(A beautiful picture of Dugu Yan)
"Grandpa, you're back?"
A figure in purple came running out of the inner hall.
The girl wore a purple dress, and her jade-like blue-green hair was loosely pinned up, the rest cascading over her shoulders like flowing water. A few wisps lay diagonally against her cheeks.
She had a delicate oval face and fair, luminous skin. Most captivating of all were her emerald-green eyes, their outer corners tilted slightly upward, holding a serpentine allure.
She was none other than Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan wore a purple halter-neck qipao, its close-fitting fabric outlining every curve of her graceful figure.
Her bare shoulders and neck were as fair as jade, and her delicate collarbones formed shallow hollows above the full, soft curves of her chest.
Below her slender waist, the lines of her hips and thighs flowed smoothly downward. Through the high slits in her dress, a pair of long, shapely legs showed.
Dugu Bo tipped his chin at her. "Yanyan, everything was fine, so why did you suddenly ask me to catch so many venomous snake Soul Beasts?"
Dugu Yan glanced at the baskets of snakes on the ground. Her eyes darted around, and she came over with a smile.
"Grandpa, don't ask what you shouldn't ask~"
Dugu Bo shrugged helplessly. "All right, all right, my precious granddaughter."
Dugu Yan pushed at his arm, ushering him out. "All right, off you go."
As Dugu Bo was pushed along, he looked back. "Yes, yes, yes."
Taking the hint, he flew into the air, muttering under his breath:
"Why does it feel like Yanyan is completely in charge of Dugu Manor now..."
He flew toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and sighed.
"Alas, I'd better keep studying which Devil Fruit to choose. This system shows me pictures of so many Devil Fruits, then says I can only choose once, and there are side effects too. How is this old man supposed to choose?"
In the courtyard of Dugu Manor.
Dugu Yan planted her hands on her hips and instructed the servants:
"Someone, cook all these Soul Beasts into a delicious feast for me!"
"Yes, young lady!" Several servants hurried over and deftly picked up the baskets of snake Soul Beasts.
The corners of Dugu Yan's lips curled up slightly. Narrowing her eyes, she muttered to herself:
"The Devouring System told me Devouring Evolution would let me swallow them raw and alive, but how could I possibly do that?
The system didn't say I couldn't cook them into a meal, did it?"
Swaying her hips, she sauntered back to her room.
Early the next morning.
In the courtyard of Xiao Jue's little villa.
Xiao Jue, dressed in pajamas, yawned as he lazily pushed open the door and walked out.
Xiao Wu had been waiting in the courtyard since early morning.
She was dressed especially fresh and light today. On top, she wore a little pink garment that hugged her body, outlining her slender waist and the first curves of her figure just right.
Her long, straight, shapely legs were wrapped in close-fitting white pants. In the sunlight, she looked fresh and radiant.
Her long scorpion braid hung down her back, and her pretty face was tilted up slightly as she glared at him.
Xiao Jue stretched and rubbed his eyes. "Xiao Wu, you came over so early?"
At that, Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks. "Brother Jue! How can you treat us differently?"
Xiao Jue froze. "I..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Wu pouted and cut in:
"I know all about it! Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both improved a lot yesterday! I waited for you all day yesterday, and you never came!"
Xiao Jue took a step forward, moving closer to her.
"All right, Xiao Wu, a good meal is worth the wait. Besides, you're the one I love most."
Xiao Wu hurriedly put a hand against his chest. Her cheeks flushed, and she turned her head away.
"Brother Jue! I want to get stronger too! Rongrong said last night that you made her feel like... like a teapot was being lifted and poured over her head or something!"
Xiao Jue said, "...It's like having sweet dew poured over your head."
Xiao Wu said, "Right! That's it!"
Caught between laughter and tears, Xiao Jue shook his head, gathered his mental power, and reached out toward Xiao Wu.
A system panel appeared above Xiao Wu's head.
[Dress-Up System] [Sign in to unlock outfits!] [Wear this system's outfits to unlock their corresponding abilities!] [Each outfit must be used on the day it is unlocked, or the sign-in streak will be broken!] [Currently unlocked: nurse outfit] [Sign-in reward achieved. One outfit available to claim!]
Xiao Jue rubbed his chin, pondering inwardly. Looks like I'll have to start with Xiao Wu's outfits.
I wonder if there are any outfits that boost combat?
Xiao Jue thought to himself, In that case, I can use a sparring match as an excuse to get Xiao Wu to put on a combat outfit!
Xiao Wu stamped her foot and urged him on. "Brother Jue? Why are you spacing out?"
Xiao Jue came back to his senses and took two steps back, opening up some distance. He curled a finger at Xiao Wu in a "come here" gesture.
"Xiao Wu, come on. Let me see what you can do."
Xiao Wu had a bellyful of jealousy with nowhere to vent it, so she immediately lifted her chin.
"Fine! I'll show you that Sister Xiao Wu is no pushover either!"
Before her words had even faded, she activated Martial Soul Possession and shot forward, lashing out with a swift, clean flying kick that whistled through the air.
Xiao Jue raised an arm across his body and blocked it solidly. A sharp smack rang out against his arm, but he didn't move his feet an inch.
Xiao Wu froze, then let out a huff. After landing, she twisted at the waist and sent another side kick at him.
Xiao Jue turned sideways and dodged. Her leg brushed past his chest, and the wind it stirred lifted the hem of his pajamas.
Before he could regain his footing, Xiao Wu was already on him, attacking with fists and feet, one strike after another. They came fast and furious, her assault fierce.
Xiao Jue shifted left and dodged right, raising his hands to block and neutralizing each of her moves in turn.
When her fist came at him, he slapped it aside with his palm;
When her leg swept toward him, he turned sideways and used his arm to deflect its force, all the while keeping up a running commentary:
"Hey, the left."
"This time, the right."
"Not quite enough strength."
The more Xiao Wu listened, the angrier she became. Her attacks grew even faster, fists and feet whistling through the air as though she wanted nothing more than to kick him flying.
She feinted, then sent her right fist straight at Xiao Jue's face.
Xiao Jue tilted his head to dodge, but Xiao Wu used the momentum of the punch to twist around, raising her left leg high and whipping it across at him. Fast and vicious, it aimed straight for his side.
Xiao Jue's eyes lit up. He raised his forearm and took the kick head-on. With a bang, he finally stepped back, scraping a shallow mark across the ground.
"Now that's a little more interesting." Xiao Jue shook out his arm and smiled.
Xiao Wu panted, her chest rising and falling slightly. A fine sheen of sweat had appeared on her forehead, but her eyes shone even brighter. "I'm not done yet!"
She dropped low and swept a leg along the ground.
Xiao Jue leaped over it. Xiao Wu immediately sprang back up, throwing punches with both fists, left and right, each one faster than the last.
Xiao Jue dodged from side to side, occasionally knocking a blow aside with the back of his hand. He was as slippery as a loach, and she couldn't land a hit.
Growing frantic, Xiao Wu spotted an opening and lunged at him, the five fingers of her right hand spread wide as she grabbed straight for his chest, trying to topple him.
Xiao Jue moved aside with her momentum, caught her wrist with a backhand grip, and tripped her. Xiao Wu lost her balance entirely.
But the girl reacted quickly too. She twisted in midair, braced herself against the ground with her other hand, and managed to flip herself upright. Her knees bent as she landed, and she took up an attacking stance again!