Chapter 38: Zhang Lexuan: I Have a Bold Idea
Although Lin Qinghan and Zhang Lexuan were now outside the Xingdou Great Forest, the beasts startled by the movement caused by the soul skills were mostly soul beasts under a thousand years old and posed no real threat to the two of them. However, it was inevitable that it would cause trouble, so the two of them accelerated their speed to leave the Xingdou Great Forest.
"Your soul skill is too powerful. It's best not to release it in a soul beast gathering place in the future," Zhang Lexuan reminded Lin Qinghan as they left the forest.
The huge momentum and terrifying large-scale plasma caused by Lin Qinghan's fifth soul skill still echoed in Zhang Lexuan's mind.
"I know, Sister Lexuan. I didn't fully experiment at the periphery," Lin Qinghan explained. He wouldn't fully release the fifth soul skill in an explosion in the soul beast gathering place. If it attracted a fierce beast, it would put him in danger. Moreover, his fifth soul skill had another use, but it was too much to explain, so he didn't intend to demonstrate it to Zhang Lexuan. In short, the momentum of his soul skills was controllable.
"Anyway, Sister Lexuan, thank you for hunting the soul ring this time." Lin Qinghan was genuinely grateful. The selection and search for soul beasts were mostly attributed to her, and she had agreed to face a soul beast that was at least comparable to a Soul Douluo.
Zhang Lexuan smiled and shook her head, not saying anything in response.
After leaving the Xingdou Great Forest, the two didn't stay outside too long and headed straight back to the Lin family. Lin Qinghan didn't forget that Tang Ya was waiting at home. It was a bit impolite to leave guests at home while the hosts were away, and even more inappropriate to stay away for too long. Zhang Lexuan was also a guest.
Since Lin Qinghan's strength had broken through again, their return speed was much faster than when they came, and they arrived at the Lin family in nearly two-thirds of the original time.
As soon as they returned to Lin Qinghan's residence in the Lin family's territory, they found Tang Ya sitting alone on a stone bench outside the courtyard. At that moment, Tang Ya held her chin in her hands, watching Lin Qinghan and Zhang Lexuan approach from the opposite horizon, lost in thought.
"You're looking in the wrong direction."
Seeing that Tang Ya was so absorbed in her thoughts, Lin Qinghan quietly approached her from behind and tapped her shoulder.
"Ah! Who is it! Oh, it's Qinghan! You're finally back!" Tang Ya was startled by Lin Qinghan's sudden appearance. When she saw that it was him, her expression instantly brightened, and she rushed towards him without thinking.
She had been waiting alone at Lin Qinghan's residence for five days. Although Lin Qinghan had arranged for people to treat her well during his absence, with luxurious accommodations she had never experienced before, she was still in an unfamiliar environment. Without anyone she knew around, and for some reason, she, who had always been outgoing and cheerful, had become a little reserved while staying at the Lin family's estate. She wanted to behave well in front of Lin Qinghan's family, and as a result, she stayed in the house without going out at all.
"We were only out for a few days. Is it really that serious?" Lin Qinghan smiled, hugging Tang Ya. He then tried to gently pull her away, remembering that Zhang Lexuan was still watching.
"Good girl, you're holding me so tightly. Even though we were only out for a few days." Lin Qinghan found that he couldn't get rid of Tang Ya despite his efforts, and he sighed slightly. Why was this girl so dependent on him?
"Alright, let go now. I brought back some ten-thousand-year soul beast meat from the Xingdou Great Forest. I'll have the kitchen prepare it for us later."
Finally, Lin Qinghan used the promise of food to free himself from her embrace.
Zhang Lexuan, who had been standing outside the house, did not disturb the two. She waited until they had separated before entering the yard.
When Zhang Lexuan saw Tang Ya rush to Lin Qinghan as soon as she approached, her previously happy mood became complicated. She recalled the things Tang Ya had confided to her about Lin Qinghan during their time at the academy, along with the behaviors she had seen between Tang Ya and Lin Qinghan. She could no longer deceive herself—Tang Ya and Lin Qinghan had the kind of intimate relationship she had feared.
"It's the first time I've had someone I truly like, and the first time I've had a friend I can confide in. But why is it turning out like this?" Zhang Lexuan thought to herself. However, when she looked at Lin Qinghan, she realized she had no intention of giving up.
When her gaze fell on Tang Ya again, Zhang Lexuan's thoughts strangely began to calm down.
"It seems it wouldn't be so bad to raise Tang Ya like a special eldest daughter?" Zhang Lexuan thought with an unexpected sense of clarity.
If Lin Qinghan had known what Zhang Lexuan was thinking, he would have definitely said, "Sister, your idea is not only useless, it's going against the will of heaven."
But Lin Qinghan couldn't read minds. He just felt that Zhang Lexuan's gaze, as she looked at him and Tang Ya, was oddly similar to that of a parent looking at their child. There was even a touch of affection in her eyes when she looked at Tang Ya. Lin Qinghan thought he must have misunderstood. After all, Zhang Lexuan was Tang Ya's teacher.
Besides, who would think of such a thing?
Lin Qinghan didn't choose to retreat and consolidate his cultivation as soon as he returned. His foundation had been deliberately polished for a long time and was already solid. Even though he had broken through two levels, there was no need to take immediate action.
Over the next week, Lin Qinghan didn't go out again, instead staying to accompany Zhang Lexuan and Tang Ya. During this time, Lin Qinghan even suggested that they go to Tangmen to visit her father. However, Tang Ya gave him an unexpected response.
Tang Ya revealed that she had sold the Tangmen station, saying she had no intention of restoring it. Keeping it only made her feel sad. She had taken her father's ashes and left Tangmen forever.
Tangmen's headquarters was located in the center of Tiandou City, the heart of the Tianhun Empire. There was also a special blessing for those entering Tangmen, making the price incredibly high.
Lin Qinghan was surprised by Tang Ya's decision. He had expected her to be more attached to her heritage. How could she be so open-minded? She had so decisively exchanged the cold, painful past of Tangmen for the warm comfort of gold soul coins.
Moreover, Tang Ya had given him the Xuantian Treasure Record before, and now she had sold Tangmen. What about her father's spirit in heaven? Was she truly over it?
Lin Qinghan couldn't figure out Tang Ya's thought process and could only conclude that helping her take revenge had allowed her to find peace and move on. He wondered if the decision was simply out of financial need. Selling the Tangmen's plate, which her father had fought to defend, seemed too contradictory to be motivated by money alone. But this was how Tang Ya was—strong, independent, and unafraid of facing the past.
Tang Ya's sale of Tangmen became a minor episode, and after that, no one brought it up again.
The bond between the three of them grew even closer in the days that followed, but nothing beyond friendship transpired.
That is, until the night before the two girls left.
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(End of this chapter)