The Departing Xue Yan and Her Daughter, the Lost Trident!

"Forget it, forget it. Didn't you already pay for lodging before?"

"That's enough. I don't want anything else. I'm not a greedy person."

Qin Qi scratched his head sheepishly. If he hadn't still been groggy that morning—

he would have stopped Xue Yan and the others from going to the Far North back then.

"I know you're a kind child, but please accept it."

"If you don't, we won't feel right about it."

Xue Yan was very firm. She walked straight up to Qin Qi and crouched down.

Then she put the Gold Soul Coins into the belly pocket of his penguin suit.

"Then... all right, I'll accept them."

Qin Qi patted his little belly, feeling the weight of the Gold Soul Coins.

So this was the weight of money? It really felt substantial!

"That's more like it."

"By the way, little Qin Qi, why aren't you in school if you're a Soul Master?"

"Is it because you don't have money?"

Looking at Qin Qi, Xue Yan suddenly thought of something and asked.

"Actually, it's because I don't want to go."

"My Innate Soul Power is only level three. I figured that even if I worked hard, I wouldn't achieve much."

"So I couldn't be bothered to work hard. Besides, there are people at home who need me to take care of them."

"Compared to going to school, compared to pursuing so-called strength, I prefer living happily with Doro, Guga, and everyone else."

Qin Qi reached out and hugged Guga and Doro, a happy smile appearing on his face.

If he had merely been drifting through life before, then now he had found what he wanted.

He wanted to live happily with Doro and Guga.

"Is that so? I was actually planning to invite you to Heaven Dou City with us."

"Although Skywater Academy doesn't accept boys, I could teach you personally."

"But it seems you probably won't leave this place, will you?"

A somewhat disappointed expression appeared on Xue Yan's face. She had originally intended to invite Qin Qi back to Skywater Academy with her.

But after hearing Qin Qi's words and looking around at the warm surroundings, she felt that he would not leave.

"Yeah. Sorry, but this is my home. I'll never leave my home."

There was no hesitation in Qin Qi's eyes as he said this. Every brick and tile here—

every piece of furniture and every corner held memories of him living with Doro, Guga, and everyone else.

Even though it snowed here often and buying supplies was troublesome, he still liked this place.

"Doro. (Human is right. This is our home. We won't leave home.)"

"Doro. (I won't leave Human either. We'll always be family!)"

Doro hugged Qin Qi tightly, her cute little face filled with seriousness.

She liked Qin Qi, and she liked this place too. Orange tasted good, but it was not because Orange itself was delicious.

It was because Qin Qi had given it to her, because she could eat Orange with Guga and her friends.

"Guga, guga. (I like Human the most, and I like Doro the most!)"

Guga also hugged Qin Qi tightly. She liked this place too, and she would never leave home.

"Although I can't understand what these little ones are saying, I can roughly understand what they mean."

"Little Qin Qi, if you ever need anything in the future, come find us. We'll definitely help."

Xue Yan looked at the three little ones, feeling an unprecedented warmth from them.

She turned to look at her daughter and could not help reaching out to pull her into her arms.

"You can come even if there's nothing wrong. You're always welcome to visit. When the time comes, I'll definitely show you around the academy properly."

Xue Wu said.

"Mm. I'll go when I have time."

Qin Qi nodded. He would not leave home, but taking an occasional trip did not sound bad.

"Doro, doro. (Doro will go visit too.)"

Doro raised her little hand and spoke up.

"Guga. (Guga too.)"

Guga quickly spoke up as well.

"Let's pinky promise."

Xue Wu held out her little finger. "It's a promise. You have to come play with me someday."

"Okay, but I don't think I can pinky promise."

Qin Qi raised his hand. The little flippers built into his penguin suit kept his fingers completely covered.

"Guga?!"

Guga lowered her head to look at her own little flippers, her face filling with surprise. She had just realized that she could not pinky promise either!

"Doro! (We can just stack our hands together!)"

Doro came up with a good idea and jumped up as she spoke.

"Good idea."

Qin Qi placed his hand on Xue Wu's. Doro climbed onto Qin Qi and put her hand on top of his.

Guga climbed onto Doro and placed her hand on top of Doro's.

"It's a promise!"

The four of them spoke together, then pressed their palms down sharply. Once they had finished, all four of them laughed.

A child's happiness was that simple, and making friends was that simple too.

"Children's friendship is so wonderful."

Standing nearby, Xue Yan wore a fond smile as she spoke.

"Yes. By the way, are you planning to book Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's full funeral service in advance now?"

Zhongli nodded, then asked.

"Mr. Zhongli, could you please stay away from me? I don't want to talk to you."

Xue Yan fell silent for a moment, then shifted farther away with a disgusted expression.

Even if this man was powerful, he was definitely incredibly annoying!

He was definitely unpopular! No girl would ever like him!

The heavy snow continued for several days. It was not until the seventh day that the wind and snow weakened somewhat.

Seizing the opportunity, Xue Yan and the others found suitable Soul Beasts to hunt and obtained their Soul Rings.

Once they had obtained their Soul Rings, they were ready to return. Before leaving, everyone held a proper celebration.

"Doro, doro, Orange!"

Doro said goodbye to Xue Wu very reluctantly, reaching out to give her the Orange she had been saving.

"Doro. (Whenever you eat Orange in the future, you have to think of Doro.)"

Doro said.

"Mm, thank you, Doro."

Xue Wu did not really understand Doro's meaning, but she still thanked her.

"Guga, guga. (This is Guga's Cookie. Human gave it to Guga, and now Guga is giving it to you.)"

"Guga. (Whenever you eat cookies in the future, you have to think of Guga.)"

Guga said goodbye to Xue Wu as well.

"Thank you too, Guga."

Xue Wu accepted the Cookie, then took out two hexagonal snowflake charms and gave them to Guga and Doro.

"I made these charms. Like my Martial Soul, they're beautiful snowflakes."

"Whenever you see them in the future, you have to think of me."

Xue Wu tied the snowflake charms onto Guga and Doro's little hands as she spoke.

"Guga!"

"Doro!"

Guga and Doro gave Xue Wu a big hug. At that moment, Qin Qi walked over as well.

"I don't have any precious gifts, but I learned a little mechanical craftsmanship from Fairy Chicken before."

"This is a music box I made myself. It doesn't look very good, but it can play music."

Qin Qi took out a plain, crude box without any decoration. He opened it, and the gears inside began to turn.

Music began to play, but the sound was a little grating and choppy. Overall, it was nowhere near as good as what Xianyun made.

"Thank you. I'll treasure it forever."

"But I only made two snowflake charms, so..."

Xue Wu walked over to Qin Qi, bent down slightly, and kissed his forehead.

"Let this count as my gift to you. Remember to come find me at Skywater Academy later."

Xue Wu gave him a sweet smile, then got up and skipped back to Xue Yan's side.

"Bye-bye."

Xue Yan and Xue Wu waved.

"Bye-bye."

Qin Qi, Doro, Guga, and Zhongli all waved goodbye to Xue Yan and the others.

Everyone watched the two of them leave, only heading back after they had disappeared completely from sight.

When they returned inside, Qin Qi had just sat down on the sofa when a Guga suddenly appeared out of thin air.

"Guga, guga. (Waaah, Ancestor, my precious Trident is gone!)"

Guga threw herself straight into Qin Qi's Guga's arms and burst into loud tears.