Returning Home, Giving Gifts, and Talking About Their Training

The group settled down in the living room, but Xiao Yun did not sit. Instead, he walked over to Liu Erlong and took an exquisite wooden box from his Storage Soul Tool.

"This is for you."

Liu Erlong froze slightly, then accepted the box and opened it—

A hairpin lay quietly inside. It was fiery red all over, its shaft carved with intricate patterns, with a coiled Fire Dragon faintly visible. The material was neither metal nor jade. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and a subtle warmth radiated from it.

"This is..."

"A Flame Dragon Coiled Hairpin made from Fire Pattern Spirit Wood," Xiao Yun said. "It can improve a Soul Master's affinity with Flame Soul Power. Haven't you always wanted to break through? Wearing it while cultivating will help."

Liu Erlong held the wooden box, speechless for a moment. She looked up at Xiao Yun, her eyes reddening again.

"Put it on for me."

She turned around, letting her long dark hair fall before Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun smiled slightly, picked up the hairpin, and reached out to gather her hair.

His movements were light and slow, his fingers passing through her hair with indescribable tenderness.

A moment later, the hairpin was firmly secured in her hair. Its fiery-red body stood out against her ebony locks like a burning flame, making her seem even more radiant.

Liu Erlong raised a hand to touch the hairpin, then turned to Xiao Yun. "Does it look good?"

"It does."

She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents like a little girl who had received her favorite toy.

"Enough, enough," Dugu Yan spoke again, her tone teasing. "Teacher Erlong, could you two stop showing off your affection in front of us? We haven't even eaten yet."

Liu Erlong shot her a