Our Own Herb Garden

Tang San's lips twitched involuntarily. "You've already kissed me, what can I say? Now that things have come to this, I might as well comply. Hehehe!"

Holding Dugu Yan's hand, Tang San nodded earnestly. "Okay."

Dugu Yan's lips curved into a wide smile.

"However, I still have many things to do and cannot stay in Heaven Dou City forever. I need to search for more knowledge about Immortal Herbs and find a way to evolve Sister Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia, because this is my promise to her. I promised her that I would help her find a way to solve the flaws in her Martial Soul."

Tang San started making things up, since he didn't want to stay in Heaven Dou City right now.

Dugu Yan listened, her smile froze slightly, feeling both touched and jealous.

She was touched by Tang San promises, but jealous of how good Tang San was to Ye Lingling.

But Dugu Yan quickly came to a realization.

Lingling is my best friend; we've been friends since we were little. Wouldn't it be even better if we were both...? That way, we'd never be apart.

Dugu Yan nodded, feigning generosity. "Alright, but you have to promise me you won't only think about Lingling, you have to think about me too."

Tang San was shocked that Dugu Yan had figured it out so quickly. "Am I that charming?" he wondered. He smiled genuinely and said, "Okay, then I'll definitely be thinking of you."

Dugu Bo stood aside, his feelings indescribably complicated. His granddaughter, whom he had cherished and raised for thirteen years, now only had this boy in her eyes.

Dugu Bo coughed and patted Tang San on the shoulder. "Kid, it's normal for a man to have a few companions, as long as you treat them well. I don't have any particular requirements, I just ask that you treat Yan Yan well in the future and don't let her suffer any grievances."

"What else is there to say?" Tang San immediately bowed to Dugu Bo: "Senior, rest assured, I will never mistreat Yan Yan. I, Tang San, keep my word."

Dugu Bo's lips curled into a mischievous smile, "Still calling me 'senior'? Shouldn't you change your address?"

Tang San paused for a moment, opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, but still obediently called out, "Grandpa."

In the original story, everyone addressed each other as brothers, so why was he being asked to call someone "grandpa"? Tang San immediately felt he had been taken advantage of.

Dugu Bo laughed heartily, "Very well, I accept this grandson-in-law!"

Tang San turned around, his gaze falling on the Immortal Herbs in the medicine garden.

"Grandpa, I'd like to pick a few Immortal Herbs to carry with me, just in case."

Dugu Bo waved his hand. "It's our own medicinal herb garden, take whatever you like, no need to be so polite."

Immediately, Dugu Bo untied an inconspicuous dark green cloth bag from his waist. "This is the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Purse that I obtained in my early years. It is a rare Soul Tool that can store living beings. You can take it and use it."

"You're so sensible," Tang San thought to himself. Not wanting to argue with the Dugu tribe, he immediately took the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Purse, hung it on his waist, said "Thank you, Grandpa!" and then turned and walked towards the herb garden.

As Tang San strolled slowly through the herb garden, he carefully picked the Immortal Herbs he recognized and stored them in his treasure pouch.

First, one must Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, then one must find the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, the Aromatic Silk Beauty tulip, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bones, the Aromatic Silk Beauty, the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, and the Blood Swan Kiss.

These were all ones he recognized. There were also more than ten other immortal Immortal Herbs that also possessed powerful energy fluctuations, but Tang San didn't recognize them and dared not touch them.

When Tang San picked the herbs, he did not damage the roots or stems. He only cut off the mature stems, leaving the roots and some lateral buds, so that these Immortal Herbs could grow again in the future.

After completing these tasks, Tang San turned around and walked back to Dugu Bo's side, took out the Blood Swan Kiss from his Ruyi Hundred Treasures Purse, and handed it to him.

"Grandpa, this plant is called the Blood Swan Kiss," Tang San said. "It's not poisonous itself, but it can amplify all toxins a hundredfold. It's perfect for your poison skills. Keep it with you, and you can use it to catch powerful enemies off guard."

Dugu Bo accepted the Blood Swan Kiss, his eyes filled with surprise and excitement. "There's actually such a divine item! It's practically tailor-made for me. With this, the next time I encounter that old chrysanthemum, I'll show him what true delight is."

The three packed their belongings, left the valley of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, passed through the poisonous miasma, and arrived at a safe area outside the miasma.

"Grandpa, the poisonous miasma here is already quite dense, but it's still not enough," Tang San suggested. "If a Titled Douluo- level expert were to force their way in, we might not be able to stop them. I suggest you strengthen the defenses here in every way, and set up your strongest poison array to prevent anyone from entering. The value of this herb garden must absolutely not be discovered by outsiders."

Dugu Bo nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon and use my strongest poison. No one else knows about this herb garden except the three of us."

Tang San was finally relieved.

"Let's help Yan Yan obtain her Third Soul Ring first, then go back," Dugu Bo said.

"Grandpa, wait a minute. Before we hunt for the Soul Rings, I have something to tell you." Tang San immediately stopped them.

"What's wrong?" Dugu Yan asked, tilting her head.

"I once stumbled upon a method of body strengthening involving the ingestion of Whale Rubber in an ancient book..."

Tang San explained in detail how to consume Whale Rubber and its effects. Then, he displayed his true Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, rising from the soles of his feet.

Upon seeing the purple Second Soul Ring, Dugu Yan's mouth gaped slightly, her eyes filled with shock.

"The Whale Rubber body tempering made my physical strength far exceed that of my peers, which is why I was able to absorb my Second Soul Ring, which is three thousand years old." Tang San put away his Soul Ring and continued, "If Yan Yan could consume three or four pieces of Thousand-Year Whale Rubber before obtaining her Third Soul Ring, her physical strength would increase significantly. At that time, Yan Yan's Third Soul Ring could be absorbed beyond its age limit, increasing from a normal thousand-year-old spirit ring to around three thousand years old."

Dugu Bo snapped out of his shock, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Okay, I'll do as you say. I'll go back and find the Thousand-Year Whale Rubber to prepare Yan Yan's body before she Soul Hunting Ring."

Tang San then turned to Dugu Yan: "Yan Yan, you can tell Sister Lingling about this Whale Rubber Body-Tempering Method. Although her Nine Heart Begonia isn't known for its combat prowess, physical strength is equally important. However, this method must absolutely not be revealed to anyone else."

"Don't worry, I'll only tell Lingling, I won't tell anyone else." Dugu Yan nodded seriously.

Before long, the three arrived at the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

"Grandpa, Yan Yan, that's all for now," Tang San said. "I'm heading back to Nuoding City, so I won't be going back to Heaven Dou City with you."

Dugu Yan's eyes reddened slightly. She stepped forward and hugged Tang San tightly, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his shoulder, her voice muffled. "How long are you going to be gone?"

Tang San hugged Dugu Yan back, gently patting her back. "Four years, I'll come back to participate in that year's Soul Master Tournament. Then, I'll come to Heaven Dou City to find you."

Dugu Yan lifted her head from Tang San's shoulder, her eyes filled with tears. She nodded vigorously, then kissed Tang San's cheek before letting go.

Tang San looked at Dugu Yan, who was half a head taller than him, and teased, "Yan Yan, focus on your training. You're level 30 now, and I'm Twenty-Seventh Rank. Don't let me surpass you later. Besides, when I come back, I'll definitely be taller than you."

Dugu Yan snorted, "Want to surpass me? Dream on!"

After saying that, Dugu Bo used his Soul Power to lift Dugu Yan up, and the two of them slowly rose into the air. Dugu Yan looked down at Tang San and waved to him.

The two turned and flew towards Heaven Dou City, eventually disappearing into the horizon.