The next day, Tang Yin opened his eyes at the first faint light of dawn.
He felt something weighing on his chest. Looking down, he saw fiery red hair spread across it.
The stunning girl's face was peaceful and lovely, her long lashes trembling slightly.
Tang Yin's head buzzed, and his mind went completely blank.
Wait, I did drink quite a bit yesterday, but I should have fallen asleep slumped over the table. With my abilities, there's no way I drank enough to black out.
Clarity swiftly returned to Tang Yin's eyes, and he gently slipped out from beneath the girl.
After checking carefully, he let out a long sigh of relief. Thankfully, both of them were fully clothed. No melodramatic nonsense had happened.
Suddenly, he noticed a simple old wooden box on the battered cabinet, with an envelope tucked beneath it.
This is...
Tang Yin immediately had a guess.
He opened the envelope and read:
Little Yin and Little San Niang, by the time you read this letter, I will already have left.
I heard your conversation last night, and it warmed my heart. Both you and Little San Niang have ambitions, so I can't hold you back.
That is why I'm leaving for a little while-to pave the way for a better future for you. In six years, I will bring you admission letters from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I hope you can draw more nourishment from the finest soul master academy and grow strong.
Only by leaving its nest can a young eagle truly temper itself. I hope you become strong, stronger even than me.
That girl is a good one. Cherish the person before you, and never let her down.
We will meet again. Don't worry about me.
"???"
Reading the letter in his hands, Tang Yin stood utterly dumbstruck.
You old geezer! How am I supposed to live without you?!
All I've learned is the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer and the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes! You haven't taught me your other trump-card techniques yet, damn it!
How did the Clear Sky Sect raise someone like you? You're driving me mad! Aaaah!!!
And even if Huo Wu and I do admire each other, we're nowhere near old enough for you to dump us into the same bed, are we???
I might grow fast, but how old am I, damn it? Don't you know, you old geezer?
Faced with the old man's earth-shattering wisdom, Tang Yin had no energy left to complain.
Tang Yin sighed and raised his eyes.
Tang San Niang was staring solemnly at the fiery red figure on the bed.
The siblings' body clocks were almost identical, so Tang Yin was not surprised to see Tang San Niang awake.
"Uh... Little San Niang, take a look at this..."
For some reason, Tang Yin felt a little guilty.
He handed her the envelope.
After reading Tang Hao's letter, Little San Niang's eyes immediately misted over, and she leaned into her brother's arms.
"Brother, why did Dad leave so suddenly?"
She had finally felt a little fatherly love from Tang Hao, only for him to leave after just a few days. Starved for affection, Little San Niang could not help feeling hurt.
"The old man has his own plans! You still have me. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Tang Yin gently rubbed Little San Niang's hair, comforting her.
Inside the wooden box lay a silver Storage Soul Tool and a golden piece of whale brain.
Tang Yin took out the Storage Soul Tool, put away the wooden box containing the whale brain, and fastened the tool around Little San Niang's wrist.
After a moment's thought, he turned back and tucked the blanket around Huo Wu.
Then the siblings headed to the little hillside outside the village for their daily training.
By the time they returned from training, Huo Wu was awake.
"You're finally back! I thought you'd drunk too much last night and wandered off somewhere."
There was nothing unusual in the girl's expression.
"I should head home too. I'll bring you the crimson sun stone next week."
"Thank you, Sister Huo Wu. Here are the soul coins for the crimson sun stone."
Tang Yin took out a cloth pouch and handed it over.
The full two hundred Gold Soul Coins made Huo Wu narrow her eyes slightly.
"Sorry for the trouble, Sister Huo Wu, but could you also find someone to turn it into jewelry? You can keep whatever's left as payment for running the errand."
After all, the old geezer had vanished now. He had no choice but to change his plans.
Seeing the girl's slender brows rise, Tang Yin hurriedly added, "I'm not looking down on you, Sister Huo Wu!"
"It's just that, with our friendship, wouldn't counting out every last Gold Soul Coin make us seem like strangers?"
"That's more like it."
Huo Wu lifted her fair, swanlike neck and gave a soft huff.
"I can't take advantage of you. From now on, your wine is on me."
"Oh, and Little Sister Xiao Wu's goat milk too. The goat milk in Blazing Fire City is excellent."
"Huh? What?"
At those words, confusion appeared on Xiao Wu's little face.
The other three exchanged a glance, then doubled over with laughter.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu immediately threw herself into Tang Yin's arms and protested.
Half a month later, in a small courtyard in Nuoding City, one kilometer from the Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.
The pink-eyed little girl in a bright red dress dropped her body low, then sprang up on her toes amid fluttering skirts.
Thud!
Huo Wu blocked Xiao Wu's leg, used the force to leap up, and spun once through the air before landing steadily.
"What do you think, Sister Huo Wu? My Rabbit Kicks the Eagle is powerful, right?"
Xiao Wu planted her hands on her slender waist, looking immensely pleased with herself.
"Your brother really is a genius. He's already helped you develop several soul skills in such a short time."
"My brother is my brother. I'm pretty amazing too, okay?"
Xiao Wu muttered under her breath.
"Yes, yes, you're the most amazing of all."
Tang Yin walked in with a smile playing at his lips.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she ran over to hug her brother's arm.
Huo Wu folded her arms, lifting her ample chest.
"Brother Tang Yin, when will you develop me a little too?"
That wording... isn't it a little too wild?
Tang Yin's smile froze.
Huo Wu seemed to realize something as well. Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she hurriedly spoke.
"Congratulations on your new home. These are little gifts from me."
Two boxes sat on the ground.
One held girls' clothes and accessories; the other was filled with all kinds of books.
"My little sisters Xiao Wu and San Niang are both beauties you'd be lucky to find among ten thousand. They deserve pretty clothes to match."
"Nuoding City is only a remote little town, after all. There are far too few clothes and accessories to choose from. I can't let my two little sisters go without."
Huo Wu stared at Tang Yin with blazing eyes.
"As for this box, it's a gift for you, Brother Tang Yin. Don't you love reading? I prepared a whole box of books for you."
"So? Would you take this humble girl in as a student?"
Tang Yin chuckled at her words.
"What are you saying, Sister Huo Wu? Whatever you want to learn, I'll teach you everything I know."
"Wonderful! From now on, I'll come here every weekend to learn. Then Dad won't nag me about doing nothing but playing around."
At the mention of her father, a stern, imposing face surfaced in her mind.
Huo Wu wrinkled her delicate little nose and muttered.
"Next time, I'm definitely going to give him a shock."
"Leave that to me."
Tang Yin patted his chest in promise.
"Hmm? Brother Tang Yin, you never used to make such absolute promises. This time..."
Her flame-like brows twitched as Huo Wu advanced step by step.
That lovely face suddenly drew close, her warm breath brushing his face.
"Is there something you want to ask me for?"
Tang Yin sighed and patted Xiao Wu's head.
"I really can't hide my little schemes from clever Sister Huo Wu."
"It's because of this little sister of mine. She has a hidden ailment and needs some special herbs to treat it."
"You have plenty of connections, Sister Huo Wu. Could you help me look for them?"
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