The system's chime was a soft, internal echo, a confirmation of the seismic shift he had just orchestrated.
A profound sense of accomplishment, warm and solid, settled in Yao Xuan's chest. Ten points. It was a windfall that promised significant growth, but as he looked at Na'er's small, trusting face, the points felt almost secondary to the victory of having secured her place here.
"Of course I would," he replied, his voice soft but firm, answering her unspoken gratitude. "How could anyone see you and not want to keep you safe?" He reached out, his movement slow and deliberate, and gently brushed a stray strand of silver hair from her cheek, his thumb lightly tracing the curve of it. "You don't have to thank me, Na'er. From today, we're family. That's what family does."
Na'er didn't flinch. Instead, she leaned almost imperceptibly into his touch, her amethyst eyes, usually so guarded, reflecting a quiet wonder. The innate, cosmic loneliness that was her birthright seemed to recede a fraction in the face of this simple, human contact. For the first time, the walls around the Silver Dragon King were not being assailed, but were being gently disassembled by unwavering kindness.
With Na'er officially staying, the apartment buzzed with a new, purposeful energy. Lin Ximeng, now embracing her role as mother to two, immediately set about reorganizing their home. The study, a small room filled with books and quiet, was earmarked for transformation. "You two are still young, but it's important you have your own spaces," she explained, her tone practical yet warm. The promise of a new bed, a small wardrobe, and clothes of her own made Na'er's eyes shine with a light that had nothing to do with her draconic heritage.
But all practical matters came after the most important ritual of the day: the shared meal. The trio sat around the modest table, and the previously quiet apartment was filled with the sounds of contented eating. Na'er, despite her delicate appearance, ate with a focused intensity that spoke of a deep, previously unmet hunger. Yao Xuan, his metabolism supercharged by the Ancestral Dragon bloodline, matched her pace. Plates of stir-fried vegetables, a small steamed fish, and a bowl of savory soup disappeared with astonishing speed.
"Oh, my," Lin Ximeng exclaimed, her eyes wide with mock alarm as she watched the two of them. "I've brought a pair of bottomless pits into my home! At this rate, my salary as a teacher won't be enough to keep you both fed!" Despite her words, her heart swelled with a peculiar joy. There was a profound satisfaction in seeing her cooking so thoroughly appreciated.
After lunch, the quiet of the afternoon settled in. While Na'er napped in Lin Ximeng's room, Yao Xuan retreated to his own. He sat on the edge of his bed, not to cultivate, but to contemplate. The ten Golden Evolution Points glowed with potential in his mind's eye, but he resisted the immediate urge to spend them.
'Power must be controlled, not just possessed,' he reasoned, recalling the surging energy from his last enhancement. 'I need to fully master my current strength before seeking more. Rushing could make my foundation unstable.' Furthermore, a more cautious thought arose. 'The Ancestral Dragon's aura is potent. If I enhance it recklessly here at home, it might act as a catalyst, jolting Na'er's sealed memories awake before she's emotionally ready. That could shatter this fragile trust we're building.' He decided then that any major bloodline enhancements would be done away from the apartment, perhaps during long walks or in secluded areas of the academy.
The afternoon sun was slanting through the windows when Yao Xuan returned from his academic classes. He found the apartment subtly but permanently changed. The study was now a child's bedroom, furnished with a simple white bed and a small, polished wooden desk. The scent of new wood and fresh paint hung faintly in the air.
The moment he opened the door, a silver-haired missile shot towards him.
"Brother Yao Xuan! You're back!"
Na'er stood before him, her earlier reserve replaced by a visible, eager excitement. She was wearing one of her new dresses, a soft blue one that made her amethyst eyes seem even brighter.
The genuine warmth in her greeting sent a jolt of pure happiness through him. "I'm back, Na'er!" he said, his smile effortless. "And look at this! Your new room is wonderful!"
Lin Ximeng emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. "Yao Xuan, perfect timing. Dinner is ready. I took the liberty of... preparing a bit more tonight." Her eyes twinkled with amusement.
The evening meal was a repeat of the lunchtime feast, if not more abundant. Lin Ximeng had outdone herself, clearly delighting in having two such enthusiastic consumers of her efforts. The conversation was light, filled with Yao Xuan's stories from school and Na'er's quiet, one-word answers that were, for her, incredibly talkative.
"Mom, your cooking is truly the best in Aolai City," Yao Xuan declared, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. He gently nudged Na'er. "Isn't it, Na'er?"
Na'er, who had just taken her last bite, looked up. A soft, unladylike burp escaped her lips. She immediately covered her mouth, her cheeks flushing a charming pink. "...So delicious," she murmured, her voice filled with awe. "Thank you, Mom."
Lin Ximeng laughed, a full, joyful sound. "You two! I'm glad you liked it. But I'll have to ask the academy for a raise if this continues!"
As the pleasant lethargy of the meal settled over them, Yao Xuan felt the pull of discipline. "Mom, I'm going to meditate now," he announced, rising from the table.
Lin Ximeng's face softened with pride. "That's my diligent boy. Off you go. Na'er and I will clean up."
Inside his room, the world narrowed to the flow of energy. Yao Xuan sat cross-legged on his bed, back straight, and closed his eyes. With his [Enhanced Comprehension], the process was becoming intuitive. He didn't just mechanically run the Five Hearts Towards Heaven Technique; he listened. He could feel the ambient soul power in the room, like motes of dust dancing in a sunbeam, and his consciousness gently shepherded them towards him. As they touched his skin and flowed into his meridians, he felt the now-familiar warmth spreading through him, a sensation of slow, steady filling.
Two and a half hours later, he reached his saturation point. He exhaled slowly, a long, steady breath, and opened his eyes. The world seemed sharper, the colors in his room more vivid.
'My efficiency is improving,' he noted with satisfaction. 'The bloodline enhancement, even a small one, has broadened my capacity.' The notification about the Evolution Points was a steady, reassuring tick of progress. 'But this is still too slow. The key is breaking through to Soul Master and obtaining that [Creation Soul Forging Technique]. That will be the real leap.'
He stood up, stretching his limbs, and opened his bedroom door. The living room was quiet, lit only by the soft glow of the soul-guided television. On the screen, a colorful cartoon depicting the legendary exploits of the Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuena was playing.
And there, curled up on the sofa, was Na'er. She wasn't just watching; she was utterly captivated, her small form nestled against the cushions, her amethyst eyes wide and reflecting the dancing lights from the screen. She had been waiting for him.
Hearing his door open, she turned. The awe from the cartoon was still in her eyes, mixed now with a spark of curiosity directed solely at him.
"Brother Yao Xuan," she asked, her voice a whisper in the quiet room, "where did you go when you closed your door?"
In that simple question, Yao Xuan heard not just curiosity, but the beginning of a bond that was weaving their fates together, thread by careful thread.