Flare-Up, Seeking Poison

Two hours later, the setting sun dipped below the treetops. The ground darkened, and a faint chill seeped into the air.

Yang Yunhai stopped cultivating, rose to his feet, and walked out of the forest.

He jogged toward the Simulated Training Field where Zhu Zhuqing was. As he approached and looked over, he saw Zhu Zhuqing sitting gracefully on the bench outside, waiting for him. Her round legs were pressed together and angled to one side, her fair hands elegantly folded atop her thighs. Her figure was slender and poised, her pale oval face cool and aloof, like an ice spirit. The next moment, perhaps having heard his footsteps, she turned to look at him and quietly stood up.

Tap, tap, tap. Yang Yunhai quickened his pace and walked up to her. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's fine. I only just came out too," Zhu Zhuqing said casually.

Looks like she really had changed. Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly, a smile appearing on his face. "Let's go."

"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly. Once Yang Yunhai started walking, she followed alongside him.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder toward the dormitory.

The evening wind in March was neither warm nor gentle, especially near the mountains and forests. As they walked down the road, they could constantly hear the rustling of vegetation on both sides. Strands of cold wind swept over them, tossing their hair and bringing waves of chill.

Feeling the cold against his skin, Yang Yunhai's heart stirred for no apparent reason. He turned slightly to look at Zhu Zhuqing beside him.

The Clear Wind tousled the hair around her ears, forcing the girl to raise a hand and straighten it. Beneath her ear, her fair shoulder was covered in tiny goosebumps.

Subconsciously, Yang Yunhai's fingers moved as he edged closer to Zhu Zhuqing's slightly lowered left hand.

But the next moment, he remembered that they had known each other for less than Half Moon, so he immediately stopped and quietly withdrew his hand.

When he glanced over again, Zhu Zhuqing had lowered her head, her gaze already turned to the other side. Her Wine Dimples were faintly red; he could not tell whether it was from the cold or embarrassment.

? Had she noticed? Yang Yunhai jolted awake and instinctively faced forward, pretending that nothing had happened as he continued on.

The wind kept blowing, and the two remained silent and quiet until they returned to the dormitory.

"Xiao Hai, Zhu Qing, you're back?" The moment they stepped inside, they caught the attention of their teammates sitting on the sofa. Dugu Yan, who was leaning against Yu Tianheng's side, turned and swept her gaze over them. She nodded slightly, raised an eyebrow, and said, "You two took quite a long time on your date. Unfortunately, we've already finished dinner. But we left some leftovers in the kitchen for you. Heat them up yourselves if you want to eat."

Hearing that, Yu Tianheng shook his head slightly and smiled at the two of them.

"Xiao Hai, Zhu Qing, don't mind her. Yanzi has always been like this—sharp tongue, soft heart. You'll understand once you've spent more time with her."

"Tianheng Ge, I know." Yang Yunhai smiled and nodded.

"You know again." The proud Dugu Yan curled her lips. "If you understand so much, why haven't you won Zhu Qing over yet?"

"..." Faced with this bombshell, Zhu Zhuqing was momentarily speechless.

Yang Yunhai was equally speechless. He quickly looked around at the others and changed the subject. "You guys keep talking. I'm going to heat up the food."

With that, he strode toward the kitchen.

"I'll help." Seemingly realizing that Dugu Yan was unreliable and liable to force her into some awkward conversation if she stayed alone, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly found an excuse to leave as well. She took small, unhurried steps after Yang Yunhai.

"Oh? Already acting like husband and wife?" Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow, seizing the chance to tease her.

Zhu Zhuqing immediately walked even faster.

"Hmph." Dugu Yan lifted her brows, a smug expression appearing on her face.

"..." On the other side, Yang Yunhai saw Zhu Zhuqing enter the kitchen and smiled. "Since you're here, Zhu Qing, help me heat the rice. I'll heat the dishes."

As he spoke, he took the leftovers from the cabinet, skillfully set up a pot and lit the fire, then began reheating the dishes.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing went to the other side and covered the pot to heat the rice.

A little while later, Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing opened the kitchen door and came out carrying the food.

At that moment, a cold gust rose outside and slipped in through the kitchen window. It then passed through the kitchen door and blew into the living room, striking Dugu Yan, who was sitting on the sofa.

"Hiss!" Her whole body shuddered, and Dugu Yan immediately trembled. A pained expression appeared on her face.

Yu Tianheng's expression changed at once. He quickly turned his head. "Xiao Hai, please close the kitchen door."

Yang Yunhai froze for a moment, but quickly realized something. He immediately turned around and used his foot to wedge the door shut.

He exchanged a glance with Zhu Zhuqing, then carried the food quickly to the dining table and set it down. Afterward, he hurried to the sofa and looked at Dugu Yan, who had wrapped herself in a blanket and gone pale. Frowning slightly, he asked,

"Yan Jie, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. An old problem. I'll be fine after resting a bit," Dugu Yan replied through gritted teeth.

"Yanzi was left with some lingering problems because of something that happened when she was young. She usually can't be exposed to cold," Yu Tianheng explained.

"It's my fault too. I never told you about it before." As he spoke, guilt appeared on his face.

It seemed Dugu Yan had not told Yu Tianheng about the severe poison in her body. Was she afraid he would worry? Or had Dugu Bo specifically warned Dugu Yan not to let outsiders connect it to the fact that he, too, was poisoned? Yang Yunhai could not help thinking.

As he pondered, Dugu Yan's voice sounded. "Tianheng, you don't need to blame yourself. How could anyone guard against something like this every day?"

After saying that, she turned to Yang Yunhai. "Xiao Hai, don't take it too seriously either. This problem of mine has been around for a long time."

"Yan Jie, can you let me sense it with my Martial Soul if you hold out your hand?" Yang Yunhai suddenly asked.

Dugu Yan, whose condition had eased somewhat, looked puzzled. "What, Xiao Hai? Can your Martial Soul cure illnesses too?"

"Not exactly." Yang Yunhai shook his head. "But Yan Jie, didn't I mention before that my Martial Soul now possesses a special sensing ability?"

"I was thinking that maybe if I tried through physical contact, I might sense something that could help with treatment."

"Xiao Hai, it's enough that you have the thought." Dugu Yan smiled faintly, though her gaze dimmed slightly.

"But even my Grandpa is helpless against this illness of mine. How could it be so simple?"

"That may be true, but Yan Jie, what's the harm in trying? What if it works?" Yang Yunhai said.

"Since Xiao Hai is willing, let him try," Qin Ming added from the side.

Though he did not hold much hope, he felt it was worth trying. There was nothing to lose, after all. Perhaps Yang Yunhai's evolved Martial Soul had some special quality. If it really could cure her, it would also be a good thing for the whole team.

"Alright, then." Dugu Yan did not dwell on it and immediately held out her right hand.

Yang Yunhai summoned his Martial Soul and extended a vine to rest against Dugu Yan's wrist. He injected a strand of Soul Power and pretended to sense her condition.

More than ten seconds later, he slowly withdrew the vine.

"How was it? Did you sense anything?" Dugu Yan asked with a slight nod.

Yang Yunhai shook his head faintly. "Yan Jie, sorry."

"It's fine. I told you it wouldn't be that simple," Dugu Yan said casually.

Then she turned to Yu Tianheng. "Tianheng, carry me back to my room. I'm going to take a hot bath first, then lie down by myself for a while."

"Alright." Yu Tianheng nodded as he stood up.

At that moment, Yang Yunhai suddenly spoke again. "Yan Jie, do you have any poison on you?"

"What? Is there something you can't get over? Are you planning to poison yourself?" Dugu Yan's sharp tongue flared up as she blurted it out.

"Yan Jie, what are you thinking?" Yang Yunhai said, his face darkening. "Doesn't my Second Soul Skill allow me to Drain Soul Power? I want to develop it further and see whether it can absorb poison or something. That way, if we encounter Martial Souls with poison during the tournament, we'll have another means of defense."

"Lingling's Martial Soul has powerful healing abilities, but after thinking about it, it seems she can't detoxify poison."

"I really can't detoxify poison," Ye Lingling, who had been sitting nearby like a little invisible person, admitted openly.

Had he sensed something? Dugu Yan guessed, but she did not hesitate. Whether Yang Yunhai had sensed anything or not, what he wanted to do would not harm her. She immediately brushed a hand across her waist and took out a bottle of poison from her Soul Tool.

"Ask your sister for more once you run out. I have plenty of this stuff." With that, she tossed it directly to Yang Yunhai.

Yang Yunhai caught it easily and said politely, "Thank you, Yan Jie."

"No big deal." Dugu Yan nodded slightly and turned to Yu Tianheng.

He understood and swept her up in a princess carry before turning toward the stairs.

"Alright, Xiao Hai, Zhu Qing, hurry up and eat. If you wait any longer, the food will get cold again." Qin Ming stood as he reminded them, then looked around at the other team members and smiled. "It's about time. Everyone should head back to their rooms and cultivate too."

"Yes." The younger members all nodded. After saying goodbye to Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing, they returned to their rooms.

After watching them leave, Qin Ming called out once and headed straight back to his own room.

Seeing that, Yang Yunhai did not delay either. He called to Zhu Zhuqing and went to sit at the dining table with her, where they ate together.

Before long, they had eaten their fill. They went up to the third floor together and returned to their respective rooms to cultivate.

PS: Sorry, this came a little late.

Still, I shamelessly want to ask for some votes. Please spare this poor author a little support.