Reuniting with Liu Long

"Uh..."

Bing'er seemed to want to say something more, but the beautiful woman beside her stopped her.

"I'm Shui Yi, and this is my niece, Shui Bing'er. Thank you, little brother. I didn't expect you to be so capable. You're truly an outstanding talent."

Shui Yi took hold of Shui Bing'er and stepped forward as she spoke.

Yuan Luo nodded. "This Ice Fox was seriously injured as well, and I caught it off guard. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to beat it."

So this little mature-looking girl in front of him was actually Shui Bing'er. No wonder her martial soul had two wings.

Shui Yi smiled. Nearing thirty, that smile made her seem even more alluring.

"You're too modest, little brother."

"Cough, cough! You're the little one! I'm not little!"

Yuan Luo gritted his teeth. Why did both of them love calling him little?

"Pfft!"

Shui Bing'er was the first to lose it, bursting into laughter so hard she swayed like a flower in bloom.

"You're obviously just a little brother."

Yuan Luo let out a harsh breath to show how angry he was.

Growl!

Just then, Shui Bing'er's stomach seemed to rumble. Her face immediately flushed red, and she turned around to cover her face.

"Heh!"

Yuan Luo laughed to himself. So girls' stomachs rumbled too.

Shui Bing'er had gone red all the way to her ears. She did not dare look at Yuan Luo at all. This was far too embarrassing.

Shui Yi felt a little awkward as well.

Yuan Luo took out some meat and handed it to the two of them.

"Have some."

Shui Yi accepted it embarrassedly, then split some off and handed it to Shui Bing'er.

"Thank you. We stayed here too long and have already gone hungry for a whole day."

"Hm? Why didn't you prepare more food?"

Shui Bing'er looked at Yuan Luo awkwardly. She had just mocked him, yet now it had all come back to her.

"Some bastard bought up all the food, so we couldn't buy any."

Shui Bing'er glared resentfully and gritted her teeth as she took tiny bites of the meat.

No matter how hungry she was, she probably could not bring herself to wolf it down with Yuan Luo watching.

Hearing that, Yuan Luo's mouth twitched. He was not that bastard, was he...? Probably not!

After eating, the three of them left the Far North together.

Through their conversation, Yuan Luo learned that the dean and vice dean of Skywater Academy, among others, were absent this time, leaving no one to accompany the students in hunting Soul Beasts.

Shui Bing'er had asked her Aunt to help, and the two of them had originally only been active around the outskirts.

Searching for a Soul Ring had wasted too much time, causing their food supplies to run short.

Naturally, they had gone looking for food. This Three-Tailed Ice Fox had stored provisions, but not only had they failed to steal any, they had nearly lost their lives.

Fortunately, Yuan Luo had helped them in time.

"Little brother, what are you doing here?"

Along the way, Shui Bing'er kept talking.

Wasn't Shui Bing'er supposed to be a cold and aloof person?

Why did she seem completely different here?

"Don't call me little brother. I'm very big. Want to try it?"

Yuan Luo bared his teeth and provocatively challenged Shui Bing'er.

Shui Bing'er's pretty face reddened, and her gaze darted away.

"Tch, coward."

Yuan Luo smiled disdainfully and said nothing more.

"Pervert!"

As if sulking, Shui Bing'er began cultivating by herself.

It had to be said that with her Ice Phoenix martial soul, she was highly gifted, and she also knew how to work hard at cultivation. No wonder she was the girl capable of restraining Tang San.

Once they returned to Border Town, Yuan Luo parted ways with the two of them.

Compared to traveling with others, Yuan Luo still preferred to go alone.

Besides, he was not headed in the same direction as them anyway.

Before leaving, Yuan Luo had obtained his graduation certificate from Notting Academy. Anyone whose Soul Power reached level fifteen or above could graduate directly.

After enjoying a hearty meal, Yuan Luo planned to find a carriage and head back.

It had taken three months to get here, so the journey back certainly would not be short either.

Yuan Luo was almost twelve years old now.

By the time he returned, the school should be on break as well.

Yuan Luo planned to visit Grandpa Jack, then head straight to Suotuo City.

He had originally agreed with Tang San and Xiao Wu to meet in Suotuo City. Since he had already graduated, there was no need to return to the academy.

"Boss?"

As Yuan Luo walked along the road, a familiar call reached his ears.

He turned to see a boy around fifteen or sixteen staring at him.

He already had a beard around his mouth, as though he had not shaved in a long time.

His face was weathered, clearly from traveling long distances.

He had the seasoned air of a middle-aged man, though traces of youthful immaturity could still be seen.

"Liu Long?"

Yuan Luo asked tentatively.

"Boss, it really is you! You've grown up!"

After receiving Yuan Luo's confirmation, Liu Long's face filled with delight.

But Yuan Luo's mouth twitched. Why did that sound like Liu Long was his elder?

Was he asking for another beating?

"Hehe, I misspoke. Don't mind it, Boss!"

Liu Long chuckled honestly and scratched his messy hair.

"Why are you here?"

Yuan Luo was curious. What was Liu Long doing in the Far North with nothing better to do?

Liu Long sighed before saying, "Boss, after graduating, I found a job somewhere, but that boss exploited us too badly. What I earned wasn't even enough for food. With no other choice, I heard driving carriages paid well, so I started doing this. I've been traveling back and forth between the Far North and the Heaven Dou Empire."

Yuan Luo nodded. Indeed, Liu Long's Soul Power was too low, so he could only do ordinary work.

"Boss, what are you doing here?"

"I came to get a Soul Ring. I was just planning to head back."

"Boss, you've broken through to Soul Grandmaster? That's amazing!"

Liu Long was shocked. He was only level fourteen even now. His talent was too poor, and his Soul Power was extremely difficult to raise.

"You think your boss only has that much ability? I'm a Soul Elder!"

"What?!"

One month later!

A carriage traveled along a rugged road. A coachman sat at the front, while an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy sat in the back with his legs dangling.

"Liu Long, didn't that guy Xiao Chenyu help you? His father is the city lord, after all."

This person was Yuan Luo. Since Liu Long worked in this trade and was heading the same way, Yuan Luo had him give him a ride.

Liu Long drove the horses while shaking his body. "He did. He helped me find a suitable position, but I didn't take it. I can't rely on him for the rest of my life, so I came out to make my own way."

Yuan Luo nodded, though no one knew what he was thinking.

"Stop the carriage first. Come here!"

After calling out, Yuan Luo entered the carriage compartment.

Liu Long followed after him, his face full of confusion.

"Turn your back to me, sit down, and close your eyes!"

Liu Long did not know what Yuan Luo intended to do, but he followed his instructions anyway.

Yuan Luo's Soul Power began to fluctuate. He placed a palm against Liu Long's back and sent Soul Power into him, circulating it through his body.

"Feel it. Memorize the direction this Soul Power circulates in!"

"Boss?"

Liu Long was shocked. Was Boss going to teach him how to cultivate?

"Shut up and feel it!"

Half an hour later, Liu Long successfully broke through to level fifteen and had memorized the circulation route of the Soul Power.

"That's enough. This can help you cultivate faster. Work hard."

Yuan Luo waved a hand, his face exhausted.

If he had not absorbed a soul bone, he really might not have been able to endure it.

"Boss!" Liu Long's eyes reddened, filling with tears.

He understood that this thing had to be precious—at least five times better than what the academy taught—yet Yuan Luo had simply given it to him.

"Quit being so sentimental. Get moving!"

Yuan Luo pretended to look disgusted and quickly sent Liu Long away.

This was merely a small branch of his own Soul Power cultivation method, but it was already more than enough for Liu Long.

Seeing his former underling living in such poverty, Yuan Luo truly could not bear it. Yet he could not simply give Liu Long money, or Liu Long would have accepted Xiao Chenyu's help instead.

After all, this was the underling who had bought him meals for two years. Since he could help a little, naturally he did.