Dugu Yan: Brother Yifei, I Want to Stay Tonight

As soon as the words fell.

Li Yifei vanished from before Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue stood there blankly.

She raised a hand and gently touched the cheek that had just been kissed.

The lingering warmth was still there.

"Strength..."

Qian Renxue murmured to herself.

"I understand. I won't disappoint you."

Her gaze grew resolute.

Golden Soul Power surged within her.

At this moment, she began to take the Angel God's inheritance seriously once more.

The night was deep.

Li Yifei appeared outside the residence in Sunset Forest.

He walked to the door of the room where he was staying temporarily, his brows knitting slightly.

There was someone inside.

Li Yifei pushed open the door.

In the room that should have been empty, a beautiful young woman lay on the bed.

It was Dugu Yan.

The sound of the door opening woke her.

Dugu Yan rubbed her eyes and sat up groggily.

The moment she saw that the person at the door was Li Yifei, she instantly woke up.

"Y-you're back?"

There was obvious panic in her voice.

Li Yifei stood at the doorway without entering.

"This room was supposed to be my temporary lodging, wasn't it?"

His tone was calm, revealing no emotion.

Dugu Yan's cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

She lowered her head and tightly gripped the blanket with both hands.

"I... I thought you weren't coming back tonight."

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"That excuse doesn't seem quite sufficient, does it?"

Li Yifei entered the room and closed the door.

Dugu Yan lowered her head, clutching the blanket tightly with both hands.

She could not speak.

Her heart pounded as though it were about to explode.

Li Yifei walked toward the bed.

His footsteps were especially clear in the quiet room.

"Aren't you going back?"

He stood beside the bed, looking down at Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan bit her lip.

She raised her head, a trace of stubbornness in her eyes.

"C-can I stay?"

Her voice was soft, but it carried the courage of someone throwing caution to the wind.

Her grandfather had worked so hard to create this opportunity.

She did not want to give it up.

Li Yifei looked her over.

Dugu Yan wore a thin nightgown.

Her perfect figure was faintly visible beneath the candlelight.

"Looks like you've had enough sleep."

A teasing smile curved Li Yifei's lips.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Dugu Yan froze for a moment, failing to understand what he meant.

Li Yifei did not answer.

He reached out and lifted Dugu Yan from the bed.

"I mean—"

He lowered his head to look at the flustered young woman in his arms.

"Have you mentally prepared yourself to fight all night?"

Dugu Yan's eyes widened instantly.

Her cheeks turned so red they seemed ready to burn.

"W-wait..."

There was obvious panic in her voice.

But Li Yifei had already placed her back on the bed.

The candle flame flickered.

The temperature in the room began to rise.

Dugu Yan's breathing quickened.

She looked at Li Yifei, her heart pounding as though it would burst from her chest.

Her grandfather had told her to seize the opportunity.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

"I... I'm ready."

Her voice was quiet, but her tone was firm.

Li Yifei turned to look at her.

There was nervousness in Dugu Yan's eyes, but even more anticipation.

Li Yifei lowered his head.

"Then don't regret it."

The night grew deeper.

From the forest outside the residence came the occasional low growls of Soul Beasts.

At some point, the candle in the room went out.

Only moonlight streamed through the window lattice, spilling across the bed.

Dugu Yan's voice rang out in the darkness.

It carried a sobbing tone, trembling, and an emotion difficult to put into words.

"Brother Yifei... be gentler..."

Li Yifei did not answer.

He merely told her through his actions.

Tonight would be a long one.

Meanwhile.

Skywater Academy.

Shui Bing'er sat on her bed, holding that God-bestowed Soul Ring in her hand.

Golden light flowed across her palm.

Her gaze was firm.

"Once I absorb this Soul Ring, I'll go to Heaven Dou City."

She murmured to herself.

"Brother Yifei, I won't let you down."

The back mountain of Nuoding City.

Xiao Wu stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing at the distant sky.

The night wind stirred her long hair.

"Mom..."

Her voice was very soft.

"I'll go find him."

"No matter the price, I'll bring you back."

She turned and walked down the mountain.

Her steps were firm, without the slightest hesitation.

The border of the Star Luo Empire.

Zhu Zhuqing sat inside a carriage.

She held a map in her hands.

It marked the route to Heaven Dou City.

"Dai Mubai..."

She murmured to herself.

"I'm sorry, but I can't wait any longer."

The carriage set off.

Its wheels rolled over the ground as it headed toward Heaven Dou City.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Inside Ning Rongrong's room.

All kinds of clothes and jewelry were scattered across the floor.

She was frantically stuffing things into a suitcase.

"I'm so mad!"

She gritted her teeth.

"That ??? actually dared to steal my Brother Yifei!"

"I'm going to Heaven Dou City right now!"

"Just watch me beat her flat!"

She forcefully pulled the suitcase zipper shut.

Then she pushed open the window and climbed out.

In the night, a petite figure vanished beyond the walls of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Inside Spirit Hall's carriage.

Bibi Dong had her eyes closed.

Information from the Chat Group replayed in her mind.

"Li Yifei..."

She murmured to herself.

"Who exactly are you?"

Hu Liena sat across from her, carefully watching her teacher.

"Teacher, how much longer until we reach Heaven Dou City?"

"Soon."

Bibi Dong opened her eyes.

A sharp glint flashed through her purple Phoenix Eyes.

"Nana, prepare yourself."

"This trip to Heaven Dou City may change the entire continent's balance."

Hu Liena nodded.

Her heart was filled with anticipation.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Inside the library.

Ye Lingling sat where she had been before, the book in her hands having remained open for a long time.

But her eyes were not focused on the words at all.

Her mind was filled with everything that had happened today.

His Highness the Crown Prince had personally come looking for Li Yifei.

Yan Yan was so close to him.

And there was that mysterious Chat Group.

"What exactly should I do?"

She murmured to herself.

"Should I... be more proactive?"

She bit her lip.

In the end, she closed her book and stood up.

"Forget it. I should go back and sleep first."

"I'll deal with it tomorrow."

She walked out of the library.

The night breeze swept past, carrying away a trace of the irritation in her heart.

At the residence in Sunset Forest.

The commotion in the room finally stopped.

Dugu Yan lay on the bed, her body limp as a puddle of water.

Tear tracks still hung on her face.

Li Yifei sat by the bedside, looking at her.

"Are you okay?"

Dugu Yan nodded weakly.

"I... I'm fine..."

Her voice was terribly hoarse.

Li Yifei reached out and gently stroked her hair.

"Get some rest."

Dugu Yan closed her eyes.

Yet a satisfied smile curled across her lips.

"Brother Yifei..."

"Mm?"

"I love you."

Li Yifei did not answer.

He merely continued stroking her hair.

Until her breathing became steady.