Enchantress Dugu Yan: This Person Is Worth Befriending...

Alas, miscalculated...

Lin Hai sighed inwardly, then quickly let it go.

"Forget it. I can refine them on the road once we leave Sunset Forest. It's quite a journey from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to Heaven Dou City."

"If that doesn't work, I can linger in the forest for a few more days. The Soul Power here is much denser than outside, after all."

"If I come across suitable spirit beasts, I can draw some blood while I'm at it."

As for the two Spirit Bones before him, he decided to keep them for now.

His own Martial Soul found them beneath contempt and couldn't absorb them? No problem! Plenty of people would go mad over them—

"Our household has drifted through half a lifetime, lamenting only that we have yet to meet a worthy master..."

A sly gleam flashed through Lin Hai's eyes.

A few hours later, Dugu Bo returned with a girl who looked two or three years older than Lin Hai.

The girl wore neat, short purple hair. Her eyes were the same distinctive green as Dugu Bo's, though their "green content" was clearly much lower—less eerie, more clear and bright.

"Little Monster, come over here!"

Dugu Bo called out to Lin Hai at the top of his lungs, looking exactly like a roadside melon seller shouting that his melons were guaranteed ripe and sweet.

His family's melon should count as ripe, right?

Lin Hai mused inwardly, but his movements were not slow in the slightest.

The wind rose, and he moved. His figure flashed like Ghostly Charm, landing steadily a short distance from Dugu Bo and his granddaughter.

If he didn't show off such a carefree and elegant Wind Style, how would anyone else get to see it?

Dugu Yan was filled with curiosity at the moment.

She had already arranged to visit the Ye Family with her friend Ye Lingling today, but her grandfather had suddenly appeared and dragged her out of Heaven Dou City without a word.

It was only after they left the city gates that she learned he intended to introduce her to some so-called "outstanding young talent."

Along the way, her grandfather had praised the other person to the heavens—saying he was already a Soul Ancestor at such a young age, had uniquely insightful views on Martial Souls, had refined elixir pills to resolve the toxic backlash that had plagued their family for generations, and could even allow her Martial Soul Evolution...

The grandfather she remembered had always possessed the arrogant disposition of "Haotian barely passes muster, and Blue Lightning is nothing special either."

So what if he couldn't beat them? That didn't stop him from being proud.

This was the first time he had ever spoken so highly of someone.

As for Lin Hai's knowledge of Dugu Yan, it came from the original work's nearly blank handful of simple descriptions. Summed up in four words—no real story.

She vanished without a trace after the Spirit Master Competition.

Yet the countless rich interpretations from fan works had left him somewhat confused after reading too many of them. Which one was the real Dugu Yan?

Now was a good chance to find out.

After all, this was a "ripe melon."

Lin Hai examined her closely. This girl was... how should he put it?

There was an indescribable seductive air between her brows and eyes, different from Hu Liena's allure.

A suitably full chest, a willow-slim waist, and then—

To be fair, the women of Douluo Continent each possessed their own charms, but when it came to their legs, it was as though they had received the Creator's special favor—

All were perfectly proportioned, slender and long, fairer than frost and snow—a shared elegance among the women of this land.

Meanwhile, as Dugu Yan looked at the exceptionally handsome young man before her, whose temperament carried a trace of wicked charm while also exuding calm steadiness, a favorable impression naturally arose within her.

A Soul Ancestor at eleven or twelve, Martial Soul theories and toxicology that even her grandfather admired wholeheartedly, the great benefactor who had lifted her family's generational curse, and someone who might even help her Martial Soul Evolution...

Those qualities were certainly dazzling, but what attracted her most was Lin Hai's distinctive appearance and bearing—sunshine intertwined with wicked charm, unrestrained grace concealing calm composure.

When their eyes met, she even felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as though they had known each other for a long time.

In short—

Her first impression was that he was worth befriending...

"Hello, Dugu Yan. My name is Lin Hai."

Lin Hai spoke first, breaking the subtle silence.

"H-hello."

Dugu Yan responded, then seemed to realize something and asked with a hint of shyness:

"You... know my name?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a little foolish and instinctively looked toward her grandfather beside her.

The corners of Lin Hai's lips curled upward, his smile warm.

"Senior only said your name was 'Yanyan.' I figured you probably weren't called 'Dugu Yanyan,' were you?"

"Pfft."

Dugu Yan could not hold back her laughter, amused by that small joke.

Ice broken, success. Lin Hai inwardly praised his own wit.

"My grandfather certainly didn't hold back on praising you along the way."

Dugu Yan spoke with a touch of reproach. "My ears were practically growing calluses from listening to him."

"Ahem!"

Dugu Bo's old face heated slightly, and he immediately felt it was time for him to make a graceful exit.

"You young people have a good chat. This old man just rose two ranks in a row and needs to consolidate my cultivation."

As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a streak of green and vanished again.

He had always acted swiftly, but Lin Hai had no intention of mocking him this time—he could only say that Old Poison truly had excellent sense.

The moment Dugu Bo left, Dugu Yan immediately felt a little at a loss.

She had never been someone skilled at socializing, otherwise she would not have gotten along so well with the aloof Ye Lingling.

Seeing Lin Hai merely watching her quietly with a smile on his lips, her cheeks began to heat up slightly. Annoyed with herself, she reproached him aloud:

"Hey, say something!"

Lin Hai found her simple nature rather endearing and smiled as he spoke.

"Aren't you going to take the Elixir Pill first? Didn't Senior tell you about it?"

"He did," Dugu Yan replied.

"He said it could resolve the backlash from my family's Martial Soul and might even allow my Martial Soul Evolution."

Lin Hai was even more puzzled, his gaze probing.

"If it were anyone else, upon learning that they could break a curse that had lasted for generations, or that their Martial Soul might evolve, they probably wouldn't be able to wait even a moment."

"Why are you... so calm?"

"I followed Grandpa all the way here. Shouldn't I at least catch my breath first?" Dugu Yan shot him a reproachful look, her question carrying a trace of bashfulness. "Besides, do you really not want to talk to me that badly?"

Lin Hai's smile deepened. "Of course not. When a beauty invites me, how could I possibly refuse?"

He pointed toward an ancient tree with lush branches and leaves some distance away, naturally extending his hand.

"Shall we sit beneath the shade over there?"

Dugu Yan looked at the hand he held out toward her, and the blush on her face deepened. She muttered softly:

"Who... who invited you? You're clearly the one inviting me..."

Though she said that, her gaze darted away.

Lin Hai did not urge her. He simply kept his hand extended, watching her quietly with a smile.

That focused gaze seemed to carry heat, making Dugu Yan's heart race. Unable to resist in the end, she gently placed her fair little hand in his palm.

If they kept looking at each other, she was afraid she might do something that would disgrace her family.

Lin Hai firmly held that slightly cool, soft hand and led her toward the woods, laughing inwardly.

Little girl, go ask around Spirit City—when have I, Lin Hai, ever lost at a staring contest?

The thought had barely flashed through his mind before another pretty figure surfaced in his heart.

Little Fox did beat me once... I wonder how that girl is doing now?

He shook his head slightly, dispelling the thought.

The person before me is Dugu Yan. A man must be devoted! Today's heart should belong to today's girl. Tomorrow's devotion... can wait until tomorrow!