The Strange Statue!

Night fell, and Mother Jiang remained in a deep slumber, though Mu Guiyun could keenly perceive that her constitution and injuries were slowly recovering.

"Nannan, once your mother has finished absorbing the pill, let's move to Shrek City."

If Mu Guiyun remembered correctly, in the original story, even though Mother Jiang eventually consumed the Black Tortoise Divine Pill, she passed away from illness not long after.

To be safe, Mu Guiyun decided to ask Elder Zhuang to perform a thorough examination on Mother Jiang when the time came.

Jiang Nannan nodded with a smile, her delicate hand resting upon Mu Guiyun's palm.

Watching the two of them exchanging glances, Tang Ya's face turned green with impatience. She sat right between them, hands on her hips, and huffed, "Hmph! That's enough from you two! This Sect Master is still right here!"

With that, she glared at Mu Guiyun with a look of deep resentment.

"Alright, alright. Let's figure out how we're sleeping tonight."

After giving Tang Ya's cheek a firm pinch, Mu Guiyun couldn't help but scan the room.

Jiang Nannan's home consisted of only one bedroom and a living room. The bedroom was occupied by Mother Jiang, so the three of them would have to make do in the living room for the night.

With that thought, countless metal elements flew out from Mu Guiyun's Soul Tool, eventually forming a massive metal bed in the living room.

"There. The living room is only so big; there's no way to fit three beds. This will have to do. Besides, we all need to cultivate, so let's just make it work."

Mu Guiyun waved his hand, swearing to the lamp that he truly had no ulterior motives.

Thinking about lying on the same bed as Mu Guiyun, Jiang Nannan's pretty face couldn't help but flush, but in the end, she chose not to refuse.

"I... I don't mind..."

After glancing at the two of them, Tang Ya hurriedly raised her hands and chirped, "I'm sleeping in the middle!"

Without giving them a chance to refuse, Tang Ya pulled bedding from her own Soul Tool and began to busy herself.

As the night deepened, Tang Ya watched Mu Guiyun, who was focused on his cultivation, and felt a surge of envy. Guiyun's talent is terrifying. With this level of Soul Power fluctuation, it looks like he's about to break through to level forty.

A Soul Ancestor under twelve years old... hiss, I wouldn't even dare to imagine it.

Jiang Nannan, sitting to the side, nodded in agreement, her gaze lingering on Mu Guiyun's transcendent, refined features.

Tang Ya caught this, and her tone turned sour immediately. "Nannan, don't tell me you've fallen for Guiyun?"

Hearing this, Jiang Nannan's eyes darted away nervously. "Ho... how could that be! I'm just grateful for everything Guiyun has done for me..."

Still denying it? If this Sect Master weren't here, you two would be all over each other!

Tang Ya curled her lip in disdain, her resentful glare making Jiang Nannan feel uneasy.

"Really? I don't believe you. Unless you swear on your conscience!"

Jiang Nannan fell silent. In the Douluo Continent, one could not swear oaths lightly, for gods truly existed here!

"You won't? Then let this Sect Master do it for you! Hehehe~"

Tang Ya let out a mischievous cackle and reached out with her wicked hands.

"Ah! Ya, stop it! Guiyun is right there!"

"It's fine, he's cultivating! Come, let this Sect Master have a feel... Whoa! Nannan, what do you usually eat? Why is your conscience so big? This isn't fair!"

Mu Guiyun: ...

Seven days passed in a flash. With the Black Tortoise Divine Pill and the various supplements Mu Guiyun had specifically prepared, Mother Jiang was now able to move about normally, and even her complexion had regained a hint of rosiness.

Not far outside Lingdou City, Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Mu Guiyun sat in a carriage. Looking at the figure before her, Jiang Nannan couldn't help but ask, "Guiyun, aren't you coming back with us?"

Tang Ya nodded repeatedly from the side. "Yeah, yeah! It's so dangerous for you out here alone. There are plenty of nobles who love boys as fair and clean as you!"

"Ouch! Why did you flick me!"

Tang Ya clutched her forehead, glaring at Mu Guiyun with resentment. This Sect Master is looking out for you, and not only are you ungrateful, you flick my forehead!

Ignoring the pouting Tang Ya, Mu Guiyun shook his head and smiled. "I have some very important matters to attend to, so I won't be returning with you."

"Take these two things. With them, the journey should be smooth sailing. If you encounter any danger you can't handle, crush this jade slip."

With that, Mu Guiyun took a token bearing the Shrek emblem and a jade slip from his Soul Tool and handed them to Jiang Nannan.

"But..."

Seeing Jiang Nannan about to say more, Mu Guiyun cut her off. "It's decided. We'll see each other at the academy. Hurry off now, and take good care of your mother."

"Alright, then you must be careful."

"Don't worry, I value my life more than anyone!"

Once the carriage had completely vanished from sight, Mu Guiyun finally withdrew his gaze. Metal flew from his Soul Tool, eventually forming three pairs of cold, gleaming wings behind his back.

Mu Guiyun's Metal Six Wings had been modified; each wing was embedded with two Soul Tool Thrusters. At full power, they allowed his speed to approach that of a six-ringed Sharp-Tailed Swift Soul Master for a short duration!

Looking up at the azure sky, the corners of Mu Guiyun's mouth curled upward.

Ice Empress, I, Mu Guiyun, am coming!

Inside the carriage on the other side, Mother Jiang observed Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya, who kept glancing out the window, her expression growing somewhat unnatural.

After spending these past few days together, she felt as if she had discovered something extraordinary.

Because the Condensed Water Flying Luan had been returned to the academy, Tang Ya and her companions were forced to travel by carriage, which caused the return journey to take quite a bit of time.

Within Shrek City, Tang Ya turned her head and said to Jiang Nannan, "Nannan, why don't you and your mother go find a place to stay first? I'm going to head out for a bit!"

"Huh? You're going out too?"

Jiang Nannan blinked, her eyes filled with confusion.

"I'll be back in a little while; I'm just going out for a stroll."

"Then take this with you."

Seeing this, Jiang Nannan immediately placed a jade slip into Tang Ya's hand.

"I'm off! See you tonight!"

Taking the jade slip, Tang Ya clasped her hands behind her back and, under Jiang Nannan's watchful gaze, skipped toward the city gates.

In a silent, dense forest not far from Shrek City, Tang Ya stood alone, quietly kneeling on the ground.

Looking at the overgrown, crude little mound of earth before her, a touch of loneliness and bitterness rose between Tang Ya's brows.

"Mom, Dad, Xiaoya has come to see you."

This lonely grave was one she had built with her own hands when she first arrived at Shrek Academy; it was empty inside, lacking even a single relic, and could not even be considered a cenotaph.

The only thing it could hold was the lingering longing that refused to fade from Tang Ya's heart.

"You don't need to worry about Xiaoya, Mom and Dad. Xiaoya eats well and dresses warmly at Shrek Academy, and I even have two good friends!"

"Besides, I've already reached level 22. It won't be long before I can avenge you with my own hands!"

As she spoke the final words, two lines of scalding hot tears slowly slid down Tang Ya's cheeks.