"What is there to be afraid of?"
Taoist Master Yunlong looked straight at her. "Everyone has the right to fight for what they want. Why shouldn't you?"
Tang Tang froze. Did she have the right to fight to stay alive, too?
No.
Everyone had that right except her.
Ten lifetimes of rebirth had proved that she wasn't entitled to it.
"We'll see."
Tang Tang brushed it off and gulped down another cup of tea. "I'm still a five-year-old kid. Eating, drinking, and playing fill my days, and soon I'll have school to worry about, too. I can't deal with that much. I'll think about it later."
Taoist Master Yunlong looked at her and refilled her cup.
Tang Tang: "..."
"Weren't you the one who told me to go with the flow and do things appropriate for my age?"
"I'm being a good little kid now. Shouldn't you praise me?"
"Mm."
Taoist Master Yunlong put down the teapot and praised her. "You're doing very well. Thank you for the effort."
Tang Tang: "..."
"Did you come with your brothers again today?" Taoist Master Yunlong asked.
"Yes."
"All my other brothers and sisters came, too, except my eldest and third brothers."
"It sounds like you get along well with your brothers and sisters."
"It's nothing special... though things have been a little better lately."
"Mostly, they're just too hard to shake off."
"Don't most people hate kids who are neither little nor grown-up? I have no idea what they're thinking. They're all so much older than me, yet they all like looking after kids."
"I can understand my eldest brother. He's always been gentle, and he often takes care of his younger siblings. But my second and third brothers aren't the type to enjoy taking care of people. And my two sisters