Departure

The afternoon sun hung low in the west, dyeing the dusty streets of Aolai City a warm yellow. As soon as school let out, Tang Wulin slipped into Mang Tian's workshop. When he pushed open the door, a wave of hot air mixed with the smell of metal dust and coke washed over his face.

Mang Tian was crouched beside the forging table, polishing an iron billet. He glanced up when he saw Tang Wulin enter, but his hands did not stop moving. The corner of his mouth twitched. "So diligent."

"Good afternoon, Teacher Mang Tian." Tang Wulin tossed his schoolbag into a corner and deftly put on an apron. "I'll forge a few more pieces today and save up some money to buy Na'er something tasty."

Mang Tian's hammer paused. He gave him a look. "You really know how to be an older brother."

Tang Wulin smiled but did not reply.

There was something else on his mind.

Last night, he had deliberately released a trace of the Golden Dragon King's aura. That aura should not have appeared on this timeline, and Na'er and the Silver Dragon King would sense it. Na'er was the Silver Dragon King's avatar—in the previous timeline, she would leave soon and return to the Star Dou Great Forest.

But now that the Golden Dragon King's aura had been exposed ahead of time, the plans on the other side had been thrown into disarray.

They could not tell what the Golden Dragon King would do after awakening. The embodiment of ultimate malice meant endless slaughter. Even the Silver Dragon King could not be certain whether her former other half still stood on her side.

But they would never expect it—Tang Wulin and the Golden Dragon King had come from the future.

The hammer fell.

Bang!

The heavy silver hammer struck the blazing metal billet with a dull boom, sending sparks flying. Tang Wulin swung both arms wide, hammering again and again. Every blow landed steadily and solidly, power traveling from his waist to his wrists as it followed the grain of the forging with precision. Each strike rang louder than the last, as if echoing the heart beating faster in his chest.

Mang Tian watched from the side for a while, his brow twitching. Something was off about this kid's strength and accuracy today. They had improved by far more than just a little.

"You're in good form today." Mang Tian did not ask further, merely assuming that Tang Wulin had improved.

As Tang Wulin swung his hammer, he spoke with the Golden Dragon King inside him.

"If I'm right," the Golden Dragon King's voice sounded in his mind, "the Silver Dragon King will not allow her avatar to leave. Her senses cover the entire outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, and the avatar will send her signals. She should have already noticed the changes in the seal within your body. The best way to keep watch on you is to leave that avatar by your side."

Tang Wulin's hammer paused in midair for an instant before falling again.

"She is my sister," he said.

The Golden Dragon King said nothing.

Tang Wulin gritted his teeth and poured that stifling feeling into his hammer. He had to control his strength and could not reveal too much of it. Second Grade Thousand Refinement was enough—any higher, and Teacher Mang Tian would grow suspicious.

By the time he finished forging the last metal billet, night had fully fallen. Only the soul-guided lamp beside the forging table remained lit in the workshop. Its shade was covered in dust, and its light was dim and yellow.

Mang Tian carefully inspected the pieces of heavy silver Tang Wulin had forged. He said nothing, but there was something in his eyes that he could barely suppress. He put the metal away. "I'll sell these for you tomorrow. The price should be pretty good."

"Thank you, Teacher." Tang Wulin took off his apron, thought for a moment, then added, "Teacher, I'll be going to Eastsea Academy soon."

Mang Tian froze.

"Eastsea Academy?" He turned around. "That's right. You've awakened your martial soul, so it's time for you to study there."

"Thank you for taking care of me all this time, Teacher." Tang Wulin bowed.

Mang Tian looked at him for a while, the hard lines on his face shifting slightly. He remained silent for a long time. "Go on. I won't be able to keep an eye on you every day anymore. There's a forging room there too. When the time comes, continue forging under me. Even after becoming a soul master, you can't let your second profession fall behind."

Tang Wulin's nose stung.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"Quit dawdling." Mang Tian turned around and began tidying the workbench with his back to him. "Come by before you leave. I'll give you the money for those pieces of metal."

The evening breeze drifted through the alley, warm and soft, tossing Tang Wulin's bangs into disarray. Carrying some wages he had received in advance from Mang Tian, he turned into the snack shop on the corner. The shelves were lined with colorful packages, all mass-produced by large factories. He picked out several things Na'er liked, then bought some fresh ingredients as well.

While checking out, he saw soul-guided communicators displayed beside the register. Even the cheapest ones cost a great deal. After calculating the advance wages Mang Tian had given him, he gritted his teeth and took one.

When he returned home, Lang Yue was busy in the kitchen. Steam rose from the pot on the stove, and its fragrance drifted through the half-open window.

"Mom, I'm home."

Tang Wulin set the bags on the table. There were snacks, ingredients, and a small box containing a soul-guided communicator. Lang Yue poked her head out of the kitchen and glanced over. She nearly dropped the spatula in her hand.

"Tang Tang, where did you get so much money?"

Wiping her hands, she walked over and looked through the things on the table—pastries she liked, a work jacket for Tang Ziran, and two outfits she had seen twice while shopping but had never been willing to buy. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she clutched those two outfits. Her lips pressed together several times, yet she could not say a word.

She and Tang Ziran had not bought new clothes in a long time. More than half of Tang Ziran's wages went toward the two children. Tang Wulin's soul spirit, tuition, and the family's food and daily expenses—every last one had to be squeezed out of his tiny mecha repair shop.

"My son has grown up." Lang Yue sniffed, pulled Tang Wulin into her embrace, and rested her chin atop his head. "When your father comes home, he'll be so happy."

Held in her arms, Tang Wulin pressed his cheek against her apron, breathing in that familiar scent of cooking and savoring the peace of the moment.