All according to plan! Ever since Leng Yaozhu came to the Spirit Pagoda in East China City, Heita had directly simulated Nous's calculation ability to peer into the near future.
True to prediction, everything unfolded precisely as she had calculated. Leng Yaozhu intended to take her on as a personal disciple, and Muchen and Yuan Bao'er both expressed their support. This way, everything would fall naturally into place without arousing anyone's suspicions.
To be honest, this kind of predictive ability was utterly heaven-defying; ever since acquiring it, Heita had never once been wrong.
The feeling of having everything in the world firmly in the palm of one's hand was simply wonderful!
Yet this was no reason to act recklessly. After all, Murphy's Law existed in this world: the very thing you feared was the most likely to happen. Therefore, Heita still decided to take things one step at a time and build a rock-solid foundation for her path.
If Yao Lan remembered correctly, Guyue's secondary occupation in the original work should be Mecha designer, but who had she learned it from? Although the original text did not mention it, as Guyue's master, Leng Yaozhu's secondary occupation was also very likely to be a Mecha designer. After all, this was the Douluo Continent, where traditions were passed down generation after generation! Studying under this powerhouse, Heita would be fully capable of mastering multiple secondary occupations and eventually uniting all of them in one person—this was the confidence bestowed upon her by Nous of The Erudition!
An Aeon symbolizing wisdom surely could not possess only the ability to calculate the future, right? The enhancement to her intellect was equally pronounced. Yao Lan had never felt her mind so clear, as if the distance between herself and the very concept of "human" was gradually widening. When viewed that way, it was truly terrifying, making Yao Lan think of the Root Princess from the Type-Moon world. If a person truly achieved omniscience and omnipotence, wouldn't she lose interest in everything?
Yao Lan would definitely have to find a way to resolve this issue in the future, but for now, she had better deal with the immediate matter at hand.
"I want to help Mom and Dad too, so... please take care of me, Aunt Leng!"
Though her voice carried a trace of childishness, Heita's gaze toward Leng Yaozhu was filled with steadfast determination, prompting involuntary wonder that someone so young could possess such a strong willpower.
"Oh well, I understand." Yuan Bao'er sighed. This daughter she had coaxed back from outside just a few days ago was growing up in the blink of an eye, and she hadn't even had enough of being a mother before having to send her off.
"Since little Heita hasn't refused, I have no reason to object. But Sister Leng, Heita is my daughter after all, and I certainly don't want anyone bullying her while she's at the Spirit Pagoda!"
"Please rest assured on that score. Since she is to be my personal disciple, I will certainly not let anyone bully her!" Leng Yaozhu's expression turned serious. "Besides, there is a nine-in-ten chance I will never have descendants of my own in this lifetime; I will definitely treat Heita as my very own biological daughter!"
With that, a flash of white light crossed Leng Yaozhu's hand, and a token materialized in her grip. "This token symbolizes my status as a personal disciple, and it also grants the rights of a reserve Spirit Envoy anywhere within the sphere of influence of the Spirit Pagoda."
"Now, it belongs to you."
"From now on, just call me Teacher, Heita!"
A Spirit Envoy symbolized one of those individuals holding supreme power within the mainland-renowned organization known as the Spirit Pagoda. The word "reserve" was attached only because Heita was currently too young; once she grew to a certain degree, she could rightfully become a full Spirit Envoy without even needing an evaluation.
This was Leng Yaozhu's stance, as well as her expectations for Heita.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
"However, we've already spent enough time here today. If we wait any longer, troublesome people will be showing up, so I had better pay a formal visit in person next time!"
Since their relationship was now established, Leng Yaozhu had nothing left to worry about. But she also knew she wasn't the only one who had received Heita's message earlier; if those old monsters rushed over, the original matter would likely become troublesome again. Therefore, she reminded Muchen's family to leave quickly, leaving the rest to be handled by her as Vice Pagoda Master.
Sure enough, within half an hour after Muchen and his group departed, a figure burst through the main gates of the Spirit Pagoda at blistering speed. Had Leng Yaozhu not cleared the area in advance, quite a few people would have been blown away by the gale-force wind.
"Where is she? Where is that child?"
"You're late, Qiangu Dongfeng. They left long ago."
The familiar female voice caused the figure's speed to drop abruptly, quickly bringing him before Leng Yaozhu. This person was the current Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, holding the Title "Spirit" and standing as a Level 99 Limit Douluo, Qiangu Dongfeng.
"Sigh, you should have found a way to make them stay, Yaozhu..." Upon hearing that they had already left, Qiangu Dongfeng could not help letting out a sigh, though before he could finish speaking, he was rudely interrupted by Leng Yaozhu.
"Their family situation is somewhat special. Forcing them to stay would likely cause trouble."
"Oh? In what way is it special?"
"That's Muchen's child. Keeping her here by force would bring up too many problems."
"Muchen? Muchen the Saint Craftsman from the Blacksmiths' Association?" Once the identity of a Saint Craftsman was brought up, Qiangu Dongfeng's expression grew solemn; evidently, moving against a Saint Craftsman still carried far too high a price.
"Rest assured, though, I've already discussed it with them. That child has now become my personal disciple, and I'll have to pay a formal visit to their home another day."
"Since you're going anyway, how could you leave out me, the Pagoda Master?"
Hearing Leng Yaozhu's words, Qiangu Dongfeng nodded slightly, but upon hearing about a formal visit, he harbored some thoughts of his own and intended to tag along.
"You can skip it, Qiangu Dongfeng." Leng Yaozhu glared straight at him. "Do you look like the type children like? The child is somewhat timid; if you went over, she probably wouldn't even dare step out her door."
This was a lie!
Knowing Qiangu Dongfeng as she did, this scheming fellow was undoubtedly plotting something unspeakable. To plunge such a young child into a vortex of conspiracies was more than even Leng Yaozhu could bear, so she simply made up an excuse to dismiss him. Yet Qiangu Dongfeng seemed quite surprised by Leng Yaozhu's assessment.
"That's not right, is it? Don't the children in the Spirit Pagoda like me quite a bit?" At this point, he even tried to squeeze out a smile, though it ultimately only left Leng Yaozhu even more speechless.
"You know full well those are children inside the Spirit Pagoda! And are you playing games with me right now? Hurry up and go do your job as Pagoda Master! As for communicating with Muchen and the Blacksmiths' Association... I'll handle that myself."
Regardless of how she achieved it, so long as Qiangu Dongfeng was prevented from seeing Heita, it counted as Leng Yaozhu's victory.