The morning gradually arrived, the sunlight piercing through the gap in the curtains of Tianyu's room, shining on the two children still asleep. The sound of birds chirping softly outside the window marked the beginning of a new day.
Na'er opened her eyes first. For a moment, she didn't know where she was. But as soon as her eyes landed on the arm she was still holding, and the peaceful sleeping face of Tianyu beside her, that sense of calm returned. She took a deep breath.
She gazed at Tianyu's sleeping face—his expression innocent, carefree. For some reason, Na'er felt... warm.
Soon after, Tianyu stretched and opened his eyes. He blinked a few times and smiled when he saw Na'er still there.
"Good morning, Na'er," he greeted with a sleepy voice.
Na'er nodded slightly. "Good morning... Big Brother Tianyu."
Tianyu sat up, yawning widely and rubbing his eyes. "Did you sleep well?"
Na'er nodded again, this time with a clearer smile. "Yes... very well."
Tianyu stood up from the bed and stretched his body. "Na'er, I'm going to practice outside. Do you want to join me?"
Na'er's eyes brightened. But then they dulled again as she shook her head. "Mother is taking Na'er to buy some clothes and other supplies."
Tianyu glanced at the clothes Na'er was wearing—a long-sleeved shirt and pants that looked too big for her, hanging loosely on her small frame. Despite that, Na'er still looked sweet in her simplicity. But Tianyu understood why his mother wanted to buy new clothes for Na'er. She had come with nothing when she first arrived.
"Don't worry. Besides, I'll be practicing again tomorrow. If Na'er wants, you can join me then," he said, gently stroking Na'er's head.
Na'er lowered her head slightly, allowing Tianyu's warm hand to caress her. She didn't say anything, but a soft smile began to form at the corner of her lips.
"Okay, tomorrow\... I'll join you," she replied quietly.
Tianyu smiled, then walked over to the window. He opened the curtain wide, letting the morning sunlight flood into the room and fill it with natural warmth. The morning air felt fresh, and the sound of birds in the distance was like a melody to welcome the new day.
"Alright then, I'm heading out," Tianyu turned to say. "Take care of Mother."
Na'er nodded quickly. "I will!"
After changing clothes, he grabbed the old sword by his bed. This time, Tianyu decided to bring Sister Xue outside the house. Tianyu left the room, descending the stairs lightly. Meanwhile, Na'er folded the blanket and tidied the bed, then stood in front of the small mirror in the corner of the room. She looked at her reflection—the oversized clothes, her slightly messy hair, and the small face that looked much softer than it had in previous days.
Light footsteps echoed from downstairs. Long Ruyin had prepared breakfast, the aroma of warm porridge and sweet bread wafting from the kitchen.
"Na'er, come have breakfast. After that, we'll head to the market," she called warmly.
Na'er slowly descended, and as soon as she saw Long Ruyin setting the table, her eyes sparkled. "Good morning, Mother..."
Long Ruyin turned and smiled. "Good morning, dear. You're up already? Come sit here."
Na'er sat down neatly. She was still a bit stiff in her movements, as if not yet accustomed to this warmth. However, Long Ruyin acted as usual—not pressing her, just giving her space to gradually feel comfortable.
They ate together, and before long, they were ready to go to the market. Na'er wore Tianyu's robe, which was several sizes too big, making her small frame seem swallowed up by it. But for some reason, Long Ruyin smiled at the sight.
"After this, we'll buy you some clothes that fit, okay?"
Na'er nodded softly. "Yes, Mother..."
Meanwhile, Tianyu had arrived outside the city, the place where he usually practiced. The old sword in his hand emitted a slight vibration, sending a signal to release it.
Long Tianyu obeyed the sword's will, releasing his grip on it. Then the old sword floated in the air, transforming into a beautiful and graceful figure.
The figure of a woman formed from the old sword floated gracefully, her long golden hair shimmering like the morning light, and the dress she wore swayed gently in the wind.
"Sister Xue, it's been a while. I'm sorry, yesterday after I awakened my Martial Soul, I didn't meet with you immediately."
Qian Renxue's cold eyes softened slightly when she heard this. "It's okay, Tianyu. So, what is your purpose for bringing me out today?"
Tianyu looked at her seriously. "It's like this… When I awakened my Martial Soul yesterday, I felt something strange in my body. It was like there was an… object, or maybe a power, that gave me a tremendous surge of soul force."
Qian Renxue listened carefully, not interrupting.
"I almost destroyed the spirit power testing orb because of it," Tianyu continued softly. "It felt like something was awakening, something that doesn't belong to my body. But strangely, I feel familiar with it. However, I don't know how to see or examine it."
He lowered his head for a moment, then raised it again with a slightly worried expression.
"I haven't told Mother... I'm afraid it will only make her anxious without being able to do anything. And the only person I know and trust who might have knowledge about this... is you, Sister Xue."
Qian Renxue stared at him silently for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Alright. I will check your body to see if anything is wrong. Now, calm yourself and, if you can, try activating your Martial Soul."
Tianyu nodded and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes for a moment, calming his mind, and then began activating his Martial Soul.
Behind him, a gigantic Golden Dragon appeared, its golden scales shining like an ocean of light. The dragon's ruby-red eyes glowed sharply, radiating an imposing presence that pressed against the air around them.
Qian Renxue was taken aback. Even though it was only for a brief moment, she felt a strong pressure when the dragon appeared. This surprising sensation made her realize that Tianyu's Martial Soul was different from what she had anticipated. Although her current position as a deity was diminished and her strength was no longer what it used to be, a human Martial Soul should not be able to exert this kind of pressure.
Qian Renxue looked at Tianyu with a serious expression, then moved closer to try and investigate what was really happening to Tianyu.
Qian Renxue was silent for a moment. She slowly stepped closer, her eyes observing Tianyu's body carefully. A soft light appeared at the tip of her fingers as she began to examine the flow of energy within his body.
As soon as she touched Tianyu's shoulder, her calm expression shifted slightly. There was something unusual.
Though human blood did flow in Tianyu's body, the amount... was very small. Most of his body was actually filled with golden blood, emitting an aura that made her feel slightly oppressed, like the shadow of the golden dragon that appeared behind Tianyu.
This made her more convinced that Tianyu was not an ordinary human. Tianyu might be a descendant of a god. That would explain how he had such extraordinary physical strength even before awakening his Martial Soul.
But strangely, even after Qian Renxue searched through the depths of Tianyu's body for a while, she still couldn't find what Tianyu had mentioned.
Qian Renxue furrowed her brows. "Strange... The energy is there. I can feel it faintly, like ripples on the surface of water, but every time I try to touch or trace it, the power disappears... like it's hiding."
She slowly withdrew her hand, her eyes still fixed on Tianyu, who had started to open his eyes. His breathing was still steady, but he looked restless.
"Did you find it?" Tianyu asked softly.
Qian Renxue furrowed her brows, her gaze deepening. "There are two unusual things in your body, Tianyu," she said in a low voice.
Tianyu stared at his arm with wide eyes. "Blood... gold?"
"Yes." Qian Renxue nodded. "And this is related to your Martial Soul. They resonate with each other like two sides of the same coin." She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "This explains why you have had extraordinary physical abilities since you were a child."
Tianyu rubbed his arm, feeling the pulse of the foreign energy that he now realized had always been there. "Then... about the thing I felt during the awakening of my Martial Soul?"
Qian Renxue sighed. "That's the second thing. I can feel its presence, but..." She furrowed her brow. "Every time I try to investigate, it disappears like a shadow. As if... it has awareness and is aware of my observation."
The morning wind suddenly picked up, rustling the grass around them. Qian Renxue gazed sharply at Tianyu.
"Listen carefully. What is inside you is not something that should come from the human world. And with your current power..." her voice trembled slightly. "Knowing too much will endanger you."
Tianyu replied, "But—"
"No 'buts'," Qian Renxue interrupted firmly. "For now, focus on training." She emphasized. "And this must remain a secret between us. Even your mother cannot know."
Tianyu blinked rapidly, a momentary hesitation flashing across his face before he slowly nodded. "I... understand, Sister Xue."
Qian Renxue extended her hand, her body gradually fading into the form of the old rusted sword. "For today, your training ends here. It's better if you go home and calm your thoughts."
Tianyu grabbed the sword with both hands, his small fingers tightly gripping the cold metal hilt. A subtle vibration could be felt from the metal, as if it held whispered secrets that only the two of them knew.
In his chest, the resolve burned ever stronger. The flame of ambition blazed — he would become stronger. Strong enough to uncover all the mysteries: Sister Xue's past, the secrets within his own body, and the truth behind the golden blood flowing through his veins.
The morning wind brushed through his short hair as he looked toward the house in the distance. There, his mother and Na'er were waiting, unaware of the storm of questions swirling inside this young boy.