Dai Jinge entered the restaurant with Zhu Zhuqing holding his arm. He called over a waiter and ordered a few dishes, then went upstairs with her to wait.
By the time the sky had gone completely dark, Yang Wudi finally returned, travel-worn and dusty. Learning from the two Yang Family disciples that Dai Jinge urgently wanted to see him, he felt anticipation well up inside him and hurried upstairs.
Knock, knock, knock!
Inside the restaurant room, Dai Jinge held Zhu Zhuqing in his arms as they chatted and laughed, imagining their future.
Hearing the knocking, Dai Jinge looked up.
"I'll get the door."
Zhu Zhuqing left Dai Jinge's embrace and hurried to open the door. When she saw Yang Wudi standing outside, she looked back at Dai Jinge in surprise and said:
"Jinge, Senior Yang is back."
Dai Jinge rose to greet him. "Yang Family Head."
Yang Wudi cupped his hands. "Fourth Prince, Miss Zhu, did you summon me so urgently because you've found our destination? I spent all day searching the core region of Sunset Forest. I found quite a few peaks and valleys, but unfortunately, they were all Soul Beast habitats."
Dai Jinge nodded and invited him with a smile, "Please sit down first, Yang Family Head."
At this, Yang Wudi's heart leaped with joy.
After pulling Zhu Zhuqing down to sit opposite Yang Wudi, Dai Jinge began explaining his plan. "Zhu Zhuqing and I have found the place. As for when we leave, that will depend on the weather over the next few days."
Puzzled, Yang Wudi asked, "Why is that?"
Dai Jinge said gravely, "As far as I know, the poison in Dugu Bo's body affects him more severely during rainy, overcast weather. On sunny days, it's the opposite."
Yang Wudi looked thoughtful.
Dai Jinge continued, "Whenever that happens, Dugu Bo stays in his lair to suppress the poison. That's why we need to wait for a clear, sunny day and set out when he might be away."
Understanding dawned on Yang Wudi. "I see. We're taking advantage of a gap in his schedule."
Dai Jinge sighed. "A Titled Douluo is still a Titled Douluo, after all. If we can avoid running into him, we should do our best to do so."
Yang Wudi gave a bitter smile. "Indeed. If we can avoid risking our lives, that would be best."
He was only a lowly Soul Saint right now. Crushing him would be as easy for Dugu Bo as crushing an ant.
Dai Jinge smiled. "Thank you for your efforts today, Yang Family Head. Go back and get some rest."
Yang Wudi nodded and cupped his hands. "Then I won't disturb the Fourth Prince and Miss Zhu any further."
Dai Jinge returned the salute.
Yang Wudi reached the doorway, then suddenly stopped. Seeing this, Dai Jinge asked, "Yang Family Head, is there anything else?"
"Ahem!"
Yang Wudi turned and came back to Dai Jinge, taking out a jade bottle and handing it to him.
"The Fourth Prince is still young, and your body hasn't fully developed yet. You should exercise some restraint."
"This is our clan's best-selling medicine, and I made this particular bottle myself. Whenever the Fourth Prince needs it, just take one pill."
Dai Jinge accepted the jade bottle, and his lips twitched involuntarily at Yang Wudi's words.
"I'll take my leave."
Yang Wudi cupped his hands and nodded at Dai Jinge, a smile appearing on his face that Zhu Zhuqing found rather strange and baffling.
"I don't need this stuff..."
Dai Jinge muttered under his breath, yet his hands obediently tucked the jade bottle into his Storage Soul Tool.
"Jinge, what kind of medicine is that?"
"That smile on the Yang Family Head's face just now looked so strange!"
Zhu Zhuqing murmured her complaint.
"Well..."
Dai Jinge had no idea how to explain it to Zhu Zhuqing. But when he met her curious eyes, he swallowed, leaned close to her ear, and explained softly:
"This medicine is... an aphrodisiac."
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks instantly flushed red. She grew bashful and lowered her head in embarrassment.
"How could he give you that kind of medicine? We're still so young. Isn't it a little too early?"
Dai Jinge scratched his head awkwardly as well. He had once used three pieces of thousand-year whale rubber, whose side effects were no different from those of an aphrodisiac.
Looking embarrassed, Dai Jinge changed the subject. "Zhu Zhuqing, shall we go cultivate on the bed?"
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded shyly.
Early the next morning, mist shrouded the view outside the window.
After a night of cultivation, Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing had both made further progress in their Soul Power.
Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Power had risen from rank sixteen to rank seventeen, bringing her another step closer to becoming a Soul Grandmaster.
Their Martial Souls were extremely compatible, and they could already perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Yet only a little over half a month had passed since their first encounter.
At a dining table in the first-floor hall.
As everyone ate breakfast, Yang Wudi glanced at the weather outside and frowned. "Fourth Prince, are we setting out today?"
Dai Jinge considered for a moment. "We can set out. If the weather gets worse, we'll linger nearby and wait for an opportunity."
"Jinge, have some soup. It tastes quite good."
Zhu Zhuqing picked up the soup bowl and spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to her lips to blow on it gently. Once she felt it had cooled enough, she held it to Dai Jinge's mouth.
Gulp!
Dai Jinge drank the spoonful of soup Zhu Zhuqing fed him and nodded in satisfaction. "It's delicious. More importantly, you fed it to me."
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head shyly. There were so many people here, yet Dai Jinge never held his tongue. His teasing left her at a loss for words.
Yang Wudi sighed inwardly. Young love...
If not for what had happened nine years ago, he would still have his wife and children by his side, living a happy, fulfilling life. Unfortunately, the world was ever-changing... Who could have imagined that the Clear Sky Sect, once hailed as the greatest sect under heaven, would abandon the subordinate clans that had followed it!
After breakfast, the three set out.
Dai Jinge remembered the route. Holding Zhu Zhuqing in his arms, he piloted the [Tiger Roaring Flash Chariot] and led the way up ahead.
Yang Wudi traveled on foot through the forest below.
It wasn't that Dai Jinge didn't want to bring Yang Wudi along. The [Tiger Roaring Flash Chariot] simply had no spare room; three people would have made it far too cramped.
By noon, the haze gradually dispersed, and shafts of sunlight fell into the forest.
After crossing more than half of Sunset Forest, Dai Jinge finally saw yesterday's peculiar sight again: two kinds of mist lingered above a valley, refusing to disperse.
Meanwhile, Yang Wudi, who was traveling on foot through the forest, also noticed something amiss.
"There's poison in the air!"
Yang Wudi frowned, his complexion shifting slightly. He immediately took out a black pill, put it in his mouth, and chewed.
Once he swallowed the pill and its effects took hold, a healthy flush returned to his face.
Yang Wudi leaped onto the crown of a towering tree and looked toward Dai Jinge.
"Fourth Prince, there's poison in the air here!"
Dai Jinge naturally knew that. It was precisely why he dared not act rashly.
He slowly descended with Zhu Zhuqing.
Before you continue