Ning Rongrong's Thoughts

A-Lan's illusory figure trembled, his voice hoarse:

"Your Majesty... no, Empress, are you... leaving already?"

Ah Yin nodded, a trace of sadness flashing in her eyes:

"I am no longer the emperor of the Blue Silver Clan. Xiao San is. He will do better than me."

She paused, then continued:

"But I will never forget this place. This is my home, and you are my people. I will come back to visit you often."

After a long silence, A-Lan finally nodded slowly.

"Take care, Your Majesty and Empress."

Ah Yin's tears welled up again. She opened her arms, wanting to hug A-Lan, but found that she was only embracing a phantom.

Her hand passed through A-Lan's body, but touched nothing.

A-Lan's illusory figure trembled slightly, her voice choked with emotion:

"Your Majesty and Empress... take care."

Ah Yin withdrew her hand, wiped away her tears, and nodded heavily:

"You too, A-Lan. Take good care of the tribesmen."

A-Lan nodded.

Ah Yin turned around and walked back to Tang Hao's side.

Tang Hao reached out and pulled her into his arms. He wasn't good at comforting people, and he didn't know what to say.

All he could do was offer her his chest as a place to lean on.

Ah Yin leaned on his shoulder, silently shedding tears.

Tang San silently stepped aside, and seeing his mother's heartbroken appearance, he also felt a pang of sadness.

Fu Shiyan stood at the very back, watching the scene quietly without saying a word.

for a long time.

Ah Yin's tears finally stopped. She lifted her head from Tang Hao, wiped her face, and forced a smile:

Let's go.

Tang Hao nodded, put his arm around her, and turned to walk out of the forest.

Tang San bowed deeply to A-Lan's illusory figure, then waved to the gently swaying Blue Silver Grass before turning around and following after her.

Fu Shiyan walked at the very back.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow, and the hem of his dark robe fluttered gently in the breeze.

Behind them, A-Lan's illusory figure watched them leave, only slowly dissipating when their figures completely disappeared at the edge of the forest.

Blue Silver Forest returned to peace.

Only the Blue Silver Grass, which was three times taller than before, still swayed gently in the breeze, the remaining blue specks on its leaves shimmering like teardrops.

Heaven Dou City.

The four people fell from the sky and stood at a fork in the road outside the city.

Ah Yin looked at Tang San, reached out to tidy his long hair that had been ruffled by the wind, and said softly:

"Xiao San, focus on your cultivation with your master. Mom will come to see you again in a few days."

Tang San nodded and said:

"Mom, please take care of yourself too."

Ah Yin smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Fu Shiyan and bowed respectfully.

"Mr. Fu, I'm entrusting the Xiao San to you."

Fu Shiyan nodded slightly and said:

Don't worry.

Tang Hao stood to the side, looking at Tang San, opened his mouth, but ultimately only said one sentence:

"Cultivate diligently."

Tang San nodded and said:

"Dad, you too."

Tang Hao didn't say anything more. He put his arm around Ah Yin and turned to walk towards their secluded courtyard.

Ah Yin glanced back at Tang San, waved her hand, and then turned away.

Two figures walked further and further away.

Fu Shiyan and Tang San stood there, watching them leave.

Only after the two figures completely disappeared from sight did Fu Shiyan withdraw her gaze and say calmly:

Let's go.

Tang San nodded.

The master and disciple flashed into two streaks of light and sped off towards the Beichen Academy.

Beichen Academy, backyard.

After Fu Shiyan escorted Tang San to this place, she returned to her room alone.

After seeing his master off, Tang San took a deep breath, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

He couldn't wait to share this joy with his friends.

He strode across the front yard and headed towards the neighboring courtyards.

Tang San, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong lived in an entire detached courtyard.

Their houses were all connected, separated only by a low wall.

Tang San walked to Xiao Wu's door, raised his hand, and gently knocked on the door.

"Bang bang bang."

There was no response.

He waited a while, then knocked a few more times.

There has still been no response.

He frowned, released a wisp of his spiritual energy, and probed into Xiao Wu's room.

Empty.

There is no one.

Tang San walked towards Oscar's courtyard and knocked on the door.

There is no one.

Ma Hongjun's courtyard.

There was no one there.

Ning Rongrong's courtyard.

There was no one there either.

Tang San scratched his head, standing in the courtyard with some confusion.

Where did they go?

As he was pondering, he heard laughter and playful shouts coming from afar.

He looked up.

Xiao Wu walked at the front, her scorpion braid swaying gently in the sunlight, a bright smile on her face.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun walked behind her, the two of them bickering back and forth.

Ning Rongrong walked at the very back, a slight smile playing on her lips, quietly listening to their bickering.

At this moment, Xiao Wu also saw Tang San.

Her eyes suddenly lit up, her steps quickened, and she practically pounced on Tang San as she ran.

"Third Brother! You're finally back!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already thrown herself into Tang San's arms.

Tang San smiled happily, caught Xiao Wu steadily, and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"I'm back."

Xiao Wu lifted her head in his arms, looking him up and down with curiosity in her eyes:

"Third Brother, where have you been? I haven't seen you for days."

Tang San was about to speak--

Oscar and Ma Hongjun also came over.

Oscar crossed his arms, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Third Brother, you're finally back! If you hadn't come back, someone would have nagged us until our ears were calloused."

Ma Hongjun nodded vigorously to the side:

"Exactly! Xiao Wu asks 'Why isn't Third Brother back yet?' every day. It's driving me crazy!"

Xiao Wu's face flushed red instantly. She broke free from Tang San and glared at Ma Hongjun.

"Fatty! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Ma Hongjun quickly hid behind Oscar, peeked out, and chuckled:

"I'm not making this up. Xiao Ao heard it too, you can ask him if you don't believe me!"

Oscar smiled and nodded:

"Indeed. I ask at least ten times a day."

Xiao Wu's face turned even redder. She stomped her foot and turned to chase after Ma Hongjun.

Tang San smiled and pulled her back, saying gently:

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around."

Xiao Wu was pulled back by him, and could only glare angrily at Ma Hongjun, muttering to herself:

"Fatty, you wait!"

Ma Hongjun hid behind Oscar and made a face at her.

Ning Rongrong stood behind the group, watching this scene, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

She looked at Tang San's handsome face, and her heart stirred slightly.

But when her gaze fell on Xiao Wu, that feeling of attraction quickly vanished.

The way Tang San looked at Xiao Wu was different from the way he looked at her.

When Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, his eyes were full of tenderness and doting.

When I looked at her, I was only polite and distant.

Ning Rongrong lowered her eyes and pursed her lips slightly.

Over the past two years, she has tried to strengthen her connection with Tang San, just as her father had suggested.

Tang San's talent and appearance were still very attractive to her.

Tang San, however, always treated her coldly, keeping their relationship purely platonic and without any further romantic feelings.

Thinking of this, she involuntarily turned her head to look at Oscar, who was playfully fighting with Ma Hongjun.