"Got it, Sis."
Ye Qingzhou obediently replied. Only after seeing half the anger fade from Ye Lingling's face did he step out from behind Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan stood to the side, watching the way the siblings got along.
Ye Lingling returned to her usual cool demeanor and spoke gently. "All right. Let's not keep Grandpa waiting."
Ye Qingzhou nodded repeatedly. "Got it, got it."
Only then did Ye Lingling nod in satisfaction and walk over to Dugu Yan. "Let's go. It's getting late."
"Mm." Dugu Yan followed beside Ye Lingling, and together they headed in the direction of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Just as Dugu Bo was about to see them off, Ye Lingling suddenly stopped and turned to look at him. "Grandpa Dugu, Grandpa said you're supposed to go with my younger brother to his study, too."
Dugu Bo could only give up on escorting Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. "Understood."
Ye Qingzhou and Dugu Bo stood where they were, seeing Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan off as they left.
They waited until the two were out of sight before returning to the Ye Family Clinic.
After entering the clinic, they went to Ye Shuyuan's study.
Besides Ye Shuyuan, Luo Feng was in the study.
The moment he saw Ye Qingzhou return, Luo Feng breathed a sigh of relief.
"Qingzhou, don't act so rashly next time. It was lucky you ran into Dugu Bo. If you'd encountered someone else with malicious intentions, do you think you'd have made it back?"
"Do you know how worried we were about you last night?"
He had already lost Ye Qingzhou's mother. This time, he couldn't lose his only son as well.
What was more, because of his mission with the Angel Legion, he hadn't been there for him as much as he should have.
Ye Qingzhou could only accept Luo Feng's scolding helplessly. "All right, stop scolding me. I know I was wrong."
After all, this time really had been his fault. He accepted that.
"Honestly, you..." For some reason, Luo Feng always felt that his son's attitude toward his words was like water off a duck's back.
Watching the father and son bicker, Ye Shuyuan didn't interrupt. He simply waited quietly for them to finish.
Dugu Bo, like Ye Shuyuan, didn't interrupt either.
A short while later, Ye Shuyuan took two letters out of his Storage Soul Tool.
The surface of one envelope bore the emblem of Skywater Academy.
The other envelope bore the emblem of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"One came from Skywater Academy. It's specifically addressed to you. The other was sent by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Ye Shuyuan paused, then continued, "Both letters concern you, so take a look."
Ye Qingzhou took the two envelopes. After thinking for a moment, he placed the one bearing the emblem of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda on the table.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
Who was that?
He didn't know them well.
Ye Qingzhou opened the first envelope. The handwriting on the paper was neat and elegant, every stroke written with great care. At a glance, it was clearly Shui Bing'er's.
"Ye Qingzhou, I hope this letter finds you well."
"In a year, the Four Elements Academies will hold an exchange competition, hosted by Skywater Academy."
"On behalf of Skywater Academy, I formally invite you to attend as a spectator. If you're interested, you may also participate as a special guest competitor."
"Please write back once you've read this letter."
"Shui Bing'er."
"An exchange competition?" Ye Qingzhou looked at those three words, intrigued.
As it happened, he had nothing to do, so he could go and take part.
After reading the letter, Ye Qingzhou put it into his Storage Soul Tool.
Luo Feng asked, "Finished reading?"
"Mm." Ye Qingzhou nodded. "Shui Bing'er invited me to the Four Elements Academies' exchange competition in a year."
Ye Shuyuan stroked his beard with a smile. "An exchange competition, huh? That sounds interesting. You can go take a look. Their event is about the same scale as the Soul Master Tournament, and the rules are similar, too."
Ye Qingzhou picked up the second letter from the table, opened it, and read what was written inside.
"Dear Medical Saint Ye Shuyuan and Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, it has been a long time."
"I have prepared a modest banquet and cordially invite the two of you to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"I've heard that the Medical Saint's grandson, Ye Qingzhou, is a young prodigy. At just nine years of age, he has already broken through to the Soul Ancestor rank. Truly, he is a dragon among men."
"If it is convenient, please bring him along so that Fengzhi may see him for himself."
"Ning Fengzhi."
After the words were read aloud, the room fell silent. No one spoke.
"What is that old fox Ning Fengzhi plotting?"
Dugu Bo couldn't figure it out, nor did he care to.
Luo Feng said flatly, "A weasel visiting a henhouse—he can't have good intentions."
"Normally, Ning Fengzhi only greets you as acquaintances. Then, as soon as the matter with Skywater Academy is settled, he invites us to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It's suspicious."
"It was Yu Luomian." Ye Qingzhou set the letter on the table. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan must have heard that Liu Erlong was captured."
"They've probably already gone to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to form an alliance."
"They might even have been the ones who told them about me."
Among his acquaintances, the only person from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan who knew about his cultivation was Yu Tianheng.
Ye Shuyuan knew how crafty Ning Fengzhi could be. He looked at Dugu Bo and said, "Looks like we have no choice but to go this time. Dugu Bo, did you bring the Blood Swan Kiss?"
Dugu Bo nodded and took out the Blood Swan Kiss. "I did."
Ye Shuyuan put the letter into his Storage Soul Tool. "Good. Then let's go."
"It's best to settle things with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as soon as possible."
Ye Qingzhou and the others nodded and followed Ye Shuyuan as they set off for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was based in Heaven Dou City, not far from the Ye Family Clinic.
It would take about an hour to get there.
An hour later.
Ye Qingzhou, Ye Shuyuan, Luo Feng, and Dugu Bo arrived in front of a palace.
A figure stood faintly visible at the sect's entrance.
Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes at the figure. "That person is..."
Ye Qingzhou looked at Dugu Bo and asked, "What is it?"
Dugu Bo shook his head. "Nothing."
Only when they reached the sect gate did they see who was standing there.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin!
He stood bolt upright at the entrance, his eyes sharp as lightning, a fierce sword aura radiating from him.
Dugu Bo exclaimed in surprise, "Sword Douluo Chen Xin!"
Ye Shuyuan, walking at the front, looked at Chen Xin and said with a chuckle, "I never thought we'd be fortunate enough to have Sword Douluo himself greet us. This is truly an honor."
"Qingzhou, go and greet Sword Douluo."
Ye Qingzhou nodded and greeted Sword Douluo with a smile. "Greetings, Grandpa Sword. This junior is Ye Qingzhou."
Sword Douluo looked Ye Qingzhou over and seemed quite pleased. "Mm, not bad. You're truly a young talent. You'll surely achieve great things!"
"Everyone, this way."
Before you continue