'Boy! You absolutely must succeed!'
In the distance, under the eaves, Dugu Bo stared intently at the spot where Ye Qiu had disappeared.
*Click! Bang!*
A strange sound came from the window of Dugu Yan's room, and the door quickly opened.
Dugu Yan, her face flushed, ran to him, her expression anxious.
"Grandpa! Why did that scoundrel suddenly jump down? Will something happen to him?"
"Don't worry, Yan Yan, all we can do now is believe in him. He'll be alright!" He
placed his large hand on her hair, looking at his granddaughter's face. He knew she had been watching Ye Qiu the whole time.
He nodded sincerely; it seemed his actions had had some effect!
Hearing this, Dugu Yan didn't ask any more questions and, like Dugu Bo, looked towards the direction of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well!
...
Splash!
Ye Qiu closed his eyes and plunged headfirst into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, splashing a wave. Then, the surface of the water returned to calm.
At this moment, Ye Qiu seemed to have lost consciousness, his eyes filled with darkness, as if he had fallen into an abyss, unable to perceive his own body.
His body was still flashing red and blue, then shifting between left red and right blue, left blue and right red.
The two forces constantly alternated.
Whenever his body was ravaged by a violent force, a gentler force would appear, continuously repairing Ye Qiu's flesh.
This cycle repeated itself.
His blood began to boil, the two forces, one red and one blue, coursing through his body, passing through his eight extraordinary meridians, and finally converging at his heart!
Thump thump thump!
He seemed to hear the powerful beating of his heart.
Inside his heart, a green seed also began to turn red and blue.
...
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. In
the small courtyard where Ye Qiu was temporarily staying.
In the familiar pavilion, Xiao Lan and Ning Rongrong were gathered around a stone table.
The table was laden with fine wine and delicacies. Xiao Lan was practically lying on the table, her arm outstretched, holding a wine cup, her cheeks flushed red.
She kept urging Ning Rongrong to pour her more wine.
"Sister Rongrong, hurry! Xiao Lan wants more, uh~"
she said, letting out an uncontrollable hiccup.
"Hmph! You wish! You lied to me again! You promised to tell me Ye Qiu's story, but you know nothing about it!"
Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes flashed with anger, strongly condemning this glutton for deceiving her again and trying to get free food and drinks!
But she was helpless; she couldn't hit her, nor could she scold her.
"I... Xiao Lan really... I don't know anything about those things! Sister Rongrong~ please, pour Xiao Lan another glass, just one more!"
Xiao Lan's fingers were a little clumsy, and she held out several fingers to Ning Rongrong.
"No! You can't drink anymore. What if you're still drunk when Ye Qiu comes back? Then... then he'll blame me again~"
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, covering the wine bottle in her hand, and refused to pour her any more wine.
She and Ye Qiu had just calmed down a bit; she didn't want Ye Qiu to dislike her again because of this! *
Smack! *
Suddenly, the wine glass in Xiao Lan's hand fell to the ground and shattered.
Clutching her chest, she struggled to breathe, her already burning face burning even hotter, her head spinning.
"Ugh~ Sister Rongrong! Xiao Lan... Xiao Lan is so hot!"
"Xiao Lan! You've already used that trick! This time you definitely won't get the bottle! Humph!"
Ning Rongrong remained seated, ignoring Xiao Lan.
"Ah! Sister Rongrong, it's true~ Xiao Lan is so cold!"
Xiao Lan curled up on the table.
"Xiao Lan! You're going too far! Are you hot or cold~ Ah!"
Ning Rongrong cried out in surprise.
A light frost slowly formed on Xiao Lan's body, her eyelashes turned snow-white, and her breath formed a white mist.
"Xiao Lan!" Ning Rongrong put down the wine bottle and reached out to shove Xiao Lan. "So cold! So hot!"
"Brother, Sister Rongrong~ Xiaolan is so hot, so uncomfortable!"
In the blink of an eye, the frost on Xiaolan's body completely disappeared, and she began to feel burning hot.
Her consciousness seemed to be becoming hazy, and she kept calling out Ye Qiu and Ning Rongrong.
"Xiaolan, Xiaolan! Are you alright? Don't scare your sister~ Sister will give you some to drink."
Ning Rongrong also began to panic, shaking her a few times, but Xiaolan didn't respond at all.
"Xiaolan, Xiaolan!" Her voice was filled with anxiety. "How could this happen... You can't be hurt!"
She swept up all the other dishes on the table.
Ning Rongrong immediately picked up Xiaolan and was about to run outside.
Thump!
She tripped and fell at the threshold, but didn't care much, and quickly got up.
"Xiaolan... Sister didn't mean to! Xiaolan!"
Carrying Xiao Lan on her back, she bounced up and down a couple of times, noticing Xiao Lan's breathing growing weaker.
Her face was half red and half blue, a mixture of hot and cold.
Ning Rongrong finally couldn't hold back anymore; her eyes began to well up with tears. Gritting her teeth, she ran outside again, her voice trembling with sobs, repeatedly calling out,
"Help! Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, Daddy! Come save Xiao Lan, waah!"
She cried and ran all the way.
The passing disciples were thrown into a frenzy; some of the more astute immediately ran to inform Ning Fengzhi and the others.
...
Time flew by like a white horse
galloping past a crack in the wall, day and night alternating. Ye Qiu had been inside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for a full day and night.
There was still no movement within the spring.
Dugu Bo stood under the eaves early, his body straight, like a javelin, waiting quietly.
Dugu Yan, on the other hand, was inside the room, sitting at the table by the window, her hands supporting her chin, staring intently outside, dark circles already appearing around her eyes.
...
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Ning Rongrong hadn't slept all night, personally tending to Xiao Lan by her bedside.
Xiao Lan's symptoms had subsided, except for a spindle-shaped green leaf occasionally appearing between her brows, its surface shimmering with red and blue light.
"Water~"
Xiao Lan whispered, and Ning Rongrong carefully fed her the warm water she had prepared.
Having finished dealing with sect affairs, Ning Fengzhi, taking a break, entered from outside.
Sword Douluo followed behind him.
"Rongrong, you can leave these things to the servants. Go and rest!"
"Yes! Rongrong, I've already checked on this little girl. She should be fine!"
Both urged Ning Rongrong to rest.
But Ning Rongrong ignored them, gently wiping the sweat from Xiao Lan's forehead.
"No, I must see Xiao Lan recover before I can be at ease!"
After a moment of silence, Ning Rongrong looked up at Ning Fengzhi.
"By the way, Dad, is there any news about Ye Qiu?"
"I've already sent people to Tiandou City to look for Ye Qiu. I think we'll have news soon!"
"That's good!"
Hearing Ning Fengzhi's answer, Ning Rongrong lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly, tears glistening in her eyes.
She was a little afraid of Ye Qiu's return. If he came back and saw Xiao Lan like this, would he hate her to death?
"Sigh!" Ning Fengzhi sighed softly, looking at his haggard daughter. He felt a pang of heartache, but also a sense of relief. His spoiled and willful young lady had finally learned to take care of others.
But he felt mostly awkward.
She was supposed to be his little darling, but now she was being worn by someone else!
How could a father not be angry?
"Fengzhi! Found her, found her!" At this moment, Bone Douluo rushed in from outside.
"Uncle Bone, how is it?"
"I found it. According to the ancient records, this little girl is very likely because her martial soul has mutated!"
Bone Douluo held a piece of ancient, decaying animal hide and handed it to Ning Fengzhi.
'So it really is!' After reading it, Ning Fengzhi looked at Xiao Lan lying on the bed with surprise.
If he could find out why her martial soul had evolved, could he also use this method to successfully evolve his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into an Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!
In the Crown Prince's residence,
Xue Qinghe had also received Ning Fengzhi's request for help and was searching for Ye Qiu.
At this moment, Xue Qinghe was sitting in his study, with the Serpent Spear Douluo standing in front of him.
"Have you found out?"
"Young Master, Ye Qiu hasn't come out since entering the Dugu Manor. It's highly likely that he was taken to the Sunset Forest by Dugu Bo!"
"The Sunset Forest! What's wrong with this guy? Why did he have to provoke a Title Douluo?!"
*Slap!* Xue Qinghe slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with surprise.
He might need him for his subsequent cultivation; this guy couldn't be allowed to be harmed.
"You and the Porcupine go out and search again! If you find him, bring him back directly!"
"Yes!"
(End of Chapter)