Chapter 97: Farewell — Return to Star Dou
"Brother Yun, what are your plans for the break?"
By Sea God Lake, Lin Yun and Xiao Xiao walked hand in hand. She turned to look at him, her voice carrying a trace of reluctance.
Such was the way of lovers in their youth—Xiao Xiao could hardly bear to be apart from Lin Yun, much less for a whole month.
Lin Yun didn't find her clinginess annoying. A sweet, affectionate girl was always endearing.
"I do have a few things to take care of. I'll head home to get a new soul ring and retrieve something important," Lin Yun said with a smile, ruffling her hair.
"I see… I understand," Xiao Xiao nodded, though disappointment flickered in her eyes.
"You're really that reluctant to part with me? Then how about coming to my home for a visit? I promise you'll be amazed," Lin Yun said with a teasing grin, raising his brows.
"My home's quite spacious too. You can stay the night if you get tired."
The Lake of Life welcomes you!
Heh, heh, heh—
That group of hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts at Star Dou would definitely leave this little girl speechless.
"Huh? So soon? Isn't that… not proper?" Xiao Xiao's sadness vanished instantly, replaced by shyness. To her, Lin Yun's words sounded like an invitation to meet his parents.
On Douluo Continent, it wasn't rare for twelve- or thirteen-year-olds to marry, but she clearly wasn't ready for that yet—her mind went into overload at once.
"Too soon?" Lin Yun found it reasonable enough.
Better to be honest early, he thought. While she was still young and in love, he could bring her over to the soul beast side before any tragic, melodramatic conflict arose later.
"What do you think? I'm not even thirteen yet! How can I meet your family so soon? At least wait a few more years…" Xiao Xiao pouted and rolled her eyes adorably, though his teasing had eased her earlier sadness.
Not even thirteen, huh…
Lin Yun stopped walking and looked her over.
To be fair, people on Douluo Continent—especially soul masters—matured quickly. After months of feeding Xiao Xiao various spirit herbs from Star Dou Forest, she looked almost like an eighteen-year-old maiden.
Well, except for her still-modest chest. Her height was already near one meter seventy, with a neat side ponytail, bright eyes, and a pure, charming face.
Even her delicate feet were developing toward something that could only be described as "edible quality."
It often made Lin Yun forget her actual age. Only now did he realize—if this were the modern world, he'd already be labeled a criminal and serving a life sentence.
Xiao Xiao's face flushed under Lin Yun's warm gaze, her eyes darting nervously. "W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
That look—unmistakably filled with dangerous thoughts!
Loli alert.jpg
"Nothing," Lin Yun chuckled, shaking his head. "Just admiring my Xiao Xiao."
Since she didn't plan to leave with him, bringing her to Star Dou could wait. There was no rush.
After all, there were already several hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts serving humans as pets—even Gu Yuena herself wasn't exempt. So as the Golden Dragon King, why couldn't he bring a few human girls back as his queens?
Perfectly reasonable.
Lin Yun was biased—but at least he was honest about it.
Soul beasts betraying soul beasts: death!
Humans betraying humans: enlightenment!
Human history was a chronicle of endless war. Without external threats, internal strife would always be humanity's greatest obsession—no other race in existence was more fond of killing its own kind.
Moreover, Lin Yun had never intended to annihilate humanity completely. He only wished to lead the soul beasts in overthrowing the God Realm and restoring the glory of their kind.
Reasonable enough, wasn't it?
At the moment, his relationship with Xiao Xiao hadn't yet reached the point where she was blinded by love. Taking her to Star Dou Forest too soon might genuinely frighten the little girl. Waiting a few more years would be fine.
He just needed to keep a close eye on her and make sure Shrek didn't brainwash her into one of their zealots.
Speaking of which—
Though Xiao Xiao no longer fretted over their month-long separation, she cherished the last few days together even more. If not for Shrek Academy's strict dorm rules and her own sense of modesty as a girl, she would have clung to Lin Yun even while sleeping.
When the day of parting came, the sun hid behind thick clouds. Light rain slanted in the wind, rippling across Sea God Lake's surface in widening circles.
On the shore, two figures stood facing each other beneath umbrellas, silently locking eyes.
"I'm leaving now. See you in a month." Xiao Xiao's eyes reddened, and she forced a small smile.
Hearing her trembling voice, Lin Yun's heart stirred faintly.
"Alright. See you in a month," he replied softly.
"It's a promise—no breaking it!" Xiao Xiao turned around, walking across the wet grass without looking back. "You keep watching until I'm gone."
"One month from now, I'll be here waiting for you—until the day you return!"
…
A streak of emerald light split through the rain. Inside, the Ten Thousand Demon King held up a protective barrier of soul power, carrying Lin Yun through the clouds with booming sonic bursts.
Their rapid flight lit the surrounding mist with faint arcs of lightning, giving the rainy sky a fierce, surreal beauty.
Shrek City wasn't far from Star Dou Forest. Built atop the ruins of Spirit City, it served as humanity's first line of defense against any soul beast uprising.
At the Ten Thousand Demon King's speed, the journey didn't take long. Their flight soon slowed, and they began to descend from several thousand meters high.
Looking down, Lin Yun saw a blue lake like a gemstone set within the endless emerald sea of the forest.
Beneath the misty rain, the Star Dou Great Forest looked truly like a paradise on earth.
The emerald light faded, revealing Lin Yun and the Ten Thousand Demon King, while Ice Empress appeared beside them in a flash of green light. Before them stood the assembled might of Star Dou's soul beasts.
"Your Excellency!" Di Tian bowed deeply.
"I'm back." Lin Yun smiled faintly, taking a deep breath of the life-filled air that surrounded the Lake of Life.
Star Dou—your king has returned.
(End of Chapter)
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