Heaven Dou City, the most magnificent and prosperous imperial capital on the Douluo Continent, sprawled across a vast plain.
Twenty miles outside the city, Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood quietly amid the mountains.
"Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop..."
The orderly beat of hooves drew nearer. Fifty members of the Heaven Dou Royal Knights, clad in silver heavy armor, escorted the noble young man riding a pure white steed to the academy gates.
"Whoa—"
Xue Yao gently tugged the reins. The white steed let out a cheerful whinny and stopped neatly at the entrance.
"Viscount, now that we've safely escorted you to the academy, we'll return to camp and report in." The captain dismounted and knelt on one knee, his voice filled with heartfelt respect.
The young viscount's composure and bearing throughout the journey had already won over these haughty royal elites.
"Thanks for your hard work. Give my regards to His Majesty."
Xue Yao waved casually, and Little Griffin, who had been perched on his shoulder, turned into a wisp of azure light and returned to his body.
As the Royal Knights thundered away on horseback, the entrance to the academy settled back into its usual calm.
Xue Yao turned around and looked toward the top of the white marble steps.
Two figures of contrasting temperaments had already been waiting there for some time.
They were the two brightest jewels of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, peerless beauties whom countless noble youths yearned for, yet hardly dared approach.
The girl standing on the left was tall and slender. She wore a black dress, and her long, deep-blue hair fell to her slender waist.
She stood quietly, radiating an ethereal, lonely air, as if she were untouched by the mundane world.
She was Ye Lingling, the auxiliary Soul Master of the Heaven Dou Royal Team.
Yet when Ye Lingling's cool eyes fell on the handsome young man in pale moon-white brocade at the foot of the steps, the ice that had never thawed in her eyes melted away in an instant.
In its place was an overwhelming tenderness, like spring water, and a deep longing.
Two years together, countless days and nights spent by each other's side, fighting shoulder to shoulder.
The cool girl who had once been indifferent to everything in the world had long since given her heart, without reservation, to the dazzling young man before her, who seemed like a god.
"Yao..."
Ye Lingling called softly, her voice as clear and pleasing as a mountain spring striking stone.
She set off with long strides, like a blue butterfly returning to its nest, and hurried down the white marble steps to meet Xue Yao.
The students passing by were all so shocked they sucked in breaths of cold air.
That icy beauty who wouldn't even humor the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, could actually show such a girlish side?!
As Ye Lingling approached, the coldness in Xue Yao's eyes melted away, replaced by a warm smile. He reached out as naturally as could be and gently took her soft, boneless hand.
"I'm back," Xue Yao said, his voice low and gentle.
Ye Lingling said nothing, merely nodding obediently.
She rose onto her tiptoes and studied Xue Yao's face with her beautiful eyes, which seemed able to see right through people. Only after confirming he wasn't hurt did she let out a long breath.
Having just completed a dusty journey, Xue Yao's pale moon-white collar was slightly askew.
Ye Lingling raised her slender, jade-white hands, as flawless as fine suet jade, and placed them naturally against Xue Yao's chest. With gentle, meticulous movements, she smoothed out his slightly rumpled collar, restoring his impeccable noble bearing.
They stood close together, and the faint fragrance of begonias from Ye Lingling lingered at the tip of Xue Yao's nose.
No words were needed. Their tacit, tender interaction, as warm and familiar as an old married couple's, had long since made their mutual affection clear.
Yet this tender, loving scene had the other girl watching beside them gritting her teeth.
"Hey, hey, that's enough, you two! You're right in the middle of the academy entrance, for everyone to see. Can you at least mind how it looks?!"
A crisp voice, edged with a hint of petulance and displeasure, rudely interrupted their rosy atmosphere.
Following the voice, Xue Yao saw a girl standing beside Ye Lingling, her short, deep-purple hair cut in a neat style.
Unlike Ye Lingling's demure, cool black dress, this girl was dressed in a bold, fiery style.
She wore a tight-fitting emerald-green leather jacket that showed off her voluptuous figure, far more developed than most girls her age. Her long, straight legs, set off by a pair of black thigh-high boots, brimmed with wild, explosive energy.
Most striking of all were her crystal-clear, emerald-green eyes. They held an innate arrogance and wildness, as well as a touch of jealousy she couldn't quite hide.
She was Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's granddaughter and the vice-captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Team—Dugu Yan!
Dugu Yan planted her hands on her slender waist, pouted her rosy lips, and glared at Xue Yao with an indignant look.
"What? You went out to hunt a Soul Beast and had the knights escort you. Now that you're back, Lingling's personally straightening your clothes. Viscount Xue Yao's getting more and more high and mighty, isn't he?"
Dugu Yan's voice dripped with jealousy, and her emerald eyes seemed ready to spit fire.
Though she wouldn't admit it, everyone at the academy knew that this proud "little viper" paid Xue Yao an almost obsessive amount of attention. When Xue Yao first arrived at the academy two years ago, Dugu Yan, confident in her exceptional talent, challenged him repeatedly. Apart from the first time, he crushed her with his unreasonable speed every single time, leaving her utterly humiliated.
Strangely, the more she lost, the more determined she became. Not only did she feel no resentment, she had instead developed an inexplicable affection for the strong, mysterious young man.
But her proud, prickly personality kept her from expressing it as tenderly as Ye Lingling did.
Hearing Dugu Yan's sour tone, Xue Yao wasn't annoyed in the slightest. He actually found it rather amusing.
He lightly patted the back of Ye Lingling's hand to show her she didn't need to pay any attention, then turned to Dugu Yan with a teasing smile.
"What's this, Senior Yanyan? Jealous? If you'd like, you can straighten my other collar, too," Xue Yao teased deliberately.
"Pah! Who's jealous of you? Don't flatter yourself!"
Xue Yao's words instantly turned Dugu Yan's ears red. She jumped like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.
But she quickly suppressed her fluster and forced herself to put on a stern face, adopting a challenging expression.
"I'm not here waiting for you just to watch you two show off your love!"
Dugu Yan lifted her fair chin, her emerald eyes flashing with fierce confidence and fighting spirit.
"Xue Yao, don't get too smug! I haven't been sitting around these past two years. I've figured out how to counter your elusive 'Flash Strike' tactic, the one that relies entirely on overwhelming your opponents with speed!"
As she spoke, a faint layer of emerald poison haze began to rise around Dugu Yan, and powerful Soul Power belonging to a Soul Elder swirled around her.
"I've been in seclusion for three whole months, and Grandpa even taught me a secret method for controlling a Poison Array. This time, you won't beat me before I can even touch the hem of your clothes!"
The more Dugu Yan spoke, the more excited she became. She stretched out a slender finger and pointed it right at Xue Yao's nose.
"I hereby demand a match with you! We'll fight at No. 1 Soul Fighting Arena. If you lose... if you lose, you'll have to do as I say from now on!"
Watching Dugu Yan act fierce and flail about, yet still manage to look adorably proud, Xue Yao couldn't help shaking his head with a laugh.
She'd figured out how to counter his "Flash Strike"?
Just outside Nuoding City's gates, Tang San, that self-proclaimed genius, had been just as confident, only to be taken out in one blow by Little Griffin.
But Dugu Yan wasn't like that obnoxious piece of trash, Tang San. She was a companion he cherished.
"You sure you want to spar right now?"
Xue Yao raised an eyebrow and sighed, putting on an air of solemnity. "I've been on the road for days and haven't even had a sip of water. Now someone's eager to take advantage of me while I'm worn out. That wouldn't be a fair win, would it?"
"Y-you're just making excuses!"
Dugu Yan's words were sharp, but when she saw how tired Xue Yao looked, the fighting spirit in her eyes softened despite herself.
"Then... then you can rest for half a day! This afternoon, we'll meet at the Soul Fighting Arena! Don't even think about backing out!"
"Sure. It's a deal," Xue Yao agreed with a smile.
Watching the two bicker, Ye Lingling's lips curved into a breathtaking smile beneath her veil. She naturally linked her arm through Xue Yao's and said softly, "Come on. I had the cafeteria prepare the snacks you like."
"Lingling's the one who really cares about me." Xue Yao let Ye Lingling hold his arm and shot Dugu Yan a sidelong glance.
"Hey! Could you two at least spare me some face?!"
Amid Dugu Yan's furious protests, the three walked side by side through the gates of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, leaving a crowd of male students behind, stunned and red-eyed with envy.
Before you continue