Ever since his martial soul evolved from low-level to mid-level at Lv4, Fang Ling had been harboring some suspicions.
Now, the changes in his Warrior's Will further confirmed his thoughts.
The process was somewhat mysterious, it came about through watching scenery during leisure.
He had been training hard up to this point without realizing how mentally strained he had become.
Progress is certainly important, but human energy is ultimately limited.
Focusing too intensely on one thing, no matter how passionate or persistent one might be, inevitably leads to exhaustion.
That's a human limitation, and Fang Ling wasn't above being human.
Proper rest, instead, can help regulate emotions and restore inner clarity.
Only then can one achieve faster progress upon moving forward again.
He had criticized Ye Lingling for not managing the pressure in her heart, yet now the boomerang had come back to hit him.
As he reflected deeply, Fang Ling realized that the reason he had been able to persist this long
was simply because he had strong stress tolerance, a panel that showed constant progress, and tempting goals ahead, a combination of many factors.
His goal was to stand at the pinnacle of soul masters, to become a god.
It seemed like inner strength, but in truth, it was easier to press on with a clear goal than it was for those who kept moving forward despite facing complete uncertainty.
Once he understood this, accepted his real self, and reshaped his internal view, his spirit naturally brightened.
"Fang Ling..." Ye Lingling entered the small courtyard, looking curiously at him.
He hadn't gone to train. Instead, he was lazily lying on the couch.
He looked relaxed and at ease, as if all the chaos of the world had nothing to do with him.
"Lingling-jie, come keep me company," Fang Ling called softly, patting the empty spot beside him.
Ye Lingling's eyes flickered with surprise. "What's going on with you today?"
"No training? Not even going to the battle arena?"
"No training today. I'm a bit tired. I'm resting." Fang Ling nodded, then gestured to her. "Come on, Lingling-jie, lie down and rest with me for a while."
Ye Lingling instinctively responded to his suggestion and took two light steps forward.
Then she suddenly stopped, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. She immediately scolded:
"You wish! You've got a filthy mouth."
"Ah? Oh, sorry, sorry." Fang Ling suddenly realized what he had just said and quickly apologized.
That kind of blatant teasing had actually come out of his own mouth.
He really had relaxed too much.
"I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought you could use a rest too."
"I know." Ye Lingling paused for a moment, then still sat down beside him.
"Besides, at your age, even if you had bad intentions, what could you even do?"
Fang Ling raised an eyebrow. That kind of provocation demanded a response.
In a flash, he flipped over and leaned in close to her fair cheek.
"I'm a two-ring Soul Master. My body's been strengthened by two soul rings. Want to test it, Lingling-jie?"
His warm breath stirred Ye Lingling's black veil and flowed from her collar downward along her snow-white skin.
The warmth of his breath was like a gentle hand stroking softly, giving her goosebumps.
His intense gaze made it hard to meet his eyes directly.
Ye Lingling trembled slightly, startled by how suddenly he got so close.
When she realized he wasn't doing anything else and was just looking at her, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Stop messing around, Fang Ling. That's not funny."
Fang Ling leaned back, crossed his arms behind his head, and reclined against the bedframe.
"You were the one underestimating me. When it comes to stuff like this, I have pride too."
"Heh, you little man..."
Ye Lingling let out a cold laugh.
The two sat quietly side by side, admiring the scenery for a while. Then she suddenly asked softly, "Why were you looking at Yanzi yesterday?"
"Do you like her?"
Her voice was gentle, but there was a faint trace of nervousness and unease hidden within.
Fang Ling shook his head slightly. "It's not that I like her, I..."
He seemed to hesitate, considering how to phrase it.
"It's a feeling I can't really explain."
"A martial soul fusion skill?" Ye Lingling asked, uncertain.
Fang Ling shook his head again. "It's not a reaction from the martial soul. It's a personal feeling. It's important, but a bit too unbelievable."
"I'd rather wait and observe a bit longer before saying more."
Ye Lingling felt a bit more at ease after hearing his answer. The ripples in her heart gradually calmed.
Fang Ling caught her subtle sigh and recalled her tone. A faint gleam flashed in his eyes, and he asked with a soft chuckle, "Why are you nervous?"
Ye Lingling's body tensed slightly on its own.
She slowly turned her head to meet Fang Ling's gaze, doing her best to appear calm as she replied, "I'm not nervous."
"Doesn't look like it to me," Fang Ling said, stifling a laugh.
"What do you mean doesn't look like it?"
Her veil fluttered as her eyes flickered. She stammered, "I-I'm not nervous!"
"Haha." Fang Ling couldn't help but burst into laughter.
She was doing a terrible job of hiding it, covering her ears while stealing a bell, like an ostrich pretending the danger isn't there.
"What are you laughing at?! Stop laughing!"
Flushed with embarrassment, Ye Lingling pounced at him, pinning him down and trying to tickle his sides.
And so, the two of them started play-fighting again.
Meanwhile, at the Dugu Estate.
Dugu Yan had slept in and was yawning as she climbed out of bed. She soon found her grandfather in the residence.
Dugu Bo had gone out the night before to verify Fang Ling's identity, so she had slept soundly.
It wasn't too late to hear the results in the morning.
Dugu Yan asked with concern, "Grandfather, how did it go?"
Dugu Bo shook his head.
"He's not a fallen soul master. His soul power is extremely pure, even purer than mine."
"When I arrived, it was already past midnight, and he was still diligently cultivating."
"His soul power passively radiates a strong, resolute fighting spirit. Just like you described, he's a hardworking boy."
Even Dugu Bo was somewhat surprised by this.
"As long as he's not a fallen soul master." Dugu Yan felt relieved. She had always hoped Fang Ling wasn't someone who had strayed down a dark path.
Now that she had definite confirmation, she was genuinely happy.
"But what about the way he looks at me..."
Dugu Bo stroked his beard and speculated,
"Based on your description, I suspect he might have feelings for you."
"It's just that for various reasons, he lacks confidence. Unlike Yu Tianheng who's all boldness and charisma, Fang Ling's the kind to harbor feelings quietly and secretly."
"Secretly in love, huh..."
Dugu Yan muttered softly, suddenly thinking of Ye Lingling, who had finally broken out of her emotional cage with Fang Ling's help.
If he liked her, then what was Ye Lingling to him?
Even though it had only been three months, their relationship had developed quickly. The way they acted around each other was far from ordinary friendship.
She frowned.
She needed to warn that foolish girl, Ye Lingling.
But it was best to observe a little longer first.
Otherwise, she might create misunderstandings and put all three of them in an awkward situation.
Dugu Yan began pacing in place, lost in thought.
Dugu Bo didn't disturb his granddaughter and quietly left the room.
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