The moment the words left his mouth, the icy aura around Gu Yue abruptly vanished. Her previously tense back relaxed, and a sheen of tears clouded her cool eyes.
The fingers that had been intently scrolling across the screen curled slightly. She slowly turned around and looked at Lin Tian as he walked toward her.
Her eyes reddened slightly, and her voice carried unmistakable emotion and joy. She was a world apart from the person she had been moments ago.
"Brother Lin Tian, you're finally back."
Lin Tian froze, unable to react for a moment.
He couldn't understand why Na'er had changed so completely. One second she'd been speaking coldly and calling him blind; the next, she was looking so wronged and dependent.
Could it really be that his abduction had upset her so badly that something had gone wrong with her mind?
"Na'er, are you all right?"
Lin Tian hurried over and felt her forehead. "I thought you'd been so shaken that..."
Before Lin Tian could finish, Na'er suddenly threw herself into his arms. Her small body trembled slightly as she wrapped both arms tightly around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder. Her hot tears instantly soaked his clothes.
"I-I'm fine. I was just worried about you, Brother."
Na'er's muffled voice quavered with tears. "I thought you'd never come back. They said Evil Soul Masters had taken you. Evil Soul Masters are so scary. I was terrified."
Lin Tian's heart softened at her words, and he patted her back comfortingly.
He could clearly feel the fear and dependence of the little girl in his arms. The strangeness of what had just happened faded beneath this genuine display of emotion.
He had no idea that when Gu Yue had taken control of their body, Na'er's consciousness had been watching everything that happened outside. She and Gu Yue shared one body, and whenever the time came, they would forcibly switch places—once a day, at noon sharp.
But while Gu Yue was in control, Na'er's consciousness could see everything happening outside from within the Mental Sea. That included the cold words Gu Yue had just spoken to Lin Tian.
Before Lin Tian had taken her in, Na'er had wandered from place to place. No one had ever treated her so kindly: giving her food and bringing her home. He had barely known her when he'd been willing to face Evil Soul Masters for her, and had even let them take him away to protect her.
That kindness had already been etched deeply into Na'er's heart, capturing her young and unknowing affections.
Countless times, she had prayed in her mind for Lin Tian to be safe. Now that she saw him return unharmed, tears of emotion welled in her eyes.
When Lin Tian had just asked what was wrong, she had wanted so badly to tell him everything and ask him to help her find a solution. But she didn't dare.
Gu Yue had warned her before not to tell anyone that they shared a body. Otherwise, Gu Yue would do something terrible to Lin Tian.
She was afraid something might happen to Lin Tian, afraid Gu Yue might harm him.
Although she didn't know who she was, she knew very well that Gu Yue wasn't normal. Her second soul was strange from head to toe.
So she could only protect Lin Tian in her own way. Feeling wronged, she clung to him even more tightly.
"All right, all right. Don't cry. Your brother's back now, isn't he?"
Lin Tian gently wiped the tears from her face, his voice full of affection. Na'er was like a little kitten—simply too adorable.
"I came back this time to take you somewhere we can live the good life.
"I've taken a very powerful teacher. We won't have to live in hardship here anymore. How about coming with me to the Spirit Pagoda?"
Lin Tian had an ulterior motive for saying this. Anyone could see what he was up to.
He was simply worried Na'er might meet Tang Wulin in Aolai City and become bound to him by fate.
Now that he was taking Na'er away ahead of time, far from the path she'd originally been destined to follow, perhaps he could change the story and keep her by his side for good.
"Okay. I'll go with you, Brother."
The girl immediately lifted her head, a pure smile appearing on her face. She agreed without the slightest hesitation.
As far as she was concerned, as long as she could stay by Lin Tian's side, she would be happy anywhere.
Delighted, Lin Tian immediately gathered up the few shabby belongings in the house.
Na'er had even less to pack. She hardly had any clothes at all.
Then Lin Tian took her small hand and led her out of the wooden hut, heading toward a spot by the sea.
Na'er didn't ask where he was taking her. She simply followed quietly until they reached a secluded coconut grove.
At its center stood the tombstones of Lin Tian's parents.
Their bodies had long since been cremated, their ashes scattered into the ocean. Only a monument had been erected here, so a place by the sea was fitting.
The water rose every day, submerging this spot. That was how the sea folk of Aolai City laid their dead to rest: born of the sea, dead in the sea, buried in the sea, with the ebb and flow of the tides for company each day.
The anniversary of Lin Tian's parents' deaths fell on the day after his Martial Soul Awakening. That was why he had wanted to stay an extra day.
Now, after all the delays, this was a belated visit to their graves.
Without hesitation, Lin Tian dropped to his knees before his parents' graves and kowtowed several times. "Father, Mother, your son eats his fill every day and never goes hungry. The thing you worried about most before you died hasn't happened.
"My Martial Soul Awakening took place a few days ago. I awakened Twin Martial Souls, and one day I'll become a top powerhouse and bring glory to our family.
"I won't talk about the sad things. Your son's going to live the good life. When I come back next year, I'll return in style.
"I'm burning paper money for you today, and tomorrow I'll burn all kinds of good things.
"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. This is the little sister I picked up. Her name is Na'er. From now on, we're a family."
From within the Mental Sea, Gu Yue snorted. "Who's family with you?
"This king is a being of such noble status. How could I let a lowly human beggar like you presume to attach yourself to me?
"Just you wait. I'll make Na'er dump a lowlife like you."
Still, when she saw how solemnly Lin Tian was paying his respects, she couldn't help feeling a little moved. So this is how humans grieve.
Unfortunately, one person's joys and sorrows could not be shared by another—least of all by a Soul Beast.
She couldn't understand what Lin Tian was feeling or share in his grief.
Meanwhile, Han Tianyi and Leng Yaozhu, high in the sky, wore thoughtful expressions.
They had heard that the boy had postponed his departure by a day to pay respects to his parents, which was how Shrek had gotten its hooks into him.
Now, seeing him return and go straight to pay his respects, Han Tianyi looked at him with approval. "That boy's had a hard life, but he's a good person."
He was growing more and more satisfied with this disciple. Talent didn't matter much; good character was what counted.
The rumors Shrek had spread back then were laughable. His disciple was a righteous man who had been willing to die to protect everyone in Aolai City. He was also so kindhearted—truly a rare find.
Na'er had no idea what Lin Tian was doing. She simply followed his lead and burned paper money with him.
After they finished, Lin Tian wiped away his tears and immediately stood up. "Come on. Let's go live the good life."