I Am Your Classmate

Dugu Yan was still holding that fox mask, her gaze suddenly turning vacant for a brief moment.

An alien space unfolded.

It was a study with simple furnishings.

The bookshelves were filled with thread-bound volumes, and a teapot sat on the table, wisps of steam curling upward. Outside the window lay a grove of green bamboo; as the wind blew, the leaves rustled.

Dugu Yan stood in the center of the study, looking around with a dazed expression.

Qin Chuan sat behind the desk like an old friend who had been waiting for a long time, nodding at her: "Dugu Yan, sit."

"Mm." Dugu Yan obediently pulled out a chair and sat down, placing her hands on her knees.

Her mental defenses were practically non-existent. As a soul master in her twenties with a Jade Phosphorus Snake martial soul—which focused primarily on poison—her mental strength was naturally weak. Coupled with the fact that Qin Chuan's Shadow Hypnosis was most effective at close range, Dugu Yan had absolutely no room to resist.

Qin Chuan began to speak, his pace unhurried, every word carrying the piercing power of a mental command: "Dugu Yan, from today on, I, Qin Chuan, am your closest classmate."

"Qin Chuan... my closest classmate." Dugu Yan repeated, her voice soft.

"I can detoxify you and your grandfather, but we need to go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for meditation."

"Detoxify... Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well... meditation..."

In Dugu Yan's mind, a memory appeared out of thin air.

In this memory, she and Qin Chuan were childhood friends who had grown up together. Qin Chuan was exceptionally gifted, possessing a rare Heavenly Dao Martial Soul with the miraculous ability to purify toxins. He had once helped her alleviate a poison flare-up during an accident, and since then, she had held unwavering faith in his abilities.

These memories were woven into her existing life experiences so meticulously that they were seamless and flawless.

"Very good." Qin Chuan nodded with satisfaction.

He did not add any further instructions. With Dugu Yan, he did not need to implant emotional control as he had with Xiao Wu or Ning Rongrong. All he needed was a guide, a key to unlock the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

The dreamscape dissipated.

In reality, Dugu Yan blinked.

She was still holding the fox mask, her posture exactly the same as it had been a moment ago.

Then, her gaze swept across the crowd, and she spotted Qin Chuan standing three steps away at a glance.

A wide smile instantly bloomed on Dugu Yan's face. She placed the mask on the stall and trotted over: "Wow, Qin Chuan, I didn't expect to run into you here. What a coincidence."

Qin Chuan wore an expression of perfectly measured surprise: "Indeed, what a coincidence. Are you out shopping at the market too?"

"Yeah, yeah! I come out to wander around every few days; I'd go moldy if I stayed cooped up at home." Dugu Yan giggled, holding up her pile of spoils: "Look, I bought so many things."

Qin Chuan glanced at the pile of miscellaneous trinkets and nodded in agreement: "Your taste is still the same as it used to be."

"What's that supposed to mean? My taste is excellent, thank you very much." Dugu Yan pouted, then changed the subject: "Oh, right, you mentioned earlier that you could detoxify us?"

This sentence was the implanted memory taking effect.

Qin Chuan's expression turned serious, and he nodded: "However, the prerequisite is..."

Before he could finish, Dugu Yan interrupted him: "Fine, I know. Let's go, I'll take you to see my grandfather."

Qin Chuan chuckled inwardly.

This is going too smoothly. The implanted memory is too perfect; she didn't even hesitate.

"Mm, then I'll have to trouble you." Qin Chuan nodded.

Dugu Yan shoved the items in her hands into Qin Chuan's arms: "You hold these for me. I need both hands free to walk properly."

Qin Chuan looked down at the pile of roasted chestnuts, wind chimes, and clay figurines in his arms and smiled helplessly.

Dugu Yan walked in front, her green skirt swaying between her legs, her long hair swishing against her back with every step. She kept turning her head to talk to Qin Chuan as they walked, a carefree smile never leaving her face.

"Grandfather's health has been worse lately. The poison flares up more and more frequently."

"Mm, I know. The Jade Phosphorus Snake venom erodes the meridians; the longer it persists, the more violent the flare-ups become. But don't worry, as long as you give me enough time, I will definitely be able to help you both."

"I believe you." Dugu Yan's tone was without a hint of hesitation.

The two crossed several streets and returned to the mansion with the vermilion gate in the north of the city.

Dugu Yan pushed the door open and stepped aside to let Qin Chuan in: "Come on, come in."

The moment Qin Chuan crossed the threshold, a layer of pale green poisonous mist brushed past him.

An ordinary person would have felt dizzy and nauseated, but the Heavenly Dao Power within Qin Chuan circulated automatically, dissolving the faint toxic gas into nothingness.

He didn't even feel the slightest bit of discomfort.

The Heavenly Dao Power truly can suppress the Jade Phosphorus Snake venom. I can demonstrate this in front of Dugu Bo later to increase my persuasiveness.

The courtyard was not large, but it was kept very clean.

The ground was paved with bluestone, and a few well-pruned dwarf pines were planted on either side. Directly facing the gate was a simple, ancient-looking main hall.

Dugu Yan shouted at the top of her lungs toward the inside: "Grandfather! Grandfather, come out for a second! Someone is here to see you!"

From within the main hall, a tall, thin old man emerged.

His complexion was a sickly grayish-blue, and he wore a dusty gray robe that hung off his skeletal frame like it was draped over a coat hanger.

But Qin Chuan knew that beneath this decaying exterior lay the terrifying strength of a ninety-second-level Title Douluo.

Even though he was currently heavily eroded by poison, he could still crush most spirit masters with a single finger.

Dugu Bo walked out, his murky gaze sweeping over Qin Chuan before his brows furrowed slightly. "Yan'er, who is this?"

"Grandfather, this is my classmate, Qin Chuan." Dugu Yan ran to Dugu Bo's side and tugged on his arm. "He's the one I told you about, the very impressive one."

Dugu Bo's brows furrowed even tighter.

He did not remember his granddaughter ever mentioning such a person. However, judging by Dugu Yan's expression, she seemed very familiar with him, and she did not appear to be lying.

Could it be that my poison flare-ups have been too frequent lately, causing my memory to worsen?

Dugu Bo suppressed this doubt and nodded toward Qin Chuan. "Young man, sit. Yan'er's friends are my guests."

"Many thanks, Senior." Qin Chuan bowed respectfully and followed him into the main hall.

The three of them sat down in the hall, and Dugu Yan ran off to pour three cups of tea, bringing them over.

She placed a cup of tea by Qin Chuan's hand, then leaned toward Dugu Bo's ear and lowered her voice. "Grandfather, I told Qin Chuan about our family's situation, and he said he could help us detoxify."

Dugu Bo's hand, holding the teacup, paused.

He slowly set the cup down and looked up, a glimmer of sharpness finally appearing in his murky, aged eyes. "Little friend Qin Chuan, is this true?"

Qin Chuan set his teacup down, his expression calm. "Senior, I dare not guarantee a complete cure, but I am confident in slowing the rate of the poison's erosion and extending your lifespan."

Dugu Bo did not speak, merely staring fixedly at Qin Chuan.

The silence lasted for several seconds.

The air in the hall suddenly grew heavy.

Qin Chuan felt an invisible pressure radiating from across the room. It was a Title Douluo testing him, sweeping over him with spiritual power.