Old Mu Family, Cheng Dagang will start teaching Lu Yuanfeng and Xing Beichen martial arts from today.

The training ground that Mu Shuangshuang had them build previously is now coming in handy.

Cheng Dagang, with his high martial skills and extensive experience, took just one morning to thoroughly understand the basics of Lu Yuanfeng and Xing Beichen.

He also developed a set of targeted measures to give them intensive training in basic skills.

Mu Shuangshuang stayed at home, cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and took the chance to show Mrs. Bai around.

She introduced many acquaintances from the village to Mrs. Bai.

She even introduced Little Black to Mrs. Bai.

However, Little Black had become much more irritable due to Mu Shuangshuang’s long absence.

Mu Shuangshuang spent a long time calming it down, but it still didn’t like Mrs. Bai.

As for Little Black, it seemed to have gotten used to life in the third branch, following closely behind Little Black every day, refusing to leave even when bullied.

The weather was very hot, and with guests at home, Mu Shuangshuang thought of the wild raspberries she picked in the mountains last year.

Mrs. Bai, having been pampered since childhood, had likely never tasted them.

After explaining to Yu Si Niang, she took a basket and went to the mountains with Little Black and Little Black Dog, along with Little Black.

On the way, they picked a lot of wild raspberries, but since they weren’t washed, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t let Mrs. Bai eat them.

Nevertheless, Mrs. Bai clearly enjoyed the mountain scenery.

She kept looking around with interest.

As they were about to enter the deep forest, Mu Shuangshuang stopped and took Little Black from Mrs. Bai’s arms.

She said to Little Black, "Little one, I can’t go up there, can you go by yourself? You should know where your home is, right?"

Mu Shuangshuang had promised Lu Yuanfeng that she wouldn’t go into the deep mountains when he wasn’t around.

She wanted to keep her promise.

So she could only release Little Black at the boundary.

Black Mink are intelligent animals and should know how to return home.

But Mu Shuangshuang didn’t expect that as soon as she finished speaking, Little Black stopped in its tracks.

Its small eyes looked as if it was about to cry, pleading pitifully at Mu Shuangshuang.

It raised its paw, continuously bowing to Mu Shuangshuang, as if begging her.

Mrs. Bai was dumbfounded watching this.

She had heard from Shuangshuang that this slightly thinner Black Mink was one she found and brought back from the mountains.

Now, releasing the little one, it clearly didn’t want to leave.

"Shuangshuang, this little one is so sensible, why not keep it?" Mrs. Bai suggested.

"Granny, I promised Little Black to take its relative Little Black back to the mountains, and also... they are spirits of the mountains and should live there."

"But it doesn’t want to go!" Mrs. Bai pointed at Little Black.

"Shuangshuang, if today Little Black wanted to leave, would you be willing to let it go?"

Mrs. Bai’s question was something Mu Shuangshuang had thought about long ago.

Little Black had been at home for over a year, eating and living with the family, and had successfully blended into the third branch.

If it wanted to return to nature, what would she choose to do?

"I wouldn’t want to, but I would, as long as Little Black wants to!" Mu Shuangshuang replied.

"Originally, Little Black shouldn’t live among humans, but it’s so clever it could thrive anywhere!"

Mrs. Bai, hearing this, said nothing more.

"Little one, go ahead! The mountains are where you belong!" Mu Shuangshuang extended her hand, gently nudging Little Black.

The little creature stumbled forward a few steps under her push.

But soon, it came forward again.

Mu Shuangshuang frowned slightly, and just then, Little Black dashed forward, bared its teeth, and growled at Little Black.

Moreover, it picked up stones from the ground and threw them at Little Black.

The stones hit Little Black on the head, causing it to hiss in pain.

Mrs. Bai wanted to intervene, but Mu Shuangshuang held her back.

"Little Black wouldn’t bully others, it must have its reasons for doing this!"

With combined hitting and pushing, Little Black finally drove Little Black deep into the forest.

Then it too dove headfirst into the woods, with Little Black Dog following closely behind, disappearing from Mu Shuangshuang and Mrs. Bai’s sight.

Mrs. Bai suddenly thought of something, "You said the little one is Little Black’s relative, so could Little Black be sending it back and not coming back itself?"

Mu Shuangshuang’s heart trembled; she hadn’t considered this.

But she immediately shook her head, "I’m not sure, Granny, let’s wander around here a bit, dig up some wild vegetables, pick some mushrooms, and make soup for lunch, along with a cold vegetable dish!"

Mrs. Bai nodded, and the two wandered nearly till noon, but Little Black and Little Black Dog still didn’t appear.

Lunchtime had come, and it was time to prepare the meal.

Mu Shuangshuang had no choice but to descend the mountain first; she took one last look into the forest and led Mrs. Bai downhill.

On the way back, Mu Shuangshuang seemed distracted, not hearing a word of what Mrs. Bai said to her.

Little Black and Little Black Dog had not gone out for the first time; she shouldn’t be so worried.

But this time, perhaps it was because of Mrs. Bai’s remark.

Mu Shuangshuang wondered if Little Black took Little Black back, would it really not return?

Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t be sure; could their year together make Little Black leave its home for her and live with them?

With this concern, Mu Shuangshuang returned home.

Lunch consisted of dishes they had made before, nothing new.

But everyone still gave it face and ate it all up.

Mu Shuangshuang said nothing about Little Black going up the mountain, even when Yu Si Niang tried to feed Little Black raw meat and couldn’t find it.

Mrs. Bai, even more so, wouldn’t mention it. She saw how Mu Shuangshuang, clearly distressed, was pretending to be calm and took the chance to comfort Mu Shuangshuang when no one was around.

"Shuangshuang, if you feel bad, we can go to the deep forest to look for them. As for Yuan Feng not allowing you to go, I think he wouldn’t blame you if he knew!" Mrs. Bai said.

Mu Shuangshuang shook her head, "Let’s wait a little longer! If... Little Black hasn’t returned by tonight, then... forget it, if it doesn’t come back, I won’t look for it; maybe it’s gone to reunite with its family!"

To distract herself, Mu Shuangshuang visited Fu Xiaonan’s house in the afternoon.

Mrs. Bai stayed home chatting with Yu Si Niang.

Since the last time they went to the temple fair, Fu Xiaonan and Mu Shuangshuang hadn’t been in touch for some time.

Of course, most of the time, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t have time.

But this time, when Mu Shuangshuang arrived at Fu Xiaonan’s house, she naturally took out all the delicious things at home, offering them to Mu Shuangshuang.

"You came at the right time, these are things my father bought in town yesterday!" Fu Xiaonan said to Mu Shuangshuang, with a face full of warmth.

Mu Shuangshuang smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Xiao Nan! By the way, I bought some fabric in town, enough to make two outfits. We each get one set. When you get a chance, come to my house to take measurements!"