A month passed in the blink of an eye.
At the heart of Lanba Academy, on the lake island, tranquility reigned supreme. A sparkling stream flowed gently from the forested cliffs above, cascading down with a clear, melodious sound before feeding into the lake and winding its way outward again through another narrow channel. The scent of damp earth and fresh water filled the air, mingling with the soft fragrance of flowers.
Upon the island now stood a new home. What had once been a crude wooden hut had transformed into something that looked straight out of a fairy tale. The two—story house was built with solid pale-yellow wooden boards reinforced with bamboo, simple yet elegant, glowing warmly beneath the sunlight.
In front of the house, colorful blossoms bloomed in clusters, red and purple petals swaying gently in the breeze. Behind them stretched a small open-air kitchen workshop, faint smoke curling lazily into the sky, and beside it spread a neat training ground where the grass was worn flat from constant use.
Inside the workshop, Liu Erlong moved gracefully as she tended the fire. Her waist was hugged by a fitted black skirt, and through the thin mesh of her apron, her pale skin glowed faintly. A woman both fiery and soft, power and beauty seemed to entwine in her. When she turned, her face carried the tenderness of a smile that rarely left her ever since Subei and Xiao Wu had come into her life.
Raising her voice, she called up toward the second floor of the house.
"Xiaobei, Xiao Wu, come down for dinner! Mother went to the Demon Hunting Forest myself and hunted a thousand-year Datura Snake just to cook for you two. And, Xiaowu, I even found your favorite cherry mushrooms!"
Her voice carried warmth and pride.
On the second floor, laughter echoed.
Subei and Xiao Wu were sprawled together on the floor, playing as only close siblings or childhood friends might. Xiao Wu, ever mischievous, straddled him playfully, her legs folded across his lap, trying to snatch the sweets from his hand. Sweat trickled down her flushed cheek, her silky hair sticking adorably to her face.
"I want that one!" she demanded, reaching for the bigger lollipop.
Subei grinned devilishly, holding both candies out of reach—a pig-shaped sugar stick in one hand and a fat rabbit-shaped candy in the other.
"Then tell me, Xiao Wu," he teased, "do you prefer this cute little pig head sugar… or this big, thick, rabbit candy?" His eyes twinkled mischievously at his own clever innuendo.
Without hesitation, Xiao Wu lunged forward and grabbed the rabbit-shaped one. "Obviously, I like the big, thick—"
Her words caught mid-air, and realization dawned on her crimson face. She pouted furiously and huffed. "Wait! No! What I mean is… this rabbit candy is much prettier than that silly pig. Of course the rabbit is the best!"
Subei chuckled, shaking his head. "Well then, I suppose in the future, I'll have to grow up to be big, thick, and long… just for you."
He said it half jokingly, half self-deprecatingly, but let the thought drift away.
Over the past month, life had taken on a new rhythm. He had grown closer to Xiao Wu and Liu Erlong—something like family, something like more. His unique puppet control continued to strengthen, and he'd even unlocked an ability that increased his power tenfold in bursts. Yet here, amidst the simple warmth of daily life, battles and trials felt far away.
The sound of Liu Erlong calling again shook them from their game. They hurriedly straightened their clothes, exchanged one last playful glance, and jumped straight out the window.
Their figures flashed across the air, landing lightly on the grass below.
Predictably, Liu Erlong scolded with indulgence, shaking her head helplessly. "Honestly, must you always leap down? You could use the stairs. What if one of you twisted an ankle?"
Xiao Wu skipped to her side, grinning. "We're soul masters, godmother! It's only two floors—there's no way we'd get hurt."
Subei added cheekily, "Plus, with food that smells this good, who could bear wasting time on stairs? I'd rather fly straight into the kitchen!"
Liu Erlong laughed softly, her heart swelling with affection. Isn't this the life I've wanted all along? A home, warmth, and a table we can share together…
She reached out and tapped the bridge of Subei's nose with her finger. "Smooth talker. If you're that eager, why did it take you so long to come down?"
Subei only grinned wider. "A man needs to prepare his heart before enjoying a masterpiece. Otherwise, how can he savor it properly?"
Dinner truly was a masterpiece. The millennium Datura Snake had been stewed to perfection, its translucent flesh glistening gold under the lantern light. A fragrant sauce seeped across the meat, adorned with slivers of fiery red pepper, tender green vegetables, and glossy mushrooms that trembled with juice.
Subei picked up a piece with his chopsticks and tossed it into his mouth. The delicate meat melted at once, rich and smooth—spicy yet somehow silky, like a sinful blend of chocolate and Sichuan cuisine.
His eyes closed in bliss. "Godmother… absolutely delicious! How ignorant must someone be to abandon a woman who cooks like this…"
Xiao Wu, meanwhile, frowned shallowly as she chewed a bright red cherry radish the size of a peach. Its crisp, sweet juice dripped down her pale fingers. "Honestly, meat isn't even delicious. Obviously, radishes are better."
Liu Erlong placed a tender hand on Xiao Wu's head, sighing gently. "Child, you mustn't be stubborn. A growing girl needs balance. If you never touch meat, your body won't develop properly. When the future Soul Master tournament comes one day, what will you do if your stamina collapses? You can't win battles with weak limbs, no matter how brave your heart."
Subei chuckled, sliding an arm around Xiao Wu. "Don't worry, godmother. Our Xiao Wu is special. Even on vegetables alone, she'll still beat up the boys."
It was true. The mischievous rabbit spirit girl was nothing if not resilient.
Still, Subei himself couldn't resist sneaking more helpings of the snake meat. Each mouthful filled him with energy, the taste too divine to resist. He remembered with faint irony that Tang San had once killed a Datura Snake to gain his first soul ring—yet he had wasted the meat. If only he knew the delicacy he'd thrown away…
The fragrant aromas of Liu Erlong's cooking didn't stop at their table. Carried by the gentle evening breeze, the scent drifted across the lake, seeping all the way into a distant ancestral hall.
Inside that hall, two men sat side by side beneath the portraits of their ancestors.
One was broad—shouldered, his long beard streaked with white. His eyes glowed faintly with the thunder of the heavens. This was Yu Yuanzhen, patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a level 95 Titled Douluo, known across the land by his title: Thunder.
Beside him stood Yu Luomian, Liu Erlong's father, a Soul Douluo at level 82. Though not as powerful as his elder brother, his name carried weight within the clan.
The two men inhaled the drifting aroma almost at once, expressions tightening with surprise.
Yu Yuanzhen broke the silence first. "I've heard Erlong returned. They say she reached level 71—a Soul Saint at only thirty years of age. Remarkable."
Yu Luomian nodded, pride flickering across his lined face. "Yes. A month ago, she came back with two children. They've been living quietly on Lake Island since."
Yu Yuanzhen exhaled slowly, his brows knitting. "Erlong's achievement strengthens our clan's foundation… but those children. Where did they come from?"
Yu Luomian shifted uncomfortably. "No one knows for certain. Some disciples said they looked across the forest, saw them faintly on the island, and thought them otherworldly—like immortal spirits. Beautiful to the point of disbelief."
That answer seemed to ease Yu Yuanzhen's worry. "Good. I feared if she still lingered in feelings for that useless son of mine, she might have brought back his spawn. But since the children don't resemble him, it mustn't be."
At that, Yu Luomian twitched, lamenting silently. Yes, Xiaogang may be talentless… but brother, must you cut down your own son so viciously?
Still, both men exchanged a long glance. A possibility hovered unsaid. What if Erlong, denied love, had stolen children from some other family out of misplaced affection? With her fiery, unpredictable temper, such a thing wasn't impossible.
Yu Yuanzhen tapped the arm of his chair, his voice heavy. "Rumors are nothing. Only by seeing for ourselves can we know the truth. Besides…" His eyes glimmered. "It has been long since I tasted Erlong's cooking. Truly, I miss it."
Yu Luomian smirked slightly. "Then, brother… what are we waiting for?"
At once, the two titled masters launched to their feet. Thunder and wind stirred through the darkened hall. A moment later, their figures blurred as they raced into the forest, drawn by the irresistible pull of home… and the scent of Erlong's table.
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