Meeting Dugu Yan Again

(Thanks to book friend 20230120359407 for the monthly ticket. I'll see if I can put in the extra effort and write another chapter tomorrow, since it's the weekend. Thanks!)

A few minutes passed.

Hu Liena leaned against Lin Huai, catching her breath.

Lin Huai rubbed his reddened lips, lost in thought.

This won't do. If there are more people in the future, just kissing each of them will take nearly an hour a day.

Will I even have time to cultivate?

No!

I have to work hard. Once I become the strongest under heaven, I won't have to worry about wasting time on intimacy.

Seeing Lin Huai grinning foolishly, Hu Liena caressed his face.

Feeling her warm touch pass over his cheek, Lin Huai came back to himself.

"Let's go see if Senior Dugu has returned. I still need to make a trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

With that, he left with Hu Liena and went to Dugu Bo's mansion.

Seeing the servant at the entrance, Lin Huai said,

"Tell your master that someone from Spirit Hall has come to visit."

After the servant went in to notify his master,

A short while later, a graceful figure with short purple hair appeared.

Although her Martial Soul was no longer the Jade Phosphor Snake, the eerie air about her had become even more pronounced.

Her eyes were a pale purple, her figure alluring, and her features more refined than before.

"You're... Xiao Huai?"

Seeing that Dugu Yan recognized him, Lin Huai grinned.

"It's me, Sister Yan. Long time no see!"

He spread his arms and gave her a gentle hug.

Dugu Yan was now a grown woman of eighteen. Though Lin Huai held her only for a moment, she still felt the warmth of his embrace.

Her pretty face flushed slightly, and she stammered,

"Y-you... what brings you to Heaven Dou City?"

Lin Huai was a little puzzled. Hadn't Dugu Yan been quite outgoing and combative before?

Why was she so shy now?

Seeing them, Hu Liena smiled and greeted Dugu Yan first.

"My name is Hu Liena. I'm probably two months older than you, so I'll call you Yanzi from now on, all right?"

"If you don't mind, you can call me Nana or Sister Nana."

Dugu Yan noticed the beautiful woman beside him.

Black hair, born with an alluring charm—

She wasn't especially stunning at first glance, but the more Dugu Yan looked at her, the more captivating she seemed. Even her heart began to pound.

"Of course, Sister Nana."

Seeing the two women introduce themselves, Lin Huai asked,

"Sister Yan, has Senior Dugu returned?"

Dugu Yan calculated how many days had passed before replying,

"Not yet. It'll probably be a few more days before Grandpa comes back."

Then she stepped aside, inviting them in.

"Come on in. There's someone I'd like you to meet."

Lin Huai and Hu Liena guessed she meant Ye Lingling.

Still, they followed Dugu Yan inside.

They passed through several doorways and arrived in the courtyard of the mansion.

A girl dressed all in black, her face veiled in black gauze, sat beside a stone table.

She had cascading blue hair, and her eyes were the same color. An air of loneliness and distance surrounded her.

Dugu Yan went up, took Ye Lingling by the arm, and gestured toward Lin Huai and Hu Liena.

"Lingling, why are you wearing your veil again?"

"Let me introduce these two. The young man on the left is Lin Huai, the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. He's very strong in battle!"

"The beauty beside him is Hu Liena. She's just a little older than me."

Dugu Yan turned toward Lin Huai and Hu Liena, holding Ye Lingling by the arms.

"This is my dear friend I told you about, Ye Lingling."

Ye Lingling hadn't expected this handsome young man to be the Holy Son of Spirit Hall.

Stories about the Holy Son of Spirit Hall had long circulated throughout Heaven Dou Imperial City.

At just seven years old, he had made the previous Heaven Dou Emperor back down—and only soothed his anger by giving him a national treasure.

Ye Lingling bowed slightly and lowered her head in greeting, her voice cool.

"Ye Lingling pays her respects to Your Highness the Holy Son."

Lin Huai waved a hand and walked closer with Hu Liena. They took their seats.

"No need for that. You're Sister Yan's friend, so you're our friend too."

Dugu Yan remembered that her own Martial Soul had evolved after she took an Immortal Herb, while her dear friend was still trapped by the curse of the Nine Heart Begonia.

She looked at Lin Huai, hoping he would help.

"Xiao Huai, you know about the Nine Heart Begonia family's curse, don't you?"

At those words, sadness appeared on Ye Lingling's otherwise cold face.

Lin Huai knew Dugu Yan wanted him to help Ye Lingling, but he didn't say anything. He simply looked at the two women.

Dugu Yan continued,

"Do you know of any way to help Lingling?"

Lin Huai was quite pleased.

Dugu Yan hadn't directly asked for an "Immortal Herb," which showed she understood the importance of discretion.

He thought back over the effects of the Immortal Herbs he knew, but none seemed relevant.

As Ye Lingling looked at him with a hint of hope, Lin Huai shook his head.

In an instant, her eyes seemed to shatter with despair.

"However, if the Nine Heart Begonia family is willing to join Spirit Hall, I can ask Chrysanthemum Douluo to look into it and see if there's a way to solve the problem."

Noticing the doubt in Ye Lingling's eyes, Lin Huai assured her,

"Short of a god, I'm afraid only Chrysanthemum Douluo could find a way to break the curse of the Nine Heart Begonia."

Dugu Yan remembered that Chrysanthemum Douluo had also found an Immortal Herb suited to her Martial Soul's flaw. Not only had it resolved the flaw, but it had also evolved her Martial Soul.

She looked at Ye Lingling expectantly and took her cold hand in hers.

"That's true. Chrysanthemum Douluo helped with my Martial Soul's mutation, too."

"Lingling, I hope you'll join Spirit Hall. Even a slim chance is better than doing nothing."

Seeing that her close friend sincerely wanted what was best for her, Ye Lingling hesitated.

She remembered her mother, who had passed away years ago. To help her awaken the Nine Heart Begonia, her mother had never undergone a Martial Soul Awakening herself. After giving birth to Ye Lingling, her health had deteriorated, and she had died when Ye Lingling was thirteen.

It was the best solution the Nine Heart Begonia family had found.

By awakening their Martial Souls only once every other generation, they could ensure they still had a top-tier healing Soul Master while giving their loved ones a few more years to live.

Ye Lingling's gaze grew resolute as she looked at Lin Huai.

"I'll try to persuade my grandfather!"

With that, Ye Lingling rose and left the Dugu residence.

Watching the gate, Dugu Yan looked worried.

"Xiao Huai, do you think Grandpa Ju will find a solution?"

Lin Huai looked at the worried Dugu Yan and smiled faintly.

"Even if Elder Chrysanthemum can't solve it, we still have Sister Xiao Xue. She's destined to become a god."

Dugu Yan immediately relaxed.

She knew exactly who Lin Huai meant by "Sister Xiao Xue"; she just hadn't met her in person.

If Lin Huai knew what she was thinking,

He would surely tell her that they'd already met many times.

Lin Huai roughly estimated the timing.

Then he turned to Dugu Yan and asked,

"Sister Yan, does your Imperial Fighting Team have any plans?"

Dugu Yan recalled that Qin Ming had said not long ago that they were going to challenge the Great Soul Arenas in various cities.

She looked at Lin Huai and answered,

"Yes. In a little over ten days, we'll leave Heaven Dou City and challenge Soul Fighting Arenas along the way, stopping in Suotuo City at the end."

"Suotuo City?"

"That's where we came from."

When Hu Liena heard Dugu Yan mention Suotuo City, she immediately told her what had happened there.

Hearing that Shrek had ruined so many geniuses, Dugu Yan's voice filled with indignation.

"That Shrek is simply too awful!"

Lin Huai smiled meaningfully.

"Qin Ming graduated from Shrek."