Teasing Their Granddaughters

"A Soul Elder killed three Four-Ring Soul Ancestors on his own. Xiao Xuan has truly opened our eyes!"

After hearing Dugu Xin's full account, Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin exchanged a look. Shock spread across both their faces.

They knew that Lu Xuan's first three soul skills had never been suited to direct offense.

If he had relied on their boosts and his formidable strength to kill one Soul Ancestor, they could have understood it.

But without relying on the Soul Power granted by his soul rings, he had faced three opponents alone and swiftly dispatched three Four-Ring Soul Ancestors who worked well together.

Such a feat was almost impossible to believe.

"Let's leave the matter there for now," Ye Renxin said slowly. "Xiao Xuan has mentioned some supposedly 'family-taught' abilities to me over the past two years, and I've never pressed him. I imagine the Martial Arts he showed today are among them."

From the mysterious cultivation method he had first brought out to the Whale Rubber he had produced later, one thing after another had long made it clear that Lu Xuan was no ordinary boy.

Above all, the "Immortal Pills" Lu Xuan had refined himself had brought enormous breakthroughs in their cultivation.

Benefits as real as those were proof enough that the boy had no scheme to use them.

Since Lu Xuan had treated them sincerely, why pry too deeply into his secrets?

Dugu Bo nodded, understanding in his aged eyes. "Xiao Xuan used those abilities in front of Yanyan and Lingling today. Clearly, he wasn't intent on keeping them from us. He's treated us with sincerity. We need only return it in kind."

"He had so many treasures, yet when we first found him, Lu Xuan was alone and unconscious in the street." Ye Renxin sighed softly, worry creasing his brow. "His enemies must be terribly powerful. I only hope we can lend him a hand when the day comes for him to face them."

As the three elders talked, footsteps sounded in the distance. Lu Xuan returned to the inn with Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, holding both their hands.

Lu Xuan stepped forward first to assure them he was safe. Before the elders could ask a question, the two girls launched into a lively account of what had happened that day, taking turns to fill in the details.

Naturally, Dugu Yan said nothing about her prank of making Lu Xuan eat a sour hawthorn, or about being fed one herself.

But they left out nothing about the shop with the unusual sign and its unscrupulous owner, or about Lu Xuan fighting alone against three street thugs and killing them all. They told Dugu Bo, Ye Renxin, and Dugu Xin every detail.

Dugu Xin had already told the two old men what had happened, but hearing it from their granddaughters, they still could not help looking toward Lu Xuan.

"They're Self-Created Soul Skills passed down in my family," Lu Xuan said evenly. He could never reveal the secret of his transmigration. Calling the Martial Arts of Peach Blossom Island and the Nine Yin Manual Self-Created Soul Skills was the best explanation he had.

"Grandpa, you have no idea how unreasonable Lu Xuan is!" Dugu Yan stepped forward at once, looking every bit like someone rushing to complain before the other party could. She turned to Dugu Bo. "He insists those Self-Created Soul Skills are Lu Family secrets and will only teach them to a Lu Family wife. I even offered to trade him a kiss for one move, and he still refused!"

Dugu Bo glanced sideways at Dugu Xin, a question in his eyes: Why didn't you mention that in your report?

Embarrassment crossed Dugu Xin's face. How was he supposed to repeat the playful banter between the youngsters?

"He'll only teach a Lu Family wife? That's easy enough." Far from taking his granddaughter's side, Dugu Bo stroked his beard and laughed. "You and Xiao Xuan make a fine pair. Marry him, and you can learn those skills, can't you?"

Ye Renxin joined in at once, turning to Ye Lingling. "Lingling, aren't you already a Lu Family wife? If Yanyan wants to learn, you can have Xiao Xuan teach you, then show her in secret."

With the two old men teasing them one after the other, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling flushed all the way to their ears.

"I'm not talking to you anymore!" Too embarrassed to stay, Ye Lingling grabbed Dugu Yan's hand. "Yanyan, let's go!"

The girls hurried away hand in hand. Watching them flee, everyone exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin asked no more about the Self-Created Soul Skills. They only urged Lu Xuan to be careful when he went out and to put his safety first.

Lu Xuan smiled faintly. "Master, Grandpa Dugu, Uncle Dugu, don't worry. I have ways to protect myself."

As he spoke, he took out the four things he had bought while shopping that day and set them on the table one by one.

The hairpin that had caught Dugu Yan's eye and the piece of green metal Ye Lingling had chosen were not among them.

Those two items were still safely tucked away in the girls' respective storage Soul Tools.

"They don't look like much." Dugu Bo swept his gaze over the four objects. Seeing nothing unusual at first glance, he turned to Lu Xuan with a teasing smile. "Xiao Xuan, did that crooked merchant fleece you?"

"Not exactly." Ye Renxin pointed to a piece of Hair Crystal. "I saw this at Lou Gao's place more than ten years ago. This piece could sell for at least a thousand gold coins. You may have come out ahead."

"I didn't know what it was either. I just picked it up along with the others," Lu Xuan said with a faint smile. "Yanyan and Lingling were the ones who found things they liked in that shop. I chose these while we were there."

Ye Renxin nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. He felt no need to press his granddaughter about what treasure she had found. Whatever it was, the two girls had their purchases in hand and could look after them. There was no hurry to investigate.

A moment later, Lu Xuan's expression grew serious. He looked at the three elders and asked, "Master, Grandpa Dugu, Uncle Dugu, there's something I'd like your thoughts on. May I teach my Self-Created Soul Skills to Lingling and Yanyan?"

Ye Renxin, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Xin all paused. Then they exchanged a knowing look, each understanding what the others were thinking.

After a brief silence, Ye Renxin spoke first, his tone grave. "Xiao Xuan, you must understand what that means. If you teach Lingling and Yanyan these unique skills, you'll be opening up your family's secrets to both our families. In effect, both families will have learned your arts."

"Then let them learn," Lu Xuan said calmly, unconcerned. "They're only skills, after all."