"Once he comes back, we'll see how smug he is then!"
Dugu Yan slammed her jade-like fist heavily against the bedframe, her face full of anger. Beside her, Ye Lingling's eyes lit up with mischief as she suddenly reached out and began to undo Dugu Yan's clothes.
"Ling! What are you doing?"
Dugu Yan jumped in surprise, her face instantly turning crimson.
Ye Lingling, putting on a serious expression despite her playful actions, said softly,
"Yan, I need to treat your internal injuries. Lie down. I have to examine you carefully."
"No way! Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. You were the one who got caught up in the battle's aftershocks, so I should be the one checking your injuries. Come on—take it off."
...
The night grew late. Inside a single dormitory room, the lights stayed on all night long, and faint sounds of playful struggle occasionally drifted out.
The next day, Heaven Dou City.
Ignaz finally returned to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. At that moment, Prince Xue Beng was enjoying a life of laziness, being waited on hand and foot. When his eyes landed on Zhu Zhuqing—her tall, graceful figure standing proud—his gaze lit up instantly.
Even the iced watermelon juice at his side lost its appeal. He was just about to step forward and declare Zhu Zhuqing his personal maid when—
"It's him. He's back."
One of the attendants gasped, staring wide-eyed at the white-haired youth in the distance.
"White hair… tall build… eyes sharp as blades… That's Ignaz! He's been gone for three years. Weren't the rumors saying he was already dead? How has he returned?"
Xue Beng's heart skipped a beat. Despite his princely status and absolute freedom within the Academy, he knew very well—Ignaz was someone who didn't even put the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in his eyes. If he dared provoke him, being crippled would be considered merciful.
Just as he was about to turn and flee, Dugu Yan and the others—having long awaited his return—appeared. Ignaz, looking slightly awkward, scratched his head and greeted them,
"Yan, Lingling… everyone. It's been a long time."
Dugu Yan's eyes burned with grievance as she stepped forward.
"'A long time'? You vanish for years without a single letter—why didn't you just die out there?"
"Yan, I really was too busy. My master kept pushing me to break through to higher realms—I had no time to write!"
Ye Lingling cut in immediately, her eyes narrowing.
"Busy? If you're really so busy, then who exactly is that girl beside you?"
Only then did Dugu Yan notice Zhu Zhuqing standing nearby. Her beauty was no less than hers or Shui Bing'er's. Dugu Yan's heart sank instantly.
"Who is she? What's your relationship with her?"
"That's right!" Lingling huffed. "Yan's already been plenty forgiving. And you still went and found another one?"
The two women's angry words flew faster than arrows, leaving Ignaz no chance to explain. Zhu Zhuqing, realizing what was happening, only covered her mouth and laughed quietly, which only added fuel to their fury.
Both women rushed forward to strike him. Ignaz sighed, moved like lightning, and in the blink of an eye appeared behind them.
"Thud—"
With both hands, he struck their necks simultaneously. Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling collapsed unconscious.
"Annoying. Forcing me to get rough. Is this the place for a shouting match?"
He hoisted them onto his shoulders and, under the wide-eyed stares of the Shi Mo brothers, Yang Yong, and Zhu Zhuqing, carried them into a dormitory room.
Yang Yong followed nervously.
"Big Brother… tying up the two sisters-in-law like that… isn't this a bit much?"
"What's wrong with it? I think it's fine."
Before long, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling awoke to find themselves bound to chairs with Sky Blue Vine rope—specialized restraints designed for Spirit Masters.
"Ignaz! Untie me right now! My grandfather will punish you severely when he gets back!"
"Ignaz, you liar! Cheating on us, knocking us out, and still acting righteous! If I ever heal your wounds again, I'll change my surname to yours!"
Ignaz, calm as ever, shook his head.
"Yan, right now Grandfather is still in the Falling Star Mountains. Calling for him won't help."
"You…"
Ye Lingling, however, did not fume like Yan. Instead, she gazed blankly at Ignaz, cheeks growing redder by the second, lips curving into a faint smile.
"Lingling? What's wrong with you?"
Dugu Yan shouted her name several times, but Lingling remained dazed in her own thoughts, until Yan finally kicked her leg to snap her out of it.
"Yan, I—I'm sorry. I won't do it again…"
"What nonsense are you spouting?! We're still tied up by this shameless man!"
Ignaz sighed, helpless before their anger. At last, he explained everything he had gone through in the past three years.
"My master forced me to fight soul beasts to the death… to train in places full of evil Spirit Masters…"
By the end, he even squeezed out a few tears. His tale was full of hardship and danger. He also clarified his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing.
After hearing him out, the two women's anger softened, replaced with worry.
"Big Brother Iggy… that Titled Douluo master of yours is cruel beyond reason. Forcing you into such dangers… If I ever get the chance to visit Sea God Island, I'll give him a piece of my mind!"
At last, Ignaz untied them. Instead of lashing out again, both girls flung themselves into his arms, holding him tightly. They stayed by his side, telling him all that had happened during his absence.
When they mentioned Tang San's group arriving at the Academy, Ignaz's eyes sharpened.
"The Shrek Six? Six students in total?"
"That's right. And that Tang San, the Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master—he's hateful. When Yan injured that rabbit girl, Xiao Wu, Tang San nearly struck with killing intent."
Hearing this, Ignaz turned to Dugu Yan, concern etched on his face.
"Yan, his external spirit bone—the Eight Spider Lances—are laced with poison. You weren't injured, were you?"
"I'm fine. Just some scratches. Lingling already healed me."
As she said this, Yan's face flushed crimson as memories of last night surfaced, and she dared not meet his eyes.
Ignaz suddenly retrieved an item from his storage device. Both girls gasped as a crimson, soul power–wreathed bone floated before them.
"Big Brother Iggy… that's… a Soul Bone?"