Tang Hao's Thoughts

From the moment Tang San entered Sunset Forest, Tang Hao followed behind him.

Along the way, two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast approached the path from the flanks—a Shadow Leopard and an Ironback Gray Wolf —but he dealt with them both silently.

Tang Hao stood on a branch, watching Tang San's figure recede into the distance, and murmured something under his breath.

"It seems the mistress's plan has failed."

"However, since the mistress is Reborn, she must have already considered this and had a backup plan in mind."

"It's a pity I don't know what the mistress is thinking, otherwise I could help her. Should I take the initiative and reveal my identity?"

He thought about the phrase "good, good, good" for a while, then shook his head.

His gaze followed the limping figure, watching Tang San walk to a fallen old tree, lean against the trunk to catch his breath, and then continue walking forward.

"Let's forget about it. Since the other woman is Reborn, she must know my identity and that I'm secretly protecting her."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here alone knowing how dangerous Sunset Forest is."

"Since the mistress hasn't brought it up with me or asked for my help, it means she doesn't need me. I'll just stay in the shadows and wait until she calls me before I go out."

He flashed and quickly caught up with Tang San's pace.

When Dugu Bo returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yu Xiaogang was sitting cross-legged by the spring, cultivating.

Ye Lin squatted beside the stone platform, his hands resting on the dark iron basin, the dough slowly turning in his palms.

Yu Xiaogang looked up when he heard the noise.

"Where did you go out to do? What's all the noise outside?"

Dugu Bo casually replied, "It's nothing. There's just a Soul Beast yelling and shouting over there."

Yu Xiaogang frowned, his gaze falling on Dugu Bo's face. "Soul Beast? It sounds like someone is talking to me."

Dugu Bo silently recited a sentence in his heart.

"What happened outside just now was too shocking, how could I tell you? The less you know, the better. The thought that your lover is actually a Soul Beast in disguise is probably hard for you to accept. So, I'd better not tell them."

His tone was more casual than before.

You must have misheard. It's just Soul Beast.

He gestured with his chin towards Ye Lin, "How's the dough coming along?"

Ye Lin looked up. "It's still far from perfect, but this pot is really sturdy."

Yu Xiaogang glanced at him for a couple of moments, then didn't press the matter further.

If they won't tell you, there's nothing you can do if you keep asking.

"Dugu Bo, call your granddaughter here. Come and cultivate with us."

"At the same time, I can also help her get rid of the toxins in her body."

Dugu Bo frowned slightly.

"My granddaughter doesn't like these herbs and stuff. I've never brought her here before. It won't make a difference if I give her the detoxification in another six months."

Yu Xiaogang said, "I took quite a few good things from your medicinal herb garden. It wasn't a free lunch. I'll share some with your granddaughter."

Dugu Bo chuckled twice.

He gestured towards the Medicine Garden at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"This herb garden is huge; take whatever you want."

"Your ability to help me detoxify is a huge help to me."

There's no need for my granddaughter to come over.

"It would be too boring for her to stay here for six months."

Yu Xiaogang looked at him, his tone neither hurried nor slow.

"It can help improve her physique, cleanse her marrow and bones, enhance her talent, and boost her Soul Power; moreover, the effects are visible to the naked eye."

Dugu Bo turned around, his turquoise robe fluttering in the valley breeze. With a leap, he transformed into a streak of turquoise light and flew towards the valley entrance.

His voice drifted down from that arc of light.

"Wait here! I'll bring my granddaughter right away!"

Yu Xiaogang stood there, watching the bluish-green arc of light disappear into the night sky above the valley entrance.

He looked away and smiled. "You're still acting all unhappy about sharing some of the benefits with me."

The next morning, Dugu Bo led Dugu Yan to the entrance of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Dugu Yan wore a sleeveless cheongsam in light green, her long hair was piled up behind her head, and she wore a jade bracelet in green on her wrist. Her legs were long and fair, and she looked like a lotus flower just picked out of the water in the morning light.

The moment her foot touched the ground, her brow furrowed, and her gaze swept across the valley, taking in the sights: springs, Medicine Garden, and stone platforms.

"Grandpa, I don't want to come here. There's nothing fun about it."

Dugu Yan's tone carried a hint of disdain.

Dugu Bo stood beside her, rubbing his hands together, his voice soft and full of doting affection.

"Grandpa isn't lying to you. You'll see when you get here; it'll definitely be fun."

Dugu Bo finally managed to trick Dugu Yan into coming from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy by using a combination of coaxing and deception.

Dugu Yan snorted but didn't reply.

Her gaze swept across the valley before returning to the figure crouching beside the stone platform.

Her steps suddenly stopped.

Her pupils contracted slightly. She stared at the figure for a couple of moments, then abruptly turned to look at Dugu Bo, before turning back to look at Ye Lin.

"Grandpa, you were right, it really is fun!"

It's you!

Her voice was forced out of her throat.

"You actually dare to be here! You actually dare to show your face in front of me!"

Without saying a word, she lifted the hem of her cheongsam and rushed forward.

Her right fist swung out from her side, carrying a bluish-green Soul Power light, and smashed towards Ye Lin's face.

Ye Lin was squatting next to the iron basin, kneading dough, with both hands still pressed on the dough.

He had just raised his head when he heard the shout when a fist was already in front of him.

He didn't have time to pull his hand out of the dough, so he could only turn his head slightly and raise his left shoulder to catch the fist.

Dugu Yan's fist slammed into his shoulder with a dull thud, but Ye Lin didn't move; the force was rather weak.

He pulled both hands out of the basin, shook off the flour, and before Dugu Yan's second punch could land, he reached out with his right hand and grabbed her wrist.

"No, why did you hit me?"

Dugu Yan tried to pull her wrist away, but couldn't.

Her face flushed even redder, and she kicked her right leg out from under the hem of her cheongsam, aiming for Ye Lin's knee.

Ye Lin turned slightly to the side, and the foot grazed past the outside of his thigh.

His left foot followed, flicking against the calf of her foot that had landed.

Dugu Yan's center of gravity was already shifting forward, and after that jolt, she fell forward.

Her upper body fell forward, and before she could brace herself with her hands, she fell into Ye Lin's arms.

Ye Lin took half a step back, bent down, still holding her wrist with his right hand, and quickly grabbed her other hand with his left.

Dugu Yan's body was tilted in mid-air, her feet firmly on the ground, but her upper body was leaning forward.

The body bends, forming a graceful arc.

Her supple waist formed an S-shape, albeit a slanted one.

She only managed to stay upright because Ye Lin was holding her wrist.

Her cheongsam hem rose and fell back down, and a few strands of her hair were loose.

The blush on her face spread from her ears all the way down to her neck.

"Let me go!"

Ye Lin glanced down at her.

He paused for a moment, then released his grip, took a step back, and covered his eyes with his hands.