At this moment, Ye Wen, who was still busy concocting potent pills using the herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, had no idea that a certain grandfather-granddaughter pair had already set their sights on him. He was completely absorbed in his work.
After finishing, Ye Wen looked up at the sky.
The evening glow was already turning crimson, signaling that nightfall was approaching.
Ye Wen couldn't help but mutter to himself. In the original story, it hadn't taken Dai Mu Bai nearly as long to absorb the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Could it be that the two of them were so overjoyed that they'd forgotten about him?
If that were the case, Ye Wen sighed. It seemed he would have to camp out here for the night.
However, Ye Wen didn't dare get too close to the core of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. After all, he was only a weak and helpless Soul Elder at level 34.
In the original story, Tang San had been able to stay there for an extended period only because Dugu Bo had given him a pearl to counteract the overwhelming pressure from the extreme dual elements. Without it, Tang San would have been poisoned to death by the terrifying forces of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Thinking about this, Ye Wen remembered that Dugu Bo's pearl also had the effect of accelerating cultivation. However, when he thought about how it came from inside Dugu Bo's body, Ye Wen felt a bit nauseous. Best not to covet that precious item.
Just as Ye Wen admired the pills in his hand and prepared to store them away, a sudden, unexpected voice startled him.
"Xiao Wen, what kind of pills are you making?"
Already feeling a bit guilty for sneaking around, Ye Wen was so startled that he dropped the freshly made pills onto the ground. Fortunately, he had chosen a rocky surface; otherwise, the painstakingly crafted medicine would have been ruined.
Seeing Ye Wen's flustered state, Dugu Bo chuckled mischievously, clearly in a good mood.
Though Dugu Bo noticed traces of harvested plants throughout his medicinal garden, he wasn't bothered in the slightest. This was his disciple—what harm was there in using a bit of his own resources? As long as it wasn't like Tang San's indiscriminate pillaging, he didn't care at all.
Ye Wen rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Teacher, don't you know that scaring people can literally kill them? Can't you walk with a little sound?"
"Hehehe, I can fly," Dugu Bo replied matter-of-factly.
Ye Wen didn't dwell on it and continued tidying up the pills. However, seeing Dugu Bo's current demeanor, which lacked even a trace of his earlier brooding gloom, it was clear something wonderful had happened. It seemed Dugu Yan's problem had been largely resolved.
Though a mythical herb had been expended, securing Dugu Bo's loyalty entirely made Ye Wen feel satisfied. With a cheerful smile, he handed over the neatly packed pills along with a few other bottles he had prepared earlier.
Dugu Bo asked in surprise, "These pills are for me? What do they do?"
As he spoke, Dugu Bo examined them closely, even unscrewing the caps to sniff the medicinal aroma.
But Ye Wen replied, "They're not for you—they're for Senior Sister. Though the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum boosted her vitality, the bloodletting therapy still damaged her foundation somewhat. She needs proper nourishment."
Though the pills weren't meant for him, Dugu Bo was deeply moved. On the very first day of becoming his disciple, Ye Wen already cared for his family—what a worthwhile disciple!
Then again, Dugu Bo realized his thinking was flawed. Even before Ye Wen became his disciple, he had already espoused the concept of a healer's compassion. This was simply Ye Wen fulfilling his duty as a physician.
Far from being offended, Dugu Bo found it amusing. Who would have thought that someone renowned for poison like him would have a disciple dedicated to healing others? The irony was delightful.
Though the outer periphery of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was habitable, asking a newly accepted disciple to sleep rough in the wilderness—even with Dugu Bo's thick skin—was unthinkable. Thus, he had come specifically to bring Ye Wen back to his residence.
As for pressuring Ye Wen to quickly devise a treatment for his own condition, Dugu Bo had already let go of such thoughts. At this moment, he was more focused on fostering a relationship between Ye Wen and his granddaughter.
If Ye Wen became his grandson-in-law, regardless of what happened to him in the future, at least Yan Yan's life would be secure. Moreover, based on his observations over the past couple of days, Ye Wen's character was unquestionably reliable. Yan Yan would never suffer under his care.
It was only now that Dugu Bo recalled that this seemingly honest young man already had two fiancées.
Did that mean his granddaughter would have to lower herself?
Absolutely not! The mere thought irritated Dugu Bo.
And so, once again, Ye Wen was unceremoniously hoisted by the scruff of his neck and flown back to the Dugu residence.
Though Ye Wen's two fiancées irked Dugu Bo somewhat, he understood. After all, though the continent of Douluo was also called the Continent of Romance, that was merely an exception. Among nobles or powerful individuals, unless there were special circumstances, who didn't have multiple wives and concubines?
A prime example was Ning Rongrong's father, Ning Fengzhi. Aside from Ning Rongrong's mother, he had a whole host of women. Even in his forties, he still frequented auctions to purchase cat girls.
As a feudal-era capitalist, only a fool would believe Ning Fengzhi spent hundreds of thousands of gold soul coins just to "save" someone. Did he have money to burn?
If that were true, he wouldn't have haggled with Tang San over the price of hidden weapons.
Upon returning to the residence, Dugu Bo pondered. If Yan Yan truly developed feelings for Ye Wen, with his status as a Title Douluo, wouldn't it be perfectly reasonable for his granddaughter to become the main wife? There was no issue at all!
Surely the other party's family would respect his position.
Such was the confidence of the sole Title Douluo of the Tian Dou Empire!
Moreover, Ye Wen was only twelve or thirteen years old—still far from the age of marriage. As long as the wedding hadn't officially taken place, there wouldn't even be gossip about his granddaughter being a third party interfering in someone else's relationship.
Though Dugu Bo didn't care about such things anyway.
Still, if anyone dared to spread rumors in front of him, it wouldn't be surprising for Dugu Bo to turn them into a puddle of pus.
---
This entire incident involving Dugu Bo was entirely Ye Wen's gamble with his life.
Huo Yuer, trusting Ye Wen implicitly, hadn't thought much of it and returned directly to her family. But as the days passed, the more she thought about it, the more she sensed something amiss. Recalling past memories, she gradually pieced together the truth.
"Grandma, don't stop me! I'm going to the Tian Dou Imperial City!" Huo Yuer exclaimed urgently.
In her view, although Ye Wen, having lost his memories, was still incredibly talented, without her presence to conceal his strength, recklessly provoking a Title Douluo—who, in her eyes, was as insignificant as an ant—was far too dangerous!
They had worked so hard to reach this point, and Huo Yuer didn't want all their efforts to go to waste. She immediately prepared to leave.
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