Grandpa, Mine Have All Turned Black

"Cough, cough, cough—"

After a fit of coughing from choking on water, Dugu Yan finally recovered and glared viciously at Ouyang Ling. "Using water to wash me off is one thing, but did you have to trap me in it?"

Ouyang Ling: "..."

Because that was exactly my goal.

Though he had other motives, he would not say them aloud. He merely pointed at Dugu Yan's hair. "Dugu, is your hair dyed?"

Dugu Yan shook her head and answered instinctively:

"Of course not."

But the next second, she realized something. "Wait! Is my hair really the issue right now?! Don't change the subject." As she spoke, she was about to settle the score with him.

But Dugu Yan quickly noticed that not only Ouyang Ling, but everyone else around them was staring at the top of her head. She immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"Wait, why are you all looking at my hair?"

Ye Lingling reached out and ran her fingers through Dugu Yan's hair, holding a lock before her. "Your hair has turned black."

"What!?"

Dugu Yan was instantly startled!

She hurriedly took out a mirror and inspected her hair.

Sure enough, aside from a faint trace of green near the roots, all the rest had turned black, just like most ordinary people's hair.

"Th-this... what exactly is going on!?"

"That's why I asked just now."

Ouyang Ling spread his hands, putting on an "I'm confused too" expression. "I wasn't trying to change the subject. I was genuinely shocked. Dugu, is your hair really dyed? Otherwise, it wouldn't fade like this, right?"

For a moment, even Dugu Yan herself became confused. Could her hair really have been dyed?

No, no, no!

She shook her head sharply, realizing she had nearly been led astray. She had absolutely never dyed her hair!

"No! Absolutely not!"

But before Dugu Yan could answer for herself, Yu Tianheng spoke first.

His expression was solemn as he pointed at her reflection in the mirror. "Look. It's not just Yanzi's hair that turned black. Even Yanzi's eyes have turned black."

At that moment, they all realized something was wrong. As silence fell, the atmosphere changed as well.

"Uh—"

Oslo and the Shi Family brothers, who had not managed to get a word in, exchanged glances. Clearly, they had no idea what was going on and suddenly felt a little awkward.

The Shi Family brothers were fine. They had always been the quiet sort. Since they did not understand, they could simply listen patiently.

Oslo, on the other hand—

He racked his brains, then finally said amid the strange atmosphere, "Could it be because of her martial soul?"

Ouyang Ling raised his eyes, surprise flashing through them.

However...

Ouyang Ling calmly withdrew his gaze. He did not think that was the most correct answer.

"Probably not." Dugu Yan still seemed to be in the mood to play with her hair. "My eyes and hair were already like this before I awakened my martial soul. You could say I was born with them this way."

But Ouyang Ling spoke to Dugu Yan then. "Dugu, you changed because of my water cannon just now. I don't know why, but if anything really happens to you, I'll take responsibility."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Dugu Yan looked puzzled, even somewhat disdainful. "You don't seriously think your water could dye both my hair and eyes black, do you? You're only a Great Soul Master. Just thinking about it, that's impossible. This has nothing to do with you."

Dugu Yan had put it that plainly, decisively concluding that it had nothing to do with Ouyang Ling. Then, facing their worried gazes, she paused slightly. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to me. Aside from feeling a little weak from excessive soul power consumption, I feel great otherwise."

At that moment, worry flashed in Yu Tianheng's eyes, and he wanted to speak again. "Yanzi..."

"Don't worry, Tianheng." A softness flashed through Dugu Yan's eyes. "I'm fine." As she spoke, she used one hand to stop Ye Lingling from summoning the Nine-Heart Begonia.

"If you're still worried, I'll go home and have Grandpa take a look. You know, my grandfather is the Poison Douluo. Even if something really is wrong with me, he can easily handle it." Then she looked at Ouyang Ling again, her tone full of teasing. "Ling, don't be so frightened by my grandfather's title that you can't sleep."

"I'm not a coward."

Ouyang Ling smiled along with her, but quickly grew serious again. "Dugu, I take responsibility for what I do. You don't need to hide anything. We're friends, right?" The determination in his eyes made Dugu Yan pause.

She fell silent for a moment before responding perfunctorily.

"...Alright, alright."

Though Dugu Yan said that, she turned her gaze elsewhere, changing the subject.

"Since the gathering is over, let's clean up the trash and then head home."

With that, she was the first to start moving.

Ye Lingling was still holding the Nine-Heart Begonia, looking for a chance to use it. But just then, a hand suddenly reached out in front of her and pressed her martial soul downward.

Ye Lingling looked at Ouyang Ling, confusion on her face.

But Ouyang Ling said nothing. He merely shook his head.

At the same time, Yu Tianheng looked toward Ye Lingling and motioned for her not to act.

Seeing the two of them like this, Ye Lingling could only withdraw her hand.

Soon, the clearing was cleaned spotless.

Then the seven of them left the hill together.

Along the way, with the atmosphere so off, Oslo had something to say but did not dare to speak.

As for what he wanted to say... Oslo: Didn't anyone think we were missing someone?

A moment later, in the clearing atop the hill.

"I... I'm back." Yu Feng returned in a sorry state, his wings flapping, but when he saw the empty hill, he cried, "Hey—where did everyone go!?"

Meanwhile, Ouyang Ling and the others had already entered Heaven Dou City. However, aside from Yu Tianheng, Ye Lingling, and Ouyang Ling himself, the other four quickly dispersed and headed off in different directions.

Before leaving, Ouyang Ling wrote a note and handed it to Dugu Yan, telling her it had his home address. If anything really happened, she could come find him.

Seeing how serious Ouyang Ling was, Dugu Yan did not refuse. Yu Tianheng merely stood to the side and watched, his worried gaze remaining silent.

Once only Ouyang Ling, Yu Tianheng, and Ye Lingling remained...

"I think we forgot Yu Feng."

Ouyang Ling spoke, breaking the silence.

"Heh, we really did." After a brief pause, Yu Tianheng could not help laughing. "Forget it. Next time we gather, we'll buy him a drink as an apology."

"He deserves it."

Ye Lingling rarely spoke in reproach. "Who told him to speak without thinking and offend Yanzi?"

"Yeah, yeah..."

At the mention of "Yanzi," Yu Tianheng's eyes shifted, and then he abruptly stopped where he stood.

Seeing this, Ouyang Ling glanced back slightly.

"Not walking anymore?"

"Ling."

Yu Tianheng did not answer. After calling his name, he asked, "Was the water you used for that water cannon derived from Deep Blue Purification?"

Ouyang Ling raised an eyebrow slightly but did not answer.

Instead, he asked, "What do you think?"

"I think..." Yu Tianheng instinctively got out those three words before cutting himself off and shaking his head. "Forget it. But Yanzi will be alright, right?"

"She will."

This time, Ouyang Ling did not speak. Ye Lingling was the one who answered. "Actually, I think it's a good thing for Yanzi. But honestly..." After a brief pause, she continued, "I never expected it would be like that."

When she reached the latter half of her sentence, even through her veil, Ouyang Ling and Yu Tianheng could see the regret in Ye Lingling's expression. Or rather, in her eyes.

Yu Tianheng remained silent for a while before speaking.

"Ling, thanks."

Ouyang Ling waved his hand. "Ah... about that..."

The three of them did not continue walking together. After all, they had been headed in different directions from the start.

Only after entering an alley, when Yu Tianheng and Ye Lingling had disappeared from sight and there was no one else nearby, did Ouyang Ling scratch his head and mutter to himself in a somewhat emotional tone.

"Tianheng and Lingling are both pretty smart..."

Then he looked up, letting snowflakes fall onto him. "Now, it's just a matter of when Dugu Bo takes the bait..."

Heaven Dou City, Dugu Residence.

"Creak—"

The residence gates were pushed open from the outside, and Dugu Yan walked into the courtyard. Yet the smile she had worn when parting with the others was gone from her face.

"Grandpa, I'm back."

Her tone was flat, lacking its usual joy.

Just then—

"Who made my Yanyan unhappy?" Though he was nowhere to be seen, his displeased voice could already be heard.

Clearly, it was not directed at Dugu Yan.

Yet Dugu Yan said something astonishing:

"Grandpa, mine have all turned black."