After coming to her senses, Dugu Yan's thoughts were remarkably clear. It all came from the surging life energy inside her.
She'd been too shocked and upset before to think about the person who had raised the question.
Fang Xuan hadn't said anything, but Dugu Yan had a feeling he definitely knew something.
After all, Fang Xuan himself was no ordinary person.
"Uh, wait. How did this woman suddenly get smart?"
Looking at Dugu Yan's utterly certain expression, Fang Xuan was dumbfounded.
"Fang Xuan, do you really have a way to help Yanyan? If you do, please help her. I'm begging you."
Seeing Ye Lingling's pleading expression, Fang Xuan couldn't help feeling a little reluctant.
His future wife was begging him like this. If he still refused, wouldn't that be heartless?
"I do have a way, but I can't do it myself."
He immediately ruled out healing her with an Immortal Herb. Those things were far too unpredictable and couldn't be tried lightly.
So he chose to bring up a second, much safer method.
"What is it? As long as it can save Yanyan, I'll do anything."
When Yu Tianheng heard that Fang Xuan really had a way, he became excited in an instant.
He was sincere about Dugu Yan. It was true that at first he'd wanted to win over Dugu Bo.
But as he spent more time with Dugu Yan, that thought gradually faded.
He loved Dugu Yan's bold, spirited nature. It felt genuine to him. After all, there were far too many hypocrites around a sect disciple like him.
Even the partners they eventually found were chosen through arranged marriages. There was no affection involved at all.
To him, Dugu Yan was a ray of light illuminating his inner world.
So he had to save Dugu Yan, no matter what it cost him—even if it cost him his life.
"Hey, hey, there's no need to make it sound like someone has to die. This isn't some life-for-a-life situation. My method just requires a Soul Bone, and I can't get my hands on one."
Soul Bones were rare in every era. Especially now, a single Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone could even make two nations fight until rivers of blood ran.
Dugu Yan's case didn't necessarily require a Soul Bone of any particular age, but even a hundred-year or thousand-year Soul Bone would be hard to get.
If they could be bought, couldn't he afford one with his assets?
He just couldn't get one himself. That didn't mean no one else could.
There might actually be a chance with Yu Tianheng. He was, after all, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
And since the Soul Bone would be for Dugu Yan, he could ask his sect for it as a betrothal gift.
Using a Soul Bone to win over a Titled Douluo was a deal that couldn't lose.
As long as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wasn't full of idiots like Yu Xiaogang, they wouldn't refuse.
But it all depended on Yu Tianheng himself.
"I've already told you the method and pointed out exactly what you need to do."
"But whether it works in the end is up to you."
After explaining things to Yu Tianheng, Fang Xuan turned to Dugu Yan.
"I've done my part as your matchmaker. You can handle your grandfather yourself, and just don't let him find out I was involved."
"No way."
As soon as Fang Xuan finished speaking, Dugu Yan immediately refused.
Her reaction was so quick and her attitude so firm that Fang Xuan couldn't even process it at first.
"Wait, I help you, and you want to get me in trouble? You're biting the hand that feeds you!"
Damn it! If Dugu Bo found out he'd helped Yu Tianheng woo his granddaughter, wouldn't he come after him?
He hadn't even started building goodwill with him yet. If Dugu Bo had his eye on him now, wouldn't he be in for a world of trouble?
Dugu Bo was famous for his unpredictable temper. Who knew what he'd do to him?
"Don't worry. I won't let my grandfather do anything to you. I'm not someone who forgets a kindness."
"Weren't you interested in medicine? My grandfather is too. I'll have him take you as his apprentice. Then you'll have a more respectable status, and marrying Lingling will be all the more proper."
Dugu Yan laid out her reasoning so smoothly that Fang Xuan listened in stunned silence.
"What the hell, this isn't just getting smart. Did someone possess her?"
There'd been no sign that eating too much of that stuff could make someone smarter. Dugu Yan was clearly acting strange.
"Palace Jade Liquor?"
Suspecting that Dugu Yan had been possessed, Fang Xuan decided to use his transmigrator's privilege: the test question.
"Huh? Why are you asking me for liquor at a time like this?"
Dugu Yan looked completely baffled. Wasn't she discussing the situation with him? Why had he suddenly brought up liquor—and imperial wine, at that? Was he an alcoholic or something?
Seeing Dugu Yan's confused face and furrowed brow, Fang Xuan finally confirmed she was still the same Dugu Yan and hadn't been possessed.
"Nothing. It's just that I'm not used to you suddenly getting smart, so I thought I'd test you with a brainteaser."
Dugu Yan's expression darkened. She could tell Fang Xuan was finding a roundabout way to call her stupid.
Noticing her expression, Fang Xuan quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, we don't need to rush this. Let's talk about that Soul Fighting Arena first."
"Do I need to go over there now?"
The two of them had come here for that in the first place. Dugu Yan's poisoning had been an unexpected revelation.
"The Soul Fighting Arena? Is there another team we need to challenge?"
As soon as Ye Lingling heard that, she understood. After all, they'd come here to improve their combat ability.
Several days had passed since their last match. It was about time for another.
But right now...
Feeling the faint discomfort in her body, Ye Lingling blushed. He'd gone and worn her out again yesterday.
She still hadn't fully recovered. Competing now would probably be too much for her.
"You don't need to go. Let your man go instead. You don't look up to it right now."
Dugu Yan's tongue was as venomous as if it had been dipped in poison, always striking Ye Lingling right in the heart.
"Yanyan, keep this up and I'll get mad."
"Mad? What good would that do? You've already given yourself to him. What's wrong with making him do a little work?"
"But looking at you, did you two do that thing again yesterday?"
With her newly sharpened powers of observation, Dugu Yan had noticed that Ye Lingling's posture seemed off.
And her face was flushed, clearly not in its normal state. There was an eighty-percent chance she'd given in again last night.
Who would've thought her best friend was so uninhibited? How had she never noticed she was into that kind of thing?
"Hey, hey, watch what you say. She's my future wife. Don't just say whatever comes into your head."
Come on, he'd only just made some progress. What if Dugu Yan said something that made Ye Lingling refuse to let him touch her?
Being able to see the food but not eat it—how miserable would that be?
Don't go bothering other people when you're useless yourself, Fang Xuan grumbled inwardly.
Dugu Yan, meanwhile, looked at Fang Xuan's behavior with scorn.
"Men are all the same."
"Let's go. The match is scheduled for this afternoon, so there's still some time. I'll introduce you to the team members and then fill you in on our opponents."
"I think the team we're fighting this time is called the Shrek Seven Devils Team. That really is a strange name."
Hearing that, Fang Xuan froze, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Well, would you look at that. What a narrow road for enemies to meet on."
"I beat them up just yesterday, and now they're back again today."