22: Chapter 22 Reunion

A voice reached Xiao Wu's ears.

"Who wants to have me brought back?"

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Wu's body stiffened abruptly. After turning around and seeing that face—both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar—she lunged at him.

Bai Qi had guessed that Xiao Wu would lunge at him, but he wasn't prepared, and he was tackled to the ground by Xiao Wu.

Beside them, Ah Yin was also stunned. Then, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, which was soon replaced by tenderness. She had known through the Blue Silver Grass that Bai Qi would return today, but she hadn't expected him to appear the very second she spoke of it.

Watching Xiao Wu sprawled over Bai Qi, the corners of Ah Yin's mouth curled up. She didn't step forward, just sat there quietly, looking at the two of them tenderly.

After being tackled to the ground by Xiao Wu, Bai Qi still smiled and supported her so she wouldn't fall.

Xiao Wu, somewhat excited, propped herself up on Bai Qi's chest and asked, "When did you come back?"

"Just now," Bai Qi, lying on the ground, replied with a smile. "Right when someone was clenching their fists and saying they wanted Da Ming and Er Ming to have me brought back."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu's face flushed red. She punched Bai Qi's chest and said, "You, you were eavesdropping!"

Bai Qi, having been punched by Xiao Wu, feigned pain and said, "I wasn't eavesdropping. I walked over openly and heard it. You were just too engrossed in your conversation and didn't hear my footsteps."

Xiao Wu didn't reply but glared fiercely at Bai Qi. After huffing, she stood up and sat down next to Ah Yin.

Bai Qi also stood up, brushed the dirt off his body, turned to look at Ah Yin who had been watching from the side, and said, "I'm back."

Ah Yin nodded upon hearing this and said tenderly, "Welcome back."

It was as if she had said something very ordinary, but the look in her eyes could not deceive anyone.

Bai Qi then looked at Xiao Wu, who was sitting next to Ah Yin sulking. Suddenly thinking of a mischievous idea, he slyly tickled Xiao Wu's back.

"Ah! Bai Qi!" Xiao Wu shrieked after being tickled and quickly turned around, preparing to slap Bai Qi.

But how could Bai Qi let Xiao Wu succeed? He quickly ran away. Then, the two of them started running around Ah Yin.

Not far away, Bi Ji and Zi Ji stood side by side under a tree, watching the three of them playing by the lake from afar. As if they had reached a consensus, neither of them had any intention of going forward to disturb them.

At this moment, Zi Ji had her arms crossed, smiling as she watched the scene. Although she hadn't trained with Bai Qi for two years like Bi Ji had, she couldn't help but exclaim, "The person the Lord asked us to follow, apart from being a bit lecherous, is actually not bad."

There was a tone of approval in her voice. Upon hearing this, Bi Ji also smiled slightly and nodded, but didn't respond, just watched them with a gentle expression.

The evening breeze brushed against her hair tips, and her emerald eyes appeared exceptionally soft in the moonlight.

Zi Ji turned her head to look at Bi Ji and asked, "Aren't you going over?"

Bi Ji shook her head upon hearing this and said, "It's not the right time yet. They haven't seen each other for almost two years, so let them spend more time together. Besides, there's no rush."

"Tsk." Zi Ji clicked her tongue but didn't refute. She just leaned her body against the tree, her tone filled with disbelief. "A hellhole like the Far North, he actually managed to persist in training in the core area relying on forty-level Soul Power for two years."

Bi Ji listened and replied softly with approval, "He is much stronger than you think. After all, have you ever seen anyone go head-to-head with an Ice Jade Scorpion using just their physical body?"

Zi Ji smiled after hearing Bi Ji say that he compared his physical strength with an Ice Jade Scorpion, but she didn't say anything more, just watched quietly with Bi Ji.

After a while, footsteps came from behind Bi Ji and Zi Ji. The footsteps were unhurried, as if they had walked here countless times.

The two of them heard the sound and turned back, only to see Ah Rou walking towards them unhurriedly.

Bi Ji bowed slightly upon seeing this, which counted as a greeting. Ah Rou smiled and nodded in response, walked to their side, and looked at the three people by the lake, especially the bickering Bai Qi and Xiao Wu. She shook her head with a helpless smile, as if looking at two children who just couldn't grow up. She muttered to herself, "Honestly, now that Xiao Qi is back, he still hasn't come to report his safety to me." There was helplessness in her tone.

She then pursed her lips towards the group and said to Bi Ji and Zi Ji, "Dinner is ready, call them back to eat."

Upon hearing this, Bi Ji acknowledged it but didn't move; instead, she turned her head and looked at Zi Ji with a smile.

Zi Ji saw Bi Ji looking over and her eyes widened. Seriously? You accepted the task but are making me call them? Are you even human? To this, Bi Ji indicated, I am indeed not human; I am a Spirit Beast.

After the two looked at each other for a while, Zi Ji ended up yielding. Resigned, she shouted towards the three by the lake, "Hey—dinner is ready! If you don't come back, I'm going to finish it all."

Her voice sounded exceptionally loud in this quiet area, and even the birds resting nearby were startled into flight.

By the lake, Bai Qi stopped upon hearing the voice and looked in the direction it came from. Xiao Wu, behind him, didn't stop as quickly and bumped into Bai Qi, causing him to stumble.

After steadying himself, Bai Qi quickly turned back to hold Xiao Wu, preventing her from falling backward onto the ground. After Xiao Wu steadied herself, Bai Qi couldn't help but tease, "Sister Xiao Wu, tell me, does this count as throwing yourself into my arms?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu's face instantly flushed to the roots of her ears. After pushing Bai Qi away, she said fiercely, "Throw yourself into your head, my foot! Who told you to stop suddenly while we were running just fine."

Ah Yin, sitting on the side, finally couldn't help but laugh while watching the two. She then stood up and said to them, "Alright, stop messing around. Big Sister Ah Rou called us back for dinner. If we don't go back, Zi Ji might really finish it all by herself." (They each have their own way of addressing each other.)

Xiao Wu gave a light huff, rolled her eyes at Bai Qi, then ran to Ah Yin's side, hooked her arm into Ah Yin's, turned around to stick her tongue out at Bai Qi, and pulled Ah Yin forward.

Bai Qi rubbed his nose, not annoyed, and followed behind them with a smile.

At this moment, Ah Rou had already gone back. When Bi Ji and Zi Ji saw them walking this way, they also turned around to head back first, walking a short distance ahead of the three.

Zi Ji kept looking back while walking forward, muttering to herself, "Seriously, dragging their feet. The food is going to get cold soon."

Bi Ji heard this and glanced at Zi Ji, but didn't call her bluff. With a slight smile, she quickened her pace.

Before they even reached the wooden house, the aroma of food wafted over. Once they arrived at the door, seeing the sumptuous meal on the table, Bai Qi was the first to rush up, and Zi Ji was the second to rush in to eat; after all, Bai Qi hadn't eaten Ah Rou's cooking for almost two years.

After dinner, everyone returned to their respective rooms. The next day, Bai Qi and Xiao Wu had to go to the academy.

Bai Qi lay on the bed in his room and checked his status panel.

[Host: Bai Qi] [Spirit: Torch Dragon (Time Type, Space Type)] [Constitution: Demi-god Body (Upgradable)] [Soul Power: Level 53] [Spirit Bone: 100,000-year Soft Bones Rabbit Head Spirit Bone, 100,000-year Soft Bones Rabbit Left Arm Bone, 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor Left Leg Bone, 100,000-year Titan Giant Ape Left Arm Bone, 100,000-year Sky Azure Bull Python Right Arm Bone, 500,000-year Emerald Swan Head Spirit Bone, 200,000-year Hell Magic Dragon King Torso Bone] [Spirit Ability: First Spirit Ability, Space-Time Dragon Claw] [Second Spirit Ability, Time Slow Dragon Domain] [Third Spirit Ability, Torch Dragon Armor] [Fourth Spirit Ability, Bursting Torch Dragon Bullet] [Fifth Spirit Ability, Space-Time Dragon Shadow Raid] [Self-created Moves: Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track (Proficient), Mysterious Jade Hand (Perfect), Controlling Crane Catching Dragon (Proficient), Purple Gold Demon Eye (Micro-level)] [Cultivation Method: Mysterious Heaven Skill (Level 5)] [Items: One Storage Ring, 18 Subordinate Recruitment Coupons, 37 Subordinate spirit ring Upgrade Coupons, Spirit Core Fusion Method, Battle Armor Production Method, enough gold coins, Mimicry Cultivation Chamber] [Subordinates: Lu Bu Level 95 (Currently Level 85), Hua Mulan Level 96, Hai Yue Level 97.] [Overall Combat Power: Invincible among the same rank, capable of fighting across ranks]

Thinking that this was alright for now, he then went to sleep.