But Nuoding City had a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
Xiao Wu.
A hundred-thousand-year soft bone rabbit in human form-a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring delivered right to his doorstep. Why turn down a free gift?
Although her soul ring didn't suit him, who would complain about having too many Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings?
What? Moldy Douluo?
With Wang Qiu'er, a rank ninety-seven Super Douluo, around, how much strength could Tang Hao, a rank ninety-five Titled Douluo, muster? Especially when he was already severely injured.
If he dared come, they would beat him to death. At the very least, he would leave crippled.
But judging by Wang Qiu'er's strength, there was an eighty percent chance Tang Hao wouldn't leave at all.
There was a problem, though. He couldn't absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring yet, so what good would keeping an eye on Xiao Wu do? He might as well kill Tang Hao outright, take the Blue Silver Emperor's soul bone, then head to Heaven Dou City and reap a lovely harvest from Dugu Bo. Wouldn't that be more useful than wasting time in Nuoding City?
As for Tang San? Sorry, without Tang Hao, he was nothing.
There was no rush with Xiao Wu. He could let her grow for a few years.
Only after thinking it through did Lin Changgeng speak.
"No academy could teach better than a Titled Douluo, right?" He looked at Wang Qiu'er. "I have innate full soul power. My first goal is to hunt down my first soul ring, then go to Heaven Dou City."
Wang Qiu'er raised an eyebrow. "Sure. I thought you wanted to go to school."
"I can still tell the difference between a Titled Douluo's guidance and an academy's basic theory." Lin Changgeng nodded.
"Fair enough." Wang Qiu'er rubbed her chin.
"But." Wang Qiu'er changed tack. "Do you have a target for your first soul ring?"
"Do you have a recommendation?" Lin Changgeng gave Wang Qiu'er a dubious look.
"I do." Wang Qiu'er spread her hands. "A dark gold terrorclaw bear."
"I can't make all my soul rings dark gold terrorclaw bears." Lin Changgeng rolled his eyes.
"True." Wang Qiu'er thought that made sense. "But we can take our time looking. The Star Dou Great Forest is huge, anyway."
"No problem."
"Then it's settled." Wang Qiu'er snapped her fingers. "We'll go soul hunting first, then head to Heaven Dou City afterward."
Lin Changgeng suddenly remembered something. "Wait. Let's stop by the Director's office first."
"What for?"
"Now that you're here, why would I keep living at the orphanage?" Lin Changgeng said. "I've lived here for six years, and the Director has put in a lot of hard work. I want to leave her some money before I go."
Lin Changgeng knew he probably wouldn't return for a long time once he left. Still, he had lived here for six years and owed them a debt of kindness. Leaving without a word would be rather like forgetting his roots.
Wang Qiu'er froze for a moment, then smiled.
"Well, well, young master. I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful."
"What kind of person do you take me for?" Lin Changgeng's face darkened.
"Let's go." Wang Qiu'er took Lin Changgeng's hand and returned to the orphanage.
The orphanage.
The Director's office.
The Director was a woman in her fifties, with graying hair and plenty of wrinkles, but gentle eyes. She had been the director here for thirty years, seeing off one group of children after another.
Seeing Lin Changgeng enter, she set down her needlework and smiled.
"Changgeng, have you finished your martial soul awakening? How did it go?"
"Director, it's done. Innate full soul power." Lin Changgeng handed over his martial soul certificate.
"Innate full soul power?!" The Director sprang to her feet, her reading glasses slipping to the tip of her nose. "Really?!"
"Really."
The Director took it with trembling hands and read it over and over, her eyes gradually reddening.
"Good... that's wonderful." Her voice choked slightly. "Our orphanage... has finally produced a child with innate full soul power. Changgeng, you've made something of yourself."
She wiped the corners of her eyes, carefully folded the martial soul certificate, and returned it to Lin Changgeng.
"Director, there's something else." Lin Changgeng stepped aside, revealing Wang Qiu'er. "This is my distant cousin, Wang Qiu'er."
Wang Qiu'er stepped forward with a polite smile, looking like an entirely different person from the woman who had been teasing Lin Changgeng earlier.
"Hello, Director. I'm Changgeng's older cousin." Her voice was gentle. "I've spent these past years trying to make my way out in the world. Now that things have finally settled down, I'd like to take Changgeng to live with me and find him a better Soul Master Academy."
"Don't worry. I'll cover all his tuition and living expenses. I won't let him suffer."
The Director paused, looking Wang Qiu'er up and down.
Although Wang Qiu'er had reined in her aura, her bearing and appearance spoke for themselves. One glance was enough to tell she was no ordinary person.
"You're Changgeng's cousin?" The Director sounded puzzled. "Why have I never heard him mention you?"
"I was close to Changgeng's parents. Later, I went away on a long trip and lost contact with the family." Wang Qiu'er's expression didn't change. "I only returned recently. As soon as I heard Changgeng was in an orphanage, I hurried over."
As she spoke, she took a bag of Gold Soul Coins from inside her clothes and placed it on the desk.
"Director, thank you for taking care of Changgeng all these years. This is a small token of appreciation. Please accept it."
The Director stared at the bag of Gold Soul Coins on the desk, stunned.
In all her fifty-odd years, she had never seen so much money.
With this money, the orphanage's children could eat their fill, wear new clothes, and no longer suffer the cold in winter.
But she looked at the bag of money, then at Lin Changgeng. Her lips moved, yet no words came out.
She had watched Lin Changgeng grow up from infancy.
He had been left at the orphanage entrance at six months old, as scrawny as a kitten. She had raised him one mouthful at a time.
He had always been a sensible child, never crying or making a fuss. When the other children fought over toys, he stood to one side and watched. Even when they bullied him, he never came to her to complain.
She had always believed he would amount to something one day.
Now he had, and he was leaving.
She couldn't describe the feeling in her heart.
She was happy-truly happy.
And reluctant to let him go-truly reluctant.
"Director." Lin Changgeng looked at her. "I'll come back to visit you."
The Director came back to herself, forced a small smile, and reached out to stroke his head.
"Good, good." Her voice was a little hoarse. "Once you're out there, study hard. Don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid of it, either."
"If anyone wrongs you, come back. The orphanage will always be your home."
As she spoke, she finally failed to hold back her tears.
She quickly turned her head and wiped them away with her sleeve.
"Look at me. What am I crying for? My boy has a bright future. I should be happy."
She turned, took a cloth bundle from a drawer, and pressed it into Lin Changgeng's hands.
"This is the pocket money you've saved since you were little. I've been keeping it for you. Now I'm giving it back."
Lin Changgeng opened it and saw a dozen or so Silver Soul Coins and some Copper Soul Coins, a loose assortment wrapped in an old piece of cloth.
His nose stung.
This was the money the Director had rewarded him with, little by little, for helping her with chores. He had never spent any of it, leaving it all in her care.
"Director, keep the money. I-"
"Take it." The Director pushed the bundle back into his hands, her tone firm. "You can't go out into the world without money on you. Your cousin's money is hers. Keep your own money safe."
Lin Changgeng fell silent for a moment, then put the cloth bundle away.
"Thank you, Director."
The Director glanced again at the Gold Soul Coins on the desk and hesitated for a long time.
She didn't really want to accept them.
Accepting them felt as though she were selling Lin Changgeng.
But she also knew the orphanage was desperately poor. More than twenty children survived on her sewing and mending and the charity of kindhearted people in the city. In winter, several children had nearly frozen to death.
This money could change so many lives.
She drew a deep breath and put away the Gold Soul Coins.
"I thank your cousin for this money on behalf of the children." She bowed slightly to Wang Qiu'er. "I promise every last coin will be spent on them."
"Please, Director, there's no need for that." Wang Qiu'er hurried to support her. "It's only right."
The Director turned back to Lin Changgeng, her eyes full of reluctance.
"Changgeng, go on."
"Don't let me delay you."
Lin Changgeng looked at her, then suddenly knelt and kowtowed three times.
"Director, I will remember the kindness of your care until my dying day."
The Director hurried to help him up, tears spilling again.
"Silly child, what are you kowtowing for? Get up."
She dusted off his knees, then straightened his collar.
"Go on."
Lin Changgeng nodded, turned, and walked out of the office.
Wang Qiu'er followed him, glancing back before she left.
The Director stood in the doorway, watching them leave, one hand covering her mouth as her shoulders trembled slightly.
Only when they disappeared around the corner did she finally lose control. She crouched on the ground, covered her face, and sobbed aloud.
After leaving the orphanage gates, Lin Changgeng walked very slowly.
Wang Qiu'er walked beside him, silent for once.
Only after they had gone some distance did she speak.
"Your Director really cares about you."
"Mm." Lin Changgeng nodded. The Director had raised him from swaddling clothes, step by step. Naturally, she was sad now that he was leaving.
"Come back to visit more often when you get the chance."
"I will."
Wang Qiu'er glanced at him and reached out to ruffle his hair.
"Don't be sad. Once you're strong enough, you can support the entire orphanage. Wouldn't that solve it?"
Lin Changgeng raised his head, a glimmer of resolve flashing through his gilded eyes.
"Mm."
He would.
He would not only support the orphanage, but also give the Director and all the children good lives.
But first, it was time to go soul hunting.
"Let's go." Lin Changgeng quickened his pace. "To the Star Dou Great Forest."
"That's more like it." Wang Qiu'er smiled and slung an arm around his shoulders. "I'll fly you there."
The two left Nuoding City, and Wang Qiu'er took Lin Changgeng soaring into the air.
A streak of golden light shot into the sky, flying toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
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