The morning sun peeked over the horizon as Qi Lin stretched and yawned awake. He glanced around to see that Old Jack had already risen and was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Without hesitation, Qi Lin washed up and headed over to help.
Soon, a tantalizing aroma filled the small wooden house. In her bed, Xiao Wu's delicate nose twitched, and she suddenly sat upright, her bright eyes snapping open.
The next moment, she jumped out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and dashed toward the kitchen like a whirlwind, her footsteps light and quick.
Pushing the kitchen door open, she spotted Qi Lin and Old Jack busy with breakfast. She paused, cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment. After washing her hands, she grinned and said, "Brother Qi Lin, let me help too!"
Qi Lin rolled his eyes playfully. "Sure, just when we're almost done. Fine, but you're on dish duty afterward. Deal?"
Xiao Wu snapped her legs together in a mock salute. "Mission accepted! Leave it to me!"
Old Jack laughed heartily at the exchange. "Ah, to be young again…"
Just then, Tang San walked in through the doorway, a faint layer of dew still clinging to his robes.
He'd been up even earlier than Qi Lin, having gone to the rooftop to cultivate his Purple Demon Eye technique. Ever since learning that his father was still alive, Tang San's mood had visibly lifted. His smile was lighter, his demeanor more relaxed.
"Morning, Xiao Wu, Qi Lin!" he greeted, waving warmly.
Qi Lin returned the greeting with a smile. He could sense a shift in Tang San's attitude—clear and genuine. He guessed it probably had something to do with sneaking out the night before. Likely, Tang San had managed to see Tang Hao.
Xiao Wu, always direct, asked curiously, "Xiao San, you're in a good mood today!"
Tang San nodded gently. "I've thought things through. Sure, my father's disappearance hit me hard, but I can't let it weigh me down forever. I have to be strong."
Xiao Wu gave him a big thumbs-up. "Well said, Xiao San! Looks like I've been underestimating your resolve!"
Tang San smiled even more brightly, trying (and failing) to keep from grinning ear to ear.
…
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Qi Lin and Xiao Wu had spent enough time in Holy Soul Village and were now preparing to take their leave. That evening, as the sun dipped behind the hills, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson, the three stood atop a grassy slope just outside the village.
"Xiao San, what did you bring us up here for?" Xiao Wu asked, tilting her head.
Qi Lin, also curious, turned toward Tang San.
Tang San cleared his throat. His gaze stretched toward the horizon, his expression suddenly deep and serious.
"Xiao Wu, Qi Lin… You both know I've never had many friends. My father… he was my whole world."
"But now, he's gone, and so is the home we shared."
"But I still have you two. That means everything to me."
He turned, opening his arms wide, looking at them with sincerity in his eyes.
"Xiao Wu, Qi Lin, will you be my brother and sister?"
"I, Tang San, vow to treat you as my only family!"
Silence.
Xiao Wu's jaw nearly dropped to the ground. "Huh?"
She blinked, stunned. That was... unbelievably awkward.
Qi Lin's mouth twitched. What kind of situation is this? Tang San suddenly asking to be his brother? They weren't even that close!
In the past year, they'd hardly talked!
Qi Lin, always mindful of others' feelings, tried to let him down gently. "Tang San… You're a good person, and I believe you'd make a great older brother. But I don't think we're quite there yet."
Boom. Good guy card: delivered.
Xiao Wu eagerly nodded in agreement. "I'm meant to be Sister Xiao Wu, not somebody's little sister!"
Then, as if afraid Tang San wouldn't believe her, she tugged on Qi Lin's sleeve and added, "Ask Brother Qi Lin! He knows—I only want to be Sister Xiao Wu!"
Qi Lin pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed, glancing at Xiao Wu like she'd just stabbed Tang San straight in the heart while trying to be polite.
Unsurprisingly, Tang San's expression faltered. His smile became forced, his voice a bit strained.
"Right… I guess I got a little too emotional. My father's disappearance just made me long for some kind of family."
"But it's okay. We may not be siblings, but we're still friends. That counts, doesn't it?"
Qi Lin nodded. "Of course."
Xiao Wu: Whatever Brother Qi Lin says is right!
Amid the slightly awkward atmosphere, the carriage Qi Lin had arranged through Old Jack arrived.
With a few final goodbyes, Qi Lin and Xiao Wu departed Holy Soul Village, leaving Tang San and Old Jack waving from behind.
But as the carriage turned a bend and disappeared into the distance, the smile on Tang San's face faded. His fists clenched tightly at his sides.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Xiao Wu leaned against the cushioned seat and pouted.
"What's up with Xiao San today? Out of nowhere, he wants us to be his siblings."
Qi Lin chuckled. "Maybe it's just like he said. After losing his father, he's craving family."
Of course, Qi Lin didn't believe that for a second.
He was almost certain Tang San had met Tang Hao already. That kind of emotional shift didn't come from unresolved grief—it came from resolution.
So why try to make them his siblings?
Clearly, Tang San had another motive.
Qi Lin didn't care enough to guess what it was.
"Hm… You really think that's all?" Xiao Wu muttered.
Then, giving up on pondering, she turned to a more interesting topic.
"Brother Qi Lin, when are you going to get your second spirit ring?"
Qi Lin raised his hands and gave her a sheepish grin.
"Second spirit ring? Already got it."
"What?! You already have it?!"
Xiao Wu's eyes widened, and her mouth fell open in shock. "But a few days ago you didn't!"
She leaned in close and began inspecting him like he was some sort of rare beast.
'No way. Could Brother Qi Lin actually be a transformed spirit beast like me?'
'Impossible! He was born from Aunt Xu Qian's belly! There's no way!'
'But then… how the heck did he get a second spirit ring so fast?!'
While she was still muttering to herself, Qi Lin casually extended his arm, revealing two glowing spirit rings hovering beside him—one gleaming white, the other a brilliant gold.
Xiao Wu gasped again. "Brother Qi Lin… your second ring—why does it shine so brightly?!"