After finishing breakfast, Cheng Xiao prepared for his next step. After discussing some matters regarding the academy with Dugu Bo, he was ready to leave. Having been away for quite some time, it was finally time to visit his grandfather.
"You're quite the filial one, aren't you?" Dugu Bo remarked approvingly after hearing Cheng Xiao's plan. He then took out a jade-green pill from his robes and said indifferently, "This is a pill I recently refined. Have your grandfather take it when you get home—it will extend his lifespan by at least five years."
"You can refine something like this?" Cheng Xiao asked in surprise as he accepted the pill.
"Hmph! There's a lot more I can do than you think." Dugu Bo snorted before adding, "This pill only works on ordinary people. It's far less effective on soul masters."
"Alright then, aren't you heading home? Get going already."
With that, Dugu Bo waved his hand dismissively, his face showing a trace of impatience.
"Thanks, old poison." Cheng Xiao chuckled, storing the pill in his soul guide before turning to leave.
Watching him depart, Dugu Bo's previous impatience faded. Rubbing his chin, he let out a sly chuckle. "As if I'd tell him, I specially refined that for him."
Initially, Dugu Bo knew little about Cheng Xiao's background. However, when they first met, fearing that Cheng Xiao might deceive him, he had someone look into his past. That was when he discovered Cheng Xiao had a grandfather living in the countryside.
After spending time with Cheng Xiao, Dugu Bo found the opportunity to refine this pill. And now that he learned Cheng Xiao was returning home, he finally handed over the pill he had long prepared.
Before even stepping out of the academy's main gates, Cheng Xiao spotted Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan waiting for him. He was slightly surprised and walked over to them. "Yan-jie, Lingling, what are you doing here?"
"We're here to see you off." Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him and complained, "Seriously, even if you're just going home to visit, how could you leave without saying a word? Do you not see us as friends?"
"Don't make it sound like that." Cheng Xiao raised his hands in surrender. "The tournament is in six months. I didn't want to distract everyone from training, so I didn't mention it."
"Yeah, right!" Dugu Yan put her hands on her hips and snorted. "Take Lingling with you. Even if you're strong, it's always good to be cautious. She can go with you."
Cheng Xiao turned to Ye Lingling, a little unsure. "I don't mind, but do you really want to come with me? My hometown is really—"
"Yes," Ye Lingling interrupted firmly. "I want to go."
"Well… alright then." After hesitating for a moment, Cheng Xiao nodded in agreement.
"Now that's more like it." Dugu Yan grinned.
"Then we'll be off now." Cheng Xiao summoned his shadow soldier, the giant dragon Nash. Since his hometown was quite far from Heaven Dou City, a carriage ride would take too long. It was much faster to fly there using Nash.
"Wh—What the…?!" Seeing the enormous dragon that dwarfed anything she had ever seen, Dugu Yan nearly fell to the ground in shock. It wasn't that she was timid—it was just that Nash was simply too massive.
Even when Dugu Bo used his Martial Soul Avatar, he was only about twenty meters long. In contrast, Nash was several times larger. A single arm of Nash was already longer than Dugu Bo's entire serpentine form.
Cheng Xiao and Ye Lingling leaped onto Nash's head. With a mighty flap of its wings, the enormous dragon soared into the sky, kicking up violent winds. Cheng Xiao pulled out a detailed map of the continent from his soul guide and began directing Nash's flight path.
By carriage, the journey would have taken about three days. But for Nash, it was nothing.
As the sun began to set, a colossal shadow descended upon a hillside near Cheng Xiao's hometown. To avoid startling his grandfather, Cheng Xiao chose not to land directly in the village. A creature of Nash's size would be too much even for soul masters, let alone ordinary people.
"Thanks, Nash." Stepping off the dragon's head, Cheng Xiao gazed at the familiar landscape, his eyes filled with nostalgia. When he was a child, his grandfather would always catch wild game for him, ensuring he never lacked nutrition. Yet, his grandfather was just a frail old man…
"So this is the home of the king?" Nash did not immediately return to the shadows. He glanced at the small village below, feeling a mix of surprise and admiration.
Compared to dragons who were born powerful, his master's rise was anything but easy.
The path to strength was never smooth. Some perished along the way, while others emerged from the thorns and brambles. Perhaps… that was why the Dragon King lost.
"Cheng Xiao, can you take me to see it?" Ye Lingling's gentle voice brought Cheng Xiao out of his thoughts.
"If you don't mind." He smiled.
Chengjia Village, in some ways, was even poorer than Holy Soul Village. However, the villagers could rely on the nearby mountains for food. Though they were ordinary people without soul power, they had enough resources to survive.
Various thoughts flashed through Cheng Xiao's mind as he took Ye Lingling's hand. He was prepared to return home as quickly as possible. However, his bold gesture made her cheeks flush. Still, she did not pull away. Instead, she held onto his hand even tighter.
"Let's go," Cheng Xiao said with a smile.
In the next moment, his body flickered, dark smoke swirling around his feet. He carried Ye Lingling with him, swiftly dashing towards the village.
In just a few breaths, they reached the village entrance.
Looking at the old, tattered sign at the entrance, Cheng Xiao sighed. Even after all these years, the village hadn't changed one bit. He still remembered how, when he was a child, the signboard looked exactly the same.
"I wonder how the old man is doing. Hope he doesn't get too emotional." Cheng Xiao chuckled.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Ye Lingling smiled warmly. "He's probably been looking forward to seeing you again. The last time you were here, you were just a little soul master."
"Mm." Cheng Xiao nodded with a smile. Indeed, after being away for so long, the feeling of returning home was bittersweet.
The village was bathed in the golden glow of sunset, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys. Children laughed and played in the streets, filling the air with joy.
"Come on, if we get home now, we can still catch my grandfather's cooking." Watching the children play, Cheng Xiao let out a soft chuckle before leading Ye Lingling toward the village.