In the blink of an eye, four months had passed.
Rose Hotel.
Rose Heaven.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong sat on either side of Tang Yin, the three of them enjoying a warm, cheerful atmosphere.
But...
All of it vanished with Tang Yin's next words.
"Rongrong, after we finish eating, why don't you head home?" Tang Yin said pensively.
"Clatter!"
Ning Rongrong had been happily eating, but at his words she froze. The chopsticks fell from her hand, and her puffed-out cheeks stopped moving.
Xiao Wu also looked at Tang Yin, bewildered.
Tang Yin cleared his throat and continued, "Xiao Wu and I have to go back to our hometown. It wouldn't be convenient to bring you along, and I'm worried you might run into danger here, so it's best if you go home."
Xiao Wu was even more confused.
But before she could ask what was on her mind, Tang Yin shot her a look.
Xiao Wu immediately chose to keep quiet.
"I-is that so..." Ning Rongrong collected herself, picked up her chopsticks, and set them down again. Then she said, "I still don't want to go home. I'll wait for you here. Otherwise, I won't know where to find you."
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, repeatedly glancing up at Tang Yin before lowering her head again.
Tang Yin fell silent, deep in thought.
His real plan was to send Xiao Wu back to Star Dou Forest, then go to Sunset Forest to search for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He had already absorbed the Eight Spider Lances, and his Soul Power had reached level forty. Without help from an Immortal Herb, he had no confidence in absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
But taking care of all these matters would take quite some time.
And...
He absolutely couldn't bring Xiao Wu along. He couldn't guarantee her safety.
The same went for Ning Rongrong.
"How about this... You can go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and we'll meet up there. What do you think?" Tang Yin said with a smile after considering it for a moment.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" Ning Rongrong murmured. A glimmer gradually appeared in her eyes, and she nodded with a smile. "All right! No problem!"
"But..."
Ning Rongrong changed tack, asking with a worried look, "Are you really going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Tang Yin smiled. "I'll keep my word."
Xiao Wu was still confused, but she chimed in anyway. "Don't worry, Rongrong. Once Tang Yin and I finish what we need to do, we'll definitely come find you at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
"Then it's settled!" Ning Rongrong beamed, the suspicion in her eyes vanishing.
For a moment,
the atmosphere at the table seemed to return to the harmony it had held at the start.
And yet...
Deep down, Xiao Wu was full of questions.
Before long,
they finished breakfast, left Rose Hotel, and arrived at the north city gate.
"Tang Yin, Xiao Wu, you have to come find me at Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
After climbing into the carriage, Ning Rongrong lifted the window curtain and looked at them with a tense, worried expression.
"Don't worry." Tang Yin smiled and nodded, then looked toward a spot behind him. "You can come out now. It's time to escort your young lady home."
For the past four months, people had been following them in secret. Tang Yin knew full well that they were members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, assigned to protect Ning Rongrong. As long as they didn't show themselves and interfere with him, he hadn't bothered to do anything about them.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
At Tang Yin's words, five middle-aged men dressed in white appeared together.
"Greetings, Miss!"
The five men faced Ning Rongrong and bowed.
"I knew it. This whole thing was Dad's setup. Hmph~"
Ning Rongrong pouted, looking displeased.
What was worse, he'd even given Flender the "imperial sword" to discipline her.
The five men could only smile wryly.
"Have a safe journey, Rongrong. Goodbye." Tang Yin waved.
"Rongrong, once you get to the capital, you'd better play the gracious host~" Xiao Wu said with a grin.
"No problem! I'll wait for you in the capital. Just make sure you come soon!" Ning Rongrong waved goodbye.
Tang Yin and Xiao Wu smiled and waved as they watched the carriage leave, until it disappeared at the end of the road.
"Tang Yin, what are you plotting? Are we really going back to Holy Soul Village?" Xiao Wu asked, wrapping both arms around his and looking confused.
"No, we're not going back to Holy Soul Village." Tang Yin shook his head slightly. "We're going to Star Dou Forest."
"Xiao Wu, I have to go somewhere very dangerous. There's a Titled Douluo there, so you can't come with me."
"So I'm going to send you back to Star Dou Forest to live for a while. Once I've taken care of everything, I'll come back for you."
Xiao Wu froze.
But then worry welled up inside her. "Why do you suddenly have to go somewhere so dangerous?"
"When I get back, I'll tell you everything." Tang Yin cupped Xiao Wu's face, kissed her soft lips, and said gently, "Be good~ Wait for me~"
"Can't you just not go?" Xiao Wu suddenly threw herself into Tang Yin's arms and clung tightly to him.
"I have to go~" Tang Yin sighed softly.
"I won't stop you, but promise me you'll come back for me." Xiao Wu looked up at Tang Yin, her eyes slightly reddened.
"Of course~" Tang Yin felt a little guilty, but he still had to go.
And he couldn't wait any longer.
As for getting close to Dugu Yan, it wouldn't help him all that much...
"Let's buy some gifts for your two friends, as a first-meeting present. We can also get you some things you like and the daily necessities you'll need, so you won't have to go into town while I'm away." Tang Yin smiled slightly.
"Mm..." Xiao Wu replied in a low voice.
She was usually full of energy whenever they went shopping, but now she'd lost all interest.
Tang Yin sighed helplessly and could only hold Xiao Wu's hand tightly.
Xiao Wu clung tightly to Tang Yin's arm as well.
The two of them seemed to want to bind themselves together.
The outer reaches of Star Dou Forest.
Tang Yin held Xiao Wu's hand as they strolled through the dense forest.
They walked slowly, treasuring every moment they had together.
Suddenly,
the earth shook again and again. Through his Blue Silver Domain, Tang Yin sensed the beasts fleeing in every direction.
Just then,
an immeasurably vast force suddenly entered his Blue Silver Domain, appearing before his eyes as well.
"Xiao Wu, the Titan Giant Ape is here." Tang Yin stopped and gently held Xiao Wu's hands.
Without saying a word, Xiao Wu stepped forward and pressed her head against Tang Yin's chest, then leaned herself close to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
Tang Yin gently stroked Xiao Wu's hair.
"Rumble—!"
As the trees beside them toppled, a gigantic beast as large as a hill appeared.
"Roar!!!"
The Titan Giant Ape roared, its golden eyes fixed on Tang Yin, who was embracing Xiao Wu.
"Let go of Sister Xiao Wu!!!"
"Er Ming, don't be rash! Hold back your aura. Don't scare my man!"
Xiao Wu immediately shielded Tang Yin behind her, frowning as she glared at the Titan Giant Ape.
At her words, the Titan Giant Ape couldn't help but freeze.