"I'm back!"
Xiao Bai gazed at the lovely figure before him with gentle eyes and spoke softly.
Xun'er looked at the long-missed figure in front of her. A graceful smile appeared on her delicate face as she slowly stepped forward.
"Brother Xiao Bai!"
With a soft call, she rushed into Xiao Bai's embrace like a swallow returning to its nest, tightly holding onto him as if she was savoring the familiar scent that brought her peace of mind.
Xiao Bai gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist, inhaling the faint fragrance that emanated from her. His heart felt incomparably warm.
"My Xun'er has grown up!" Xiao Bai murmured with emotion, noticing that the girl in his arms had gotten a little taller.
Hearing this, Xun'er gently lifted her head from his embrace, her beautiful watery eyes filled with affection. She reached out with a small hand and lightly stroked his now more composed and dignified face.
"And my Brother Xiao Bai has become more mature!"
Xiao Bai gazed at her in silence. At this moment, holding Xun'er in his arms, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
After a while, Xiao Bai gently released Xun'er and turned to look at Xiao Yan. He sized him up for a moment before nodding. "Ninth Stage of Dou Zhi Qi. Not bad!"
There was less than a month until the Xiao Clan's annual test. According to the original timeline, Xiao Yan should only be at Seventh stage Dou Zhi Qi at this point. Now, he was two levels higher.
It seemed that the Foundation Establishment Elixir Xiao Bai had refined was quite effective for Xiao Yan's condition. The Thunderforce and Yi Wood energy it contained had helped him recover quickly.
"Hehe… Brother Bai, if you had come back a few days later, I'd already be a Dou Zhe!" Xiao Yan brushed his bangs aside, looking smug and boasting shamelessly.
"Oh? Then it's perfect. Yao Lao and I have some matters to handle, and it will take a month or two. Shall we leave now and return when you've become a Dou Zhe?" Xiao Bai teased with a smirk.
After all, the Foundation Establishment Elixir was something he had refined. He might not know its exact effects, but he certainly knew how long it would last.
"No, no! Brother Bai, you finally came back! How can you pass by home without entering? Let's go home and sit for a while, just sit for a while!" Xiao Yan hurriedly grabbed Xiao Bai's arm, flashing a fawning smile.
Though he knew Xiao Bai was joking, he was genuinely afraid that he would leave again. That would be a disaster for the next two months!
It was easy to adapt to luxury, but hard to return to hardship. After experiencing the joy of using medicinal elixirs, who would want to grind through bitter cultivation?
"Haha..." Xiao Bai shook his head with a smile. This guy's shamelessness was only increasing. Then, his expression turned cold as he glanced at the middle-aged man and the young man standing nearby.
"Xiao Yan, tell me what happened."
Xiao Yan quickly recounted everything that had transpired.
"The Jia Lie Clan?" Xiao Bai looked at the two men with an indifferent gaze and chuckled mockingly.
He then turned to Xun'er and extended his hand, his expression warm. "Come, let's go home."
"Mhm!" Xun'er interlocked her fingers with his, her face blooming into a radiant smile as she nodded.
Xiao Bai gazed at her with doting eyes, letting her do as she pleased. Only after she nodded did he gently pull her along, heading toward Wu Tan City.
"Hai Bo Dong, Xiao Yan, let's go."
"Brother Bai… Brother Bai! What about them?" Xiao Yan quickly caught up, confused by Xiao Bai's actions. Weren't they going to deal with those two?
"I'm in a good mood today." Xiao Bai replied without looking back.
He hadn't expected Xun'er to be waiting outside the city for him, which had greatly lifted his spirits. At this moment, he didn't want to kill in front of her.
Walking a few hundred meters later, a thunderous explosion echoed from behind.
Xiao Yan quickly turned back, only to see the carriage completely shattered into pieces, the fragments catching fire. There was no trace of any people left. His eyes widened in shock.
"Xiao Yan, hurry up! Didn't you hear the thunder? It's going to rain!" A voice urged from ahead.
Xiao Yan looked up. The sun was blazing in the sky—where was the rain?!
He was speechless, unsure of how to even begin to complain.
*Brother Bai is getting more and more terrifying!*
Honestly, at this point, he was starting to lose interest in playing with fire…
He wanted to play with lightning instead!
This was the ultimate way to show off!
Xun'er suspected that her eyes were playing tricks on her. She couldn't help but rub them with her delicate hands, her gaze repeatedly shifting to Xiao Bai's sleeve.
Just now, she had clearly seen a flash of golden light dart into Brother Xiao Bai's sleeve.
Yet, he acted as if he hadn't noticed. With his Late Mortal Realm soul, if something was really there, it would be impossible for him not to sense it!
Had she really imagined it?
Seeing her adorable expression, Xiao Bai's eyes filled with amusement. He shook his sleeve slightly, and a flash of golden light appeared at the cuff.
"Hello, Little Mistress!"
A tiny golden dragon extended its small claws and waved at Xun'er.
"Brother Xiao Bai, this… this is?" Xun'er's small mouth opened slightly in astonishment. She hadn't been mistaken—there really was something there!
"I'll explain when we get back." Xiao Bai gently squeezed her small hand and winked with a smile.
Xun'er glanced around. They were about to enter the city gates, and there were people everywhere. She immediately understood.
"Brother Bai, you didn't do that on purpose, did you?" At this moment, Xiao Yan caught up, looking a bit frustrated.
"What do you mean?" Xiao Bai asked, puzzled.
"You deliberately timed it to save me at the last moment!" Xiao Yan spoke with mock distress. "Brother Bai, if you keep pulling off these last-second rescues, what if something actually happens to me one day? You'd lose me! Do you realize that?"
Xiao Yan had just recalled Xun'er's expression earlier—she had clearly known Brother Bai was nearby, yet he had waited until the danger reached its peak before stepping in. Something felt off about that.
Thinking back on the entire situation, Xiao Yan couldn't help but suspect—was this guy doing it on purpose?
Xiao Bai's eye twitched. He had expected Xiao Yan to say something serious, but this?
Damn it… since when did Xiao Yan start criticizing his last-second rescues? What kind of world was this turning into?!
Xiao Bai couldn't be bothered to respond. If there was anyone who had perfected the art of dramatic, last-moment rescues, it was definitely him!
---
Joking and chatting along the way, they soon arrived at the gates of the Xiao Clan estate.
"Xiao Yan, this is Elder Hai. Find him a small courtyard to stay in. You can ask your teacher about him if you're curious."
Xiao Bai removed a ring and handed it to Xiao Yan. Then, he turned to Hai Bodong.
"This is Xiao Yan, Yao Lao's disciple."
After a brief exchange of greetings, Xiao Yan led Elder Hai away.
Xiao Bai, however, remained where he was, standing before the familiar gates of the Xiao Clan, lost in thought.
"Brother Xiao Bai, what's wrong?" Xun'er noticed his dazed expression and gently shook his hand, her voice filled with concern.
She could sense a trace of complexity in his gaze but didn't understand why.
Xiao Bai snapped out of it, reached out to pat Xun'er's little head, and smiled. "It's nothing… I just want a home of my own."
He had only just realized—if Xiao Yan weren't here, and he needed to accommodate a guest, he would have to ask someone else for permission.
That feeling didn't sit well with him.
He disliked restrictions. He disliked this kind of dependence.
He wanted a place where he had full control. Or rather… a force of his own.
Xun'er was momentarily stunned. Then, thinking of Xiao Bai's background and what had just happened, she immediately understood.
"Brother Xiao Bai, you will have a home of your own."
She gazed at him with heartache, her voice soft yet resolute.
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