One month later.
Beside a clear lake.
This was the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
At the junction between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire.
This was a place for slipping across the border. Once travelers passed through the Star Dou Great Forest and walked a little farther, they could reach the Star Luo Empire.
It was also the place the sisters Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhulin had passed through eight years ago.
Today, the two of them had returned.
Hu Liena had safely returned to Spirit Hall a week ago, while the others had been settled in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to cultivate.
Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhulin were going back for their Second Brother, Zhu Zhufeng.
They had another purpose as well: to see Xiao Wu.
The sisters still wore black robes and masks. They did not want trouble; they only wanted to hurry back and see their Second Brother.
Looking at the boundless Star Dou Great Forest ahead, Zhu Zhulin murmured:
"Little sister, it's been eight years since we left the family, hasn't it? Honestly, I'm a little homesick."
Yet as she spoke, her gaze noticeably shifted, as though she were recalling something unpleasant.
Zhu Zhuqing did not see her sister's expression. She was looking straight ahead, her spiritual power already probing into the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Big sister, we'll be home soon. Let's go this way. There are fewer soul beasts over here." Her powerful spiritual power allowed Zhu Zhuqing to clearly perceive every soul beast hidden within several hundred meters ahead.
"Mm." Zhu Zhulin shook her head, smiled, and followed her younger sister as they swiftly slipped forward.
After eight years, they were no longer the Two-Ring Soul Master and Three-Ring Soul Elder they had once been.