Back to Nuoding, Little Gifts

In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

In the grove on Blue Tyrant Academy's Back Mountain, morning sunlight filtered through the leaves and branches, scattering dappled light and shadow.

Yu Xiaogang packed his simple belongings and had just stepped out of the courtyard when he saw Liu Erlong already waiting at the gate.

Yu Xiaogang shook his head with a smile. "Erlong, you really don't need to come along. I'm only going back to Nuoding City for a visit. I'll be back in a while."

"Hmph, I don't care."

Liu Erlong tossed her chin. "I'm coming with you. What if you hide away again? After so many years apart, I can't rest easy letting you run off alone."

Looking into her eyes, which were filled with determination, Yu Xiaogang sighed helplessly, though a trace of warmth rose in his eyes. "All right, all right. Come with me, then."

He turned to Dugu Yan, who stood nearby to see them off, and reminded her, "Yanyan, stay at the academy and focus on cultivating while I'm away. Remember the medicinal baths I arranged for you, and your Six Styles training. Don't slack off. I'll check when I return."

Dugu Yan nodded obediently. "All right, Teacher, don't worry! I'll train hard and wait for you to come back and check."

Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction, then turned and left Blue Tyrant Academy with Liu Erlong.

After several days of dusty travel, the two finally reached Nuoding City.

Standing before the gates of Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, Liu Erlong looked up at the rather plain signboard. "This is where you were staying before?"

Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly. "That's right. Guess who founded this academy?"

"Who?"

Liu Erlong turned to look at him.

The corners of Yu Xiaogang's mouth curved slightly. "Brother Liu."

Liu Erlong froze for a moment. "Liu Bai? He opened an academy too? That big lout actually became a dean?"

"Why don't we go in and see?"

They crossed the campus and followed the familiar path all the way to the training grounds on the Back Mountain.

From afar, they saw a tall, straight figure practicing punches in the grounds, his fists whipping up fierce gusts with the force of a tiger. It was Liu Bai.

Sensing someone approaching, Liu Bai drew back his fists and turned. The moment he saw Yu Xiaogang, a smile spread across his face. "Xiaogang! You're back!"

Then his gaze landed on Liu Erlong beside Yu Xiaogang. He froze briefly before bursting into laughter. "Erlong! Hahahaha, you actually came! Xiaogang, you've finally come around!"

With her hands on her hips, Liu Erlong sized Liu Bai up and down, clicking her tongue and shaking her head. "Liu Bai, you actually opened an academy too? Tsk, tsk, tsk. With those brains of yours, can you manage an academy properly?"

"Hey!"

Liu Bai glared indignantly.

"I've got Xiaogang, haven't I? He helps me run it, and I'm happy to take it easy!"

"Xiaogang won't be staying here at Nuoding Academy with you anymore."

Liu Erlong hooked her arm through Yu Xiaogang's, her eyes curving with her smile.

Seeing her like this, Liu Bai glanced at Yu Xiaogang, his expression growing teasing. "Well, well! You two finally got back together. Watching you back then had me worried sick. Every day, all I could do was stare helplessly on your behalf."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head with a smile. "What happened back then is in the past. Let all that came before be as though it died yesterday; let all that comes after be as though it was born today."

Liu Bai scratched the back of his head. "You really are a learned fellow. I didn't understand a damn word."

Liu Erlong rolled her eyes at him without restraint. "Liu Bai, you really are uncultured! What a fine thing my Xiaogang just said!"

"Yes, yes, your Xiaogang is the best!"

Liu Bai waved with a laugh, raising his hands in surrender before sweeping one hand outward.

"Come on, since you're here, don't just stand around. Let's sit inside!"

The three headed toward the dean's office, chatting and laughing.

Another two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Within Nuoding City, two figures walked one behind the other along the bustling streets.

"Brother, do you think Teacher will like these things?"

Tang San hefted the books in his hands and smiled. "Teacher loves studying all sorts of texts. These should suit his tastes."

"Hehe, I bought Teacher a new set of clothes."

Xiao Wu patted the bundle on her back and raised her chin proudly.

"I spent ages choosing it."

"Teacher will definitely like it."

Chatting and laughing along the way, they returned to Nuoding Academy and immediately headed straight for Yu Xiaogang's little courtyard.

"Teacher! We're back!"

Xiao Wu pushed open the courtyard gate and eagerly called inside.

"Teacher, did you miss your adorable Xiao Wu?"

But when she lifted the door curtain, Xiao Wu froze.

A woman actually walked out of the room. She looked to be in her thirties, with red hair falling loosely over her shoulders and striking, elegant features. "You must be Xiaogang's two disciples."

Tang San stopped in his tracks and asked politely, "And you are?"

Liu Erlong covered her mouth and chuckled. "I suppose I'm your teacher's wife."

"Teacher's wife?!"

They spoke in unison. Tang San's expression was fairly composed; he was mostly surprised.

Xiao Wu's mouth, however, fell wide open, her jaw nearly dropping to the floor. "Teacher actually has a wife? He never mentioned it before!"

"Ahem."

Yu Xiaogang emerged from the inner room, still holding an open volume.

"Xiao San, Xiao Wu, let me introduce you. This is Liu Erlong. She is indeed your teacher's wife."

"Greetings, Teacher's wife!"

The two hurriedly offered proper bows.

"Oh, no need, no need. Since you're Xiaogang's disciples, you're my disciples too. Don't be so formal."

Liu Erlong rose and reached them in two steps, leaning closer to look them over before nodding in satisfaction.

"Just what I'd expect of Xiaogang's disciples. Come, come, hurry inside and sit down!"

Xiao Wu was lively by nature. Seeing how welcoming Liu Erlong was, most of her nervousness immediately melted away. Grinning, she untied the bundle on her back. "Hehe, you're so nice! Teacher, I brought you a present!"

She opened the bundle and shook out a brand-new gray robe. "Ta-da! I picked this out especially for you! The shopkeeper said this fabric suited scholars best."

Liu Erlong leaned over to look and nodded approvingly. "Mm, Xiao Wu, you have good taste."

"Hehe!"

Tang San also handed over the books he had bought. "Teacher, I found these at a secondhand bookstall in the city. They're all sole surviving copies of texts on Soul Beasts."

Yu Xiaogang took them and leafed through them, his brows stirring slightly. "Mm, these really are rare. That was thoughtful of you."

Liu Erlong stood and clapped her hands. "All right, all right, you keep chatting. I'll go cook a few dishes."

With that, she bustled into the kitchen. Before long, the clatter of pots, bowls, ladles, and pans came from inside.

Watching Liu Erlong's retreating figure, Yu Xiaogang's lips curved. Then he turned to his two disciples. "It seems you haven't been slacking off these past two months. Both of you have improved your Soul Power."

"Mm-hmm!"

Xiao Wu nodded eagerly.

"We've both been cultivating diligently these past two months! I can already stamp five times in succession with Shave."

Yu Xiaogang nodded with a smile. "You prepared gifts for your teacher, and naturally, I've prepared something too."

As he spoke, he took two Jade Boxes from the Wishful Hundred Treasure Pouch and placed them on the table. "Open them and have a look."