Na'er Left

Tang Wulin was surprised to find the atmosphere at home strange today. His parents would glance at him while eating, only to quickly look away, and even Na'er, who usually ate as much as he did, seemed distracted, her food barely touched.

"Mom, Dad, what's wrong? And Na'er, you don't seem to have much of an appetite today. Are you feeling unwell?" Tang Wulin finally couldn't help but ask, setting his chopsticks down gently.

"No, nothing, perhaps your father and I are just coming down with a cold," Lang Yue said hesitantly, before quickly changing the subject. "You should hurry to school; it won't be good if you're late."

Tang Wulin didn't press the matter. Perhaps they really were feeling under the weather; after all, neither his parents nor Na'er were Soul Masters.

After finishing his meal, Tang Wulin headed straight for school.

Hearing the front door close softly, Lang Yue finally couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Honey, do we really have to keep this from Linlin? Isn't this too cruel?"

Just this morning, before dawn, Na'er had woken Lang Yue up and told her, "My family seems to have found me. They said they can help me recover my lost memories."

Lang Yue was shocked upon hearing this. After discussing it with Tang Ziran, they decided to keep it from Tang Wulin for the time being.

Tang Ziran sighed. "Do you think I want to hide it from him? But you know how sentimental that child is. If he finds out Na'er is leaving, who knows how long he'll be depressed? It's better to keep it from him; it's better than forcing him to experience the parting directly."

"Sigh, I suppose so." Lang Yue looked at Na'er, tears welling up in her eyes as she pulled her into an embrace.

Tang Wulin couldn't bear to part with Na'er, but how could she bear to see her go? Over the past three years, she had long since come to view Na'er as her own daughter.

"Are your family members coming to pick you up today?"

"Yes..." Na'er nodded, reaching out to hug Lang Yue back.

She couldn't bear to leave this home either, but now that her memories had awakened, she knew that staying would only bring them more harm.

At ten in the morning, a knock came from the door.

"Tap, tap, tap—"

"Coming!"

Tang Ziran opened the door a crack, cautiously sizing up the visitor.

It was a young man with a gloomy temperament and heavy dark circles under his eyes; he didn't look like a good person at all.

He squeezed out a terrifying smile. "Hello, I am here to pick up the Mis—the young lady."

His voice was soft, yet it sent shivers down one's spine.

Only then did Tang Ziran open the door fully and invite him inside.

Upon seeing Na'er, the young man became instantly agitated.

"Young Lady, I have finally found you!"

Na'er merely nodded in response, continuing her conversation with Lang Yue.

The young man wasn't annoyed; he simply stood there quietly.

Tang Ziran watched the scene unfold with hesitation. Although he wanted to ask the man to sit and wait, he was too intimidated by the man's aura to speak up.

Finally, Na'er ended the conversation. After hugging Tang Ziran and Lang Yue goodbye one by one, she stood up. "Let's go."

"Goodbye, Na'er," Tang Ziran and Lang Yue said softly.

Na'er managed a faint smile. "Yes, see you later."

Once they were outside, Na'er's expression turned cold.

"How should I address you?"

"My Lord, you may call me Yao Ling!" The young man quickly bowed.

Indeed, this gloomy young man was none other than Yao Ling, once the tenth-ranked Great Beast of the Star Dou Forest.

Yao Ling was skilled in the power of space and the art of transformation. Among the various Soul Beasts, he was also the most inconspicuous, and both the Spirit Pagoda and human society at large knew very little about him, which was why Di Tian had sent him to human society to bring Na'er back.

Under Di Tian's instructions, he had also developed some subordinates for future needs.

"Very well, let's head back."

"Yes!"

Led by Yao Ling, the two boarded a Soul Guidance vehicle. Next, they would take a Soul Guidance train to a city near the Star Dou Forest, and from there, they would enter the Star Dou Forest directly via spatial teleportation.

On the other side, the moment Tang Wulin returned to the classroom, he caused quite a stir.

Tang Wulin's progress was nothing short of a miracle. With only innate third-rank soul power and a Blue Silver Grass martial soul, he had managed to break through to the tenth rank in just two years, absorbing a soul ring to become a true Soul Master.

Not to mention now; according to the teachers, he had already reached the thirteenth rank.

It could be said that Tang Wulin was now the standard "child of someone else." Every time the teachers held class for the two newest Soul Master Classes, they would say things like, "Look at Tang Wulin from the third grade. That is what hard work looks like. There are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters! You are truly the worst class I have ever taught!"

"Boss, did you hear?" Seeing Tang Wulin arrive, Wan Yunchao immediately leaned in to whisper.

Wan Yunchao was Tang Wulin's deskmate, an interesting little fatty whose martial soul was a blade and who possessed innate fifth-rank soul power. He had originally looked down on Tang Wulin, but after witnessing his rapid progress, he had willingly started calling him "Big Brother."

Tang Wulin didn't object to the title. He asked, "Hear what?"

"Zhou Shaolong just broke through to the tenth rank as well. He's already gone to obtain his soul spirit. His family is so rich; they say they're going to buy him a yellow soul spirit."

Tang Wulin didn't even blink. "Oh."

What did these things have to do with him? If it had been a year ago, he might have been surprised by this yellow spirit soul, but a year of forging had made him as silent as metal.

Soon, the bell rang for class, and Lin Ximeng walked in, carrying a large stack of documents and several bags.

"Very well, students. As of now, a total of six students in our class have broken through to level ten. I will now distribute your files to you, along with the academy's recommendation letters. If your families have other choices, come see me after class at noon. Once you receive your files, remember to keep them safe; they are required for you to enter intermediate academy. You don't need to come to class after this; just get some good rest."

"Of course, those who haven't broken through to level ten, do not panic. As long as you break through before the intermediate academy starts, you can still come to the academy to collect your recommendation letters."

The morning classes ended quickly, and Tang Wulin received his file folder, feeling much more relaxed.

Next, I'll continue learning forging with the teacher, then head to East Sea City a bit early to search for the spiritual items I need.

On the way home, Tang Wulin planned his next steps as he walked.

"Mom! I'm home!"

Tang Wulin pushed open the door, but only Lang Yue was home.

"Eh? Where did Na'er go? Is she not home?"

Lang Yue's heart tightened as she handed a note to Tang Wulin. "Linlin, Na'er is gone. Her family came to find her."

These words struck Tang Wulin's mind like a bolt of lightning, leaving him frozen in place.