Su Chen hadn't even had a chance to refuse.
Hu Liena happily skipped away.
Su Chen was left utterly dumbfounded!
Wait.
I hadn't even made a move, and you were already down?
Was it just because I was handsome?
If you really wanted it that way, then tomorrow's diary topic would be:
Boys, protect yourselves when you're out and about!
Uh.
Actually, come to think of it.
People often said that like-minded people ended up together. Hu Liena and Bibi Dong really were cut from the same cloth: one had taken a liking to a twenty-ninth-level good-for-nothing, while the other liked a fifteen-level good-for-nothing like me... Holy crap!
The student had surpassed the master.
Not long after.
A luxurious carriage pulled up outside the academy.
Hu Liena had brought not only Xie Yue and Yan, but two more people as well: one alluring, the other brooding.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
The moment Su Chen saw them, he remembered how he'd sensed someone secretly watching him before. Now that he could feel the aura around Ghost Douluo, he understood. So it had been him! No wonder he'd hidden himself so well.
Hu Liena stepped forward and introduced them to Su Chen:
"Su Chen, these two are elders of our Spirit Hall, and both are Titled Douluo: Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo."
"Grandpa Chrysanthemum, Grandpa Ghost, this is my good friend, Su Chen."
Su Chen greeted them with a smile:
"Greetings, Your Excellencies!"
Chrysanthemums fell, strewing the ground with sorrow; blossoms dropped, and hearts broke with grief.
Su Chen was a huge fan of the "best bros" pairing of Chrysanthemum Guan and Old Ghost.
Ghost Douluo remained expressionless and gave a slight nod.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's pale face broke into a teasing smile.
"You're so handsome. No wonder you became friends with our Nana. Hehehe!"
Su Chen gave an awkward laugh and didn't reply.
Hu Liena's pretty face turned a little red. She took Su Chen by the arm and said, "Come on, let's get going."
Su Chen didn't refuse. He'd only just followed Hu Liena into the carriage when—
"I'm sitting with you."
Seeing the two of them about to sit together, Yan immediately sensed something was wrong and hurried after them.
Inside the carriage.
Su Chen, Hu Liena, and Yan sat in a row on the left, while Xie Yue, Guan Yue, and Ghost Douluo sat in a row on the right.
The carriage was spacious and fast.
Su Chen relaxed. After all, Douluo was a fantasy world, and a little horse could pull a big carriage at full speed.
If this had been a normal ancient setting, he had no idea how many days the trip would have taken.
No one spoke in the carriage. Su Chen closed his eyes to rest and began writing in his diary:
[Hu Liena, oh, Hu Liena!] [You and Bibi Dong really are master and disciple. Bibi Dong found herself a twenty-ninth-level good-for-nothing, and you like a fifteen-level good-for-nothing like me?] [You really are hopeless romantics!]
Hu Liena had been sitting nearby. When the diary in her mind suddenly updated, she'd been excited, wondering what Su Chen was going to write.
One glance, and she nearly spat blood.
You jerk!
When are you going to fix that habit of insulting people? Can't you show a little courtesy!?
But, thinking it over, she had to admit that from Su Chen's point of view, her behavior really did seem way too lovestruck and forward.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Dugu Yan sat in the classroom with her legs crossed. Suddenly, the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile.
Her short, deep-purple hair gave her a bold look, and her green eyes were strikingly unusual, lending her an alluring, almost otherworldly beauty.
Ye Lingling, sitting beside her, was graceful and lovely. She turned to ask:
"Yanzi, what are you smiling about?"
Dugu Yan smiled.
"I just saw something interesting, but I can't tell you about it."
What was I smiling about?
I was laughing at Bibi Dong of Spirit Hall for being foolish, and Hu Liena for being dim-witted. I was laughing at those two lovestruck master and disciple... Hahaha!
Ye Lingling nodded gently. "Actually, I saw something interesting too, but I can't tell anyone about it."
Dugu Yan grinned. "Really? What a coincidence. You're not just saying that so I'll tell you what I saw, are you?"
As they were talking, Dugu Yan's expression suddenly froze, as if she'd seen something utterly outrageous!
Ye Lingling had also seen the contents of the diary in her mind, and she was completely stunned.
[My original plan was to get a map of Sunset Forest, then go in and look for the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.] [If it was easy to find, I'd go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and beat up Dugu Yan, drawing Dugu Bo away to Heaven Dou City while I went to harvest the herbs.] [If it wasn't easy to find, I'd go straight to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and beat up Dugu Yan anyway. Once Dugu Bo showed up, I'd make a deal with him and cure the two of them in exchange for the herbs.] [Now that Hu Liena and the others are coming along, I probably won't get the chance to look for it. Forget it. I'll just go to Heaven Dou Academy and beat up Dugu Yan, lure Dugu Bo out, then have him take me there to harvest the herbs!] [Uh, I just realized there's barely any difference between those plans. Either way, Dugu Yan gets beaten up. Poor Yanzi!] [Time for a nap.]
And just like that.
Dugu Yan had been laughing at those lovestruck master and disciple, but somehow the trouble had landed on her.
Damn it!
How had I offended you? I didn't even know who you were, Su Chen, and you were already thinking of beating me up at every turn?
Just you wait. I'll see what you're capable of when you get here. We'll find out who beats whom!
Ye Lingling was at a loss too. Indeed! Poor Yanzi!
Uh.
After thinking for a moment, Ye Lingling looked at Dugu Yan with a serious expression.
"Yanzi, I've recently learned a bit about divination. Your forehead looks dark, which means you may be in danger. Why don't you go home and rest for a few days?"
"Really!"
"Don't ask me why. Just trust that I'm looking out for you."
Dugu Yan had been brooding, but at Ye Lingling's words, her expression changed at once and she exclaimed:
"Lingling, don't tell me you've got one too?"
In an instant.
All the students around them turned to stare at the two of them. What a scoop! What a scoop!
Both goddesses had one!
Ye Lingling's face turned scarlet, and she nearly buried her head in her chest.
"I do—no, that's not—"
Dugu Yan grabbed Ye Lingling's hand and started leading her out. "So you've got one too! Come on, let's find somewhere private to talk."
The two of them ran all the way outside and found a secluded spot. Dugu Yan looked at Ye Lingling and asked:
"Bibi Dong of Spirit Hall, lovestruck master and disciple!" (The king of heaven covers the tiger.)
Ye Lingling nodded firmly and completed the password:
"Hu Liena of Spirit Hall, lovestruck master and disciple!" (The pagoda suppresses the river demon.)
Dugu Yan's face lit up with delight. The passwords matched; she'd found her comrade. She said, "Lingling, I didn't expect you to have that jerk's Diary Copy too!"
Ye Lingling looked a little worried.
"I only found out last night. By the way, Yanzi, right now you... You should hurry home and leave the academy!"
"That Su Chen set out from Spirit City today. The people of Spirit Hall won't stop along the way, so they'll reach Heaven Dou City in just a few days."