Aolai City

"You can try cultivating tonight after you get home and see if anything feels different."

Chu Yan had thought that if this little girl was like the original story and didn't much care for cultivation, he wouldn't tell her about this Martial Soul attribute so soon. But she seemed to be working hard at her cultivation now, so he told her.

At that, Xu Xiaoyan blinked and tilted her head, thinking it over. A moment later, her big eyes lit up.

"Oh, right! When I fused with the Soul Spirit, I felt a strange, chilly sensation, too. It wasn't quite like the cold of the Ice Staff. It was more like... like that cool, refreshing feeling you get when you look at the stars at night."

Chu Yan said no more. He simply reached out, ruffled her hair, and smiled. "So you can try it for yourself tonight and see whether your Martial Soul changes in any way after dark."

"Mm!" Xu Xiaoyan nodded hard, carefully put away the Soul Spirit Contract, then moved half a step closer and lowered her voice conspiratorially.

"Brother Yan, if my Martial Soul really has some kind of Starry Sky Attribute now, doesn't that mean it'll be way stronger than my brother's ordinary Ice Staff?"

At that, Chu Yan couldn't help laughing. This little girl wanted to knock her brother off his pedestal.

"You'll have to cultivate hard and learn to make the most of that advantage."

"I'll definitely work hard!" Xu Xiaoyan clenched her little fist. Then, as if she'd remembered something, she tugged on Chu Yan's sleeve and gazed at him with shining eyes. "Brother Yan, school's starting soon. Do you think we'll be in the same class?"

"Probably," Chu Yan replied.

Tianheng Primary Academy usually sorted new students by Martial Soul type and Soul Power Level. They were both on the tool-type Martial Soul track, and both had Innate Full Soul Power, so the chances they'd be placed in the same class were very high.

"That's great!" Xu Xiaoyan gave a little hop on the spot, her face bright with happiness.

Then she seemed to think of something else and tilted her head at Chu Yan. Curiosity crept into her voice. "What about you, Brother Yan? How many years old is your Soul Ring? I asked you last time, but you never told me."

Chu Yan smiled, then lightly flicked her forehead. "I'll tell you another time. First, figure out your Starry Sky Attribute."

Xu Xiaoyan covered her forehead and pouted, but didn't press him. Though she was young, she'd known since childhood that Brother Yan had plenty of things he kept to himself. She didn't mind. As long as he was good to her, that was enough.

She stayed in Chu Yan's courtyard for another half hour, pestering him to teach her a few tricks for circulating Soul Power. Then she eagerly practiced her new Soul Skill, condensing an ice spike about the size of her palm. Chilling air swirled around it.

It wasn't very powerful yet, but considering she'd only absorbed her Soul Ring the day before, she'd picked it up remarkably quickly.

Chu Yan watched for a while and offered a few suggestions to improve her force and speed up the condensation. Xu Xiaoyan listened closely and tried several times. Sure enough, her movements grew much smoother, and she was delighted.

It was nearly lunchtime when someone from the Xu Clan came to pick her up. Only then did Xu Xiaoyan leave the Chu Clan, reluctantly.

"Goodbye, Brother Yan!"

"See you!"

The next day, at noon

Chu Yan stood in front of the main gate of the estate, dressed in a simple white shirt with short sleeves, the cuffs snug around his wrists. A black leather belt was fastened around his waist, and light, soft-soled boots covered his feet.

Beside him stood a sturdy middle-aged man in his early forties. He had a square face and dark complexion, and wore a plain, deep-gray outfit suited for action. A silver Soul Guidance Communicator hung from his waist.

His name was Pang Shan, the Chu Clan's head guard. He was a level fifty-five agility-type Spirit King with the Gale Leopard Martial Soul. He had served the Chu Clan for over thirty years and was one of Chu Yuntian's most trusted confidants.

Pang Shan stood at Chu Yan's side, silent and efficient. His gaze habitually swept over their surroundings, as if making sure everything was secure.

A dark-gray Soul Guidance Off-road Vehicle was parked in front of the estate. It was a little taller than an ordinary Soul Guidance sedan, with a sturdy chassis suited for long trips.

"Young master, the car's ready, and I checked the route in advance."

Pang Shan's voice was steady as he continued, "It'll take about an hour and a half to get from Eastsea City to Aolai City by the coastal highway. We should arrive around one this afternoon."

"Mm. Let's go." Chu Yan nodded, opened the car door, and slid neatly into the back seat.

Pang Shan went around to the driver's seat, shut the door, and started the engine. With a low rumble, the off-road vehicle pulled smoothly out of the Chu Clan's gate and joined the afternoon traffic in Eastsea City.

Chu Yan leaned back against the seat cushion, watching the streets race by outside the window.

His parents didn't know why he wanted to go to Aolai City, but they hadn't asked too many questions.

Chu Yuntian had only reminded him to be careful, then sent Pang Shan along with him.

Chu Yan knew his father had questions. A six-year-old child suddenly asking to visit some obscure seaside town was hardly something that looked like a whim.

But Chu Yuntian had still chosen to respect his decision and hadn't pressed him for an explanation.

That trust moved Chu Yan a little, though he didn't show it.

Once they left the urban area of Eastsea City, the car followed the coastal highway south.

Traffic gradually thinned, and the vehicle picked up speed.

Chu Yan gazed quietly out the window, tapping his fingers lightly against his knee as he went over everything he knew about Na'er.

The original story's description was vague. It only said that Tang Wulin met Na'er on his way home from school.

Tang Wulin attended Red Mountain Primary Academy, which was in the central area of Aolai City. The Tang family lived in the residential district, so his route home from school was more or less fixed.

If the timeline wasn't too far off, Tang Wulin should run into Na'er on his way home sometime in the first few days after school started, when a few street thugs were bullying her.

Today was September 3. Red Mountain Academy had only been open for two days, so the window was just these next few days. If he ran into her today, it would be fate. If not, there was nothing he could do.

An hour and a half later, the car entered a low-rise urban district.

They had arrived in Aolai City.

Looking out the window, Chu Yan saw a striking contrast with bustling Eastsea City.

Low white houses with red roofs stretched along the coast, and the streets were narrow, their surfaces uneven.

Most of the people on the street were fishermen and ordinary residents. They dressed simply and moved at an easy pace, and the whole city was steeped in the lazy air of a seaside town.

Clearly, it was a perfect place to retire.

After entering the city, Pang Shan slowed down and glanced along both sides of the street. "Young master, where should we go first?"

"Park near Red Mountain Academy. We'll walk for a while," Chu Yan said.

Pang Shan didn't ask any questions. He nodded, turned the wheel, and guided the off-road vehicle onto a slightly wider street.

A few minutes later, the car pulled into an empty space by the roadside.

Pang Shan turned off the engine and locked the car, then silently followed half a step behind Chu Yan.

Chu Yan got out and looked around.

This was one of Aolai City's main streets. Shops and street stalls lined both sides, selling seafood, household goods, snacks, and all sorts of other things.

In the distance, he could see a cluster of red-and-white buildings. A sign on the roof of one read "Red Mountain Primary Academy."

It had to be the place.

Chu Yan looked away. Instead of heading straight for the academy gates, he strolled along the street at an unhurried pace.

His steps were casual, and though his eyes seemed to be taking in the shops and passersby, he was quietly watching every corner.

Especially the places along the road that people were likely to overlook: alley entrances and the shadows beneath the eaves.

Pang Shan followed behind him, always keeping the proper distance for a bodyguard.

His eyes seemed to sweep casually over their surroundings, but with the vigilance of an agility-type Spirit King, he would notice any unusual movement on the street.

The young master hadn't explained why they were here, and Pang Shan wouldn't ask. That was the professional discipline he'd developed over more than thirty years as a bodyguard.

After walking for a while, Chu Yan stopped in front of a small shop.

It was a modest place, with a few glass display cases by the entrance filled with all sorts of snacks: dried grilled fish, seaweed rolls, candied nuts, and more.

He bought a packet of dried grilled fish and a small bag of candied peanuts. The shopkeeper, an elderly woman with white hair, took his money with a cheerful smile and tossed in two extra candies.

Chu Yan thanked her, tore open the packet of dried fish, and took a bite. It tasted pretty good—savory, crisp, and fragrant.

He hadn't bought it because he wanted to eat. He just didn't want to draw suspicion.

A little later, Chu Yan stopped and slowly scanned the stretch of road around him.

Then, in an instant, his gaze fixed on one spot.

At the corner diagonally across the street, a small figure was crouched at the foot of the wall.

It was a silver-haired little girl.