Dugu Yan was completely dumbfounded.
She hadn't understood. What did he mean by "one of us"?
Her grandfather had lost a battle and gone missing, Bone Douluo had gone to investigate and hadn't returned, and the Heaven Dou Empire was under full lockdown.
No matter how she looked at it, they should be enemies, not allies. She stared at Long Haochen, growing more and more bewildered.
The man before her radiated terrifying pressure. Not only were his words hard to understand, but his age was bizarre, too. He looked far too young!
Almost as if he were her age?
The thought surfaced, and her head spun even more.
Long Haochen smiled at her reaction, unwilling to waste any more time. His powerful spiritual energy surged up.
It enveloped her body, forming a special restraint. He carried her off toward the rear. No matter how much he said, seeing the evidence would be more convincing.
"Don't bother. With your strength, you can't break free."
Long Haochen glanced at Dugu Yan as she struggled and calmly warned her.
"Hmph, who are you, exactly? What have you done to my grandfather?"
Things had come to this, and Dugu Yan had instead regained her composure. She questioned him in a chilling tone.
She'd already been captured. The worst that could happen was death. Once she'd accepted that, her attitude changed.
Long Haochen didn't answer. He entered the formation on his own and quickly flew back to the center of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The other members of Dawn of Light were still dividing up the work of engraving the formation patterns. The teleportation array had already taken rudimentary shape.
"What the hell is this?"
Dugu Yan was secretly alarmed as she looked down.
Near the spring, many medicinal herbs had been "destroyed."
The bare ground was covered in profound, mysterious patterns that formed an indescribable design.
Nearby, several lively young men and women of around her age were busy with tools in hand.
Dugu Yan was even more confused.
The scene was far too peaceful, completely unlike what she'd imagined.
She looked around, but didn't see Dugu Bo. Still bound, she suddenly remembered that not long ago, Long Haochen had said her grandfather had gone out.
"We're here. This is the place."
"Sima Xian, you've got the note, right?"
Ignoring Dugu Yan's thoughts, Long Haochen descended from the sky, bringing her down beside the spring.
Sima Xian was nearby. The moment he heard him, he understood and walked over with a surprised look on his face.
The other members of Dawn of Light peered over, turning curious eyes toward their new captive.
"You mean Senior Dugu's letter? Here, take it. And who's this girl? Why'd you bring her in?"
Sima Xian handed over the note, but Long Haochen didn't reach for it. Instead, he released Dugu Yan's restraints and gestured for her to take it and read it herself.
"This really is Grandpa's handwriting! There's no mistake!"
Dugu Yan stared blankly, her head full of questions and disbelief.
She'd never imagined that the young man before her had been telling the truth. Her grandfather had been captured and turned traitor?
He'd left this letter especially because he was worried she might come looking for him. He wanted her to obey "His Majesty's" orders and dutifully get her snake poison cured.
Wait a minute! What was all this supposed to mean?
Which "His Majesty" was he talking about? It couldn't be the Heaven Dou Empire, could it?
And what did he mean by curing her snake poison? This terrifying toxin came from her Martial Soul bloodline and was practically a curse. Could it really be cured?
After reading the note, Dugu Yan was in a daze. There weren't many words, but the information was too much. Her brain was about to melt. How could this be happening?
"I told you earlier. We're actually on the same side."
"You believe me now, right? Shall we treat your snake poison?"
Giving her plenty of time to take it in, Long Haochen finally spoke again after a while.
He'd clearly noticed that Dugu Yan's hostility had faded, replaced by embarrassment and confusion.
It was understandable. She'd been determined to enter Sunset Forest to investigate the clues, and after Long Haochen found her, she'd even prepared herself to die.
Now she'd learned she'd gotten it all wrong. Her grandfather had already changed sides, and the people at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were her allies. So what had all her worrying these past few days been for? What did her own loyalties even mean now?
"I want to wait for Grandpa to come back first!"
Dugu Yan took a deep breath and gritted her teeth.
Out of caution, she declined the offer of immediate treatment.
Long Haochen wasn't surprised. He nodded in acceptance, then gathered a surge of spiritual energy.
"I'm sorry. It looks like you still don't fully trust us. To make sure His Majesty's plans aren't affected, I'll have to keep you restrained for now."
"But don't worry. We won't hurt you. Once Senior Dugu returns from outside and explains everything, you'll be free."
Long Haochen had a kind heart and a friendly manner.
But Lin Feng had carefully trained him, and his powers of observation were exceptionally sharp.
How could he fail to notice Dugu Yan's hidden thoughts? He immediately decided it was better to play it safe.
If the girl did something reckless and damaged the formation they'd spent so long preparing, things would get troublesome.
As he spoke, he bound her again.
To his slight surprise, Dugu Yan didn't resist at all.
She was reasonably clever and understood that, given the situation, fighting back was pointless.
If everything was true, then she'd find out when her grandfather came back. She wouldn't mind switching sides, either.
Her only connection to the Heaven Dou Empire was her boyfriend, and he certainly wasn't as important as her grandfather. She could always find another boyfriend later.
Dugu Yan quieted down again and silently sat against a corner. Only now did she have the time and frame of mind to observe Long Haochen and the others.
Once she started looking, she grew more and more alarmed.
Long Haochen and his group weren't just a little impressive. They were terrifyingly strong.
Having spent years at Dugu Bo's side, she had a fairly deep understanding of the strength and aura of powerful experts.
Engraving formation patterns required energy to be infused, and the stability of each node had to be tested. Every time the Dawn of Light team released their spiritual energy, Dugu Yan broke into a cold sweat.
Could they... be Titled Douluo?
At the very least, they were on par with Meng Shenji, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's education committee chairman.
If their ages were what they seemed, they were simply impossibly strong. No wonder she hadn't stood a chance.
Dugu Yan understood. It was only because of her grandfather that she'd been spared. With her meager strength, she might not even have been qualified to survive until now.
As she pondered, a crackling sound rose nearby.
It interrupted her thoughts, and she looked over in confusion.
In an open area before her, a vast energy surged into the air, transforming into a curtain out of nothing.
Long Haochen and the others, who had been busy working, set their tools down and hurried over, gathering in front of it.
Drawn by the commotion, Dugu Yan forgot her position and leaned forward to take a look. She happened to see the image flare to life.
A handsome, imposing figure appeared before her. Though he was only standing within the curtain, everyone grew respectful, their faces filled with admiration and excitement.
"How's the large teleportation array coming along?"
Lin Feng opened the communications link and asked about their progress.
"Your Majesty, everything's going smoothly, but it'll take some time."
"For safety's sake, Senior Chen and the others are on patrol."
"Oh, right... I just ran into Dugu Bo's granddaughter near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Long Haochen answered properly. Even though he was speaking to an elder of his own, he still addressed him by his title while on duty.
At that, Lin Feng paused for a moment, but didn't think much of it. It wouldn't affect the plans ahead.
"When you have time, have Cai Er treat her."
"Notify Chen Zidian and make as much noise as possible."
"Your father has already entered the City of Slaughter. Since the Outpost near here has been exposed, keep using it as bait and draw the Heaven Dou Empire's attention."
Before you continue