Douluo Continent III Haotian Wulin

When Tang Wulin awoke from his meditation at dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Dew dampened the hem of his clothes and the tips of the grass. The little garden was still the same as always, dampness lingering in the cracks of the stones, the soil still, and the wind still. He sat there, lost in thought for a moment, before slowly pulling his consciousness back from his body.

Meditation is different now than it used to be.

After his soul power reached the Soul Master level, when he calmed his mind and focused on sensing, what he felt was no longer just the vague heat and heaviness within his body, but a clearer sense of hierarchy. The Sinking Star Hammer, like a deeply pressed black star, quietly fell within his body. Jin Jun lay upon the hammer's shadow, small yet extremely stable. With each flow of soul power along his meridians, an invisible thread gently tightened within his bones.

It went more smoothly and faster than before.

Tang Wulin stood up, brushed the grass clippings off his trousers, and was about to go home when he heard Lang Yue's voice coming from afar.

"Linlin! Linlin."

The voice was so urgent, it trembled with urgency.

Tang Wulin's heart tightened suddenly. Without thinking any further, he immediately ran out of the garden.

"Mom, I'm here!"

When Lang Yue saw him, she visibly relaxed at first, but then her breath seemed to catch up again. She was panting from running, her face was pale, and even her hands were trembling.

"Go home, go home quickly!" She grabbed Tang Wulin, her voice trembling, "Na'er... Na'er, she..."

Tang Wulin suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong with Na'er?"

Lang Yue's lips moved slightly, as if those words were too heavy, so heavy that she couldn't even pronounce them properly.

"She's gone."

Tang Wulin didn't understand at first.

"...What?"

"Na'er is gone." Lang Yue's eyes were already red. "There was only a piece of paper left on the bed."

Tang Wulin's mind went blank for a moment, and before he could think of anything, his mother dragged him home, making him stumble along.

The room was very quiet.

It was so quiet that even the air felt cold.

Na'er's small bed was neatly made, the blanket she had used last night was folded up, and there was only a piece of paper on her pillow. There was no mess, no struggle, and no abrupt signs. It gave the impression that she had simply gotten up earlier than usual and then tiptoed out the door.

But she didn't come back.

Tang Wulin stood by the bed, not moving for a long time.

Tang Ziran had already picked up the paper, his fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. But in the end, he still handed it to his son.

The writing on the paper was neat, yet light; I hesitated with each stroke as I wrote.

Dad, Mom, Brother:

I'm leaving.

Thank you for taking care of me these past few years. I remember it all.

I remembered who I was and what I had to do. Someone came to pick me up; I had to go.

Brother, I'm sorry I didn't tell you in person.

I remember all the snacks you bought me. I also took the dolls you bought me with me.

I will always remember the way you shielded me from the bad guys.

Don't look for me.

Na'er.

The last few words on the paper were written lighter than any of the previous lines.

Don't look for me.

Tang Wulin's hand trembled slightly.

He read the paper from beginning to end, then read it again. He couldn't believe that the words were really written by the little girl who always quietly followed him. But the handwriting was indeed hers—delicate, obedient, just like hers.

"How could this be..." he said softly, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

No one answered.

Because nobody knew how to answer.

Na'er came without roots, and left just as suddenly. This home gave her a bed, food, light, and a name, but in the end, she still left silently on an ordinary morning, like a gust of wind that couldn't be caught.

Tang Wulin stood there blankly for a few moments, then suddenly seemed to remember something, clenched the paper in his hand, and turned to run outside.

"Wu Lin!" Lang Yue tried to pull him, but her fingertips only touched the hem of his clothes.

"Na'er".

His voice suddenly burst out of the courtyard gate, hoarse and trembling, a sound he couldn't control.

"Na'er!"

The person has already run far away.

……

Aolai City is not large.

But if one person really wants to hide, another person can still run through every street.

Tang Wulin went to the beach first.

He went to the path behind the school, to the small garden, to the old wall where she used to squat, to the lollipop shop, and to every place he had taken her, comforted her, and accompanied her.

He ran so fast that his voice quickly became hoarse.

Even though he was mute, he kept shouting.

"Na'er!"

"Na'er!"

People on the street corner turned to look at him. The shop owner recognized him, paused for a moment, and seemed about to say something, but seeing that the boy's eyes were red and his forehead was covered in sweat, she ultimately just shook her head.

The sea breeze was strong, making one feel hollow in the chest.

Tang Wulin ran along the coastline for a long time, his feet aching from the sharp pebbles, but he couldn't find a single trace. The little girl who would always gently tug at his sleeve and quietly watch him with her purple eyes had truly been wiped off this small town in an instant.

Meanwhile, in another quiet alleyway in the city, Na'er was leaning against the wall, tightly hugging the rag doll in her arms.

The doll was old, with coarse stitches and not particularly fine fabric. Its silver hair had been dyed on later, and one of its purple eyes was slightly crooked; it was clearly not a delicate object. Yet, when she held it in her arms, it was more precious than any jewel in the world.

That was what Tang Wulin bought for her when he received his first month's wages.

Back then, he didn't know how to tell good from bad; he just thought the doll's eyes were purple and it looked a lot like Na'er, so he gritted his teeth and bought it. After returning home, he bought some dye and gradually dyed the hair silver, covering his hands in the dye. In the end, he smiled smugly and said that this was how it looked like her.

"elder brother……"

Na'er murmured to herself.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, each drop landing on the rag doll's dirty, worn skirt.

She remembers everything.

I remember those fragmented days, I remember him taking a detour to buy her food after school, I remember him carrying the metallic smell from the workshop to pick her up even though he was very tired himself, and I remember his red but persistent eyes when he stood in front of the bad kids.

It is precisely because we remember that we cannot turn back.

A calm voice gently rang out from outside the alley entrance.

"Miss, we should go now."

Na'er hugged the doll, but her tears fell even more fiercely. After a long time, she slowly raised her head, pressed down her red eyes, and slowly swallowed all her reluctance.

Then, she turned and left the alley.

There was no turning back.

……

Tang Wulin didn't get home until evening.

His shoes were covered in dust, his voice was terribly hoarse, and his eyes were red from the wind, as if he had been completely drained. When he entered the courtyard, Lang Yue wanted to go to him, but after just one glance, she stopped in her tracks.

Because the light in that child's eyes seemed to have been half taken away at once.

"...Couldn't find it." Tang Wulin spoke first, his voice hoarse, unlike that of a nine-year-old child.

No one spoke.

Tang Ziran sat at the table, silent for a long time, before gently pushing something on the table towards him.

It was a pendant.

It was silver, cool and rounded, like a small, polished moon. A faint, iridescent halo flowed within it, subtle yet undeniably expensive. It seemed completely out of place in the Tang family's small courtyard.

"This is what she left behind," Tang Ziran said in a low voice.

Tang Wulin reached out and picked up the pendant, his fingertips trembling.

What's the use of it if it's valuable?

She is gone.

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, it felt as if a piece of his chest had been ripped out, and a gust of wind made him feel cold all over.

He didn't say much that night.

The same thing happened the next day.

The third day was the same.

For the next whole week, Tang Wulin seemed to have lost his soul.

He still went to school, still went to Mangtian Studio, still hammered away, but he always seemed a beat behind. The light that used to shine in his eyes was gone, and he lost his focus. Even on his way home from school, he couldn't help but wander through the streets and alleys, as if Na'er might suddenly emerge from behind some door, look up, and call him "brother."

But she didn't.

Not even once.

Tang Wulin made two mistakes in the workshop.

The first time, a piece of metal that should have been heated a little longer was prematurely removed from the furnace; the second time was even worse, the rhythm of the hammer fell off, ruining a mecha joint that had already been completed.

Mang Tian stared at the broken part, his face ashen.

"If your heart isn't in this, don't pick up the hammer," he said.

Tang Wulin lowered his head and did not offer any explanation.

Mang Tian stared at him for a moment, then coldly added:

"Starting today, working hours will be increased to three hours. We'll reduce them back when you can bring your brain back to normal."

Tang Wulin kept his head down and said softly, "Yes, teacher."

Not a single word of rebuttal was offered.

Because he knew the teacher was right to scold him.

Knowing this didn't stop the sense of loss and emptiness from surging up like the tides. He didn't know who to hate, or who to blame, and could only ask himself again and again:

Why did she leave?

Why couldn't they even leave a word for me to my face?

Why did it have to happen right when I had just become a Soul Master?

He didn't understand.

There is no answer.

It wasn't until a week later that this dazed and confused state finally eased up a bit.

It's not that I'm not sad anymore.

But even the biggest void can't completely tear life apart. People always have to keep moving forward, even if they have to drag themselves along.

Hongshan College.

Lin Ximeng stood in front of the podium, holding a stack of papers in her hand, calling out names one by one from the list.

"Tang Wulin".

"arrive."

Tang Wulin stood up and walked to the front of the podium.

Lin Ximeng glanced at him, her gaze softening slightly, indicating she had likely heard about his recent family situation. She didn't ask further, simply handing him the stamped letter of recommendation.

"Keep this safe," she said. "This is a recommendation letter for admission to the intermediate Soul Master Academy. Don't lose it."

Tang Wulin took the letter, tightened his fingers slightly, and whispered:

"Thank you, Teacher Lin."

This letter is very thin.

But when you hold it in your hand, it has a very real weight.

That concludes the junior college experience.

Having it means he will soon leave Aolai City for a bigger place to continue his journey as a Soul Master.

Upon returning to his seat, Wan Yunchao immediately leaned closer.

"Hey, got the recommendation letter?" He winked and lowered his voice. "You've been acting like you've lost your soul these past few days, I haven't even dared to challenge you. Now it should be okay, right? You're a Soul Master now, I want to see what your Soul Skill is all about."

Tang Wulin didn't say anything, but simply folded the letter of recommendation and put it into his book bag.

Wan Yunchao thought he was being ignored, so he became even more enthusiastic.

"Really?" He deliberately dragged out his words. "You're not afraid of losing, are you? Well, your martial spirit doesn't look very impressive to begin with. If your soul skills aren't good either, it would be so embarrassing to lose."

Tang Wulin finally stopped what he was doing.

He turned his head and glanced at Wan Yunchao.

His gaze wasn't intense, but the emotions suppressed in that single glance made Wan Yunchao subconsciously swallow the rest of his sentence.

"I am not a coward," Tang Wulin said.

The sound was very flat.

But the calmer he is, the more he seems genuinely angry.

Wan Yunchao stiffened his neck, also feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Then let's fight. After school, in the woods."

Tang Wulin stared at him for a while, then suddenly nodded.

"it is good."

After school, the grove behind Hongshan College was very quiet.

Most of the students had left, and the wind rustled through the trees, making a soft, whispering sound as the leaves brushed against each other. This place was usually quiet for science classes, and it was even emptier after school.

Wan Yunchao arrived quickly, clearly having been holding back this sparring match for a long time.

"I'm not going to let you have your way today." He said, already walking impatiently towards the center of the open space. "Don't say I'm bullying you, we'll both only use our first soul skill."

Tang Wulin did not respond, but silently followed.

He had too much on his mind this week.

Sadness, emptiness, confusion, and the helplessness of shouting until your voice is hoarse and no one responds. They all piled up there, like damp, cold stones, one on top of another.

Now, Wan Yunchao's barbed words have given him an opening to vent his frustrations.

In the center of the open space, Wan Yunchao released his martial spirit first.

With a flash of light, the short sword appeared in his hand. Compared to when it didn't have a spirit ring, the blade was noticeably wider and the edges were sharper, with fine light patterns floating on it, finally giving it the appearance of a real spirit master weapon.

The next moment, a white spirit ring slowly rose from beneath his feet.

Wan Yunchao's smugness became even more pronounced.

"See that?" He brandished the knife in his hand, grinning. "My first soul skill won't hold back."

As soon as the spirit ring lit up, a blade of light about half a foot long emerged from the tip of the short sword.

The blade's edge was white, yet it was real, exhaling a chilling aura from its very tip. While it wasn't yet truly sharp and intimidating, it was already quite impressive for a child just entering the Soul Master level.

"Come on, Tang Wulin."

Wan Yunchao stood with his sword held horizontally, trying his best to strike a very imposing pose.

"Let me see just how much you've been holding back your soul skills this week."