If Only There Were No Ifs

Standing at the entrance of the Academy.

Ye Qiu couldn't help but smile slightly as he watched Xiao Wu follow Tang San, several meters behind him.

After the raised fur on his arm returned to normal.

Tang Hao's prying gaze retreated.

Only then did Ye Qiu slowly turn and leave, his direction the complete opposite of Xiao Wu's.

He was going to the Sunset Forest to input the extraction code for the immortal herb.

Yes.

Ye Qiu intended to trick Dugu Bo, or rather, help him suppress the toxins within his body.

After all, he was a lone wolf now.

What good was eating an immortal herb?

When you're out in the world, talent alone isn't enough. You need backing.

Your status is earned.

Dugu Bo was an excellent candidate. A wild Title Douluo, not affiliated with any major power. His only relative was his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, who desperately needed his help. Ye Qiu felt he could easily ensnare Dugu Bo.

Ye Qiu remembered Dugu Bo's symptoms seemed similar to rheumatism, so he recalled the extraction code quite clearly.

Besides, most fanfics would mention it at least once.

Immortal Herb Extraction Code:

Whenever it rained or was cloudy, Dugu Bo would feel an itchy sensation on both sides of his ribs, which would gradually intensify, lasting for over an hour. It would flare up once at noon and once at midnight.

Every night, around the third watch, Dugu Bo would experience needle-like stinging pain on the crown of his head and the soles of his feet, accompanied by full-body spasms, lasting at least half an hour.

Ye Qiu was, after all, new here.

Even though he had a clear destination in the Sunset Forest, Ye Qiu was extremely cautious.

After all, he could only rely on himself for protection along the way.

It was much better once he reached a city. Ye Qiu could leverage his identity within the Martial Soul Hall to get free room and board, along with free night watchmen, allowing him to sleep soundly.

It took Ye Qiu half a month to reach the Sunset Forest. He immediately began searching for the poisonous mist located in the center of the forest. Several times, he was discovered by ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beasts.

Fortunately, Ye Qiu promptly activated his Martial Soul Avatar. He was smashed into a pool of black liquid and ruthlessly trampled by the Soul Beasts. Only then did he slowly find a place to recover.

Hard work pays off!

After spending three days, Ye Qiu finally found the poisonous mist outside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Notting Academy.

A year was divided into two semesters, with a holiday of nearly two months.

In the blink of an eye.

It was time for the new semester to begin again.

This year.

Would be Ye Qiu's last year at Notting Academy.

Xiao Wu and Tang San had returned to the Academy from Holy Soul Village long ago.

"Xiao Wu, want to go eat together?"

In the Seventh Dorm.

After tidying up his belongings, Tang San walked up to Xiao Wu and extended the invitation.

Xiao Wu had already finished packing and was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring intently at the entrance of the Seventh Dorm. Hearing Tang San's voice, she looked up at him briefly before shifting her gaze away, shaking her head gently.

"Xiao San, I don't have an appetite. You go ahead."

"Okay."

Tang San knew Xiao Wu was waiting for Ye Qiu's return, his expression a little unnatural. He spoke to comfort her, "Don't worry, Ye Qiu promised he'd come back, so he definitely won't break his word. Maybe he's on his way right now."

"Mhm, I know he'll come back."

Xiao Wu nodded slightly, smiling. She didn't even look at Tang San, continuing to stare at the door.

"..."

Tang San opened his mouth, sighed helplessly, and turned to leave, his expression somewhat dejected.

As the only girl in the Seventh Dorm, having spent so many years together, the "pure and chaste" Tang San couldn't help but feel a sliver of sympathy for Xiao Wu. However, Xiao Wu's entire heart was set on Ye Qiu. No matter how kindly he tried to show his affection, he couldn't get any closer to her.

During this period when Ye Qiu was away.

Tang San often wondered.

If, back then, when Xiao Wu looked at his blanket, he had invited her to share it, would it be him she was missing now?

There are no ifs in life.

Ye Qiu was still here, and he could only treat Xiao Wu as his sister now.

After Tang San left.

The entire Seventh Dorm fell silent.

Xiao Wu looked at the door, a little dazed, pouting with grievance. She walked to Ye Qiu's bed and began to tidy up the bed she had previously prepared for him.

Several kilometers outside Notting City.

Ye Qiu, with short black hair and dressed in black, was being held in mid-air and sped through the sky.

The person holding Ye Qiu had dark green stubble, wore a grey robe, and had dark green eyes. His body was as straight and slender as a javelin, and a slight sinister smile played on his face.

"Senior Dugu, you can just send me here. Thank you for your trouble, senior." Ye Qiu said, forcing a smile as he looked at the small city in the distance. Dugu Bo's speed was too fast; it had blown into his mouth.

"Hehehehe."

Dugu Bo let out a strange laugh, landed in a small grove below, and threw Ye Qiu to the ground.

"Kid, I really don't know why you'd come to such a small place. Why not follow my Yan Yan's wishes and go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"Damn it! Senior, can't you be gentler? You'll break it."

"If you do this again, I'll report you."

Ye Qiu somersaulted twice in the air to dissipate the force before steadying himself on the ground. He looked resentfully at the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, who was as mischievous as a child, both righteous and evil.

"Haha. With your physique, even a higher fall wouldn't hurt you." Dugu Bo stood on a treetop, stroking his dark green beard, and couldn't help but lecture him. "You didn't die when you fell off a cliff trying to steal medicine and landed in Yan Yan's bathtub back then."

"Don't even mention it! Speaking of Sister Yan Yan, I haven't settled the score with you yet. Even if you were eager for grandchildren, you shouldn't have drugged us." Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. He didn't expect this Dugu Bo to be so eccentric, even drugging his own granddaughter.

"Hmph! What's wrong with making the rice cooked sooner? Watching you young people being lovey-dovey makes this old man Dugu Bo's liver hurt!" Dugu Bo thought of how his granddaughter, who initially disdained him, had wanted to kill Ye Qiu upon seeing his body, but later clung to him. It made his liver hurt.

What was even more disgusting was this kid Ye Qiu, who dared to string his granddaughter along, using the same tactics as when he had a wife. He wanted Yan Yan to love him in vain. He truly had the gall of a bear!

His wife was already taken, yet he still clung to his granddaughter every day, claiming it was for faster cultivation and easier detoxification. In the end, it turned into him wrapping black silk around her legs.

What kind of married man does that!

Seeing Dugu Bo's somewhat unfriendly gaze, Ye Qiu dodged evasively, feeling guilty. Wasn't he afraid of being trapped by Dugu Bo?

If that really happened, what would happen to the Bunny he had painstakingly raised? How could he give them a warm home in the future? Therefore, he naturally had to let Dugu Yan make a clear statement. He wanted to be responsible, but he didn't want to suffer the torment of an Asura's wrath. Although enviable, it was detrimental to both body and spirit.

Wishing everyone a happy life!