After leaving Star Dou Great Forest, Dugu Bo bid farewell to Su Yu and Crimson Flame, heading straight back to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in Sunset Forest.
Su Yu, meanwhile, took Crimson Flame and hurried to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—Xue Na was still waiting for him there.
With his 100,000-Year Soul Bone allowing him to fly, Su Yu no longer needed a carriage. In just half a day, the two arrived at the mountain gate of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
On the steps of the mountain gate, Ning Rongrong and Xue Na were sitting side by side.
Ning Rongrong swung her legs, her tone tinged with anxiety:
"Little sister Xue Na, it's already been four days. When do you think Brother Husband will be back?"
Xue Na rested her elbows on her knees, her small chin propped in her hands. Her voice was muffled, carrying a hint of grievance:
"I don't know... Brother didn't say how long he'd be gone when he left, but he did say he'd hurry back. It should be soon, right?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, a gentle breeze swept by, stirring up bits of grass and petals from the roadside, momentarily obscuring their view.
When the wind settled and the debris cleared, a familiar figure stood silently before them.
"Rongrong, little Xue Na, I'm back."
Su Yu looked at the two on the steps, a warm smile on his face. Noticing their slightly anxious expressions, he couldn't help but ask:
"Have you been waiting here long?"
Ning Rongrong was startled at first, then leaped up joyfully, wrapping her arms around Su Yu's:
"Brother Husband! You're finally back! We've been sitting here waiting since morning!"
Xue Na also jerked her head up. The moment she saw Su Yu, her eyes lit up. She quickly scrambled down from the steps, trotted over to him, and grabbed the hem of his clothes, murmuring softly:
"Brother, you're back."
Su Yu patted Xue Na's head, then turned to Ning Rongrong, his smile lingering:
"Sorry to keep you waiting. But I brought you both gifts."
As he spoke, a faint, whimpering sound came from his chest, like a small animal acting coquettish.
Su Yu hurriedly and carefully pulled out the little creature from his embrace—it was a small, fluffy thing.
Its body was covered in soft, snow-white fur, with a faint "king" character mark on its forehead.
At that moment, the little one was looking at Su Yu with moist, round eyes, even stretching out a pink tongue to lick his fingers.
Then it curled up in the crook of his arm, snuggling into a comfortable position.
"Ah! It's a little kitten! So cute!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes instantly sparkled as she stared excitedly at the little creature in Su Yu's arms.
She had long wanted a pet, but her father always said the Sect was too busy and never agreed.
Su Yu chuckled and ruffled her hair: "Rongrong, this isn't a kitten. It's a little tiger, and a very special one at that."
"Even if it's a little tiger, it's still just as cute!"
Ning Rongrong didn't mind at all, her eyes shining as she gazed at the little creature, her tone pleading:
"Brother Husband, can I hold it?"
Su Yu glanced down at the little one nestled obediently in his arm. It didn't seem to resist, just lazily twitched the tip of its tail.
So he carefully handed it over: "Hold it gently. It's still small."
Ning Rongrong quickly extended both hands, taking the little tiger with utmost care, afraid of hurting it.
The little one was very well-behaved in her arms, only curiously sniffing her sleeve with its nose before curling up again.
"Xue Na wants to touch it too."
Xue Na stood nearby, speaking softly with eyes full of curiosity.
"Come, Xue Na can pet it too."
Ning Rongrong smiled and extended her arm, letting Xue Na gently stroke the little tiger's soft fur.
Surrounded by the two girls, the little creature remained calm, occasionally emitting soft whimpers that made both girls chuckle.
Su Yu watched the heartwarming scene before him, his smile growing even gentler.
"Rongrong, hold the little one steady. Big brother will take you inside," Su Yu reminded.
Ning Rongrong quickly tightened her arms, securely protecting the little tiger in her embrace, afraid it might fall during flight.
Seeing this, Su Yu smiled faintly, then bent down and effortlessly picked up Xue Na with one arm.
With his other arm, he naturally wrapped around Ning Rongrong's waist, lifting her off the ground as well.
"Hold on tight," he whispered softly.
Before his words faded, Soul Power gathered beneath his feet, carrying the three of them slowly into the air.
The mountain gate and steps of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School gradually shrank beneath their feet, while the distant pavilions and mountain mist spread out before their eyes.
Ning Rongrong was initially somewhat nervous, instinctively gripping Su Yu's sleeve.
But looking down and seeing the little tiger in her arms staring with round, curious eyes at the scenery below, she grew bolder and couldn't help cheering:
"We're flying! Xue Na, look how high we are!"
Xue Na, held securely in Su Yu's embrace, clutched his collar with her small hands.
Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, she also looked up at Su Yu, her eyes reflecting the drifting clouds in the sky, and whispered:
"Big brother, we're flying!"
Su Yu glanced down at the two girls in his arms, the smile at his lips deepening as he controlled his Soul Power to fly deeper into the Sect.
Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the lighting was bright, and the air carried a faint scent of tea.
As Su Yu entered holding Ning Rongrong's hand while still carrying Xue Na, he saw Ning Fengzhi rise from the main seat, his face filled with joy.
"Xiao Yu, you've finally returned! These two girls, Rongrong and Xue Na, have been talking about you every day these past few days, barely eating properly."
Hearing her father mention her, Ning Rongrong's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly held out the little tiger in her arms to change the subject:
"Dad, look! The gift husband-brother brought me is a little tiger!"
The little creature seemed unafraid of strangers, remaining calm in Ning Rongrong's arms while staring at Ning Fengzhi with round eyes and letting out a milky whimper.
Ning Fengzhi looked at the furry little creature with a flicker of surprise in his eyes, then laughed:
"Quite a well-behaved little thing. It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. Was the journey difficult? Please, sit."
He gestured for Su Yu to take a seat and instructed attendants to bring hot tea.
Xue Na climbed down from Su Yu's embrace and sat obediently beside him, still clutching the corner of his clothes as if unwilling to let go.
After sitting down, Su Yu briefly recounted his journey, omitting the dangerous parts.
Ning Fengzhi listened quietly, nodding occasionally, and when Su Yu finished speaking, he said:
"The Star Dou Great Forest is extremely dangerous. Your safe return is fortunate indeed. By the way, Xiao Yu, your strength...?"
Ning Fengzhi voiced his greatest concern - the moment Su Yu entered, he had noticed the change in his aura.
The intensity of this aura was completely unlike that of a Soul Master who had just broken through to the Soul King realm.
"While obtaining my Soul Ring, I encountered some fortuitous opportunities and was fortunate enough to have my Soul Power break through to level fifty-six!"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes, then he clapped his hands and laughed:
"Level fifty-six? Xiao Yu, you always manage to bring surprises, child."