NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Young Tang Wulin
"Mom, I awakened my spirit!"
Jing Shaoyu ran downstairs excitedly, rushing toward Jing Ziyuan, who had been anxiously waiting for him. Though he had regained memories of his past life, at this moment, he was still very much a six-year-old, brimming with genuine excitement.
"That's wonderful!" Jing Ziyuan's heart eased upon seeing his happiness. She hugged him tightly, asking with anticipation, "A-Yu, what is your spirit? And what level of innate soul power did you awaken with?"
"Hehe!" Jing Shaoyu grinned proudly. "My spirit is called the Primordial Elf. As for soul power… why don't you guess?"
"You little rascal, keeping secrets at a time like this!" Jing Ziyuan playfully tapped his forehead but humored him, guessing, "Let's see… Level 5?"
"Too low!"
"Too low?!" Jing Ziyuan exclaimed, drawing annoyed glances from other parents still waiting for their children's results, though she paid them no mind, focused entirely on Jing Shaoyu's answer. "My goodness! Level 5 is too low? Then that means my A-Yu has soul power above Level 5? He's a genius!"
"Hehe, Mom, let's head home. I'll tell you my level on the way back!" Jing Shaoyu said, smiling as he took her hand and began to lead her outside.
Jing Ziyuan was still somewhat in shock, allowing him to guide her.
Mother and son passed by the crowded plaza, still bustling with parents and children.
"Tang Wulin!"
Just then, Jing Shaoyu caught a familiar name. He stopped abruptly, causing Jing Ziyuan to bump into him and snap back to attention. She asked curiously, "A-Yu, what's wrong?"
"I just wanted you to hold my hand and lead me." Jing Shaoyu flashed her a warm, childlike smile, acting coy.
"Alright, alright, let Mom hold A-Yu's hand." Jing Ziyuan returned his smile, ruffling his hair.
They continued walking with Jing Ziyuan leading this time. Jing Shaoyu turned his head, watching as the teacher called out the name again. A young boy with short black hair, large eyes, and a bright face ran over. Recognizing him, Jing Shaoyu's eyes widened slightly.
Without a doubt, that boy was young Tang Wulin, the protagonist—a sincere, upright child, quite unlike the son of the God King Tang. His existence was a perfect example of how a child's character is shaped by their family and upbringing.
Since Tang Wulin wasn't raised directly by the God King Tang, his personality was refreshingly different from the other Tang family members.
Jing Shaoyu looked away. If all went as expected, he and Tang Wulin would be classmates starting tomorrow. While young Tang Wulin was an honest, brave, independent, and diligent child, Jing Shaoyu felt that they should let things develop naturally. If they got along, they could be friends; if not, he'd prefer to keep his distance.
He wasn't interested in flattering any member of the Tang family.
Comparatively, he thought with a chuckle, Na'er's small feet were cuter, more fragrant—ahem, more worth supporting.
"A-Yu, what's making you smile like that? You're drooling!" Jing Ziyuan looked at her son, concerned, and touched his forehead, wondering if he was overwhelmed by his high innate soul power.
"Oh, nothing. I just got a little hungry," Jing Shaoyu quickly replied, wiping his mouth to change the subject.
"I see," Jing Ziyuan nodded, checking the time. "It's already noon, so we should have lunch before heading home."
"Sure!" Jing Shaoyu happily agreed. He was indeed hungry; his stomach had been grumbling for a while.
"By the way, A-Yu, you still haven't told me your innate soul power level." Jing Ziyuan pushed her bike as Jing Shaoyu sat on the back seat, the two strolling down the road.
"Hehe!" Jing Shaoyu leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I'm actually at innate full soul power!"
"What!" Jing Ziyuan froze, standing there stunned. Her expression shifted multiple times before she hugged him tightly, crying and laughing in delight, startling passersby.
"Mom, calm down, calm down!" Jing Shaoyu soothed her, gently patting her back.
Jing Ziyuan's reaction wasn't unreasonable. Though Jing Shaoyu was technically an orphan, he was legally registered under Jing Ziyuan's name, so he was, in every sense, her son.
When the Federation's orphanage funding had ceased, Jing Ziyuan received no further support from the Aolai City administration. She'd been raising Jing Shaoyu with her own funds all these years, so to him, she was truly his mother.
Once she calmed down, her face beamed with joy. "Let's go, A-Yu! To celebrate, I'll take you out for a feast!"
"Yay! A feast!" Jing Shaoyu cheered but then remembered something. "Wait, Mom, let's go back and invite Aunt Lin Xin and Na'er to join us!"
"Of course!" Jing Ziyuan replied enthusiastically, hopping on her bike. "Hold on tight, A-Yu!"
They sped down the road.
Not long after Jing Ziyuan and Jing Shaoyu left Hongshan Academy, a black sedan pulled up to the entrance. A middle-aged man in a Spirit Pagoda robe quickly stepped out and strode into the academy.
The man moved briskly, making his way to the Awakening Room and heading straight to the sixth floor.
"Pagoda Master!" Su Haichao, the Spirit Spreader on the sixth floor, exclaimed upon seeing the man, clearly surprised.
"Hand me the file and awakening records for that child, Jing Shaoyu!" The man, identified as the Pagoda Master, commanded directly.
"Yes, sir!" Su Haichao immediately picked up Jing Shaoyu's file from the pile of awakening records he'd prepared and handed it over.
"Well done!" The Pagoda Master scanned the file and nodded in approval. "You'll be credited for this."
"Thank you, Pagoda Master!" Su Haichao bowed, his voice filled with excitement.
But by the time he straightened, the Pagoda Master had already vanished. Smiling wryly, he muttered, "The Pagoda Master really is as swift as ever."
At the orphanage, Na'er sat by the entrance, watching the road with eager eyes. Every time a cyclist approached, she perked up, only to slump in disappointment when she saw it wasn't Jing Ziyuan and Jing Shaoyu.
"Na'er, we're back!"
Just as Na'er was looking down in disappointment, Jing Shaoyu and Jing Ziyuan arrived. Seeing Na'er at the entrance, Jing Shaoyu leaped off the bike, running toward her as Jing Ziyuan watched him, half-annoyed, half-concerned.
"Big Brother, why did you take so long to come back?" Na'er's face lit up with joy, but she pouted playfully, pretending to be upset.
"Hehe, it's just that there were so many people awakening today!" Jing Shaoyu chuckled, taking her small hand and speaking apologetically. "Sorry for making you wait, Na'er."
"Hmph! I forgive you!" she replied sweetly.
"Na'er, where's Aunt Lin Xin?" Jing Ziyuan asked as she parked her bike and approached them.
"Auntie's making lunch in the kitchen," Na'er answered.
"In that case…" Jing Ziyuan called toward the kitchen, "Lin Xin, don't worry about lunch! We're eating out to celebrate!"
A moment later, Aunt Lin Xin popped her head out, looking delighted. "Eating out? So that means A-Yu's awakening went well!"
"Indeed!" Jing Ziyuan replied proudly.
"That's won
derful! Tell me all about it!" Aunt Lin Xin said, coming out of the kitchen, her face full of excitement.