89: The joy of reunion

“Auntie.”

Mo Yuhan’s voice rang out, a little hoarse from the long journey, yet exceptionally clear.

He quickly stepped forward, stopping three paces from Bibi Dong, as if to take in her full appearance.

However, when he raised his head, his gaze no longer deliberately avoided her as it had a year ago; instead, it met her purple eyes frankly, and in the depths of his dark eyes, complex and unspeakable emotions surged—worry, longing, relief, and a hint of… an indescribable flutter.

Bibi Dong did not respond immediately; she merely let her gaze slowly sweep over his noticeably taller frame and increasingly steady and resolute face, as if confirming something.

After a moment, she nodded lightly, her red lips parting, and the voice that emerged was still cool, yet seemed to hold a hint of undetectable tenderness: “You’re back.”

“Yes, I’m back.”

Mo Yuhan replied, his gaze shifting to Bibi Dong’s side.

“Little Scamp!” A clear, pleasant voice filled with surprise and deep concern rang out.

Little Fairy Doctor quickly stepped forward. She was dressed in a simple, elegant cyan-green dress, her figure graceful, and a bright smile adorned her delicate, gentle face, though her eyes quickly misted over.

A year’s time had shed some of her girlish naivety, and her brows held a quiet demeanor characteristic of an Alchemist, but the way she looked at Mo Yuhan was still like the older sister who had given him herbs in Qingshan Town of the Monster Mountain Range.

She unhesitatingly reached out her hand, seemingly wanting to pat Mo Yuhan’s head, but found that the young man was already much taller than her. Her hand paused in mid-air, then naturally landed on his shoulder as she looked him up and down.

Her voice held some complexity: “You’ve grown taller, and a bit thinner… In Black Rock City, did you eat well? Was alchemy difficult?”

“Little Fairy Doctor Sister, I am very well.”

Mo Yuhan looked at Little Fairy Doctor’s concerned eyes, a warm current flowing through him, and revealed a gentle smile.

His gaze swiftly swept over Little Fairy Doctor—her skin was smooth and fair, with a healthy blush, and though her eyes held excited moisture, they were still clear and bright, with no signs of abnormal pallor or severe poison erosion.

His heart settled slightly; the Woeful Poison Body… at least for now, it had not gone out of control.

However, the faint Dou Qi fluctuations emanating from her… Mo Yuhan’s heart tightened slightly; it seemed to be even above his own, he could barely discern it, estimating it should be at least a Five-star Dou Master.

The cultivation speed of this Woeful Poison Body was indeed astonishing!

“Young Master!”

A soft voice, laced with a sob and full of attachment, rang out. A pink figure, like a swallow returning to its nest, pounced over and tightly hugged Mo Yuhan’s arm.

It was Xiao Mei.

After a year apart, the young girl had grown even more graceful and slender, her figure curvaceous, and her chest had begun to develop, with a soft sensation transmitted through her clothes.

She looked up, her small face teary-eyed as she gazed at Mo Yuhan, her pretty face filled with grievance and longing: “Young Master, you’re finally back! Mei’er missed you so much. While you were gone, Mei’er cleaned the courtyard every day, waiting for your return…”

She was like a kitten eager for its owner’s comfort, wishing she could hang entirely on Mo Yuhan.

Unfortunately, Mo Yuhan wasn’t very big, but fortunately, Xiao Mei was also very light, so he wasn’t knocked over.

Mo Yuhan’s body stiffened slightly, unaccustomed to such an intimate embrace, but seeing Xiao Mei’s red eyes and undisguised reliance, he ultimately did not push her away.

He merely patted her back with a hint of helplessness: “Mm, Mei’er Sister, you’ve worked hard.”

From the carriage, Lin Fei, Xue Mei, Xiao Yu, and Xue Ni also disembarked one after another.

Lin Fei, in a fiery red tight-fitting outfit, with a voluptuous figure, now stood with her arms crossed, a mischievous smile on her beautiful face as she watched Xiao Mei clinging to Mo Yuhan.

Xue Mei, on the other hand, wore a plain white long dress, her aura as cool as a snow lotus. Her ice-blue eyes calmly swept over the reunion scene in the courtyard, her gaze lingering on Bibi Dong for a moment, a hint of undetectable admiration and scrutiny flashing through them.

Xiao Yu was still in her standard Canaan Academy uniform, outlining her tall and healthy figure. She looked at Mo Yuhan’s arm, which was tightly held by Xiao Mei, and her heroic brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Her red lips pressed together slightly, then she quickly regained her cheerful demeanor, waving her hand broadly: “Alright, alright, Yu Han Junior Brother, you’ve been delivered! We’ll go help out at the Academy first! Instructor Ruo Lin must be crazy busy over there!”

Xue Ni, giggling, hooked her arm through Xiao Yu’s, her gaze flitting between Mo Yuhan and the several distinct yet equally outstanding women in the courtyard, with a hint of enjoying the show.

“Thank you, Senior Sisters, for taking care of me along the way.”

Mo Yuhan nodded in acknowledgment to Lin Fei and the others.

“What’s there to be polite about!”

Xiao Yu waved her hand generously, her gaze, however, subtly and quickly swept over Mo Yuhan’s calm profile, then she pulled Xue Ni, calling out to Lin Fei and Xue Mei, “Let’s go, let’s go, don’t disturb their reunion!”

Her turning motion carried a hint of imperceptible stiffness, as if she wanted to escape an atmosphere that made her uneasy.

Lin Fei pouted, then glanced at Mo Yuhan again, before she and Xue Mei reluctantly left, following the others’ pace.

The carriage drove away, and the courtyard entrance returned to a brief tranquility.

Mo Yuhan gently patted Xiao Mei, who was still clinging to him: “Mei’er Sister, could you please help prepare something to eat? I’m a bit hungry.”

Only then did Xiao Mei reluctantly release her grip, wiped her tears, and obediently replied: “Yes, Young Master!”

Then she scurried off.

Only Mo Yuhan, Bibi Dong, and Little Fairy Doctor remained in the courtyard. Sunlight streamed down, but the atmosphere was subtly stagnant.

“Let’s go inside and talk.”

Bibi Dong broke the silence, turning and walking towards the house first. Her smoky purple skirt swayed gently with her steps, outlining a perfect waist and hip curve.

Mo Yuhan and Little Fairy Doctor exchanged a look, then followed her in.

…

And just after leaving Mo Yuhan, Lin Fei and Xue Mei accompanied Ruo Lin to settle into a hotel in Wutan City.

Xue Ni, in fiery red and with an extremely voluptuous figure, accompanied Xiao Yu back to the Xiao Family.

She looked at the heroic yet slightly red-eared Xiao Yu beside her, and the wild, mischievous glint in her eyes once again blazed with the fire of gossip.

She suddenly nudged Xiao Yu with her elbow, leaned into her ear, and said with a wicked grin:

“Hey, Yu’er, look, we’re at your doorstep! Shouldn’t we, sisters, bring up the matter of marrying little husband Yu Han with your father?”

“Nizi, you’re asking for a beating!!!”

…

Xiao Family Council Hall.

The atmosphere was solemn, tinged with an irrepressible excitement.

Xiao Zhan sat in the main seat, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the mahogany armrest. Below him sat several family Elders, as well as Xiao Yu, who had just arranged Xue Ni’s accommodation and rushed over.

“Yu’er, are you sure that child Mo Yuhan… is really a Second-Rank Alchemist? And also… a Dou Master realm?”

The Xiao Family’s Great Elder’s voice trembled with disbelief, his gaze fixed on his daughter.

Xiao Yu sat on the chair, her heroic face showing the fatigue of a long journey, but more than that, a complex emotion.

Her mind uncontrollably replayed the moments with Mo Yuhan during their journey back, as well as Xue Ni’s indiscreet mention of “little husband” just now, which actually made her feel a bit shy.

“Yes, Father.”

Xiao Yu’s voice was a bit dry. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, hiding the turmoil in her heart, “Yu Han Junior Brother not only passed the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment, but also produced pills of extremely high quality, and he also became a disciple of Frank, the Fourth-Rank Alchemist and President of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild.”

“As for the Dou Master realm… although he didn’t openly display it, Instructor Ruo Lin, who was in charge of the internal academy test, personally confirmed it, so there’s absolutely no mistake.”

She paused, and the image of the maid named Xiao Mei pouncing into Mo Yuhan’s arms flashed through her mind again. A strange pang of sourness and irritation welled up in her heart, and her tone took on a hint of awkwardness that she herself didn’t notice.

“Father, why is Cousin Xiao Mei by his side, serving as a… personal maid?”