"Alright, no time to waste. Paimon and I will head out now. Keke, Zhu Zhuqing, and Fire Meow Meow—I'll leave them in your care, old sir."
Aether swept his gaze over the group. All preparations and precautions had been made, but the situation with Qian Renxue remained uncertain. He had to move quickly.
"Rest assured, my lord. I stake this old life of mine on it—I'll take good care of them," Dugu Bo pledged solemnly.
"Brother, you and Paimon must be careful…"
Yu Keke's voice trembled as she held back tears, her gaze filled with worry.
"We will."
Aether nodded gently. If not for the message Qian Renxue had left behind, he would've continued according to plan. But now, he needed to get to the bottom of things.
"Your Excellency, should we wait for you here after obtaining our spirit rings?"
Zhu Zhuying's lips were pursed, her eyes also reluctant to part.
"Hmm… head to Skywater Academy and wait for me there."
After thinking it through, Aether realized Heaven Dou City was becoming dangerously entangled in a strange web. It would be safer to have the girls stay away from the center of the storm.
Skywater was a good choice—relatively secure.
Turning to Dugu Bo, he added,
"Old sir, once they've obtained their spirit rings, please escort them to Skywater City if there aren't any unexpected issues."
"Understood."
Dugu Bo cupped his fists in response, though his heart was already mulling over what was going on.
Whatever had caused even someone like Aether to act this cautiously clearly wasn't a small matter. He knew very well how complex things had become in Heaven Dou. Once he picked up Yan Yan tomorrow, he'd make sure to keep her close.
"Alright, Your Excellency—we'll wait for you and Paimon to return."
"We'll be back as soon as we can."
Aether nodded, then walked out of the residence with Paimon. Soon, the two vanished into the night.
"Young ladies—and Lord Fire Meow Meow—your rooms are ready. You may rest whenever you wish."
After Aether left, Dugu Bo took charge of their accommodations.
"Thank you, Grandpa," Keke replied sweetly, though her voice lacked its usual liveliness.
She had no appetite at all. With her brother and Paimon gone, her mood sank low. Thankfully, Sister Zhu Zhuqing and Fire Meow Meow were still with her. If she had been alone again, she would've been devastated.
"Heh, think of this place as your own home. No need for formality with an old man like me."
Dugu Bo chuckled. Maybe once he picked up Yan Yan tomorrow, the girls might hit it off.
After seeing the girls off to rest, Dugu Bo finally took out two tightly sealed boxes from his storage ring. Sitting cross-legged, he carefully opened one to reveal the rare immortal herb Aether had given him.
"Damn… I forgot to ask His Excellency how to actually take this thing…"
His mouth twitched. He'd been so excited earlier that he totally forgot to ask about consumption.
He slapped his forehead. Maybe he could try guiding it with soul power?
Without hesitation, he cautiously extended his soul power toward the Qingxin herb—but as soon as it made contact, the soul power was repelled and dissipated into the air.
The herb was… rejecting soul power?
Dugu Bo frowned. Aether had mentioned an immortal who consumed immortal herbs… perhaps he was being too careful.
Maybe the herb should just be eaten directly?
He picked up the Qingxin, deliberated for a while, then resolutely popped it into his mouth—stem and all.
Buzz…
As soon as the herb entered his body, Dugu Bo activated his martial spirit, trying to sense the flow of his soul power.
Sure enough—his soul power seemed to accelerate, as if stimulated. Moreover, under the influence of the herb, his martial spirit appeared to produce even purer toxic energy than before!
Though he hadn't broken through to a new level, the enhancement was undeniable.
Not doubting it for a second, Dugu Bo immediately reached for the second herb, wanting to ride the wave—but just as he brought it to his lips, he froze.
After a moment of inner struggle, he regretfully returned the herb to the box and sealed it carefully.
If this herb had such a powerful effect on him, what about Yan Yan?
He was already an old man. Even if his cultivation rose, he'd never reach the legendary realms. Better to leave this last herb for Yan Yan—perhaps it could take her martial spirit even further.
With that thought, Dugu Bo couldn't help but regret not thinking of this earlier. Wasting the first herb on himself felt like such a waste now…
Steeling his mind, he stood up, opened the door, and stepped into the darkness of the night-shrouded Heaven Dou City.
Such a rare herb surely couldn't retain its potency for long. Better to act immediately—he'd bring it to his granddaughter tonight and have her consume it at once.
—
The night was deep. Stars spanned the sky in a silver arc.
Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Keke sat quietly in the pavilion outside their bedroom, with Fire Meow Meow curled up at their feet, snoozing.
Zhu Zhuqing rested her chin on her hand, her gaze vacant, staring toward the courtyard wall as if trying to see through it and glimpse the one she was thinking of.
"Keke… when do you think His Excellency and Paimon will come back?"
Her voice was soft, a wistful whisper.
Keke shook her head, her small face tinged with sorrow.
"Sigh…"
Zhu Zhuying let out a soft sigh. She didn't know why, but a vague unease churned in her heart.
It felt like this separation would last much longer than Aether had promised.
—
It was late into the night, yet the Heaven Dou Royal Academy still glowed with light.
Outside the academy, patrols moved with weapons in hand, keeping watch.
"Poison Douluo."
At the academy gate, a groggy-looking Dugu Yan was being half-dragged outside by Dugu Bo. The guards quickly stood to attention and saluted.
"Hmm."
Dugu Bo merely nodded with a stern expression.
"Grandpa, what are you doing? You didn't explain anything, and now you're dragging me out here? We've got team training tomorrow!"
Dugu Yan tried to shake off his iron grip, but his strength was far too much—she couldn't break free.
"Aiyo~ my darling granddaughter, just trust your grandpa, will you? Would I ever harm you?"
Dugu Bo immediately switched to a fawning tone, his face full of smiles.
"What's going on, seriously? Coming all the way here in the middle of the night…"
Though she pouted a little, Dugu Yan could tell something important must have happened. Her grandfather wouldn't come here like this without good reason.
"Come, come—we'll talk after we leave here."
Dugu Bo chuckled, leading her away while she grumbled in protest.
"Hey, what do you think Poison Douluo wanted with Miss Dugu this late at night?"
The academy guards, left with nothing better to do, began speculating as the grandfather and granddaughter vanished into the night.
_
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