Chapter 86: Ye Lingling, One of Us
At the same time, in Heaven Dou Imperial Advanced Academy—
Inside a lavish, private villa reserved for the academy's elite students, two girls sat in the spacious living room.
One of them, Veiled in gauze, was Ye Lingling. Beside her sat Dugu Yan.
"Yan Yan, you weren't there that day. The battle was enormous—two Contras and one Spirit Saint surrounded Yang Wushuang.
Entire streets, several shops—all reduced to rubble.
Prince Xue Xing even mobilized the heavy-armored corps to seal off every exit," Ye Lingling said softly, recounting the scene.
Dugu Yan replied with calm indifference. "Enough, Lingling. I'm not interested in that anymore."
It had been over a month since Yu Tianheng had publicly confessed to her in the Spirit Arena.
Since then, she hadn't returned to the academy once.
She had been too embarrassed.
Only after Yang Wushuang's incident shifted the public's focus did she reluctantly come back.
"Yan Yan, what I really mean is—stop fighting with Dugu Feng. He's far too strong. He was one of the key figures in that battle," Ye Lingling advised gently.
"Lingling, I know your grandfather and his father were close, but you don't understand what's between our two branches," Dugu Yan said with a shake of her head, clearly unwilling to listen.
"Yan Yan, you can't beat him. He's only eleven—and already a Spirit King."
Dugu Yan's expression hardened. "Don't say another word, Lingling. I won't lose to him. I'll train harder. I don't believe he can surpass me forever."
Dugu Feng's power was a thorn lodged deep in her heart.
Her Serpent branch's three spirit skills were all attack-based, perhaps even stronger than normal Spirit Ancestors.
But her third skill had only just reached the status of the Jade Phosphor Purple Poison.
Still, she clung to the belief that as a control-type, she held an advantage in the long run.
Control masters could subdue even powerful attackers—her growth, she believed, would eclipse him eventually.
And perhaps one day, that poison of his might kill him outright, she thought bitterly.
Ye Lingling sighed inwardly. Clearly, this setback hadn't taught Dugu Yan any humility.
It seemed she'd have to slowly mend the tension between them.
After all, she couldn't understand why two cousins had such animosity in the first place.
At the junior division of the Royal Academy—
After arranging all family matters, Dugu Feng finally returned to school.
No sooner had he arrived than he heard from Feng Ling and Feng Li that Ning Rongrong had graduated.
She had already completed the formalities and announced she was transferring to another advanced spirit master academy.
Dugu Feng paused for a moment, surprised.
So that's why she'd asked if he would still remember her—she had been planning to leave all along.
She had left ahead of schedule, far earlier than normal graduation.
Which meant she must have gone to Shrek Academy earlier than in the original timeline.
Was it because Ning Fengzhi feared his daughter might get too close to him?
Dugu Feng chuckled. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan clearly understood the flaws of the Dugu family's martial soul.
Interesting.
He didn't dwell on it too much, but now it was almost time to make preparations of his own.
The hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone—no matter what, he had to seize that opportunity.
During Tang San's enrollment period, Tang Hao would surely appear at Shrek Academy.
That would be his perfect chance to steal the spirit bone.
As he considered his plan, Dugu Feng resumed his training at the simulation field.
That day, while cultivating intensely, he suddenly sensed someone approaching.
"Ye Lingling?"
"I came to check if you needed treatment," Ye Lingling said softly, stepping closer. Her voice was cool and clear as water.
Treatment?
Ah, right. Poison-attribute spirit power often damaged meridians, and many poison users required auxiliary healing or special tonics periodically.
But Dugu Feng didn't need that.
His spirit orbs generated restorative warmth that constantly repaired his body, making his meridians far more resilient.
This anomaly had always baffled his father and Elder Snake—both concluded that Dugu Feng was simply a one-in-a-million prodigy.
Still, he didn't refuse.
"Please, Senior," Dugu Feng said politely.
After all, while his orbs healed inner wounds, surface scars and external injuries could still leave faint traces.
Perhaps her Nine-Heart Begonia had unique restorative effects.
At his acceptance, Ye Lingling raised her right hand. A delicate pink begonia blossomed in her palm, petals of pink and white shimmering softly.
Her third spirit ring glowed—violet light pulsing.
Gentle white light, soft as flower petals, drifted down onto Dugu Feng.
She might not perceive what was happening inside his body, but he could.
The light melted into him, spreading into every corner, soothing his organs and reinvigorating his flesh.
Old scars smoothed away completely, while a comforting warmth filled his body, like hot water in the middle of winter.
Her healing light was vastly different from Ning Rongrong's buffs.
Augmentation infused power into the muscles and soul energy,
while healing flowed through every cell, restoring balance.
His body absorbed it all like a bottomless well.
When Ye Lingling finally stopped, her spirit energy was almost drained.
"Dugu Feng," she said softly, "Yan Yan is your cousin. She's not as mature as you. The last lesson you gave her was too harsh—it drove a wedge between her and Yu Tianheng.
If she provokes you again, could you… maybe not take it to heart?"
Dugu Feng smiled faintly. "Senior Sister, for someone so distant and reserved, you came all this way to heal me—just to plead for my cousin, didn't you?
You tried to talk her out of troubling me, but she wouldn't listen, right?"
"How did you know?" Ye Lingling asked, startled.
"Wasn't hard to guess. Don't meddle in what's between us—you can't fix it," he said coolly.
Ye Lingling felt a little defeated. These two cousins—each stubborn as stone.
Fine. He was right; it really wasn't her place.
"I'll come treat you once every half month," she said finally, turning to leave.
"Now that's more like it—cold and distant. That's the Ye Lingling I know… I like that," Dugu Feng murmured under his breath.
As she walked away, her steps faltered for a moment before she continued on.
Had he seen beyond her veil, he would have noticed her cheeks faintly flushed.
"This Dugu Feng is far too bold!"
What she didn't know was that Dugu Feng already considered the Ye Clan his own allies—
and Ye Lingling, most of all, one of his people.
That was why he dared to speak with her more freely than anyone else.
(END CHAPTER)
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