This sect banquet went on all the way till the early hours of the morning.

Of course, the eating part ended pretty quickly; most of the time was spent with Du Yu telling stories.

In front of her own disciples, Yang Qingqing had nothing she needed to hide.

At Master Qing’s prompting, Du Yu began to narrate slowly and calmly, giving a detailed account of the master-and-disciple’s journey in the Ashen World.

Fu Jianzhou and the others listened, dumbstruck; in their information, Master Qing and Du Yu were still at the stage of going to burn the Youhan Tree.

It was obvious Li Jing really could keep his mouth shut.

Among all the disciples present, he was the only one who knew a bit more, and as Du Yu went on, Li Jing was also scared out of his wits listening.

Now he finally understood why there was this sect banquet.

You had to know, with Master Qing’s cold personality, she rarely took part in gatherings like this, let alone take the initiative to ask for a group meal.

Maybe that Ashen World was just too bitter.

Or maybe, the two who had crawled back from the line of death also wanted to see some familiar faces, to heal hearts soaked through by Cold Qi.

Among all the disciples, the one who reacted the most was actually the taciturn General Lin.

As Du Yu spoke, at some point the girl’s hand under the table had pressed onto Du Yu’s thigh, unconsciously gripping it.

As if any given second, her strength might slip out of control.

Du Yu only felt a panicky flutter inside, and the sense of immersion in his own story grew stronger and stronger...

The cheerful atmosphere was gradually replaced by a heavy one.

Yang Qingqing spoke up at the right moment, cutting off Du Yu’s words: "The Youhan Tree in our world is currently still within controllable bounds.

But no one knows what it’ll become in the future.

You all need to be mentally prepared; in days to come, you must work even harder on your cultivation."

"Yes!"

"Yes." The disciples all answered properly and obediently.

Yang Qingqing slowly rose to her feet and said softly, "Alright, let’s end here."

The sect banquet finally drew to a close.

Yang Qingqing split off a Rotten Wood Body to sit guard at the Twenty-Ninth Bureau, while her true body entered Du Yu’s Mountain Realm.

Because of the Rose Emperor Spirit, for a stretch of time to come, the woman would most likely be stationed in the Jia Rong Grass most of the time.

Lin Shiwei was also sent by Du Yu into the Mountain Realm, partly to keep Master company, and partly so she could go see Cancan.

The disciples tidied up the table, and under Li Mengnan’s escort, headed straight back to the bureau cafeteria.

Du Yu was in a rush to get home and had no plans to waste time hanging around the bureau.

And since Senior Brother Fu’s mission report wasn’t finished yet, Du Yu simply left first with Li Mengnan.

It was just a pity for the two senior brothers—junior brother and junior sister left in high spirits, leaving behind a pile of plates and bowls...

The straight-line distance from the Great Xia Capital City to the Ancient Pine Tower was only about 400 kilometers; taking the high-speed rail, it was just over two hours.

That being said, all along the way, Li Mengnan was acting particularly cautious, which left Du Yu rather helpless.

As if she were trying to help patch up Du Yu’s psychological trauma.

Du Yu could only keep comforting and explaining, and only then did Li Mengnan get a bit closer to normal.

At first light, Du Yu finally returned to the Shadow Gu Tower, back to the home he’d been missing for so long.

Honestly, there wasn’t actually much of anything at home.

Only Golden Leaf counted as a living thing.

But now that he’d drifted through the Ashen World and back, Du Yu belatedly realized just how lacking in prospects he really was.

His feelings toward home ran far deeper than he’d thought.

Maybe it was because this was the first place he’d ever settled down, or maybe it carried too many of his good memories.

Mm... who knows.

"Knock, knock, knock~"

In front of the door of his apartment on the 16th floor, Du Yu knocked on his own front door.

Behind him, Li Mengnan leaned at an angle against the hallway wall and said, "If someone answers from inside, aren’t you gonna get scared to death?"

"Golden Leaf is a Spirit-level Demonic Plant, who could possibly get in... ha! Xiaoye, miss me?" Du Yu looked at the golden leaf poking its head out and gave it a pat.

What happened next was something Li Mengnan hadn’t seen coming.

The door suddenly swung wide open, and endless golden leaves surged out like a tide, instantly drowning Du Yu.

And as the golden tide receded, Du Yu, a living, breathing person, just vanished right there at the doorway.

If Golden Leaf weren’t so extravagantly beautiful, this scene would’ve been no different from a horror flick.

"Easy there, Golden Leaf, don’t drown your master!" Li Mengnan stepped inside.

Several golden leaf-stems stretched over to help the girl take off her coat and shoes, then handed her a pair of cartoon-print slippers.

Du Yu’s voice drifted out from somewhere in the pile of leaves: "You’re not going home?"

"Hey, you!" Li Mengnan was really pissed. "When you were buying tickets you kept calling me Mengnan, now that you’re home you’re kicking me out?"

"Heh heh." Du Yu laughed awkwardly and crawled out from the heap of leaves. "I was just asking. Of course you’re welcome, stay as long as you like."

He had no money in his pocket and his phone was dead; all the expenses on the way back had been covered by a certain Little Rich Lady.

"Hmph." Li Mengnan lifted her chin and, moving with practiced ease, headed for the big guest room.

Dawn had only just broken; if she went back to her mom’s place now, her homeroom-teacher mom would probably lecture her straight through until morning self-study.

As for going to her dad’s place...

That wasn’t great either. What if she disturbed his sleep?

Dad had to get good rest so he’d have the energy to make money~

With a soft "click," the guest room door closed.

Du Yu crawled up out of the leaf pile. "Huh? They’ve all been staying here these past few months?"

"And more than once?" Listening to the thoughts that Golden Leaf sent over, Du Yu’s expression turned odd. "Alright then, I’ll go wash up first, we’ll talk later."

He strode into the master bedroom’s bathroom, and looking at his "respawn point," suddenly thought of something.

"Whoo~"

A tall, pitch-black figure appeared, enveloping Du Yu’s body.

"Void, record this area. This is my home." As Du Yu ran water into the tub, he gave instructions.

"Yes." Void silently closed its eyes, carefully sensing something.

"Oh right, Void." Du Yu asked, "When I move around inside this world, it won’t take up extra time, right?"

Void Axe: "Compared to tearing open a rift to the Otherworld, shuttling within the same space is much easier."

Feeling the Void Axe’s overflowing confidence, Du Yu finally relaxed.

"That’s great!" Du Yu tested the water temperature with his hand. "If every time I teleport I have to waste two and a half months, I might as well just walk there."

Void Axe: "..."

Sensing his Spiritual Artifact’s odd mood, Du Yu gave an embarrassed little laugh. "Sorry, Void.

I like to joke around. If you’re not used to it, I’ll tone it down in the future."

Void Axe: "I am your weapon. Adapting to my master is my duty."

Du Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "Take a good rest. Best if you drain all the Spiritual Qi in the Shenfeng Acupoint to nourish yourself. Once it’s gone, I’ll refill it."

Void Axe: "Master."

"Hm?"

Void Axe: "You don’t need to worry. Void is in good condition at the moment. Even if we shuttle through the Otherworld again, there shouldn’t be any problem."

"Alright, go rest." Du Yu patted his left chest, and the black‑robed Void vanished without a trace.

While waiting for the bathtub to fill, Du Yu opened the Mountain and Sea Bell.

When he came back, he was carrying a pile of dirty clothes, his phone, and so on, and handed them all to Golden Leaf.

Soaking in the familiar, warm bathtub, Du Yu’s mind completely relaxed, and his eyelids started to droop.

This sleep lasted straight until a little after nine in the morning.

The water in the tub hadn’t cooled; several Golden Leaves had been constantly heating it. Maybe because it was too comfortable, Du Yu had slept like a log.

When he woke up, he felt like he’d been soaked until he was swollen!

Mm... he’d been revived a bit too hard.

Du Yu rinsed off under the shower, and as soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, Golden Leaf handed him his phone.

The pile of messages on the screen left Du Yu staring dumbly.

The earliest ones could even be traced back to late April!

They were messages from Xu Yihai from Jingguan City· Bamboo Grove Realm, roughly saying: Chi Bear, Hongye had advanced to Emperor Level.

"Pa!" Du Yu slapped his forehead.

Oh no!

He’d promised Hongye that after helping her advance to Emperor Level, he’d go visit her.

No need to think about it—Hongye must have been training especially hard, especially diligently.

But now Hongye had finally advanced, reached the highest Level of the Chi Bear Race, and accomplished this feat.

Yet Du Yu hadn’t shown up as promised.

So much time had passed, and he hadn’t even given her a single reply.

"Ai..." Du Yu let out a deep sigh, feeling quite helpless inside.

"Du Yu?" faintly, Li Mengnan’s voice floated out from the living room.

"Ah! Coming, coming." Du Yu changed into a gray T‑shirt and shorts, took his phone, and walked out of the bedroom.

In the spacious living room, Li Mengnan was comfortably curled up on the sofa, watching TV.

Beside the girl’s hand was a tray pieced together by Golden Leaves, with watermelon and grapes on it—she looked very at ease.

Du Yu was puzzled. "Your hearing’s that good now? You heard me come out of the bathroom?"

"You really are dumb, Du Yu." Li Mengnan rolled her eyes at him with a smile, plucked a grape, and casually tossed it over.

"Mm." Du Yu sidestepped twice and caught the grape with his mouth. Only then did he realize the girl had a scout.

Obviously Golden Leaf had tipped her off.

Li Mengnan looked curious. "What happened? Why that face?"

"Hongye." Du Yu scrolled through his phone, walking toward the sofa. "Last time, didn’t Master Qing and I escort the Tai Sui Thunder Bamboo back home?

When we parted, Hongye asked me when I’d go to Bamboo Grove again..."

Du Yu recounted the whole story, and a trace of pity flashed in Li Mengnan’s eyes. "Poor Du Yu, you accidentally turned into a heartless man."

Du Yu sat down on the sofa, sighing softly. "I hope she can understand... whoa!"

"What is it?" Li Mengnan scooted over to look at his phone screen.

Du Yu was flipping through his texts when his finger stopped. "Nine hundred thousand! The Great Xia Bookstore allowance for the second quarter is in..."

Wait a sec!

I’m still a Great Demon Tamer· Peak Stage right now. This quarter’s ranking, this king can still fight for it!

Naisi!

We’ll just call this the Great Xia Bookstore reimbursing this king’s travel expenses to the Otherworld~

Li Mengnan looked at Du Yu with open disgust. "I don’t think it was ’accidental’ at all. You just are one."

What about Hongye, huh?

All you see is the wool you can fleece!

Du Yu scratched his head awkwardly. "There’s still more than half a month until the exam. I’ll go see her in a few days.

And I can practice Archery and Axe Skill while I’m at it, plus give the Demon Pets some special training."

Now that the Void Axe had forcibly moved in, the close‑combat Weapon Du Yu had been painstakingly searching for and trying to match was finally settled.

Du Yu didn’t want to waste a treasure. Now that he had such a Divine Weapon in hand, he had to bring out every strength the Void Axe had.

The Chi Bears were all "Supreme Martial Monks," they should be able to give him some pointers, right?

Li Mengnan asked, "Then what are you doing these next few days?"

Du Yu: "I’m taking Xiaobai back to her hometown for a visit. I promised her back when we were drifting in the Otherworld. You coming?"

"Sure." Li Mengnan nodded immediately. "Let’s bring Xiaobai, Bai Lu, and Yiren back together—that’s three General Level Dust Spirit Deer!

The Clan Leader and his wife will definitely be overjoyed when they see them!"

Du Yu quite agreed. "We can finally say we didn’t fail the Clan Leader couple’s expectations."

Li Mengnan: "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go now?"

Du Yu flipped his hand. "Works for me. I’ll go call Shiwei. I happen to have something to tell you two."

"What thing... damn it, you stinky Du Yu." Watching his figure vanish right in front of her, Li Mengnan pouted, grumbling unhappily.

Only, the girl’s little mood didn’t last long before she let out a quiet sigh in her heart.

Mm... forget it.

Dumb Du Yu’s fate is bitter enough already. From now on, I should be even nicer to him.