She turned back. Xiong Er stood at the cave entrance and had not followed them out.
The black bear stood upright at the edge of the shadows, watching them with round eyes.
Yang Wanqing walked back and reached up to stroke his head.
"Xiong Er."
Xiong Er leaned his head toward her and nuzzled her palm.
"You need to hurry up and cultivate, okay?" Yang Wanqing looked at him earnestly. "I want to see what you look like in human form. Will you be tall and big? Or short and chubby?"
Xiong Er let out a low whine, opening and closing his mouth.
"Okay, okay, take your time. No rush." Yang Wanqing gave the fur on top of his head one last vigorous rub. "I'll come see you again."
She turned and ran toward the aircraft.
Xiong Er stood at the cave entrance and raised a forepaw.
He waved at them.
The movement was clumsy, but its meaning was clear.
Yang Wanqing looked back from the cabin door and caught sight of him. "Yaoyao, look! He's waving at us!"
Chen Siyao was already seated. She glanced through the window at the black figure by the cave entrance.
"He's better behaved than you."
"Hmph! What's that supposed to mean?"
The aircraft's engine started. A gust swept across the platform, shaking the old pine beside the cave entrance.
Xiong Er's figure grew smaller and smaller.
Finally, he became a tiny black dot and disappeared into the clouds and mist.
The aircraft turned around and headed back to Pengcheng.
Yang Wanqing leaned against the window for a long time, watching until Shushan's outline vanished completely from sight.
"Master."
"Yes?"
"Will Xiong Er come to Pengcheng someday too? Once he takes human form?"
Chen Hao reclined in his seat without opening his eyes.
"That's