The man that was hugging Xu Xiaoyan right now, was none other than her father Xu Xiao. Xu Xiao was a middle-aged man with light blue short hair that was slick back and sky blue eyes.
Xu Xiao wasn't just the father of Xu Xiaoyan, but he was also the Minister of Eastsea City's Financial Affairs and was about to be promoted to being the president of it. This type of achievement was not only due to his cultivation of a Spirit Sage but also the honor his daughter was able to bring to their home.
Just who in Eastsea City didn't know about Xu Xiao's extraordinary daughter? Whether it be from her making it into Shrek to watching her fight in Star Luo Continent. Or the fact she was able to join the inner court and being mentor by the Holy Douluo, Yali herself.
Any of these achievements would have been able to allow any modest home to rise in status and position but all of them combine? Let it be known that after all of the people in Eastsea found about Xu Xiaoyan achievement.
The Xu family was on an even greater rise in status and fame. Of course, they were already the highest family before Xu Xiaoyan achievement but it became even greater now.
So how could Xu Xiao be unhappy to see his daughter? Even if she took such a long time to check up on them or miss their call and letters.
"My obedient daughter, why haven't you call in or check up us in such a long time." Said Xu Xiao warmly as he continued squeezing his daughter tight.
"Sorry, dad." Said Xu Xiaoyan with a sigh, as it wasn't like she could say why she was gone for over a year and a half.
Just what kind of reaction would her family make if she told them, that she went into another plane? Let alone one that was called the Demon World.
"That is fin-." Xu Xiao's expression started to change as he moved away from his daughter a few steps back and begin staring at her.
"Dad?"
"My little Yan, what exactly is your rank right now?" Questioned Xu Xiao with his expression turning serious.
"Oh? You notice."Said Xu Xiaoyan with a giggle causing Xu Xiao lips to twitch but he still urges her to inform him.
"I'm a rank 76, Spirit Sage." Said Xu Xiaoyan with pride in her voice, while sticking her c_h_e_s_t out.
"...Rank 76? You're already a Spirit Emperor?"Questioned Xu Xiao as his voice was slowly trembling.
"Yes!"
Xu Xiao didn't know whether to be frightening or joyful at the moment. Just how old was his daughter right now? She was only eighteen years old and yet she was already a Spirit Sage!
Not even her older brother, Xu Xiaoyu was at this rank yet, heck it took him decades before he was able to become a Spirit Sage. Yet his little daughter reached that same rank in only eighteen years.
"Hahahaha!" Xu Xiao began laughing before patting his daughter on his head.
"I know my daughter was a genius! Just who can compare with her in cultivation!"Shouted Xu Xiao, causing Xu Xiaoyan and Xu Lizhi lips to twitch.
'Sorry, dad. But there is an even more enormous monster than me.' Thought Xu Xiaoyan as her thoughts went back to Na'er, who was already a Spirit Douluo before the age of seventeen.
"Dad, where is everyone else?" Questioned Xu Xiaoyan causing Xu Xiao to blink his eyes.
"They are all inside. Let's go inside and see your mo-"
Before Xu Xiao could complete his words, he felt a chill run down his spines as he felt an icy glare penetrating his back. He didn't need to turn or look back to know it was his wife that was coming towards them.
"Hey, mom..."Said Xu Xiaoyan with a nervous giggle as she felt her mom ice-cold stare on her.
The women coming out of the house were similar to Xu Xiaoyun, stunning. She had brilliant blue hair that flowed naturally down her back and sky blue eyes that seem to shine. Her figure was slender, with her sky-blue dress outlining and displaying it perfectly.
"You know how to come back?" Said the women coldly causing everyone around but Tang Wulin to flinch from her tone.
"Qin Yun..."Mutter Xu Xiao but he didn't say anything else, as he knew out of all of them in the Xu house. She was the one that was worrying the most about Xu Xiaoyan and her whereabouts.
"Sorry, mom." Said Xu Xiaoyan as she lightly lowered her head but then her face was grasped by two small hands.
"You know how long you were gone for?" Questioned Qin Yun with a small glare. As Xu Xiaoyan open up her mouth to speak, Qin Yun interrupted her.
"Almost two years! Do you have any idea how worried we all were? Do you think just because your apart of Shrek, a soul master or almost an a_d_u_l_t, you can disappear like that!"Shouted Qin Yun causing the courtyard to go silent and Xu Xiaoyan to lightly tremble.
"...Was it worth it?"Questioned Qin Yun a few seconds later, causing Xu Xiaoyan to blink her eyes in confusion.
"Honey, I'm asking was disappearing like that on us worth it?" Questioned Qin Yun in a soft tone.
"...Yes." Said Xu Xiaoyan in a serious tone towards her mom.
Qin Yun silently stared at her daughter for a few seconds before slowly nodded her head and then bringing Xu Xiaoyan into a huge hug. Tang Wulin and Xu Lizhi blink their eyes at this, as they thought she was mad at Xu Xiaoyan.
"If it's worth it. Then that is fine." Said Qin Yun while staring at her daughter.
"I'm still sorry though mom."Said Xu Xiaoyan softly, as she knew she wasn't being fair to mom and dad.
"It's fine." Said Qin Yun softly before turning her heads to Tang Wulin and Xu Lizhi.
"I'm sorry, for excluding you guys. You all must b-"
Qin Yun's voice died down at the sight of the two boys, specifically Tang Wulin. Blinking her eyes, she looks at him and then back to her daughter before glancing back. Slightly narrowing her eyes, she shifted her direct gaze to Xu Xiaoyan before asking her.
"Is that the boy?" Whispered Qin Yun towards Xu Xiaoyan causing Xu Xiaoyan to blink her eyes before realizing what her mom meant.
"Yes." Whisper Xu Xiaoyan, while thinking about how she is going to tell her mom and dad, that Wulin was her boyfriend. Well, her mom already knew she had feelings for him when she visited and calls her before the trip to Star Luo.
'But. Dad...' Thought Xu Xiaoyan with a slight grimace.
"You guys are?" Questioned Xu Xiao towards Tang Wulin and Xu Lizhi.
"Ah, I'm Xu Xiaoyan friend." Said Xu Lizhi before glancing towards Tang Wulin.
"I'm her boyfriend." Tang Wulin bluntly said.
'Big brother...At least be subtle about it!' Thought Xu Lizhi as he saw the whole courtyard became silent. As the face of Xu Xiao seemed to have frozen, while Qin Yun's eyes were wide open.
But to the confusion and shock of Xu Lizhi, he saw sheer happiness and prides in her eyes, for some odd reason.
#
"That could have gone better." Mutter Xu Xiaoyan as she gently opens the door to her room and began glancing around.
To say her father's reaction to the news of getting a boyfriend was anything but good, would be an understatement. If it wasn't for her mom, she would swear he might have summoned his soul rings and fought Wulin.
'That's a fight I can't see him winning.' Thought Xu Xiaoyan, as she recalls Wulin being able to clash with the Demon Monarch Alba who had a body strength above a Limit Douluo.
All she could imagine and see was her father getting sent flying by Wulin fist. That was something she didn't wish to see, no matter how much her father would deserve it.
It was a good thing her mother was able to get in his way and stop him from doing anything crazy. Although she wasn't sure if this was a good thing, considering the huge smile on her mom's face as she glances between Wulin and her.
She still recalled her mom pinching her cheeks and complaining that she was underselling how handsome Wulin was in their talk.
"It not like he always looks that..."Mutter Xu Xiaoyan as she glances outside and saw it was still noon.
She had the options of either cultivating for the whole night...But at the moment, she didn't feel like it.
Shaking her head, she turned around and left her room. It only took her a few seconds to reach Wulin room as it way down from the hallway, with all of their room being on the second floor.
She knocks for a second before hearing Wulin's voice and then went inside, to find him sitting down on the bed in a meditation position.
"Oh, were you cultivation? I can lea-"
"What's wrong?" Questioned Tang Wulin in a light tone, while gently patting the area beside him. Blinking her eyes, Xu Xiaoyan only hesitates for a second before going to sit next to Wulin.
"Nothing is wrong...I just want to talk." Said Xu XIaoyan softly while swinging her legs back and forth.
"About?"
"Anything. I feel like it has been a long time since we talk to each other."Mutter Xu Xiaoyan, causing Tang Wulin to lightly laugh.
"You don't have to laugh." Said Xu Xiaoyan with a small pout while lightly glaring at Tang Wulin.
"Alright, let's talk." Said Tang Wulin with a slight smile.
And, they talk for the whole evening up to the night time. They typically talk about his experince on the Demon Island and the things that happened there. From him meeting the demons of the Island, to him absorbing the life energy and gaining the bloodline of two gods.
He talks about getting his seventh soul ring and him officially becoming a Spirit Emperor. Xu Xiaoyan simply giggles at the amount of outrageous and incredulous that Wulin told her.
Yet, for some reason, she wasn't surprised and simply listen as he kept ongoing. He talked about his fight with the Bear Lord and being transported into the Star Dou Forest. Then he went on talking about fighting some of the strongest Spirit Beast and then his fight with the Beast God, Di Tian.
It was strange, even though she wasn't there. Xu Xiaoyan couldn't help but feel like she was there as Tang Wulin kept on talking. After he was done with his stories, she begins talking about the things she has learned and what she has seen.
Tang Wulin was a bit surprised she didn't tell him and Xu Lizhi everything but he still listens. Xu Xiaoyan talks about the cities she saw, the struggle of the people in the city and the constant movement of the workers in the city.
She talked about how most of the inns were booked, as there were many workers using the inns as a resting place. She then talked about how some of the cities she saw were still intact and how she wanted to go there with him.
She talked about her family. How her dad and the elders loved spoiling her rotten, while they would always put her brother through hell. How her mom was reluctant for her to go far away from the house and go to Shrek.
None of the things they talked about had much to do with cultivation. Yet neither of them minded as for the moment, they began heartily enjoying each other company.
"I probably should be getting back." Mutter Xu Xiaoyan as she saw it was already night time.
"Just stay here and sleep." Said Tang Wulin with a roll of his eyes.
"Huh?" Questioned Xu Xiaoyan with her face slowly turning red, causing Tang Wulin lips to twitch.
"This isn't the first time we, slept together." Said Tang Wulin simply causing Xu Xiaoyan face to fully turn red.
'Damn it, choose your words right Wulin!' Thought Xu Xiaoyan as her mind started to naturally wonder.
"...Fine."Mutter Xu Xiaoyan, as she knew he was right. Although she wished he chooses his words a bit better.
Tang Wulin only chuckled before bringing Xu Xiaoyan in close to him, causing her to let out a small gasp before they both fell into the bed.