Qing Linyun sat by the window, still deep in thought.
Only when he watched Tang Wulin's retreating figure grow distant did he come back to his senses. Then he suddenly froze.
He smacked his forehead.
Oh, crap.
I gave him the Soul Bone, but where's the kid supposed to absorb it?
Only then did he remember that Tang Wulin lived in a student dormitory, four to a room, with people coming and going all the time.
No matter how little commotion absorbing a Soul Bone caused, it couldn't escape the eyes of anyone watching for it. Qing Linyun didn't want to spend all day protecting the kid.
Great.
How did I forget about that?
He rubbed his forehead, looking thoroughly disappointed in himself.
Was taking on a disciple easy these days?
He'd given the kid a Soul Bone, and now he had to take care of its absorption. Once that was done, he'd still have to look after his cultivation. At this rate, he'd probably even have to worry about finding the kid a wife.
Uh... he'd stolen Gu Yue and Na'er away, so who would their little Wulin marry in the future?
Qing Linyun's thoughts had clearly taken another turn off the beaten path.
Ah, no helping it. Who told your master to be such a decent man? Just look at this after-sales service. It's almost too attentive.
Little Wulin, oh, little Wulin, just look at how well your master treats you. I gave you a Soul Bone, and I still have to worry about where you'll absorb it. Where else are you going to find a master as devoted and responsible as me these days?
For that consideration alone, if you don't fill up my Emotion Points in the future, you'll have let me down.
The more he thought about it, the greater he felt. Sighing to himself, he set off after Tang Wulin.
Meanwhile, Tang Wulin walked forward one step at a time, clutching the thing in his arms.
He walked slowly, as though afraid it would fly away if he went too fast.
He held the Thousand-Year Blue Silver King Torso Bone tightly against his chest.
Even through his clothes, he could feel its gentle, warm wood-attribute presence resonating again and again with the Soul Power inside him.
The farther he walked, the heavier his breathing grew.
He couldn't hide the excitement and gratitude on his face.
Master.
He silently repeated the word, his eyes growing hot again.
In his entire life, aside from his parents, no one had ever treated him this well before.
It wasn't charity or pity. His master truly saw him as a seedling with the potential to grow, giving him a Soul Bone and worrying about his future.
Master is like a second parent to me.
From now on, Master's affairs are my affairs. If Master tells me to go east, I'll never go west.
I must cultivate hard and become a powerful Soul Master. I won't bring shame on Master. I'll show everyone that the person Master chose is no ordinary talent.
In a couple of days, I need to write to Mom and Dad and tell them about this. I have a good master now. They don't have to worry about my cultivation anymore.
As he thought about it, his steps grew lighter. He couldn't wait to find a place to absorb the Soul Bone right now, so he could grow stronger sooner and repay his master sooner.
He recalled what Teacher Wu had said in class.
In this era, Soul Beasts were nearly extinct, and Soul Bones were rarer treasures still. Even a ten-year or hundred-year one could whip up a raging storm.
Yet his master had handed him a Thousand-Year Blue Silver King Torso Bone without batting an eye.
This kindness was greater than the heavens.
Teacher Wu treats me well because he's fulfilling his duty as a teacher.
But Master treats me as one of his own. The two aren't the same.
As he thought about it, his steps grew lighter. He couldn't wait to find a place to absorb the Soul Bone right now, so he could grow stronger sooner and repay his master sooner.
As he walked, someone suddenly appeared in front of him.
Tang Wulin jumped, nearly throwing the Soul Bone in his arms. He looked up and froze.
"M-Master?"
"Mm."
Qing Linyun stood before him, looking completely at ease. He even had the leisure to yawn.
"Come with me."
Tang Wulin hadn't caught on yet. "Master, where are we going?"
"There are too many people in the dormitory. You need a quiet place to absorb a Soul Bone."
Qing Linyun spoke.
"Come on, we're going back to my place."
Only then did Tang Wulin understand that his master had come all the way back to take him somewhere to absorb the Soul Bone.
His nose prickled, and he nearly burst into tears on the spot.
"M-Master."
He opened his mouth, a thousand words lodged in his throat, but in the end he could only force out one sentence.
"Thank you, Master."
With that, he bowed properly, bending deeply at the waist. His manner was just right, neither fawning nor perfunctory, but full of heartfelt respect.
Qing Linyun looked at the boy bowing before him and suddenly felt a little guilty.
This kid really does see me as his master, from the bottom of his heart.
It's a little embarrassing. After all, I spend my days figuring out how to swindle things out of him.
If he ever found out, who knows how disheartened he'd be.
He hurriedly snuffed out the thought.
Ahem, what am I thinking?
He told himself.
I genuinely treat him well. I gave him a Soul Bone and found him a place to absorb it. Isn't that much better than those masters who take on disciples and then wash their hands of them?
As for the Emotion Card, that's business. Understand? Business. Feelings are feelings, and business is business. They're two different things.
He'd been cheating and swindling since childhood, and he digested that little bit of guilt in the blink of an eye, leaving nothing behind.
All right, that's settled.
Keep swindling him.
"All right, stop bowing."
He waved a hand.
"If you keep that up, you'll shorten my life. Come on."
Only then did Tang Wulin straighten up. He followed close behind Qing Linyun, practically jogging all the way back to the dormitory.
Back at the dormitory, Qing Linyun pointed to the bedroom.
"Go on in. You can't rush absorbing a Soul Bone. First, bring your Soul Power to its best condition."
Tang Wulin was taken aback. "Master, here?"
"Mm."
"Where else did you want to do it? What, should I build you a palace?"
Tang Wulin hurriedly shook his head.
Qing Linyun nodded.
"It's quiet here, and there are no outsiders. I'll stand guard outside, so you can absorb it without worrying."
Tang Wulin's eyes reddened again in an instant.
His master had even thought of that.
He'd even made thorough arrangements for Tang Wulin's safety while he absorbed the Soul Bone.
Master really has laid his heart bare for me.
I, Tang Wulin, will remember this kindness for the rest of my life. Whatever Master asks me to do in the future, I'll climb mountains of blades and descend into seas of fire without so much as a frown.
He nodded firmly, entered the bedroom, and sat down cross-legged.
The bedroom door was left ajar, with a gap.
Qing Linyun sat on a chair outside, crossed his legs, and casually pulled something out of his Storage Soul Tool.
He weighed the Soul Bone in his hand, feeling the draconic pressure that even flesh and skin couldn't suppress, and was quite satisfied.
Four hundred thousand years old, an External Soul Bone, and one with a dragon bloodline at that.
If this thing were put out into the world, Eastsea City would probably turn into a place where Titled Douluo walked everywhere, Super Douluo were worth less than dogs, and Limit Douluo were as plentiful as dogs.
He casually waved his hand, and a speck of purple light lit up in his right palm. The Soul Bone floated above it, slowly rotating, ready to enter his body at any moment.
He didn't rush to begin. He tilted his head and listened to the sounds from the bedroom. Even breathing came from within; Tang Wulin had evidently already gotten on track.
All right, I'll get started too.
In the bedroom, Tang Wulin slowly closed his eyes and circulated his Soul Power through his body for three cycles. Only when his breathing had completely steadied did he carefully take the Thousand-Year Blue Silver King Torso Bone from his arms and hold it in his palm.
A gentle green light slowly entered his body through his palm.
He'd been a little nervous at first, afraid something might go wrong during the absorption.
But as soon as the green light entered his body, his heart settled back into his chest.
The fusion went more smoothly than he'd expected.
At first, a warm sensation slowly spread from his chest to his limbs and bones. It was like soaking in warm water, so comfortable it made him want to sigh.
Immediately afterward, the warmth gradually deepened, and his body warmed along with it. It was as though countless warm streams were flowing through his blood vessels, washing over every inch of his meridians.
His Soul Power began to stir.
Surge after surge of pure wood-attribute Soul Power poured out of the Soul Bone and collided with his own Soul Power. Then they blended like water and milk, joining into a greater torrent that rushed forward through his meridians.
He could feel his Soul Power growing stronger with each cycle.