The Spirit Pagoda, eighty-first floor.
Fang Lin led Na'er to the door of Han Tianyi's office.
He raised his hand and gently knocked.
"Come in."
Han Tianyi's voice came from inside, steady as ever, giving away no emotion.
Fang Lin pushed the door open and entered.
The office was spotless and bright. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the entire room.
A faint aroma of tea mingled with the scent of books, lending the room a tranquil, peaceful air.
Han Tianyi sat behind his desk, holding a cup of tea. His expression was calm as he focused on a document.
He looked up, about to say something.
Then his gaze fell on the slender figure beside Fang Lin, and he abruptly stopped speaking.
The office fell silent for two seconds.
Han Tianyi set down his teacup, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly despite himself.
He glanced at Na'er without showing it, then looked at Fang Lin, his brow slowly furrowing.
"Brat, I told you to go rest."
Han Tianyi spoke slowly, a trace of helplessness in his voice. "You went out for a stroll and came back with someone in tow?"
"Teacher, this is Na'er. I..."
Fang Lin started to explain.
He hadn't expected that all he'd do was go out for a bun and a walk.
And somehow, he'd come back with a... Silver Dragon King.
Of course, he couldn't say that. No one would believe him anyway.
Sensing Han Tianyi's scrutinizing gaze, Na'er instinctively shrank behind Fang Lin.
She peered out with half her face, her purple eyes timidly fixed on him. Her little hand clutched Fang Lin's clothes even tighter.
She looked just like a startled kitten, every inch of her seeming to cry, "Stay away!"
Han Tianyi's gaze fell on her tense, faintly trembling figure. The reprimand he'd been about to deliver died on his lips.
He sighed softly, his expression growing gentler.
"Never mind."
He lifted his teacup and took a sip, saying no more.
Instead, he picked up the Soul Guidance Communicator from his desk and sent a brief message.
A moment later, Han Tianyi looked at Na'er again, his voice especially gentle. "Na'er, have you awakened your Martial Soul?"
Na'er didn't answer. She only gripped Fang Lin's clothes more tightly, nearly hiding herself completely behind him.
Seeing this, Fang Lin said softly, "Na'er, don't be scared. He's my teacher."
At that, Na'er hesitated for a long while.
Only then did she slowly release her tight grip on Fang Lin's clothes and peek out from behind him, lifting her head to look at Han Tianyi.
"Martial Soul...?"
Na'er thought for a moment, as if trying hard to remember something, then raised her right hand, palm facing upward.
A silver-white spear appeared out of thin air.
The spear was slender and long, its surface gleaming with silver light. Faint dragon patterns seemed to coil around it.
She tilted her head and asked earnestly, "Is... this a Martial Soul?"
The office fell silent for another two seconds.
"???"
Han Tianyi instinctively sensed Na'er's Soul Power fluctuations.
The next moment, he froze. Innate Full Soul Power.
A storm surged in his heart, but he kept his expression more or less calm.
He thought to himself, Could this brat really be the child of fortune? He just picks up some random person on the road, and she's got Innate Full Soul Power?
He took a deep breath and suppressed his roiling emotions.
"Ahem."
Han Tianyi cleared his throat and smiled warmly. "That's right. This is your Martial Soul."
Na'er blinked and nodded, understanding only part of what he said.
The Silver Dragon Spear flickered faintly in her hand, then dissolved into tiny points of silver light and slowly faded away.
"Then..."
She hesitated, then asked in a quiet voice. A hint of careful hope showed in her eyes. "Can I stay with big brother?"
"Hm?"
At this, Han Tianyi turned his gaze to Fang Lin.
He looked at Fang Lin, then at Na'er, and his lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"Of course you can."
Han Tianyi spoke calmly. "But you'll have to call me Teacher."
"???"
Fang Lin was completely dumbfounded.
Before he could say anything, a clear voice came from beside him.
"Teacher."
At Han Tianyi's words, Na'er obediently called out.
Fang Lin stared at Han Tianyi, utterly bewildered.
Han Tianyi acted as if he hadn't noticed. He picked up the Soul Guidance Communicator and calmly instructed, "Xiao Liu, come up here."
"Yes, Elder Han."
A woman's voice came through the communicator, brisk and clear.
Before long, someone gently knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
Han Tianyi's voice rang out.
The next moment, the door opened.
A female Spirit Pagoda staff member hurried in and bowed respectfully. "Elder Han."
"Mm."
Han Tianyi nodded slightly. "Xiao Liu, take Na'er to wash up and change her clothes."
"Of course, Elder Han."
Liu Ruyan replied, her gaze settling on Na'er as she smiled warmly.
Na'er's little dress was filthy, coated in dust and mud. A small piece of its hem was torn, making it look completely out of place in the clean, bright office.
Her hair was messy too, with a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks and making her already pale face look even paler.
"Big brother..."
Na'er instinctively edged closer to Fang Lin, her voice laced with unease.
"It's all right, Na'er," Fang Lin said. "Let big sister take you to wash up and change into clean clothes."
"I'll wait right here. I won't go anywhere."
Na'er bit her lip, her purple eyes fixed on Fang Lin as if trying to tell whether he was just saying that to comfort her.
"Then... all right."
She hesitated for a long while before giving a small nod, her voice barely audible. "Big brother, wait for me."
"Mm."
Fang Lin smiled gently. "I promise."
Only then did Na'er slowly let go of Fang Lin's clothes and follow Liu Ruyan toward the door, looking back every few steps.
At the doorway, she stopped and glanced back at Fang Lin. Seeing that he was indeed still standing where he'd been, she finally felt reassured enough to cross the threshold.
The door closed softly behind them with a faint click.
The office fell quiet, leaving only the sunlight beyond the window and the warmth slowly fading from the teacup.
"Brat."
Han Tianyi spoke, a playful note in his voice. "All right, tell me what happened."
His look clearly said, You'd better have a good explanation.
"Well, here's what happened..."
Fang Lin carefully chose his words and recounted how he'd met Na'er.
"Mm."
Han Tianyi listened, then lifted his teacup and took a sip. "All right. I understand."
He glanced at the Communication Soul Tool. A newly received message was displayed on its screen.
"Elder Han, the Spirit Pagoda has found no records of this child."
"There is no birth certificate or household registration. The identity system has no record of anyone by that name."
Han Tianyi set down the communicator and said, "Still, brat, you sure know how to pick them up."
Fang Lin didn't know what to say.
Han Tianyi looked at him and smiled meaningfully, but didn't press him further.
He simply lifted the now-cold tea and slowly finished it.