Sightseeing, Ye Lingling's Change

"Wang Xian!"

A crisp voice called out from inside the academy.

Wang Xian turned his head to look, stunned for a moment.

Dugu Yan was running toward him, but she looked completely different today than she usually did.

She wasn't wearing her usual sharp purple combat outfit, but had changed into a white dress. The hem of the skirt fluttered gently as she ran, like a moving cloud.

Her short, deep purple hair was ruffled slightly by the wind, losing some of its usual heroic spirit and gaining a touch of girlish softness.

She ran up to Wang Xian, panting slightly, a thin layer of blush on her fair face—whether from running or some other reason, it was hard to tell.

Wang Xian looked at her, a flash of amazement crossing his eyes.

He had seen Dugu Yan countless times at the Soul Fighting Arena, dressed in her combat gear with wrist guards, looking valiant and spirited, but he had never seen her in a dress.

Dugu Yan noticed his gaze and, feeling a bit shy, spun around in front of him, the hem of her white dress blooming like a flower.

She pursed her lips and asked in a low voice, "How do I look?"

"Very beautiful." Wang Xian smiled, his tone sincere.

Dugu Yan's face turned even redder. She lowered her head, then quickly lifted it again, reaching out to grab Wang Xian's wrist. Her voice was much softer than usual: "Let's go, let's go find Lingling."

The two walked along the street toward the direction of Ye Lingling's home.

Dugu Yan spoke much less than usual along the way, and when she did say something, it was sporadic, though she never let go of Wang Xian's wrist.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the two arrived at a quiet residential area on the east side of Heaven Dou City.

Dugu Yan stopped in front of an inconspicuous house. It wasn't large, with gray walls and black tiles, and a few short bamboo stalks planted in front, looking clean and refreshing.

"This is your first time coming to Lingling's house, right?" Dugu Yan asked.

"That's right." Wang Xian nodded.

Dugu Yan let go of Wang Xian's wrist, walked forward two steps, and called out toward the house: "Lingling, we're here!"

Not long after, the door was opened from the inside.

The person who opened the door wasn't Ye Lingling, but an old man.

The old man looked to be in his sixties or seventies, with gray hair combed neatly. There were few wrinkles on his face and his skin was well-maintained; it was clear that he must have been a man of striking appearance in his youth.

He wore a gray-white robe that was clean and without a single wrinkle.

What was most striking were his eyes—a pair of very gentle eyes. When his gaze fell upon someone, it didn't feel oppressive; instead, there was a sense of comfort, like a spring breeze.

But Wang Xian noticed that although the old man's gaze was gentle, it held a clarity that came from having seen everything in life, as if he could see through a person's heart.

"Yanzi, here to see Lingling again." The old man smiled when he saw Dugu Yan. His voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

"Hello, Grandpa Ye." Dugu Yan greeted him obediently.

The old man's gaze fell on Wang Xian, looking him up and down, a flash of imperceptible brilliance crossing his eyes.

He nodded slightly, his smile deepening: "You must be Wang Xian, right? I've heard Lingling mention you. Come on in together."

Wang Xian bowed slightly, politely said "Grandpa Ye," and followed Dugu Yan into the house.

The house wasn't large, but it was kept very clean. Ye Lingling was sitting on a chair in the living room; seeing them enter, she stood up, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

She had also changed her attire today, wearing a light cyan dress, and her hair was combed more neatly than usual, making her look a bit brighter than she did at the academy.

"Lingling, let's go." Dugu Yan stepped forward and took Ye Lingling's hand.

Ye Lingling nodded and turned to look at the old man.

The old man smiled and waved his hand: "Go on, go on, don't come back too late."

The three of them left the house and walked out along the street.

Dugu Yan walked in the lead, her steps much lighter than when they arrived, the hem of her white dress fluttering gently in the morning breeze.

As she walked, she kept turning back to talk to Wang Xian, saying how nice the weather was today, along with various other things.

She spoke much more than she had on the way there, and her tone had returned to its usual bright and cheerful nature, though whenever she met Wang Xian's eyes, her gaze would drift away, only to look back as if nothing had happened.

Ye Lingling walked on Wang Xian's right side, as quiet as a breeze.

She didn't say much, but Wang Xian noticed that she would deliberately slow her pace while walking to stay right beside him.

A few times when Dugu Yan was walking ahead, their shoulders almost touched, and Ye Lingling didn't pull away, only lowering her head as her eyelashes trembled slightly.

In this subtle atmosphere, they toured all the famous scenic spots in Heaven Dou City.

By evening, after the three had been out for most of the day, Ye Lingling stopped in front of a ring-toss stall, her eyes fixed on a fluffy little white rabbit doll.

Dugu Yan pulled her over to play, and Wang Xian sat on a nearby bench, watching the backs of the two girls.

Dugu Yan tried a few times but didn't land a ring, so she poutingly handed the rings to Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling took the rings, pursed her lips, and with a light flick of her wrist, the plastic ring traced an arc in the air and landed steadily on the little white rabbit.

The stall owner smiled and handed over the doll. Ye Lingling took it, held it in her arms, and a faint arc formed at the corners of her mouth.

Dugu Yan clapped in approval from the side, then turned back to look at Wang Xian. The smile on her face slowly faded, and she said to Ye Lingling, "You keep playing for a bit."

She turned and walked over, sitting down beside Wang Xian.

The wooden planks of the bench swayed slightly.

Dugu Yan rested her hands on either side of her body, lowering her head to look at the hem of her skirt, and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Wang Xian," she began, her voice much softer than usual.

"Hmm?"

"Do you know? Before you came, Lingling had never shown a smile like that."

Wang Xian turned his head to glance at her, then looked ahead at Ye Lingling, who was currently picking out a new target at a stall.

Her back was slender and quiet, the pale green skirt fluttering gently in the evening breeze.

Holding that little white rabbit doll in her hands, she looked much more relaxed than she usually did.

"Oh? Is that so?" Wang Xian said.

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him, but the gesture lacked any real force; it felt more like a pause before a sigh.

She took a deep breath, as if organizing her thoughts or perhaps trying to muster up some courage.

"Do you know about the limitations of the Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul?" she asked.

Wang Xian certainly knew; the Nine-Heart Begonia could only have one successor per generation, and only two Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Masters could exist at the same time.

Unless the previous generation passed away, the next could not awaken.

This method of inheritance was unique among all the Martial Souls on the Douluo Continent.

But he did not answer directly, merely shaking his head.

Dugu Yan did not look at him, her gaze fixed on Ye Lingling's back in the distance as her voice dropped lower.