Stone Village.
Ye Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
Ao Tong, who had been standing guard beside him, immediately came over and asked with concern.
She had just seen Ye Xuan standing perfectly still, the aura around him rising and falling unpredictably, and thought something had gone wrong.
"Nothing."
Looking at the cool, stunning face before him, Ye Xuan smiled easily.
"I just chatted with my master about everyday things and discussed the Dao a little."
"Discussed the Dao?" Ao Tong asked in surprise.
"Mm."
Ye Xuan stretched, taking in the familiar scenery around him, and felt in excellent spirits.
"We'll be staying in Stone Village for a while. It's peaceful here, just right for taking some time to settle down."
Ao Tong nodded, having no objections. As long as she was with Ye Xuan, it made no difference where they were.
She turned her head almost unconsciously and looked at the old Willow Tree standing quietly nearby.
In the vision of her Double Pupils, the tree still gave off only a hazy green glow. It looked full of life, but displayed no earth-shaking might.
Yet the more ordinary it seemed, the deeper the awe in her heart grew.
Even she, a bearer of Double Pupils, couldn't see through it in the slightest. She couldn't even catch a trace of its aura.
Was this what it meant to return to the natural state?
"No wonder he could become that guy's teacher..."
Ao Tong muttered to herself. "Sure enough, both master and disciple are monsters."
In the distance, the sun was setting, bathing Stone Village in gold.
Shi Hao was riding on the big yellow dog, holding the poor Furball aloft in his hands. His clear laughter rang throughout Stone Village.
"Come on, Sister Ao Tong."
Ye Xuan called to