Thinking of that, the young man started getting anxious again.
But when he glanced at the sky outside, his anxious expression froze.
Even in midsummer, it was already getting dark at this hour.
It was too late today.
He could only visit his grandmother's house tomorrow.
Though he thought that, he still felt restless.
He took several deep breaths before he could finally suppress his excitement.
"Shu Hu~ Shu Hu~"
The yaoguai dipped its forelegs slightly toward Xiao Xiao, thanking him for helping it get its stone back.
It also took the opportunity to say goodbye to him.
Now that its stone had returned, it was time to go home.
After being away for so many days, it was starting to miss the dawn and sunset at home.
"Goodbye, Shu Hu."
Xiao Xiao said goodbye to the yaoguai with a smile.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Do you know the way back from here?"
Human society was nothing like the wilderness of the mountains. It was easy for a yaoguai to get lost in it.
Shu Hu froze.
The way back?
Of course it—
The yaoguai's expression stiffened.
It realized that maybe, possibly, it didn't know.
It had followed the yaoqi on its stone to find its way here.
That had only worked because it had noticed the stone was missing early, before the scent in the air had faded.
Now that so many days had passed, if it tried to follow the scent of its arrival back...
What scent could possibly be left in the air?
Without a scent to guide it, it would be completely lost, with no idea how to get home.
The yaoguai said nothing, but its expression said it all.
Xiao Xiao smiled knowingly.
"I'll take you back."
"Shu Hu~"