Please... Me

"Qi... Qi Ji, are you leaving?"

When Tang Wuling heard Qi Ji say he was leaving, her voice immediately changed, filled with obvious panic and reluctance.

A mist instantly welled up in her round, wide eyes, and her little hand unconsciously clenched the corner of Qi Ji's clothes.

"Of course," Qi Ji sighed, trying to make his tone sound gentler.

"After all, I've already obtained my Soul Spirit. There's no point in staying in Eastsea City any longer. I'm also a member of the War God Temple. Its headquarters are in Mingdu, which is on the western side of the continent, very far from here."

Eastsea City, as its name implied, lay along the eastern coast of the Douluo Continent, facing the sea with the continent at its back. It was one of the most important port cities along the eastern coast.

Mingdu, meanwhile, had once been the capital of the Sun Moon Empire and was now a core city of the Douluo Federation. Naturally, it was located inland, toward the western side of the continent.

The two places were separated by tens of thousands of miles. Even taking a soul train, a one-way trip would take a long time.

"Please... me!"

Tang Wuling was, after all, only a six-year-old girl. Even though Qi Ji had explained everything clearly, she was not mature enough yet, nor could she use reason to restrain her emotions.

There was only one thought in her heart—Qi Ji was leaving. He was leaving her.

The reluctance and fear surging up from the depths of her soul left her with no room to care about logic or reason. Tears swirled in her eyes, her voice trembled with sobs, and the little hand clutching Qi Ji's clothes shook slightly.

"No matter how much you beg me, there's nothing I can do."

Seeing that she was on the verge of tears, Qi Ji felt rather uncomfortable as well.

To be honest, he had quite wanted to try raising someone from childhood—raising a little girl into a young maiden, then from a young maiden into a mature beauty. The feeling of watering a seed until it grew into a towering tree was enough to stir one's blood just imagining it.

Besides, what was wrong with the Tang God King's bloodline?

Loyal to a fault and hopelessly devoted in love, willing to give everything for her beloved—missing out on such a fine prospect would truly be a terrible waste.

"But... but..."

Tang Wuling opened her mouth, wanting to say something, yet unable to get the words out.

She knew it was bad to throw a tantrum, and she understood that Qi Ji had his own path to follow.

But she truly did not want him to leave. The moment she heard the word farewell, unbearable sorrow and extreme reluctance surged through her heart.

It was not the unreasonable fussing of a child. It was an instinct from the depths of her soul, one that had existed even before her conscious awareness.

It was as though, in some distant past she could not remember at all, she had already lost something incomparably important once, and now she was unwilling to lose it a second time.

"Alright," Qi Ji said, softening his tone when he saw how upset she was.

"This isn't the era from ten or twenty thousand years ago. We can still call each other and send messages in the future! Whenever we want to meet, we can video call. It'll be just like meeting face-to-face."

The era of The Legend of the Dragon King was already quite close to the modern society Qi Ji had known before crossing over.

Communication tools such as telephones, mobile phones, and computers had long since become widespread. Although it still could not compare to the fully covered mobile network of his previous life, cross-city calls and video communication were no longer difficult.

The advancement of soul guidance technology allowed people at opposite ends of the world to stay in contact at any time. Distance was no longer as insurmountable as it had been in ancient times.

Upon hearing the words "make calls," Tang Wuling's emotions finally eased somewhat.

She sniffled and raised her wet eyes to Qi Ji. "Qi Ji, what's your number? I'll call you when I get home."

"Uh..." Qi Ji helplessly spread his hands. "I really don't have one."

He had previously lived in an orphanage. What kind of private telephone could a six-year-old orphan possibly have?

Forget a mobile phone—he did not even have a fixed way to contact him. The only way to reach him was through the orphanage's public phone, but that was not his own.

"Alright, alright," Luo Yuhang said with a smile, unable to stand by any longer.

"Have your master call my phone when the time comes, little Wuling. If you want to find Qi Ji, just have Gu Chaosheng call me. I'll transfer you to him."

After their private discussion earlier, Gu Chaosheng had decided to nurture Tang Wuling as the inheritor of his legacy. The two had also made several friendly private deals, reaching an unspoken understanding.

Gu Chaosheng's position was no longer that of a purely businesslike senior member of the Spirit Pagoda—everything would now be based on Tang Wuling's growth and wishes.

After all, for a Titled Douluo without the potential to continue climbing toward greater heights, raising an heir far more talented than himself was more important than any career prospects.

Watching one's disciple gradually grow into a towering tree brought a sense of accomplishment that no position or title could offer.

"It's alright, Wuling," Gu Chaosheng spoke up at the right moment, his tone gentle yet certain.

"Before long, I'll apply for a transfer out of Eastsea City. When that happens, I'll go work in Mingdu."

In truth, the position of master of the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda was a highly lucrative post. Everyone within the Spirit Pagoda system knew that.

Eastsea City was far from the center of power, while the Skysea Alliance was rolling in money.

Gu Chaosheng had secured this position back then through the advantages of being a sea Soul Master. He had remained here for more than a decade, long since turning the place into his own little domain.

But now, for the sake of his disciple, resigning from the position was not impossible.

Gu Chaosheng had lived for many years. He had enjoyed what he should enjoy and accumulated enough wealth. What he wanted now was a legacy.

He wanted to pass on his life's experience and insights to a child with potential, so that his name would be remembered by future generations because of his disciple's achievements.

But even if he were to step down, he had to secure a proper exchange of resources. The position of pagoda master could not simply be handed away for nothing.

After all, factions within the Spirit Pagoda were everywhere, and quite a few people had their eyes on the juicy prize that was Eastsea City.

Therefore, Gu Chaosheng would probably not leave so soon.

His plan was to first spread word that he intended to develop his career in Mingdu, then see what terms the various factions offered—whoever offered the best conditions would get the pagoda master's position.

Originally, he had held some grievances toward Qi Ji. After all, a genius who should have been in the Spirit Pagoda's grasp had been snatched away by the War God Temple halfway through. Anyone would feel unhappy about that.

But the terrifying talent Qi Ji displayed afterward completely won him over.

Twin Martial Souls, Ultimate Fire, the Innate Spirit Sea Realm, the Seven-Colored Dragon capable of suppressing the Golden Dragon...

With all these advantages combined, Gu Chaosheng clearly realized that this child's future was limitless.

Investing in someone destined to reach the summit would never be a loss.

"Alright... Then I'll go to Mingdu to find you!" Hearing her master say the same, Tang Wuling finally smiled through her tears. She did not care about Shrek or anything else anymore. Wherever Qi Ji went, she would go.

What number one academy, what holy land of Soul Masters—none of them could compare to Qi Ji in her eyes.

"Although I haven't been to Mingdu yet," Qi Ji said with a smile, bending down until his gaze was level with Tang Wuling's.

"When you go, Wuling, I'll at least count as half a host. I'll take you to eat Mingdu's best snacks and visit its most fun places. I'll definitely treat you well."

"Then it's a promise..." Tang Wuling held out her fair little pinky, looking earnestly at Qi Ji. Tear tracks from earlier still lingered in her large eyes, but the corners of her mouth had already lifted.

"Qi Ji, can we make a pinky promise?"

Seeing how serious she looked, Qi Ji's heart softened slightly. He extended his own pinky and gently hooked it around her small, warm finger.

"Then it's a pinky promise."