Let Nature Take Its Course

"It was you." The cool touch on her face, that familiar gesture—so it had been him that night.

"So what if it was me? It's been years, little girl. Have you forgotten me already? Call me Grandpa." Guang Ling drew back his hand, two pinching marks visible on the little girl's fair cheek. He raised his chin proudly. He was old enough to be called Grandpa by her.

"Are you dreaming?" Qingxi touched the spot on her face that still hurt and stared at the boy before her, speechless.

Grandpa...

"Then..." A flicker of panic flashed through his amber eyes, but Guang Ling forced himself to stay calm. "You can call me Dad, too."

Qingxi stared at him in silence. The longer she looked, the more flustered Guang Ling became. "Then... what do you want to call me?"

This was nothing like what Third Brother had said.

Qingxi frowned angrily, walked over to the door, and tugged at it. It wouldn't open.

"You came into my room and still think you can run away, little liar..." Guang Ling arched a brow, settled leisurely on the windowsill, and watched the sulking girl with a calm, composed air.

The clear moonlight fell upon him, cloaking him in a layer of holy radiance. The proud, playful boy looked like an immortal banished from heaven who had wandered into the mortal world by mistake.

Qingxi glared at the boy, cheeks puffed out. She sat down on a chair nearby and slowly closed her eyes.

Guilt over breaking her promise, joy at their reunion, and someone's strange desire to be called Dad—all of it left her more conflicted than ever.

She had once wondered what it would be like to reunite with Big Brother. Probably they would share a smile and say, "Long time no see."

Instead, it was: Call me Grandpa... Call me Dad...

Shameless!!!

And what made her even more uneasy was the strangeness hinted at by this unexpected reunion.

Seeing that the little girl seemed angry, Guang Ling's eyes flickered with helplessness. He rose and hopped down from the windowsill, then walked over to Qingxi.

His slightly chilly palm settled on her head. Guang Ling affectionately ruffled her hair, his voice helpless. "Little liar, I haven't even gotten angry yet, and you're already upset.

"Do you know how worried I was while I searched for you all these years? We agreed I'd come get you after half a year..."

"I won't ask where you went, and I don't care what forces stand behind you. I only hope you came back safe and sound."

Guang Ling's gaze was gentle. In truth, a month after leaving her in the Spirit Hall in Suotuo City, he had already regretted it.

His Guang Ling Hall was so big. What was one little girl more?

Unfortunately, when he returned to Suotuo City, the little girl was already gone. All that remained was a letter and a page of medicinal prescriptions.

The letter said her clansmen had taken her away.

Guang Ling naturally didn't believe it. There were only so many forces in this world. If such a genius really had appeared, how could they have escaped the notice of Spirit Hall's informants? And why would they help Spirit Hall?

Thinking of what the prescriptions were for and recalling the little girl's records, a glimmer passed through Guang Ling's eyes. His appearance this time was indeed tied to a certain mission, but he didn't want to bother with it.

Being able to see the little girl again was already a blessing.

"Don't be angry with me, little girl." Guang Ling closed his eyes and carefully gathered her into his arms.

At that moment, the little girl he had thought of day and night had finally returned to his side.

Qingxi's body stiffened as she leaned against the boy. His embrace was clearly cold, yet for some inexplicable reason, she felt at ease.

Countless emotions and unspoken suspicions ultimately melted into a silent sigh.

Forget it...

She slowly closed her eyes and rested her head lightly against him.

Let everything... take its course.

A long while later, Guang Ling laid the sleeping girl on the bed, carefully removed her shoes, and thoughtfully tucked her in.

"Get a good night's sleep. I'll be back soon." He twirled a lock of the girl's hair around his finger, then turned and vanished in a streak of white light.

After he left, Qingxi slowly opened her eyes. She watched the direction the boy had gone, her gaze flickering. She took the Storage Bag from her waist and placed it on the bed, then concealed her presence and followed him.

He flew over forests and deserts, arriving at a desolate little town. Most of the buildings were dilapidated; the place was lifeless, without a single sign of human habitation.

Several prisoner wagons slowly entered the town. Soul Masters dressed in black surrounded them, the weakest at Soul King level. Two Soul Douluos even led the group.

"You Spirit Hall lackeys! Let me go if you know what's good for you, or my brothers will bathe your Spirit Hall branch in Suotuo City in blood!" A vicious-looking middle-aged man on one of the wagons shouted wildly. A strong stench of blood clung to him. He had clearly killed many people.

Judging by his cultivation, he was even stronger than the two Soul Douluos. His Soul Power had reached Level 89.

And yet, despite all that, he was still locked inside the wagon, unable to move.

A streak of white light split the night as Guang Ling slowly descended. The men in black placed their right hands over their chests and bowed, calling in unison, "My lord!"

"Mm." Guang Ling nodded arrogantly. His gaze fell on the middle-aged man at the front of the wagons, and he sneered. "Just a Soul Douluo, and you dare run your mouth?"

He snapped his fingers. An ice-sealed corpse appeared on the ground. The man's face was frozen in terror, as if he had seen something utterly horrifying just before he died.

"Your brother? He was nothing but an Evil Soul Master who had only just reached Level 90. And he dared to bluster in front of me." Guang Ling lifted his chin, his tone disdainful.

"Big Brother!!" The Soul Master who had been roaring viciously a moment ago let out a piercing cry, his face turning deathly pale.

Guang Ling raised a hand. The sand on the ground trembled, and a passage leading underground opened before them. A foul stench of blood wafted from within.

"Hurry it up. Throw them all down there." Guang Ling bent his knees and jumped onto the eaves of a nearby house. He sat down and coldly watched the scene below, tapping his fingers against the wooden eaves at irregular intervals.

"Yes." One of the leading Soul Douluos nodded and removed the seals on all the prisoner wagons.

Facing a Titled Douluo who could easily kill a Level 90 Soul Master, the captured Evil Soul Masters didn't dare make trouble. One by one, they obediently entered the tunnel leading to Slaughter City.

Once everyone had gone in, Guang Ling closed the passage. He stood and brushed the dust off his cloak. "All right, you can head back now."

What if he got back too late and the little girl had disappeared again?

Guang Ling could track the arrow he had given the little girl back then, but it was useless once she went beyond its range.

"My lord, aren't you coming back with us?"

The Soul Douluo who had asked received nothing but a withering glare from Guang Ling.

He snorted, spread his Ice Wings, and flew toward Suotuo City.

Qingxi watched everything. Though she was somewhat interested in the passage, she chose to return to the Spirit Hall in Suotuo City first.

Guang Ling came in through the window and quietly walked over to the bed. Seeing the sleeping black-haired girl, he let out a nearly imperceptible breath of relief.

One side of the bed sank slightly. Guang Ling climbed onto it, sat cross-legged on the other side, and began cultivating.

Beneath the covers, Qingxi put away the thumb-thick Universe Staff in her hand and slowly fell asleep.