"Silly child, why haven't you helped our honored guest up yet? What kind of behavior is this?"
An aged voice suddenly rang out from ahead. Though deep and resonant, it carried a warm, benevolent quality that made anyone who heard it instinctively feel a sense of fondness.
Xiao Xiao shuddered visibly, clearly in deep reverence toward the voice's owner. He bounded and scurried back to Yang Kai's side, grabbed him by the hand, and hauled him to his feet, staring at him with that dopey, lopsided look of his.
After venting his emotions, he had finally calmed down.
Yang Kai raised his eyes to look ahead, and what he saw made him freeze.
Stone Spirits—each roughly the size of a person—were emerging at a leisurely pace from various points in the surrounding jungle. A rough count put them at seven or eight in total. They had clearly gathered after sensing the commotion here, and every pair of round, curious eyes was fixed on him.
Among them, one Stone Spirit in the center stood out in particular. Not because he was especially tall or burly—in fact, compared to the others he was rather small. The smallness came not from his height but from his hunched posture.
The first impression this Stone Spirit gave was of extreme age.
A stooped back, leaning on a stone cane, his rocky skin marked with a web of cracks—these were the marks of countless eons flowing past. Along his sharp, angular jawline grew a tuft of tiny stone cones, resembling a wispy beard. But those eyes were remarkably bright, gleaming with a light of wisdom.
The Stone Spirit race was naturally lacking in intelligence, yet for reasons Yang Kai couldn't explain, when he met the old Stone Spirit's gaze, he saw the reflection of a wise elder in those eyes.
Yang Kai straightened with respect, knowing this old Stone Spirit had likely lived for untold tens of thousands of years. At the same time, he realized exactly who this elder must be. He clasped his fists together and bowed. "This junior, Yang Kai, greets the Elder. Forgive this presumptuous intrusion—I hope the Elder will not take offense."
Zhang Ruoxi, hearing this, understood they were in the presence of an important figure and quickly offered a curtsy as well.
The Elder chuckled, his laughter hearty and full of warmth. "No intrusion at all. My Stone Spirit clan has been waiting for you for a long time. Today, at last, you've arrived."
"Waiting for me?" Yang Kai was stunned, though he quickly seemed to recall something. He glanced at Xiao Xiao standing beside him, smiled faintly, and reached out to pat the little fellow's shoulder.
He assumed it was on account of Xiao Xiao that the Stone Spirit Elder had said they'd been waiting for him.
"Your honored self has traveled a long and weary road. Please come with this old man to rest. It has been many years since our Stone Spirit clan had any guests." With that, the Elder turned and strode into the depths of the jungle, regardless of whether Yang Kai agreed or not.
Despite appearing ancient and leaning on a cane, that stooped frame moved with surprising swiftness, his speed no less than any of the other Stone Spirits.
Once he departed, the remaining Stone Spirits followed close behind. Before leaving, though, they cast some rather peculiar glances at Yang Kai.
Xiao Xiao seized Yang Kai's hand, whimpering and tugging, dragging him along bodily.
Yang Kai could only resign himself and gesture for Zhang Ruoxi to follow.
After only a short walk, they arrived at a place ringed by towering ancient trees. Each trunk was thick enough to require ten people linking arms to encircle. Beneath their roots lay hollowed-out tree cavities that had been fashioned into natural treehouses, bearing signs of habitation within.
Yang Kai found the sight novel and quickly understood—these treehouses must be where the Stone Spirit clan lived.
It made sense, when you thought about it. These creatures could transform into beings several zhang or even over a dozen zhang tall at the drop of a hat. Ordinary houses wouldn't survive their comings and goings. These natural treehouses were the perfect dwellings.
The Stone Spirit clan had lived here for untold years, and each treehouse bore the ancient, desolate marks of ages past.
Upon arriving, the Stone Spirit Elder walked straight into one of the treehouses and vanished inside.
Another Stone Spirit stepped forward instead, placing a hand over his chest in a gesture of courtesy. "The Elder's orders: the honored guest should rest for now. When evening falls, you may speak again."
Yang Kai studied him, unsure whether this was the same Stone Spirit that Xie Wuwei had captured once before. They all looked more or less identical—impossible for an outsider to tell apart unless one had lived among them for a long time.
Mimicking the gesture, Yang Kai placed a hand over his chest in return and replied politely, "Much appreciated!"
He didn't know why they had to wait until evening to talk, but this trip had been to find Xiao Xiao. Now that he'd found him, his goal was fulfilled. The rest didn't matter much. Even whether Xiao Xiao would leave with him wasn't something Yang Kai needed to worry about.
If Xiao Xiao was willing to leave this place with him, so much the better. But if the little fellow couldn't abandon his clan and chose to stay, Yang Kai wouldn't force him.
Every living being had their own clan. Xiao Xiao had found his own kind and would no longer be alone. Yang Kai was genuinely happy for him.
"Take good care of our guest," the Stone Spirit said to Xiao Xiao. The little fellow scratched his head, then nodded.
The Stone Spirit glanced at him and sighed softly before turning away, seemingly exasperated with Xiao Xiao, who still existed in the childlike stage of Stone Spirit life. But then again, Xiao Xiao was the only one in the entire clan still in that phase—a little naughty and willful, and there was nothing to be done about it.
After the Stone Spirit departed, Xiao Xiao grabbed Yang Kai's hand and tugged him toward the base of a large tree.
Beneath it lay another treehouse—clearly Xiao Xiao's dwelling.
Once Yang Kai and Zhang Ruoxi followed him inside, Xiao Xiao looked around for a moment, then suddenly darted out again, off to do whatever it was that caught his fancy.
A short while later, an angry shout erupted from a nearby treehouse: "That little rascal is causing trouble again! Watch it, or I'll tell the Elder and have him punish you!"
*Rumble rumble…*