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

Level four?

A twelve-year-old boy who had studied forging for just over six years was already close to reaching level four?

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

Mu Ye stood as well. He walked to Tang Wulin's other side, bent down, and leaned in to examine 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 this kid?"

Zhen Hua nodded.

"Not bad."

"Then I'll go first."

Mu Ye grinned and turned to Tang Wulin.

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

"Kid, would you like to learn forging from me?"

Only after they spoke at the same time did they realize what had happened. They immediately looked up and glared at each other.

"Mu Ye, what's that supposed to mean?"

"What do I mean? What do you mean?"

"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 inferior to your forging?"

"Inferior? Say that again."

"I said, what if they are—"

"Enough!"

Chen Xing hurried forward and stepped between them.

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

Zhen Hua gave a snort and turned his head away.

Mu Ye curled his lip and fell silent too.

Tang Wulin stood off to the side, completely dumbfounded.

What was going on?

He leaned toward Chen Xing and asked under his breath,

"Brother... what's going on?"

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

Tang Wulin swallowed.

He had always imagined that a Divine Craftsman and the leader of the Body Sect would be lofty, imposing figures.

Instead, the two men in front of him looked like children fighting over candy.

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

"Kid, choose for yourself."

"Right. Choose for yourself. Me or him."

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

Then he turned to Chen Xing.

Chen Xing gave him a slight nod.

Tang Wulin stammered, unsure whom to choose.

Chen Xing seized the chance to speak.

"Teachers, how about this? Could you both teach him, like you did with me back then?"

Zhen Hua was silent for a moment.

Mu Ye was silent for a moment too.

Then they both snorted and turned their heads away.

But neither of them said no.

Chen Xing was delighted.

That settled it.

"Starting today, Tang Wulin will be a student to both of you," Chen Xing declared. "I'll show him around, and his lessons can officially start tomorrow."

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

Tang Wulin stood there, still struggling to take it in.

That was it... It was settled?

He turned to Chen Xing, disbelief filling his eyes.

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 turned and saw Tang Wulin climb up over the edge of the roof. He came over and sat beside him.

"What are you doing up here?"

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

Chen Xing said nothing and kept watching the stars.

Tang Wulin followed his gaze into the night sky.

After a long while, he asked,

"Brother, what are you looking at?"

"The stars."

Tang Wulin asked, "What's so interesting about the 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, too young to understand 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 me?"

Tang Wulin thought about it.

"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 kept thinking about what you said all these years. Nameless, the Sea of Stars, different worlds... The more I think about it, the less it sounds like a dream."

"And I've seen what you've done these past few years. You became a Black-rank Mecha pilot at ten. You said you'd repair that train. You said you'd go see the Sea of Stars..."

He took 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 then I changed my mind."

"Why?"

Tang Wulin looked at Chen Xing and smiled.

"Because after you told me those stories, I started to feel that becoming a powerful Soul Master alone 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 go 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 fell silent for a long while.

Then he reached out and gave Tang Wulin's hair a vigorous ruffle.

"All right. It's a promise."

"It's a promise!"

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

After a while, Tang Wulin suddenly lowered his voice.

"Brother, those golden patterns on my body are actually part of the Seal on the Golden Dragon King's bloodline."

Chen Xing turned to look at him without showing any surprise.

Tang Wulin continued softly,

"There are eighteen layers to the Seal inside me. I have to break them one by one before I can control that power."

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

"I want to use it to grow stronger. Strong enough to walk beside you."

Chen Xing did not reply. He simply patted Tang Wulin's shoulder.

"Then put it to good use."

Tang Wulin nodded firmly.

A gentle night breeze blew, tousling both their hair.

Neither of them moved. They simply sat there, gazing at the boundless 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 care and precision, demanding perfection at every step.

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

Zhen Hua never said it aloud, but more than once, Chen Xing caught him watching Tang Wulin forge, unable to suppress a smile.

As for Mu Ye...