Where is Home

Half a month later, at the sect's entrance.

"Please, just two more days before we leave!"

Qinghe tugged at Xie Lingyu's sleeve, pleading with a pitiful expression. "Really, just two more days."

Xie Lingyu's face remained cold. "If you want to stay and play, do so. I never forced you to return to the Tianyan Sect with me."

Qinghe wasn’t foolish. If Xie Lingyu really left alone, there was no telling whether it would ever step out of the Tianyan Sect’s gates again.

Xie Lingyu might act tough, but she had a soft heart. If she stayed, she would genuinely shield Qinghe when Grandma Bai came looking for trouble.

Unlike Grandma Bai—hard-hearted in both words and actions. When she said she’d cut off Qinghe’s horns, the poor creature didn’t even have time to react before its two horns were rolling on the ground.

If Grandma Bai saw Xie Lingyu return to the Tianyan Sect alone, she’d probably come charging over the same day to drag Qinghe back. And then that black-hearted brat would surely mock it again.

How infuriating!

Why did other people’s masters cook such delicious food? Why did other sects have so many fun things to do?

And it had finally made a true friend—Chen Baiqing.

Though young, she was utterly adorable!

Her tea was brewed to perfection, her words were sweet, and she always knew just what to say to warm Qinghe’s heart.

Every time they chatted, Qinghe felt as if bathed in spring breeze, its soul cleansed and refreshed.

If not for Chen Baiqing’s polite refusal, Qinghe would have clung to her day and night.

Chen Baiqing’s speech and demeanor were far beyond her years.

Qinghe sometimes wondered if she was a spirit in human form.

How infuriating!

Where did that black-hearted brat find such a well-behaved disciple? Qinghe would love to take her back to the Tianyan Sect.

If such a sweet girl like Chen Baiqing were corrupted by Chu Xingchen and turned black-hearted, Qinghe would cry itself to death!

It could only play dumb and whine, "Good Lingyu, just two more days, please?"

"You’ve used that excuse three times already." Xie Lingyu swatted away Qinghe’s hand. "Or you could choose not to return. Ask Chu Xingchen if his sect needs a Nascent Soul-stage flood dragon to guard the gates."

Qinghe’s gaze shifted to Chu Xingchen, who stood nearby with his disciples—even Ning Qianqian was peeking curiously from the back.

It first glanced at Chu Xingchen’s faintly amused expression—that black-hearted brat was truly detestable!

Then Qinghe looked at its dear friend.

Chen Baiqing’s face was expressionless, her eyes unreadable.

But Qinghe was certain!

Chen Baiqing must be reluctant to see it leave. This was the unspoken bond between kindred spirits.

After all, the joyful memories of their time together were still vivid in Qinghe’s mind.

Watching little Baiqing revise her grilled fish technique over and over—from roasting one fish at a time to roasting two at once.

Qinghe didn’t quite understand the appeal, but Chen Baiqing’s happiness had become its happiness!

Turning back, Qinghe said mournfully, "Little Baiqing wants me to stay a bit longer too."

Xie Lingyu scoffed. Done wasting words, she turned to leave.

Seeing this, Qinghe played its last card: "What if Chu Xingchen wants you to stay? Would you still go?"

"Of course."

Xie Lingyu didn’t hesitate.

She was a cultivator of the Tianyan Sect, the true inheritor of Bai Xuanling’s legacy.

She had no reason to linger in Yuzhou City or here. Her path was her own.

Her mission and duties weighed on her, with countless eyes watching.

At present, Chu Xingchen was far from being someone who could make her abandon all that or halt her steps.

Xie Lingyu had her own pride, especially since Chu Xingchen’s rapid cultivation progress unsettled her.

His growth was unnaturally fast, and it did pressure her.

She had already fallen behind other geniuses. It was time to catch up.

Bai Xuanling’s illustrious reputation in the Central Continent shouldn’t be tarnished by her failures.

Besides, she and Chu Xingchen would surely meet again in the Central Continent.

When that happened, she wouldn’t just stand on the sidelines watching him fight.

This wasn’t the beginning of her inferiority complex, nor was it the end of her journey.

If Chu Xingchen had impressed her, then she would impress him in return.

Qinghe stared, speechless, at Xie Lingyu’s calm, unyielding expression.

It glanced at Chu Xingchen again, only to find him equally composed, as if he’d expected this all along.

Xie Lingyu didn’t waste more words on Qinghe. Instead, she smiled softly at Chu Xingchen and the others.

"I enjoyed our time together. If you ever visit the Tianyan Sect, let me play host for once."

"We will!" Li Yingling waved cheerfully.

Li Xingtian, inexperienced with farewells, simply clasped his hands in respect.

Chen Baiqing smiled sweetly and waved. "Come back soon."

Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu weren’t as close to Xie Lingyu, having interacted less with her compared to the first three disciples.

Xie Lingyu’s aloof nature made their exchanges sparse, almost like those between a senior and juniors...

Cui Hao imitated his second senior brother, clasping his hands with a smile, while Lin Luoyu did the same.

Chu Xingchen said nothing, merely nodding with a smile.

Realizing the battle was lost, Qinghe reluctantly waved at Chen Baiqing, preparing to leave.

"Little Baiqing, I’ll come play with you again soon!"

Chen Baiqing played along, nodding with a wistful expression.

Chu Xingchen glanced between Chen Baiqing’s face and Qinghe’s identical look...

Was his third disciple genuinely attached, or was she just reeling in this silly flood dragon like a hooked fish?

...Surely not, right?

He patted Chen Baiqing’s head, then turned to Xie Lingyu and Qinghe.

"Until next time."

Xie Lingyu nodded and vanished in a streak of light.

Qinghe waved mournfully one last time, then turned to Chu Xingchen with a stern warning:

"Don’t you dare corrupt little Baiqing!"

Without waiting for a reply, it chased after Xie Lingyu.

As the two departed, Chu Xingchen ruffled Chen Baiqing’s hair again.

"How was your time with Qinghe? Did you befriend it intentionally?"

Chen Baiqing nodded lightly.

"Mm, I put in some effort since it was a guest. But Qinghe is quite amusing—easy to tease."

Chu Xingchen chuckled. As long as they got along, it was fine.

With the farewells over, the crowd dispersed, each returning to their own pursuits—whether cultivation or lazing about.

Stretching leisurely, Chu Xingchen ambled toward the main hall, with Li Xingtian following close behind.

They walked in silence for a while.

Li Xingtian gazed at his master’s retreating figure, the words stuck in his throat still refusing to come out.

Before he could gather his thoughts, his master’s voice drifted toward him from ahead.

“Thinking of sneaking out to hunt again?”

Li Xingtian’s eyes shifted to Chu Xingchen, whose face bore a faint, knowing smile.

Chu Xingchen paused and turned to him.

“Don’t overthink it. If you want to go, then go. The Tianyan Sect isn’t a cage—it’s your support, your home.”

Li Xingtian said nothing, but his stiff yet genuine smile spoke for him.

It was answer enough.