As she stepped inside, the familiar layout and smells greeted Roxy, easing her taut nerves a little.
The house was still built around the enormous shell of a Great King Land Turtle, its natural form embodying the Demon Continent's rugged, sturdy style.
The interior was just as she remembered: one enormous communal sleeping space, its warm air filled with the mingled smells of animal hides and firewood.
Tribal custom required them to remove their shoes upon entering and walk barefoot across the pleasantly warm floor.
At the center of the room was a stone-lined hearth, where flames danced merrily, providing both heat for the entire house and a place to cook.
Yet changes in the details silently spoke of passing years and improving lives.
A few years ago, their so-called beds had been nothing more than a few scattered scraps of animal hide laid on the hard floor.
Now, every inch of floor she could see was completely covered in thick, soft pelts from enormous beasts, all meticulously cleaned.
That change alone suggested that life had become much better for the tribe.
Afternoon sunlight slanted through windows deliberately cut into the shell, bathing everything inside in warm gold.
Beside the hearth, a blue-haired woman whose build closely resembled Roxy's, but whose bearing was gentler and more mature, was busy preparing dinner.
Her hair was arranged in a neat braid on one side, and every movement radiated maternal tenderness.
"It's been a while, Aunt Rokari," Cui Ciyou greeted her first with a smile.
Hearing that familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar voice, the blue-haired woman paused and turned around.
When her gaze fell on Cui Ciyou and Roxy, whose hand he held tightly beside him, incomparable delight blossomed across her face.
"Ciyou! You... you brought Roxy home!"
The overjoyed mother practically dropped her