"Yaozhu, are you bringing Yulai to awaken her Martial Soul today?" He quickly released his hand from the hem of Ming Yue's clothes.
After pretending to compose himself and straightening his sleeves, Qiangu Dongfeng looked at the sisters with an air of familiarity.
"The elders are chatting not far away. Can't you see them?"
Faced with his affected manner, Leng Yaozhu's brows knitted almost imperceptibly.
She had no choice but to respond for the sake of social decorum.
"Is that so? Hahaha." Completely unaware, Qiangu Dongfeng gave an awkward laugh, then swiftly changed the subject:
"It seems I was too careless. But now that I think about it, Yulai is six years old too. She's the same age as Ming Yue."
Though his attempt at conversation was stiff, he had steered the topic toward her younger sister.
Leng Yaozhu had no choice but to respond politely. But when she glanced at her sister, she saw her staring intently straight ahead.
Following her sister's gaze, Leng Yaozhu finally noticed Ming Yue beside Qiangu Dongfeng, his eyes lowered as if he were deep in thought.
Just then, a beam of light fell upon them. Ming Yue was already a peerless little boy, and under the light he seemed to take on a strange, fragile air, making him even more endearing.
For a moment, she was just as entranced as her sister.
"Ahem, Yaozhu? Yulai? What are you two staring at so intently?"
Qiangu Dongfeng realized something was up and hurriedly spoke, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"Sister, can I go introduce myself to him?"
Only then did Leng Yulai come back to her senses. Reluctantly tearing her gaze away, she turned to her sister.
"Hmm—Young Master Qiangu, the one beside you must be the youngest child of the Qiangu Family, Qiangu Ming Yue, right?"
As she gave a slight nod, Leng Yaozhu unexpectedly asked Qiangu Dongfeng a question.
"Come on! You don't have to call me Young Master. I told you ages ago, just call me Dongfeng—or Brother Dongfeng." He replied without thinking.
But when he saw Leng Yaozhu looking only at Ming Yue, who was lost in his own world, he quickly patted Ming Yue on the shoulder.
"Ah, right, right! Ming Yue, this is your Sister Yaozhu and Yulai. They're the main-branch sisters of this generation of the Leng Family. Hurry up and greet them."
Feeling the touch on his shoulder, Ming Yue finally returned from his drifting thoughts and blinked.
Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai at this age? Judging by the timeline I'm simulating, their futures will be just like those of my two adoptive older brothers: they're undoubtedly destined to become Limit Douluos.
So maybe I can try triggering a mission or grinding some achievements through them?
All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, but Ming Yue's expression remained unchanged. "Sister Yaozhu, Yulai."
His clear, melodious voice rang out, still carrying a childish lilt but already hinting at a young man's.
"Hello, little brother Ming Yue." At his greeting, Leng Yaozhu's beautiful eyes narrowed in contentment, and she rarely allowed herself a smile.
"Mm—Ming Yue, what month were you born in?" Unlike her sister's delight, Leng Yulai suddenly asked him a question.
"I was born in November." Ming Yue tilted his head curiously and answered truthfully.
"Eek! Then I'm older than you too! I was born in June, so just like you call her Sister Yaozhu, you have to call me Sister Yulai. Hehe!"
As she spoke, her beautiful eyes seemed to shine, sparkling as she grinned at Ming Yue.
"Is that so? Then, hello, Sister Yulai." Since he had already made up his mind, Ming Yue naturally seized the opportunity the Leng sisters had offered him.
"Hehe! I have a little brother too now~!" Although Ming Yue's face showed little emotion,
those words sounded to Leng Yulai as refreshing as a cool drink on the hottest day of summer.
Overcome with excitement, she couldn't help rushing forward and hugging Ming Yue as she cheered.
The scene naturally drew plenty of attention. But seeing Ming Yue in Leng Yulai's arms, the two of them as harmonious as a jade maiden and a golden boy, the crowd couldn't help but respond with waves of good-natured laughter.
"All right, Yulai. If you keep hugging him, everyone's going to start paying attention to us."
Leng Yaozhu came over and, as she spoke, tapped her younger sister on the forehead.
When Yulai yelped in pain and let go of Ming Yue, Yaozhu gave him an apologetic smile.
"Yulai can be a little too lively. I hope you don't mind, Ming Yue."
As she spoke, Leng Yaozhu stared straight into Ming Yue's golden eyes.
Seeing how clear and pure his gaze was, Leng Yaozhu's impression of him improved even further.
"It's all right, Sister Yaozhu. I actually thought the feeling Sister Yulai gave me just now was quite wonderful."
Ming Yue's bright eyes narrowed slightly as he suddenly smiled gently.
His smile was like the first rays of dawn slicing through the darkness. The Leng sisters, who had grown somewhat used to his expressionless face, both froze.
Fortunately, compared with her younger sister, who was still an ordinary person, Leng Yaozhu was a two-ring Soul Master and quickly recovered.
"You really should smile more, Ming Yue. At your age, wearing a serious expression all the time doesn't suit you at all."
Smiling, she couldn't help reaching out to pinch Ming Yue's cheek.
"Ahem! Your Sister Yaozhu is right, Ming Yue! You really should smile more from now on."
Seeing this, Qiangu Dongfeng, who had been on standby for quite a while, finally couldn't hold back.
His younger brother was so "close" with the woman of his dreams, and even her younger sister treated him like this.
The two things should have been cause for celebration, but why couldn't he feel happy at all?
"Hmm—judging by how things are going, it should be almost time for Yulai and Ming Yue to undergo their Martial Soul Awakening."
"I should thank Young Master Qiangu for bringing Ming Yue here today so our sisters could meet him."
With a polite smile on her lovely face, Leng Yaozhu looked at Qiangu Dongfeng. After exchanging pleasantries, she turned her gaze back to Leng Yulai and Ming Yue.
"Next, Leng Yulai."
At that moment, Qiangu Dieting, who was presiding over the ceremony, called Leng Yulai's name.
"Ah! It's finally my turn? Once I awaken my Martial Soul, I'll be the one looking after you from now on, little Ming Yue!"
She patted Ming Yue on the shoulder, lifted her chin proudly, then followed Leng Yaozhu over.
As Leng Yulai began her Martial Soul Awakening, surrounded by the concern of the family elders and her sister,
Qiangu Dongfeng finally couldn't keep it in any longer and turned to Ming Yue. "I didn't realize you were this impressive."
"Why do you say that, Brother?" Ming Yue tilted his head, feigning ignorance, while keeping an eye on Leng Yulai's Martial Soul Awakening.
"Tsk, tsk. Stop staring. If nothing unexpected happens, Yulai should awaken the Leng Family's hereditary Martial Soul, just like Yaozhu."
Following Ming Yue's gaze toward the awakening platform, Qiangu Dongfeng smiled, then abruptly changed the subject.
He made as if to put an arm around Ming Yue's shoulders. "But you, how did you manage to get through to someone as cold as Yaozhu?"
"Read more books."
Ming Yue sidestepped Qiangu Dongfeng's "lecherous hand."
Just as he was about to say something else, something unexpected seemed to happen at the Martial Soul Awakening Platform!
Before you continue