyone else had also widened their eyes, watching the scene in disbelief.

They hadn't expected Shui Bing'er to be so bold as to steal Ling Yun's first kiss in front of everyone.

Huo Wu was the first to react, immediately questioning loudly, "Hey! Shui Bing'er! What are you doing? Why did you steal my little brother's first kiss?"

Shui Yue'er also flashed a mischievous grin, "Tsk tsk tsk, Sister, I didn't think you were bolder than me. I only dared to kiss Ling Yun's cheek. You, on the other hand, went straight for it and gave away your own first kiss."

After a long while, Shui Bing'er pulled her lips away from Ling Yun, her face flushed red as she said, "I was just thanking you for saving me from the Ice Jade Scorpion, Little Brother Ling Yun. Don't get any wrong ideas..."

Ling Yun might not have noticed, but she had seen with her own eyes that the Ice Jade Scorpion's tail hook had pierced right past Ling Yun's back. A fraction of an inch more, and Ling Yun's body would have been completely impaled.

If Ling Yun hadn't tackled her in time, she would have been the one pierced by the scorpion.

Shui Bing'er had always viewed Ling Yun as a rival, hoping to surpass him one day, but in that moment, she suddenly felt that Ling Yun's figure was actually quite dashing.

In that instant, her heart skipped a beat!

At the same time, Shui Bing'er spoke again: "Little Brother Ling Yun, I will still treat you as my target, and one day, I will definitely surpass you!"

Liking you and surpassing you are not mutually exclusive.

Shui Bing'er added silently in her heart before scurrying away. The playful and strange gazes of those around her made her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Meanwhile, Ling Yun was still savoring the taste of Shui Bing'er's lips, only returning to his senses after a long while.

"Hehe, Little Brother Ling Yun, I never thought you'd actually kiss my sister!"

At this, Shui Yue'er's eyes darted around as she teased, "By the way, Little Brother Ling Yun, between my sister and me, whose lips are softer?"

Hearing this, Ling Yun was left speechless, but he began to analyze it seriously.

"That would definitely be Sister Bing'er; her lips are so comfortable to kiss. But Sister Yue'er is not bad either; I really like your strawberry-flavored kisses."

"..."

The comment left Shui Yue'er completely shy, especially when she saw the playful smirk on Ling Yun's face, causing her little face to turn bright red.

"You brat, are you actually sitting there critiquing us?"

Huo Wu helplessly patted Ling Yun on his little head, then asked with a gossipy glint in her eyes, "Speaking of which, little Bing'er clearly has feelings for you, and that girl Shui Qingyue kissed your cheek the day before last. What do you plan to do now? If you absolutely had to choose one of them to be your wife, which one would you pick?"

"Tch, only children make choices; adults naturally want them all. Isn't a sisterly feast delicious?"

"Haha, well said!"

Shui Qingyue burst into laughter upon hearing this, then said with a mischievous grin, "Then Ling Yun, you better work hard. I hope you can really trick those two silly girls into your hands."

She did not mind that her two daughters had fallen for the same man; after all, she and her sister had been the same. Her husband had first married her sister, and only after her sister passed away did he marry her. Therefore, in her view, as long as Ling Yun could take good care of both daughters, what harm was there in marrying both sisters to him?

"It was just a kiss, nothing is set in stone yet. Why think so much? Time to sleep, time to sleep."

With that, Ling Yun returned to his room, while Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang standing nearby couldn't help but twitch their lips.

Listen to yourself, is that even human language? You've already kissed, and you're still saying nothing is set in stone?