"Who are you to Lu Yuan?"
Er Ming's huge, beastly eyes fixed firmly on Chen Xin. The Titan Giant Ape's massive fists were already flexing in warning, his voice deep but laced with suspicion.
Chen Xin, caught off guard, froze for a moment. He hadn't expected the Titan Giant Ape to actually speak human language. That at least eased one of his worries—he wouldn't have to rely on gestures to communicate.
"I'm… his friend," Chen Xin replied carefully.
"His friend?"
Er Ming scratched his furry head, thinking. He vaguely recalled seeing this man fighting outside the Star Dou Great Forest alongside Lu Yuan. But just because some human claimed friendship… how could a spirit beast truly know?
The Titan Ape's hesitation lasted only an instant before his fighting instincts took over. When in doubt—hit first! With that thought, Er Ming's colossal fists swung down in a devastating strike toward Chen Xin.
"Er Ming—wait!"
Lu Yuan's voice cut sharply through the forest, his figure descending with the Dragon Slaying Sword in hand. The moment Daming, the Azure Bull Python, had sensed Chen Xin's aura, he notified Lu Yuan, who rushed over immediately.
"This is one of mine!" Lu Yuan reached Chen Xin just in time, blocking Er Ming's next move. His expression quickly darkened when he noticed Liu Erlong clutching her young son just behind Chen Xin.
"Why did you drag Erlong and her child here?" His voice carried a rare edge of anger.
Lu Yuan couldn't believe it. Chen Xin, of all people, had dared bring them into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest? And at such a turbulent time? What of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's safety?
Too careless. Far too careless.
"I wanted Senior Dustheart to bring me here." Liu Erlong stepped forward, tightening her arms around the swaddled child in her embrace. There was fire and stubborn defiance in her eyes. Ever since those vile people in Spirit Hall had spread rumors branding Lu Yuan an evil spirit master, her hot temper had flared uncontrollably.
Yes, Lu Yuan's martial soul was a little sinister-looking. But she would stake her life on it—Lu Yuan was no evil spirit master!
When Ning Fengzhi told her that Lu Yuan had been carried off by spirit beasts, how could she be at ease? Originally, she had planned to march into the Star Dou Great Forest herself to find him—leaving her son in the care of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But of course, Ning Fengzhi would never agree to such recklessness.
So here she was… dragging Chen Xin into her mess.
Chen Xin, despite his calm demeanor, had been internally panicking from the start. Left alone, he could have escaped danger so long as he didn't run simultaneously into multiple hundred-thousand-year beasts. But bringing along a mother and child? If anything had happened to them… how could he ever have faced Lu Yuan again? His old face would never have stood the shame.
…
"Xiaoyu, let Daddy have a look at you."
Lu Yuan gently took the boy from Liu Erlong's arms, channeling his spirit power subtly to dispel the heavy wine scent clinging to him. He didn't press further about the Qibao Sect situation, not right now. His focus shifted entirely to his son.
"So cute… he's starting to look more and more like me."
Grinning proudly, Lu Yuan motioned to a familiar figure. "Little Rabbit, you haven't seen my son yet—come, take a look!"
Everyone crowded around the baby. For Er Ming, it was the first time seeing such a tiny human cub. The Titan Ape's huge paw twitched as if he wanted so badly to poke at the child but was immediately blocked by Lu Yuan's sharp glare. Some things were sacred—his son wasn't a plaything for spirit beasts.
…
After the warm, fleeting moment of family joy, Lu Yuan's expression turned serious again. "Old man, how's the Sect holding up? Are those bastards in Spirit Hall still stirring up trouble?"
"Relax," Chen Xin reassured him. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect remains well, same as before."
Lu Yuan raised a brow. "Really? And the Martial Soul Hall hasn't harassed you under some pretense of rooting out my existence?"
Chen Xin shook his head. "Strangely, no. It's as if nothing ever happened."
"… Strange indeed."
"Fengzhi believes it has to do with that person—Qian Renxue. You know who I'm talking about, don't you?"
"She?" Lu Yuan's lips curled into a knowing grin. "Of course. My good drinking buddy."
Chen Xin gave a soft snort. "Drinking buddy, is it? More than that, I'd say." He had long wondered why Lu Yuan had kept such close ties with 'Xue Qinghe.' After discovering Qinghe's true identity as Qian Renxue, everything made sudden, perfect sense.
"This is Lu Yuan…" Chen Xin muttered inwardly. "Always full of surprises."
"Anything else?" Lu Yuan pressed.
"That Zhu family girl—Zhu Zhuqing—she's been staying with Rongrong. After the war, she didn't return to her clan in Star Luo City. To her, that place holds no warmth. Instead, she chose to follow Ning Rongrong back to the Sect, partly out of worry for you and partly to hear news of you through Ning Fengzhi."
Lu Yuan exhaled in relief. "So Kitty and Rongrong are together. Good."
Chen Xin went on. "As for the Soul Master Tournament… well, Tang Hao's grandchild barged in and ruined it, so the results dragged on for ages. In the end, both empires and most spirit masters across the continent pressured Spirit Hall to finalize it. They awarded championship to your Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. One, because you rightfully earned it. Two, because Tang Hao's interference had broken the rules. Spirit Hall was reluctant to part with those three spirit bones, but with public outrage mounting, they had no choice."
Lu Yuan nodded silently. "That settles that then."
Chen Xin paused, thinking if he'd left anything out. Then Liu Erlong's voice, simmering with rage, broke the moment.
"And Yu Xiaogang."
The name made her teeth grind.
"That bastard's been spreading vicious lies, claiming Lu Yuan is an evil spirit master. He even wrote some long-winded essay full of nonsense to smear him!"
Chen Xin chuckled coldly. "He truly is a clown. At the start, a few gullible people were swayed by his scum theories. But then Fengzhi hired scholars and bards to tear his arguments apart publicly. Now the tide has turned. Across the Continent, spirit masters mock him relentlessly. They call his 'Ten Core Competitiveness of Martial Spirits' plagiarized trash, nothing but shit. His name—Jade Xiaogang—has become a joke drowned in ten thousand people's spit."
Lu Yuan laughed, finally easing from the earlier tension. "Well, if people are spitting on him, all the better. A clown like him isn't worth my memory."
He reached for his gourd, drinking deep—glug, glug, glug.
"Here." Chen Xin handed him a small, delicate food box. "Rongrong and the Zhu girl made these pastries for you. And… here's the wine Fengzhi asked me to bring. Two jars in total—though Rongrong already swiped one for herself. This one's yours."
Lu Yuan's grin widened instantly. "Oh? Good wine!"
Chen Xin grimaced, heart aching. "Those jars were supposed to be kept until Rongrong's wedding day. And thanks to you, they're gone already!"
Lu Yuan accepted it gleefully without shame. "Fine by me. I'll stay here for a while then. With wine and family around, life's perfect."
"You bastard!" Liu Erlong cut in sharply, glaring at him. "Don't you dare think of leaving us behind this time!"
Lu Yuan raised both hands in surrender, smiling. "Leave you? Never. I plan to live here with you and Xiao Yu for a while."
"That's better." Liu Erlong's lips curled in satisfaction.
Chen Xin added one final warning. "If you need anything, head to Qingfeng Town outside the Star Dou Forest. We have Seven Treasure dark guards stationed there. But keep your head down—the Martial Soul Hall might still be watching."
…
Tang Yuehua, who had quietly watched all this, was stunned.
Wait a minute—wasn't she supposed to leave with Chen Xin? How did everything flip so suddenly? Was she… staying here now?
"Senior Chen Xin… could you maybe, um, take me back?" She asked hopefully.
"No."
Before Chen Xin could even answer, Er Ming's booming voice rumbled. "She's useful to Lu Yuan. Last time, it was her black-fire purification that healed him. She stays."
Chen Xin nodded lightly. "So it is. Understood."
With that, he gave Lu Yuan one final look. "Boy, I'm off." His sword form shot skyward, vanishing above the treetops in a flash of light.
Tang Yuehua was left behind, dumbfounded.
"…"
Was she really… stuck here?
--
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