I Have a Golden Crow

Du Yu lay flat.

Literally.

He had lain in the base courtyard beneath Gourd Mountain for over twenty days.

Because the recent Gourd Mountain exploration had yielded remarkable results—an achievement both significant and extraordinary—Du Yu, with his distinguished service, was even received by a senior officer at division level.

It might sound unbelievable, but Du Yu met the officer while still lying down.

Now you know why they call him Prince Du?

Well, it wasn't because he had a big ego, but because he really had no choice.

The Demon Breath coursing through Du Yu's body had made his limbs stiff, leaving him unable to properly control himself.

Seriously, the Mother of the Demon Spirit Realm herself, stuck in bed, is definitely a little embarrassing…

In those twenty or so days, Yang Qingqing was also recruited by the Demon Spirit Squad as a specialist advisor, assisting in negotiations with the Jade Gourd.

As for how the Demon Spirit Squad would go about developing the Gourd Mountain region, Du Yu didn't know the details.

But he could guess: this place might soon become Great Xia's outpost for exploring the underground Otherworld.

Exploring the Underworld had nothing to do with Du Yu.

He was just a Demon Tamer—not even a Demon Spirit Soldier—such missions were never his to take.

In fact, construction had already begun on a real military camp in the Gourd Mountain region, and as an "outsider," Du Yu would soon be cleared out.

It wasn't until February 1st, on the day Du Yu could finally get out of bed and barely walk around, that he finally saw Master Qing's figure.

In just twenty days, the woman had grown noticeably thinner.

Du Yu didn't think it was from exhaustion, working with the military on tasks.

For someone at Demon Taming General Level, this workload should be nothing.

Master Qing looked this way clearly because her Demon Pet had passed away, leaving her depressed.

For others, the death of the Dream Dance Flame Butterfly was just some bad news.

But for Yang Qingqing, she'd lost a beloved pet, a companion, even family.

Du Yu struggled to comprehend her grief and could only compare: if Xiaoyan died in battle someday…

Du Yu didn't even dare imagine it!

"Master Qing." Du Yu got up from bed, gazing respectfully at the woman entering through the door.

"Let's head back." Yang Qingqing gave Du Yu a once-over, saying softly.

"Yes." Du Yu replied and nodded at Commander Liu Neng behind him.

That day, during the mission, this commander had also been on the brink of death.

He'd been spat out by the Flame Soul Imprisonment onto the mountaintop platform, then barely survived thanks to the soldiers who rescued him.

Du Yu hadn't fought on the underground battlefield, so he had no idea how brutal it must have been down there.

And as for another man in that battle—senior Cheng Feng—there was still no word at all.

The words Cheng Feng spoke that night still hovered in his ears: "After it's done, let's have a chat."

Whether that chat would ever happen… who knew…

Escorted by the military, the trio of master and disciples boarded the bullet train to the Ancient Pine Tower.

After another roundabout drive, Fu Jianzhou picked them up in his pitch-black sedan and, by afternoon, dropped Yang Qingqing and Du Yu at Xishu Garden.

Throughout the journey, Master Qing said little, and Du Yu and Fu Jianzhou wisely kept silent—the atmosphere was heavy.

It wasn't until Yang Qingqing and Du Yu got out of the car that Fu Jianzhou finally spoke: "Master Qing, take care and get some rest."

"Mm. Drive slowly," Yang Qingqing replied absentmindedly, tossing out the reminder as she walked to the unit entrance.

Du Yu hurriedly waved goodbye to Fu Jianzhou, then quickly caught up.

He'd had half a mind to open the building door for Master Qing, but along the way, his legs went stiff again and again.

Getting used to the Shadow Gu Tower was undoubtedly a long process.

Du Yu wasn't sure whether his resistance would keep improving.

If he kept shuffling around like garlic, until the Demon Saint's Demon Soul was fully refined, he'd basically be a cripple.

Hmm… Maybe this was his chance to return to the roots of being a Demon Tamer? Toss aside archery and sword skill, focus on demon-taming?

Lost in thought, the elevator stopped at the 17th floor.

Yang Qingqing stepped out, saying casually, "Go on, get some rest."

Du Yu, gripping the elevator door, trembled his way out: "Master Qing, you should rest early too."

"Mm." Yang Qingqing didn't look back, just waved a hand.

Watching her lonely figure, Du Yu opened his mouth, hesitant to speak.

He wanted to comfort her, but had no idea how…

He watched her until she reached her door, when suddenly the woman stopped, swept her left hand across her forehead, and a snow-white Immortal Deer landed beside her legs.

"Go on, keep your master company." A rare smile crossed Yang Qingqing's face as she gently patted Bai Yujing's head.

"Nai~" Bai Yujing shook her head, nuzzling into her mistress's palm.

Compared to Du Yu, Xiaobai, bound with a Demon Pet Contract, could understand Yang Qingqing's mood so much better.

"Be good." Yang Qingqing instructed softly, then entered her home.

Bai Yujing glanced back at her mistress's retreating figure, silently staring for a long moment, then quietly ran to Du Yu.

"We should think of a way to properly comfort Master Qing." Du Yu gripped the snow-white antlers and sat sideways on Bai Yujing's back.

"Nai!"

As the elevator descended, Bai Yujing carried her master to their own front door and called out: "Nai!"

"Click." The door opened at once.

Branches of the Fire Phoenix Tree reached out to Du Yu's face, the soft leaves like little hands gently brushing his cheek.

"Hey there, Brother Tree." Seeing that familiar figure again, Du Yu felt his mood lift a little.

At this moment, he understood a lot more.