Tang Wutong Comes to Star Luo City to Train a Dog?

When Liu Lin returned to his courtyard, Xiao Xue, who was busy cleaning, heard the gate creak and looked up to find her master had returned.

She was startled for a moment before hurrying over to greet him, her tone brimming with relief: "My Lord, you've finally returned."

"If you hadn't come back any sooner, this servant wouldn't have dared to stay in this courtyard any longer."

Hearing Xiao Xue's words, Liu Lin's eyes filled with confusion.

"Xiao Xue, what do you mean? Why couldn't you stay here?"

"My Lord, you don't know. Ever since the Princess returned, she has been running to this courtyard every single day."

"Seeing that you hadn't returned for so long, the Princess's expression grew worse by the day. How could this servant dare to remain here?"

Liu Lin gave a bitter smile and told the maid to step back, as he needed to rest for a while.

"I see. You may withdraw now."

Xiao Xue bowed to Liu Lin and nodded respectfully.

"Then this servant will return to her duties. Please rest well, My Lord."

Liu Lin then headed toward his room. On the way, he took the Voice Recording Soul Tool from his storage device and sent a message to Xu Jiujiu.

After sending the message, he lay down on the bed to recover from the exhaustion of his journey over the past few days.

About an hour later, steady footsteps echoed outside the courtyard gate, followed by the voice of Eunuch Liu.

"His Majesty has arrived."

Hearing this, Liu Lin opened his eyes and walked out toward the courtyard.

By the time Liu Lin reached the entrance, Xiao Xue had already opened the gate to welcome Xu Jiawei.

Seeing the gate open, Xu Jiawei walked in with Eunuch Liu and waved a hand at Xiao Xue, who tactfully withdrew.

"Your Majesty." Liu Lin bowed in salute.

"I've told you many times, there is no need for formalities in private." Xu Jiawei's tone was somewhat helpless as he stepped forward to help Liu Lin up.

However, after taking a look at Liu Lin, Xu Jiawei's eyes were filled with shock.

With that single glance, Xu Jiawei realized that the fluctuations of Soul Power in Liu Lin were even more potent than before he had left.

"Your cultivation has improved again." Xu Jiawei's tone was both a question and a statement. He did not directly ask where Liu Lin had gone or what opportunities he had encountered.

Instead, he said in a half-joking tone: "Let me guess, you must have gained quite a lot from this trip."

He paused, looking at Liu Lin with concern: "But since you've broken through so quickly, have you left any hidden dangers in your body?"

"None at all." Liu Lin shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Xu Jiawei was certainly not foolish enough to ask Liu Lin how he had broken through so quickly or if he had obtained some supreme treasure.

These were his own secrets, and there was no need to pry; doing so would only sour their relationship.

Liu Lin was a man of his Star Luo Empire; the stronger he became, the stronger the Star Luo Empire would be.

"That's good." Xu Jiawei nodded, his tone returning to its usual composure.

"I came today to see if you had run into any trouble. Since you are fine, I am relieved."

"I still have to go see Count Su, so you should go back and rest, Little Lin."

With that, Xu Jiawei left Liu Lin's courtyard with Eunuch Liu.

However, just before leaving, Xu Jiawei stopped at the gate, turned his head to look at him, and wore a meaningful smile:

"By the way, Jiujiu finishes class at noon. You had better prepare a table of her favorite dishes. My sister is the type who would dare to smash up my Imperial Study when she's angry, so you'd better weigh your options."

Liu Lin bowed with a bitter smile, watching Xu Jiawei's figure disappear.

At noon, Liu Lin had Xiao Xue request several extra dishes from the Imperial Kitchen. Osmanthus Cake was a must, Steamed Sea Bass could not be missing, along with many other dishes Xu Jiujiu loved.

Just as Xiao Xue placed the food boxes on the pavilion table and prepared to arrange the plates, a loud bang echoed as the gate to Liu Lin's courtyard was pushed open.

Xu Jiujiu stood at the entrance, still wearing her Star Luo Royal Academy uniform, her long golden hair tied loosely behind her head with a ribbon.

A few stray locks hung over her forehead; it was clear she had rushed over immediately after class, not even having time to change her clothes.

She stood at the entrance with her hands on her hips, her deep blue eyes quickly scanning Liu Lin from head to toe to confirm he wasn't missing any limbs or showing any signs of injury before slowly walking into the courtyard.

"Over half a month," Xu Jiujiu stood before him, looking down at Liu Lin who was seated by the stone table. Her voice was low, but every word was clear.

"Twenty-three days. You were gone for a full twenty-three days. You left behind a vague remark and then just vanished. Liu Lin, do you think I wouldn't worry?"

Hearing Xu Jiujiu's words, Liu Lin fell silent for a moment.

On the other side, as Xu Jiujiu spoke, her eyes gradually reddened and her voice began to choke with emotion, until finally, she threw herself into Liu Lin's embrace.

"I'm sorry for making you worry. It won't happen again."

Liu Lin held Xu Jiujiu in his arms, stroking her hair to comfort her.

Once Xu Jiujiu's emotions had stabilized, Liu Lin took two jade boxes he had prepared in advance from his storage device and handed them to her: "These are for you."

Xu Jiujiu, still in his arms, was stunned. She took the jade boxes and opened them to find one plant as pale as moonlight and another as golden as starlight.

Two wisps of spiritual energy from the immortal herbs overflowed from the box, and the Star Crown mark between her brows lit up almost instantly, resonating with those two streams of energy in a marvelous way.

"The Heavenly Star Spirit-Gathering Flower and the Heavenly Star Vine, a gift for you. I'll tell you next time I leave."

Xu Jiujiu held the two jade boxes and looked down at them for a long time. When she finally looked up, her eyes were slightly red, but her tone remained as haughty as ever: "I suppose you have a conscience. But if you do this again, I won't care about you anymore and will just have my Imperial Brother annul the engagement."

Liu Lin smiled, choosing not to expose her. He stepped aside and gestured toward the table full of dishes: "Osmanthus Cake, Steamed Sea Bass—all your favorites. Shall we eat first?"

Xu Jiujiu carefully tucked the jade boxes into her storage Soul Tool, sat down across from him at the stone table, and picked up her chopsticks to take a piece of fish before looking up at him.

"We can eat. But you have to explain clearly where you've been for these past twenty-three days. Not a single word is to be left out."

"Alright, alright, let's eat first, and I'll tell you everything after."

Watching Xu Jiujiu, who had stopped crying, Liu Lin looked at her with doting eyes.

On the other side, a carriage pulled to a stop one hundred li outside of Star Luo City.

A boy with powder-blue hair, looking to be about six or seven years old, looked at the burly, imposing middle-aged man sitting across from him and asked with some confusion: "Second Uncle, why are we coming to the Star Luo Empire for school? Isn't the Clear Sky Sect far superior to them?"

"Dong'er, Second Uncle isn't sure why either; this is what your father said at the time." The middle-aged man scratched his head and said with a simple, honest smile.

Hearing his Second Uncle say this, the powder-blue-haired boy couldn't help but curl his lip.

"He still knows how to look after me?"