Playing with Dugu Bo!

"Alright."

Tang Feng took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

Dugu Yan accepted the handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"What are the conditions?"

"I want to see your grandfather, Dugu Bo."

The courtyard fell silent.

Dugu Yan's gaze immediately turned wary.

She folded the handkerchief and placed it back in Tang Feng's palm.

"What do you want to see my grandfather for?"

"To confirm your Martial Soul Backlash."

"Is that all?"

"And to discuss your poison while I'm at it."

Dugu Yan stared at Tang Feng for a moment.

"My grandfather's whereabouts are uncertain."

"You don't know where he is?"

"Grandfather rarely stays at the academy."

Tang Feng nodded.

"Then send him a message."

"What should I say?"

Tang Feng looked at her.

"Tell him I bullied you."

Ye Lingling froze for a moment.

Dugu Yan's expression changed as well.

"What did you say?"

"Once Dugu Bo hears that someone bullied his granddaughter, he'll naturally come."

"How are you planning to send that message?"

"Tell the truth."

Tang Feng took back the handkerchief.

"You collapsed in the courtyard, and I touched you with vines."

A faint blush quickly spread across Dugu Yan's cheeks.

"You call that bullying?"

"You just said your poison would spread to me."

"That was a warning!"

"But you still let me touch you."

Dugu Yan raised a hand and pointed at him.

"You're so young. How are you already this good at talking nonsense?"

Tang Feng glanced at the finger she was pointing at him.

"Put your hand down."

"Your poisoning has only just stabilized."

Dugu Yan met his eyes for a moment, then eventually lowered her hand.

Ye Lingling raised a hand to cover the corner of her lips.

"You just met Yan Yan, and you're already eager to see her grandfather. Don't tell me you're planning to propose?"

"Lingling!"

Dugu Yan immediately turned around.

The tips of her ears reddened, and her long emerald-green hair swept across her shoulders and back with the motion.

"What are you talking about?"

"I was only saying it casually."

Ye Lingling sat down beside the stone table, her composure returning.

"But Tang Feng's treatment really is effective."

Dugu Yan looked at Tang Feng again.

"I'll send the message."

"But if Grandfather comes and finds out you were only making a joke out of me..."

"He'll examine your body first."

Tang Feng turned and walked toward the courtyard exit.

"If he doesn't come, I'll think of another way."

Dugu Yan watched his retreating back.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to the dormitory."

"You're not staying to observe my condition?"

"You can still stand, which means you won't collapse for now."

Dugu Yan lowered her head and looked at her body.

Although the toxins had been suppressed, discomfort still lingered in her meridians.

She had only just pushed herself up from the stone table when weakness swept through her legs.

Tang Feng stopped walking.

"Do you need me to help you?"

"Mind your own business."

Dugu Yan gritted her teeth and steadied herself.

Tang Feng did not linger any longer.

Ye Lingling glanced at Dugu Yan.

"You really won't let him help you?"

"My meridians are only a little weak."

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not."

"Not even your ears?"

Dugu Yan raised a hand to touch the side of her ear, then immediately stopped.

She turned to look in the direction Tang Feng had left.

The black-haired figure had already gone far down the courtyard path.

Yet the aura brought by those two Blue Silver Emperors still lingered in the air.

The freshness of blue-gold and the depth of dark purple intertwined, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

"This Tang Feng..."

Dugu Yan spoke softly.

Ye Lingling put away the Nine-Hearted Begonia.

"He saved you."

"I know."

"And he's helping you find a way to cure the root of your problem."

"I know that too."

"Then why are you still staring after him?"

Dugu Yan gathered her disheveled long hair back over her shoulder.

"I'm wondering whether, once Grandfather comes, I should have him capture Tang Feng first."

Ye Lingling said calmly,

"You just said he can cure your Martial Soul Backlash."

Dugu Yan fell silent for a moment.

"Then don't capture him yet."

Outside Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

When Dugu Bo received the message, he was gathering medicinal herbs in a remote mountain forest.

The messenger Spirit Master said only a few words.

Dugu Yan had suffered a poison flare-up within the academy.

A newly arrived student had forcibly restrained her with vines.

She had now recovered, but he demanded to see Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo crushed the medicinal branch in his hand.

"Who dares touch Yan Yan?"

He turned and left the mountain forest.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The first day.

Tang Feng arrived at the courtyard as agreed.

Dugu Yan was already waiting there.

She had changed into a clean uniform, her long emerald-green hair tied back with a ribbon.

The moment she heard footsteps, she looked up.

"How are you treating me today?"

"Sit down."

"I can't stand?"

"You can't stand steadily."

Dugu Yan glanced at Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling was tending the herb garden. Hearing that, she turned around.

"Yesterday, when you stood up beside the stone table, you nearly fell."

"That was because my poison had just flared up."

"Not today."

Dugu Yan placed her hands behind her back.

"I can stand properly on my own."

Tang Feng did not argue with her.

The Ruination Blue Silver Emperor grew from his left hand.

A vine wrapped around Dugu Yan's wrist.

She instinctively tried to retreat, but the vine only tightened gently, restricting the circulation of her Soul Power within a fixed range.

"Do you have to tie me up every time?"

"This is faster."

"Why do I feel like you're taking revenge?"

"You don't have to be treated."

Dugu Yan immediately shut her mouth.

Tang Feng lowered his eyes and controlled the vine.

The toxins were drawn out bit by bit.

Dugu Yan's wrist was supported by Dark Blue Grass blades, and a warm sensation spread wherever her skin touched the vine.

She had initially wanted to say a few more things, but Tang Feng was too focused.

Several times, words reached her lips, only for her to swallow them back down.

When the treatment ended, Tang Feng withdrew his Martial Soul.

Dugu Yan watched the dark-purple glow gradually fade from her wrist.

"You don't need to rest after every treatment?"

"Do you need to rest every time you're poisoned?"

"I'm asking about you."

"I answered."

Dugu Yan looked at him for a while.

"Have you always been this annoying when you talk?"

"You only realized that on the first day?"

Ye Lingling brought over a cup of warm water.

Dugu Yan accepted it and took a sip.

The rim of the cup still retained its warmth.

"Lingling, aren't you going to say a few words for me?"

"I think Tang Feng makes sense."

"You've only known each other for a few days."

"I met him half an hour before you did."

Dugu Yan raised her eyes to look at her.

Ye Lingling looked calm, though a faint smile hid in her eyes.

The next day.

Dugu Yan arrived at the herb garden early.

Tang Feng had not appeared yet.

She crouched beside the spiritual herb that had sprouted anew and reached out to touch its leaves.

The tender shoot was fuller than it had been yesterday.

"Its vitality is recovering quickly."

Tang Feng came up behind her.

Dugu Yan immediately pulled back her hand.

"I was just looking."

"It won't bite you."

"How do you know?"

"It isn't poisonous."

Dugu Yan stood up.

Because she rose too quickly, her body swayed.

Tang Feng reached out and steadied her by the elbow.

Dugu Yan's body immediately stiffened.

His palm stopped against the outside of her elbow through her sleeve, not moving any closer.

She could feel the steady strength in his grip.

"Stand properly."

Tang Feng let go.

"I'm standing just fine."

"You nearly ran into the herb garden just now."

"The ground was uneven."

"The academy paths are very flat."

Dugu Yan lifted her eyes to look at him.

"Can you say one less thing?"

"Yes."

"Then don't say anything."

"Alright."

Tang Feng really did close his mouth.

Dugu Yan stood where she was, finding the courtyard's silence strangely unfamiliar instead.

She glanced at Tang Feng.

"Why aren't you talking?"

"Didn't you tell me not to?"

"I'm allowing you to speak now."

"The treatment begins."

Dark Blue Vines coiled around her wrist again.

This time, Dugu Yan did not struggle.

She raised her arm on her own, making it easier for Tang Feng to examine her meridians.