Homecoming

After leaving the academy, Ye Zhiqiu and the other two headed to Nuoding City's major markets to stock up on supplies. They bought all sorts of things, enough to fill half a Black Jade Bracelet.

Ye Zhiqiu also went to a clothing shop and ordered several sets of clothes. How could such handsome outfits as the Divine Garment Robe from Naruto be missing? He ordered seven or eight sets for every age group first.

The Akatsuki Organization's Black Base Red Cloud Robe, bamboo hats, and bell accessories... Emmm, he ordered more than a dozen sets for every age group as well. Once he had the Third Spirit Ability, he would have his clones wear them and stir up trouble.

Once he had Flying Thunder God, he would truly be free to roam the Douluo Continent. Ye Zhiqiu believed that the black-base, red-cloud attire would become the nightmare of many Spirit Masters across the Douluo Continent.

Anything inconvenient for him to do could be done by his clones. Anyone inconvenient for him to kill could also be killed by his clones. Alone, he would be an entire organization, a force of his own. Moreover, this force would automatically grow stronger as Ye Zhiqiu's level increased. He would not even need to develop it himself. There was probably no other deal this effortless anywhere on the Douluo Continent. Ye Zhiqiu and the other two wandered around Nuoding City until the afternoon before leaving the city together.

On the road.

Xiao Wu skipped along restlessly, gnawing on a carrot while circling Ye Zhiqiu and Tang San with boundless playfulness. What made it unbearable was that she kept humming little tunes she had learned from Ye Zhiqiu, except she had gone so off-key that they were completely unrecognizable. She was practically a source of noise pollution.

A faint smile rested on Tang San's lips. He had a rather gentle temperament. Gentle was perhaps not the most fitting word for a man, but Tang San was exactly that sort of person.

He did not mind Xiao Wu darting around the two of them and making noise in the slightest.

Ye Zhiqiu did not have such a good temper. Rolling his eyes, he said, "You little brat, even eating can't keep your mouth shut? Sing again, and we're having spicy rabbit heads for dinner."

Xiao Wu had just bounced past Ye Zhiqiu, humming to herself with great satisfaction. When she heard his words, her delicate body stiffened, and she froze like a clay statue. Only the words "spicy rabbit heads for dinner" echoed repeatedly in her ears. Ye Zhiqiu glanced at her with amused eyes and continued on his way.

After standing there blankly for a while, Xiao Wu came back to her senses. Puffing out her cheeks, she angrily hurried after Ye Zhiqiu, intending to launch a surprise attack from behind. But then she suddenly saw Ye Zhiqiu extend his right hand ahead of her, a carrot in his hand that he waved symbolically.

At the sight of this, Xiao Wu instantly wilted, lowering the leg she had slightly raised. Oh no. I nearly forgot that all my carrots are still with Brother Qiu. Ye Zhiqiu turned around and looked at Xiao Wu with a half-smile. "Did you sneak up behind me because you wanted to ambush me?"

"Uh..." Xiao Wu's big eyes darted around. She suddenly remembered that back in Dormitory Seven at noon, Brother Qiu had seemed to lose to her adorable act. That move seemed particularly effective against him? With that thought, her expression changed instantly. She looked pitifully at Ye Zhiqiu, swaying his arm as she spoke in a sugary voice, "Brother Qiu, I was just too bored. We've been walking for so long. You promised me a carrot feast for dinner, didn't you? Look..." Xiao Wu gazed at Ye Zhiqiu expectantly.

Tang San's cheek twitched slightly beside them. At the academy, Xiao Wu had been synonymous with violence. Seeing her act like this felt incredibly out of place.

Yet Ye Zhiqiu seemed to fall right for it. "All right, stop fooling around. You'll get your carrots. See that little mountain up ahead? Our village is at its foot. We're not far now." Ye Zhiqiu appeared to have little resistance to Xiao Wu's coquettish tactics, and his tone immediately became much gentler.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up slightly. It seemed she had found a way to deal with Ye Zhiqiu.

Tang San looked in the direction Ye Zhiqiu pointed. Beneath the small mountain in the distance, he could vaguely make out a few exposed rooftops. Tang San fell into a daze.

"What is it, Little San? Missing home?" Ye Zhiqiu asked with a smile.

"Yeah. I haven't seen Dad or Grandpa Jack for a year," Tang San said absentmindedly.

When Ye Zhiqiu heard Tang San mention Grandpa Jack, he sighed as well. "Speaking of Grandpa Jack, he said he'd come pick us up for the break, but we haven't seen him. Looks like Grandpa Jack is getting old and can't walk much anymore."

"What are you two sighing about? Hurry up, hurry up! I'm already hungry," Xiao Wu urged.

"Let's go." Ye Zhiqiu and Tang San exchanged smiles before continuing onward.

The saying that a horse could be ridden to death while chasing a mountain was not without reason.

Though it looked close, Ye Zhiqiu and the other two did not reach the entrance of Holy Spirit Village until evening.

Compared to a year ago, Holy Spirit Village had not changed much. It was still as peaceful and detached from worldly affairs as ever.

At this time of day, nearly every household had just returned from working in the fields and was gradually heading home.

The three standing at the village entrance naturally drew plenty of attention. Ye Zhiqiu was not short on money, so all three were dressed rather well. Though they were not clad in brocade or fine robes, their clothes were clean and made of silk, making them look like children from wealthy families. On top of that, they had all grown considerably taller over the past year, so the villagers did not recognize Ye Zhiqiu and the others at first.

"Don't just stand there. Let's go." Ye Zhiqiu called out, taking the lead as he ran toward his home.

Tang San's house was right next to Ye Zhiqiu's, so they were naturally headed the same way. He followed behind Ye Zhiqiu with Xiao Wu.

As they neared his house, Ye Zhiqiu's loud voice rang out. "Dad! Mom! I'm back!" His voice arrived before he did.

A burst of hurried footsteps sounded from inside. Before long, Liu Qingqing leaned out from the doorway and looked outside excitedly. The moment she saw Ye Zhiqiu and the other two, a smile instantly bloomed across her face.

Liu Qingqing rushed over in two or three steps and pulled Ye Zhiqiu into her arms.

Ye Nan had somehow appeared leaning against the doorframe. Usually stern and sparing with words, he wore a rare smile at the corner of his lips this time. It seemed he was also very happy that Ye Zhiqiu had returned home.

Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at Ye Zhiqiu with eyes full of envy. They wanted such harmonious families too, but life was full of hardships.

"All right, Mom, don't get so excited. We have guests," Ye Zhiqiu said, struggling a few times before finally breaking free from his mother's embrace.

Only then did Liu Qingqing turn to Tang San and Xiao Wu. Smiling, she said, "This is Little San, right? You've grown quite a bit. Is this little girl your classmate?"

"Hello, Auntie. My name is Xiao Wu. I'm Brother Qiu's classmate," Xiao Wu said with a smile. She was not shy at all as she introduced herself warmly.

"Hello, Aunt Liu. I'll go back and see my father first," Tang San said politely. Seeing Ye Zhiqiu's harmonious family had made him miss Tang Hao terribly, and he wanted to return home first.

"Wait. Little San, your father left Holy Spirit Village several days ago. It seemed he went on a long journey. Didn't he leave you a letter?" Liu Qingqing stopped Tang San, asking with some confusion.

Tang San froze, then quickly ran toward his own home. He did not think Liu Qingqing would lie to him. His father had left several days ago? How could it have been so sudden? Tang San's mind was in complete turmoil.

Xiao Wu truly would not become the female lead of this book, so please do not overthink it. Ye Zhiqiu might seem close to her, but their relationship could be understood as the pure familial affection or friendship between an older brother and younger sister.