Night Meeting with Dugu Yan

"Even if there is, it doesn't matter. If I, Dugu Bo, have taken a liking to someone, I don't need to give that old dragon any face."

Obviously.

He was bragging.

After all, Dugu Bo at Rank 91, still troubled by poison, was clearly no match for Yu Yuanzhen.

But since he was the only one here now.

Naturally, he could say whatever he wanted.

"Of course I believe you, Senior, but I should explain."

Since there was really nothing he needed to hide, Yu Yuan took the initiative to explain what had happened.

Including how he was an orphan, how he had awakened a useless martial soul, and how Yu Yuanzhen had sent him to become an experiment for his son.

Then how he had encountered an opportunity midway and run away.

"A useless martial soul? But you..."

Dugu Bo knew that Yu Yuan had defeated his granddaughter. The spirit ring he had chosen for Yan Yan was admittedly rather weak, but she should not have lost to someone with a useless martial soul.

"Just luck. I encountered a few opportunities."

Yes, it was merely that a 990,000-year-old Temporal Saint Dragon had insisted on sacrificing itself and acknowledging him as its master.

Not worth mentioning.

"I see."

As Dugu Bo looked at Yu Yuan, who appeared to be around twelve, he suddenly noticed a problem.

"Wait, you said you awakened your martial soul two years ago, which means..."

"You're only eight!"

Before Dugu Bo could finish, Dugu Yan cried out as realization dawned on her.

No.

She had considered that he might be younger than her, but wasn't five years too much?

Could that really work?

"Not exactly. Judging by my bone age, I should be nearly twelve."

As mentioned before, Yu Yuan was currently in a state where he grew quickly but aged slowly.

So he had actually naturally grown to the age of twelve through the power of time.

Whether in appearance or bone age, he was indeed already twelve.

"Actually, being eight isn't such a big deal."

Dugu Bo said that.

After all, he was only five years younger than Yan Yan. It was not a major issue.

There was a problem with eight and thirteen.

But if that became twenty and twenty-five, wouldn't it be fine?

"But you said you can treat Yan Yan. You weren't joking, were you?"

"Of course I would not joke about something like this."

After all, the Temporal Saint Dragon had his back. Tens of thousands of years of knowledge were no joke.

Yu Yuan trusted Xiao Kong greatly. Besides, Tang San could treat her in the original story, so naturally he could as well.

And even if something went wrong during the treatment.

Couldn't he just rewind time?

"Let's hear it."

"First, a soul core..."

Yu Yuan then presented Dugu Bo with several detailed plans.

Including, but not limited to, using a soul core for control.

Searching for heavenly treasures that could help her martial soul evolve.

Channeling the toxins into soul bones, preferably external soul bones.

Using medicine to regulate her condition.

Creating a soul tool capable of storing toxins.

Dugu Bo did not even know what to say.

A problem that had plagued him for so many years, and this kid could actually offer so many solutions.

Hadn't he only known Yan Yan for half a day?

Just how much stuff was packed into this kid's head?

Yu Yuan indicated that it was nothing, merely a dragon that had lived for a very, very long time.

"Which plan does Senior intend to use?"

"Uh, which one would you recommend?"

Dugu Bo had never expected that one day, he would have the chance to choose among solutions.

Especially when every one of them seemed quite reliable.

"Medical treatment?"

"Why?"

Of course, for the immortal herbs!

Unfortunately, he could not say that.

"Because it's convenient."

Yu Yuan pointed at the medicinal herbs in the backyard.

"Senior, you have so many medicinal herbs even at home. I imagine you must have quite a stockpile elsewhere."

"You brat."

Dugu Bo also thought of his treasured place in Sunset Forest. It did seem to have quite a few good things.

"Fine. It's already late today. We'll set out tomorrow, and I'll take you to see this old man's herb garden."

After all, he and Yu Yuan had talked for a long time. The sun had long since set.

"Then I shall take my leave."

"No need."

Dugu Bo looked directly at Dugu Yan, who had been sitting off to the side for half the day.

"Yan Yan, take this kid to the guest room."

Though he called it the guest room aloud, he secretly transmitted a message hinting that Dugu Yan should take him to her bedroom instead.

Dugu Yan, who had risen to lead the way, immediately blushed. At the same time, she turned back and fiercely glared at her grandfather.

Seriously, he was only eight!

What would it even mean if she brought him to her own room?

Unable to get past that mental hurdle, Dugu Yan ultimately led Yu Yuan to the guest room.

But after returning, she regretted it.

"Seriously, why was I scared?"

Dugu Yan was a little unwilling to accept that, so she decisively dug out her pajamas and prepared for a nighttime raid.

Elsewhere.

Yu Yuan had just finished washing up and changed into the pajamas stored in his storage soul tool.

When there came a knock at the door.

Hm? Hadn't Dugu Yan already returned to her room?

"Come in. The door isn't locked."

Dugu Yan, wearing form-fitting emerald-green pajamas outside, heard his reply.

After taking a deep breath to settle her nervousness, she decisively pushed open the door.

Then she suffered a powerful temptation.

"You! Why haven't you buttoned your clothes?"

Yu Yuan had just changed into his pajamas and had not yet had time to button them.

Thus, Dugu Yan saw his abdominal muscles, illuminated by the moonlight, taking on the texture of jade.

Gulp.

Dugu Yan suddenly felt a little parched. This man had definitely done it on purpose, hadn't he?

"Hm? Sorry, I accidentally forgot."

Yu Yuan still wore his usual calm expression, as if he were not the one being stared at.

"Master, this little dragon previously underestimated you. Such methods leave this little dragon in complete admiration!"

"Hm? You're still here?"

"Understood. This little dragon shall take his leave."

Xiao Kong decisively blocked off all his senses.

From now on, unless Yu Yuan called for him himself, he would never appear.

By repeatedly reminding herself of his age in her mind.

Dugu Yan finally got herself under control.

Yet she still could not help saying one thing inwardly.

Thanks for the treat.

"Is there something you need, Miss Dugu?"

"Miss Dugu sounds far too distant, doesn't it? You can call me Yan Yan or Sister Yan, you know?"

Dugu Yan swayed her snake-like waist as she approached Yu Yuan. At the same time, she extended a hand and slid it up his arm to his broad shoulder.

"I merely wanted to chat with you. What? Am I not welcome?"

"Of course not, but proper etiquette must still be observed."

Yu Yuan discreetly avoided her jade-like hand as it began exploring downward from his shoulder, then pulled out a chair by the window.

"Please sit, Miss Dugu."

"Hmph, coward."

Damn it, if Dugu Bo weren't still here, just you wait...

Well, Yu Yuan truly would not do anything.

After her soft snort, Dugu Yan did not press the matter.

After walking over and sitting in the chair, she directly hugged her knees with both arms, curling her entire body up in the chair like an emerald snake.

Only then did Yu Yuan notice that her toenails had also been painted emerald green.

Noticing his gaze, Dugu Yan shyly drew her feet back a little.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing. I was merely curious. Miss Dugu, you seem to like emerald green very much?"

Upon hearing that, Dugu Yan's mood suddenly sank. She tilted her head back to look at the night sky beyond the window.

Only after quite a while did she answer.

"Yes. It was my mother's favorite color while she was alive."