Dugu Yan, An Acquaintance

The noble boy stood with his hands on his hips, chin raised high, his face full of arrogance.

The girl in the white dress kept her head lowered, her expression hidden from view. Her shoulders trembled slightly; she had clearly been frightened badly.

Two lackeys blocked her from the left and right, refusing to let her leave.

Wang Xian said nothing and walked straight over.

He came up behind the noble boy and raised a hand to pat his shoulder.

The noble boy had been speaking enthusiastically when he was interrupted. He turned around with an impatient look on his face.

Then he saw Wang Xian's face.

In that instant, it was as if someone had splashed a basin of ice water over his expression.

His arrogance, anger, and impatience all vanished in the blink of an eye, replaced by pure terror.

His face turned deathly pale. His legs gave out, and he dropped onto the ground, even scrambling backward twice.

"Y-you... you..."

The two lackeys also recognized who had come. Their faces looked no better than their master's. They hurried over and helped him up from either side, their hands trembling.

Wang Xian looked at the three of them and uttered only one word.

"Get lost."

The noble boy's lips trembled twice, but he did not dare say another word. Supported by his two lackeys, he fled in a panic.

After running several steps, he nearly tripped and fell, looking utterly pathetic.

The girl in the white dress lifted her head, revealing a delicate little face. Her eyes were slightly red as she looked at Wang Xian and softly said, "Thank you."

Wang Xian looked at the girl before him and gently asked, "What's your name? Where do you live?"

The girl in the white dress lifted her head, revealing a delicate little face. Her eyes were slightly red as she quietly replied, "My name is Ye Lingling."

Wang Xian froze.

Of course, he had heard the name Ye Lingling before.

She would later become a member of the Heaven Dou Royal Team and the owner of the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul.

The Nine-Heart Begonia was the number one healing martial soul on the Douluo Continent. With her at their side, her teammates would find it difficult even to die.

However, the inheritance requirements for this martial soul were extremely harsh. Only two Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Masters could exist at the same time; only after the previous generation died could the next generation awaken it.

He had never expected that the girl he casually helped by the roadside would turn out to be Ye Lingling.

The Ye Lingling before him looked no more than ten or so years old. Her features had yet to fully mature, but he could already see the outline of the aloof, otherworldly beauty she would become.

She wore a white dress, its hem stained with a little dust. Her hair was somewhat messy, and she huddled there like a frightened kitten.

Compared to the future Ye Lingling, who was cold, quiet, and not particularly close to others—

The current her was clearly far more timid. Even when bullied, she did not dare make a sound. Her eyes were red, and she looked as though she were about to cry.

Wang Xian stared at her for a moment and roughly understood. If Ye Lingling had been like this as a child—

Then, combined with the unique nature of the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul, there was a reason behind her future coldness.

Ye Lingling felt uncomfortable under his direct gaze. Her face reddened slightly, and she lowered her head even further.

Wang Xian came back to his senses and asked, "Do you need me to take you home?"

Ye Lingling shook her head like a rattle drum and hurriedly explained, "No, no. I'm actually waiting for a friend here. She should be here soon."

As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp cry rang out from the distance.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

A purple figure rushed over. A girl stepped directly in front of Ye Lingling, shielding her behind herself.

The girl looked thirteen or fourteen years old. She had short dark-purple hair, with the ends slightly curled upward, giving her a neat and capable appearance.

Her features were not stunningly beautiful, but her brows carried a heroic air, and her eyes were bright and spirited. Most striking of all, her irises were a faint green.

It was not a muddy yellow-green, but a clear pale green, like tender spring leaves newly sprouting, carrying a touch of wildness and liveliness.

She wore a fitted purple outfit, with a belt of the same color around her waist. Standing there, she was like a drawn shortsword—sharp, clean, and eye-catching.

"Lingling, did he bully you?" The girl stared at Wang Xian with an unfriendly gaze, her voice filled with obvious hostility.

Ye Lingling quickly poked her head out from behind her and repeatedly explained, "No, no, Sister Yan. He just chased away the people who were bullying me."

Hearing that, the girl's vigilance eased somewhat, and she turned to look at Wang Xian.

Wang Xian's expression remained calm, a faint smile hanging on his lips.

He wore a plain-colored robe today. The material was not especially fine, but it was clean and tidy.

Combined with his naturally handsome appearance, he truly did not look like a bad person when he smiled.

The girl sized him up a few times, then glanced back at Ye Lingling's expression. Only after confirming that she was not lying did she finally relax.

A trace of embarrassment appeared on her face, and her tone softened as well.

"Sorry, I misunderstood you. Thank you for helping Lingling." She paused, then generously extended her hand. "My name is Dugu Yan. I'm Lingling's friend. What's your name?"

Dugu Yan.

Wang Xian's heart stirred slightly. From the moment she appeared, he had already been guessing.

Short dark-purple hair, pale green eyes, and an heroic spirit that did not lose to any boy, together with the name "Yan"—she was most likely Dugu Bo's granddaughter.

On the Douluo Continent, there were not many people with green eyes.

However, the color of her eyes was not yet as deep as it had been in the original story, only a faint layer of green. Presumably, her cultivation was still insufficient, and the Poison in her body had not yet run deep.

At her age, she was probably only a Soul Grandmaster.

Ye Lingling also poked her head out from behind Dugu Yan and looked curiously at Wang Xian.

She had been too frightened just now and had not even asked the name of her benefactor.

"My name is Wang Xian." He smiled slightly, his tone gentle.

Dugu Yan nodded, silently repeating Wang Xian's name to herself before smiling. "Wang Xian, I'll remember that. Thank you for helping Lingling. We still have things to do, so we'll be leaving first."

With that, she took Ye Lingling's hand and turned to head in another direction.

After walking a few steps, Ye Lingling looked back at Wang Xian again. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something.

But in the end, she merely gave a slight bow before disappearing into the crowd with Dugu Yan.

Wang Xian stood where he was, watching the two girls' backs gradually recede. The smile on his face slowly faded.

"Dugu Yan... Ye Lingling..."

He silently repeated the two names in his heart. Without giving them further thought, he turned and continued toward the Treasure Pavilion.

I wonder which intermediate academy those two attend. What a pity this was only our first meeting—I can't challenge them yet.

Otherwise, a martial soul as powerful as the Nine-Heart Begonia must have an exceptionally high quality, and the traits it can produce must be extraordinary as well.

Forget it. There will definitely be another chance. Wang Xian temporarily set the matter aside.