Ever since learning that Qian Renxue wanted to return to Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu had begun preparations for her return journey.
He had been fervently collecting whale glue from the shores of the Eastern Sea, and after trying it himself, confirmed its effects.
Though the thousand-year-old whale glue had a rather fishy and unpleasant smell, its results were undeniable.
Because of some of the additional effects that came with the whale glue...
He vaguely recalled dreaming of Xixi from his youth that night.
She was still as beautiful and radiant as ever, while he himself had already aged into middle age.
Silently, he gazed at the empty Douluo Hall, let out a sigh, and waited for the arrival of Qian Renxue and Lin Feng.
Down the mountain, in the city.
Dugu Bo was playing around with Dugu Yan, carrying her on his shoulders.
The little girl tugged at his now-blackened hair.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, look over there—isn't that Brother Lin?"
Dugu Bo put down the food in his hand and looked in the direction she was pointing with surprise.
He set her down and cursed himself internally—his spiritual sense still wasn't sharp enough.
Raising an eyebrow, he looked at the girl beside Lin Feng.
She truly had bright eyes, white teeth, golden hair, snowy skin—a beauty beyond compare.
Her noble aura was unmistakable, and those cold, clear eyes made her identity all too obvious.
Looking up, he noticed Dugu Yan, candy in her mouth, tilting her head as she stared at Lin Feng and company. The corner of his mouth twitched.
No wonder the kid kept refusing. So this was the girl? Out of this world indeed.
Even the other woman beside him, clearly a Spirit Douluo, was extraordinarily beautiful. His own Yan Yan was no match.
As Lin Feng's group approached—
Dugu Bo squinted slightly, noting that Lin Feng's hands were tightly held on both sides, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Long time no see, Xiao Feng. You must've been living the good life lately. Who might these two be?"
Lin Feng ignored the suggestiveness in Dugu Bo's gaze and introduced them calmly:
"This is Ling Yuan, Spirit Douluo, Level 85.
And this is Xiao Xue."
"Big Brother, is this Sister Xue your fiancée? She's so pretty!"
Dugu Yan's eyes sparkled brightly.
Well… actually both of them were.
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up, smiling brightly:
"That's right, Yan Yan! You're spot on. Here, a lollipop as a reward."
She handed over a lollipop from her storage pouch.
"Thank you, Sister Xue."
Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed—this Sister Xue was so strange… why was she pinching her cheeks?
Qian Renxue couldn't help but keep playing with them affectionately before standing up and saying:
"Senior Dugu, have you been enjoying your time in Spirit Hall?"
Dugu Bo stroked his beard and chuckled:
"Of course, I've had a wonderful time."
Not only had he safely obtained an 88,000-year ninth spirit ring and a highly compatible spirit skill—
But in Spirit Hall, there was nothing he was really required to do.
Though the older generation kept a cautious distance from him because he boasted of his relationship with Qian Daoliu, that only confirmed his growing importance in Spirit Hall.
Every day was fun and games with Dugu Yan. At the start of each month, he even received thousands of gold spirit coins. Life couldn't be better.
Ling Yuan smiled and said:
"Senior Dugu, it's already been nearly a year."
Dugu Bo's heart skipped a beat. That fast?
He looked up at the sky:
"One year, two years, three years… Time sure flies, haha. I'm planning to send Yan Yan to the primary academy here when she gets a bit older. What do you all think?"
Lin Feng smirked secretly. Dugu Bo probably didn't even want to leave now.
When he published his theory later, Dugu Bo might even ask for an official position just to stick around.
"Of course. If Yan Yan wants to study at Spirit Hall Academy, I'll personally arrange the best teachers."
"Thank you, Sister Xue!"
Dugu Yan tugged Qian Renxue's dress, signaling her to squat down.
Dugu Yan glanced at Ling Yuan, then whispered into Qian Renxue's ear:
"Sister Xue, is that sister also Brother Lin's fiancée?"
Qian Renxue blushed slightly and nodded.
"Then can Yan Yan also—"
Qian Renxue widened her eyes: "No!"
"Oh… why not?" Dugu Yan pouted, eyes welling up with tears.
Qian Renxue panicked a little.
"Yan Yan, listen to me…"
Of course, their whispering didn't escape the ears of the other soul masters nearby.
Dugu Bo clicked his tongue twice, glancing teasingly at Lin Feng and Ling Yuan.
Only to be met with Ling Yuan's icy glare—full of warning.
Holy crap.
Dugu Bo shuddered inwardly. That look was terrifying.
He dragged Lin Feng aside and said through voice transmission:
"Kid, you've really got guts. Aren't you afraid the Grand Worship will be pissed?"
Lin Feng rolled his eyes.
"Why do you care? Xiao Xue's not mad."
Dugu Bo was stunned.
"By the way, where's that little sister of yours who's about Yan Yan's age? Didn't see her—ran off in jealousy?"
Lin Feng shrugged. That little sister was probably still comforting your granddaughter.
"Something like that."
"Haha, told you it wouldn't be easy." Dugu Bo said, a little schadenfreude in his tone.
"It's alright. We're going to report back to the Grand Worship. Let's catch up another day, Grandpa Dugu."
Dugu Bo nodded, pulling Dugu Yan—now smiling happily after being soothed by Qian Renxue.
"Alright. My residence in the city is always open. I'm there every day."
He muttered, "And bring that old chrysanthemum with you, I guess."
Lin Feng laughed. Was he getting sentimental now?
"Bye bye, Sister Xue, Sister Ling Yuan, Brother Lin~ Yan Yan will wait for you to come play again!"
On the road to Douluo Hall, Qian Renxue snorted softly:
"Who would've thought that Dugu Yan still remembers you—and that joke Dugu Bo made about you being her husband?
Little Feng, you really are quite the charmer~"
Lin Feng rubbed his forehead:
"She's just a kid, don't take it seriously. Are you really jealous of a child?"
Qian Renxue looked at the other delicate hand Lin Feng was holding and smiled:
"What do you think?"
Qian Daoliu, from a distance, stared at Lin Feng holding two soft, delicate hands, lost in thought.
His heart felt cold.
Though he had mentally prepared himself after Qian Renxue's "night raid" that day...
He hadn't expected her to openly flaunt her relationship with Lin Feng just months later?
And what's with Lin Feng holding Ling Yuan's hand too—and her looking shy about it? Xue'er, don't you see this?
And you're smiling? Your man's being taken, and you're smiling?
Qian Daoliu felt his vision going black. His brain couldn't keep up.
If his logic wasn't wrong, Lin Feng was now in a three-way relationship—and Qian Renxue fully supported it.
"What the f—"
Qian Daoliu almost blurted out a curse.
His face, calm for so many years, flickered between gloom and disbelief.
So, out of the two women I sent to be around him… he got both?
Damn it, how is this brat worthy?! Back when I chased Xixi, it was nowhere near this smooth!
And damn that Tang Chen!
As he regained his solemn composure, Qian Daoliu looked at the three approaching.
He didn't even glance at Ling Yuan, who was lowering her head in silence, or Qian Renxue, visibly flustered.
Any praise he had intended to give Lin Feng for his accomplishments in Heaven Dou City had completely evaporated.
Staring intently at Lin Feng's smiling face, he gritted his teeth and said:
"You little punk… you're pretty good at this, huh?!"
T/N: For up to fifteen chapters ahead on this fic and twenty on my other, become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle