So, you play Earth Online too?

"Ahem!"

Just as Xiao Han and Qinglin were flirting at the doorway, a cough that was clearly a young boy's voice sounded.

A handsome youth with black hair and black eyes stood at the entrance, looking rather awkward at the two who were acting as if no one else was around.

Heavens, why is it so bright! How could there be a 4000W Light Bulb here?

"So it's Xiao Yan. Haven't seen you in over a month—your spirits look much better."

Xiao Han grinned at the youth leaning against the doorframe, leading Qinglin over. "What's this? Weren't you still wearing that 'I'm a waste' face before?"

"Xiao Han, don't even mention how pathetic I was a month ago."

Rubbing his nose with a wry smile, Xiao Yan shifted his gaze to the longsword slung across Xiao Han's back. "I heard you went on a training trip. Any gains?"

"Heh, it's a long story. Let's talk inside, brother."

Xiao Han laughed, slinging an arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder, and walked into his own separate courtyard. Just as he stepped through the door, he paused, thought for a moment, then turned back to Qinglin and instructed, "Qinglin, go get some snacks and sweets. Your young master is a bit hungry."

"Yes, Young Master."

Hearing Xiao Han's order, Qinglin cheerfully ran off toward the Xiao Family Market, planning to buy a little bit from every snack stall that had recently come in with the merchants, so the young master could try them.

Once inside the courtyard, the two brothers sat down at the stone table.

"Long time no see, Xiao Han~"

Just as Xiao Han was about to speak, Old Man Yao suddenly popped out of Xiao Yan's ring, startling Xiao Han.

Pfft—!!!

"Old... Teacher! Why did you suddenly come out?"

Xiao Han stared wide-eyed at Old Man Yao, knowing full well that Xiao Yan was right there. But when he saw Xiao Yan's calm, unruffled expression, it suddenly clicked.

"You already told him about absorbing his Third Stage Dou Disciple?"

"More than that."

Xiao Yan shrugged nonchalantly. "These past few days, when Father came to deliver alchemy materials, Teacher had to possess me just to fool him."

"Xiao Han—no, should I call you Senior Brother instead?"

"So, Teacher took you as a disciple too."

Xiao Han said with a hint of emotion. "Losing your Dou Qi and being a waste for over two years—now that your talent's back, how do you feel?"

"What's lost is lost. Hating Teacher over it won't help anything. Better to look ahead.

Besides, like Teacher said, these two years have tempered my character. And I've come to see some things clearly—like those who treated me the same even when I was down. Those are the people who truly care for me, the ones worth cherishing." As he spoke, Xiao Yan glanced at Xiao Han and continued.

"As for those who bullied me, I don't want to dwell on it. Looking back, my arrogant self two years ago was truly insufferable. I offended so many people that getting beaten and cursed after falling was just reaping what I sowed."

Shaking his head, Xiao Yan's usual bitter, resentful expression had vanished, replaced by the vigor befitting a young man.

"With that mindset, it's clear you've really grown these two years."

Xiao Han brewed a pot of tea from the room and poured a cup for each of them.

"Xiao Han, you came from that place too, didn't you?"

Xiao Han wasn't surprised. He smiled at Xiao Yan. "You figured it out?"

"Mm. I knew from seeing your actions—whether it was the toothbrush, toothpaste, or other things, they all appeared in the memories of another world."

Xiao Yan took the tea from Xiao Han, his fingers lightly tracing the cup as if lost in thought. Then he spoke again. "Unlike you, who can use that place's knowledge well, I only watched that completely different set of memories. That's how I know I came from there.

But over all these years, I've never actively tapped into those things. It's like those memories don't belong to me. When I experienced them, I was an 'outsider' or a 'viewer,' not someone who lived through them."

"I see."

Xiao Han now understood one thing from Xiao Yan's words.

Why Xiao Yan, as a transmigrator, showed no trace of being from Earth in the original work. After all these years, he only remembered being from Earth and recalled airplanes when riding a Flying Magical Beast.

It turned out he wasn't a reincarnated transmigrator on the Douqi Continent, but a native fused with a transmigrator's remnant soul, gaining their memories like watching a movie. Because he'd been watching those memories since childhood, Xiao Yan had always firmly believed he was a transmigrator.

But in truth, he was just a native who'd obtained an Earthling's memories.

Turning his gaze to the soul body behind Xiao Yan, Xiao Han chuckled. "Teacher, why haven't you said a word since you came out? Eavesdropping on private matters isn't exactly proper."

"I was just letting you two brothers catch up! Besides, I'm listening openly."

Old Man Yao wasn't embarrassed at being called out. He floated over to the two, clicking his tongue in amazement. "I imagined countless reasons why a small clan like the Xiao family would produce two geniuses with such strong Soul Power at once. But I never expected you both to be outsiders from beyond this world.

Truly, the Great Thousand World is full of wonders."

"You flatter us, Teacher."

Xiao Han stood and cupped his hands toward Old Man Yao. "Teacher, on this trip, I've already broken through to Second Grade Alchemist. I came back to seek your guidance on my alchemy knowledge."

"What? Already a Second Grade Alchemist?! Good! Good! Good!"

Old Man Yao stroked his beard in delight, then turned to Xiao Yan. "Yan'er, you only have Third Stage Dou Disciple now. You're not qualified for alchemy or practicing techniques yet.

Go train in your senior brother's usual practice room. I'll prepare some Spiritual Medicine to speed up your Dou Disciple stage cultivation!"

"Teacher, didn't you say that early-stage Dou Disciple training must be gradual, without any external aid? Otherwise, when the Dou Qi inside grows stronger, the veins won't be able to withstand the increasing impact, leading to vein rupture and death?"

"Then why can you now use medicinal power to elevate my Dou Qi cultivation?" Xiao Yan's eyes went wide, his young face full of disbelief.

"Hehe, you don't understand, do you? All these years, you've been repeatedly training your Dou Qi, and although I absorbed it all, it wasn't wasted effort. After countless temperings of your meridians, your foundation is so solid that even your Senior Brother, who deliberately built his foundation, can't compare to you. And do you think I'm just anyone? What others can't concoct, I can!"

"Han'er, later prepare three complete Purple Leaf Orchid Grasses—the older the better—and two Bone Washing Flowers; the age of those doesn't matter. Oh, right, and one wood-type first-grade Magic Core. With your wealth, that's a drop in the bucket. I'll teach you to refine the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, which is quite difficult even among Two-Grade Pills. This is an exclusive recipe that can speed up Dou Disciple cultivation. And Yan'er, you come watch your Senior Brother refine medicine too."

Having regained the feeling of being a teacher with the Xiao brothers, Old Man Yao began chattering endlessly with orders.

"Uh, well..."

Xiao Yan weakly raised his hand and said awkwardly, "Teacher, those herbs you mentioned—I can still afford them. No need to trouble Xiao Han, right?"

"What 'Xiao Han'? No respect for seniority. You should call him Senior Brother."

Old Man Yao glared at Xiao Yan, then shook his head helplessly. "Do you think I don't know how much money you have? That thousand or so Gold Coins you saved by scrimping—how many materials can they buy? Now that your Senior Brother is a Second Grade Alchemist, with his support, you can freely use the best training resources. There's nothing shameful about it."

"Hey hey hey, Teacher! Be careful with that word 'support.'"

Xiao Han quickly corrected Old Man Yao's phrasing, then looked at Xiao Yan and said, "Calling me Senior Brother feels weird. Just call me Brother Han like before."

"Fine."

Xiao Yan nodded helplessly. "Brother Han it is. Making me call you Senior Brother really is unbearable."

"You two."

Old Man Yao watched the brothers interact, an involuntary smile spreading across his face. Days like this were exactly like the time he'd adventured with Feng Xian back then—truly nostalgic.

Creak—

"Young Master Xiao Han, Young Master Xiao Yan, I bought a ton of delicious food!"

Xiao Han turned his head at the sound and saw Qinglin carrying large and small oil-paper food bags toward them. After taking her things, he gestured for her to sit. "Come, come, eat with us. I heard the city has a lot of specialty snacks."

So, under the three of them wolfing it down, the snacks were cleaned up in no time. Poor Old Man Yao, though tempted, had no physical body, so he could only shut his eyes and ignore it, diving straight into Xiao Yan's ring.