What a Huge Loss

"Hahaha, Xiao Yuan, I knew you weren't useless. I've never seen Dugu Bo take anyone this seriously in all these years."

Emperor Xue Ye patted Qin Yuan's shoulder with obvious warmth, showing not the slightest hint of distance.

The corner of Qin Yuan's mouth twitched. Only now did he realize his heartless uncle was a master of changing faces.

For six whole years, he'd treated him with cold indifference. The moment he learned Qin Yuan had value, he'd immediately come calling, eager to bond.

After all, Dugu Bo was the only Titled Douluo in the entire Heavenly Dou Empire. Emperor Xue Ye didn't dare slight him and naturally had to do everything he could to win him over.

He just hadn't expected his useless nephew to earn Dugu Bo's regard.

Curious, he asked why, and Qin Yuan sighed.

"I accidentally discovered an ability of my Martial Soul that can cure Senior Dugu Bo's granddaughter's terminal illness. That's why Senior Dugu Bo treats me with such importance."

Emperor Xue Ye looked astonished. Dugu Yan had a terminal illness? How had he never heard of it?

Qian Renxue was also surprised.

Then Emperor Xue Ye's eyes gleamed. He dismissed everyone, leaving only Qian Renxue and Qin Yuan, and lowered his voice.

"Xiao Yuan, can you control how quickly your healing ability works on Dugu Yan? Ideally, you wouldn't cure her completely, so Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo would have to depend on you for a long time. That way, they could be of use to the imperial family."

Damn! That was cold-blooded!

Qin Yuan was stunned. He'd never imagined Emperor Xue Ye could be so ruthless.

Qian Renxue, on the other hand, showed little reaction. After all these years, she was used to it.

"Xiao Yuan, I've been on the throne long enough, and I'm considering stepping down in the next few years. Qinghe will ascend the throne then. Without a Titled Douluo backing her, it'll be hard to secure her position. You wouldn't want Qinghe's throne to be unstable, would you?"

Emperor Xue Ye knew his bond with this nephew was tenuous, nowhere near as close as Qin Yuan's bond with Xue Qinghe, so he played the family card.

Why did that sound so familiar? He felt like he'd heard it somewhere before—maybe in some adult action movie... Qin Yuan fell into thought.

"Father, I don't need that." Qian Renxue didn't want her Xiao Yuan to be put in a difficult position. Ignoring Emperor Xue Ye's look, she immediately refused outright.

Emperor Xue Ye's face darkened.

Seeing this, Qin Yuan deliberately sighed. "Uncle, I can't just use this ability whenever I want. It has its limits."

Emperor Xue Ye and Qian Renxue both turned their eyes to Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan put on a solemn expression. "To use my healing ability, I have to expend my life force. The more times I use it, the shorter my lifespan becomes. That's why I've never been willing to reveal it."

"What?!" Qian Renxue's expression changed drastically. She hurriedly grabbed Qin Yuan by the shoulders.

"Xiao Yuan, why didn't you tell me sooner? You absolutely must never use it again, understand?"

"Mm, I'll remember." Qin Yuan nodded solemnly.

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes flickered as he seemed to scheme over how to maximize his gains, giving no thought at all to Qin Yuan's safety.

Then he made a few token remarks of concern and left.

"Xiao Yuan, don't worry about Dugu Bo. I'll handle him. Remember, you must never use it again!"

Qian Renxue had never spoken so sternly to Qin Yuan before.

Qin Yuan poked his head out to check that Emperor Xue Ye had gone, then immediately grinned.

"I only said that on purpose just now. It doesn't hurt me at all."

Qin Yuan raised his right hand. A sacred white light shimmered over it, making Qian Renxue feel exceptionally warm and comfortable.

"Really?" Qian Renxue was still a little worried, afraid Qin Yuan was only saying that so she wouldn't worry.

"Of course." Qin Yuan's face took on a devious look.

"If I hadn't said that, my cold, heartless uncle would have found every way to use me. I won't give him what he wants!

"Besides, when Dugu Bo comes over later, I can use this to bargain for greater benefits. After all, treating her costs me 'years of my life.'"

Hearing this, Qian Renxue finally relaxed. She'd raised Qin Yuan from childhood; she could tell at a glance when he was lying.

"You little rascal. I never taught you any of this." Qian Renxue pinched Qin Yuan's cheek, both fond and exasperated.

Not long after the message that he was back had been sent out, Dugu Bo arrived at the door with Dugu Yan.

Qin Yuan wasn't good at negotiating, so Qian Renxue stepped in on his behalf to deal with Dugu Bo and secure greater benefits.

Of course, Qian Renxue kept the fabricated story that using Qin Yuan's healing ability would cost him years of his life—and even exaggerated it quite a bit.

When Dugu Bo learned that the healing would consume Qin Yuan's lifespan, he couldn't bring himself to press too hard.

After a round of haggling, the two sides reached an agreement.

Qin Yuan would cure Dugu Yan completely. In return, Dugu Bo promised Qin Yuan he could pick any twenty herbs from his medicinal garden, and he owed Qin Yuan three favors.

Just as they reached an agreement, Emperor Xue Ye suddenly appeared, putting on a magnanimous show of generosity at someone else's expense.

"Dugu Bo, as a retainer of the imperial family, treating your granddaughter is something our imperial family should do. You needn't give anything in return. I'll have my nephew treat your granddaughter for free."

His words sent a chill through Qin Yuan.

At that moment, Emperor Xue Ye believed that using his healing ability even once would cost Qin Yuan years of his life.

Yet even knowing that, Emperor Xue Ye still treated his healing ability as a bargaining chip to win over Dugu Bo, offering it up for free. How could Qin Yuan not be chilled to the bone?

The last shred of familial affection he'd felt for Emperor Xue Ye vanished completely.

Since Emperor Xue Ye didn't care whether he lived or died, then he, as a nephew, wouldn't care whether his uncle lived or died either.

If Qian Renxue killed Emperor Xue Ye in the future, Qin Yuan absolutely wouldn't intervene.

Originally, Qin Yuan had thought that once he grew stronger, he would save Emperor Xue Ye's life. But now—

What did it have to do with him?

After hearing Emperor Xue Ye's words, Qian Renxue also looked furious and strongly opposed him.

But Emperor Xue Ye used his authority as emperor to silence Qian Renxue.

In the end, Dugu Bo spoke up of his own accord, saying he wasn't an unreasonable man and that he would stick to the terms they'd already agreed on.

Dugu Bo's intervention was the only thing that prevented a clash between Emperor Xue Ye and Qian Renxue.

Afterward, Qin Yuan treated Dugu Yan.

Although Qin Yuan could have cured Dugu Yan completely in a minute, he deliberately dragged the treatment out for ten whole days to make it seem more difficult.

He also used [Life Miracle] ten times in all, deliberately making himself look paler and more haggard with each passing day. If Qian Renxue hadn't already known he was pretending, she would have been heartbroken.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo's lingering resentment over their earlier terms vanished completely. He even felt indebted and planned to make it up to Qin Yuan in the future.

And Dugu Yan was deeply moved by the sight of such a peerless handsome man risking his life to save hers.

Although she knew Qin Yuan was doing it for her grandfather's herbs, she couldn't help feeling moved all the same. Her fondness for Qin Yuan soared.

Qin Yuan had no idea his act of playing the tragic hero had worked so well. He even thought he hadn't gone far enough, and said in an extremely weak voice:

"Alas, I've lost about two and a half years of my life. What a huge loss."