Seeking Answers and Conflict

"Since that's the case, I'll have to trouble you."

After speaking, Dugu Yan turned to the others with a smile. "It's getting late. Let's go downstairs for dinner first."

"My treat today!"

Although she had failed to invite Lin Manshan home, she had found a way to purge the poison. She was genuinely in a good mood today.

"Then thank you for the treat." Freeloading made people happy, so Lin Manshan did not refuse.

"As I should. It's only a little countryside inn—I'm worried I might not treat you well enough, A'man." Dugu Yan smiled as she stood and led the way.

After arriving on the first floor, they sat down and ordered several dishes. As they ate, Dugu Yan, who had deliberately chosen to sit at Lin Manshan's table, suddenly spoke up.

"A'man, I have a question. I wonder if you could help answer it?"

"Go ahead." With hope of obtaining the Immortal Herbs, Lin Manshan was in a similarly good mood and willing to share what he knew.

"Since poisons can trigger rejection, why can my Martial Soul inherit the Deadly Poisons of those Spirit Beasts after absorbing their Soul Rings? Now, after using my soul skills, I can release three poisons with different effects." Dugu Yan asked politely.

Lin Manshan shook his head. "What you inherited was merely the poisonous traits of those venomous Spirit Beasts, not the original poison within their bodies. Strictly speaking, the Deadly Poison produced after you use your soul skills is still Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison at its core. As for its other effects—paralysis, corrosion, coldness, and so on—they are products derived from the combination and transformation of your Soul Power and Martial Soul."

"The poison in your body, however, is part of the original Deadly Poison that was transferred into the Soul Rings after those Spirit Beasts died. To you, it is entirely an external poison. That is precisely why it rejected the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison after being absorbed and caused you to be poisoned."

"So that's how it is." Dugu Yan suddenly understood.

As though she had abruptly recalled something, she was about to ask another question. But after glancing at the others listening nearby from the corner of her eye, she changed her mind.

Although A'man does not seem to care whether the knowledge he knows spreads, I should still mind the proper boundaries. When he helps suppress the poison in my body later, I'll ask him privately. With that thought, she lowered her head and began eating.

"A'man, here. Eat more." Shui Yue'er happily continued placing food onto Lin Manshan's plate.

"That's enough, that's enough." Lin Manshan looked down at his heaping bowl and hurriedly stopped her.

After taking a few bites, he looked up at Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er's eating habits. They each picked up one bite at a time, eating daintily without even touching the meat.

How could they grow properly without eating meat? This absolutely would not do.

Lin Manshan promptly picked up a piece of rabbit leg and placed it in Shui Yue'er's bowl, then picked up another for Shui Bing'er. In a serious tone, he said, "A balanced diet is important. You're both still growing—how can you not eat meat? Here, eat more."

"A'man, you're so nice." Shui Yue'er happily picked up the rabbit leg and began eating.

"Thank you." Shui Bing'er replied, her pretty face faintly flushed as she nibbled at the meat.

??? Damn! The men from Heaven Dou Royal Academy and nearby who had been admiring the beauties immediately turned green with envy.

"..." Dugu Yan looked at Shui Yue'er, then at Shui Bing'er's expression. She was somewhat surprised, yet thoughtful.

Before long, after eating and drinking their fill, everyone returned to the second floor.

Stopping outside Dugu Yan's room, she turned around. "Mentor Qin Ming, Lingling... and all esteemed guests, A'man alone can accompany me inside for the treatment. Please make yourselves comfortable."

There were more than ten people present. She had no desire to be watched by so many people throughout the entire process.

Yanzi is a girl. It really would be inappropriate for us men to go in and stare the whole time. Besides, this A'man's treatment methods are quite ingenious. Continuing to watch might also seem like trying to steal his techniques, which would be improper. Qin Ming nodded and was just about to speak.

"This isn't appropriate, is it!? Yanzi, a lone man and woman alone in a room—what if he..." Yu Tianheng blurted out.

The moment he said that, Shui Yue'er, who had already been pouting unhappily, immediately grew upset.

Questioning A'man—isn't that questioning me? Aside from being a little smaller, how am I inferior to Dugu Yan?

With that thought, she immediately turned and glared at him. "Hmph, why are you being so narrow-minded? If A'man wanted to do anything bad, he could have done it when he saved Bing'er and me a few days ago." As she spoke, she indignantly puffed out her small chest.

"Could it be that Bing'er and I are less beautiful than Miss Yanzi?"

"Besides, A'man only pointed out that Miss Yanzi was poisoned out of kindness. He even explained how to cure her without discussing any reward. Where could you find such a good person? And you call yourself Miss Yanzi's teammate—how could you slander him like this? Can't stand seeing Miss Yanzi cured, is that it?" She turned to Lin Manshan. "You get criticized even for being kind, A'man. If that's the case, then don't treat her."

Dugu Yan immediately took over, her brows tightly furrowed. "Captain, I make my own decisions about my affairs. You're overstepping."

"Yanzi, I..." Yu Tianheng's face flushed red, and he could not find the words.

"Ahem." Qin Ming coughed lightly, breaking the atmosphere. "Tian Heng, you heard what little brother A'man said earlier. There are many areas that require needle treatment, so it will likely take quite a while. Besides, Yanzi is a young woman. It would indeed be inappropriate and against propriety for us men to go inside and stare the entire time. I believe Yanzi would not want to be watched by a crowd either. Everyone should return to your rooms and wait."

"Rest assured, to prevent the other inn guests from disturbing them, I'll stand guard outside the door."

"Captain, Mentor Qin Ming is right. It really isn't appropriate for us to go in." Behind Yu Tianheng, Osler softly interjected. Putting himself in her shoes, being watched by more than ten people throughout a medical treatment would make even him uncomfortable. "Besides, with Mentor Qin Ming guarding outside, Sister Yan will definitely notify us immediately if anything happens. There's no need for us to worry."

"Sorry. I was presumptuous." Yu Tianheng finally calmed down and nodded.

He glanced at Lin Manshan, then turned and left with his teammates.

It seemed Yu Tianheng was interested in Dugu Yan, but his mind was far too narrow. And his intelligence was rather concerning too. The three female mentors from Skywater Academy curled their lips. Dugu Yan was waiting to have her life saved, yet he was still talking nonsense here. This was a matter of life and death. Besides, even if he went inside, A'man would still treat her however he needed to. Could he change the treatment process?

Most importantly, Dugu Yan herself had not said anything. Why was Yu Tianheng jumping out to make such a fuss?

Was he not afraid that A'man would truly refuse to treat her, and that Dugu Bo would beat his head in after finding out?

As experienced women, the three female mentors did not need to think hard to know that Yu Tianheng was pursuing Dugu Yan.

That was definitely over.

"A'man, do you need me to go inside and help?" Shui Yue'er glanced at Dugu Yan and volunteered.

As soon as she spoke, Dugu Yan hurriedly said politely, "A'man, if you need someone to assist you, I can have my teammate Ye Lingling help. She has a healing-type Martial Soul and may be of considerable use."

Ye Lingling, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul. Shui Yue'er immediately fell silent. Ye Lingling truly was more suitable.

"I won't need assistance. You saw the Silver Needle Acupoint technique earlier—outsiders likely would not be able to help much." Lin Manshan smiled.

"Then forget it. Having Lingling come inside would just leave her standing around watching." As she spoke, Dugu Yan turned toward the people from Skywater Academy. "In that case, everyone should return to your rooms and rest first." Then she looked at Qin Ming. "Teacher Qin Ming, I'll have to trouble you to stand guard outside."

"No trouble." Qin Ming waved his hand.

"Qi Yatou, let's go. Staying here won't help with anything." the Female Mentor said.

"Fine." Shui Yue'er pursed her lips.

She left with her teammates.