For a tsundere like Little Iron Hammer.
How high or low her Affection Level was did not matter for now.
Even an Affection Level this low.
Was, in a sense, a kind of caring.
As long as there were emotional fluctuations.
Even anger and jealousy were better than indifference.
This kind of back-and-forth tugging.
Would make her keep paying attention to him out of jealousy.
Then, with one big reversal at the end.
He could take her Affection Level straight from negative to maxed out.
This was called the roller coaster effect.
But Blue Silver Grass was different.
She had a fragile heart of glass.
He had to keep giving consistently and establish absolute trust.
One needed a loose rein and a tug-of-war; the other needed careful nurturing and protection.
Tang Tian understood it all perfectly.
Meanwhile.
Although Tang San was meditating with his eyes closed.
He had actually been secretly watching his older brother the whole time.
He had watched Tang Tian mutter to thin air with his own eyes.
Kissing leaves and saying good night.
He looked exactly as though he had gone mad from cultivation.
Tang San's heart lurched.
Oh no.
Could the blow have been too much for my brother, causing something to go wrong with his mind?
Who falls in love with their martial soul?!
He's clearly escaping reality and drowning in fantasies!
Looking at Tang Tian, who was already fast asleep, a broad grin still hanging on his lips.
A glint of resolve flashed through Tang San's eyes.
No!
I can't just watch my brother go on like this!
Since he's in a poor mental state, he needs a strong physique to support him all the more.
It's settled!
Tang San secretly clenched his fists.
First thing tomorrow morning, I'll force my brother out of bed and take him to cultivate!
Even if I have to tie him up, I'll get him back on the right track!
Early morning.
Tang Tian was still asleep.
In his dream, he seemed to be lying on soft clouds.
Countless beautiful girls surrounded him.
Just then.
A faint, gentle, yet unusually persistent touch came against his cheek.
Once...
Twice...
Three times...
Could a beautiful girl have come out of my dream and into reality?
Tang Tian groggily opened his eyes.
What came into view.
Was not some beautiful girl.
But a familiar blue blade of grass.
Blue Silver Grass hovered beside his face.
Her blue leaf.
Gently patted his cheek.
Meanwhile, in Tang Tian's system:
Blue Silver Grass's character illustration was bubbling with pink bubbles.
She looked as though she had thrown caution to the wind.
[Blue Silver Grass (extremely embarrassed):] [I woke Master up...] [I really did it!] [But I'm so close. Master is so good-looking, and his eyelashes are so long. Hehe!] [Ooh~ my hands won't stop shaking. What if Master gets grumpy when he wakes up and starts hating me?] [But I promised Master last night. I can't go back on my word!]
Looking at the screen full of conflict and shyness.
Tang Tian's remaining drowsiness instantly vanished like smoke and clouds.
How was this a wake-up service?
Was this how you tested an official's resolve?
Tang Tian did not abruptly sit up.
Lest he frighten this timid little thing.
He slowly gave her a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Little Blue."
"Thank you for waking me. Right on time."
Whoosh-!
The instant she heard his praise.
Blue Silver Grass was like a startled sensitive plant.
Her leaf instantly twisted into a tight braid.
Then, with a whoosh, she darted back into Tang Tian's palm.
Leaving only half a leaf showing as she secretly watched.
"Heh, so cute."
In a wonderful mood, Tang Tian stretched.
Yet, right at this heartwarming moment.
Deep within Tang Tian's Sea of Consciousness.
An extremely discordant voice shattered the sweetness.
[Little Iron Hammer (watching coldly)] [...] [Who am I? Where am I?] [Why do I have to watch this disgusting performance first thing in the morning?] [It's just waking someone up. Is there any need to make it look like a parting in life or death?] [Hmph! If it were me, I wouldn't need all this dawdling!] [I'd smash him straight in the forehead with a hammer and see if he stayed asleep!] [Ding! Little Iron Hammer expresses disdain for your good-morning interaction and feels a trace of inexplicable irritation!]
The corner of Tang Tian's mouth twitched.
How could this tsundere hammer get jealous over even this?
But he was in no hurry to coax her.
According to the logic of galgame walkthroughs.
The core of a tsundere character was that her mouth said no while her body told the truth!
The more he fawned over her, the more she would climb up his nose and onto his face.
The current strategy was to let her watch!
Let her watch Blue Silver Grass being doted on!
Let her watch Blue Silver Grass grow stronger!
When the imbalance in her heart reached its peak.
That would be the best time to win her over.
Before heading out.
Tang Tian walked over to an ordinary mirror and began grooming himself.
In Holy Soul Village, where productivity was backward.
Most people did not place much importance on their appearance.
But Tang Tian was different.
First, he carefully washed his face.
Then he took out a wooden comb and tidied his black hair, which had a faint blue tint.
He styled his bangs in a casually tousled look.
Next, he straightened his cloth clothes, washed so often they had faded, and adjusted his collar.
He flashed a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.
Tang Tian nodded in satisfaction.
"Excellent. Today's handsomeness: acquired!"
Just then, sounds came from the outer room.
Tang San, who was cooking porridge, could not help freezing for a moment when he saw his older brother emerge from the inner room.
He had been planning to wake his brother up!
After all, his brother usually looked lazy and half-asleep.
And he would linger in bed for ages.
Yet today he was up so early?
And...
Tang San looked at Tang Tian's deliberately styled hair.
And that air of someone about to go on a date.
The corner of his mouth could not help twitching.
"Brother, are you going on a date?"
"Xiaohua in our village is only five."
Tang Tian rolled his eyes at him, picked up a steamed bun from the table, and took a bite:
"Little San, you don't understand."
"When it comes to cultivation, what matters is essence, energy, and spirit."
"If you make yourself look devastatingly handsome, you'll be in a good mood."
"When you're in a good mood, your thoughts flow freely."
"When your thoughts flow freely, your cultivation naturally speeds up."
"This is called looks-driven cultivation."
Tang Hao, who sat in the seat of honor and was already half-drunk.
Heard this load of twisted nonsense.
A trace of disdain flashed through his cloudy eyes.
"Hmph, playing to the crowd."
"Only the weak care about such external things."
"A truly strong person can make the world tremble even with disheveled hair."
As for Tang Hao's mockery.
Tang Tian felt not the slightest ripple inside, and even wanted to laugh.
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