Encounter

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling hazily across the floor.

Tang Wulin had already washed up. He stood by the bed, looking at Xie Xie, who had just sat up. His hair was a mess, with a tuft of brownish-yellow bedhead sticking up from the top like an antenna.

Tang Wulin walked over and pressed that stray tuft down.

"Get up and get ready. Didn't we agree to go out and have fun today?"

Xie Xie rubbed his eyes, gave a vague response, then slid off the bed and felt around the floor for his slippers.

Tang Wulin had already made a plan. The amusement park, the aquarium, the auction—he went over the route in his mind, made sure nothing had been left out, then the three of them met up in the cafeteria.

After breakfast, they headed out along the streets. Morning light slipped through gaps between the buildings, cutting the road into alternating stretches of brightness and shadow.

They chatted as they walked. East Sea City was not particularly noisy in the morning. Sanitation workers swept up leaves that had fallen the night before, while warm steam and the scent of wheat drifted from the bakery entrance.

"This is nice," Tang Wulin said.

Xie Xie had been telling an outrageous story about his neighbor, but he was interrupted halfway through. "What's nice?"

"Nothing."

Gu Yue walked on Tang Wulin's other side. Watching Xie Xie wave his arms around as he talked, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. She even felt an urge to tug Tang Wulin a little closer to her.

The amusement park was not far from the school; they arrived after turning down two streets. Colorful flags at the entrance rustled loudly in the wind, and several people were already lined up at the ticket window. Xie Xie threw both hands into the air. "We're here—"

As he spoke, a faint ripple passed through the Sea of Spirit. It was not strong, but it carried a strange sense of delight—it was the Golden Dragon King's emotion.

"You two go buy the tickets," Tang Wulin said. "I'm going to use the restroom."

Tang Wulin rarely saw the Golden Dragon King react like this. He quickened his pace, rounded the corner by the restroom on the side of the amusement park, and sank his consciousness inward.

Inside the golden palace, Ye Guojie's corpse floated in midair.

Dark-gold formations stretched out from every direction, winding around the body layer by layer. His soul bones and battle armor had been stripped away and floated at the edge of the formation like parts dismantled for sorting. The dark-gold light flowed slowly through the formation, and with every pulse, the corpse's outline grew blurrier.

Tang Wulin stood at the edge of the hall without entering.

"What are you doing?"

The Golden Dragon King turned to glance at him, surprise at being interrupted in his expression. "Why did you come in?"

"I sensed that you were—"

"Get out."

The power of laws surged from the center of the hall like a gentle yet irresistible push, forcing Tang Wulin's consciousness back. He tried to steady himself, but that power was far stronger than he was. Within a few breaths, his vision had been pushed back into reality.

Tang Wulin stood at the corner of the restroom. He opened his eyes and looked down at his own hand.

He kicked me out of my own Sea of Spirit?

He shook his head and walked out from around the corner. Before he could return to the ticket window, he spotted two familiar figures from afar, along with two figures being kept outside the window.

Xie Xie was standing on tiptoe and leaning against the ticket window, while Gu Yue stood beside him with little expression on her face.

Long Bing stood behind Xie Xie, looking as though she had just arrived. Wu Changkong stood beside her, both hands tucked into his coat pockets.

Tang Wulin quickened his pace and walked over.

"What a coincidence," he said.

Wu Changkong glanced at him and nodded. Long Bing turned and smiled at him. Tang Wulin noticed that she was wearing a light-colored coat today and looked more relaxed than usual.

Xie Xie turned away from the window and only then noticed Wu Changkong and Long Bing.

"They won't let us in!" Xie Xie looked at Long Bing aggrievedly. "Master's wife, please take us inside." Clever Xie Xie instantly figured out who was the most reliable.

She rubbed that little brownish-yellow head. "No problem. Leave it to me."

Long Bing stepped forward and nudged Xie Xie aside. "Hello, the two of us are their guardians. Can we go in now?"

The middle-aged man looked at Long Bing, then at the cold-faced blue-haired young man beside her, seemingly judging whether the two of them really were guardians.

Wu Changkong stepped half a pace forward. He said nothing, but his stance left no room for doubt.

The middle-aged man lowered his head and began writing out the tickets. "All right, go on in. That kid just told me his parents were nearby. I thought he was lying."

Long Bing did not hear him. The three little ones had already dragged her forward.

The middle-aged man was taking off his glasses to wipe away the fog on them when he casually added, "So young, yet raising three children. You don't see that much these days."

As Wu Changkong passed him, his steps paused briefly. The corner of his mouth curved ever so slightly—a faint ripple, like one on water that the wind immediately smoothed away. "Thank you."