Farewell, Xiao Xiao's Special Farewell Gift

The outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.

As Bibi Dong descended from the sky with Chen Doudou in her arms and landed in the clearing, two figures awoke from their meditation almost simultaneously.

"Doudou!"

"Brother Doudou!"

Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao stood up in unison and ran toward Chen Doudou.

Residual fluctuations of soul power still lingered around them from their recent absorption of soul rings, and their auras were significantly stronger than before.

Jiang Nannan reached Bibi Dong first. She looked Chen Doudou up and down, and only after seeing that he was completely unharmed did she let out a sigh of relief.

"Teacher, I succeeded! A three-thousand-year soul ring! My second soul skill is Teleportation, and my speed is so much faster than before!"

As she spoke, her figure blurred for an instant. The next second, she appeared at Chen Doudou's side, wrapped her arms around his, and rubbed against him affectionately. "It's all thanks to Doudou. If you hadn't given me the soul bones and medicinal pills, I definitely wouldn't have been able to absorb such a high-quality soul ring."

Chen Doudou blushed slightly from her embrace and instinctively tried to pull his arm back, but Jiang Nannan held it firmly in place.

He could only smile helplessly. "Sister Nannan, you're being a bit too enthusiastic..."

"Hmph, Brother Doudou, I want a hug too!"

Seeing this, Xiao Xiao refused to be outdone. She trotted over on her short legs, grabbed onto Chen Doudou's other leg, and looked up with a face full of adoration, her large eyes sparkling. "Brother Doudou, I finished absorbing mine too! My first soul skill is Cauldron Shock. That big black cauldron... ah, no, that big black cauldron is amazing! When it slams down, the ground actually shakes!"

As she spoke, she waved her small fists to demonstrate her combat prowess, though the soft, weak force behind them looked more like she was acting spoiled.

Caught in a pincer attack between the two girls, Chen Doudou was unable to move and could only cast a pleading look toward Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching the scene of him being surrounded. A playful curve tugged at the corner of her lips. "Yo, our Doudou has quite the charm, doesn't he? You've already got a fan club at such a young age?"

Chen Doudou: "...Sister Dong, help!"

Hearing this, Jiang Nannan's pretty face flushed, and she loosened her grip, though she remained pressed tightly against Chen Doudou.

Xiao Xiao stuck out her tongue and also relaxed her grip slightly, though her small hands still wouldn't let go of the corner of Chen Doudou's clothes.

"Alright, that's enough."

Bibi Dong stepped forward and gave Xiao Xiao's head a light tap, rescuing Chen Doudou.

Her gaze swept over Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

Jiang Nannan had absorbed a three-thousand-year soul ring, and her soul power had stabilized firmly at level twenty-two. Furthermore, thanks to the fusion of the two top-tier soul bones, her physical constitution far exceeded that of other soul masters at her level, making her appear even more agile and confident.

As for Xiao Xiao, although she had only absorbed a four-hundred-year soul ring, as a possessor of Twin Martial Souls with Innate Full Soul Power, her soul power had already reached level twelve.

"Not bad, your foundations are both very solid."

Bibi Dong nodded, acknowledging their progress.

By now, the sky had darkened, and the scent of roasted meat wafted over from the campsite.

Xiao Yuanshan and his wife had already pitched the tents and started a bonfire. The meat skewers on the rack were sizzling with oil, turning golden and crispy.

"Senior, Doudou, everyone, come and have dinner!"

Chen Wenwen called out warmly. "You've been busy all day, you must be starving."

"Coming!"

Chen Doudou seized the opportunity to make his escape.

He only wanted to fill his stomach now; the experience of being besieged by the two girls had given him a profound understanding of what a "burden" felt like.

After all, how could girls ever be better than a good meal?

Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao exchanged a smile and followed after him.

"Brother Doudou, here, have this chicken wing. It's delicious!"

Xiao Xiao held a chicken wing in her hand and offered it toward Chen Doudou's mouth.

Chen Doudou was busy burying his face in a piece of roasted corn, so he simply opened his mouth to take it.

"Nom--"

The good news was that he caught the chicken wing.

The bad news was that he was eating so fast that he accidentally bit Xiao Xiao's hand as well.

"Ah!"

Xiao Xiao let out a startled cry and pulled her hand back as if she had been electrocuted.

She hurriedly hid her hand behind her back, stammering, "Br-Brother Doudou, why... why would you even try to eat my hand!"

With his mouth stuffed full of meat, Chen Doudou chewed with an innocent expression, mumbling, "You were the one who held it out to me, I thought it was the meat... Mmm, this chicken wing is actually quite tasty."

Watching from the side, Jiang Nannan couldn't help but burst into laughter. She gave Chen Doudou's ear a light twist and chided, "You, why are you the same as last time? You don't even look carefully when you're eating."

She then handed her own roasted meat skewer to Xiao Xiao. "Here, eat this instead. Don't let him get under your skin."

Bibi Dong sat on a rock a little further away, holding a skewer of roasted mushrooms and eating them elegantly in small bites.

Watching those two little girls spinning around Chen Doudou, one handing him meat while the other twisted his ear, they seemed to have quite the rapport.

She let out a soft huff and tossed her mushroom skewer into the campfire with a bit too much force, sending sparks flying.

"Why is this mushroom grilled so salty?"

She spoke with a cold face, her gaze sweeping over Chen Doudou's grinning expression, feeling inexplicably annoyed.

It felt as if a piglet she had raised since it was small was about to be nudged by a head of cabbage.

Brat, you've got quite the charm.

Was he like this in front of Xiao Wu too?

Chen Doudou seemed to sense the chilly gaze behind him; his neck went cold, and he instinctively shrank closer to Jiang Nannan, whispering, "Sister Nannan, it feels like someone is angry..."

Jiang Nannan blinked, unbothered, and continued feeding him, "Oh, don't worry, the teacher is here, what is there to fear? Eat up, Doudou."

Late at night, the campsite gradually quieted down.

Xiao Yuanshan and his wife kept watch by the campfire, while Chen Doudou, Bibi Dong, and Jiang Nannan returned to their respective tents to rest.

Just as Chen Doudou was about to drift off to sleep, the tent zipper was gently pulled open a crack.

Xiao Xiao poked half her head inside and whispered, "Brother Doudou... Brother Doudou, are you asleep?"

Chen Doudou sat up, dazed. "Xiao Xiao? What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

"N-no." Xiao Xiao shook her head. She was wearing thin pajamas and standing outside the tent, shivering slightly in the night breeze.

She beckoned to Chen Doudou mysteriously. "Come out for a second, I have something for you."

Chen Doudou yawned, but still climbed up and followed Xiao Xiao out of the camp.

The moonlight was like water.

Xiao Xiao stood in the moonlight with her hands behind her back, a blush she couldn't hide coloring her face.

Fortunately, the night was deep, so the flush wasn't clearly visible.

"Xiao Xiao, what do you want to give me?"

Chen Doudou asked curiously.

Xiao Xiao bit her lower lip, as if she had made a great decision.

She pulled a small cloth pouch from behind her back.

"Brother Doudou, this... this is for you. It's what you've always wanted."

She shoved the cloth bag into Chen Doudou's hand, pulling her fingers back the moment they touched his.

"What I've always wanted?"

Chen Doudou weighed it; it was light and airy, making it impossible to tell what it was.

"You aren't allowed to look now. This is a parting gift."

Xiao Xiao hurriedly covered his eyes, her tone urgent. "You must wait until tomorrow to open it! Do you hear me? Tomorrow!"