Qing Xuan looked at the Five-Colored Divine Light she had now fully withdrawn and smiled. "You haven't neglected your cultivation over the years."
"Of course not. I knew you'd ask when you came back, Master, so I've been cultivating properly."
Kong Xuan spoke as though it went without saying. Then, as if something had occurred to her, her eyes lit up again.
"Master's wife, Aunt Nuwa has cultivated several new varieties of Spiritual Fruit over the years. I saved some of each for you."
The young Daoist raised an eyebrow, his smile teasing. "None for me?"
"I saved some."
Kong Xuan looked at him, a hint of amusement she could not hide in her eyes.
"But you clearly said before that you didn't like Spiritual Fruit, Master."
Qing Xuan had said it offhandedly back then. He had never expected the girl to remember it so clearly after nearly two Epoch Cycles.
"There's no harm in tasting some now and then."
"Then I'll share some with you, Master." Kong Xuan let go of Qing Yi and walked ahead to lead them.
Her steps were much lighter than usual, and even the scarlet tassels hanging from her hair swayed gently with her movements.
But after walking a short distance, she turned back and returned to Qing Yi's side.
Nuwa and Fuxi had already come down from the mountain.
Once they had exchanged greetings, Nuwa's gaze settled on Kong Xuan's face, and she could not help smiling.
"Just a few days ago, she was saying that if you still didn't return, she would go to the Purple Star herself to look. Now that you're here, she hasn't mentioned it once."
"The great formation outside the Purple Emperor Palace was sealed. Even if I went, I couldn't get in."
Kong Xuan showed no embarrassment