Xiao Peng lifted his tea bowl, and the cool tea, carrying a faint bitterness, slid down his throat.
"By the way, Cousin Xiao Yan will be coming here after a while," Xiao Peng said, remembering Xiao Yan's planned visit.
"Little Yan is coming?" Xiao Ding paused with his tea bowl in hand, his eyes lighting up at once. "Did he say so himself? When did this happen?"
Xiao Li rubbed his hands excitedly. "That kid—why didn't he let us know before coming? We could've made preparations."
He turned and rushed outside. "I'll have someone clean out the east wing right away. He's used to clean places; we can't let him suffer."
"Come back." Xiao Ding called him to a halt, though the smile on his face was impossible to hide. "What's the rush? Xiao Peng hasn't said exactly when he'll arrive."
He looked at Xiao Peng, his tone full of anticipation. "Is he planning to stay in Stone Desert City for a while?"
Xiao Peng considered it before answering, "He's here to train, so he won't be staying long."
"Training is good too." Xiao Ding nodded, lightly tapping the edge of the Tagor Desert on the map with his fingertips. "This place is harsh, but it tempers people. Back when we first came to Stone Desert City, we couldn't even handle a Sand Scorpion properly. Now, can't we make a round trip through the desert without trouble?"
Xiao Li scratched his head and chuckled. "When Little Yan gets here, I'll take him into the desert to raid a Sand Worm nest! Their shells are great for alchemy, though they're hard to deal with. It'll be the perfect chance to show him what we can do."
"Stop dragging him into your nonsense." Xiao Ding shot him a glare, then turned to