A Two-Way Journey

On the road back to Ming Capital, everyone rode in a seventh-grade flying soul tool airship crafted by Kong Deming.

Under the perfect control of Kong Deming's level 94 Soul Power, the speed the airship unleashed was enough to rival a Titled Douluo of the same level who specialized in speed.

During this time, Xu Tianming finally recalled the key detail.

It seemed that, according to the original story's timeline, there was only one person on the entire Douluo Continent with an Angel Martial Soul!

At that thought, Xu Tianming, who had been sitting with his eyes closed in contemplation, immediately opened them and went straight to stand before the family of three:

"Things were urgent just now, and I forgot to ask your names. Would you mind introducing yourselves now?"

His words might have been a little rude, but no one would hold it against a six-year-old child—especially when that child had just saved their entire family!

Hearing this, Father Ye nodded warmly at once:

"Of course. My name is Ye Wuya, my wife is Lin Wanqiu, and our daughter is Ye Guyi. We are deeply grateful to you and that senior for saving our lives. Our family will never forget your kindness, Childe."

Hearing the name "Ye Guyi," Xu Tianming thought, Just as I suspected. But he kept his expression unchanged and continued asking:

"If I saw correctly earlier, your Martial Soul is an Angel Martial Soul? Is that why those Evil Soul Masters hunted your family?"

At this, Ye Wuya gave a bitter smile before nodding in confirmation. Now that his Martial Soul was ruined, there was no need to keep hiding the truth. He decided to speak frankly about its origins and inheritance.

According to him, their Angel Martial Soul lineage had enjoyed an extremely glorious history more than ten thousand years ago. But at some point, they had suffered an unknown calamity, and the Angel Martial Soul had nearly been lost.

As far as Ye Wuya knew, his daughter was now the only inheritor of the Angel Martial Soul on the continent.

As Ye Wuya spoke, his emotions grew complicated.

He felt relief that his daughter had successfully inherited his Angel Martial Soul and that its legacy would not end with his branch of the family.

But relief was not all he felt. He was worried, too.

After all, inheriting the Angel Martial Soul meant standing against evil. The desperate situation he had faced today would likely befall his daughter someday as well. Out of a father's love for his daughter, there were times he would rather she had never inherited his Angel Martial Soul.

But it had already happened, and there was no turning back. As a father, all Ye Wuya could do was find a way to ensure his daughter grew up safely.

And right before him was an opportunity that had practically been delivered straight to his daughter.

As an inheritor of the Angel Martial Soul, Ye Wuya trusted his judgment of people.

In his eyes, the still-young Xu Tianming was destined to become an unparalleled prodigy who would dominate an era. After all, even Kong Deming had been shocked that someone with level 20 Soul Power could grievously wound a seven-ring Soul Saint. How much more so would Ye Wuya, whose peak Soul Power had only been level 71?

Beyond his formidable strength, Ye Wuya could also tell that Xu Tianming was kindhearted by nature and hated evil.

When faced with a family of three in desperate straits, Xu Tianming had offered help without any benefit to gain. That was proof of his kind heart.

And when faced with those wicked Evil Soul Masters, he had struck like thunder and slaughtered them. That was proof that he hated evil!

On top of that, the young Childe had a guardian by his side whose strength was unfathomable...

After thinking it over carefully, Ye Wuya made up his mind.

He first bowed to Xu Tianming, then spoke with utmost sincerity:

"Childe, I know the request I'm about to make may be presumptuous, but I can't help asking. I hope you'll hear me out and give it some thought before deciding."

Xu Tianming froze, momentarily unsure how to react.

To be honest, as soon as he had heard the name "Ye Guyi," he'd started scheming about how to lure... ahem, recruit the girl, who had yet to grow into her potential, to his side.

After what had happened today, Xu Tianming was certain he would eventually turn against the Holy Spirit Cult. With her Angel Martial Soul, Ye Guyi would be one of the key fighters he could count on to help him deal with the Holy Spirit Cult in the future!

Now that he had saved her life, he naturally had to seize this rare opportunity.

He just hadn't figured out how to go about it yet.

Should he reveal his intentions and ask her to stay by his side from then on?

That would probably work, but Xu Tianming felt it might seem too deliberate and could even affect Ye Guyi's impression of him.

He didn't care much about such trivial matters, but if there was a way to handle things perfectly, he would naturally strive for it.

Just as he was wondering how to make everything go perfectly, Ye Wuya unexpectedly made a request of him.

After seeing Xu Tianming give a distracted nod, Ye Wuya said what was in his heart:

"My daughter, Guyi, inherited my Angel Martial Soul. That means she may well face the same danger I faced today someday. If my strength hadn't been crippled, I could have protected her for a while longer. But now that my cultivation is ruined, I beg you to keep Guyi by your side so she can grow up safely. She can be your follower or your maid—even a... bed warmer, if you wish. As long as you're willing to protect her as she grows, our family will remember your great kindness for all eternity!"

After summoning every ounce of courage to finish speaking, Ye Wuya seemed afraid Xu Tianming would refuse. He steeled himself, clenched his teeth, and knelt before him to show his sincerity.

Beside him, his wife, Lin Wanqiu, was surprised by her husband's words. But after thinking it over, she understood his good intentions. She said nothing, simply pulling her stunned daughter over and kneeling beside her husband before Xu Tianming.

After hearing her father's words, Ye Guyi's thoughts had frozen. Now, as her mother pulled her down to kneel as well, she first stared in shock, then sneaked a glance up at Xu Tianming, who looked just as stunned.

Then, for no reason she could explain, her pretty face flushed red. She quickly lowered her head again, her thoughts in disarray and her feelings tangled...

As for Xu Tianming—

He hadn't expected that, in the blink of an eye, all three members of the family would be kneeling before him in perfect unison!

This...

This really was a wonderful surprise!

He'd been fretting over how to put up a virtuous facade, and now the other party had gone and fulfilled his wish for him!

For a moment, Xu Tianming nearly burst out laughing. Fortunately, he was a professional when it came to keeping his expression under control.