He was playing dumb!

As soon as Dugu Yan's arms were freed, she lost her support and fell forward. Her feet tried to push off the ground twice but failed, and then she cried out "Ouch!" before falling face down.

He just fell face-first into the mud.

She lay on the ground, supporting herself with her hands, unable to get up for a long time.

Dugu Bo stood a few steps away, watching this scene, his lips twitching twice, then twice more.

He silently recited a sentence in his heart.

Granddaughter, you can't beat him.

That guy looks simple-minded but all brawn and no brains; he's actually full of tricks!

He's just pretending to be from the Tang Dynasty.

Dugu Yan got up from the ground, her face covered in mud, and a few broken leaves hanging from her long, green hair.

She wiped her face haphazardly with the back of her hand, removing the mud, but a gray mark remained on her cheek.

She stood in front of the stone platform, her hands clenched into fists, her slightly upturned eyes seeming to spit fire.

She stared at Ye Lin for a couple of breaths, her teeth clenching so tightly they clicked.

Dugu Bo's lips curved slightly, but he quickly suppressed it, afraid that Dugu Yan would see it.

This girl has never suffered such a loss before.

"Yanzi, are you alright? This is Grandpa's medicinal herb garden, stop fooling around."

Dugu Yan turned her head and glared at him.

"Whose side are you on?"

She withdrew her gaze and returned it to Ye Lin's face, forcing out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"Let's settle both old and new scores!"

She stood there, her shoulders shrugging, whether from anger or something else, it was hard to tell.

She took a step forward, her hands clenching even tighter at her sides.

I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't forget.

She stared at Ye Lin for two breaths, her teeth grinding together, then charged forward again.

This time she didn't hold back. Her two fists, glowing with a bluish-green Soul Power, rained down blows on Ye Lin's chest and shoulders.

Her fist landed on Ye Lin, producing a series of dull thuds.

Ye Lin stood still.

His hands hung at his sides, and his feet were firmly planted on the gravel ground without even wobbling.

Dugu Yan's fists pounded into Ye Lin's chest, shoulders, and arms, each punch delivered with full force, yet none of that force left a single white mark on Ye Lin's skin.

She threw more than a dozen punches, her breathing becoming heavier and heavier, a thin layer of sweat appearing on her forehead, and stray hairs sticking to her cheeks with sweat.

She kicked him twice more, once in Ye Lin's shin and once in his knee, but Ye Lin still didn't move.

Dugu Yan's chest heaved faster and faster.

She stopped, placed her hands on her knees, bent over and caught her breath, then looked up at Ye Lin's expressionless face.

Ye Lin looked down at her, then reached out and patted her on the shoulder.

"Um, if you're going to hit me, hurry up. Don't just massage me. Also, it's a bit strenuous for me, so use more force next time."

Dugu Yan's lips trembled slightly.

"I***"

Her eyes reddened, the redness spreading from the corners of her eyes, making her slightly upturned eyes appear watery.

She bit her lip, the tears welling up and thickening until they finally rolled down her cheeks.

She stood there, her shoulders shrugging.

"You're always bullying me, Grandpa!"

Dugu Bo stood a few steps away, watching this scene, his lips twitching slightly.

Dugu Yan threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest, her shoulders heaving.

Dugu Bo raised his hand and patted her back twice.

"Okay, okay, don't cry. Grandpa's here."

He raised his head, his gaze passing over Dugu Yan's shoulder and landing on Ye Lin's face.

Ye Lin happened to be looking over as well, and their eyes met briefly in mid-air.

Dugu Bo's lips curved slightly, and Ye Lin's lips also curved slightly.

The two of them chuckled twice at the same time, then simultaneously stopped laughing.

Ye Lin turned around, walked to Yu Xiaogang's side, and took a purple medicinal herb from his hand.

The medicinal herb was surrounded by a pale purple halo, with thick roots and stems, curled leaves, and a faint, lingering fragrance of Ganoderma lucidum.

He took the medicinal herb and walked back to Dugu Yan, handing it to her.

"Um, Dugu Yan, consider this an apology to you."

Dugu Yan lifted her head from Dugu Bo's embrace, wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand, and her gaze fell on the purple medicinal herb.

She snorted and raised her chin. "Who wants your things unless you beg me?"

Ye Lin stood in front of her, holding the medicinal herb in his hand, and remained silent for a moment.

He silently thought to himself: Okay, okay, just treat it as a way to pass the time, she's a girl, after all.

Please, accept my apology.

After saying this, he took out a neatly folded handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over.

Dugu Yan glanced at him, then at the medicinal herb, and the cold smile on her lips softened slightly.

That's more like it.

She reached out and took the handkerchief, wiping her face twice to clean away the gray mark and tear stains.

She took the medicinal herb, examined it in her hand, brought it close to her nose to smell it, and asked, "What is this?"

Ye Lin said, "This is called Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma. It will be helpful to your cultivation. Take it and then refine its medicinal effects."

Dugu Yan glanced at Dugu Bo again.

Dugu Bo nodded at her.

She put the medicinal herb in her palm, walked to the spring, found a flat rock, and sat down cross-legged.

She held the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma to her lips, hesitated for a moment, and then took a small bite.

Her brows furrowed immediately, and the corners of her mouth turned down. "It's so bitter."

He forced himself to eat the entire medicinal herb, bite by bite.

After finishing her meal, she closed her eyes, placed her hands on her knees, and began to circulate her Soul Power.

The expression on her face gradually changed from a pained frown to a calm one, the wrinkles between her brows relaxed, her breathing became lighter, and she entered a quiet state of meditation.

Dugu Bo stood to the side and watched the whole scene unfold.

It took a lot of effort to get my precious granddaughter to be so obedient.

He turned around, gave Ye Lin a thumbs-up, then nodded towards Yu Xiaogang and said, "Yanzi is in your care now."

After he finished speaking, his light green robe swayed slightly in the valley breeze.

His body soared into the air, transforming into a streak of turquoise light, and disappeared into the morning sky above the valley entrance.

Ye Lin withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards the spring.

His time was basically divided in two. One half was used to practice controlling his strength, and the other half was used for cultivation. On the one hand, he improved his Soul Power and refined the medicinal effects, and on the other hand, he absorbed the True Dragon Bloodline under the spring.

Ye Lin took off his clothes, placed them outside the spring, and jumped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with a splash.