Loyalty and Righteousness

Yun Ming and Ya Li made no attempt to hide why they had come. Their fixation on Na'er was plain for anyone to see.

An Lan was merely a junior who had just awakened his Martial Soul. Both his teachers were here, along with Leng Yaozhu, the head of their group.

With so many important people present, there was naturally no place for him in the matter. After greeting Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li, he slipped behind Leng Qingning and Le Lingzhao.

Leng Qingning and Le Lingzhao had no intention of stepping forward either. They simply kept An Lan and Na'er safe, leaving the entire situation to Leng Yaozhu.

With anyone else, people would have assumed that Yun Ming, the dignified Sea God Pavilion Master, would never stoop to snatching someone off the street.

But Leng Qingning and Le Lingzhao didn't think that way at all.

They knew Yun Ming's past too well.

Back then, Yun Ming had thrust his Sky-Piercing Spear through the skies above Ming Capital, challenged several Red-Grade Mecha pilots one after another, and snatched Ya Li away in the very heart of the Federation capital, despite her having already made it clear she had rejected him.

Launching an attack on the Federation capital and fighting above the city—such "abduction of a maiden" was even more ruthless than Shrek Empress Dowager Long Yeyue slapping Qiangu Dieting, and far worse in nature.

Admittedly, Yun Ming was now refined and courteous, and no other misdeeds of his had come to light.

But at the end of the day, with his status, there was hardly anything that required him to personally step in.

After all, with Cai Yue'er, that madwoman, charging into the fray, who would want to get their own hands dirty?

Of course, Yun Ming was very different from Long Yeyue and Cai Yue'er.

He was domineering, but still reasonable, unlike those two, who did whatever they pleased, just for the sake of throwing their weight around.

But when it came to protecting Shrek Academy's interests, Yun Ming's goal was the same as those two humanoid creatures'.

Who knew whether he'd snatch Na'er away at the first disagreement and take her back to Shrek Academy to brainwash her?

So Leng Qingning and Le Lingzhao stayed fully alert.

The atmosphere grew increasingly delicate. Yun Ming's gaze passed over Leng Yaozhu and settled on Na'er.

Though Leng Yaozhu had no place in Yun Ming's heart, seeing her finally let go of the past still left him with complicated feelings.

Leng Yaozhu was growing more and more impatient. A trace of wistfulness flickered through his eyes, then he stopped hesitating and spoke bluntly. "Yaozhu, may I ask who this little girl is?"

"Of course, she's my newly accepted disciple." Leng Yaozhu smiled faintly, her voice composed. "You might not believe it, but I met Na'er on this very street yesterday. It was simply fate."

Yun Ming had only felt a little regret at first. At those words, his heart suddenly grew heavy, as if a stone had been laid upon it.

Yesterday... That had to be when he'd gone to Shangling City.

If he'd stayed at the academy then, he could have found Na'er first and taken her on as his disciple.

He'd gone out, and apart from Cai Yue'er getting a sound beating, he'd come back with nothing.

What stung even more was that a disciple born to inherit his legacy had been picked up by someone else right on his own turf.

For a moment, Yun Ming felt as if his chest were blocked. A stifling breath churned inside him, unable to go in or come out.

He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his tangled emotions.

He absolutely could not let a disciple with such talent slip away.

He raised his eyes to Leng Yaozhu and said solemnly, "Yaozhu, I wish to take Na'er as my direct disciple. I hope you'll let me speak with her."

"Brother Ming!" Ya Li heard this and hurriedly tugged at Yun Ming's sleeve.

In her eyes, Yun Ming was being far too hasty.

Leng Yaozhu was Na'er's master, after all. Trying to take her disciple right in front of her was terribly rude.

The request itself was already presumptuous. Asking Na'er privately what she thought would have been one thing, but doing this left no room for either side to back down. It would only make enemies of them.

If Na'er really changed masters in front of her, where would that leave Leng Yaozhu's dignity?

Sure enough, Leng Yaozhu's expression darkened at once, her face full of displeasure.

Seeing this, Ya Li apologized. "I'm sorry, Yaozhu. You know that Brother Ming and I are unlikely to have children in this life, and his Sky-Piercing Spear path has yet to find anyone worthy to inherit it. We've finally found someone so well suited, and he truly doesn't want to let this chance pass."

An Lan, standing nearby, listened to her words and glanced down at Na'er, who was grinning like a fool because both sides were fighting over her. He could only think that she was born a traitor and couldn't be allowed to stay.

And this Yun Ming really had no eyes!

His Martial Soul might be a spear rather than a lance, but he was leagues better than this little fool!

Even if he wasn't going to join Shrek Academy, Yun Ming should have asked him first.

Shrek is finished, he thought.

Across from him, Yun Ming knew his actions were inappropriate, but he still couldn't bring himself to give up.

He sighed softly, then reached into his Spatial Soul Tool and took out a small, yellowed booklet.

Its edges were worn, clearly weathered by time.

"Yaozhu, after I broke through to the Spear God realm, I compiled this booklet of my insights and reflections on the spear path. It would greatly benefit any Soul Master who cultivates it."

"If Na'er is willing to take me as her master, I'll also offer a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone as thanks for making this possible." He changed tack and added, "If she isn't willing, I'm still happy to give her this booklet. I hope it'll help her in her future cultivation."

Yun Ming had truly taken a liking to Na'er's talent. Whether or not they had a master-disciple bond, he was willing to give her a helping hand.

Leng Yaozhu's gaze fell on the booklet, and her heart stirred.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!

In an age when terrestrial Soul Beasts had nearly gone extinct, every Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was priceless. Even she felt tempted for a moment.

But however nicely he put it, this was still a transaction involving her disciple. Leng Yaozhu could never stoop to such a sordid thing.

And yet the insights of a Spear God made her want to take a gamble.

She knew perfectly well that her own understanding of the spear path was nowhere near enough to guide Na'er.

With Yun Ming's guidance, even a few of his insights could save Na'er from many wrong turns in her future spear training.

Besides, if Na'er refused Yun Ming, she could get those insights for free. It was a deal with no cost at all.

But... she and Na'er had only known each other for a day.

A six-year-old child hadn't yet matured. Faced with the temptation of being taken on as a disciple by the Spear God of the age, the strongest person on the continent, could she really refuse?

While Leng Yaozhu weighed the matter, Na'er, hidden at the very back, realized just how valuable she was. Her eyes immediately lit up.

Don't get the wrong idea. As King Na'er traveled the world, she lived by the two words loyalty and righteousness, so she had no intention of changing masters.

But then again, she had another rule for roaming the world—greed!

She had no interest in the spear path, but if something fell from the sky and she didn't take it, wouldn't that be a loss?

At that thought, Na'er could hold back no longer. She poked half her head out from behind An Lan and said in a clear, sweet voice, "Um, uncle, I don't want you to be my master. Can I have that little booklet now?"