Bing Yekong's wound beneath his ribs throbbed faintly from her impact, but he did not dodge. He reached out and patted her back. "I went to take care of something. It wasn't convenient to talk about. I'm back now, and that's what matters."
Shui Yue'er lifted her head from his embrace, tears already streaming down her face. Her little face was scrunched into a mess. "You've gotten so much thinner... Why are you covered in injuries? What did you go do? Did you get into a fight? Why didn't you take me with you? I'm level forty-seven now!"
"Level forty-seven. Not bad." Bing Yekong patted her again. "Let's go inside first."
Shui Yue'er hastily wiped her face and dragged him into the courtyard by the arm. Her steps were quick and urgent as she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Sis! Sis! Come out! Look who's back!"
The curtain over the main hall entrance was lifted from within, and Shui Bing'er walked out.
She was more composed than she had been two years ago. The lively spark of a young girl still remained in her features, but it was now tempered by a reserved steadiness.
Her long aqua-blue hair fell to her waist, and she wore a plain white dress with the emblem of Tianshui Academy embroidered on its cuffs. The instant she saw Bing Yekong, her steps paused.
Then she smiled.
It was not a polite, perfunctory smile. It was genuine—the kind where her eyes curved and the corners of her mouth could not be held down.
"You're back," she said.
Her voice was soft, but the feeling within it was heavy.
Bing Yekong nodded. "I'm back."
Shui Bing'er walked over and stopped in front of him, examining him from head to toe. Her gaze lingered over his