Lin Shu originally thought that Lin Jingge had recognized her and was about to respond when she suddenly realized that something was wrong.

father?

Lin Shu was taken aback at first, but then immediately understood what Lin Jingge meant.

His slightly upturned lips suddenly stiffened.

"I'm not," Lin Shupo said with a hint of helplessness.

"Huh?" Lin Jingge was taken aback at first, then realized that she might have misunderstood something.

"Sister, I am Lin Shu~" Lin Shu's smile was somewhat wicked, as if she was deliberately trying to tease Lin Jingge.

If there were outsiders here, they would be utterly astonished. The usually aloof and reserved Grand Preceptor would never have shown such an expression.

At first, Lin Jingge thought she had mistaken someone for someone else and never connected the person in front of her with Lin Shu.

Despite the fact that their physical appearances didn't match, the other party surprisingly admitted to their identity immediately.

Lin Jingge's body reacted before her mind, taking another step back. However, she had already retreated to the corner of the wall, and there was nowhere left to retreat.

"What? I've only regained my original form, and you don't recognize me anymore, sister?" Lin Shu took a step closer to Lin Jingge.

Lin Jingge stared at the other person in a daze.

The person in front of her was a head taller than her, and his imposing presence was completely at odds with the sweet and soft little girl, Lin Shu.

The moment the other person called her "sister," Lin Jingge felt a chill run down her spine.

"[Gege, he might really be Lin Shu...]" Xiao Shi, who had been silent since landing in this place, suddenly spoke up: "[He gives me the exact same feeling as Lin Shu, and... he's looking at me!]"

After saying that, Xiao Shi immediately scrambled up and hid behind Lin Jingge's head.

It was fed up with the fear of being dominated by Lin Shu. Before it could even finish speaking, Xiao Shi felt the other's gaze fixed on it. If it couldn't afford to offend him, could it at least avoid him?!

After Xiao Shi's explanation, and considering that the Star Pearl within her body obediently flew into the other person's hand, the identity of the person before her could almost be confirmed.

Lin Jingge stared at Lin Shu for a long while.

It's truly unimaginable how Lin Shu, who was so small, has grown so much in just a few days.

Lin Jingge felt somewhat embarrassed whenever she thought about how the child she once cared for was now such a grown adult.

Seeing Lin Jingge's appearance, Lin Shu's slightly upturned lips also drooped.

The smile on his face vanished, leaving only a cold and aloof expression.

"Sister, I've recovered. Aren't you happy?"

"You'd better not call me 'sister' anymore..." Lin Jingge compared the height difference between herself and the other person.

Judging from this, the other person might be much older than her.

Hearing the other person call her "sister" made Lin Jingge feel quite awkward.

"I……"

Lin Shu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

He had imagined many scenarios for their encounter, but he never expected Lin Jingge to react this way.

He pursed his lips, momentarily at a loss for words.

Lin Jingge stood in the corner, not daring to look at Lin Shu any longer. She felt little joy at the reunion, only awkwardness.

She scratched her head and tried to ease the awkwardness: "I accidentally entered a teleportation array and was teleported here unintentionally. I didn't expect the other end of the teleportation array to be in this place."

"I set up this teleportation array," Lin Shu said calmly.

"Oh, I see." Lin Jingge was a little flustered and couldn't find any other topic to talk about for a moment.

I never felt awkward around Kobayashi before, but who knew she would act like this after she grew up.

"Mm," Lin Shu responded.

"Ahem, there are still people waiting for me in the secret realm, so I won't stay any longer and will be leaving now. Take care." Lin Jingge made up a reason to leave, and as she left, she subconsciously patted the other person's shoulder.

But after realizing that the other person was already a grown-up kid, he immediately dismissed the idea.

In an instant, the Secret Realm Pearl Gege was summoned and held tightly in the palm of his hand.

Before Lin Shu could say anything else, or explain why she had suddenly grown up, Lin Jingge had already quietly injected her spiritual power into the Secret Realm Bead.

It vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.

The speed at which they disappeared was comparable to a socially anxious person having an attack.

Before Lin Shu could even begin to explain, the other party had already vanished without a trace.

Lin Shu felt somewhat helpless and ultimately did not chase after them, because she had more important things to do while she was recovering.

Lin Jingge re-entered the secret realm, carrying a note to communicate with Wu Xi and Wu Xuan, so that the two birds wouldn't search for her everywhere after discovering her disappearance.

After receiving Lin Jingge's telepathic message, Wu Xi and Wu Xuan immediately returned the way they came and went back to the cave halfway up the mountain.

The two large birds landed and transformed into human form.

"How did you get back so quickly? Wu Xuan and I just thought we saw the round platform you drew, but we hadn't even gotten close when we received your message," Wu Xi said, clearly very curious about Lin Jingge's sudden return to the cave.

"It was just an accident." Lin Jingge coughed lightly, feeling a little embarrassed as she thought about what had just happened.

She only discovered today, when she accidentally fell into the formation, that Lin Shu was actually older than her.

Lin Jingge had considered all sorts of identities Lin Shu might have had, from a noble family to even more outrageous races, but she never imagined that Lin Shu would actually be such a grown man.

To hide her embarrassment, Lin Jingge coughed lightly again, forcing herself to stop thinking about these things and instead focus all her attention on the formation.

"Are you sure you've reached the circular platform? Or are you just picking up some familiar patterns on flat ground?"

"We only saw a tall, round platform. As for the patterns you mentioned, we couldn't see them very clearly either." Wu Xi spoke more carefully now, afraid that she might say something wrong and disappoint others.

It has to be said that Blood Mandarin Duck treats those she approves of with impeccable kindness!

Lin Jingge, on the other hand, didn't care.

The secret realm is so vast, finding an interdimensional teleportation array is truly not easy.

Therefore, Lin Jingge had long been prepared for disappointment and did not have high expectations.

Before leaving, Lin Jingge didn't forget to ask Gan Lan, "Have you thought it through? Do you plan to come to the Cloud Peak Continent with me, or stay in Canglan?"

Lin Jingge looked at Gan Lan and saw the conflicted look on her face, so she knew that Gan Lan had not yet made up her mind.

Lin Jingge showed no displeasure at not receiving a reply. Instead, she said, "If you don't want to come with me, I'll send you out of the secret realm once I find the teleportation array."

The secret realm is now bound to Lin Jingge. When she goes to the Cloud Cauldron Continent, the secret realm will also go with her.