Realizing that her best friend had probably been bullied, Dugu Yan instantly burned with rage.
She charged straight toward Fang Xuan, who stood behind the counter looking utterly bewildered.
Yu Tianheng, standing nearby, hadn't even figured out what was going on before Dugu Yan had already rushed off.
"Yanyan, don't..."
Ye Lingling tried to stop her, but she was clearly too late.
As Dugu Yan attacked, Fang Xuan only sighed softly. The next moment, a yellow Soul Ring lit up.
Bang—!
A sound like metal striking metal rang out, and the poison-coated dagger in Dugu Yan's hand stopped against Fang Xuan's neck.
The sharp dagger didn't pierce his neck. It hadn't even scratched the skin.
"I'll let it go this time. I hope there won't be a next time."
As he spoke, Fang Xuan grabbed Dugu Yan's wrist and squeezed. She winced in pain and let go of the dagger, which fell onto the wooden counter in front of them, its tip stabbing into the wood.
"Are you all right?"
Seeing this, Ye Lingling hurried over to check on Fang Xuan.
She knew Dugu Yan's temper better than anyone. When she lost control, she really would do anything.
When Dugu Yan had attacked Fang Xuan just now, Ye Lingling had nearly been scared to death.
"I'm fine."
Dugu Yan's attack hadn't hurt him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so polite to her.
Releasing his grip on Dugu Yan, Fang Xuan looked over the others around them.
Then, right in front of everyone, he pulled the completely unprepared Ye Lingling into his arms.
The sudden move startled Ye Lingling into a shriek. She ended up sprawled in Fang Xuan's arms, her heart pounding.
Dugu Yan had just broken free of Fang Xuan's grasp. Watching this, she looked as if her eyes were about to spit fire.
"Get your filthy hands off Lingling!"
Just as Dugu Yan was about to attack again, Yu Tianheng stepped in front of her, keeping her from getting any closer.
Because the instant Dugu Yan had attacked, he'd seen five Soul Rings appear around Fang Xuan.
It had only lasted a moment, but he was certain he hadn't been mistaken.
This young man, who looked about his age, was actually a Soul King. A three-ring Soul Elder like Dugu Yan would be no different from rushing to her death if she attacked him.
"Who might you be, sir? I am Yu Tianheng, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
Unable to work out who Fang Xuan was, Yu Tianheng could only introduce himself, hoping to make the other man think twice before acting rashly.
"I don't want to fight you, but please don't push me too far. I'm nobody special, just the ordinary owner of this teahouse."
"Something happened yesterday. I was going to handle it in person, but since you've come here on your own, we might as well settle it here."
As he spoke, Fang Xuan glanced at Ye Lingling, who lay in his arms, her face as red as a ripe apple. Then he turned to Dugu Yan, who looked ready to devour him alive, and announced loudly:
"Miss Ye Lingling and I have already been intimate as husband and wife. It was an accident, but I'll take responsibility for her. I'll come to formally ask for her hand and bring her home as my wife."
Fang Xuan's voice rang out, firm and clear. Everyone there could hear every word he said.
Yu Tianheng was dumbfounded. What the hell had happened?
He hadn't seen her for one night, and now he was being told someone had taken her? How could this be?!
No wonder Dugu Yan was so furious. She must have caught wind of something!
At that moment, Ye Lingling buried her face against Fang Xuan's chest, too embarrassed to show herself.
Fang Xuan's behavior was far too bold and direct. For someone as shy as her, it was devastating.
"Bullshit! How could Lingling marry a nobody like you? Give her back to me, or I'll make sure you die without a burial place!"
Dugu Yan was positively livid. Her best friend had been defiled by some guy who'd appeared out of nowhere.
And now he had the gall to say he was going to marry her.
In Dugu Yan's eyes, he was just trying to marry up, using such a despicable trick to take advantage of Ye Lingling.
"This is between her and me. What does it have to do with you? I'm just telling you what's happening. That doesn't mean you get to boss me around."
That dagger of Dugu Yan's had been aimed at his life.
He was lucky to have a defensive Soul Skill. That strike could have left him dead or gravely injured.
And it seemed the dagger was coated with poison, too. Even the slightest cut would have been enough to cause him a world of trouble.
If not for Ye Lingling, and his fear of Dugu Bo's intimidation, he would have acted already. Did she really think he was a pushover?
"Fine, you've got guts. If I, Dugu Yan, don't kill you, then I—"
"Enough!"
Just then, Ye Lingling suddenly shouted at Dugu Yan.
"Yanyan, stop. This is my problem. It has nothing to do with him."
Ye Lingling was shy, but that didn't mean she was weak-willed.
What happened with Fang Xuan had indeed been her fault, and she accepted that.
They hadn't known each other for long, but she'd gotten a general sense of Fang Xuan. At the very least, he wasn't a scheming person.
Given her current situation, it was basically impossible that anyone else would want her. She could only hope to marry beneath her station—and that would be worse than marrying Fang Xuan.
With the talent he'd shown, marrying him was already the best choice she could hope for.
She knew Dugu Yan was trying to help her, but she didn't want her friend involved. She had brought this on herself, and she had to bear the consequences herself.
If she hadn't been curious and touched that Pink Mushroom, none of this would have happened.
"Yanyan, I'm begging you. Please stop interfering, all right? I was in the wrong, not him. I've already agreed to marry him."
Seeing Ye Lingling crying uncontrollably, the anger in Dugu Yan's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by heartache.
She had never seen Ye Lingling so vulnerable before. It made her heart feel as though it would break.
Yu Tianheng and the others exchanged glances, then tactfully headed for the door.
This clearly wasn't something they could resolve.
"Yanyan, calm down. Don't do anything rash. I'll wait outside."
After leaving her with those words, Yu Tianheng went out.
Now only Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Fang Xuan remained in the room.
Fang Xuan held Ye Lingling close and gently stroked her hair, trying to comfort her.
"It's okay. I'm here. Don't cry."
Ye Lingling was a good girl. They were both responsible for what had happened; he couldn't put all the blame on her.
"Dugu Yan, I'm letting this go for Lingling's sake. But Lingling is mine now, so don't go too far."
He had no reason to be friendly toward Dugu Yan. What did Yu Tianheng see in this woman? She was so violent, and he could put up with that?
Or would he do anything to win Dugu Bo over?
" You!"
Dugu Yan was about to lose her temper, but when she met Ye Lingling's tear-filled eyes, she immediately softened.
"Tell me exactly what happened. You'd better tell the truth, or you'll regret it."
Fang Xuan didn't take Dugu Yan's threat very seriously.
If she really pushed him too far, with his talent he could join any faction he wanted. Even if Dugu Bo came after him, there'd be nothing he could do.
But things hadn't reached that point yet, so he'd put up with her a little longer. He would get even for this sooner or later.
He quickly explained the whole story, from beginning to end.
At first, Dugu Yan thought he was lying and demanded proof.
But this thing only appeared once every seven days, completely at random, and he hadn't recorded it in his Soul Skill. There was no way he could show it to her, even if he wanted to.
In the end, Ye Lingling had to explain it herself before Dugu Yan reluctantly relented.
But she still felt Fang Xuan wasn't worthy of Ye Lingling.
There was no other reason. He had no backing, and in her eyes he was just an ordinary commoner. How could he possibly be good enough for her best friend?
But when five Soul Rings lit up behind Fang Xuan, she fell silent.
"A Soul... Soul King!"
Watching Dugu Yan's astonished expression, Fang Xuan said coldly:
"Whether I'm worthy isn't up to you."