Dugu Yan Barged into the Bath; Shrek Was Surrounded

"Run!" Yu Xiaogang's expression changed sharply, and he turned first.

But it was already too late.

The instant Shui Yunlian sensed that familiar surge of Ice Soul Power, she flew out of the academy. Within a few breaths, she had blocked the Shrek group's path.

Illusory ice lotuses bloomed in layers around her, and the pressure of an Eighty-sixth Rank Soul Douluo bore down on them like a mountain of ice.

"Dean Flender, is this how Shrek does things?"

Shui Yunlian's voice was icy. All courtesy had vanished from her eyes.

"When you can't persuade someone to come, you try to seize her?"

Flender opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Meanwhile, in Dugu Manor southeast of Heaven Dou City, the scene was entirely different.

After leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Xue Qinghe had returned to the palace. Ning Rongrong had pestered Fang Fan with questions for quite a while before Ning Fengzhi sent someone to bring her back for a temporary stay.

Fang Fan and Zhu Zhuqing had accompanied Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan to Dugu Manor.

Dugu Bo's residence stood in the southeastern corner of Heaven Dou City. It was not large, but it was secluded, with poisonous flowers and herbs planted all around. Ordinary people would collapse from poisoning before they even reached the gate.

To Fang Fan, though, that Poison Barrier was no different from ordinary flowers and grass.

Dugu Yan personally welcomed the two of them into the main hall, her jade-green eyes full of delight.

In front of Fang Fan, her usual cold pride was nowhere to be seen. She bustled about like an eager little bird, serving tea and water before personally arranging their guest rooms. Even Dugu Bo could not help shaking his head. His granddaughter had never been this diligent for him.

"Your Highness, it is an honor for the Dugu family to welcome you to our humble home."

Dugu Bo had changed into casual clothes. Seated below Fang Fan, he spoke respectfully, with a trace of heartfelt gratitude:

"If Your Highness had not stepped in, this old man would have died at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The Dugu family will never forget your kindness, not for generations to come."

The next morning,

"Your Highness, there is something this old man must report to you."

Dugu Bo could barely contain the excitement in his voice:

"After taking the precious medicine Your Highness bestowed on me, I transferred part of my snake venom into my Spirit Bone and formed a poison core within my Dantian. Not only have the side effects of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's venom disappeared completely, but my Soul Power has also reached Rank Ninety-two."

Fang Fan nodded slightly. He was not surprised.

Those precious medicines had absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for centuries in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Their potency was extraordinary. It was only natural that Dugu Bo had used them to advance another rank as a Titled Douluo.

"My granddaughter benefited from Your Highness's generosity as well. Her Soul Power has risen to Rank Thirty-seven, a full six months sooner than I expected."

Dugu Bo glanced toward the kitchen, where Dugu Yan was busy. His eyes held both pride and emotion:

"We owe it all to Your Highness."

Fang Fan followed his gaze and saw Dugu Yan hurrying out of the kitchen with a plate of food.

She wore a dark-green short dress today, her long hair loosely tied behind her head and a pale apron around her waist. She looked nothing like her usual cold, alluring self.

She set the dish on the table and looked up, meeting Fang Fan's eyes. Her jade-green eyes flickered, and a faint smile touched her lips before she turned and slipped back into the kitchen.

Dugu Bo took it all in. He stroked his beard but said nothing.

How could he, her grandfather, fail to see what Little Goose was thinking? She was usually so aloof. Plenty of talented young men had courted her at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, yet she had barely given even Yu Tianheng, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, the time of day.

But ever since Fang Fan saved the Dugu family, the way she looked at him had changed. She talked more and fussed over him.

She had even cooked for him herself after they returned to the manor. In all his years, Dugu Bo could count on one hand the times he had eaten a meal his granddaughter made.

Still, he had no intention of interfering.

Little Goose was hardly the only one who liked Fang Fan. Ning Rongrong, the treasured little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, had been so clingy with him at the sect yesterday that even Sword Douluo could not bear to watch.

Fang Fan did not seem to be deliberately pushing her away, either.

Dugu Bo had lived long enough to know that strength ruled the Douluo Continent. Having several wives and concubines was nothing unusual. With Fang Fan's talent and status, there was no chance he would have only one woman at his side in the future.

If Little Goose could be with Fang Fan, Dugu Bo would feel reassured as her grandfather—

The way Fang Fan treated Zhu Zhuqing showed that this Holy Son was genuinely good to those close to him. Besides, Fang Fan's future achievements were beyond imagining. He would be far more than just another Pope.

Of course, Little Goose had to choose her own path. All these old bones could do was build her a bridge.

The table was laden with food: steamed fish, stewed chicken, Bamboo Shoots, and greens. Every dish was neatly presented, fragrant and appetizing. Dugu Yan untied her apron and sat across from Fang Fan, watching him expectantly with her jade-green eyes.

"Try some, Your Highness. I made all of it."

Fang Fan picked up a slice of bamboo shoot, put it in his mouth, and chewed. "Not bad," he said with a nod.

Dugu Yan's eyes curved with delight. She promptly served him several more dishes, piling his bowl almost to the brim.

Zhu Zhuqing ate quietly beside them, occasionally adding a piece she had tasted and liked to Fang Fan's bowl. Their chopsticks crossed above it several times. Neither woman said a word, yet they seemed to be fighting a silent war.

Dugu Bo kept his head down and concentrated on his food, pretending not to notice.

After the meal, Dugu Yan got up to clear the dishes. Fang Fan returned to his room to bathe and change. He still had an appointment with Xue Qinghe at the Crown Prince's Palace that afternoon.

Fang Fan took off his clothes and settled into the bathtub. The water was just right—hot, but not scalding—and its warmth eased him to the bone.

Just then, faint footsteps sounded outside the door.

They stopped at the threshold for a moment, as though their owner hesitated. Then, as if she had made up her mind, the wooden door opened a crack and quickly shut again.

A graceful figure slipped inside and leaned back against the door, breathing noticeably faster than usual.

Fang Fan opened his eyes and made out her face through the rising steam. Dark-green hair, jade-green eyes—it was Dugu Yan. She had clearly changed clothes. Her dark-green gauze dress was thin, its neckline lower than usual and revealing her delicate collarbones. Her face was burning red. Her eyes held nervousness and an impulse even she could not explain, but she bit her lip, raised her head, and looked straight at the blurred figure behind the screen.

"Your Highness..." Her voice was husky and trembled slightly. "I..."

Fang Fan leaned against the side of the tub and looked at her through the steam. He said nothing, his gaze calm.

At that very moment, in Skywater City.

Dozens of Soul Masters had packed the streets beside Ice Lake, sealing them off completely. Those in the innermost circle were all female Soul Masters in water-blue dresses—the teachers of Skywater Academy. Every one of them was striking, and every face was cold. Beyond them crowded the Soul Masters of Skywater City, drawn by the Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Heads bobbed as people talked among themselves.

Shui Yunlian stood at the front of the crowd, her water-blue dress stirring without a breeze. Eight Soul Rings revolved slowly beneath her feet: two yellow, two purple, and four black. The aura of an Eighty-sixth Rank Soul Douluo pressed down on the few people trapped in the center.

Sweat had formed on Flender's forehead. He was a Rank Seventy-eight Soul Saint, and Zhao Wuji was Rank Seventy-six. Neither was weak by the standards of the continent, but Shui Yunlian was a true Eighty-sixth Rank Soul Douluo, nearly a full realm above them. Worse, dozens of Skywater Academy teachers and over a hundred Skywater City Soul Masters surrounded them. If a fight broke out, their little group would not even have a chance to flee.

"We're sorry, truly sorry." Flender clasped his hands repeatedly, forcing a smile uglier than a grimace. "Dean Shui, please calm down. We were desperate to recruit a student, so we resorted to this. We meant no harm—none at all!"