After pulling Leng Yulai and Ming Yue over to sit with her, Leng Yaozhu poured them both some wine.
"Thank you so much for today, A-Yue. You helped your big sister vent all the pent-up anger she's been holding in!"
She raised her glass and took a small sip, then spoke first, her voice cheerful.
"I've seen all the effort you've put in over the years, Yao Zhu. With Origin's support, this was only inevitable."
Ming Yue raised his glass as well, gently swirling the ruddy wine inside as he replied with a warm smile.
Just as he was about to take a sip, Leng Yulai snatched the glass right out of his hand.
"Hey, hey! Today's only my coming-of-age ceremony. A-Yue's isn't for a few more months!"
As the two of them looked at her in confusion, Leng Yulai gazed at them with a delighted smile.
"Oh, I suppose I did overlook that. A-Yue is still a little brother who won't come of age for a few more months~"
A playful smile appeared on her pretty face, and Leng Yaozhu looked at Ming Yue with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Exactly! A-Yue's still a little brother~"
Leng Yulai nodded emphatically, wearing an expression that said, "Big sister's only doing this for your own good."
"Huh? All right, all right. Then could my two big sisters get me something else to drink?"
Looking at his now-empty palm, Ming Yue felt an emotion surge up inside him.
It was like seeing a title promising "Bondage!", "Older Woman, Younger Man!", "Beastiality!", and "Captivity!", only to open it and find Calabash Brothers Saving Grandpa!
"Hehe, A-Yue's so well-behaved~"
"No, he isn't~"
Leng Yulai's foolish giggle and Leng Yaozhu's amused reply came at the same time. Ming Yue couldn't help sighing.
"Fine, then. What would you like as your prize, Yao Zhu?"
He leaned back in his chair, smoothly changing the subject as he smiled at the sisters.
The moonlight seemed to drape Ming Yue in a gorgeous silver veil, lending his already captivating smile an ethereal, sacred quality.
As the sisters gazed at him, their cheeks began to redden. Ming Yue, puzzled, raised a hand and waved it in front of their eyes.
"What are you two thinking about? Is it really so hard to come up with a single request?"
The ethereal, sacred feeling vanished in an instant. The sisters snapped back to their senses and awkwardly took small sips of wine.
After a moment, Leng Yaozhu finally spoke. "Can it really be anything I want?"
"Of course. I always keep my word." Ming Yue nodded, then continued, "As an extra coming-of-age gift, you can make a request too, Sister Yulai."
At that, Leng Yulai's eyes immediately lit up. She turned to exchange a glance with her sister, and then the two of them looked at Ming Yue together.
"Then my request is that, starting tomorrow, whether you're experimenting or doing research, silly Ming Yue has to eat properly and take care of himself!"
Leng Yulai gave him a little pout and a huff.
"My request is that, no matter what happens from now on, A-Yue will always! Always! Always! Stay with us sisters!"
Leng Yaozhu's smiling expression turned solemn and serious. As she spoke, she gazed straight into Ming Yue's eyes.
"..."
His smile faltered. His thoughts were briefly thrown into disarray, but then Ming Yue's expression grew serious too.
"I understand, Sister Yulai. And don't worry, Sister Yaozhu. We'll always! Always! Always! Be together."
His voice held a tenderness unlike anything before, and he spoke almost one word at a time.
"Hehe, then big sister can relax~"
"Mm. Big sister will remember that too."
The atmosphere softened once more. Leng Yulai giggled while Leng Yaozhu smiled, and together they raised their glasses and drained the wine.
"...Meanies."
At the sight, Ming Yue sighed and turned his gaze to the night sky.
Always be together? Probably.
[After Leng Yulai's coming-of-age ceremony, news of the Soul Fighting match at the banquet spread—though no one knew which faction had deliberately circulated it.]
[The fact that Leng Yaozhu had worn the battlesuit you made with your own hands and defeated Yun Ming, who was equipped with four-word Battle Armor, had become known across the entire continent.]
[In everyone's eyes, Battle Armor Masters and mecha pilots, along with the whole range of professions derived from them, had become things of the past, just like that match.]
[Meanwhile, the Valkyrie Battlesuit Maker profession that you had promoted through the Spirit Pagoda had become the only popular profession on the Douluo Continent besides Soul Masters!]
[At nineteen, during an experiment one day, you suddenly had an idea. Since human Soul Masters could obtain Soul Rings and Soul Bones by hunting Soul Beasts, why not reverse the process?]
[Could you hunt Soul Masters at the Soul Douluo or even Titled Douluo level as if they were Soul Beasts when they used their Martial Soul Avatars?]
[In an instant, inspiration surged through your mind like a swelling tide, and you eagerly began issuing orders.]
[The Spirit Pagoda's efficiency in carrying out orders was undeniably good. Before long, an Evil Soul Master whose Soul Power had been sealed was brought to your laboratory under the escort of a Titled Douluo from the Spirit Pagoda.]
"Tower Master, I've brought you the prisoner you requested."
The Titled Douluo bowed slightly, looking at Ming Yue with a mix of admiration and respect.
"Mm—Martial Soul: Dark Demon Spider, Soul Power rank 89, Innate Soul Power level 7. You're 'Ghost Spider' Gong Changshao, the one who blood-sacrificed so many experts, right?"
Ming Yue raised his eyes and nodded as he spoke, studying the tall, gaunt man before him. The man wore shackles made years ago, and though his eyes were fierce, he couldn't move.
"You ask though you already know, boy. Are you trying to amuse yourself at this old man's expense?"
For some reason, his heart began to race under Ming Yue's indifferent scrutiny.
He even had the absurd feeling that, in this man's eyes, he had become prey.
Gong Changshao quickly shook his head to dispel the strange thought, then hid it behind a cold tone.
"Impudent! How dare you act so brazenly before the Tower Master? Do you want to die right now, you Evil Soul Master?"
Before Ming Yue could speak, the Titled Douluo who had escorted Gong Changshao there lost his temper and scolded him.
"You're in luck. You get to be the first experimental subject for this Tower Master."
As he spoke, Ming Yue snapped his fingers, unlocking the shackles around Gong Changshao's neck. Then he continued:
"I'll give you a chance. Use your Martial Soul Avatar right now. If you can defeat him, I'll let you leave alive."
As he spoke, Ming Yue pointed at the Titled Douluo beside Gong Changshao and summoned Void Archives.
"...!?" The Titled Douluo was stunned. He looked from Ming Yue to Gong Changshao, as if he wanted to say something, but soon lowered his head and held his tongue.
"...How am I supposed to know if you're telling the truth?"
Gong Changshao's heart leaped with excitement, but he quickly calmed down.
"You just heard him. As the Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda, would I really bother deceiving a prisoner like you?"
Ming Yue folded his arms across his chest and spoke coolly.
Before you continue