Escort

Li Tianlan thought to himself, Throughout Douluo Continent, Titled Douluo were few enough to count on one's fingers. I happened to step in and help someone in need, and I actually saved the close relative of a Titled Douluo? Why does this feel like protagonist treatment?

Seeing Li Tianlan's shocked expression, Dugu Yan immediately grew a little smug. "That's right. Didn't expect that, did you? A Titled Douluo is something you might never reach in your entire life. And my grandpa said that as long as I work hard at cultivation, I'll have a chance of becoming a Titled Douluo too."

When Li Tianlan heard her say that he might never reach the level of a Titled Douluo in his life, he nearly burst out laughing.

Xiao Yan had once calculated it seriously. As long as Li Tianlan maintained the supply of Heavenly Flames and did not slack off, becoming a Titled Douluo might be as easy as drinking cold water.

But he had no interest in bickering with a little girl.

Seeing that Li Tianlan was quietly circulating his Soul Power to heal his injuries and had no intention of paying attention to her, Dugu Yan pouted and sat down on the ground beside him to recover her own Soul Power.

After all, her Soul Power had long since been completely depleted during the pursuit.

Yet about half an hour later, Dugu Yan awoke from meditation and discovered that Li Tianlan was still recovering.

She should have been a little older than him. By all rights, her talent was not bad either, and her Soul Power Level should have been higher than his.

But judging from the aura of Li Tianlan's cultivation, his Soul Power felt even more condensed and robust than hers. She figured it was probably because he was injured.

Dugu Yan stopped studying Li Tianlan and turned her attention to the somewhat spacious cave.

Looking at its basic furnishings, she found it more unbelievable the longer she thought about it.

A boy of around six had actually come alone to the Soul Beast Forest! It was simply shocking.

Someone like him, if placed in Heaven Dou Academy, would probably be a monster among monsters.

While Dugu Yan was looking around, Li Tianlan also awoke from his meditation. After sensing that there was no longer anything wrong with his arm, he looked toward Dugu Yan, who was examining the surroundings.

"What are you looking at? This is basically my private bedroom. Who said you could just look around wherever you pleased?"

Dugu Yan turned around and looked at the now-awake Li Tianlan. "Hmph, it's not like I care. Any place I've ever lived in was a hundred times better than this."

Li Tianlan did not indulge her. "Then leave. Since this place is so terrible, I suppose you don't want to stay here either."

Dugu Yan was immediately embarrassed, her face flushing red with anger. "How can you drive someone away?"

Li Tianlan looked at Dugu Yan in disbelief. "Hey, hey, young miss, this is my private space. Besides, you just made it clear that you despise this place. Why should I keep you here?"

Dugu Yan was not someone close to Li Tianlan. A spoiled little princess like her might have everything go her way at home, but things would not be so easy outside. Li Tianlan had no reason to pamper her.

Dugu Yan was left speechless by his retort. For a moment, she did not know what to say. After lowering her head and thinking for a while, she said, "I apologize for what I said earlier, but there is indeed something I want to ask of you."

Li Tianlan found it somewhat unbelievable. For a spoiled little princess like her to actually apologize for her words was already unprecedented.

"Go ahead. What is it?"

Dugu Yan answered patiently, "I've been hunted for a long time. My grandpa is deep within this Sunset Forest, but for some reason, he's been out of contact with me lately. I want you to escort me to find him. Once we get there, you'll definitely receive a generous reward. And since you saved me, my grandpa will definitely be very grateful to you as well."

After hearing this, Li Tianlan pondered for a moment. If I go with her, I'll probably receive a generous reward. He's a Titled Douluo, so he should be quite generous. But leaving this place will likely delay me again.

In the end, after weighing the pros and cons, Li Tianlan decided to escort Dugu Yan into the depths of the Sunset Forest to find her grandfather.

"I agree, but I have one condition."

Li Tianlan raised one finger and spoke firmly.

Dugu Yan immediately said with delight, "Go on, what condition?"

"During the escort, if Soul Beasts appear and I drive them off or kill them, you are not allowed to ask what methods I used. Also, throughout the journey, you must listen to me in everything. If you go against that, I'll leave immediately and abandon you in the forest."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan had thought he would make some excessive demand.

But Li Tianlan's conditions were nothing serious at all, so she readily agreed.

After all, she felt that with Li Tianlan's strength, escorting her to her grandfather would be quite easy.

Li Tianlan then simply packed his belongings and prepared to take Dugu Yan to her grandfather.

Watching Li Tianlan prepare to leave, Dugu Yan asked curiously, "We're leaving now? Is your arm injury really all right?"

Li Tianlan did not answer her and simply walked straight out of the cave. Seeing that he ignored her, Dugu Yan hurried after him, chattering endlessly by his ear until Li Tianlan began to find her irritating.

Li Tianlan stopped walking deeper into the forest and looked at Dugu Yan, who had been chattering beside him the whole time. "Young miss, are you done? You keep babbling nonstop. It's too noisy."

Dugu Yan's expression immediately turned ugly. Since childhood, she had always been the center of attention; no one had ever spoken to her like that. "You! You actually dare talk to me like that? Do you know who my grandpa is?"

Li Tianlan grew even more irritated. "All day long, it's your grandpa this, your grandpa that. Is he your mother? It's true that he has the strength of a Titled Douluo, but what about you? If I hadn't saved you just now, do you know what would have happened to you?"

Recalling the dangerous scene from earlier and listening to Li Tianlan's words, Dugu Yan fell into thought. She stopped making noise, lowered her head, and silently followed behind him.

Seeing Dugu Yan's dejected appearance, Li Tianlan suddenly felt that his words had gone a little too far. He wanted to go over and explain, but Xiao Yan in his Sea of Consciousness stopped him.

"Tianlan, there's no need to comfort her. Everything you said was right. This little girl's martial soul is the Mandala Snake. If she does not cultivate properly, she will suffer greatly from her own snake venom."

"She has always been immersed in the glory of her grandfather, and problems are bound to arise sooner or later. What you did is for her own good, so there's no need to comfort her. If she can come to understand it herself, that would naturally be best. Even if her grandfather learns that someone rebuked his granddaughter, as a Titled Douluo, he will naturally understand the purpose and weight of your words. Don't worry."

Li Tianlan found that reasonable after hearing him out. He nodded and did not say anything else to Dugu Yan, instead remaining vigilant of their surroundings as he continued onward.