Leaving Sunset Forest and a Promise with Little Dugu Yan

Sunset Forest, Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Five days later.

Morning light pierced through the poisonous miasma above the valley entrance, casting mottled shadows across the valley floor.

Qian Anci sat cross-legged on a bluestone by the spring, his plain white robes fluttering gently in the morning breeze.

He had not been in a hurry to leave after emerging from the depths of the spring five days ago.

His fourth spirit ring had just condensed, and the source power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings was still surging within him, requiring time to stabilize.

More importantly, the red and blue intertwined dragon mark at the center of his brow had yet to fully fade away.

Qian Anci closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, four spirit rings pulsing slowly behind him.

Purple, black, black, and that half-red, half-blue dual-colored spirit ring.

Five days of settling had made his aura more restrained than when he had first emerged from the spring, and his level 45 spirit power was now completely solidified.

Grayish-white Death Qi circulated around his body, occasionally interspersed with a trace of icy blue chill or a flicker of crimson heat.

"Anci."

Castorice's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a hint of satisfaction.

"The source of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings has completely merged with your Death Qi."

"As you are now, even if you were to face that fallen spirit master from before, you would have the strength to put up a fight."

Qian Anci did not open his eyes, merely responding with a soft hum in his heart.

He could feel the dragon mark slowly seeping deep into his bloodline, fusing with the Dragon Transformation power bestowed upon him by Pollux.

"Brother Anci!"

A childish voice drifted over from the direction of the stone house.

Qian Anci opened his eyes to see Dugu Yan skipping toward him.

Her dark green hair fluttered in the morning light, and her small face was much rosier than it had been five days ago. Her dark green eyes were bright and sparkling; there was no trace of her former sickly appearance.

"Yan Yan, slow down."

Qian Anci leaped down from the bluestone and reached out to catch the girl as she threw herself at him.

Over these past five days, aside from stabilizing his cultivation, he had spent most of his time playing with her in the valley and telling her stories about Martial Soul Hall.

After five days, his relationship with Dugu Yan was even better than that of the old man Dugu Bo.

"Brother Anci, are you leaving today?"

Dugu Yan looked up at him, her dark green eyes filled with reluctance.

Qian Anci crouched down and gently ruffled the top of her hair.

"Yes, Brother has been out for long enough. If I don't go back, my family will worry."

"Yan Yan, if you miss Brother, just ask your grandfather to take you to Martial Soul Hall to find me. Brother will take you to eat delicious things."

"Really?"

"Really."

Hearing Qian Anci's promise, Dugu Yan finally felt at ease and pulled his hand toward the stone house.

"Grandpa cooked porridge and grilled fish! It smells so good!"

Qian Anci allowed himself to be tugged along, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Although the old tsundere Dugu Bo had complained about him being a nuisance over the past few days, he had never missed a meal and had never let Qian Anci go hungry.

That old man was truly a textbook tsundere.

Inside the stone house, Dugu Bo was busy at the stove.

Seeing Qian Anci enter, he snorted without looking up.

"You've been freeloading for five days; you certainly don't stand on ceremony."

Qian Anci sat at the wooden table and laughed, "The senior's culinary skills are so good, this junior couldn't bear to leave."

"Stop with the flattery."

Dugu Bo walked over carrying an earthenware pot and set it down heavily on the table, splashing a few drops of broth.

"Get lost as soon as you're done eating. My place isn't an inn."

Dugu Yan climbed onto her stool and obediently ladled a bowl of porridge for Qian Anci, then placed the largest grilled fish into his bowl.

"Brother Anci, eat more."

Dugu Bo glanced at his granddaughter, a flash of complexity crossing his vertical pupils.

This girl was never this attentive to her own grandfather.

The meal was lively.

Dugu Yan chattered incessantly, asking everything from what flowers were blooming in the valley to what Martial Soul City was like.

Qian Anci answered each question patiently, occasionally glancing at the taciturn Dugu Bo.

After the meal, Dugu Yan grew drowsy while leaning against the table, and was carried back to her bed by Dugu Bo.

Qian Anci cleared the bowls and chopsticks, washing them clean by the basin.

Dugu Bo stood at the doorway, his back turned to him, and suddenly spoke.

"Kid."

"Yes."

"When exactly are you leaving?"

Qian Anci set the bowls and chopsticks aside, wiped his hands, and walked to the doorway.

"Is the senior trying to chase me away?"

Dugu Bo let out a cold snort, his vertical pupils darting a glance at him.

"This old man just finds it strange. You are quite the idle Saint Son; aren't you worried your grandfather in Martial Soul Hall might be concerned?"

"Besides, I have heard that your Martial Soul Hall has been making big moves lately..."

Qian Anci fell silent for a moment.

He raised his eyes to look at the churning poisonous miasma above the valley entrance.

"Grandfather once said that when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

He paused, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"Besides, Senior Dugu can be considered one of our own now, can't he?"

Dugu Bo's vertical pupils widened.

"This old man never agreed to that."

"Then, about Dugu Yan's poison..."

"You!"

Dugu Bo was choked up, momentarily unable to find a retort.

Qian Anci chuckled softly, not pressing him further.

He walked to the side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, looking down at the spring water intertwined with red and blue.

Five days had passed.

It was time to return.

"Castorice."

He called out softly in his heart.

"Yes."

That gentle voice responded immediately.

"Are we leaving?"

"Yes."

Qian Anci whispered in his heart.

"The origin of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings has stabilized; there is no point in staying any longer. Besides..."

He paused.

"I have to go back and give Grandfather an explanation. I just don't know how that Shadow Guard reported things back..."

Castorice did not say much, merely responding with a soft hum.

Qian Anci turned around, preparing to bid farewell to Dugu Bo.

However, just as he took two steps, Dugu Bo's voice drifted over from the direction of the stone house.

"If you're going to scram, then scram; don't dawdle."

The old man stood at the door of the stone house with his hands behind his back, his vertical pupils fixed on the distant horizon without even glancing at him.

"Remember to roll back here in half a year. This old man doesn't want to have to go looking for you."

Qian Anci couldn't help but laugh.

"Rest assured, Senior. This junior will naturally return in half a year."

He turned and headed toward the valley entrance.

The Scythe of Death condensed in his palm, and four soul rings emerged silently.

Gray-white Death Qi swirled around his body, shrouding him in a hazy mist.

"Brother Anci!"

Dugu Yan's tearful voice came from behind him.

Qian Anci turned back to see the girl leaning against the stone house window, tears shimmering in her dark green eyes.

"You promised you would come to see me!"

"If you don't come to see me, I'll go find you myself."

Qian Anci waved his hand at her.

"I promise."

Dugu Yan nodded vigorously, and tears finally began to fall.

"Pinky swear!"

Qian Anci was stunned for a moment, then smiled helplessly.

He extended his little finger through the air, and gray-white Death Qi condensed at his fingertip, forming a thin thread that reached out to hook onto the finger Dugu Yan held out.

"Pinky swear."

Dugu Yan broke into a smile through her tears.

Qian Anci withdrew his hand, his figure rising from the ground.

A streak of gray-white light tore through the morning glow, pierced the poisonous miasma above the valley entrance, and vanished into the horizon.

Dugu Bo stood at the doorway of the stone house, his vertical pupils watching that fading gray-white light in silence for a long time.

"The Saint Son of Martial Soul Hall..."

He muttered under his breath.

"That old thing Qian Daoliu certainly picked up a fine seedling."

He turned and returned to the stone house, wiping the tear stains from his granddaughter's face.

"Stop crying. If that brat said he would come, he will come."

Dugu Yan sobbed, "Grandpa, will Brother Anci lie to me?"

Dugu Bo was silent for a moment.

"He wouldn't dare."

"Why?"

"Because if he dared to lie to you, Grandpa would take you to Martial Soul Hall to find him."

Dugu Yan finally stopped crying. She hugged her grandfather's arm, gazed at the sky obscured by poisonous miasma outside the window, and whispered.

"Brother Anci... you must come."

In the distant sky, that streak of gray-white light had long since vanished.

Only the poisonous miasma above the valley entrance continued to churn without end.