On the city streets, a black sedan moved steadily through the dense traffic.
"Master, shall I just teleport us and the car out of here?"
Seeing the gridlocked city, Di Tian could only ask Gu Xun if they should teleport away immediately. Gu Xun, however, didn't mind.
"No need for us to draw attention like that. We have all the time in the world."
Gu Xun dismissed the idea, and Di Tian abandoned the plan for teleportation.
In the passenger seat, Yuanen Huihui, who had fought continuously for three hours on the Basic Spirit Ascension Platform at the Spirit Pagoda, had fallen into a deep sleep upon returning to the car. Dong Qianqiu and Di Qiu'er were similarly exhausted and had also drifted off due to the traffic jam.
Seated in the middle, Gu Xun found himself serving as a pillow for the two girls, their heads resting on his shoulders as they slept.
Currently, Gu Xun and Dong Qianqiu were at the friend stage—perhaps a bit closer than just friends.
Gu Xun always felt like an old father watching his daughter when it came to Dong Qianqiu. After all, she was a bit dim-witted and cried easily.
She had already cried twice in front of Gu Xun, which only reinforced that feeling of watching his daughter.
Di Qiu'er's situation was similar. Gu Xun also treated her like a daughter he was raising.
Of course, Di Qiu'er could also be considered Gu Xun's child bride, since he gave her the Destruction God Core.
Possessing the complete Golden Dragon King bloodline, she was the prime candidate to inherit Gu Xun's Dragon God bloodline.
While Gu Xun was fishing in the Lake of Life, Di Tian also provided psychological counseling for Di Qiu'er.
In the Spirit Beast Paradise, no female spirit beast possessed the qualifications to inherit the Dragon God's bloodline.
Di Qiu'er was the sole option. Of course, Gu Yuena could have been chosen, but Di Tian had rejected her.
Di Qiu'er harbored not a shred of resentment toward Gu Xun. He had revived her, granting her a second life.
He had granted her the power to seek vengeance and was her master. To ensure the continuation of the Spirit Beast clan's bloodline, she felt it was her duty!
Of course, Gu Xun remained unaware of all this. Di Tian had even arranged a child bride for him.
Gu Xun continued to raise Dong Qianqiu, Di Qiu'er, and Yuanen Huihui as his own.
The traffic jam dragged on until three hours later, when they finally arrived home.
"Wake up, we're home."
Gu Xun reached out to ruffle Dong Qianqiu and Di Qiu'er's hair. At his touch, both girls stirred groggily awake.
Di Qiu'er yawned, then nudged closer to Gu Xun. Hooking her arm through his, she tried to stay asleep.
Like a clingy little golden kitten. Dong Qianqiu, however, felt Gu Xun's hand on her head and simply pressed her entire body against him.
"No more sleeping in. We'll rest at home."
Gu Xun lifted both girls up, and only then did they fully wake. The group then headed into the villa.
After returning to Elf Planet via the teleportation anchor, they first had dinner. Following a brief chat, everyone retired to their rooms to rest.
Just as Gu Xun drifted off to sleep, his consciousness once again entered this space.
Gu Xun spotted Lan Xuanyu, whose eyes were slightly reddened, clearly having cried.
"What's wrong?"
"Gu Xun... Teacher Nana left..."
Lan Xuanyu immediately shared his sorrow. Gu Xun snapped back to reality—it seemed Gu Yuena would arrive here soon, and he needed to prepare to meet her.
Lan Xuanyu was wailing pitifully, so upset that his favorite Teacher Nana had left.
Watching Lan Xuanyu's tearful state, Gu Xun raised an eyebrow. Why was Lan Xuanyu such a crybaby?
"It's okay. Just because she left doesn't mean she abandoned you. You might even see her again someday."
Gu Xun reached out to ruffle Lan Xuan Yu's hair. Come to think of it... Lan Xuan Yu was significantly shorter than Gu Xun, about the same height as Dong Qianqiu.
"You're right. After I graduate from the academy, I'll go find Teacher Nana. Thank you, Gu Xun."
Lan Xuan Yu wiped away his tears at those words, his expression hardening into determination as he set his sights on finding his Teacher Nana.
"Alright, do your best."
Gu Xun nodded in agreement. He always regarded Lan Xuanyu with the affectionate gaze of a grandfather watching his grandson.
If he could properly train him, Lan Xuanyu would become a formidable weapon against Tang San's inner circle. Lan Xuanyu looked at Gu Xun with a complex expression.
"Gu Xun, up until now, you're still my only friend. Now that Teacher Nana's gone, I have no one to talk to."
"Friend? Have you ever actively tried to make friends?"
Gu Xun crossed his arms, looking at Lan Xuanyu with a questioning gaze. Lan Xuanyu paused, then fell deep in thought.
"No."
Lan Xuanyu shook his head. He hadn't actively tried to make friends. Seeing this, Gu Xun felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.
"If you don't reach out, how can you expect to have friends?"
"True... But Gu Xun, we've known each other for so long now. Are you still on Elf Planet?"
"Yeah."
Gu Xun thought for a moment. He was currently sleeping in his wooden cottage estate on Elf Planet. He nodded in response.