It was just that the places where those herbs grew were extraordinarily dangerous, and Senior Dugu Bo's Medicine Garden Restriction stood guard over them. Obtaining them required not only strength and luck, but also the right timing and perhaps a certain affinity. I wonder whether I'll ever have the chance to try picking this "antidote."
Liu Erlong stopped and gazed out the window. In the end, she let out a long sigh.
"You little brat... I'll count that as your victory."
Of course, she could tell that what Yu Tiancheng had written in his diary was less him talking to himself than writing for her to see.
That child understood her far too well.
He knew she was softhearted. He knew that although she was domineering, she wasn't unreasonable. And he knew even better that deep down, she hoped he could have opportunities and growth of his own.
"Forget it." Liu Erlong rubbed her brow, a look of resolve flashing through her eyes. "Since you insist on making this trip, don't even think about going off and showing off by yourself."
She turned and walked back to the desk, taking out a specially made Sound Transmission Token.
It was an emergency communication tool possessed only by the president of Blue Tyrant Academy.
"Listen carefully." She spoke solemnly to the token. "For the next few days, the academy's daily affairs will be decided through joint discussion by the four directors. I have important business outside the academy, and I don't know when I'll return."
After saying that, she put away the token, the corners of her lips curling slightly upward.
"You want to go to Sunset Forest by yourself? Not a chance. Your auntie will... personally accompany you!"
At the same time, Yu Tiancheng closed the Diary, a smile of having everything under control appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"The groundwork is done. Next, we'll see how Auntie reacts..."
The entrance of Blue Tyrant Academy now presented an entirely different scene.
The morning sun was blazing. Two hurried figures approached the school gate from afar.
Dugu Yan had practically run there. Her long, dark-purple hair was somewhat disheveled, and her usually proud, raised face was frighteningly pale. Her eyes were swollen, and tear marks still streaked her cheeks. Clearly, she had cried the entire way.
Ye Lingling had hurried over alongside her. Even the normally aloof girl wore a rare look of anxiety.
"Yu Tiancheng! I want to see Yu Tiancheng!" She rushed up to the student on guard, her voice choked and trembling. "Where is he? Take me to him!"
The student on guard was startled by her appearance. He stood there for two seconds before coming back to himself. "M-May I ask who you are...?"
"I'm Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo!" Dugu Yan had no time to worry about etiquette or bearing and immediately revealed her identity. "I have an urgent matter to discuss with Yu Tiancheng! It concerns life and death!"
The granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo?
The guard's heart tightened, and his attitude immediately became respectful. "Junior Yu Tiancheng should be in the Back Mountain Courtyard. I'll take you there right away."
"Hurry up!" Dugu Yan stamped her feet anxiously.
Ye Lingling, who had been beside her the entire time, gently patted her shoulder in an attempt to calm her. "Yanzi, calm down. Since Yu Tiancheng said in the Diary that he could cure him, he won't stand by and do nothing."
As the two spoke, a burly figure strode over from the direction of the training grounds.
It was Tailong.
He had just finished his morning strength training. Sweat covered his entire body, and he was preparing to return to the dormitory to wash up. He had only just reached the entrance when he ran into this unexpected scene.
Tailong stopped in his tracks.
He narrowed his eyes and carefully sized up the newcomer—the uniform of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, purple hair, and stunning features.
Wait, wasn't this Dugu Yan?
As a core member of the Blue Tyrant Academy Team, Tailong naturally knew the vice-captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team.
She was famously arrogant and difficult to deal with. During last year's Academy Exchange Competition, she had even used Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison to make Blue Tyrant Academy suffer quite a bit.
But the girl before him was crying so hard that she looked utterly lost. Where was even a trace of her usual spoiled arrogance?
And the person she was urgently looking for was actually Yu Tiancheng?
Tailong's thoughts spun rapidly.
How many days had Yu Tiancheng even been at the academy? He looked so refined and bookish, so how had he already reduced a girl from Heaven Dou Royal Academy to this state?
Could it be...?
Tailong remembered the "Three-Move Agreement" from several days ago. Yu Tiancheng had toyed with him using that strange Space-Time Martial Soul, leaving him to lose in deep frustration.
Although he had accepted the wager and admitted defeat, the resentment in his heart had never faded.
Now, seeing this scene, an uncontrollable thought surfaced: Could this brat be bullying that girl, relying on his own abilities?
"Wait!"
Tailong strode forward and blocked the student who was about to lead the way.
His gaze fell on Dugu Yan's swollen eyes, and his thick brows drew tightly together. "What happened? What did Yu Tiancheng do to you?"
At that moment, Dugu Yan's mind was filled with the image of her grandfather vomiting blood and the line from the Diary—"Only a few years left." She didn't listen carefully to what Tailong said.
She only heard the words "Yu Tiancheng" and instinctively nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "I-I have to see him immediately... Please..."
To Tailong, that nod was an admission!
Good grief! It was actually true!
The sense of justice in Tailong's chest ignited instantly.
He had already been fuming after losing to Yu Tiancheng last time, and now he had stumbled upon something like this—bullying a girl? Using that sort of method?
"Follow me!" Tailong waved his hand grandly, then turned and headed toward the back mountain, his steps powerful and vigorous. "I want to see what this brat has to say for himself!"
"Classmate, you've misunderstood..." Ye Lingling tried to explain.
But Tailong walked extremely quickly, and Dugu Yan was even more frantic as she followed him. Ye Lingling's words were drowned out by the footsteps. She could only shake her head helplessly and hurry after them.
Thus, a strange group was formed—Dugu Yan, crying as though flowers drenched in rain; Ye Lingling, her face full of anxiety; Tailong, overflowing with righteous indignation; and the utterly bewildered guard.
The Blue Tyrant Academy students they encountered along the way all turned to stare.
"Isn't that Dugu Yan from Heaven Dou Royal Academy? What is she doing here?"
"Judging by her appearance... did she cry?"
"Senior Tailong is leading the way... Who are they going to find?"
"I heard it. I think they're looking for the new student, Yu Tiancheng..."
"Yu Tiancheng? The niece—no, nephew—of President Liu? What did he do to her?"
The whispers spread like a rising tide. The students, brimming with curiosity, began following in groups of two and three. The procession grew larger and larger, like a snowball rolling downhill.
By the time they reached the detached courtyard in the back mountain, more than thirty students had followed behind to watch the excitement.
Tailong stood before the courtyard gate, drew a deep breath, and raised his hand—
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
He pounded on the door so hard that the panels trembled.
"Yu Tiancheng! Come out!"
Inside the courtyard, Yu Tiancheng was studying The True Explanation of Myriad Poisons at the table. Hearing the noisy voices and rough pounding outside, he furrowed his brows and set down the book in his hands.
When he opened the courtyard gate, he saw an unexpected scene—
Tailong, his face full of anger and his muscles tense;
Dugu Yan, her eyes swollen and her expression frantic;
Ye Lingling, looking slightly helpless as she gently shook her head;
And, in the distance, a dense crowd of onlookers peeking and craning their necks.
Yu Tiancheng immediately understood.
Dugu Yan could see the Diary too, but this commotion...
Wasn't this a little too much?
Before you continue