Yang Xiaolong's House
Lying on her warm and cozy bed, Xiaolong was deep in thought, reflecting on everything her martial soul had explained to her. Normally, once a martial soul was awakened—regardless of its type—the path it determined would become fixed, shaping the soul master's journey from that point on. That's why this was such a crucial decision for any spiritual master: it had to be made with the utmost care and based on one's natural affinity.
However, Xiaolong's body-type martial soul was different for some reason. Whether due to the two mutations it had undergone or some unique trait, the result was clear: she was no longer limited to sacred or light-based soul rings. If she wanted to absorb a fire- or ice-type beast spirit ring, it would naturally adapt to her martial soul and form a flawless ring ability.
Even more surprising, she could choose multiple development paths at once. If she wanted a control-type ability alongside a power-attack or agility-type ability, nothing would stop her. Staring at the red crosses in her palms and recalling the sacred light they once emitted, Xiaolong began imagining what her first spirit ring could be.
**Knock knock**
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Reluctantly, she got up to see who it was, grumbling inwardly:
*"Just when I was finally cozy in bed…"*
Standing before the wooden door, she opened it—and there was Tang Wutong, her expression hesitant and a bit anxious. Xiaolong was surprised; although they were friendly, Tong'er had never visited her house before, especially not this late.
— Tong'er? Is something wrong? Do you need help? — Xiaolong asked with genuine concern
— Sorry to bother you at this hour, Long'er… but could I maybe stay here tonight? I argued with my dad and left the house without thinking. I don't have anywhere to go... and besides, I only know you and Grandpa Jack, and I didn't want to bother him at this hour.
Though she feared coming off as shameless, Tang Wutong had gathered all the courage she could to make her request—a mix of shame and determination trembling in her voice.
Xiaolong hesitated. There was only one bed in the house, after all. But seeing the blue-haired girl shivering and clearly embarrassed, her kind heart quickly caved in.
— Well… if you don't mind sharing a bed with me, I don't mind either. I turned my old room into a reading room — she said, a little shy but smiling kindly.
— I don't mind at all! Thank you so much, Long'er! — Wutong said, bowing in genuine gratitude.
— No need for that. Just a simple "thank you" is enough. Now come in, dinner's almost ready, and it's freezing outside — Xiaolong said, rolling her eyes at Wutong's dramatic gesture and pulling her inside, closing the door behind them.
As Tang Wutong stepped inside, she couldn't help but be surprised. Despite living alone, Yang Xiaolong kept her house impeccably tidy. It gave off a warm, inviting vibe. The various items scattered about added to the hominess, and if rumors were true, Xiaolong was quite wealthy and had even paid for some village renovations herself.
While Wutong admired everything, Xiaolong guided her to the kitchen and told her to sit while she set the table. Dinner was a spicy beef and vegetable soup, served with juice. Just looking at the meal made Wutong swallow hard—then she began eating silently, across from the blonde girl.
After eating their fill, the two sat by the fireplace in comfortable silence, fully relaxed. But then, a question popped into Tang Wutong's mind, and she turned to Xiaolong with a puzzled look:
— By the way, Long'er… earlier you said that the quality of one's martial soul can influence their innate spirit power. But everyone who's seen my Blue Silver Grass called it trash, even though I have full innate soul power. Do you know why that is?
— Hm… well, people usually *are* right about that martial soul being weak. But I think yours has undergone a mutation that hasn't awakened yet—just like how my spear mutated and became a body-type martial soul — Xiaolong said lazily, holding her juice cup delicately.
— Since your martial soul hasn't revealed that mutation yet, people assume it's just a weak and ordinary soul. I imagine that as you start adding soul rings to it, your Blue Silver Grass will evolve naturally — she added, finishing her drink and meeting Wutong's blue eyes.
— Hm… thanks for explaining, Long'er. But how do *you* know that, when even the Grandmaster from the Spirit Hall didn't?
— Huh? Why he doesn't know, I have no idea. But I read it in a martial soul guidebook I asked someone to buy for me a while back — Xiaolong replied simply, unaware that such theories were not common knowledge nowadays.
— Actually, that book's in my reading room. Want to go check it out?
— Eh? Can I?
— Of course! Books are meant to be read and shared, not to collect dust — she said with a smile, leading Wutong to one of the house's rooms.
— You call this a "small reading room"? — Wutong said sarcastically, taking in the many shelves overflowing with books.
— Well… compared to a library, it's not that much. Most are just stories from the Douluo Continent or fairy tales. Only a third are educational—about cultivation, martial souls, and that kind of stuff — Xiaolong replied, a bit embarrassed.
— Anyway, here's the book I was talking about — she said, handing over a tome that looked enormous in her tiny hands.
— Hm, thank you — Wutong said, taking the book and sitting down to read with full focus. Xiaolong did the same, picking up another book for herself.
*"Holy crap… this book is insane. Based on what Long'er told me and the little I've learned… this stuff is legit!"* Tang Wutong thought to herself, eyes gleaming with excitement. For a moment, a spark of greed flashed in her gaze as she thought about the book—and the rest of the collection. But she quickly composed herself. These books belonged to Xiaolong. If she just asked, she'd probably be allowed to read them.
— You're right, this book has everything you mentioned. It even has other theories about cultivation and martial souls — Wutong said excitedly, turning toward the other girl.
But what she saw surprised her. Yang Xiaolong had fallen asleep in a nearby armchair, a book still hanging from her tiny hands, her eyes closed in slumber.
Looking out the window, Wutong realized it had grown even darker outside—they must've spent hours there. She couldn't help the soft, affectionate look that came over her. Even while fighting off sleep, Xiaolong had stayed with her until the very end. That meant Xiaolong cared about her… maybe even more than Wutong cared about her in return.
Feeling warmth in her chest and a bit of guilt, the blue-haired girl made a decision: if possible, she would recruit Yang Xiaolong as the first member of her future Tang Sect. But first, it was best to carry the blonde girl to bed so she could rest more comfortably.