Return Journey

Dusk.

The sun was about to set.

The people from Spirit Hall returned to camp one after another.

Some wore the blood and smiles of victors on their faces, while others carried frustration and helplessness.

Clearly, that was the difference between success and failure.

Those who had remained in camp envied the successful ones while mocking the failures.

"I'm so jealous of them. If I'd known, I would've gone out and tried too."

"Tch, didn't you see what those who set off signal flares looked like? Every one of them was filthy, like they'd crawled out of a garbage heap. I say they were biting off more than they could chew. Wouldn't it be safer to honestly exchange our points for some tools like us, then go hunt soul beasts?"

Faced with these two completely different attitudes, Qin Shi stood silently to one side.

To him, people who lacked even the courage to strive would fail to seize any opportunity, no matter how great it might be in the future.

They appeared cautious, but were actually cowardly.

Their hearts had long since lost the most important thing for a soul master seeking strength—obsession.

"Captain, sixty-eight people were expected for this soul-hunting operation, but only sixty-six have arrived. Two are still missing."

Xiang He flew over to Qin Shi and reported.

"Was there another accident? Only two this year—fewer than in previous years."

Qin Shi let out a sigh.

He had long grown used to such situations. Spirit Hall had given him three slots this year; as long as the Pope's two students were safe, his mission would be considered complete.

"Right, which two are they?"

"Xie Yue and Meng Xuanji."

"Who?"

Qin Shi's eyes widened.

He had heard of Xie Yue, the child second only to Hu Liena and Meng Xuanji among Spirit Hall's current generation. As for Meng Xuanji, he was a student personally taken in by Bibi Dong!

Why were the two most troublesome people the ones who had failed to gather?

"Did you send people to look for them?"

"We already did. We found tracks left behind by Xie Yue, but we haven't found any trace of Meng Xuanji."

Rumble!

A bolt from the blue exploded in Qin Shi's mind.

No tracks meant he had either been eaten by a soul beast or fallen into some unknown trap. Over the years, nearly every Spirit Hall student who had gone missing had vanished because no tracks could be found.

In the end, all that awaited them was either a corpse hidden in some corner or a complete disappearance. In the vast Star Dou Great Forest, there was simply no possibility of rescuing them.

"Temporarily keep Meng Xuanji's disappearance confidential. We'll wait a little longer."

"Yes."

After saying that, Xiang He flew back into the Star Dou Great Forest, intending to follow the soul-hunting team and bring Xie Yue back first.

"What a headache."

As most of the students finished gathering, Hu Liena began to feel nervous without realizing it.

"Meng Xuanji, Xie Yue, why haven't you two returned yet?"

With the sun about to set and the apex predators slumbering in the forest about to awaken, Hu Liena's heart grew increasingly tense.

They had to leave before the nocturnal soul beasts began hunting in earnest. Otherwise, even Qin Shi could not guarantee their safety.

"Found him!"

Xiang He's voice rang out from the forest, and Hu Liena immediately looked toward it.

"Is it Meng Xuanji?"

Even she did not know why, but compared to Xie Yue, she hoped more that Meng Xuanji had been rescued.

Was it really only because of that soul ring?

"Cough, cough."

Blood trickled from Xie Yue's mouth. His clothes had been torn to shreds by soul beasts, and by the time he was found, he had already passed out in the roadside grass from excessive blood loss.

Xiang He brought Xie Yue back to camp and gave him simple treatment. Under the care of a healing soul master, Xie Yue finally escaped mortal danger.

Xiang He wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"This kid really has a charmed life. If I hadn't heard movement in the grass in time, he would've become a Green Leaf Snake's dinner."

"Senior Xiang He, what about Meng Xuanji? Did you find him?"

Hu Liena walked over anxiously.

"I'm sorry, Holy Maiden. We haven't found him yet. But don't worry, I believe he'll be back soon."

Xiang He herself was also extremely uneasy.

If she had known this would happen, she would have brought Meng Xuanji back with her at the time and spared herself all this trouble.

"I see." Hu Liena lowered her head dejectedly.

"Then let's wait a little longer."

Caw! Caw! Caw!

Moon crows, heralds of nightfall, spread their wings and soared high, sending some dangerous signal across the entire forest.

A strange mist spread rapidly through the forest. From within came the occasional sound of large soul beasts grinding their teeth, chilling to the bone.

The Star Dou Great Forest was far more terrifying at night than during the day.

Faced with the cold fog, even the Purple Cloud Eagles showed signs of fear, as though they could not wait to flee.

"We can't wait any longer. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late."

Qin Shi finally made this difficult decision.

"Everyone, get on! We're leaving immediately!"

"Please wait!"

Hu Liena suddenly rushed out from the crowd.

"Senior, Meng Xuanji hasn't returned yet. He's still inside the forest."

"I know I can't ask everyone to risk their lives with me, but I want to ask you to stay behind with me and wait for another half an hour. I believe he'll definitely return."

"This..." Qin Shi hesitated.

Awoo!!!

An eerie wolf howl came from the forest! The Purple Cloud Eagles immediately grew restless.

"There's no time! Xiang He, take the others and leave first! I'll stay behind!"

"Yes!"

At Xiang He's command, the Purple Cloud Eagles took off at once. Only Qin Shi and Hu Liena remained behind with the last Purple Cloud Eagle.

"Get on."

Qin Shi and Hu Liena climbed onto the Purple Cloud Eagle's back, gripping the reins tightly in their hands.

"I can only wait for one more incense stick's time. Once that time is up, I'll leave no matter what happens. I can't endanger the entire team for him alone."

Hu Liena lowered her head as though resigning herself to it.

"Yes."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

The night wind swept through layers of mist as time slipped away second by second.

Hu Liena gradually began to panic. Had Meng Xuanji truly met with disaster after separating from her?

He was so strong. Even thousand-year soul beasts could not do anything to him. No, he would definitely be fine.

As the saying went, concern bred confusion. Hu Liena was more or less in that state.

She could no longer calm herself down and think clearly.

"Hm? Something's moving."

Qin Shi instantly caught some sign from within the mist. A black figure slowly emerged, its steps steady as it appeared from the cold fog carrying a chilling murderous aura.

Meng Xuanji had come out!

Awoo!!!

A pack of wolves appeared alongside Meng Xuanji, chasing him relentlessly. Their proud Earth Demon Wolf leader stared at him with a face full of fury.

"He's out!"

Just as Qin Shi prepared to drive away the hungry wolves, Meng Xuanji merely turned back and glanced at the wolf king.

"If you don't want to die, get lost."

Overwhelming murderous intent gripped the wolf king's heart like a demon's claw. Under the terrifying pressure emanating from Meng Xuanji, the thousand-year Earth Demon Wolf King actually fled with its pack in terror!

"What?!"

Qin Shi stared in utter disbelief, even suspecting that there was something wrong with his eyes.

A mere six-year-old child had scared off a thousand-year wolf king and its entire pack! What kind of joke was this?!

Meng Xuanji looked toward Qin Shi and the others. The murderous aura around him faded, and he scratched his head awkwardly.

"Haha, sorry, everyone. A pack of wild dogs got tangled up with me on the way back, so I wasted some time."

Just as Meng Xuanji searched for Hu Liena, a purple figure pounced into his arms like lightning and pinched his waist hard.

"Idiot! Do you know how worried I was about you?!"

"Hiss! That hurts, Hu Liena. My waist hurts."

"Serves you right. Who told you to come back so late and make me worry for so long?"

Hu Liena buried her head in Meng Xuanji's arms, her body trembling slightly. Meng Xuanji could faintly sense that she was crying.

Seeing that only Qin Shi and Hu Liena had remained behind at camp, Meng Xuanji understood what had happened.

Thus, Meng Xuanji wrapped his arms gently around Hu Liena's delicate body and said in an exceptionally gentle tone.

"I'm sorry. It was my fault. I made you worry, my young lady."