A Private Talk with Dugu Yan

"Then why did you pick it up!"

"I'm drinking it myself; yours is right there." Mo Li tilted his chin slightly, gesturing for Dugu Yan to look at the tabletop beneath her.

At this, Dugu Yan was filled with a mix of shame and anger, though she did not follow Mo Li's gaze.

Knowing she was in the wrong, she shoved the empty teacup back into Mo Li's hand, glared at him for a long moment, and then sat back down.

However, a faint blush still lingered on her slightly heroic, pretty face, and she felt both embarrassed and annoyed inside.

Mo Li glanced at Dugu Yan, but he didn't keep staring at her; he simply washed the cup and poured himself another drink.

"What, are you looking down on this girl?"

Dugu Yan pursed her lips, watching Mo Li's movements, and shifted her gaze to his face, speaking as if she were annoyed.

Mo Li truly hadn't expected her to come out with such a remark, and the look he gave Dugu Yan carried an irrepressible smile. "Not at all. How about you have another cup?"

Seeing Mo Li hold his teacup out in front of her again, Dugu Yan's face flushed once more, and she gave a light huff, turning her head away.

Mo Li chuckled at the sight, knowing the girl was thin-skinned and deciding not to push his luck. He withdrew his hand and took the opportunity to change the subject. "Sister Yan Yan, have you felt any physical discomfort while cultivating lately?"

"Why? Is something the matter?"

Hearing Mo Li's question, Dugu Yan turned her head back, looking at him with some suspicion.

On this matter, Mo Li did not have the playful mindset he had held earlier.

He nodded quite seriously, looked straight into Dugu Yan's green eyes, and asked in a grave tone, "Sister Yan Yan, do you know why your eyes are green?"

At these words, Dugu Yan's gaze instantly sharpened, her expression turning cold, and her tone became extremely cautious. "What are you trying to say?"

"The color of your pupils is likely caused by the erosion of your Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit."

Dugu Yan's pupils constricted, and her entire demeanor became guarded.

Mo Li, as if he hadn't noticed, continued to look into her eyes and said, "I wonder if I'm right?"

Dugu Yan fell silent for a moment, shifting her gaze away from Mo Li's. A trace of panic inevitably flashed in her eyes, because Mo Li was absolutely correct.

When she was a child, it wasn't as if she hadn't asked her grandfather why her eyes were different from ordinary people's, but she had been too young then, and Dugu Bo had simply found an excuse to comfort her.

However, after she grew older, Dugu Bo finally revealed some things to her, and that was when she learned it was precisely due to the unique nature of their Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit.

Seeing Dugu Yan lower her head in silence, Mo Li had already guessed the answer and smiled. "It seems I was right."

"So what if you are?" Dugu Yan raised her head, her gaze fixed tightly on Mo Li, as if waiting for him to continue.

"I once saw some information regarding your Spirit. There might be a way to resolve the backlash of the Jade Phosphor Snake venom."

"You can really do it?"

Dugu Yan widened her eyes.

"I wouldn't go that far, but I have some reference material and could give it a try." Mo Li smiled.

Dugu Yan asked somewhat urgently, "You're not lying to me?"

"I even showed you my second spirit skill; what benefit would I get from lying to you?" Mo Li retorted.

Now it was Dugu Yan's turn to feel embarrassed.

During their sparring session earlier, she still hadn't managed to see Mo Li use his second spirit skill.

But she was truly burning with curiosity, so she had set aside her pride and begged Mo Li to show her. She hadn't held much expectation, as it was quite necessary for Spirit Masters to keep their skills a secret.

But to her surprise, although Mo Li looked reluctant, he ultimately showed her that extremely rare thousand-year second spirit skill, Soul Burn.

That was also the reason why she had called Mo Li a pervert later on.

Thinking of this, a blush crept onto Dugu Yan's face involuntarily. Mo Li had trusted her so much, and she naturally didn't want to betray that trust.

What's more, Mo Li was helping her resolve the influence of her Spirit, and it appeared to offer him no benefit whatsoever.

"Then what do you need me to do?"

"I want to meet Senior Dugu."

"You want to see my grandfather?" Dugu Yan was startled.

"Yes," Mo Li said noncommittally. "Isn't Senior Dugu's Spirit also a Jade Phosphor Snake? He should know more about this aspect than you do."

"I suppose that's possible," Dugu Yan nodded gently. Her gaze then shifted to Mo Li across from her, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "My grandfather rarely sees outsiders, and his temper might not be the best."

Dugu Yan only knew that her grandfather was good to her, but he was extremely cold to outsiders. Although she could pass the message on to him, she didn't know if he would actually come to see Mo Li.

She simply poured out all these worries at once.

Mo Li listened to Dugu Yan finish and gave her a look of genuine appreciation. "I didn't expect Sister Yan Yan to be so thoughtful."

Dugu Yan reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, feeling a bit shy, then pursed her lips and said, "It's rare to hear that from you; I thought you only knew how to snap at me."

"Haha, it's just that Sister Yan Yan is so cute, I couldn't help but tease you," Mo Li said with a chuckle.

"How old are you, acting so disrespectful," Dugu Yan muttered.

"If Senior Dugu is unwilling to see me, I will have to ask Sister Yan Yan to help me pass on a message."

Mo Li pondered for a moment, then, drawing upon his memory of the symptoms caused by the toxin's backlash, he provided Dugu Yan with a brief description.

"I understand." Dugu Yan nodded earnestly, silently running through the details in her mind twice more.

"Also, Sister Yan Yan, after you break through to level thirty, do not obtain your third soul ring."

"Why?"

Dugu Yan was somewhat confused. She noted that Mo Li had said "do not," rather than "it would be best not to" or "for the time being."

"Because your soul rings should not be increased any further for now; otherwise, the toxins will become even more volatile. Before you obtain your third soul ring, Senior Dugu and I might be able to find a solution."

Dugu Yan looked at Mo Li and nodded again. "My soul rings have always been chosen by my grandfather, and his return schedule is never fixed."

"However, when I break through to level thirty, my grandfather will definitely return once."

Mo Li nodded. Dugu Yan had only broken through to level twenty-nine a short while ago; it would likely take another two or three months before she reached level thirty.

He was not in a rush for these next couple of months.

Furthermore, he needed to improve his own strength during this period; after all, he was only at level twenty-three soul power.

If Dugu Bo really came to see him, it would be a good outcome if the man could even refrain from slapping him away upon seeing his soul power level.

Mo Li sighed slightly. After all, this was a Title Douluo. Even though he held the Immortal Herb Redemption Code, it was best to remain cautious.