ETR | Chapter 106

The news reached the Upper Realm faster than Xiao Xueman had anticipated.

However, there were unexpected turns, like the fact that the first person to hear the news wasn't Yu Zhengrong, the president of the arena branches spread across the continent, nor was it Xiao Wan, but Shen Guan.

Although the Fox Clan’s base is in the Second Heaven, not all foxes live there. Some branches are scattered in various places.

Recently, there was a branch of snow foxes in the Sixth Heaven, and it was said that a promising young one had emerged. Shen Guan took some time to go and have a look.

The Fox Clan, after years of development, had long moved past the former clan leader’s issues. They remained one of the major demon clans, with a stable position.

Shen Guan had even picked out a few good successors, but he was still deliberating on whom to hand over the reins.

Having learned from past mistakes, this time, besides strength, he was also considering their character.

The Snow Fox Clan in the Sixth Heaven didn’t usually interact much with the main clan, but the young snow fox was indeed talented. Now almost ten years old, it wanted to go to the main clan for better cultivation resources.

However, the head of the Snow Fox Clan was reluctant, and Shen Guan was negotiating. If it didn’t work out, he wouldn’t force it.

This back-and-forth caused some delay in the Sixth Heaven.

Such minor matters didn’t really require Shen Guan, the clan leader, to handle. After the Fox Clan got back on track, he had more free time but always wanted to find something to do.

Because when he had free time, he would think of Xiao Xueman.

Xiao Xueman was his most important friend. Shen Guan had lost him twice, yet he could never get used to it. The regret in his heart was beyond words.

This time, he wasn’t alone. He brought along a younger member of the Fox Clan, one of the successors he had chosen.

This young one had just broken through to the Spirit God level a few months ago, was silent and reserved, but listened to Shen Guan.

Today, at their temporary resting place, Shen Guan suddenly got in the mood, drank two pots of wine, and got a bit tipsy.

His junior carried him to the bed to rest.

"Clan leader, aren't you going to sleep?"

Shen Guan, reeking of alcohol, stared into the void, lost in thought.

He wasn't usually fond of drinking, but when he was, it was mostly with Xiao Xueman.

"He and Qin Lou..." Shen Guan murmured, as if talking to himself, "Where are they? Do they miss Xiao Wan, do they think of me?"

Even after so long, he couldn't let it go. The junior accompanying him was helpless, gently coaxing the drunken clan leader to sleep, then sighed.

The person their clan leader missed had been gone for a long time. Even after being coaxed to sleep, his brows were still furrowed, making one feel heartache.

Though he really wanted to make him happy, in this matter, he was truly powerless.

Unexpectedly, the next morning, when he went out to buy some hangover remedies for his clan leader, he heard an unbelievable piece of news.

After Shen Guan's hangover, upon hearing the news, he momentarily doubted if he was dreaming.

"What did you say?"

"...It's said to have come from the Lower Realm," the junior spoke cautiously, afraid of another disappointment, "Wang Tian Dijun has returned, reportedly appearing in the Sixteenth Heaven."

Though the news spread quickly, during the transmission, it inevitably got twisted.

From the statue manifesting, spiritual power resemblance, to eventually saying Wang Tian Dijun had appeared and was witnessed by many—some even claimed that the missing Xiao Xueman was by his side.

However, despite the chaos in the news, it was exactly what Xiao Xueman wanted.

“This news just reached the Sixth Heaven,” the junior informed him. “The First Heaven probably hasn’t received it yet.”

The Lower Realm again.

Shen Guan’s intoxication hadn’t fully dissipated, his head was throbbing, and he wanted to rub it, but before he could, the junior adeptly reached out and helped him.

Actually, in the Sixth Heaven, people didn’t believe this news.

How could Wang Tian Dijun and Xiao Xueman appear in the Lower Realm? They had a son here—if they returned, wouldn’t they look for their son first?

“Go send a message to Wangtian Immortal Gate,” Shen Guan felt a bit clearer-headed, realizing this wasn’t an illusion. “I’ll verify it myself.”

Maybe Qin Lou and Xiao Xueman encountered some issue, unable to ascend for the time being.

“What about the Snow Fox Clan…”

“Let them figure it out themselves.” At this moment, nothing was more important than Xiao Xueman.

Shen Guan lifted his leg, ready to leave. “I can’t wait any longer.”

He immediately went to the demon clan to get a spirit instrument to suppress his power and set off himself.

Perhaps there was some premonition driving him to the Lower Realm.

Even though few in the Sixth Heaven believed this news, over the years, rumors about Wang Tian Dijun and Xiao Xueman’s whereabouts were rampant.

Not just Shen Guan—even Xiao Wan had personally verified countless times.

But whenever new information surfaced, they would earnestly seek the truth, not letting go of any hope.

The idea of Wang Tian Dijun appearing in the Lower Realm was rare, and for it to spread from there to here, the news must have some basis.

In the Fourteenth Heaven, Qin Lou had been cultivating even harder lately.

He had received a special token of affection from Xiao Xueman. Only by breaking through and gaining a divine status could he reciprocate such a gift.

Now, almost every day upon waking, he could recall something new, and those old friends were becoming clearer in his mind.

When Xiao Xueman had him tamper with the statue, he didn't ask much and just did it. Now, thinking back, it was probably to draw them over.

They would definitely return to the First Heaven sooner or later.

"But I can't be their Dijun now," Qin Lou said, a bit worried, "I'm afraid of disgracing Wangtian Immortal Gate."

"True friends wouldn't care about that," Xiao Xueman patted his head, "Strictly speaking, you're just a month-old cub now, don't set such high standards for yourself."

Besides, Wangtian Immortal Gate now had Xiao Wan, it was stable, and Qin Lou didn't need to push himself so hard.

Qin "Cub" Lou leaned closer and asked, "Then, Xueman, can a cub fall in love?"

His intention was to act cute and hopefully get a kiss, but Xiao Xueman didn't play along.

"Why?" Xiao Xueman put down the dried fruit in his hand, looking at him with a teasing smile, "Don't want to? Then can this cub sleep alone tonight? Also, a cub's world should be pure, so..."

"No," Qin Lou sensed danger, hugging him tightly, looking serious, "In fact, I'm quite grown-up."

So, anything was possible, no matter how intimate.

He playfully tangled with Xiao Xueman for a while, but perhaps the word "cub" triggered something in Qin Lou.

What was it?

Xiao Xueman told him they had stayed at this inn before, but since the inn's decor had completely changed, Qin Lou had no impression of it.

But at that moment, a scene suddenly popped into his mind.

The staircase leading from the inn's first floor to the upper floors had changed in appearance, but its overall position remained the same. He remembered standing at the top of the stairs, seeing someone standing on the first floor.

That person should be Xueman.

Although the scene was a bit blurry and only showed a back view, Qin Lou immediately recognized it as his treasure.

But that person wasn’t standing alone; he was holding a child, about three or four years old, wearing a furry hat, looking particularly cute.

Then, the child in Xueman's arms seemed to sense something, looked up at him. Qin Lou couldn't see the child's face clearly, but at that moment, a surge of indescribable emotions filled his heart.

Cub.

Whose cub?

Xiao Xueman noticed Qin Lou's expression froze and, being used to it, asked, "Did you remember something again?"

Qin Lou couldn't articulate it.

His heart was both sour and swollen, mixed with an indescribable sense of fulfillment. It seemed like he had discovered another major component of his and Xiao Xueman's relationship, leaving his mind a bit chaotic.

Because the recalled scene intertwined with reality, his vision blurred, and he instinctively reached out to touch Xiao Xueman, but his hand went in the wrong direction, knocking over a decorative vase by the window.

The vase rolled and then fell out of the window. Qin Lou, still somewhat dazed, didn't react in time. Xiao Xueman, worried about hitting innocent passersby, instinctively glanced outside.

The inn had a decorative railing below, where the vase shattered with a loud noise, fortunately not hitting anyone.

But this small accident made Xiao Xueman's eyes widen.

Because at that moment, Shen Guan was on his way to the Lower Realm.

He initially planned to go directly to the Sixteenth Heaven, but he had to pass through other heavens.

When he reached the Thirteenth Heaven, he remembered staying there with Xiao Xueman and Xiao Wan, so he stopped abruptly, as if possessed, and wandered around the city they once lived in.

No, Xiao Xueman and Qin Lou weren’t there.

They had skipped the Fourteenth Heaven back then—then came the Fifteenth Heaven.

Shen Guan had a deep impression of Frostwind City.

After entering the city, he skillfully found the inn they had stayed in and immediately inquired with the innkeeper.

Two people, one with fire attributes, the other with green eyes, both extremely good-looking.

Shen Guan described the features of Xiao Xueman and Qin Lou.

But the innkeeper, considering the guests’ privacy, couldn’t just believe Shen Guan’s claim of being a friend. What if he was seeking revenge?

The innkeeper remained tight-lipped, insisting he knew nothing.

In reality, the guests’ appearances were so striking that the innkeeper remembered them.

Shen Guan didn't have high hopes for this place. He was just following his intuition, checking it out on the way, not intending to argue with the innkeeper.

Maybe he was overthinking. Forget it, better head to the Sixteenth Heaven; the news came from there after all.

He was about to leave, already at the door, when he heard a "bang" above him and instinctively looked up.

He had used a spirit instrument to suppress his power, keeping it low for the Sixteenth Heaven. A falling vase didn't alert him in time.

Just one glance, and he locked eyes with Xiao Xueman, who was looking out the window.

"Shen Guan?"

Xiao Xueman upstairs hadn't expected this at all.

At that moment, it felt like time and space overlapped. Seeing his old friend, Xiao Xueman truly felt that he and Qin Lou had returned, like his feet were firmly on solid ground.

He was so eager to return, not just for Qin Lou, but also for the family and friendships he couldn't let go of, driving him back here.