Will Love Disappear? No, Love Only Transfers!

Silence returned to the alley.

Moonlight leaked obliquely through the gaps in the high walls, casting three charred human-shaped imprints onto the ground.

On the bluestone slabs scorched by the Chaos Green Flame, cracks remained from the alternating erosion of extreme cold and extreme heat.

The air was permeated with an indescribable burnt stench.

Dugu Yan lifted her foot, intending to walk deeper into the alley to check on the condition of the pink-haired girl.

Just as she took half a step, a warm hand gripped her arm.

Ye Qing shook his head at her.

Dugu Yan was stunned.

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask why.

But she saw a hint of caution in Ye Qing's eyes that she could not quite read.

She did not ask again, choosing to pull back her step.

The past few months of being together had fostered an instinctive trust in Ye Qing.

Although this guy usually talked nonsense, he never acted without a reason when things got serious.

Ye Qing released her arm and gestured with his chin toward the depths of the alley from afar.

"Young lady, head home as soon as possible; it isn't safe outside at night."

His voice was neither high nor low, just loud enough for the person in the alley to hear.

After speaking, he took Dugu Yan's hand and turned to leave the alley.

Dugu Yan glanced back.

Deep in the alley, the pink-haired girl was still standing quietly in place.

The moonlight fell upon her, stretching her slender figure into a long shadow.

Those eyes were quietly watching the direction of their departure through the night.

It was not until the two figures completely disappeared at the alley entrance that the pink-haired girl withdrew her gaze.

She walked slowly to the center of the alley, stopping before the three charred marks, and looked down.

The hideous ice sculpture of the scarred man shimmered with a cold, green light under the moonlight.

The charred remains inside the ice layer maintained a terrified, twisted posture from before death, clearly visible through the crystalline surface.

The girl raised her sleeve to cover her nose, her brows slightly furrowed, a look of undisguised nausea appearing on her pale face.

"Someone come."

Her voice was soft and light, yet carried an unquestionable aura.

As soon as the words fell, a black shadow appeared silently behind her.

It was a middle-aged man dressed in black martial attire.

He knelt on one knee, head bowed and eyes lowered, his posture respectful to the extreme.

"Please give your orders, Eldest Miss," the black-clad guard replied in a deep voice.

The girl did not turn around.

Her gaze swept back and forth over the three charred marks.

A flash of complex emotion crossed her eyes.

It was then well hidden away.

"Investigate those two people from earlier."

She paused, then added, "Especially the one with black hair; his martial soul... is very special."

"To kill three Soul Ancestors in an instant without releasing a single soul ring—such strength should not belong to a nobody."

"This subordinate understands."

A gust of night wind swept through the alley, blowing the girl's short pink hair.

She turned to leave.

The guard hesitated for a moment before asking, "Eldest Miss, as for Lantern Street... shall we still go?"

The girl's footsteps faltered.

"I'm not going."

Her voice was muffled, carrying a trace of imperceptible irritation.

"Back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Understood."

The black-clad guard's figure merged back into the shadows, as if he had never appeared at all.

The young girl took one last look toward the alley entrance.

A flicker of inexplicable emotion flashed through her eyes before she turned and vanished into the depths of the night.

Ye Qing and Dugu Yan walked hand in hand through several small alleys, returning to the main street, which was brilliant with lights.

The crowds were still bustling.

The clamor of the night market diluted much of the cold severity from the alleyway just moments ago.

Dugu Yan finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

She tugged on Ye Qing's sleeve, her emerald-green eyes filled with confusion.

"What was that about earlier?"

"Why didn't you let me go over and check on that girl?"

"She just went through something like that; she must have been terrified."

"Terrified?"

Ye Qing couldn't help but chuckle.

"Do you think she looked like she was terrified?"

Dugu Yan opened her mouth, carefully recalling the appearance of the pink-haired girl from earlier.

From beginning to end, that girl had just stood quietly in the depths of the alley.

Her expression was as indifferent as if she were watching a street farce that had nothing to do with her.

It was only after people died that her face turned slightly pale.

But that paleness was clearly a physiological reaction of disgust at seeing charred corpses, not fear.

"There was someone in the alley watching us," Ye Qing said.

"Huh?"

Dugu Yan paused her steps and looked up at Ye Qing.

His expression didn't look like he was joking.

"When I made my move earlier, I could constantly feel an aura locked onto us."

"It was very strong; the opponent was at least at the level of a Spirit Emperor or higher."

Ye Qing let go of her hand and rubbed his chin in slight contemplation.

"That aura wasn't aimed at those three thugs; it was aimed at that girl."

"And it held no malice, only vigilance and protection."

"I didn't release my spirit rings from start to finish, which was also a test."

"As a result, that aura remained as steady as a rock, with absolutely no intention of intervening."

Dugu Yan realized what he meant, her brows arching high.

"You mean... that girl has a guard? A guard at the Spirit Emperor level or higher?"

"It's highly likely."

"Then why didn't she have the guard step in sooner!"

Dugu Yan's tone carried a hint of annoyed frustration.

"It made me worry for nothing, and it even forced you to kill someone!"

"Maybe she was fishing for trouble."

Ye Qing shrugged.

Dugu Yan was stunned for a moment: "Fishing?"

"It means intentionally using oneself as bait, waiting for those blind thugs to approach, and then catching them all in one net."

Ye Qing grinned, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"Think about it: a young girl walking alone at night, heading into a dark alley, and remaining calm from start to finish."

"Either she's incredibly bold, or she's completely fearless because she has a backup plan."

"She is clearly the latter."

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes in a perfectly standard fashion.

"Who has so much free time?"

"Why would someone with a Soul Emperor as a bodyguard come out here to fish?"

"The world is full of strange things."

"Especially within those large sects and noble circles; there's never a shortage of people with twisted hobbies."

Ye Qing spread his hands, his smile carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

"Maybe it's some young lady from a wealthy family who's bored out of her mind and decided to come out to experience the hardships of the common folk."

Dugu Yan thought about it and felt that this was indeed a possibility.

She had seen plenty of such bored noble children back at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Then what should we do?"

Ye Qing shrugged. "What else can we do? Just keep eating and drinking."

"We didn't do anything out of line; we just took out a few criminal thugs."

"Oh, right, should we have your grandfather handle the matter of the killings in the city?"

"That... I don't think that's necessary."

Hearing Ye Qing say this, Dugu Yan felt relieved.

"There's no need to specifically handle the matter of those three people. If they trace it back, it will naturally fall on my grandfather, and they wouldn't dare do anything to him anyway."

Thinking of this, the two stopped worrying, let alone fearing any trouble.

After all, Dugu Yan's grandfather was a Title Douluo.

She tightened her grip on Ye Qing's arm, about to pull him to try that old-fashioned grilled fish shop they had mentioned earlier.

A chilling voice suddenly came from behind them.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Wah!"

Dugu Yan was so startled that she jumped, reflexively shrinking half a step behind Ye Qing.

Turning around, Dugu Bo was already standing behind them, though no one knew when he had arrived.

His black robe blended into the night, and his emerald-green eyes were staring eerily at the pair.

"Grandfather!"

Dugu Yan patted her chest, still shaken.

"Why are you sneaking around!"

"You don't even make a sound when you walk; you scared me to death!"

Dugu Bo's face turned black instantly.

His own precious granddaughter was actually showing disdain for him?

Yanyan, you weren't like this before!

In the past, no matter how suddenly he appeared, Yanyan's eyes would light up, she would call out "Grandfather" sweetly, and then rush over to hook her arm into his.

And now?

Now, there were actually hints of "impatience" and "disdain" in Yanyan's expression!

Dugu Bo wanted to cry but had no tears.

The expression on his face completed a triple transformation from shock to hurt, and from hurt to resentment, all within three seconds.

So, does love disappear?

No, love just shifts!

Thinking of this, Dugu Bo glared fiercely at Ye Qing.

It was all this bastard's fault!

Ever since this kid appeared, Yanyan's eyes had been filled with nothing but him.

Even he, her grandfather, had been marginalized.

Damn it, damn it!

Ye Qing felt a chill run down his back.

The old man's gaze was so resentful it could bury him alive.

"Senior."

Ye Qing coughed dryly and decisively changed the subject.

He had already practiced this move to perfection in front of Dugu Bo.

"Has my enrollment been sorted out?"

Dugu Bo let out a huff.

He pulled an enrollment certificate stamped with the royal seal from his robes and flicked it toward Ye Qing.

The thin slip of paper whistled through the air as it left his hand.

Ye Qing hurriedly caught it with both hands, his palms vibrating with a dull ache from the impact.

Well, the old man is certainly holding a grudge.

He looked down.

The edges of the paper were inlaid with dark gold threads.

The emblem of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was clearly visible at the bottom.

It bore the private seal of Prince Xue Xing; the status was not low.

"Take this and report to the academy tomorrow yourself."

Dugu Bo's tone was cold.

He had originally considered going with Ye Qing tomorrow to back him up.

But now?

Heh, as the price for spiriting away his granddaughter, that could be skipped.

Dugu Bo shifted his gaze from Ye Qing to Dugu Yan.

"Yanyan, it's time for you to go back to class."

"You've been on leave for over three months; if you don't go back, the academy will start sending people to look for you."

"I know, Grandfather." Dugu Yan nodded.

Dugu Bo took one last look at Ye Qing.

The look in his eyes said: If you dare to bully Yanyan, you'll have hell to pay!

Then, with a flick of his sleeves, He transformed into a green blur, streaking into the night sky and vanishing cleanly.

Ye Qing's mouth twitched. "Did our grandfather... just want to hit me?"

"Not just wanted to."

Dugu Yan said seriously, "He almost couldn't hold back."

"Then he's actually quite a good person."

"Of course my grandfather is a good person!" Dugu Yan looked proud.

"Right, you're enrolling tomorrow. Are you nervous?"

"Nervous about what?"

"Yu Tianheng, of course."

There was a hint of mischief in Dugu Yan's tone.

"Aren't you going to help me test him out?"

Ye Qing tilted his head to look at her, a trace of a smile flashing in his dark eyes.

"He's the one who should be nervous."

"A guy who can't even manage to be a proper sycophant—what is there to be afraid of?"