Of Course, You, Sister

Led by She Long and Ci Xue, they never touched the ground as they rushed back to Heaven Dou City at top speed.

When they arrived at a residence within the city, Qian Renxue quickly changed clothes and hurried toward Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Ci Xue went with her.

"Grandpa She Long, where is Sister Xue'er going?"

Ouyang Ling deliberately acted confused.

From beginning to end, Qian Renxue had never revealed her identity, and She Long and Ci Xue had not mentioned that they were Titled Douluo either.

It was only natural for him to be confused now.

"Miss is the eldest prince's maid. She's returning to the imperial palace," She Long said smoothly, as though he had expected the question.

But to keep Ouyang Ling, a curious six-year-old child, from asking further questions, She Long changed the subject. "Kid, you've already obtained your first Soul Ring. Do you want to see what level your soul power has reached now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a crystal ball appeared in his hand.

Clearly, it was not yet time to reveal the truth. They still needed to build rapport.

"Of course."

Ouyang Ling understood their concerns. After judging the situation, he summoned his Martial Soul and placed his hand on the crystal ball. The instant his soul power flowed into it, light shone forth.

"Level twelve. Not bad."

She Long's eyes revealed a trace of emotion. "A True Dragon Martial Soul and a sub-dragon Soul Beast—such an increase in soul power is only natural."

"Grandpa She Long, what should I do next?"

Ouyang Ling was eager to get started.

Sister Xue'er was, after all, the young mistress of Spirit Hall. Since she had decided to train him, there had to be corresponding resources, right?

Come on!

Bury him in resources!

"Next?"

Glancing at Ouyang Ling's excited expression, She Long put away the crystal ball. "You just returned from hunting a soul beast. Don't you want to rest?"

"No!"

There was a lion hidden in his eyes!

Now was the time to pursue strength!

Only if he became strong enough could he avert that tragedy!

He remembered every villager who had died.

"Is that so..."

Looking into Ouyang Ling's eyes, She Long dared to say that this was the first time he had seen a six-year-old like this. What ordinary child at that age did not long to play deep down? Even those who cultivated diligently were mostly forced to do so by the elders of their families.

This kid would amount to something!

He was talented and hardworking. How could anyone else compete with that?

"Since you're so impatient, we'll begin."

Since Ouyang Ling himself had said so, She Long naturally would not hold back. The young mistress had said to train him vigorously, after all.

Then, bang—

A heavy sound struck the table. Ouyang Ling, who had been excited just moments ago, froze with the joy still on his face.

Looking at the books piled higher than he was,

he could not help recalling the hell he had endured during his senior year of high school.

"These books..."

Ouyang Ling pointed at them, suddenly feeling dizzy.

As an assault-type Soul Master, shouldn't he be focusing on cultivating soul power, practicing soul skills, and charging straight into battle?

"These are what you need to read."

"And you'd better study them properly!"

She Long's words shattered someone's fantasy of avoiding study. There was even a hint of amusement in his gaze, and he slightly emphasized the latter sentence.

However, Ouyang Ling did not notice that, or rather, he did not care at all.

"A Soul Master's cultivation efficiency is limited. The truly most efficient period for cultivation is from age twelve to twenty-five. Therefore, before you turn twelve, you must spend time learning about Martial Souls, Soul Rings, Soul Beasts, and soul skills, arming your mind with knowledge. No one understands your own Martial Soul better than you do. If you want to go higher and farther on the path of a Soul Master, you must properly plan what path your Martial Soul should take."

"And when you grow up, going out to gain experience will be inevitable. So, understanding the customs of different places and the various factions is essential."

Bang... bang...

Dull sounds came from the stack of books as it was patted.

"Starting today, you'll study this knowledge every morning. Every afternoon, you'll train your body and learn combat. Every night, you'll take medicinal baths and meditate instead of sleeping."

"That way, your efficiency will be maximized."

She Long looked at Ouyang Ling with calm eyes.

"Do you have any objections?"

"No."

Ouyang Ling gave his answer without hesitation.

He had chosen this path himself, so he would walk it resolutely!

For strength, for godhood,

what did this little hardship amount to?

Not only would he learn these things, he would later study pharmacology as well and make use of all the treasures this era failed to value!

Then he would start with a small goal—

A thousand-year second Soul Ring!

"Come on! I'm ready!"

For the time that followed, Ouyang Ling hardly took a single step outside the residence. He was either studying or fighting.

Though it was indeed hard, every battle ended with She Long smashing him into the ground, leaving him aching all over and unable to stand.

It was certainly boring at times, but he could endure it.

The good news was that a specialized healing-type Soul Master treated his injuries, preventing hidden wounds from accumulating. With a single soul skill, Ouyang Ling would be lively again, as if nothing had happened.

There was also a chef specially assigned to serve Sister Xue'er, preparing every meal for him. He could not tell how professional it was, but money had clearly been poured into it.

The ingredients either came from hundred-year Soul Beasts or thousand-year Soul Beasts. Converted into Gold Soul Coins, their value would definitely be staggering.

Even the herbs used in his nightly baths were extremely expensive.

Besides that, he also discovered in the books the mistake he had made when choosing his first Soul Ring.

Recalling the looks Qian Renxue and the other two had given him back then, his face could not help turning red with embarrassment.

That had been utterly humiliating!

Still, Qian Renxue had been considerate. Although she had not directly pointed out his mistake, when he chose Gyarados as his first Soul Ring, that soul skill's amplification effect could stack.

That was at least a small consolation.

During this period, Ouyang Ling could see Qian Renxue several times a week. However, she never stayed long. At most, she would hurriedly eat a meal with him before immediately leaving again.

Her every move was like treading on thin ice. She was so cautious that she did not dare let down her guard in the slightest.

As time passed, that feeling only grew stronger.

Ouyang Ling knew that before long, the identity of maid Xiaoxue would have to disappear from the Heaven Dou Empire. In her place would be Xue Qinghe, gentle toward others and possessing the bearing of a ruler.

Yet after he had lived in Heaven Dou City for a year and a half, things changed. Qian Renxue began spending more time at the residence, putting more of her energy into cultivation and being with him.

A sister who loved her little brother, and a little brother who listened to his sister—

that was probably the nature of their relationship.

As for why Qian Renxue was no longer so busy...

Ouyang Ling did not ask, and she did not say.

In the first month, the others in the residence revealed Spirit Hall's insignia in front of Ouyang Ling. If the previous year and a half had been occasional, then now it could be described as completely open.

In the second month, after learning that Ouyang Ling was not curious about Spirit Hall's insignia and instead acted as though it was only natural and familiar, Ci Xue and She Long, with Qian Renxue's tacit approval, openly revealed their cultivation as Titled Douluo for the first time.

The third month, which was today.

After breakfast, Qian Renxue suddenly called out to Ouyang Ling.

"Little Ling, come here."

"Sister Xue'er, what's wrong?"

Ouyang Ling walked over in confusion.

But the moment he came close, Qian Renxue extended her "evil" hand. With lightning speed, she grabbed his cheeks and pulled them apart with neither too much nor too little force.

"Look at my little brother. I've raised him so well that he's getting chubbier and chubbier."

The pleasant feel of it made Qian Renxue smile as she kneaded his cheeks.

"Mm— Sister, that hurts..."

Only when Ouyang Ling whimpered did she release him.

Rubbing his reddened cheeks, Ouyang Ling gave her a half-lidded glare and complained, "Sister Xue'er, why are you pinching my face?"

Yet to Qian Renxue, the complaint sounded more like a spoiled little brother acting cute. It amused her so much that she had to make an effort to suppress her laughter.

"Of course I'm pinching your face to punish you."

Qian Renxue put on a stern expression. "I heard from Grandpa She Long that you've started reading about pharmacology recently. Have you already finished learning everything you were previously required to study?"

He rubbed his cheeks, letting the redness fade.

Upon hearing Qian Renxue's question, Ouyang Ling answered with complete confidence. "Of course I finished it. I've memorized everything that needed memorizing!"

For the chance to consume Whale Glue, he had studied himself half to death. Only then had he used broadening his knowledge as an excuse to begin studying pharmacology, allowing him to learn about Whale Glue.

When the time came, he could make his request reasonably and properly.

"Is that so?"

Qian Renxue nodded, then suddenly changed the subject.

"Since you're so confident, I'll test you."

Without giving Ouyang Ling time to react, she asked a question she had prepared long ago. "Little Ling, what do you think of the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall? Tell me your own thoughts."

Something was wrong.

Twelve out of ten levels of wrong!

Was she planning to lay her cards on the table?

His thoughts raced. In that split second, Ouyang Ling gave the shortest possible answer. "Spirit Hall benefits commoner Soul Masters, while the Heaven Dou Empire benefits nobles."

It sounded ordinary, yet it struck directly at the essence.

A stunned expression appeared on Qian Renxue's face.

She had only intended for Ouyang Ling to choose between the two and say which one was better, so she could see where his heart leaned.

Who would have thought...

This truly exceeded her expectations.

Qian Renxue steadied herself and looked seriously at her little brother. Perhaps she could no longer treat him as an ordinary child.

Though Qian Renxue thought so, she still asked the question whose answer she truly wanted to know.

"Then do you prefer the Heaven Dou Empire or Spirit Hall?"

However, Ouyang Ling's answer

once again exceeded Qian Renxue's expectations.

"Of course, you, Sister."

His somewhat childish face was filled with earnestness at that moment. "Whichever one Sister likes, I like. I'll choose whatever Sister chooses."

In truth, Ouyang Ling did not care which of the two he chose, because he had no sense of belonging toward either.

When he had first come to this world, he had been completely alone. Only as time passed did that begin to change.

But even now,

aside from everyone in the village, the only people who held a place in his heart were Ci Xue, who would avenge the villagers; She Long, who had saved him; and Sister Xue'er, who had saved him, taken him in, and trained him.

As for what intentions they held afterward...

A gentleman judged actions, not motives, didn't he?

Besides, hadn't he himself had other motives in the beginning?

Regardless of what Ouyang Ling thought, his words struck Qian Renxue once more, leaving her silent for a long time.

Who knew how long passed?

Perhaps it was quite a while.

In the end, she merely said, "...You little rascal."