Returning to the Shui Family, Two Elders

Dugu Bo waved a hand, his tone carrying a hint of easygoing nonchalance. "Since this old man agreed to become your guest elder, I'll naturally keep my word. Just don't find these old bones of mine troublesome."

Yang Wudi was even more direct. "This old man came along with you already. You say where we're going, and we go. What's there to dawdle over?"

Bing Yekong smiled and said no more.

The three of them turned around and set off for home.

From the Extreme North to the Heaven Dou Empire lay nearly a thousand li of road. Traveling at full speed and stopping at roadside stations only twice to rest, they compressed a journey that ordinarily took half a month into just five days.

Along the way, Yang Wudi had not been idle. Relying on the tremendous boost in his cultivation after taking the Black Jade Divine Bamboo pill, he dragged Dugu Bo into sparring matches every few days.

Dugu Bo had refused at first. Yang Wudi's all-offense, no-defense fighting style was simply too reckless. Yet after Bing Yekong explained that "more fighting helps force out the remaining toxins," he ultimately compromised.

Thus, during those five days, in the wilderness beside some official road in the north of the Heaven Dou Empire, people could often see a jade-green serpent shadow intertwining and colliding in midair with spear light wreathed in black flames. The commotion was so immense that passersby a hundred li away believed two Titled Douluo were fighting to the death.

As for Bing Yekong himself, he was more than happy to take it easy. He cultivated his soul power while traveling and, at the same time, digested the alchemy knowledge he had learned from Yang Wudi.

On the evening of the fifth day, the three of them finally passed through the gates of Element City.

"We're back."

Looking at the familiar buildings lining the streets, Bing Yekong felt an inexplicable warmth rise in his heart. He had only been away from home for a little over a month, yet it felt as though he had been gone for a very long time.

Element City was still the same as ever. Vendors along the commercial street continued calling out their wares, steam still rose from the tea stalls at street corners, and from time to time, several young girls in academy uniforms passed by together, casting curious looks their way.

"The Shui Family is just ahead. Please follow me, Seniors."

Bing Yekong led Yang Wudi and Dugu Bo through several streets, soon arriving before the Shui Family's gates.

The gatekeeping disciples' expressions changed from confusion to delight the moment they saw Bing Yekong. "Young Master Yekong, you're back! We'll report to the family head immediately!"

Before Bing Yekong could say anything, one of them had already turned and rushed through the gates, shouting all the way, "Young Master Yekong is back!"

Bing Yekong shook his head helplessly, then smiled at the two seniors behind him. "Please don't mind them. Everyone at home is rather enthusiastic."

Yang Wudi was fine with it. Back in the Po Clan, his clansmen had always treated him with respect. Dugu Bo, on the other hand, felt somewhat uncomfortable. He had lived in seclusion for many years and was long accustomed to peace and quiet. Being greeted with such enthusiasm left him feeling a little at a loss.

Before long, Shui Qingrou appeared at the gates.

When she saw Bing Yekong standing outside, she first looked him over from head to toe. Only after confirming that he was neither missing an arm nor a leg did she let out a sigh of relief. Then her gaze fell upon the two men behind him.

When her eyes passed over Yang Wudi, she remained calm. But when her gaze shifted to Dugu Bo, her pupils abruptly contracted.

"This person... could he be...?"

She sensed the faint pressure of a Titled Douluo. Although Dugu Bo had tried his best to restrain it, the instinctive perception of a Soul Douluo toward a Titled Douluo still made her heart jolt.

"Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo." Bing Yekong stepped aside, clearing her line of sight. "Aunt Shui, this is Senior Dugu. He has now agreed to serve as an honored elder of the Shui Family. And this is Senior Yang Wudi, the clan head of the Po Clan. He has likewise agreed to serve as an honored elder of the Shui Family."

Shui Qingrou took a deep breath.

Even as a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, she could not stop her heartbeat from quickening when she heard the words "Poison Douluo." After all, Titled Douluo stood at the absolute peak of the Soul Master world in this era.

But Shui Qingrou was, after all, the head of a family, and she quickly composed herself.

She gave Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi a respectful bow appropriate for a junior. "It is a great honor for the Shui Family to receive the two Seniors in our humble home. I have already had guest rooms and a banquet prepared. Please come with me."

Her manner was neither servile nor arrogant. She did not grovel merely because one of them was a Titled Douluo, nor did she put on airs as the family head. Her bearing was perfectly measured.

Dugu Bo nodded to himself in approval, holding Shui Qingrou in higher regard. As for Yang Wudi, there was even less need to mention it. He had never cared much for formalities. Seeing how sincerely Shui Qingrou treated others, he had already placed her in the category of someone worth getting along with.

"Then we'll trouble you."

Dugu Bo rarely spoke so politely as he followed Shui Qingrou inside.

Shui Qingrou moved quickly. While arranging accommodations for the two seniors, she instructed the kitchen to prepare the evening banquet and also remembered to have Bing Yekong's room cleaned again.

Watching her rush back and forth between several courtyards, Bing Yekong felt a little guilty and stepped forward on his own initiative. "Aunt Shui, how about I arrange Senior Dugu and Senior Yang's accommodations? Don't tire yourself out."

Shui Qingrou turned around and glared at him, her eyes carrying a trace of affectionate reproach. "You've been away from home for over a month. All your aunt wanted was for you to return safely. What does this little bit of work amount to? Don't worry about it. Go rest, and I'll call you when the banquet is ready."

Unable to argue with her, Bing Yekong could only nod.

However, he did not hurry back to his room to rest. Instead, he brought Yang Wudi to the alchemy room that had been prepared for him.

"Senior Yang, this way."

The Shui Family estate truly was large. Though its main residence occupied less than a tenth of the land the Clear Sky Sect once had, it was still enough to house dozens of people. The alchemy room Shui Qingrou had arranged for Yang Wudi was tucked away in a quiet corner of the rear courtyard, far from the noise and open to the air on all sides, making it ideal for refining medicine.

The moment he pushed open the door, Yang Wudi's eyes lit up.

The room was roughly thirty paces square. At its center stood a brand-new alchemy furnace, apparently forged from refined meteorite iron. Around it were fully stocked pill racks, medicine cabinets, jade bottles, and other items. A small section in the corner had even been set aside to grow several common auxiliary herbs.

"This..."

Yang Wudi quickly walked to the alchemy furnace and reached out to touch its walls. Feeling its smooth, warm texture, a bright smile like that of an old child appeared on his face.

"Good furnace! This is a fine furnace!"

He turned to Bing Yekong, surprise evident in his tone. "Yekong, where did you get this furnace? This furnace alone must have cost more than a thousand gold soul coins."

Bing Yekong smiled. "Aunt Shui specially prepared it for you, Senior. Before I left, I mentioned that I intended to invite an alchemy master back as a guest. I didn't expect Aunt Shui to take it to heart and have everything prepared within a month."

Yang Wudi's expression shifted slightly.

Though he was usually careless and rough around the edges, he understood perfectly well in his heart.