Xue Qinghe: Chu Lan, I'll Spy on You Forever!

Dining hall.

Chu Lan and Dugu Yan sat across from each other, eating.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"How did you do that just now?"

"That golden dragon!"

"It was so powerful—it actually withstood the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's attack!"

"That didn't seem like a soul skill, did it?"

Dugu Yan asked impatiently.

"That's my secret. How could I tell you so easily?"

Chu Lan raised a finger and wagged it.

"Cheapskate..."

Dugu Yan muttered, then asked, "What would make you willing to tell me?"

Chu Lan tapped his cheek and said, "Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you."

"Pervert! Don't even think about it!" Dugu Yan snorted and turned her head away.

"I don't care." Chu Lan shrugged, shoveling down rice, meat, and soup.

All of a sudden.

He noticed a lonely figure.

He saw...

Ye Lingling eating alone, with no one beside her. Her deep violet eyes held endless loneliness.

"What are you looking at?"

Seeing that Chu Lan's attention was no longer on her, Dugu Yan's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Following Chu Lan's gaze.

What entered her sight was Ye Lingling's slender, solitary figure.

"Isn't that the new student from today?"

"Don't you think she has a great temperament? She has that pitiful, vulnerable air that makes people want to protect her." Chu Lan picked up his tray and walked toward Ye Lingling.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Dugu Yan watched Chu Lan, her previously wonderful mood vanishing without a trace.

Chu Lan simply sat down across from Ye Lingling, abruptly and without invitation.

Ye Lingling subconsciously raised her eyes.

When she saw that it was Chu Lan, a faint ripple appeared in her eyes, but she did not speak.

It was as though saying even one extra word was exceedingly difficult for her.

Chu Lan did not take the initiative to speak either.

He merely smiled as he stared at Ye Lingling's beautiful face, eating leisurely.

Ye Lingling's cheeks flushed under his gaze.

At the end of the day.

She still was not cold enough!

"I'm so mad!"

"I'm furious!"

Dugu Yan witnessed the scene.

She felt as though her charm had been slighted, and in her anger, she snapped her chopsticks in half.

Sunset Forest.

Central Valley.

Inside a cave on a cliff face, Dugu Bo was cultivating in seclusion.

A shout rang out from outside the cave.

"Grandpa!"

"Grandpa, are you here? Come out, quick!"

Within the valley.

Dugu Yan shouted at the top of her lungs.

"My little ancestor, why are you here?"

Dugu Bo rushed out of the cave and sped toward Dugu Yan's location in the valley.

Although this was his secluded residence, he also had an estate in Heaven Dou City.

It was just that...

Ever since his son and daughter-in-law had died, Dugu Yan was his only living relative.

Dugu Yan was now studying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so he rarely returned to that home alone.

Unless Dugu Yan was there too.

"Guess!"

In response to Dugu Bo's question, Dugu Yan turned sideways, folded her arms across her chest, and wore a cold expression.

"Uh?"

Dugu Bo froze.

Guess?

What was he supposed to guess?

"Good granddaughter, did someone bully you?"

"Tell Grandpa!"

"Grandpa will avenge you!"

Dugu Bo's face darkened.

He would never allow Dugu Yan to be bullied!

Even if it was a prince, he would have to make him lose a layer of skin before kneeling down to apologize!

"Guess!"

Dugu Yan's reply was still only those two words.

This time...

Dugu Bo was completely helpless, his face full of distress.

"Good granddaughter, spare Grandpa..."

When Dugu Yan thought of how, at noon, Chu Lan had ignored her extraordinary charm and breathtaking beauty to go fawn over Ye Lingling's cold indifference, anger surged within her!

"Hmph!"

"Grandpa, am I pretty or not?"

Dugu Yan put her hands on her hips, puffing up her cheeks.

"Of course!"

"Is that even a question?"

Dugu Bo patted his chest and said, "You inherited my bloodline. Naturally, your appearance is beyond reproach!"

"You're stunning enough to topple kingdoms and bring ruin to nations!"

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes.

Was he praising her or insulting her?

Noticing that Dugu Yan's mood seemed to have improved somewhat, Dugu Bo struck while the iron was hot.

"Good granddaughter, can you tell Grandpa what happened now?"

"Why are you so angry? Who upset you?"

Dugu Bo's tone was gentle.

Perhaps only when facing Dugu Yan would Dugu Bo use such a gentle tone.

"No one upset me!"

Dugu Yan turned her head away.

However...

Her molars were clenched tightly.

"Pitter-patter—!"

At that moment.

A fine drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Above the valley, a hazy mist had formed, obscuring the sky from view.

"Drip!"

Drops of rain landed on Dugu Bo's head.

However—

Those raindrops made the expression of Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, change drastically.

Still.

Dugu Yan was here, so even though Dugu Bo felt unwell, he had to endure it by force.

"Good granddaughter, shall I take you back to the academy?"

"It's getting late, and you still have classes tomorrow!"

Dugu Yan waved her hand. "I can go back by myself. Grandpa, rest early and don't overwork yourself."

With that, she left the valley.

Outside the valley.

It was the habitat of many ten-thousand-year soul beasts.

However!

The route Dugu Yan took had been specially designed and prepared for her by Dugu Bo.

It was extremely safe!

She would not encounter any ten-thousand-year soul beasts!

After Dugu Yan left, Dugu Bo's expression instantly turned grave.

He turned and stared behind him.

There lay a peculiar pool.

Ice and fire existed in the same place, yet were clearly distinct, splitting the pool into two halves.

Countless exotic flowers and herbs grew around the pool.

The closer one came to the pool, the denser and more violent the energy in the air became.

As the rain gradually intensified, Dugu Bo clutched his sides with both hands, his expression growing uglier.

And he moved closer and closer to the pool...

Heaven Dou City.

Crown Prince's Palace.

Xue Qinghe was organizing intelligence concerning Chu Lan.

Almost every so often, he had to add new information to it.

For example, right now.

He had already learned that Chu Lan had defeated Yu Tianheng.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan intends to follow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's example and place its bets in the Tiandou Empire."

"Yet now..."

"Yu Tianheng, who, together with Yu Tianxin, was known as one of the Blue Lightning Twin Stars, was defeated in just two moves."

"This matter will likely have some impact."

Xue Qinghe lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers as he pondered in secret.

After beating the young one, the old one would come.

To him, it was perfectly normal for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to send someone to reclaim its honor.

If such a thing truly happened, it might be good news for him!

If Chu Lan did not run into a little trouble, how could he get a chance to show himself off?

The old "hero saves the beauty" routine might be clichéd, but it was reliable and effective!

Xue Qinghe frowned.

He had nearly forgotten that, in truth... he was the "beauty"!

Unfortunately...

Given the circumstances, he could only play the hero for now!

And let Chu Lan play the "beauty" instead!

"Achoo!"

Moonlight Pavilion.

Chu Lan was studying the Medicine Canon and learning how to refine medicine.

Without any warning, he sneezed. His hand trembled, and he accidentally added too much of one medicinal ingredient.

"Damn!"

"I have to start over!"

Chu Lan slapped his forehead and sighed.

Tap! Tap! Tap!"

Tang Yuehua approached with graceful, unhurried steps, carrying a plate of fruit.

"Put the fruit down and come help me."

Chu Lan beckoned to her.