Bluestone Village

Lu Feng poured her a cup of tea, which Lu Shuang took and held in her hands, but did not drink it immediately.

"I didn't expect that you would actually break through to the Great Grandmaster after only a month."

Lu Shuang looked at Lu Feng and sighed.

She herself was only at the Mid-Stage Grandmaster. A month ago in Canglan City, the gap between the two wasn't this large.

Now, a new level has been reached.

"Just lucky. By the way, why are you back again?"

Lu Shuang paused for a moment, her hand holding the teacup still.

She lowered her head, watching the tea leaves floating in the cup, and remained silent for a moment.

"I..."

She opened her mouth, but didn't say anything.

Lu Feng could tell she didn't want to talk about it, so he changed the subject and briefly recounted what happened after Lu Shuang left.

After listening, Lu Shuang remained silent for a long time, her eyes somewhat unfocused.

"I never imagined the gap between us had grown so large," Lu Shuang murmured to herself.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

Hearing Lu Feng speak, Lu Shuang snapped out of her reverie and looked at him again.

"So you're planning to stay in the West City Demon-Slaying Bureau as its Deputy Si Zheng?"

"How could that be? Once everything is settled here, I'll return to the North City Demon-Slaying Bureau."

Lu Feng waved his hand; he didn't want to be the Deputy Si Zheng even a day longer.

"Are we going back to North City to find Su Ying?" Lu Shuang asked subconsciously.

"I recently acquired a piece of material; I need to go back to the North City to have someone forge a Spirit Artifact."

Upon hearing this, Lu Shuang smiled slightly.

Why are you explaining all this to me? I didn't ask.

Lu Feng opened his mouth, even though she had asked the question first; he was just answering her question.

But Lu Feng didn't say it aloud. He felt that if he actually said it, something would seem off.

"I still need to report back to Elder Song, I have to go!" Lu Shuang then stood up and said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng did not try to stop her, but escorted her to the entrance of the cave.

After Lu Shuang left, Lu Feng turned around and went back to his cave.

In the days that followed, fewer and fewer people sought out Lu Feng.

Lu Shuang and Ji Qingqing, however, would come every few days to report on the progress of the reconstruction of the West City Demon-Slaying Bureau.

Lu Feng mostly just listened, occasionally offering a word or two of advice.

Half a month later, all matters concerning the West City Demon-Slaying Bureau were basically arranged.

The personnel who provided support in each city are also preparing to return home.

On this day, a long, Wind-Breaking Boat, several tens of feet long, was moored in the square.

Song Xuanji and Lu Qingshan stood below the boat, with disciples from various cities behind them. Lu Shuang stood beside Song Xuanji.

"Brother Xiao, Brother Lu, do you really not need me to escort you back to the North City?"

Song Xuanji looked at Xiao Tianqi and Lu Feng and spoke.

"No need! I'll be back at the North City Demon-Slaying Bureau in no time! Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!"

Xiao Tianqi and Lu Feng took off and flew north.

Seeing the two leave, Song Xuanji instructed everyone to board the boat. Then, the Wind-Breaking Boat slowly rose into the air and headed towards Central Province.

Lu Shuang stood on the deck of the flying boat, watching the dark figure grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight, before turning around and returning to her room.

Lu Feng had long planned to fly back to North City himself.

Therefore, he specifically checked where there were areas with a high concentration of monsters on his return route.

After flying for several hours, a dense forest came into view.

Lu Feng greeted Xiao Tianqi, drew his Ink-Sunken Saber, and flew straight into the depths of the forest.

Xiao Tianqi landed on a boulder outside the forest, his hands behind his back, waiting.

Soon, the forest echoed with the mournful roars of monstrous beasts, one after another.

"I really don't know why this kid likes killing monsters so much."

Xiao Tianqi looked towards the woods and muttered something under his breath.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the woods fell completely silent.

Lu Feng's figure emerged from the shadows of the trees, just as he had when he left, and then the two set off again.

Lu Feng was initially a little embarrassed to have Xiao Tianqi wait for him on his journey.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Tianqi didn't care at all and even said that he was ready to help him kill the monsters along the way.

And so, Lu Feng continued his journey, slaying demons and monsters as he flew towards the North City.

Before we knew it, it was getting dark.

"There's a village not far ahead. Why don't we stay there for the night and set off again tomorrow?"

Upon hearing Xiao Tianqi's words, Lu Feng naturally had no objection, and the two then headed towards the village.

The village is small, with only a few dozen households, half of which are empty and have long been uninhabited.

The two landed and saw a hunched old man walking towards them from a distance.

The old man had dark arms, wore a tattered old garment, with most of his arms exposed, was barefoot, and carried a load of weeds taller than himself on his back.

"Brother, it's getting late. We'd like to ask if we can stay here for the night...?"

"Nonsense!"

Hearing the voice, the old man looked up and saw Lu Feng and the other man. A smile immediately bloomed on his tired face.

"There are plenty of empty houses in the village. As long as you two don't mind that our place is shabby, please feel free to stay!"

"Grandpa, let me help you!"

Seeing that the old man's chest was soaked with sweat, Lu Feng stepped forward to help him unload the weeds from his back.

"How could I possibly trouble you, young master!"

The old man dodged to the side, waving his hands repeatedly.

"This grass is sharp and can cut your hand; it wouldn't be good if it hurts the young master!"

As he spoke, he carried the grass on his back and led the way for the two of them.

After walking about a hundred meters, we saw several mud-brick houses made of weeds and rammed earth.

"This is my home. Please wait a moment."

The old man unloaded the weeds at the entrance of a shed made of a few logs, inside which a large yellow ox was kept.

He picked up a handful of weeds and fed them to the ox, then walked up to Lu Feng and the other man, and called out loudly into the house:

"Old woman! We have guests! Quickly heat up the food!"

After calling out, he turned to the side and gestured for the two to come inside.

Lu Feng wanted to decline, but seeing Xiao Tianqi already chatting with the old man as he walked inside, he had no choice but to follow.

The room was small, and a lot of clutter was piled up in the corner, making it seem a bit cramped.

"It's a bit messy, please forgive me! I'll go inside for a moment." After saying this, the old man went into the inner room.

A moment later, an old woman came out of another room, carrying two bowls of vegetarian dishes.

"If you two don't mind, please make do with this," the old woman said, placing the bowl on the table and looking at the two of them.

"No problem at all! Thank you so much, sister!"

"Is your eldest sister fifty years old this year?"

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on the old woman's face.

"What do you mean, 'old lady'? I'm an old woman who's been eating for seventy years!"

"Oh? Really? I never would have guessed!"

Xiao Tianqi and the old woman chatted enthusiastically, one after the other.

Lu Feng sat alone to the side, unable to get a word in edgewise.

In his memory, Xiao Tianqi had always been a man of few words. When did he become so talkative?

However, from their conversation, Lu Feng learned that the place was called Bluestone Village.

Only 27 households remain in the village, mostly inhabited by elderly people.

The younger generation has all gone to the towns to make a living, and they only come back once a year during holidays.