On the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.
When Bibi Dong descended from the sky, carrying Chen Doudou in her arms, and landed in the clearing, two figures almost simultaneously woke from their cultivation.
"Doudou!"
"Brother Doudou!"
Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao sprang to their feet in unison and ran toward Chen Doudou.
Both still had traces of the Soul Power fluctuations left over from absorbing their Soul Rings, and their auras were much stronger than before.
Jiang Nannan reached Bibi Dong first. She looked Chen Doudou up and down, and only relaxed after seeing that he was unharmed.
"Teacher, I did it! A three-thousand-year Soul Ring! My second Soul Skill is Teleportation, and I'm so much faster than before!"
As she spoke, her figure blurred for an instant. The next second, she had appeared beside Chen Doudou and wrapped an arm around his, rubbing against him affectionately. "It's all thanks to Doudou. If you hadn't given me the Soul Bone and pills, I definitely couldn't have absorbed such a good Soul Ring."
With her holding him so tightly, Chen Doudou blushed a little. He instinctively tried to pull his arm back, but Jiang Nannan had it clamped fast.
He could only smile helplessly. "Sister Nannan, you're being a little too enthusiastic..."
"Hmph, Brother Doudou, I want a hug too!"
Seeing this, Xiao Xiao refused to be outdone. She charged over on her little legs and wrapped both arms around Chen Doudou's other leg. She tipped up her little face, her big eyes brimming with admiration. "Brother Doudou, I absorbed mine too! My first Soul Skill is Cauldron Shock. That big black pot... ah, no, that big black cauldron is amazing. When it comes crashing down, even the ground shakes!"
As she spoke, she waved her tiny fists to show off her fighting prowess, though her feeble strength made it look more like she was acting cute.
Caught between the two girls, Chen Doudou couldn't move at all. He could only cast a pleading look at Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong stood to one side with her arms crossed. Looking at the scene of him surrounded by admirers, she curled her lips into a teasing smile. "Well, well. Our Doudou's quite the charmer. You've already got a fan club at such a young age?"
Chen Doudou: "...Sister Dong, help!"
At that, Jiang Nannan blushed and let go, though she still stayed pressed close to Chen Doudou.
Xiao Xiao stuck out her tongue and loosened her grip a little too, but she still clutched Chen Doudou's clothes and wouldn't let go.
"All right, stop fooling around."
Bibi Dong walked over, lightly tapped Xiao Xiao on the head, and rescued Chen Doudou.
Her gaze swept over Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao, and a trace of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
Jiang Nannan had absorbed a three-thousand-year Soul Ring, and her Soul Power had settled firmly at level twenty-two. Moreover, thanks to fusing two top-grade Soul Bones,
her physical strength was far beyond that of Soul Masters at the same level, and she seemed more nimble and confident overall.
As for Xiao Xiao, although she had only absorbed a four-hundred-year Soul Ring, as a Twin Martial Souls wielder with Innate Full Soul Power, her Soul Power had already reached level twelve.
"Not bad. Both your foundations are solid."
Bibi Dong nodded, approving of their progress.
By then, night had fallen, and the scent of roasting meat drifted over from the camp.
The Xiao Yuanshan couple had already pitched their tents and lit a bonfire. Meat skewers sizzled on the rack, glistening with oil and turning golden and crisp.
"Senior, Doudou, everyone, come have dinner!"
Chen Wenwen called out warmly. "We've been busy all day. You must all be starving."
"Coming!"
Chen Doudou seized the chance to make his escape.
All he wanted now was to fill his stomach. Being besieged by two girls had given him a profound understanding of what it meant to be burdened.
After all, what could beat a good meal?
Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao exchanged a smile and followed after him.
"Brother Doudou, have this chicken wing. It's delicious!"
Xiao Xiao pinched a chicken wing between her fingers and held it up to Chen Doudou's mouth.
Chen Doudou was busy working his way through a roasted corn cob. Hearing her, he could only open his mouth to take a bite.
"Chomp—"
The good news was that he got the chicken wing.
The bad news was, he ate too fast and bit Xiao Xiao's hand along with it.
"Ah!"
Xiao Xiao cried out and jerked her hand back as if she'd been shocked.
She hurriedly hid it behind her back and stammered, "B-Brother Doudou, why... why are you trying to eat my hand too?"
Chen Doudou's mouth was full of meat. He chewed innocently and mumbled, "You held it out to me. I thought it was meat... Mm, this chicken wing really is delicious."
Watching from the side, Jiang Nannan couldn't help laughing. She gave Chen Doudou's ear a light twist and chided him, "You really are just like last time. You don't even look properly when you're eating."
Then she handed Xiao Xiao a skewer of meat she'd roasted herself. "Here, have this instead. Don't let him upset you."
Bibi Dong sat on a rock a little farther away, holding a skewer of roasted mushrooms and eating daintily.
Watching the two little girls orbit Chen Doudou—one feeding him, the other twisting his ear—they seemed to have pretty good teamwork.
She gave a soft snort and tossed the mushroom skewer into the bonfire, a little harder than necessary. A few sparks flew up.
"Why are these mushrooms so salty?"
She spoke coldly, her gaze passing over Chen Doudou's grinning face. For some inexplicable reason, she felt a little displeased.
It was as if the little pig she'd raised from childhood was about to be claimed by a cabbage.
That brat. He sure was popular.
Had he been like this around Xiao Wu too?
Chen Doudou seemed to sense the chilly gaze behind him. The back of his neck went cold, and he instinctively huddled closer to Jiang Nannan. "Sister Nannan, I think someone's angry..."
Jiang Nannan blinked, unconcerned, and continued feeding him. "Oh, don't worry. Teacher's here, anyway. Doudou, hurry up and eat."
Late at night, the camp gradually fell quiet.
The Xiao Yuanshan couple kept watch by the bonfire. Chen Doudou, Bibi Dong, and Jiang Nannan had also returned to their respective tents to rest.
Just as Chen Doudou was about to fall asleep, the tent zipper was gently opened a crack.
Xiao Xiao poked half her head inside and called softly, "Brother Doudou... Brother Doudou, are you asleep?"
Chen Doudou sat up groggily. "Xiao Xiao? What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
"N-no." Xiao Xiao shook her head. She was wearing a thin nightgown and standing outside the tent, shivering a little in the night breeze.
She beckoned to Chen Doudou mysteriously. "Come outside for a bit. I have something for you."
Chen Doudou yawned, but still climbed to his feet and followed Xiao Xiao out of the camp.
Moonlight flowed like water.
Xiao Xiao stood beneath the moonlight, both little hands behind her back, her face unable to hide its blush.
Fortunately, the night was deep, so the flush was hard to make out.
"Xiao Xiao, what are you giving me?"
Chen Doudou asked curiously.
Xiao Xiao bit her lower lip, as though she'd made up her mind after much deliberation.
She brought a small cloth pouch out from behind her back.
"Brother Doudou, this... this is for you. It's something you've always wanted."
She pressed the pouch into Chen Doudou's hand. Her fingers had barely touched his before she snatched them back.
"Something I've always wanted?"
Chen Doudou weighed it in his hand. It was light, and he couldn't tell what was inside.
"You're not allowed to look now. It's a farewell gift."
Xiao Xiao hurriedly covered his eyes, speaking in a rush. "You have to wait until tomorrow to open it! Do you hear me? Tomorrow!"
Before you continue