On the way back to the courtyard, Master Qing remained silent, her expression unreadable.
Only when they left the cave and summoned Bai Yujing did she nod slightly at Du Yu, indicating that her disciple should ride the Immortal Deer home.
After that, she didn't have any further exchanges with Du Yu during the journey.
However, the Little Chi Bear in the woman's arms looked around curiously with its big, black eyes.
Apparently, the little creature had already completed its contract with Master Qing.
With the aid of the Demon Pet Contract, this Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear had certain intelligence awakened, and its existence state had slightly altered.
The Little Chi Bear was full of anticipation for the life ahead.
It was also filled with a sense of novelty regarding Master Qing, Du Yu, and the beautiful Immortal Deer.
From time to time, it looked at Du Yu, studied the Dust Spirit Deer with curiosity, and eventually gazed at its owner, daydreaming quietly.
"Ying~"
The complex emotions of Yang Qingqing were ultimately captured by this adorable little creature.
She gazed down at the little bear in her arms, a gentle smile appearing on her face as she tapped its nose gently.
Who knows what they communicated through their contract.
Whatever it was, the Little Chi Bear rested its head on the woman's shoulder, nuzzling her neck and whining coyly.
The scene was full of affection.
And it made Du Yu envious beyond words!
What a lucky Chi Bear, having a Demon Tamer like Master Qing. Its future life should be particularly happy...
The master and disciple silently moved through the Bamboo Sea until they left the boundary of the Purple Leaf Bamboo Forest. The Little Chi Bear, gazing at its slowly receding homeland, finally ceased its whining and quietly fell into thought.
The woman tenderly stroked the Little Chi Bear's spine, as if comforting it.
Quickly, the Little Chi Bear perked back up, leaving its Purple Leaf homeland behind.
It accompanied its owner, traveling southward, through ordinary green Bamboo Seas, finally entering a fiery red Bamboo Forest.
Everything was as Du Yu expected; indeed, this Chi Bear would be very happy.
As they entered the Red Bamboo Courtyard, Du Yu finally couldn't hold back, breaking the silence: "Master Qing."
"Hmm."
Du Yu: "Did you see a war in the Bamboo Shadow Thunder Pool? Was it related to me?"
He had reason to believe so.
Because when Yang Qingqing was flung out of the Thunder Pool, the first thing she did was caress his cheek.
Such a gesture, for Du Yu, was incomprehensible...
The impression of Master Qing was of a powerful, resilient Demon Tamer.
Du Yu found it hard to imagine Yang Qingqing making such a move, especially since her expression was indescribably complex!
He even speculated whether he had died in her Illusion Realm, which would explain her particular gaze...
"Why do you say that?" Yang Qingqing bent down to place the Little Chi Bear in the courtyard covered with bamboo leaves.
The Little Chi Bear, unceremonious, grabbed a bamboo leaf and stuffed it into its mouth: "Crunch crunch..."
Without waiting for Du Yu to respond, Yang Qingqing said softly, "You can call out your Demon Pets to meet new friends."
"Okay." Du Yu immediately summoned Xiaoyan, Ghost Firefly, and Little Tai Sui.
"Ying?" The Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear blinked, curiously looking around.
A deer, a fox, a bear, and a Ghostly Firefly Doll.
The number of little companions was quite a lot, huh?
The Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear folded an ear, observing the approaching Demon Pets.
"Ying!" Little Tai Sui chirped happily, bouncing over and bumping its head into the other one's arms!
The two fluffy toys rolled around several times on the fiery red bamboo leaf carpet.
Earlier in the morning, the female demon insisted on finding a playmate, and before evening, the companion was already here?
So happy~
The little companions were enthusiastic, overwhelming the Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear, and soon, it was playing together with Little Tai Sui and Little You Ying.
Compared to the carefree Tai Sui and You Ying, Bai Yujing simply greeted them, then returned to Du Yu's side.
She silently supported Du Yu as he half-sat, half-leaned, seeming afraid that he would fall.
Xiaoyan crouched on Du Yu's shoulder, tilting its head at him, its fox eyes filled with laughter, playfully covering Du Yu's mouth with its large tail.
"Mm?" Du Yu was about to speak but got a mouthful of fluff instead.
One was a red rose, the other a white moonlight...
Unlike the general populace who struggles and suffers, Prince Du was reckless, wanting it all without struggle!
When Du Yu moved the large tail from his mouth, Master Qing was already stepping towards the Bamboo House.
Du Yu opened his mouth again, but Yang Qingqing, as if she had eyes at the back of her head, interrupted him with her cold voice: "Think of a name for this Chi Bear."
Du Yu's words stuck in his throat and ultimately swallowed down.
Evidently, the master did not intend to continue this topic.
Annoyance!
Surely I can't die, right?
After all, there's still a Little Fen Yang inside me; how could I die so easily?
Du Yu scratched his head, suddenly having a thought.
Holy crap!
Could it be that Master Qing died instead?
Since she was so out of sorts, it seems quite possible!
Du Yu stared blankly at that pale green figure until she walked into the Bamboo House, turned back, and closed the door, their eyes meeting once again.
"Click." The bamboo door did not give them much time to look at each other, gently closing.
Separated by a door, one stood in the courtyard, the other inside the house, both figures silently remaining.
Du Yu was lost in his wild thoughts, while Yang Qingqing imagined the young boy in the courtyard, with those orange-red eyes.
Regarding Du Yu's future role in saving herself, including his decisive role on the battlefield, Yang Qingqing had no doubts.
Du Yu's growth speed is truly too fast!
Moreover, the potential value of the Paper Crane Disciple seems to have no limit, and there is no spiritual cultivation threshold to speak of.
What truly made Yang Qingqing unable to accept was the scale of that grand war; although she only superficially observed it, she could sense its brutal intensity.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have felt despair.
Nor would she feel a lingering attachment to the world and attack with such a decisive attitude.
What on earth will this world become...
...
No other matters in the Red Bamboo Courtyard.
Gazing at drifting clouds, enjoying bamboo leaves, satiating hunger with wild fruits, brewing tea with dew.
In the subsequent days, Du Yu and Yang Qingqing lived leisurely in the Bamboo House within the courtyard, and neither of them even went to watch the Heavenly Level and Spirit Level Chi Bear Dual Meet.
Yang Qingqing wasn't in the mood; she actually let Du Yu go participate in the grand event, but Du Yu didn't go, choosing instead to stay in the courtyard, quietly accompanying Master Qing.
He hadn't forgotten the purpose of this journey.
With daily cleansing practice, Yang Qingqing's state quickly adjusted back to being the peerlessly charming Master Qing.
Often interacting with Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear, the smile on her face grew increasingly gentle.
Evidently, surrounded by powerful Demon Pets, she hadn't enjoyed the attachment and dependence of young Demon Pets in a long time.
Bai Yujing did give her some illusions, but Yang Qingqing knew the Dust Spirit Deer truly didn't want her.
Du Yu was very tactful, not bringing up the Bamboo Shadow Thunder Pool or the events of that war.
He knew well in his heart that whether or not Master spoke of it, at this moment he lacked any ability to solve practical problems.
Besides diligently cultivating, he had no other options.
The beginning of late month, early morning of this day.
Yang Qingqing and Du Yu sat at the bamboo wood table in the courtyard, eating breakfast as usual.
In the courtyard covered with red leaves, a group of Little Chi Bears were crying out, surrounding a small battlefield to cheer on the two Chi Bears in confrontation.
"Master Qing." Du Yu placed the bamboo wood tea cup before the woman, softly called.
"Hmm." Yang Qingqing picked up the tea cup with one hand, took a sip.
The fragrance of Red Bamboo Leaf Tea wafted into the nose, accompanied by threads of Fire Demon Breath, leaving scent lingering between lips and teeth.
She slightly raised her head, indicating to the sparring Little Tai Sui and Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear on the field, softly said: "It's been more than ten days, you still haven't named it."
"Ah." Du Yu looked troubled, picked up a wild fruit from the plate, wiped it with his hand, "I don't know what name to give, this is Master Qing's Demon Pet, why don't you name it?"
Yang Qingqing looked up at Du Yu, mouth carrying a faint smile: "This journey, including the qualification to make a contract with it, wasn't it all arranged by you for me?"
Du Yu: "..."
Yang Qingqing spoke softly: "I really like the names of Fu Jianzhou and his Demon Pet."
"Crunch." Du Yu took a bite of the wild fruit, looked at the field.
"Sizzle~Sizzle!"
In the red bamboo leaf carpet, shoots of bamboo sprang up, it was clear from the color of the bamboo shoots which were summoned by the Little Tai Sui and which by Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear.
Interestingly, there were four pale purple bamboo shoots releasing threads of electric current, connecting at the tips, forming a rectangle.
Little Tai Sui was cautiously within the electric current formation, unwilling to touch the fence formed by the purple electric currents while fighting.
Du Yu's expression turned strange; a thought occurred: Forbidden City?
This name is interesting, and it's dominant enough.
With Forbidden City, Du Yu naturally thought of Ziwei Palace.
Heaven has Ziwei Palace, later comes Forbidden City.
If Master desires names like Fu Jianzhou, Hua Mantang, Ziwei Palace is surely an attractive choice.
Just that...
Du Yu, deeply poisoned by expression memes in the previous life, whenever encountering words like "Ziwei," would invariably recall that guy who got stabbed.
It's so uncomfortable~
"You have an idea now." Yang Qingqing softly spoke, thoroughly familiar with her disciple's expression and mindset.
Du Yu hesitated momentarily, still unable to overcome the inner obstacle.
He proposed, "How about Forbidden City?"
Yang Qingqing turned her head, gazing at the field with more and more pale purple bamboo shoots.
Threads of purple current connected densely, continuously narrowing the opponent's range of motion while trapping the Little Tai Sui within...
Du Yu secretly observed Master Qing's expression, only to find that the woman slightly squinted her eyes.
What kind of expression is this?
Du Yu was very puzzled, whereas Yang Qingqing...
Following Du Yu's given name, she suddenly recalled the war scene she had witnessed in the Bamboo Shadow Thunder Pool.
At that time, a giant Chi Bear stood like a mountain, guarding her front, roaring and charging against the tidal wave of enemy forces.
Then, there was no further then.
One person and one bear just were engulfed by the rolling torrent.
Yang Qingqing pressed her lips together; she knew that Chi Bear ought to be her beloved pet before her eyes.
Since Heaven has given her enlightenment that this path is unworkable, perhaps she should let Chi Bear change its fighting style, no longer letting it roar and charge forward?
Forbidden City, Forbidden City...
Imprisonment, steadfast defense.
Du Yu also thought Master Qing may not be satisfied, shyly said, "Ziwei Palace also sounds nice."
Yang Qingqing: "It's decided, Forbidden City."
Hearing Master Qing's cool voice, Du Yu felt relieved, at least he wouldn't be flooded with memes.
He asked, "Do you like this name, Master Qing?"
"Hmm." Yang Qingqing gazed at Du Yu, eyes bright with charm, her face showing a gentle smile, "As your mentor, I'm quite satisfied."
"The pet name can be called Forbidden." Du Yu also smiled and nodded, "When it ascends to becoming a God and Saint, it will surely be exceptionally giant, towering high like a city."
Du Yu refrained from saying: It can join me in protecting Master Qing.