Trouble, a Love Rival Appears!

A month of wilderness training soon came to an end.

As soon as Lin Ye returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he learned that Shui Bing'er had come looking for him.

And...

He heard from his classmates that Shui Bing'er had come more than once. On her last visit, she had even left a letter.

He opened it...

[Lin Ye:]

[If you see this letter before September 3, please come to Skywater Academy at once.]

[Shui Bing'er]

Urgency showed through every line of Shui Bing'er's letter.

What could have happened?

Lin Ye couldn't help wondering.

Forget it!

Once he went to Skywater Academy and saw Shui Bing'er, every mystery would unravel.

Skywater Academy.

"Big Sis."

"What are you thinking about now?"

"You're so distracted."

"We called you several times, but you didn't seem to hear us."

Shui Bing'er snapped back to herself. "What did you just say?"

Everyone looked helpless.

Oh no!

Was this some kind of post-marriage syndrome?

Shui Yue'er teased her from the side. "Bing'er has nothing but Lin Ye on her mind. I think she's about to fall sick with longing."

"You talk too much!"

"How many times have I told you? Call me Big Sis at school."

Shui Yue'er was younger, but Skywater Academy was a place where strength spoke.

Whoever was strongest got to be Big Sis.

"All right, all right—"

"Big Sis!"

"Then let me, Little Seven, make a suggestion."

"If you're so worried about Lin Ye, why not bring him into Skywater Academy when he gets back from training?"

The moment she said it, the others agreed.

It was a great suggestion.

Lin Ye was strong, had a high-quality Martial Soul, and was an Ice-Type Soul Master whose attributes suited Skywater Academy.

If Lin Ye joined Skywater Academy...

The Skywater Team's overall strength would soar to an epic degree.

"Nonsense!"

"Lin Ye is a man."

"How could he come to Skywater Academy?"

Skywater Academy's first rule was to admit only female students.

That rule had never been changed for anyone since the academy was founded.

Besides...

Where would Lin Ye live if he came?

He couldn't very well live with the seven of them.

"He can't come..."

"But you could go to him."

"That's right."

"Lin Ye might already be thinking of inviting you to join the Imperial Fighting Team."

Everyone thought that was entirely possible.

With Shui Bing'er as distracted as she was, one word from Lin Ye would probably have her following him obediently.

"I won't go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Shui Bing'er thought they were reading far too much into it.

She might be Lin Ye's wife.

But...

The Shui Family's ancestors had built Skywater Academy with their own hands. Her elders would never agree to let her leave.

"That's good."

One look at their expressions, and Shui Bing'er understood.

"Oh, I see."

"So that's what you were waiting to hear."

Shui Yue'er and the others didn't really want her to bring Lin Ye to Skywater Academy. They were afraid Lin Ye would take her to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Just then...

The dormitory door was pushed open.

"Senior Bing'er."

"Someone named Lin Ye is outside looking for you."

The messenger wore an odd expression.

Well...

By now, everyone at Skywater Academy knew Shui Bing'er was married, and that her husband was Lin Ye of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Well, well—"

"Lin Ye's back from training."

"Big Sis can finally put her mind at ease."

"You bet!"

"Her heart must be bursting with joy."

"..."

The others started teasing her again.

Only this time...

Shui Bing'er ignored them.

She truly had something important to tell Lin Ye.

Outside the academy gates.

Their eyes met.

"A fifty-thousand-year Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus has appeared in Heaven Dou City. It'll be auctioned off tonight."

That was the important news Shui Bing'er hadn't put in her letter.

She immediately added, "The information is absolutely reliable."

"A fifty-thousand-year Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus."

"It's expensive, isn't it?!"

Lin Ye felt as if he'd just stated the obvious.

After all!

That was a fifty-thousand-year Ice-Type Herb.

An Immortal-Grade Herb of that caliber was something one could only stumble upon, never seek out, anywhere on the Douluo Continent.

"Mm..."

Shui Bing'er nodded.

"Do you have money?"

Lin Ye had only a thousand Gold Soul Coins on him.

That pitiful sum wasn't even enough to get him into the auction house.

"No."

Shui Bing'er was honest, at least.

But her answer left Lin Ye helpless.

"Then what the hell was the point of telling me?"

Neither of them had money.

What the fuck was this, teaching a eunuch about sex?

Lin Ye had expected Shui Bing'er to say the Shui Family would give them its full support, but judging by her expression, he'd clearly imagined too much.

Shui Bing'er pressed her lips together. "I thought you'd have a way..."

Lin Ye laughed.

This woman thought rather highly of him.

A moment later...

Lin Ye snapped his fingers. "We don't have money, but we can ask someone for help."

"Who?"

"Ye Lingling."

The Ye Family did a great deal of business in Heaven Dou City.

That made Ye Lingling a little rich girl in every sense of the word.

"Her?"

The image of a pretty girl immediately appeared in Shui Bing'er's mind.

A surge of jealousy rose in her chest.

Before long...

Lin Ye found Ye Lingling in Heaven Dou City.

After finishing her training trip, Ye Lingling had gone straight home to Heaven Dou City.

She had told her parents how Lin Ye had given her an Immortal-Grade Herb that greatly boosted her cultivation, and she had shown them the fourth Soul Ring she'd obtained on the trip.

Father Ye and Ye Mother were delighted.

They immediately said they had to thank Lin Ye properly.

After hearing Ye Lingling's account, Lin Ye laid his cards on the table.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Come on!"

"I need the Ye Family's thank-you gift right now."

Lin Ye didn't stand on ceremony.

He told her outright that the Heaven Dou Auction House would be auctioning a fifty-thousand-year Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus tonight.

"Captain."

"Wait here."

"I'll go home and get the money right now."

After running a short distance, Ye Lingling stopped.

Oh no—

I'm so stupid.

I should have brought Lin Ye home.

Then my parents could have met him in person.

"She seems to like you a lot," Shui Bing'er said, watching Ye Lingling leave.

"Are you jealous?"

Lin Ye was used to it by now.

After all, this was everyday life for him, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling.

"Yes!"

Shui Bing'er didn't deny what she felt as she had before.

A month ago, she wouldn't have cared at all. But now she was jealous.

Very jealous.

She also understood that a gifted Soul Master like Lin Ye was bound to attract many girls.

The strong have more mating rights!

An elder in her family had once said that.

She might already be married to Lin Ye, but there were still many things she would have to fight for.

Mm...

My first rival is Ye Lingling.