The First "Little Brother"

"So, it was because I smelled nice, like mint and light, that you wanted to follow me?"

Tang Wulin nodded.

"Yes. It was my first time smelling something like that too. It made me feel very safe."

Luo Qing broke out in a cold sweat. He was not sure whether he truly had the constitution of dragon mint, or whether Tang Buddha had simply set him up.

But for now, he had to find a way to fool this girl.

"Isn't it rather rude to follow someone around just because you think they smell nice?"

"What you're doing is very impolite."

Luo Qing's words genuinely stunned Tang Wulin for a moment.

"That... does seem right."

"But weren't we having a lot of fun before?"

Luo Qing nearly lost it.

"We weren't playing before, hey! Anyway, stop following me. I like being by myself."

"Oh, okay..."

Tang Wulin lowered her head in disappointment. Just as Luo Qing thought he would finally get some peace for a while—

During the break the next day, as Luo Qing gazed into the distance and took in the scenery, he kept feeling an inexplicable gaze on his back.

When he turned around, he immediately spotted Tang Wulin trying to hide behind a large tree.

Luo Qing sighed first, then looked toward where Tang Wulin was hiding.

"Come out. You're terrible at hiding."

Only then did Tang Wulin poke her head out from behind the tree.

"Am I?"

"Didn't you promise yesterday that you wouldn't follow me anymore? Why are you sneaking around here again today?"

Luo Qing looked at the girl before him, who for some reason always liked clinging to him.

He really had no idea what to do with her.

For one thing, Luo Qing had his own principles. He would not lay a hand on an ignorant child.

Not to mention that even if he did, he might not necessarily win.

Tang Buddha's backup was still floating around in this child's spiritual sea.

That existence called Old Tang was no ordinary thing.

He was Tang Buddha's split soul.

If Luo Qing truly made a move, forget anything else—the Sea God's Trident would definitely get its fill.

And judging by how stubborn this girl was, he clearly could not persuade her with words alone.

Since he could not get rid of her, it was better to guide her than block her.

He would first instill the right values in this child, then let her decide for herself how she should face her father in the future.

He did not need to do anything, nor did he even need to slander him.

He only needed to recount, exactly as they were, the things Tang Buddha had done.

With that thought, Luo Qing no longer wore that distant expression.

He beckoned to Tang Wulin and said,

"If you really want to come along, then stop hiding."

"Luo Qing, you don't dislike me anymore?"

Tang Wulin slowly walked over only after hearing that.

"What good would disliking you do? Wouldn't you still be peeking at me from afar?"

"So I might as well let you join me. From now on, at this elementary school, I've got your back!"

"And you'll be my number-one little brother."

"But I'm not a boy?"

"Don't worry about those details. Just understand that I've got your back, and that's all there is to it!"

Thus, Luo Qing gained a "little brother" with an enormous appetite.

Because of this, Tang Wulin encountered far less trouble.

At elementary schools, whether among boys or girls, there were always instances of bullying, especially toward an outlier like Tang Wulin, who clearly ate a great deal.

At first, someone tried to call her a glutton. After Luo Qing gave them a few slaps, they behaved themselves.

And comparisons between elementary school students were also very common.

On Blue Star, they compared who had the better watch, better shoes, or better schoolbag.

Here, they compared whose martial soul was stronger, whose father had more money, and things like that.

Naturally, this competitive behavior spread to the two of them as well.

However, those kids who loved comparing themselves to others were utterly no match for Luo Qing.

"They're merely grains of sand, yet they dare challenge me on the same stage?"

Luo Qing casually knocked down three little brats who tried to provoke him. He did not even touch the last one before the kid wet himself in fear.

"Gah! He's an expert! Everyone, retreat!"

Those little brats fled in a panic, while Tang Wulin watched everything clearly from the side.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with admiration.

"Luo Qing, you're so strong!"

"It's nothing. They were just minor characters."

"Did you read the books I showed you yesterday?"

Luo Qing suddenly remembered the Ultraman series comics he had given her the day before.

Although he had drawn them himself, Luo Qing's spiritual power had already become extraordinary after awakening his martial soul.

Naturally, he could recall all sorts of plots he had watched in his previous life and turn them into comics.

"Yes, I've reached the part where they're fighting the evil Cane Alien. It actually used a jeep to ram Gen Ohtori. That was so awful."

Tang Wulin seemed rather excited.

Once upon a time, she had also read many picture-story books, but she had never found anything as interesting as these.

"You've gotten that far? Then you must properly learn from the spirit in it!"

"Be an upright person, with a heart full of passion."

"Yes, I'll definitely do it!"

And so, their days in elementary school passed quickly.

It was also during those days, when Luo Qing and Tang Wulin were heading home after school—

That they suddenly saw a little girl with a head of silver hair and bewildered eyes standing on a street corner.

The little girl's gaze was filled with helplessness and confusion.

There was even a trace of panic in her purple eyes.

"Why is there a little girl here?"

Feeling the strange reaction in her body and an inexplicable daze, Tang Wulin noticed her first. Luo Qing naturally understood what day it was.

"Has the Silver Dragon King acted this quickly?"

He narrowed his eyes and carefully observed the silver-haired little girl.

The little girl had an exceptionally lovable face, with long eyelashes. Combined with her silver hair and purple eyes, she looked especially adorable.

At that moment, two shady-looking men suddenly approached.

"Boss, this kid looks like she's from another country. Want to see how much she's worth?"

The man called boss first gave her a once-over.

Then he spoke.

"This kind of merchandise is extremely rare. Forget anything else—our drinking money for this month definitely won't be a problem."

How could Tang Wulin fail to understand what these two bastards were after when she heard that?

The stories Luo Qing had described before included child traffickers.

"You two bastards, let her go!"

The two men froze for a moment, only then noticing the two children standing in the distance.

"Oh? Little brats want to meddle in other people's business?"

One of them took a few steps forward and looked Luo Qing and Tang Wulin over.

"You two look pretty good yourselves. Wouldn't that settle our drinking money for the next few months?"

"Be good and come home with your uncles. We'll give you candy then!"

"Keep that candy for yourselves, you human-trafficking scum."

Luo Qing stepped forward first, and a deep yellow soul ring flashed before him.

The color made both men's legs go weak.

They might have been thugs, but they still had enough sense to recognize it.

Deep yellow with a hint of purple—this was clearly a century-old soul ring close to a thousand years.

And judging by how young he was, it was obviously his first soul ring.

With the wealth and backing required to possess something like that at this age, forget anything else—they could easily plant the two of them in the ground like ginseng.

"Run! That kid isn't someone we can mess with."

The two thugs ran off in a flash.

Even Tang Wulin, who had been preparing to continue confronting them, stood frozen in place.

"They just... ran away?"

This was the first time Tang Wulin realized how convenient it was to be a soul master. Then she thought of the Blue Silver Grass she had awakened that day, and she still felt somewhat disappointed.

Luo Qing took a few steps forward as well and fell into thought while looking at the silver-haired little girl before him.

"What should we do with her?"

Tang Wulin asked instinctively.

"I don't know. Let's ask her what she wants..."