Return to Nuoding City

"I did notice a few things, but I only have a rough idea of a solution," Li Ye said with a sigh.

"Ye Li, lad, if you know a solution, let me hear it."

As the saying went, the speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart. Hearing Li Ye say this, Dugu Bo immediately grew excited.

Though he did not fear death, he feared losing his loved ones. He did not want Dugu Yan to die of poison as his son Dugu Ming had.

"The reason you're in this condition is probably that you absorbed too many toxins while cultivating, far beyond what your Martial Soul and body could withstand. That's why your entire body is now full of toxins."

"There are only two ways to eradicate the problem. One is to use some special power to remove all the toxins from your body directly, but that would also leave you unable to use poison anymore. The other is to transfer the toxins in your body into something within it that can contain them, such as a Soul Bone or some other treasure," Li Ye said slowly.

"The first option is definitely out, but the second is worth a try." After pondering for a moment, Dugu Bo made his decision.

"Ye Li, lad, I'll go back and try your method first. If it works, I'll certainly reward you handsomely someday."

With that, Dugu Bo flew away without looking back.

"All right, Long'er, it's time for me to leave too. Remember to refine this Soul Bone." With that, Li Ye took out the Trunk Bone and placed it in Liu Erlong's hands.

"Ye Li, if you ever want to find me, come to Blue Tyrant Academy. I'm its dean. If you come, I'll let you be the dean, and I'll just be the Dean's Wife."

"Oh, right. My real name actually isn't Long'er. It's Liu Erlong." Seeing that Li Ye was about to leave, Liu Erlong did not stop him. Instead, she revealed her true identity.

"Liu Erlong!" At her words, Li Ye's jaw nearly dropped.

He had suspected before that Long'er might be Liu Erlong, but her temperament was completely different from the Liu Erlong he remembered, so he had gradually dismissed the idea.

But now that she had said it to his face, how could Li Ye not be surprised?

After all, Liu Erlong had nearly married Yu Xiaogang back then, which would have made her his master's wife.

How was he supposed to face Yu Xiaogang when he returned?

Still, since it had only nearly happened, it did not count.

Li Ye certainly would not stand on ceremony with Yu Xiaogang. After all, this could count as a kind of inheritance, couldn't it?

Hehe, the woman the master failed to marry actually ended up with his disciple.

Just thinking about it thrilled Li Ye. After all, this was no less exciting than telling Tang San and Tang Hao, "Ah Yin will be mine from now on. We'll each keep our relationships separate."

"Ye Li, what's wrong?" Seeing Li Ye standing there in a daze, Liu Erlong could not help feeling a little puzzled.

"Nothing, Long'er. I was just wondering whether I should have you give me a daughter or a son the next time we meet." Li Ye pulled Liu Erlong into his arms and said with a smile.

"Well, that depends on your ability. If your aim is good enough, perhaps you could have one of each." Liu Erlong gently traced circles on Li Ye's chest with her index finger as she spoke alluringly.

"Don't worry. My marksmanship has always been excellent. I certainly won't disappoint you."

With that, Li Ye kissed Liu Erlong goodbye and hurried toward Nuoding City.

"Ah, I've been gone for almost two months. I wonder if Xiao Wu will blame me."

He had already reached the gates of Nuoding Academy, yet his steps involuntarily slowed.

Naturally, he missed Xiao Wu terribly.

If Liu Erlong was the first woman he had fallen for, then Xiao Wu was the first girl he had wanted to protect.

This was not merely because Xiao Wu had shared his bed and pillow for over two years, but also because whenever he was by her side, she would focus all her attention on him.

Who could possibly dislike such an adorable girl whose heart was filled with nothing but you?

Still, now that he was back, Li Ye naturally would not shrink away. If he got scolded, so be it. It had been worth it anyway.

The moment Li Ye entered the dormitory, Xiao Wu, who had been sitting on her bed in a daze, noticed him.

Before Li Ye could explain anything, Xiao Wu threw herself into his arms and said, her eyes red:

"Xiao Ye, why were you gone for so long? Do you know how much I missed you, how worried I was about you?"

Seeing his girl so worried about him, and seeing how haggard she looked, Li Ye's heart immediately ached.

He knew that Xiao Wu must have spent whole nights unable to sleep and whole days unable to eat because of him again.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Wu. I made you worry."

"It's all right. As long as you're back." Xiao Wu shook her head, not blaming him as Li Ye had imagined she would.

"Haha, to thank my Xiao Wu for caring about me so much, I'll give you a present," Li Ye said with a smile.

Who would have thought that before Xiao Wu could answer, Tang San would walk in through the door?

"Senior brother, what present? Is there one for me?"

"No. Get lost!" Seeing Tang San appear at such an inopportune moment to interrupt him, Li Ye nearly failed to resist slapping this clueless fellow to death.

"Senior brother, you can't be like this! I've been worried about you all this time too, you know. Why does Xiao Wu get a present while I don't?"

In fact, Tang San had returned to the dormitory long ago, but he had not pushed the door open because he did not want to interrupt Li Ye and Xiao Wu's reunion.

But when he heard that Li Ye was secretly going to give Xiao Wu a present, he could no longer hold back and pushed the door open to enter.

"Fine, there's one for you too. Happy now? I really can't stand you, putting on that ridiculous look in front of me every day." Li Ye shook his head helplessly.

"Haha, I knew you'd hold the bowl level for both of us, senior brother." Seeing Li Ye give in, Tang San immediately burst out laughing.

"Here. I happened upon these two medicinal herbs. They looked extraordinary, so I figured they must be treasures and brought them back. This peony is for Xiao Wu, and this orchid is for you, Xiao San."

After taking the two of them somewhere relatively secluded, Li Ye brought out the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and the eight-petal immortal orchid he had obtained from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"These are... Lovesick Heartbreak Red and eight-petal immortal orchid!" Seeing what Li Ye had brought out, Tang San's expression changed drastically.

"What, Xiao San? You recognize them?"

"Yes. I once saw these medicinal herbs in an ancient book. It described their effects, harvesting methods, and consumption methods in great detail."

Then, under Li Ye's questioning, Tang San told him everything about these medicinal herbs.

Since knowledge of medicinal herbs did not count among the Tang Sect's core secrets, Tang San did not concern himself too much with that.

"Senior brother, I can't accept this eight-petal immortal orchid. You should keep it for yourself," Tang San said earnestly, handing the eight-petal immortal orchid back to Li Ye.

"What, Xiao San? Are you trying to slap your senior brother in the face? You expect me to take back something I've already given away?" Li Ye said unhappily.

"No, senior brother, that's not what I meant. It's just that the eight-petal immortal orchid is too precious. You should take it yourself. It would benefit you far more than it would me," Tang San explained in a fluster.

"Xiao San, your senior brother has actually already taken two herbs before-the octagonal mysterious ice grass and infernal delicate apricot you mentioned, or whatever they were called. So don't stand on ceremony with me, Xiao San."