Li Yundong suddenly receiving a call from Su Chan was an unexpected delight, but hearing her burst into tears immediately threw him into a state of confusion. He stepped onto the balcony and murmured, "Little thing, what's wrong? Your old man misses you too!"

Su Chan had initially been terrified, only managing to dial Li Yundong’s number when she finally found an opportunity. She was afraid no one would answer, and equally afraid a strange woman would pick up. As she waited anxiously, she finally heard Li Yundong's familiar, gentle voice, and she immediately lost control and began to cry.

Su Chan sobbed, "Old Man, are you getting rid of me?"

Su Chan’s crying made Li Yundong’s heart ache. The longing that the past few days of high-intensity cultivation had suppressed suddenly flared up again. He spoke softly, "Don't be silly. How could I ever leave you?"

Hearing Li Yundong comfort her, Su Chan wiped her tears and asked, "You have so many beautiful women surrounding you day and night. Aren't you going to fall for one of them?"

Li Yundong suddenly felt a surge of amusement. He couldn't help but laugh, "So you’re jealous now? Not bad. Didn't you used to push me toward other beauties?"

Su Chan snuffled, choking back a sob, "Stop it! Answer my question first!"

Li Yundong chuckled, "Silly girl, there are countless beauties in the world, but I only like you."

Su Chan was overjoyed, smiling so widely her eyes crinkled as she held the phone. "Why?"

Li Yundong whispered tenderly, "Because the little thing has never left my side from the very beginning!"

Su Chan giggled, remembering the cold snort she’d heard when a woman answered his phone earlier. Her lips instantly puckered into a pout. "Then why was there another woman speaking on your phone just now?"

Li Yundong froze. "Another woman? Impossible. I just picked up your call. I just went out to buy groceries."

Su Chan’s mouth formed a perfect circle of indignation. "But a woman answered my call before you did, snorted once, and then hung up."

Li Yundong couldn't help but glance back toward the living room. Ruan Hongling had been watching him closely. Feeling a twinge of guilt, she immediately averted her gaze when Li Yundong looked over, her eyes flickering away.

Li Yundong wasn't a fool; he immediately understood what had happened. Though a flicker of anger stirred within him, he kept his voice smooth and gentle on the call. "Someone else must have answered the phone then."

Su Chan let out an "Oh." Then, as if a new thought struck her, she tentatively asked, "Yundong, is Ziyuan teaching you cultivation right now?"

Li Yundong was momentarily stunned. "How did you know?"

Su Chan giggled, "This great immortal knows everything and understands all things!"

Li Yundong laughed, "Nonsense, bragging! You’re not ashamed at all! Your Master must have told you!"

Su Chan didn't blush, playfully retorting, "My old man is so clever!"

As she spoke, the little girl's eyes suddenly darted sideways. She asked, "You went out to buy groceries just now—was it to cook for Ziyuan and the others?"

Li Yundong smiled. "My little lady is very smart too! You guessed it right away!"

Su Chan huffed, a note of sourness in her voice. "I want some too! It’s been days since I ate food cooked by the Old Man. I’m craving it!"

Li Yundong chuckled heartily. "Alright, alright. When you get back, I'll cook for you every day!"

Su Chan was thrilled. "You promised! Pinky swear!"

The little girl’s charmingly naive tone made Li Yundong feel as if Su Chan were standing right in front of him. She seemed to lean slightly forward, extending her little finger, gazing at him with a bright, sweet smile that turned her eyes into two crescent moons.

Li Yundong’s expression instantly softened, becoming vivid and gentle. He instinctively reached out his own hand, hooking his little finger around hers, and murmured, "A pinky swear seals it for a hundred years, no take-backs!"

Su Chan echoed him sweetly over the phone, "A pinky swear seals it for a hundred years, no take-backs!"

As they spoke, even though they were each holding a phone, they both felt as if the other was standing right there, their faces and expressions vividly real, almost within reach. An invisible thread pulled them tightly together.

Su Chan giggled again. "Alright, I believe you. But, Yundong, Ziyuan is someone even my Master praises highly—you must learn a lot from her. She comes from a prestigious orthodox sect; she’s surely more suited to teach you than I am."

Li Yundong smiled. "But I’d rather you teach me."

Su Chan giggled coyly. "Is that so? I feel like I don't know anything and only cause you trouble." Su Chan suddenly gasped, then whispered urgently, "My Master is back. Gotta go!"

With that, she pressed the disconnect button and quickly turned around, hiding the phone behind her back.

Although Ao Wushuang hadn't seen Su Chan on the phone, as someone with experience, the guilty look on Su Chan's face instantly told her everything about her little apprentice's secretive behavior.

Ao Wushuang let out a low chuckle, said nothing, and simply held out her hand in front of Su Chan.

Under Ao Wushuang's imposing authority, Su Chan didn't dare resist and obediently handed over the phone.

Ao Wushuang looked at Su Chan with an expression of disappointment, scolding, "I was gone for two minutes, and you couldn't wait to contact your paramour. Not bad; after a few months away, you even learned how to use a cell phone! Do you truly love him, or do you truly hate him?"

Su Chan hung her head so low her chin nearly touched her chest, scuffing the floor with her toes and rubbing the hem of her robe with both hands. She mumbled pitifully, "Love..."

Ao Wushuang snapped, "If you love him, then endure and don't contact him! Do you want to bring harm to him?"

Su Chan answered with a low "Oh..."

But after a moment, she timidly raised her head again and weakly asked, "Then, Master, when... when can I contact him again?"

Ao Wushuang huffed. "Wait until he passes his Heavenly Tribulation."

Su Chan said "Oh" and lowered her head. After a short while, she raised her head again, weakly asking, "Then, Master, how will I know when he’s going to face his Heavenly Tribulation?"

Ao Wushuang stared at Su Chan speechlessly. "You are the Three-Tailed Spirit Fox; how can you be like a complete idiot just starting cultivation? When the Heavenly Tribulation arrives, won't the entire cultivation world know about it?"

Su Chan said "Oh" again and looked down, but after a moment, she raised her head once more. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Ao Wushuang glare at her in fury.

Startled, Su Chan managed another "Oh," then quickly bowed her head, daring not to look up again. However, her eyeballs were rolling around rapidly in their sockets, furtively surveying her surroundings, as if plotting something.

After a while, Ao Wushuang handed her a train ticket. "Go on, I just got the tickets."

Su Chan took the ticket and looked at the destination, asking curiously, "Master, why are we going to Dongwu City?"

Ao Wushuang sighed. "Why are you so unmotivated? How did our Fox Zen Sect produce an anomaly like you? Do you want your beloved to leave you far behind? Are you giving up on your cultivation? Don't end up becoming his burden!"

Su Chan immediately looked up, asking with uncertainty, "Master, where are you taking me to cultivate?"

Ao Wushuang responded with a soft affirmation and nodded. "Dongwu City is an ancient city thousands of years old, rich in spiritual energy, boasting beautiful mountains and waters, a place blessed by Heaven and Earth—an excellent venue for cultivation. Since you have already entered the mortal world, taking you back into the deep mountains now, I suspect you wouldn't be able to settle your heart. So, you will cultivate properly in the mortal world in Dongwu City. I have a place there already, so you can focus on your training."

Su Chan broke into a joyous smile. "Then can I tell Yundong where I'm going first?"

Ao Wushuang became furious. "Insolent! Such childish attachment! What kind of cultivation are you pursuing!"

Su Chan lowered her head, her mouth forming a deep pout, clearly unconvinced, muttering, "You're the same way..."

Ao Wushuang was instantly defeated. She rubbed her temples and sighed resignedly. "Just save it. When his Tribulation is over, he will naturally know where you are!"

Su Chan blinked and responded. After a pause, she spoke again, "Master..."

Ao Wushuang was growing frantic. "What is it now?"

Su Chan weakly asked, "Why do we have to take a train? Wouldn't flying be better?"

Ao Wushuang pointed to the sky, unable to suppress her anger. "You blockhead! Don't you see how many dark clouds are up there? It’s summer now, the season with the most heavenly lightning. Do you want to fly up and get struck down?"

Su Chan retracted her head, mumbling, "I just forgot..."

Ao Wushuang's phoenix eyes flared in anger. "Are you intentionally trying to provoke me?"

Su Chan immediately linked her arm around Ao Wushuang's in a cheerful manner, feigning sweetness. "How could I, Master? I wouldn't dare!"

Ao Wushuang adored this disciple of hers; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to protect her, even risking her own life to draw away pursuers so Su Chan could escape with the Human Origin Golden Elixir. She couldn't stand the little girl's coaxing; when Su Chan acted spoiled, most of her anger would dissipate. Though her expression remained stern, a hidden smile flickered in her eyes. "Hmph, you wouldn't dare? Is there anything you wouldn't dare do?"

Then she commanded, "Hurry up and pack your things, let's go! Aren't you afraid of missing the train?"

Su Chan said "Oh" and began gathering her things hastily. After packing for a moment, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and whined petulantly, "Master, I'm hungry!"

Ao Wushuang tossed her a plastic bag. "Just eat this!"

Su Chan opened it and instantly felt deep disappointment. "Ah? A sesame flatbread? And it's cold!"

Ao Wushuang scolded, "Your Master made this herself. Be grateful you have anything to eat. You never used to be picky! Eat it or give it back!"

Su Chan certainly wasn't going to give it back—it was better than nothing!

She immediately adopted a protective stance over the food and took a bite. With a loud crack, she nearly lost a tooth on the hard, abominable flatbread.

The little girl cried out "Aiyo," clutching her jaw. She thought of the exquisite feasts Li Yundong used to cook for her, then looked at the cold, hard flatbread that looked like it had been sitting there for hundreds of years. A deep sadness welled up, making her eyes well up with tears; her heart turned icy cold.

The more Su Chan thought about it, the sadder she became, and she couldn't help but pout, "It's not as delicious as the food Yundong makes!"

Looking at her expression, Ao Wushuang couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "Wicked disciple!"