As the soft light of morning filtered through the towering trees of the Star Dou Forest, the tranquil surface of the Lake of Life shimmered with a golden glow.
Xuan Yan and Xiao Wu stood side by side near the lake's edge, watching silently as Mo Xie sat in meditation, absorbing the powerful spirit ring of the Emerald Swan.
A brilliant golden halo surrounded her delicate body, flickering with arcs of spirit energy as it fused into her body.
The process had been going smoothly so far, but absorbing a high-quality spirit ring always carried some risk.
Beside him, Xiao Wu held a tiny bird in her hands, gently cradling it against her palm.
She smiled faintly at the bird, but the usual playfulness in her eyes seemed dimmed.
There was something melancholic in the way she caressed the small creature, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
A moment later, a final surge of energy pulsed from Mo Xie's body as the absorption process reached its peak.
The golden light surrounding her flared one last time before fading into her skin.
Mo Xie's aura stabilized and her breakthrough was complete.
A deep sigh of relief left Xuan Yan's lips, "It's done."
Xiao Wu glanced up, her gaze flickering between Mo Xie and Xuan Yan.
Seeing the look in his eyes, she knew everything had gone well.
She should have been happy—but instead, a heavy feeling weighed on her heart.
Xuan Yan was going to leave soon.
The thought sent a pang of sadness through her chest, and she instinctively tightened her hold on the small bird in her hands.
*chirp* *chirp* The little creature chirped in protest, and she quickly loosened her grip, whispering an apology.
"S-Sorry..."
Xuan Yan noticed the change in her expression. "What's wrong?"
Xiao Wu hesitated, then shook her head with a forced smile. "Nothing… Just thinking."
Xuan Yan could see the faint sorrow in her eyes, the way her fingers fidgeted slightly as she held the bird "Xiao Wu."
She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking in a quiet voice. "You're leaving soon, aren't you?"
A brief silence followed and the soft rustling of the forest filled the air as Xuan Yan looked at her.
With a soft sigh, he nodded "Yeah."
Xiao Wu lowered her gaze, staring at the bird in her hands as she stroked its tiny wings absentmindedly. "I knew it…" she murmured.
"I knew you couldn't stay here forever."
"But still… I kind of wished time would slow down."
She turned to him, her large brown eyes filled with unspoken emotions. "I like having you here, Brother Yan. It's been fun. I… I feel safe with you."
Xuan Yan's gaze softened and he reached out, gently patting her head. "I feel the same way, Xiao Wu. These past days have been… enjoyable."
Xiao Wu leaned into his touch slightly, closing her eyes for a brief moment. "Will you come back?" she asked softly.
Xuan Yan gave a nod "Of course, I will. But before that, you are coming to the human world, right?"
"When you come to the human world, I will look for you myself..."
She looked up at him with a smile "You better keep that promise, Little Plum."
He chuckled. "I will."
The little bird in Xiao Wu's hands chirped again, and she lifted it into the air, letting it flutter its tiny wings and fly away.
They both watched as it disappeared into the treetops, free to roam the vast sky of the Star Dou Forest.
As the golden light surrounding Mo Xie fully dissipated, the energy fluctuations from her breakthrough calmed, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Her once delicate aura now carried a noticeable strength.
She stood up and hurriedly walked towards Xuan Yan.
Xuan Yan turned to look at her "How do you feel, Xie?"
Mo Xie took a slow breath, stretching her hands slightly as if testing her newfound strength.
A radiant smile appeared on her face. "I feel… amazing. My body feels lighter, and my spirit power has increased significantly."
Xiao Wu hopped over to her, grabbing Mo Xie's hands with excitement. "That's great! I knew you could do it!"
Mo Xie chuckled softly, nodding. "It's all thanks to Er Ming and the Emerald Swan. I'll make sure to use this power wisely."
Just then, the ground beneath them trembled slightly as Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape, approached.
His massive body towered over them, yet his gaze was filled with warmth as he looked down at Xiao Wu and the others.
Er Ming crossed his arms and let out a low rumbling voice "It's good that everything went well. Now that the little girl has successfully absorbed the spirit ring, you humans should leave before others take notice of your presence in the forest."
Xuan Yan nodded his head "Yeah. We should start heading back now. We've been here for a few days already."
Mo Xie glanced at Xuan Yan, and then at Xiao Wu, who was quietly standing beside her.
She had noticed the way Xiao Wu had been unusually silent ever since the breakthrough was completed.
Her playful energy was still there, but there was a sadness lingering in her eyes.
Mo Xie smiled gently at her "Xiao Wu, thank you for everything."
Xiao Wu blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Ah… it's nothing. I just..." she stopped, biting her lip before forcing a bright smile.
"I guess I just got used to having you both around."
Er Ming kneeled down, lowering his massive palm to them. "Come on, I'll take you to the edge of the forest. It's the least I can do after all of this."
Xuan Yan gave a nod as he turned to Mo Xie and Xiao Wu. "Let's go."
Xiao Wu hesitated for a brief moment, her eyes flickering with reluctance.
But she took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright…"
Mo Xie climbed onto Er Ming's broad hand first, followed by Xuan Yan.
As he reached out his hand to help Xiao Wu up, she paused, looking at his outstretched hand.
A small, bittersweet smile played on her lips before she took his hand and allowed him to pull her up.
With all three of them settled, Er Ming carefully lifted them onto his shoulder, his enormous frame barely shifting under their weight.
As Er Ming stood back up, the view from atop his shoulder was breathtaking.
The endless expanse of the Star Dou Forest stretched beneath them like a sea of trees glowing under the golden morning light.
Xiao Wu inhaled deeply, letting the scent of the fresh forest air fill her lungs.
She turned her head slightly, sneaking a glance at Xuan Yan.
For a moment, she simply watched him, as if trying to etch his image into her memory.
She knew this moment wouldn't last forever.
The journey toward the outer edges of the forest was peaceful, with the occasional rustling of the trees and the distant roars of hidden spirit beasts.
Xiao Wu pointed out various places along the way, showing them hidden rivers, flower-filled clearings, and even the occasional rare herb growing in the wild.
Mo Xie was particularly interested in the medicinal herbs, her eyes lighting up as she made a mental note of where they grew.
"These could be useful in the future," she murmured, glancing at Xuan Yan.
He nodded. "We'll come back when the time is right."
Xiao Wu turned toward them and grinned "You better bring me some delicious food when you visit next time!"
Xuan Yan chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll bring something good."
Xiao Wu smiled but didn't say anything more.
Instead, she simply leaned back slightly, letting the wind brush against her face.
Soon, the dense trees began to thin, and the sunlight became brighter as they approached the edge of the Star Dou Forest.
Er Ming finally came to a stop. "This is as far as I can take you," he rumbled.
"From here, you'll be able to reach the human settlements safely."
Xuan Yan nodded and leaped down first, landing smoothly on the soft forest floor.
He turned around and held out his hand to help Mo Xie down, who gracefully stepped off Er Ming's shoulder.
Xiao Wu remained where she was for a moment, looking at Er Ming before glancing back at Xuan Yan and Mo Xie.
Finally, she took a deep breath and hopped down, landing lightly beside them.
She then turned to Xuan Yan and Mo Xie, her expression wavering slightly. "I guess… this is it."
Xuan Yan looked at her for a long moment before stepping forward.
He reached out and patted her head gently. "Take care, Xiao Wu."
Her eyes widened slightly at the gesture, before she quickly lowered her head, her bangs covering her expression. "Y-Yeah… You too."
Mo Xie stepped forward, giving Xiao Wu a quick hug. "We'll see each other again."
Xiao Wu returned the hug briefly before stepping back, her hands clenching into small fists at her sides.
Xuan Yan took one last look at her before turning around. "Let's go, Xie."
Mo Xie nodded, and together, they began walking away, heading toward the path that would lead them back to the human world.
Xiao Wu watched them go, her heart feeling heavier with each step they took away from her.
As their figures disappeared into the distance, she whispered softly, "You better come back… Little Plum."
Then, with one last deep breath, she turned around and disappeared back into the depths of the Star Dou Forest.
...
"Ehh.."
-_-
Xuan Yan stared at Bibi Dong who was standing near the carriage with her arms crossed.
'Well, fuck..'
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