Tang Wulin Loses His Cool

"It's all right. The bad guys ran off."

Su Chen's voice was gentle. As he spoke, he reached out to help her up.

Na'er didn't resist at all. Her little body was limp, as if she had no bones.

But she seemed to sense that Su Chen meant no harm, and most of the fear in her eyes faded.

"Wait! Who are you? Where are you taking her?"

Tang Wulin stood up, clutching his still-aching stomach. He glared at Su Chen, his eyes full of hostility.

Although Su Chen's arrival had driven off the street thugs, Tang Wulin had no good impression of this elegantly dressed "young master" whatsoever.

The spoiled noble students at the academy who threw their weight around had left a deep impression on him.

"Little one, we're law enforcers, of course."

One of the law-enforcement officers behind Su Chen stepped forward and pointed to the badge on his chest, speaking as though it were obvious.

"I know what law enforcers are!"

Tang Wulin didn't back down. Looking at Su Chen, he frowned and said, "He's a law enforcer too? He looks about the same age as me!"

He was convinced Su Chen was the sort of wastrel who relied on his family's wealth and influence.

He wouldn't let this little girl be taken away by him!

Su Chen looked at the stubborn little boy before him and almost laughed.

After all, Tang Wulin hadn't grown up yet. Right now, he was just a little brat brimming with a sense of justice but lacking the strength to do much about it.

"I'm a law enforcer too."

Su Chen couldn't be bothered to say more. He flipped his wrist, and a golden token appeared in his palm.

He casually waved it in front of Tang Wulin. "This is my law-enforcement token. If you don't believe me, you can go verify it at the City Lord's Mansion anytime."

With that, he paid Tang Wulin no further attention. He took Na'er by the hand and turned to leave.

Just as Su Chen turned while holding Na'er's hand, she slowly looked back at Tang Wulin.

A stirring that seemed to come from her very blood welled up inside her.

She didn't understand what that feeling was. She only instinctively wanted to look at the blue-eyed boy who had just stood up for her.

Tang Wulin was looking at Na'er, too.

When Na'er's beautiful purple eyes met his, a powerful sense of closeness welled up from the depths of his heart.

His heart was struck by wave after wave of wrenching pain.

It was as though something terribly important was being forcibly torn away from his side.

"W-wait!"

Tang Wulin blurted out.

He instinctively reached out, trying to grab hold of something.

"Kid, what do you think you're doing?"

A tall law-enforcement officer stepped in front of Tang Wulin, eyeing him with suspicion.

"You saw that little girl was pretty and had gotten separated from her family, so you got lecherous and wanted to take her home as your wife?"

"You're so young, and already up to no good. What teacher taught you that?"

His tone carried a clear warning.

"I-I... I'm not! I didn't! You're making things up!"

Tang Wulin's face flushed all the way to his ears, burning with embarrassment and agitation.

He really did want to take the poor little girl home, care for her like a younger sister, and protect her.

But he had absolutely no intention of making her his "wife."

This was pure slander!

"All right, all right."

Another, older law-enforcement officer softened his tone and waved a hand.

"Don't make trouble here, kid. Your mom's calling you home for dinner, so hurry back. We'll make proper arrangements for the little girl. We're law enforcers. Do you think we'd hurt her?"

"But... but..." Tang Wulin still wanted to argue. He anxiously looked past the officer's shoulder in the direction Na'er had gone.

But the street was already empty.

Su Chen had taken Na'er around the corner and disappeared without a trace.

Everything that had just happened seemed like nothing more than a brief dream.

Tang Wulin stood rooted to the spot, staring at the empty street corner.

The intense ache in his heart didn't fade. Instead, it spread even more clearly through him.

The silver-haired, purple-eyed little girl was branded into his mind like a seal.

In a daze, he turned and began trudging home, one step at a time. His heart felt hollow, as if a gaping hole had opened inside it.

Meanwhile.

Su Chen took Na'er back to his private residence.

Su Chen led Na'er to a low couch covered with a soft cushion and had her sit down.

Na'er was still a little dazed. Wariness lingered in her beautiful eyes as she looked around at everything unfamiliar.

"Hungry, aren't you?"

Su Chen asked gently.

Na'er didn't answer, but her stomach let out a faint rumble.

Her cheeks reddened, and she instinctively lowered her head.

"Here, have something to eat."

Su Chen took Na'er into the kitchen next door.

The aroma of food drifted into Na'er's nose.

There was a golden, crispy fried chicken cutlet and a hamburger.

In this world, these weren't junk food but delicacies of the highest quality.

The human Soul Masters in this world were generally robust and immune to disease.

High-calorie foods weren't a burden to them. On the contrary, they could replenish their energy quickly.

The rich aroma wafted into Na'er's nose.

Her beautiful purple eyes lit up at once, and she leaned forward slightly...

She was starving.

From waking up in a daze and wandering the streets to the fright she had just suffered, her little body had long since been pushed to its limit.

"Go ahead and eat."

Su Chen's voice held a smile.

Na'er looked at the food, then at Su Chen. A trace of hesitation still lingered in her purple eyes.

But in the end, hunger won out over everything.

"Nom..."

She couldn't hold back any longer. She reached out with her little hands, picked up the unwrapped hamburger, opened her mouth, and took a big bite!

The juicy patty and special sauce burst across her palate.

She had never experienced this texture or flavor before.

"Mmm..."

A contented hum escaped her. She no longer cared how she looked. Holding the hamburger in both hands, she eagerly took one bite after another.

Her cheeks bulged as she stuffed them full, like a little squirrel busily storing food for winter.

Her short silver hair bobbed with every chew, and her purple eyes narrowed happily.

Su Chen didn't disturb Na'er as she wolfed down her food. Instead, he took out his camera.

He expertly adjusted the angle and aimed the lens at the silver-haired little girl, sauce smeared across her face.

Na'er was completely immersed in the world of delicious food and didn't notice what Su Chen was doing at all.

Su Chen held his breath and gently pressed the shutter.

"Click—"

A soft sound froze the moment in time, and a photograph developed right away.

At the same time, the system's voice rang out in Su Chen's mind.

[Ding! Detected an SSS-rank target who meets the recording criteria!]

[Scanning... Scan complete!]

[Congratulations, Host, on successfully recording your first SSS-rank Goddess—Na'er!]

[Recording reward: One Origin-Rank Martial Soul Draw]

"It really worked!"

Su Chen was delighted.

He immediately sank his consciousness into his mind.

The system interface, which had been pitch-black, now lit up.

Right in the center of the interface was the photo of Na'er he had just taken.

Several lines of information appeared below the photo:

[Character: Na'er!]

[Rating: SSS rank (highest tier)]

[Affection: 5%]

[Note: Affection is unique and can only increase, never decrease. Once affection reaches 50% or higher, the Host will receive a permanent cultivation speed boost. The higher the affection, the stronger the boost.]