Since they were heading back entirely on foot, their return was much, much slower this time.
The journey back was also unusually peaceful. Aside from the laughter from Fufu and Ning Rongrong that drifted over now and then, the road was quiet.
Fufu really was popular with girls.
Beside them, Chen Xin calmly looked ahead, but Lin Xing could sense his gaze constantly wandering between Fufu and Ning Rongrong.
His darling granddaughter was no longer being affectionate with him, so Chen Xin certainly wasn't in a good mood.
Still, Ning Rongrong couldn't be called heartless for this. She could see Chen Xin whenever she wanted, while Fufu could vanish at any moment. Their order of priority went without saying.
It took a full hour for them to make it back to camp.
"It's about time, Rongrong. We should head back."
A gentle smile returned to Chen Xin's face. Seeing this, Lin Xing glanced at Fufu.
Fufu shot Lin Xing a sidelong look, then coolly turned her head away to sulk by herself.
Lin Xing had absolutely no intention of going over to coax her, because an angry Fufu really was cuter than her usual self.
Unfortunately, he didn't have a camera on hand, or he definitely would have taken a few more pictures to keep.
When Fufu saw that Lin Xing still hadn't come to coax her after so long, she couldn't help growing even angrier. She turned her whole body away so he couldn't look at her.
Ning Rongrong tilted her head and gave Lin Xing a puzzled look, then looked at her dear big sister Furina beside her, unable to make sense of what exactly was going on between them.
Still, she answered Chen Xin.
"All right, then. I'll listen to Grandpa Sword this time."
Chen Xin's smile deepened. He looked at Rongrong hugging Furina in the distance, finding the sight displeasing no matter how he looked at it. Afraid his dear Rongrong might refuse to leave with him later, Chen Xin simply cast Lin Xing a sidelong glance and began pressuring him.
Lin Xing lowered his eyes to his nose, then his nose toward his heart.
"The weather sure is lovely today."
"Wouldn't you agree, Teacher?"
Chen Xin: ...
The pressure around Chen Xin sank a little as he silently stared at Lin Xing. Everyone else in the camp, apart from Fufu, was looking at Lin Xing too.
"All right, all right."
Lin Xing could only reach out and recall Fufu.
Still sulking, Fufu hadn't received any comforting words from Lin Xing. Sitting in the Sea of Consciousness, she grew even angrier.
Come on, Fufu, don't be angry. Once we get back, I'll buy you a whole pile of little cakes.
Fufu really was easy to coax. At least, after those words, Lin Xing could clearly see her cowlick twitch and her eyes brighten.
Hmph. Well... fine, then. I suppose I'll reluctantly forgive you.
Lin Xing suddenly felt that he really was far too wicked.
And Fufu was far too easy to fool.
He had soothed an angry Fufu with nothing more than a pile of little cakes, and it was only a verbal promise at that. He hadn't even given her anything tangible.
Sometimes, he really wondered whether, if he let Fufu roam Douluo Continent alone, someone could lure her away with little cakes, sell her off, and still have her help count the money.
Of course, that was only a passing thought. Fufu only behaved like this with him because she trusted him. If anyone else dared harbor ill intentions toward her, Fufu could scatter even their ashes.
Seeing Fufu disappear, Chen Xin's expression finally became completely natural.
Ning Rongrong was the only disappointed person there.
"All right, Rongrong. Let's go."
Smiling, Chen Xin stepped forward and scooped Ning Rongrong into his arms. The Seven Kill Sword lifted him straight up, and he flew off with a whoosh.
"You little brat, follow them."
All he left behind was that irresponsible instruction.
Lin Xing merely shook his head helplessly.
He reached out to recall the Intent that had remained attached to Chen Xin. A blue current returned from the distance and sank back into Lin Xing's body.
"Seniors, I'll be going ahead. Hurry along."
As he spoke, a Seven Kill Sword likewise rose beneath Lin Xing's feet, and he followed closely after Chen Xin.
Only the guards remained, exchanging looks.
Lin Xing activated his Fufu form and accelerated at full speed, soon catching up with Chen Xin.
When he saw Lin Xing following him, particularly the Seven Kill Sword beneath his feet, Chen Xin instantly understood what the Intent that had just flown off his body had been for.
Ever since activating the Clear Abyss of the Azure Stream, this brat had kept a portion of his Intent attached to him. Chen Xin hadn't bothered with it.
Partly, he was confident in his own strength, and partly, Lin Xing was unlikely to attack him. Sparring was another matter, of course. Then, this little brat really would use every dirty trick on him.
"Teacher, aren't you surprised?"
"There's nothing to be surprised about."
"It was that Intent just now, wasn't it? You used it to observe the flow of my Soul Power and the state of my body while I used my Soul Skill, then replicated my power."
"That's exactly right."
It wasn't strange that Chen Xin could see through all this.
"But... you only imitated the flow of my Soul Power, reproducing my sword in the same way. However..."
The corners of Chen Xin's lips curled upward.
"Hold on tight, Rongrong."
As he spoke, Soul Power surged around Chen Xin.
"Third Soul Skill, Sword Wings Soar!"
Whoosh!
With a sound of rushing air, Chen Xin shot away.
His speed soared in a straight line.
Seeing this, Lin Xing unhurriedly extended a hand.
"Domain Expansion!"
"Court of Surging Conviction!"
Lin Xing performed a 0.2-second Domain Expansion, instantly closing the distance between himself and Chen Xin on a spatial level. The 0.2-second Domain Expansion caused no substantial change to the surroundings.
Looking at Lin Xing, who had suddenly appeared beside him, Chen Xin visibly froze for a moment. Only afterward did the strange sensation brought by the Court of Surging Conviction reach him.
"You little rascal, you really do have an excellent mind for combat."
Chen Xin laughed, then increased his speed again.
Lin Xing unhurriedly repeated the process above. His Intent had already memorized Chen Xin's scent. Unless the distance was especially absurd, or one of a very few exceptional circumstances arose, the Court of Surging Conviction could affect Chen Xin.
Chen Xin flew faster and faster, until the distance between them finally stretched to a kilometer in an instant. Only someone above rank ninety-five like Chen Xin could manage that.
Perhaps certain spatial Soul Masters could do it too.
Lin Xing was out of options now. One kilometer was his limit under normal conditions.
So he summoned the Splendor of Tranquil Waters, boosting his attributes once more. With a light forward tap of his cane, he directly locked onto Chen Xin, who had already flown far away, then activated the Court of Surging Conviction again.
The distance closed once more. Chen Xin turned his head for a look, and when he saw the Splendor of Tranquil Waters in Lin Xing's hand, he stopped accelerating.
This brat was an outright monster. Without fully activating his Martial Soul, he could actually lock directly onto him from so far away and expand his domain.
He might as well have written "I'm using cheats" on his face.