Time passed quickly.
Three days later, Victor finally returned to the medicine garden with Xiao Wu at his side.
"Master, Sister Xiao Wu, you're finally here."
Relief flooded through Qian Renxue when she saw them approach.
She hadn't realized how worried she'd been until this moment, Victor had been gone so long without any word.
Victor caught the concern flickering in the girl's eyes. "Sorry for worrying you. We ran into some complications."
"I'm just glad you're both safe."
Afterward, Renxue's gaze shifted to Xiao Wu, who was still clinging to Victor's arm.
Something felt different. Though Xiao Wu's appearance remained largely unchanged, there was a newfound maturity to her, a subtle shift in her temperament that hadn't been there before.
Renxue couldn't help wondering what had happened during those three days to cause such a transformation.
"Have Shinoa and Mahiru gone home?"
Victor's question pulled Renxue from her thoughts.
She nodded. "Yes, they left yesterday."
They'd initially wanted to wait for Victor's return, but after two days with no sign of him, they'd reluctantly departed.
"By the way, Master, didn't Miss Gu Yuena come back with you?"
Victor shook his head gently. "We separated earlier. She hasn't returned yet."
"I see."
Was Gu Yuena still in the God Realm? With a flicker of curiosity, Victor opened the chat group.
[Victor: @Gu Yuena, where are you? Haven't you returned to the Douluo Continent yet?]
[Gu Yuena: Sorry, sorry! I'm having too much fun here. Can't bring myself to leave just yet.]
[Victor: What's going on? Is the God Realm really that entertaining?]
[Gu Yuena: Of course it is! Just watch this and you'll understand. (Short video.mp4)]
Victor immediately clicked on the video file.
What he saw left him momentarily speechless.
In the footage, Gu Yuena wielded a spiritual whip, ruthlessly lashing the soul of the Asura God. The God of Evil sat sprawled on a throne with his feet kicked up. Meanwhile, the Goddess of Life and the Goddess of Kindness stood trembling beside him with shackles around their necks, holding trays of fruit and drinks with expressions of pure terror.
[Victor: I'm... impressed.]
This Silver Dragon King was more vicious than he'd anticipated.
To think she'd reduced the four great God Kings to this state. How much hatred and resentment must she harbor toward them?
[Lumine: I never expected someone as shy as you to have such a cruel side, Yuena. You're full of surprises!]
[Bai Yuekui: This is what they call "don't judge a book by its cover."]
[Gu Yuena: ...]
[Stelle: I learned something new today! I'll try this next time!]
[Victor: Absolutely not! If you dare imitate that, I'll spank you silly!]
[Stelle: Sheesh, why so aggressive? I was just joking. Hmph!]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: Oh my, Sister Stelle has such an... eager learning attitude. Perhaps I should teach you some positions, I mean, knowledge. I'm sure Victor wouldn't object.]
[Stelle: What do you mean "sister"? You should be calling me that!]
[Rin Tohsaka: Here we go again with the delusions.]
[Shinoa: I'm honestly worried that one day Stelle's delusions might actually come true.]
[Shinobu: I hope they do, actually. Then we'd all be real sisters!]
[Kiana: Over my dead body. Even if I end up marrying Victor someday and becoming her sister-in-law, I'll be the older one!]
[Victor: Oh? Kiana's feeling confident today?]
[Kiana: Of course! That's a given!]
[Stelle: Dream on! You think you can be my older sister? Beat me in a fight first!]
[Belle: So you're deciding seniority based on strength?]
[Kiana: Exactly!]
[Tsunade: Both of them are stubborn types who refuse to back down. I get it though, I'm the same way. With their power levels, neither would want to be the younger one, especially with the age gap between them.]
[Victor: Speaking of which, who won your last duel?]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: Another draw.]
[Stelle: Damn it! If Tsunade hadn't bet on me, I would've won easily!]
[Tsunade: Don't blame me for this. I bet on you because I believed in you.]
[Tsunade: Besides, you're a big shot in the Golden Core Realm! I'm just a lowly Qi Refining cultivator. How could my fortune possibly affect someone like you?]
[Kiana: Hmph, the draw is only temporary. Next time will be different.]
[Stelle: I agree. Because next time, I'm going to crush you!]
While Victor focused on the chat group, Renxue and Xiao Wu began chatting outside.
"Xiao Wu, do you know Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong?"
"Yes! They're my best friends from Shrek Academy. Why? Did you meet them?"
"Yes, they're staying in the dormitory here at the medicine garden."
"What? They're here too?" Joy lit up Xiao Wu's face.
She'd thought she might never see her two closest friends again.
"By the way, why are they here?"
The conversation caught Victor's attention as well. He was equally curious about how Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had ended up at the medicine garden.
Renxue proceeded to explain what had happened.
After hearing the full story, both Victor and Xiao Wu were shocked.
The Spirit Hall truly was ruthless and unreasonable. Just because they suspected that Tang San's death was somehow connected to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, without any actual evidence, they'd stormed the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan and massacred everyone.
Victor felt vindicated in his earlier decision to destroy Spirit Hall.
"Master, I want to see my friends."
Xiao Wu looked up at Victor with pleading eyes.
He nodded without hesitation.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you, Master!"
Standing on her toes, Xiao Wu planted a quick kiss on Victor's lips before releasing his arm and dashing toward the dormitory building.
Renxue stared, momentarily stunned.
Though Xiao Wu had always been affectionate with Victor, often hugging his arm and acting intimate, she'd never dared cross that particular line before.
This kiss today was genuinely shocking.
Could the rumors be true? Did maids really have a chance of being promoted?
The thought made Renxue's cheeks flush.
But just as her mind began to wander, Xiao Wu suddenly ran back and leaned close to whisper in her ear, "By the way, you can't call me 'sister' anymore. You'll have to call me 'older sister' from now on."
With a mischievous smile, Xiao Wu darted away again.
Renxue's face went through several shades of emotion, shame, indignation, and frustration warring within her.
She felt bashful because she knew perfectly well that she harbored feelings for her master too.
The anger came from Xiao Wu's words, which clearly declared that her status was now higher.
But Renxue couldn't really argue with that logic.
According to the principle of "first come, first served," Xiao Wu had indeed gotten there first. Even if Renxue were promoted to that position in the future, she'd still have to acknowledge Xiao Wu as her senior.
Damn it.
How had that little rabbit managed to move so fast?
Victor remained oblivious to Renxue's internal turmoil, completely unaware of the shift in her expression.
His attention had already returned to the chat group.
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