Tang Wulin: The Sea of Stars Is Endless, and I Want to See It with My Brother

Level four?

A twelve-year-old child had studied Forging for just over six years and was already on the verge of reaching level four?

Zhen Hua's expression barely changed, but Chen Xing noticed his hand tighten slightly around his teacup.

Mu Ye rose too. He walked to Tang Wulin's other side and bent down for a closer look at his Martial Soul.

The golden patterns on the Blue Silver Grass shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

The longer Mu Ye looked, the more intrigued he became.

But since Tang Wulin himself said he didn't know, Mu Ye let the matter drop.

He straightened and looked at Zhen Hua.

"Zhen Hua, what do you think of the boy?"

Zhen Hua nodded.

"Not bad."

"Then I'll go first."

Mu Ye grinned and turned to Tang Wulin.

"Boy, would you like to learn the Body Sect's cultivation methods from me?"

"Boy, would you like to learn Forging from me?"

Only after speaking at the same time did they realize what had happened. They immediately glared at each other.

"Mu Ye, what do you think you're doing?"

"What do I think I'm doing? What do you think you're doing?"

"I asked first."

"You asked about Forging. I asked about cultivation. There's no conflict."

"How is there no conflict? A person only has so many hours in a day. If he studies with you, when will he study with me?"

"What's wrong with studying with me? Are the Body Sect's secret arts somehow inferior to your Forging?"

"Inferior? Say that again."

"I said, what if they're inferior—"

"Enough!"

Chen Xing hurried forward and stepped between them.

"Teachers, please don't argue. Let's talk this through."

Zhen Hua snorted and turned his head away.

Mu Ye curled his lip but said nothing more.

Tang Wulin stood to the side, utterly dumbfounded.

What was going on?

He leaned toward Chen Xing and asked under his breath,

"Brother... what's happening?"

Chen Xing sighed. "You'll get used to it."

Tang Wulin swallowed.

He had imagined the Divine Craftsman and the Body Sect's sect master as lofty, imposing figures.

Instead, these two looked like children fighting over candy.

Zhen Hua took a deep breath, turned back to Tang Wulin, and said,

"Boy, you choose."

"Right. You choose. Me or him."

Tang Wulin opened his mouth. He looked at Zhen Hua, then at Mu Ye.

Then he turned to Chen Xing.

Chen Xing gave him a small nod.

Tang Wulin stammered, unable to decide whom to choose.

Chen Xing seized the chance to speak.

"Teachers, how about this? Could you both teach him, the way you taught me?"

Zhen Hua fell silent for a moment.

So did Mu Ye.

Then they both snorted and looked away.

But neither said no.

Chen Xing was delighted.

That settled it.

"Starting today, Tang Wulin is a disciple of both teachers," Chen Xing declared. "I'll show him around, and his lessons can officially begin tomorrow."

Neither man argued further. In the end, both agreed.

Tang Wulin stood rooted to the spot, still trying to catch up.

Just like that... it was settled?

He turned to Chen Xing, his eyes full of disbelief.

Chen Xing winked at him.

That night.

Chen Xing sat alone on the roof, gazing at the night sky.

"Brother."

A voice came from behind him.

Chen Xing looked over and saw Tang Wulin climbing onto the roof. He came over and sat beside him.

"How did you get up here?"

"I couldn't sleep. Then I saw you up here alone, so I came."

Chen Xing said nothing and kept watching the stars.

Tang Wulin looked up at the night sky too.

After a long while, he asked,

"Brother, what are you looking at?"

"The stars."

Tang Wulin asked, "What's so interesting about stars?"

Chen Xing smiled.

"You asked me the same thing six years ago."

Tang Wulin paused.

He did remember. Six years ago, on the beach, Chen Xing had said something similar.

He had been young then and hadn't really understood what Chen Xing meant.

But now, he thought he was beginning to.

"Brother," Tang Wulin said suddenly, "that dream you told me about—the one with the train... was it real?"

Chen Xing was silent for a few seconds.

"Do you believe it was?"

Tang Wulin thought for a moment.

"Three years ago, I didn't really believe you. But now..."

"Now I do."

Chen Xing turned to look at him.

Tang Wulin met his gaze, his expression earnest.

"I've spent years thinking about what you said. Nameless, the Sea of Stars, different worlds... The more I thought about it, the less it sounded like a dream."

"Brother, I've seen what you've done these past few years, too. You became a black-grade Mecha Engineer at ten. You said you'd repair that train. You said you wanted to see that sea of stars..."

He drew a deep breath.

"I think you can do it."

As Chen Xing looked at him, warmth suddenly welled up in his chest.

"Wulin."

"Yeah?"

"What do you want to do in the future?"

Tang Wulin thought for a moment.

"I used to want to become a powerful Soul Master. But I changed my mind."

"Why?"

Tang Wulin looked at Chen Xing and smiled.

"After you told me those stories, I started to feel that just becoming a powerful Soul Master wouldn't mean much."

"I want to go with you."

Chen Xing froze.

"With me?"

Tang Wulin nodded.

"You want to repair that train and see those stars. So I'll go with you."

"Aren't you afraid it'll be dangerous?"

"Of course I am," Tang Wulin said frankly. "But if I'm with you, I won't be."

Chen Xing was quiet for a long time.

Then he reached out and ruffled Tang Wulin's hair hard.

"All right. It's a promise."

"It's a promise!"

The brothers sat shoulder to shoulder on the roof, looking up at the stars together.

After a while, Tang Wulin suddenly lowered his voice.

"Brother, those golden patterns on my body are seals on the Golden Dragon King's bloodline."

Chen Xing turned toward him without looking surprised.

Tang Wulin continued quietly.

"There are eighteen seals inside me. I have to undo them one by one before I can control that power."

"I think that power is good, and it belongs to me." Tang Wulin's eyes shone.

"I want to use it to grow strong—strong enough to travel with you."

Chen Xing didn't answer. He merely patted Tang Wulin's shoulder.

"Then use it well."

Tang Wulin nodded firmly.

The night breeze stirred, mussing both their hair.

Neither moved. They simply sat there, gazing at the vast Sea of Stars overhead.

From that day on, Tang Wulin lived in Heaven Dou City.

By day, he studied Forging with Zhen Hua.

At night, he joined Chen Xing for Mu Ye's special training.

Zhen Hua taught with rigor and care, demanding perfection at every step.

With his natural strength and the solid foundation he had built over the years under Mang Tian, Tang Wulin improved at an astonishing rate.

Zhen Hua never said it aloud, but Chen Xing caught him watching Tang Wulin Forging several times, unable to suppress a smile.

As for Mu Ye...