With the fall of Liu Juncai, the Blue Team's camp seemed like a machine missing parts, still operational but much less effective than before.

Compared to charging into battle, Liu Juncai was clearly more suited to deploying troops and overseeing the overall situation.

Under such circumstances, Lin Shiyi, who was dispatched to Zone 1 as the commander, finally gained the support of Lin Shihao.

In the early hours, Lin Shiyi "personally led the campaign," and with the reinforcements brought by Du Yu, they launched a pincer attack and together took over Zone 4, this chaotic no man's land.

The Blue Team's troop mobilization was ineffective, and with heavy casualties, the Blue Team in Canyon Zone 4 was no longer able to wait for additional support, and was finally routed and fled by the reinforcements led by Du Yu.

By this point, with both sides suffering heavy losses, there were no more large-scale battles. The overall situation in the Demon Spirit Realm gradually stabilized.

However, small skirmishes occurred continuously, as Du Yu never idled.

He and Li Mengnan took over the previous work of Lin Shiwei's team, roaming the map, gradually nibbling away at the Blue Team's forces.

He tried to cut off contacts between the blue zones and left a strong psychological shadow in the minds of the Blue Team students.

Hunger, fatigue, exhaustion, and various other conditions left the participating students physically and mentally drained.

On the last day, the Blue Team did not make a desperate fight, nor did the Red Team press aggressively.

Both sides seemed to have an unspoken understanding, guarding the territories they had captured until the loud broadcast announcement sounded, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The exam was finally over!

The past 48 hours had made the majority of surviving students greatly change their perception of the Demon Spirit Realm.

Indeed, the Demon Spirit Realm was vast, but it was completely enclosed, like an isolated island, cut off from the world.

There was no natural light, only the illumination of searchlights, and everyone had their days and nights reversed.

In the tense and oppressive atmosphere where war could break out at any moment, staying one more second here was an ordeal for the students.

"Ha..." Li Mengnan just walked out of the Demon Spirit Realm's gate and took a deep breath.

She squinted her eyes, raised her palm, shielding herself from the winter sun.

Sunlight streamed through her slender fingers, sprinkling onto her face, making her feel as if she had been reborn.

"Mengnan." Suddenly, a voice came from ahead.

Li Mengnan looked up, seeing a face full of heroic spirit.

"Third sister."

Lin Shiwei marched forward, spirited and lively, with no trace of any wounds on her body?

"Mmm." Li Mengnan hugged Lin Shiwei tightly, emotions surging in her heart.

Survival after a disaster?

The joy and relief of seeing family again?

In any case, returning from the battlefield, her emotions were particularly complex. Thinking quietly to herself, Li Mengnan tightened her arms around Lin Shiwei.

Lin Shiwei seldom had a gentle smile on her face, softly stroking the girl's back, silently comforting her.

Despite Li Mengnan calling out "second brother," "third sister."

But in the Yan Organization, she always played the role of the little sister, more like a truly, fledgling Demon Tamer girl.

"Haha, awesome!"

Hu Haobin, Dong Yujun and others also came over, seeing the joyful Lin Shihao, they all clapped their hands in celebration.

Lin Shumeng ran to Lin Shiyi's side, grabbing her aunt's arm.

"Where's Du Yu?"

"Yeah, where's my little uncle?" Lin Shumeng curiously asked.

Li Mengnan whispered, "Some soldiers just took him for a talk, leaving him behind."

Lin Shiwei's heart suddenly understood.

In this examination venue, she once dressed in the red clothes of a Snow Deer, charged into the battle and fought. Such performance had her called for a one-on-one talk too.

The Demon Spirit Squad's invitation was very sincere, the conditions promised were particularly generous, but Lin Shiwei did not immediately agree, only saying she would consider it.

Thinking about it, the Demon Spirit Squad must have extended an olive branch to Du Yu as well.

Lin Shiwei: "The bookstore notified us that we can stay and rest for free at the hotel for two days, there are buses to take us back to our respective cities in the next two days. We can also leave on our own."

"I really want to go home," Li Mengnan softly said.

Lin Shiwei smiled, "If you want, we can drive back later."

Lin Shumeng leaned close to Li Mengnan, trying hard to lift her head, looking up at her White Deer Goddess in her heart, "Sister Mengnan, stay for a day, let's have a big feast tonight to celebrate!"

"Shumeng."

"Hm?"

Lin Shiyi was a bit helpless, "We're very tired, we haven't closed our eyes for almost two days and nights."

"Oh." Lin Shumeng thought regretfully, after all, she had been out early, and without any major injuries, she had been bored yesterday and played with her phone all day...

"There he is, here!" Hu Haobin, tall and broad, waved his crossed arms, which Du Yu noticed at once.

Fortunately, Zone 2's gate only allowed Red Team students to exit, while the Blue Team students exited on the north side of Zone 8 of the Demon Spirit Realm.

Otherwise, the Red Team's jumpy behavior might have caused a dispute.

Du Yu, equally exhausted, stepped forward, bumping fists with his comrades one by one, "Where's Lin Shijiang?"

"No idea." Lin Shumeng pouted, "Won't answer the phone, won't reply to messages, won't answer the door either."

Lin Shihao laughed, "Haha, it had to be my Brother Jiang..."

The group talked and laughed as they returned to the hotel.

This exam brought great rewards for Du Yu; aside from the scores, at least he gained several friends.

Hmm... seems like he also gained a little niece?

Shumeng is only a year younger than him, it feels kind of strange...

After some discussion with friends, the Cyan Sect trio still chose to set off immediately.

Li Mengnan somewhat missed home.

Although reluctant to admit it, Du Yu felt a bit too.

Once, the term "home" was just a concept for Du Yu, but now, he had a place to call his own.

Though no one awaited him at home, after a hard battle, returning to his little nest felt like a homecoming nonetheless.

Amidst the farewells from the crowd, the black SUV drove up the road, and through the rearview mirror, Du Yu could still see the people waving goodbye.

"Doesn't their family live in the Ancient Pine Tower? Didn't anyone hitch a ride?" From the back seat, Li Mengnan inquired.

Du Yu turned his head, looked at Li Mengnan lounging in the back seat, and laughed, "Maybe you're taking up too much space?"

"Go." Li Mengnan turned to the side, curled up with her legs, facing the direction of the backrest, leaving Du Yu with just the back of her head.

"Why don't you get some sleep too." Lin Shiwei looked at Du Yu and softly said, "You must be tired."

"Not bad." Du Yu casually asked, "Did the bookstore say when the exam results will be announced?"

"In the next few days, I heard that all students who took the exams will receive rewards."

"Even the final exams have rewards?"

Lin Shiwei understood Du Yu's sarcasm but didn't engage, instead smiling, she said, "Were the Demon Spirit Squad people looking for you earlier?"

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Shiwei: "They approached me too, I didn't agree immediately, what about you?"

Du Yu shook his head: "I politely declined, not interested."

"Mm..." Lin Shiwei pondered for a moment, then softly asked, "Do you have any plans for the future?"

"My initial wish has already been fulfilled." Du Yu turned to look out the window, "To have enough to eat and a place to call home."

As for the future...

Thinking of the Little Fen Yang in his mind, Du Yu continued, "For future plans, it's to become stronger.

There are too many restrictions in the Demon Spirit Squad, I'd rather follow Master Qing, it's more free, and growth can be faster."

As he spoke, Du Yu's expression turned a bit odd, as he looked at Lin Shiwei, "Even though I don't attend school, I'm still a student.

Now that the first semester of the freshman year is over, at least I have another 3 and a half years to hang out with Master Qing?"

Lin Shiwei shrugged her shoulders, the gesture quite casual, "It doesn't have to be 3 and a half years, you can delay graduation."

Du Yu: "..."

Thinking about it, if I really cater to Master Qing's preferences fully, and she can't bear to let me go, perhaps she'll really let me extend my graduation?

Hmm... but that's not necessary.

The mentor-student relationship in Demon Taming is ultimately different from the tutor-student relationship in ordinary schools, once you're under Master Qing, it's a lifelong bond.

Besides, Master Qing likes me so much!

No matter what I do in the future, if I just stick around at her place, would she really bear to kick me out?

When I go back, I'll learn how to stir-fry bamboo shoots, first captivate her stomach, then make her more fond... oh, right!

Du Yu pulled out his phone from his pocket and quickly searched for something.

Today is January 1st, the cultivation subsidy for the Celestial List ranking for this quarter hasn't been issued yet, it'll probably be credited tomorrow.

By then, I'll be able to pay off some loans again.

Thinking about it, I'm really quite humble.

A hundred thousand yuan, just to get my Immortal Master to say a word or two?

Truly golden words...

From the back seat, Li Mengnan's drowsy voice suddenly came through, "We're only freshmen, isn't it too early to be discussing the future?"

"Mm, true."

Du Yu and Lin Shiwei chatted idly along the way, and the three-plus-hour drive passed in a flash.

In the afternoon, Lin Shiwei dropped Du Yu off at the foot of the unit building in Xishu Garden.

By then, Li Mengnan was already in a deep sleep, even talking in her sleep, muttering things like "fight, kill," sounding quite violent...

I really wonder who she's battling in her dreams.

"You're really not coming home with me?" Lin Shiwei parked the vehicle steadily and looked at Du Yu, "It's New Year's today, my mom values this kind of holiday, the Demon Pet Paradise will be decorated beautifully."

"In my current state, I could fall asleep anywhere during the holiday." Du Yu shook his head with a smile, "I'll rest for a few days first, then visit Auntie, I can show her Little Tai Sui."

"Alright then." Lin Shiwei didn't push further, pressed a button with her finger, and opened the trunk.

Du Yu got out of the car, took his backpack and Demon Soldier Linked Beads, waved goodbye to Lin Shiwei, "Drive safely."

Lin Shiwei waved back, and as the trunk door slowly closed, the vehicle slowly drove away.

"Heh..." Du Yu sighed deeply, looked up, and gazed at his home.

He had only left there two days ago.

Returning once more, it felt like more than a month had passed.

This journey was overwhelmingly enriching!

Once the exam results come out in a few days, the rewards jointly given by the bookstore and the school will surely have me reaping plentiful gains, right?

Du Yu thought to himself as he skillfully swiped his card to take the elevator, and until he reached the 16th floor, a sudden realization dawned on him.

Who said nobody's waiting for me at home?

I still have my Brother Tree!

Come to think of it, why do I call it Brother Tree?

The Firethorn Tree obviously has no gender, if I had called it Sister Tree from the start, it would feel quite different...

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Click~"

"Hello, Brother Tree! The king is back at the mansion... oh!"

The door swung open, and endless branches swept in, lush leaves instantly enveloped Du Yu, making him feel as if he were wrapped in soft cotton candy.

Du Yu was disarmed.

The branches took away his Demon Soldier and backpack, even helped untie his shoelaces and took off his shoes.

Du Yu was wrapped layer by layer by the dense foliage and was directly pulled into his home.

A muffled "thud" sounded!

The door was shut tight.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.