"It's fine."
Zuo Yi did not mind. "It was perfectly normal for you to misunderstand what happened just now."
Shang Yulin could not help asking, "What were you teaching Sun Qiang?"
The screams Little Qiang had let out in the sword room earlier were simply heartbreaking to hear!
"Body Tempering Art."
Zuo Yi explained, "Sun Qiang's foundation is too poor. The Body Tempering Art I taught him can improve his physical fitness."
He omitted the word "Knight" to avoid the trouble of having to explain further.
Possessing Faith Power from the Virtue Faith of Honesty did not mean he had to tell every truth. He could avoid the subject or remain silent, so long as he did not lie. And the weightier the truth he told, the more Faith Power it brought.
Zuo Yi knew how to weigh those choices himself.
Shang Yulin nodded. She did not press him about what kind of Body Tempering Art he was teaching.
Many martial arts instructors had their own secret techniques, which they relied on to make a living. Probing too deeply into them was considered highly taboo.
After hesitating for a moment, Shang Yulin said, "Zuo Yi, you really don't need to stay at Tianhong. With your abilities, I think plenty of martial arts halls would have a place for you."
Even Shang He had lavishly praised Zuo Yi's talent in martial arts, believing that he had the potential to become a true Martial Artist.
Unfortunately, Zuo Yi's ambitions did not lie there.
Now that Zuo Yi had returned, Shang Yulin had no idea what level his strength had reached, but no matter what, she did not want to hold back his future.
"Senior Sister..."
Zuo Yi said frankly, "I think Tianhong suits me very well. Besides, I've already taken on students. I know Tianhong is in a bad situation, so I don't need a base salary. A commission is enough."
If he simply wanted to make money, Zuo Yi certainly had countless better options than the Heavenly Vast Martial Arts Hall.
Even if he went to haul bricks, he would be the king of brick haulers.
The reason Zuo Yi chose the Heavenly Vast Martial Arts Hall was precisely because it faced such great difficulties—he had not forgotten Shang He's kindness in teaching him.
As a man, there were things he should not do, and things he must do!
Zuo Yi's resolve was so firm that Shang Yulin could only compromise. "All right, then. But if you ever want to leave, you can do so anytime."
"OK."
Zuo Yi smiled and raised the coffee cup in his hand, signaling a pleasant partnership.
His carefree manner made Shang Yulin's heart suddenly skip a beat. "Then... let me treat you to lunch."
"Next time."
Zuo Yi checked the time and said, "I need to go see my daughter now."
"Your daughter?"
Shang Yulin was greatly surprised. "You're married?"
Zuo Yi shook his head. "Senior Sister, thank you for the coffee. I'll come by again tomorrow."
With that, he left Starbucks with his unfinished coffee.
Shang Yulin stared blankly as Zuo Yi's figure disappeared through the entrance, a trace of melancholy flashing through her eyes.
Once he reached the bustling street, Zuo Yi drained the coffee in his cup in one gulp.
After thinking for a moment, he tossed the empty cup into a trash can and headed toward a nearby shopping mall.
In the children's section on the second floor of the mall, Zuo Yi found himself in a dilemma.
He had just realized that he could not visit his daughter empty-handed, so he had come to buy her a gift. But he had no idea what to get.
He had absolutely no experience with this!
"Sir."
A sales clerk noticed his hesitation and approached him politely. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Um..."
Zuo Yi said, "I want to buy a gift for my daughter."
The clerk hurriedly asked, "How old is your daughter? Does she like clothes or toys? We have both here."
The timid little girl immediately appeared in Zuo Yi's mind. A gentle smile flashed through his eyes as he said, "She's four this year. A toy would be better."
"For toys..."
The clerk enthusiastically recommended, "How about this big white bear? It's officially licensed by Disney and one of this year's hottest styles. Any little girl would definitely love it!"
Zuo Yi took a look and found that it was indeed quite nice. It was large, adorable, and eye-catching on the shelf.
This one, then!
Five minutes later, Zuo Yi left the mall carrying a big white bear.
The price was six hundred yuan from his phone account!
It was a little expensive, but Zuo Yi did not care. Even though all the cash he currently had only amounted to a few thousand yuan.
He only hoped his daughter would like it.
It was nearly noon, the peak period, and he was in a busy downtown area. Zuo Yi waited at the roadside for more than ten minutes without managing to hail an empty taxi, and no one accepted his ride-hailing request either.
So he simply walked to the childcare center.
Carrying a big white bear half as tall as himself down the street, Zuo Yi drew the attention of countless passersby. Some young women even secretly took pictures of him with their phones, probably because they found the sight amusing.
Under the gazes of all those passersby, Zuo Yi arrived once again at the Angel Baby Childcare Center.
"Mr. Zuo, you're here."
When the childcare center teacher Wang Juan saw Zuo Yi, she seemed both pleasantly surprised and shy. Her gaze drifted from his face before settling on the big white bear with a hint of fluster.
"Ah, what an adorable big white bear! Is it for Bao'er?"
"Yes."
Zuo Yi smiled. "Teacher Wang, sorry to trouble you."
"It's no trouble at all."
Wang Juan quickly said, "Please come with me."
She led Zuo Yi to the parent-child activity area of the childcare center, then said, "Mr. Zuo, please wait here for a moment. I'll bring Bao'er over. She just finished lunch."
Zuo Yi nodded. "Thank you."
After Wang Juan left, Zuo Yi took off his shoes and carried the big white bear into the parent-child activity area.
The room was not large, but it was warmly decorated. Thick, colorful plastic mats covered the floor, and there was a bookshelf and some toys nearby.
Zuo Yi sat down on a small stool.
He was actually a little nervous.
It felt like back when he was in school, waiting for an important exam to begin!
Zuo Yi did not have to wait long. A few minutes later, Wang Juan appeared at the entrance to the parent-child activity area with Zuo Bao'er.
"Bao'er."
Wang Juan held the little girl's hand and pointed at Zuo Yi with a smile. "Your daddy came to see you!"
Although the results of their paternity test had not come out yet, Teacher Wang was one hundred percent certain that Zuo Yi was Bao'er's father—the father and daughter's eyes looked so alike!
Seeing his daughter again, Zuo Yi felt a surge of excitement and immediately stood up.
But the little girl was very shy. Holding Wang Juan's hand, she hid behind her and only revealed half her face to secretly observe Zuo Yi.
My daddy?
Seeing that Zuo Bao'er was still afraid of strangers, Wang Juan crouched down and gently led the little girl in front of her, making her face Zuo Yi.
Wang Juan encouraged her, "Bao'er, this is your daddy. Look, he brought you a gift!"
She gave Zuo Yi a meaningful look.
Zuo Yi immediately snapped out of it and hurriedly offered the big white bear. "Bao'er, Daddy bought this big white bear for you."
As an incomparably powerful Saint Knight, Zuo Yi was so nervous at this very moment that his palms were about to sweat!
He worried whether Bao'er would dislike the gift, whether she would reject him.
Under Zuo Yi's anxious gaze, Bao'er pursed her lips and turned to look at Wang Juan in confusion.
Wang Juan smiled encouragingly.
Bao'er hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not resist the big white bear's allure. She opened her arms and hugged it.
However, the big white bear plush was even bigger than she was, so she could not wrap her arms around it at all.
The little girl clearly loved it. Two faint dimples appeared on her face, and her smile was exceptionally sweet and adorable.
Wang Juan asked, "Bao'er, do you like the big white bear?"
Bao'er nodded vigorously.
Wang Juan asked again, "Then shouldn't you thank Daddy?"
Bao'er quickly glanced at Zuo Yi, lowered her head, and said softly, "Thank you, Daddy."
Her voice was very, very soft.
But Zuo Yi heard her clearly. A joy from deep within him suddenly surged forth, filling his chest!
He smiled. "You're welcome. I'm happy you like it."
But the little girl became shy. She turned and threw herself into Wang Juan's arms, burying her face and not daring to look at Zuo Yi again.
Her left hand still tightly clutched the furry arm of the big white bear plush.
Zuo Yi felt a little regretful. He had hoped to grow closer to his daughter, but the little girl was simply too shy.
Wang Juan gently patted Bao'er's back and said to Zuo Yi, "Mr. Zuo, how about we stop here for today? Bao'er needs to take her afternoon nap. Could you come again tomorrow?"
Zuo Yi nodded. "All right."
He understood that haste made waste. Bao'er was so young and had never met him before. It was impossible for her to build a bond with him all at once. It was best to get familiar and closer step by step.
"Bao'er, say goodbye to Daddy."
"Goodbye, Daddy."
Still very softly.
This makes up the owed bonus chapter for this book's alliance leader, Xinyun Qianyin. There will be a third update this afternoon.
Before you continue