Na'er

The school bell echoed through the streets of Aolai City as Tang Wulin headed home alone, his schoolbag on his back. Instead of taking the soul-powered school bus, he had chosen to walk, enjoying the Sea breeze brushing against his face.

As he rounded the entrance to a quiet alley, a burst of commotion shattered the peace. Several thuggish youths had surrounded a little girl, their words lewd and their movements rough.

"Hand over everything valuable you've got! Don't think you're something special just because you're dressed nicely!"

Tang Wulin frowned and charged forward without a moment's hesitation.

"Stop! What kind of skill does it take to bully a girl?"

His voice was clear and strong, carrying an inborn air of authority.

The youths froze for a moment and turned around. Of the two leaders, one had a scar across his face and a sinister gaze; the other was burly, his face thick with brutish flesh. Had a knowledgeable soul master been there, they would have discovered to their horror that these two were none other than the legendary ferocious beasts—the Scarlet King and Xiong Jun.

Yet at that moment, the faces of these two overlords, who could summon wind and rain in the world of soul beasts, were filled with embarrassment and helplessness.

Supreme Lord, did we get the wrong script? the Scarlet King wailed inwardly. We only came to put on a show, win a little sympathy, and see how Young Master Tang would react. Why have you delivered yourself straight to his doorstep?

Stop babbling and act! If Supreme Lord blames us when we return, we'll have more than we can stomach! Xiong Jun signaled with his eyes.

"Kid, mind your own business!" The Scarlet King deliberately put on a ferocious expression, though even his voice trembled. "Get lost, or we'll beat you up too!"

Tang Wulin snorted coldly. The golden dragon king bloodline within him left him utterly unafraid of threats. He stepped forward, shielding the little girl behind him, his gaze resolute. "My name is Tang Wulin! Protecting the weak is the right thing to do! If you dare touch her, I'll send you flying!"

At the name "Tang Wulin," the Scarlet King and Xiong Jun nearly dropped to their knees on the spot. Both were roaring inwardly: Supreme Lord! We only wanted to put on a show, win a little sympathy, and see how Young Master Tang would react. Why have you delivered yourself straight to his doorstep? If we harm so much as a hair on Young Master Tang's head, a beating will be the least of our worries when we get back!

"Hmph! Big words!" Forcing himself to go through with it, Xiong Jun raised his palm-fan-sized hand as though to strike. "Take this!"

Yet to Tang Wulin, his movements were as slow as a snail. Following his instincts, Tang Wulin slid his feet and easily dodged Xiong Jun's "attack," then countered with an unpracticed straight punch to the back of Xiong Jun's knee.

"Owww!"

Xiong Jun let out a miserable cry. Although that little bit of force did not even qualify as a tickle to him, he had to play along. He dropped onto one knee, clutched his leg, and began howling.

"You... you dare hit my brother!" Watching this, the Scarlet King gave Tang Wulin a mental thumbs-up. Nice moves! Just what I'd expect from the golden dragon king bloodline! But he still had to feign anger, swinging a fist at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened. His feet moved again, and he deftly turned sideways, grabbed the Scarlet King's wrist, and used his momentum to fling him aside.

The Scarlet King "staggered" several steps and nearly fell, delivering a masterful performance as he shouted, "Not bad, kid! You've got some moves! Let's go! We'll remember this!"

The two exchanged a glance, communicating rapidly with their eyes. That's enough acting, right? Any more and Supreme Lord will start questioning life itself.

"Just you wait, kid!" Leaving that threat behind, the Scarlet King fled with Xiong Jun, both scurrying like rats with their heads covered. They vanished down the alley in an instant.

Tang Wulin dusted off his hands and turned around, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. "Little girl, are you all right? They're gone."

In the shadows, the silver-haired little girl slowly raised her head. At that instant, Tang Wulin froze. Her face was utterly flawless, her silver eyes as radiant as stars, though a trace of tears now shimmered in them, making her heartbreakingly lovely.

Na'er gazed at the small figure before her, listened to those familiar words, and felt that familiar presence. An indescribable warmth welled up in her heart.

It's him... it really is him.

Although this was a different point in time, and although she was a personality that had split off after her rebirth, the Tang Wulin before her—from the resolve in his eyes to the tenderness in his bones—was exactly like the boy in her memories who had weathered wind and rain by her side.

The corners of Na'er's lips lifted into an exquisite curve, her eyes filled with joy and relief. She gently wiped away the nonexistent tears at their corners and said softly, "Thank you, Elder Brother."

Tang Wulin scratched his head and smiled a little sheepishly. "Hehe, you're welcome. My name's Tang Wulin. What's yours?"

"My name is... Na'er."

"Na'er, that's a lovely name!" Tang Wulin said enthusiastically. "It's getting dark. Where's your home? I'll take you back."

"I..." A hint of mischief flashed through Na'er's eyes. Of course, she could not say she had nowhere to go. "I'm lost."

"Then... come home with me for now. My big sister is really gentle. I'm sure she'll let you stay." Tang Wulin extended the invitation without a second thought.

"Okay." Na'er nodded obediently, secretly delighted.

And so, the gears of fate turned once more. In that quiet little alley, the bond between the golden dragon and the silver dragon crossed time and space, joining them tightly together again.

Meanwhile, in the corner of a distant, dark alley, the Scarlet King and Xiong Jun were patting their chests and gasping for breath.

"That scared me to death. Young Master Tang's punch nearly scared my soul right out of me."

"Yeah. Let's hurry back and report to Supreme Lord. We'll say the plan succeeded, and Young Master Tang took the 'little girl' home."

The two transformed into streaks of light and vanished into the sky.

The last rays of the setting sun spilled across the courtyard of the Tang family villa as Tang Wulin rushed into the living room, holding the silver-haired little girl's hand.

"Auntie Lang Yue! Uncle Ziran! Big Sister! Sister Nannan! I'm home!" Tang Wulin's voice rang out bright and clear, brimming with youthful energy.

Tang Ziran, who was sorting documents in the living room, looked up, and Jiang Nannan set down her teacup. Tang Wutong, sitting on the other side of the sofa, immediately found her gaze drawn to the slender figure behind Tang Wulin.

The girl was so beautiful she hardly seemed mortal. Her silver hair was like snow, her eyes like stars. She wore a slightly old but spotlessly washed dress, and her whole being radiated an ethereal purity.

"Linlin, this is..." Jiang Nannan spoke first, her eyes full of puzzlement.

Tang Wulin led the little girl into the middle of the living room, his face glowing with pride as though he had accomplished some great feat. "I met her on the way home! A few bad guys tried to bully her, so I beat them off! Her name's Na'er, and she got lost, so I brought her back!"

"Oh? You beat off some bad guys?" Tang Ziran raised his brows slightly and set down his pen. His gaze swept over Tang Wulin, checking that he was unhurt, before he turned to Na'er and asked kindly, "Child, you must have had quite a fright."

Na'er lowered her head, looking rather timid, and said quietly, "Thank you, Uncle."

Tang Wulin chimed in from the side. "Uncle, Auntie, Big Sister, Sister Nannan, please let her stay! She's all alone. It's so sad!"

Tang Wutong did not answer immediately. Her lively eyes narrowed slightly as her mind raced. Something about this kept nagging at her.

"Wulin," Tang Wutong suddenly said, a probing note in her voice, "which alley did you meet her in?"

"At the alley entrance on the road home," Tang Wulin answered without thinking.

Tang Wutong and Jiang Nannan exchanged glances, each seeing a trace of doubt in the other's eyes.

"That's strange," Tang Wutong murmured. "You'd just finished school, and those thugs happened to pick that exact time and place to go after a little girl? Isn't that a bit too much of a coincidence?"

Jiang Nannan nodded as well, lowering her voice. "Besides, if those thugs dared attack someone in broad daylight, wouldn't they have been even more vicious when a child like Wulin rushed at them? How could they have been scared off so easily?"

An enormous question mark rose in both their minds. But seeing Tang Wulin's expectant gaze and Na'er's innocent appearance, they tacitly refrained from voicing those thoughts aloud.

Just then, Lang Yue emerged from the kitchen, water droplets still clinging to her hands; she had clearly just finished washing vegetables. She, too, was startled at the sight of Na'er. "Whose little girl is this? She's so pretty."

Tang Wulin recounted what had happened once more, then pleaded again, "Auntie Lang Yue, let Na'er stay! Please? I promise I'll take good care of her!"

Looking at the child's pleading little face, then at the trembling Na'er, Lang Yue's heart melted completely. Although she knew Tang Wulin was not her biological child, he had grown up by her side, and her love for him had long since surpassed the bond of blood. Seeing him plead so earnestly for a girl he did not know, how could she bear to refuse?

She crouched down, stroked Na'er's head, and said gently, "Sweet child, don't be afraid. Since we've met, it must be fate."

Standing up, she said to Tang Wulin, "Linlin, take Na'er to wash her hands and get ready for dinner. Auntie needs to go out for a bit."

"Auntie Lang Yue, where are you going?" Tang Wulin asked.

"I'll ask at the nearby police station and the community office," Lang Yue said, picking up her coat and putting it on. "I'll see whether anyone has lost a child or reported someone missing. If we can't find her family, we'll let her stay with us for a while."

"Wonderful! Auntie Lang Yue, you're the best!" Tang Wulin cheered, taking Na'er's hand and making to run toward the bathroom.

Watching the child's cheerful retreating figure, a trace of worry flickered in Lang Yue's eyes. She turned to Tang Wutong and Jiang Nannan and lowered her voice. "Wutong, Nannan, help me keep an eye on her. This child... something about her feels strange."

Tang Wutong and Jiang Nannan exchanged glances, each finding an unspoken understanding in the other's eyes.

"Don't worry, Auntie Lang Yue," Jiang Nannan said. "We'll keep watch."

Lang Yue nodded, then turned and left.

In the living room, Tang Wulin held Na'er's hand and chattered nonstop, while Na'er listened obediently, giving him a sweet smile from time to time.

Tang Wutong and Jiang Nannan sat nearby, outwardly chatting, though in truth their eyes never left Na'er.

Tang Wutong thought to herself, If this was a carefully orchestrated encounter, then what exactly is the other party's goal? What are they plotting by approaching Wulin?

Meanwhile, Jiang Nannan recalled the features of the "thugs" Tang Wulin had described. The more she thought about them, the more suspicious they seemed.

Although Na'er kept her head lowered, her keen senses picked up the two older girls' scrutinizing gazes. She laughed inwardly. Trying to sound me out? Hmph, back in the day, this exalted one... oh, no. Right now, I'm just a little girl who's lost her way.

An undercurrent of battle without gunpowder quietly stirred within this warm home. Everyone harbored their own thoughts, while Tang Wulin remained immersed in the joy of having made a new friend.