Chapter 98: The Siblings Under the Moonlight

Spring passed and summer arrived. The joyful summer vacation was about to begin.

It had been almost four months since the school term began, and now it was already July.

While Xiao Lin and Tang San were researching soul tools, they hadn't fallen far behind in their cultivation progress either.

Currently, Xiao Lin was at Level 25, Tang San at 23.5, and Xiao Wu at Level 24.

Xiao Lin and Xiao Wu had both gained two levels, while Tang San had only increased by one and a half. This was because Tang San had to do both blacksmithing and soul tool crafting.

Now that summer break was starting, Xiao Lin and Tang San were both preparing to go home.

They also planned to use the Mutated Demon-Eyed Tree to train their spiritual power.

If nothing else, the tree's mental paralysis and control abilities were quite effective.

Inside Dorm Seven.

Xiao Lin and Tang San were packing their clothes. Only Xiao Wu sat on the bed, her expression gloomy as she kicked her legs while watching them.

Since all three were now Great Soul Masters, it would be difficult to reach Level 30 before the next vacation. So for now, Xiao Wu wasn't planning to return home to help Xiao Lin and the others secretly arrange soul beasts.

Besides, to Xiao Wu, though the Star Dou Forest was great, it wasn't as joyful as being with Xiao Lin and Tang San.

Even if Xiao Lin sometimes knocked her on the head and called her a "dumb bunny."

Now, watching Xiao Lin and Tang San prepare to go home, Xiao Wu couldn't help but think of her own mother.

Xiao Lin and Tang San both had families—but she didn't.

And besides, the training from Da Ming and Er Ming was just too torturous. Even now, Xiao Wu felt afraid.

The gravity field and slowing domain combo…

She clearly said she'd train for one hour, but Da Ming and Er Ming always added time—and added more gravity.

"Xiao Wu, vacation starts tomorrow. Aren't you going home?"

Tang San, who slept in the bed next to hers, noticed her downcast expression. It was completely unlike her usual lively self, so he curiously asked.

After all, during the last vacation, Xiao Wu had been very eager to return home.

Hearing this, Xiao Wu immediately made a bitter face.

Back to the Star Dou Forest and more brutal training from Da Ming and Er Ming?

Too exhausting, and not even good food!

"I'm not going home. Hey, Xiao San, doesn't your and Brother Lin's house live close to the academy? How about I go stay with you guys?"

At first, Xiao Wu looked miserable. But suddenly, her eyes lit up and she perked up energetically.

She was always quick to act on a whim.

"My home is really small—just one bed."

Tang San hesitated. Would they end up having to share a bed again?

That wouldn't be proper between a boy and girl.

Besides, if Xiao Wu came, he'd fall behind on his soul tool research.

That was Tang San's real concern.

During their research over the past few months, he'd discovered a pattern.

For example, when working with Xiao Lin, his research efficiency soared.

That was because when they got tired and rested in the basement overnight, Xiao Lin would often bring up strange topics.

Starting with some rambling astronomy knowledge, then the relations between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire…

Then even critiques of feudal slavery in the Heaven Dou Empire, and so on.

But in the end, Xiao Lin would always return to discussing directions for soul tool development.

He had already crafted two soul tools.

One was the Qinggang Sword Soul Tool, forged using the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique. It was engraved with complex circuit arrays and activated a ten-year offensive soul skill.

Once soul power was input, the tool would transform it into a blade form.

This made it ideal for soul masters with poor soul control or support-type soul masters.

Tang San originally wanted to give it to Xiao Wu to enhance her second soul skill.

With the Qinggang Sword, she'd basically gain a lightning blade.

But Xiao Wu didn't like the sword. She preferred soul tools that could hide blades in her shoes.

That way, she could strike unexpectedly.

Still, since it was the first soul tool Tang San had ever made—and it was a gift—Xiao Wu accepted it anyway.

The second soul tool Tang San made was a defensive umbrella-shaped soul tool.

It was very small, only about 10 cm in size.

Once opened and soul power was injected, it would create an umbrella-shaped shield in front of the user.

Its skill level was equivalent to a ten-year defensive soul skill.

But Xiao Lin dismissed it as useless but hard to throw away.

Eventually, Tang San sold it to Su Yuntao's brother.

Later, he heard that Su Yuntao gave it to a girl named Sisi.

A simp!

That was the first time Tang San truly understood what Xiao Lin meant by the word simp.

Before that, he'd just assumed Su Yuntao acted that way because of his lone-wolf martial soul.

…

When thinking of being with Xiao Wu, Tang San could only recall how she would beg for food at night in the dorm…

Or tell him where the best snacks were.

Completely unproductive.

That was Tang San's conclusion.

His thoughts spiraled so much that he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Come on, I'm not scared, so what are you afraid of?"

Xiao Wu showed no human sense of shame. A young girl casually proposing to live with a boy—just the two of them.

"But I am scared!"

Tang San blurted out. A straight-shooter.

The next second, he realized he had said the wrong thing.

When he looked over, Xiao Wu was already baring her fangs and pouncing on him.

Aaaaah!

"Xiao San, it's fine if Xiao Wu comes with us. She can train her spiritual power too."

Xiao Lin, having long noticed their drama, offered Xiao Wu an invitation.

By now, she was already part of their circle. She just lacked the official title.

Also, Xiao Wu had secretly helped them find soul beasts. Xiao Lin remembered that favor well.

Her talk also gave him some new inspiration on soul core cultivation.

In addition to rotation and gravity compression, there were heavenly treasures that could activate one's own attributes, and mental interference in soul force rotation…

With those contributions, Xiao Lin no longer treated Xiao Wu as an outsider.

"Yay! Brother Lin, you're the best!"

Hearing that, Xiao Wu leapt off the bed and started packing too.

…

That night.

Moonlight bathed a grassy field in Saint Soul Village.

Xiao Lin, Tang San, and Xiao Wu sat together, eyes sparkling as they looked at three small cups of wine.

"Brother Lin, what's this?"

Even though Tang San and Xiao Wu had a good idea what Xiao Lin was doing, they still asked, seeing his strange movements.

"It's nothing, just a little ceremony. A person must bear witness."

Xiao Lin looked at the little chibi-style figure of Guan Yu drawn in the grass and grinned smugly.

"Alright. After we drink this wine, we're sworn siblings. Witnessed by the heavens, the moon, and him. No one can separate us."

Xiao Lin raised his cup and looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu.

"Okay, from now on, we're siblings."

"No! I'm big sister Xiao Wu!" Xiao Wu suddenly interrupted.

"Get lost, dumb bunny. You're the youngest—trying to flip the ranks?"

Xiao Lin gave her a glare, and she shrank back, clutching her head.

Though his knocks didn't really hurt, she just didn't like being hit.

"I, Xiao Lin."

"I, Tang San."

"I, Xiao Wu."

"From this day forth, we are sworn siblings. Though we may not be born on the same day, we vow to die on the same day."

"Second Brother Tang San, Third Sister Xiao Wu."

"Big Brother Xiao Lin, Third Sister Xiao Wu."

"Big Brother Xiao Lin, Second Brother Tang San."

…

As they spoke, the three felt a bit awkward. The titles sounded a little silly.

In the end, the titles didn't really change—except that Xiao Wu started calling Tang San "Third Brother."

(End of Chapter)