A Forced Melon Quenches Thirst, Winning Dugu Yan

Dugu Bo's breathing grew heavier as he reached out a hand.

These Soul Bones were treasures capable of changing the fate of any Soul Master!

Yet, to Zhao Linchuan's surprise, Dugu Bo's hand was not reaching for the Soul Bones. Trembling, he slowly closed the open box lid again!

It was as though he were using immense willpower to force himself to turn away from the enormous temptation right before him.

Seeing this, Zhao Linchuan raised an eyebrow and asked in confusion,

"Old Man, what are you doing? You don't like them?"

Dugu Bo took several deep breaths before he barely managed to calm his turbulent emotions.

He lifted his head and looked at Zhao Linchuan with a complicated expression before speaking.

"Kid, this old man has no idea how great the ambitions and plans hidden in your heart are. You have so many top-tier Soul Bones beside you, enough to drive even Titled Douluo mad, yet you refuse to fuse with them and strengthen yourself."

His tone suddenly turned extremely serious. "But listen closely! Don't even think about using these worldly possessions to brush off this old man's debt of gratitude for saving your life!"

He slammed his palm onto the table, making the cups and dishes rattle. A smile that said, "You can't escape," appeared on his face as he declared resolutely,

"You, my Granddaughter's Husband, are someone I, Dugu Bo, have decided on! Yanzi should be home any moment now!"

"They say a debt of saving one's life cannot be repaid, except by offering oneself in marriage!"

"How about this? Better sooner than later. Today, you and Yan Yan will settle the marriage!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, as though he had already seen a wonderful future. "Work a little harder and let me hold my great-grandson next year! Hahaha!"

"?????" Zhao Linchuan felt as though his head had doubled in size. Unable to laugh or cry, he said, "Old Man! You... have you ever heard the saying? A forced melon is not sweet!!"

The corners of Dugu Bo's mouth curved upward. Calm and composed, he spoke in the tone of someone with experience. "Of course this old man knows that a forced melon is not sweet."

He paused, a sly and shameless smile appearing on his face, before slowly adding,

"But... it quenches your thirst!"

The moment his words fell, a gentle female voice filled with delight and anticipation drifted closer from outside the Banquet Hall, as melodious as an oriole emerging from the valley.

"Lin Chuan! Grandpa! I'm back!!"

Zhao Linchuan and Dugu Bo turned toward the door at the same time.

Dugu Bo's face instantly blossomed into a grin. He winked smugly at Zhao Linchuan and said in a low voice, "See? Speak of the devil, and she appears!"

"You young people chat first. Have a good chat! There are still a few dishes that haven't been served. This old man will personally go urge them along!"

As he spoke, he swiftly rose to his feet, as though afraid of disturbing the young pair. He strode to the entrance and came face-to-face with Dugu Yan, who was entering with a radiant smile.

After casually greeting her with, "Yan Yan, you're back. Hurry inside, Lin Chuan is waiting for you," he slipped away as if fleeing from something.

Leaving Zhao Linchuan alone to face this sudden Peach Blossom Tribulation.

"Lin Chuan~!"

With a coquettish cry, a purple figure pounced over like a young swallow flying into the forest.

Dugu Yan walked straight up to Zhao Linchuan. Without giving him a chance to protest, she wrapped both arms around his head and pulled him forcefully into her arms, giving him a thoroughly solid face wash that would make countless men green with envy.

"Why did you take so long to come see me? Did you forget about your Elder Sister?" Her tone was filled with spoiled indignation and dissatisfaction, while her arms held him tightly.

"Yanzi, first... let go of me..." Zhao Linchuan's muffled voice came from her arms, yet his tone was unusually calm, even somewhat helpless.

Clearly, he was already used to this kind of "enthusiastic greeting." This was not his first time receiving such treatment.

"Hmph!" Not only did Dugu Yan refuse to let go, she hugged him even tighter, as though she wanted to knead him into her body. "Back then, you used to trail after me, calling me 'Sister Yanzi' so sweetly!"

"Now that your wings have hardened and you've become capable, you just call me 'Yanzi' by name, is that it?!"

She seemed genuinely a little angry, expressing her displeasure through her actions. "This is your punishment! You have to keep me company and play with me properly for a few days this time! Otherwise, I won't let you leave!"

"Yanzi! We can talk this out! Let me go first! I... I can't breathe!"

Zhao Linchuan had to use some strength before he could barely break free from that suffocatingly tender embrace. He gulped down fresh air, his cheeks faintly flushed.

He tidied his rumpled hair and collar, trying to reason with her. "Yanzi, mind your image!"

"And I've grown up now. I'm not that little brat from back then that you could knead and bully however you pleased."

"Tch..." Dugu Yan crossed her arms over her chest and curled her lips in disdain. Her beautiful eyes swept up and down his body, lingering deliberately over certain places as she drawled,

"No matter how much you grow or how high your cultivation becomes, aren't you still the Younger Brother who needs taking care of in my heart?"

She even added with a mischievous smile, saying something shocking enough to never stop until it killed, "Besides, it's not as though Elder Sister has never seen you naked as a child~ What are you embarrassed about?"

Zhao Linchuan's ears reddened at her bold teasing. He hurriedly changed the subject, trying to regain control of the situation. "Yanzi, stop saying things like that... How long are you planning to stay this time?"

Dugu Yan tilted her head, a glint of cunning flashing through her eyes as she turned the tables on him. "Well... that depends on how long my Lin Chuan Younger Brother wants me to stay~"

As she spoke, she extended a slender jade finger and lightly lifted Zhao Linchuan's chin. The gesture was frivolous yet seductive. Then she stuck out her delicate tongue to lick her full red lips, her gaze hazy and her voice utterly enchanting.

"And... my Younger Brother seems to have really... grown up?"

Zhao Linchuan truly felt as though his head had doubled in size. Faced with this fiery, impervious Elder Sister, he felt utterly unable to deal with her.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to remain composed. Picking up the wine pot from the table, he filled the empty cup before Dugu Yan, trying to keep his voice steady. "Yanzi, the journey must have been tiring, right?"

"Come, sit down and have something to eat first. We can talk while we eat."

And so, one launched passionate attacks while the other defended helplessly, the two of them going back and forth for a long time.

To be honest, Zhao Linchuan was both grateful to and troubled by Dugu Yan.

He was grateful for her care and protection, like that of a real elder sister, from childhood until now. What troubled him was that she seemed never to have abandoned her grand goal of "turning him into a groom."

After several rounds of wine and dishes, the atmosphere eased somewhat.

Dugu Yan seemed to suddenly remember something. She took a warm jade box from her Soul Tool. "Here, this is a gift Elder Sister specially prepared for you this time. See if you like it? Open it and take a look."