Dugu Yan Comes Calling

Inside the Shrek Academy girls' dormitory.

Four long, fair legs dangled and swayed about the room.

Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya, dressed in short yukatas, were playfully wrestling.

Tang Ya shoved Jiang Nannan onto the bed, pinning her wrists down beneath her.

"I saw everything, Nannan."

"Stop playing coy and tell me—how far have things progressed between you and Senior Ye Guchen?"

Suffocating under the weight of Tang Ya's "headlights," Jiang Nannan begged for mercy.

"There's nothing! We're just friends, really."

Tang Ya narrowed her eyes, flashing a wicked grin that clearly said, Do you really expect me to believe that?

She then bound Jiang Nannan's wrists with Blue Silver Grass, holding them down with one hand.

"Little Nannan, you aren't being honest."

With that, she began tickling her.

"Haha, I'm wrong, I'm wrong, haha..."

"I'm telling the truth!"

Hearing this, Tang Ya finally let her go and lay down on her side next to Jiang Nannan.

"I know how you feel, but if you want to win him over, you've still got a formidable rival."

Jiang Nannan blushed at these words and buried her head under the covers, but this time she didn't deny it, asking in a low voice:

"Who?"

Seeing her stubborn persistence, Tang Ya shook her head and revealed the subtle relationship between Ma Xiaotao and Ye Guchen.

However, Ye Guchen hadn't clarified his relationship with Ma Xiaotao to anyone yet, so they were merely guessing that the two were close to becoming a couple.

Jiang Nannan looked at the sleeping Xiao Bai nearby, her eyes filled with resolve.

"They aren't together yet, are they? How will I know if it won't work if I don't try? Besides, I don't believe he doesn't have feelings for me."

Jiang Nannan's voice grew quieter, until she finally muttered something almost involuntarily.

"Besides, there are plenty of men with multiple wives..."

By the time she finished, her entire upper body was buried deep inside the quilt.

Tang Ya looked at her best friend, feeling a mix of frustration and endearment, and gave her a playful slap on the rear.

"Fine, fine, suit yourself. But my Beibei can only have me!"

Jiang Nannan kicked the quilt, hiding herself completely inside.

She said nothing more.

Meanwhile, on the Dou I side.

Zhu Qing was cultivating her soul power in the courtyard, while Ye Guchen was busy settling in his newly hired staff.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion on the Dou I timeline was ready to open, though for now, it could only handle the collection of rare metals, medicinal herbs, and Whale Rubber. As for actually selling goods, he wouldn't feel secure until he had dealt with Dugu Bo.

Just as Ye Guchen finished arranging the new employees, an unexpected guest arrived at the door.

"Dugu Yan? What is she doing here? Could her grandfather be back?"

Three questions flashed through his mind, but adhering to the principle that a guest is a guest, Ye Guchen stepped forward to greet Dugu Yan.

"Miss, my apologies, but the shop isn't open for business yet. We are only handling acquisitions at the moment. Is there something you wish to sell?"

Looking at Ye Guchen, who had easily suppressed her the day before, now acting like a mere merchant, Dugu Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of dissonance.

"You... are short on money?"

Dugu Yan was puzzled. A genius Soul Grand Master like Ye Guchen would be treated as an honored guest wherever he went; how could he possibly be strapped for cash?

"Just a hobby."

Ye Guchen didn't answer her question directly, instead gesturing to the side.

"Care to sit in the courtyard?"

Dugu Yan didn't stand on ceremony; in fact, she had come specifically to find Ye Guchen.

The two soon arrived at the back courtyard, and as soon as they entered, they saw Zhu Qing sitting in meditation, cultivating her soul power.

"A level 28 Soul Grand Master! And judging by her appearance, she can't be more than twelve!"

Dugu Yan couldn't help but feel surprised upon seeing Zhu Qing.

Even though she had deliberately changed into a pale green dress and dressed up for the occasion, she felt she paled in comparison to the figure meditating in the yard.

Dugu Yan composed herself, puffed out her chest, and walked over to sit at the table in the courtyard.

"Ye Guchen!" She called him by his name. Her tone was far less arrogant than it had been that morning, though it still carried the reserve of a young lady of status. "Tell me, what was the name of the pill you gave me this morning?"

At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing also recovered from her cultivation, looking at the woman before her with a face full of confusion.

Ye Guchen leaned back against his chair, watching her with leisurely composure. "What is it? Did Miss Dugu feed it to a servant, find out it didn't kill them, and now you're curious?"

Dugu Yan's face flushed bright red. "You—my Dugu Manor wouldn't stoop to such things!"

She took a deep breath, walked up to Ye Guchen, and slammed a Gold Soul Coin card onto the table. "Yesterday doesn't count. I want to duel you at the same rank. If you win, the one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coin in this card is yours!"

"Bring it on then. Free money, who wouldn't want it!"

With that said, Ye Guchen suppressed his soul power to level thirty-three, matching Dugu Yan.

The Shark Tooth Sword martial soul appeared in his hand, and three soul rings—yellow, purple, and purple—pulsed rhythmically beneath his feet.

Dugu Yan was not to be outdone; her level thirty-three soul power erupted instantly, and three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—likewise emerged.

Yet, before it had even begun, she had already lost a step in terms of soul ring configuration.

"Watch out!"

"First Soul Skill, Jade Scale Red Poison!"

As a wave of red toxin entered her body, Dugu Yan's aura grew stronger by a few degrees.

However, Ye Guchen did not move. He took out a Detoxification Pill, swallowed it, and didn't forget to toss one to Zhu Zhuqing, who was watching from the side, before quietly watching her performance.

As her soul power intensified, Dugu Yan saw that Ye Guchen remained unmoved and immediately felt she was being looked down upon.

She promptly unleashed her second soul skill, "Jade Scale Blue Poison."

Enhanced by her first soul skill, the poison mist released at this moment was enough to paralyze any Soul Elder.

Yet, looking at Ye Guchen, who was strolling leisurely through the poison mist, Dugu Yan was instantly dumbfounded.

"How is this possible!"

If a poison master's toxins were ineffective, their own offensive power could be considered the weakest, aside from support types. Dugu Bo, that gatekeeper Douluo, had the most authority to speak on this point.

"There's only that way left. At worst, I'll just give him the antidote later."

Without further hesitation, Dugu Yan disregarded everything and immediately activated her third soul skill, "Jade Scale Purple Poison!"

But as a purple mist shrouded the entire area, Ye Guchen still showed no signs of being poisoned.

She panicked.

She even began to lose confidence in herself.

She immediately prepared to engage Ye Guchen in close-quarters combat.

But she was merely a poison master; her melee ability was only equivalent to an average power-attack Soul Grand Master.

In just a moment, without even using his martial soul, Ye Guchen pinned Dugu Yan's hands behind her back and subdued her against the table.

"I have to say, are all girls this soft?"

Ye Guchen held Dugu Yan's hands with one hand and pinned her shoulders with the other.

Facing the sensation, Ye Guchen could only silently recite: Do not act improperly.

Releasing Dugu Yan, Ye Guchen picked up the Gold Soul Coin card from the table and waved it at her.

"Thanks for your donation."

Dugu Yan was a good sport, sitting down across from Ye Guchen in a carefree manner.

"A bet is a bet. I, Dugu Yan, am not someone who can't afford to lose. However, can you tell me the name of that pill now?"

Ye Guchen took a sip of tea and slowly spat out three words:

"Hundred Poison Clear."

"Quite a bold name, though it only works on me. If my grandfather were here, hmph!"

Immediately, Dugu Yan cast her gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing.

"She wasn't poisoned; I assume she also took that pill?"

Seeing Ye Guchen didn't deny it, Dugu Yan nodded, then stood up, ready to leave.

"In a few days, my grandfather will return. I will come again then."

Having said that, she left without looking back.

The moment she stepped outside, her previous cold and aloof demeanor vanished, replaced by a wave of embarrassment.

"How humiliating!"

She then covered her face and ran back to Dugu Manor.

She had intended to show off her poison arts and open his eyes, but instead of making a name for herself, she had ended up making a fool of herself.