Chapter 14: Serpent and Sword
The artificial lake sparkled beneath the warm sunlight, its calm surface mirroring the sky. Willow trees lined the banks, their long, delicate branches swaying in the breeze like nature's dancers, painting a scene of serene beauty.
Two figures stood near the water's edge—a boy and a girl—facing each other in silence.
Dugu Yan's emerald eyes lingered on the stranger before her, unable to look away. She studied him intently, gaze roaming over every detail.
He wore the white uniform of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, its pristine fabric hinting at his status as a student. His jet-black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall, reaching past his waist and stirring gently in the breeze. On anyone else, such hair might've seemed effeminate, but on him, it only emphasized his broad shoulders and proud bearing. There was a wild grace to him, untamed and free.
No one could mistake him for a girl.
Even without seeing his face, Dugu Yan instinctively knew—this man was handsome. Not the polished handsomeness of pampered noble sons, but something raw and striking. The kind of face that made hearts skip a beat.
Then his voice broke the silence.
"…Is there something you need?"
His tone was calm, even, but not cold. It slid into her ears like warm wine.
Dugu Yan jolted, startled. Only then did she realize she had been unabashedly staring at the back of a stranger. A rush of heat flooded her cheeks.
He noticed!
Soul masters were known for their heightened senses, especially when it came to being watched. She, of all people, should have remembered that. Usually, it was lecherous boys who ogled her from afar. Today, the tables had turned—and she was the one caught red-handed.
"I… no, nothing," she mumbled, her usual confidence crumbling. Her voice was soft now, almost meek.
Gone was the proud, sharp-tongued granddaughter of the Poison Douluo. In her place stood a flustered schoolgirl, trying desperately to act casual.
"…Are you a new student?"
As she spoke, the boy turned around.
And in that moment, Dugu Yan forgot how to breathe.
Just as I thought… or rather, even more than I imagined.
The face that met her gaze was absurdly handsome. His features were clean-cut, his eyes deep and intelligent. The sunlight caught in his eyes, lending them an almost ethereal glow. He looked like a character torn from a romance novel—so perfect that it hurt to look at him for too long.
Dugu Yan had always prided herself on being immune to appearances. She'd grown up surrounded by noble sons and heirs, all of whom were good-looking by virtue of bloodline. She considered herself beyond such shallow attractions.
But now… she wasn't so sure.
Turns out I'm just like those women I used to mock, she thought, dazed. I am that kind of woman.
Her heart raced. Her body flushed. Just being near him made her chest tighten in a way she couldn't explain.
Is this love at first sight?
She almost felt the need to apologize to every girl she'd ever sneered at for chasing pretty faces.
What she didn't know—what she couldn't possibly understand—was that her reaction had less to do with her heart and more to do with her soul.
Her martial soul, the Jade Phosphor Serpent, was a beast-type soul with strong instincts. And the boy in front of her, Li Chang'an, possessed the Jade Phosphor Sword—a martial soul that combined beast and weapon traits. It was a soul that stood above hers in the hierarchy, tied by bloodline to the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor itself. (Change in Translation: Emerald Scale Serpent Emperor -> Jade Phospor Serpent Emperor)
To Dugu Yan's martial soul, Li Chang'an wasn't just handsome—he was superior. Her body and spirit responded instinctively, producing feelings of awe, admiration, and attraction. Her mind mistook it for love, but the truth was far more complex.
A beautiful misunderstanding.
Had he been older, unattractive, or a woman, her instincts would still have reacted—but the illusion of romantic feelings would never have formed. Everything lined up perfectly.
Li Chang'an, for his part, hadn't expected to run into her this early. He had been planning to find her himself. But this was better. In relationships, the one who takes the initiative first often loses the upper hand.
And now, Dugu Yan had approached him.
He quietly scrapped his original strategy and switched to a backup plan.
"…Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked again, his brow subtly furrowed as if confused by her silence.
"A-ah? Yes! Yes, there is," Dugu Yan stammered, jolting out of her trance. Her instincts told her to deny it and retreat, but her pride—and something else—made her pivot quickly.
"Hello, Senior."
She smiled sweetly, tilting her head just a little. Her voice softened to a cuter pitch. She assumed he was older and played the part of the eager junior sister.
"I just enrolled today. I'm a new student."
Let's see how embarrassed you'll be, Li Chang'an thought amusedly, when you find out I'm actually seven years younger than you.
But outwardly, he played along.
"Ah, so you're a new junior sister," he said warmly, his tone shifting to that of a kind upperclassman. "Is there anything you need help with?"
Dugu Yan's eyes sparkled as she seized the opportunity.
"I'm new here and not familiar with anything. Would it be too much to ask for Senior to show me around?" she said with a blink of her verdant eyes, her voice delicate as falling snow.
Li Chang'an appeared hesitant. He lowered his gaze, lips pursed in mock thought.
Dugu Yan's heart sank.
"…If it's too much trouble—"
"No, no," he interrupted gently, flashing a warm smile. "Helping a cute junior sister get used to campus life is a noble duty for any senior. I'd be happy to help."
Her smile blossomed like a spring flower.
Deep down, Dugu Yan was cheering. The demure act had worked perfectly. She'd played the role of the lost and helpless new girl, and he'd taken the bait without hesitation.
She didn't know she was the one being baited.
Most men couldn't resist her charm, especially when she played the part of the innocent younger student. Very few would ever say no to her when she looked up at them like that.
But Li Chang'an wasn't most men.
He was the apex predator.
*******
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