When Li Chang'an returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, intending to confess his feelings to Dugu Yan, he found… nothing. She was nowhere to be seen.
After asking around, he learned that Dugu Yan hadn't attended classes for three days. When he went to her dorm, the administrator told him she had taken a long leave and gone home.
"Gone home? How could that happen so suddenly?"
"Given how close we've become, even if something unexpected happened, she would've at least left me a message… How could she just vanish without a word?"
Li Chang'an's brows furrowed tightly. A bad feeling welled up inside him. For the first time, he realized that something had happened beyond his expectations.
Meanwhile, in the Dugu Residence.
"Yan'er, you've locked yourself in your room for three days now. What's going on? Tell your grandfather—did someone bully you at the academy?"
An old man with green hair stood outside the door. His voice was calm, but beneath it ran a faint, chilling killing intent.
"…I'm fine, Grandfather," came a hoarse voice from inside. "I just… want to be alone for a while."
Fine? You don't sound fine at all.
The green-haired old man's expression was a mix of helplessness, anger, and worry. Since his beloved granddaughter had returned home three days ago, she had locked herself in her room and hadn't taken a single step outside. It was obvious something was wrong.
There was only one explanation he could think of—someone had bullied her at school.
And that was something he could not tolerate.
He was the Poison Douluo, a Titled Douluo feared across the continent. Who dared to bully his granddaughter?!
"Alright, I won't press you anymore," he said finally.
"But at least eat something. You haven't had a drop of water in three days. Even with a soul master's constitution, your body can't take this."
"I'm not hungry…"
The girl's voice trembled slightly, but then she added weakly, "I'll find something to eat later…"
"Fine. Just… promise me you'll eat something soon. I have matters to attend to," the green-haired old man sighed. Then he turned to the maid beside him. "Go tell the kitchen to prepare some food."
"Yes, sir."
The maid bowed and hurried off.
But the old man's expression was dark and stormy. Seeing his beloved granddaughter in such a miserable state filled him with fury. Once he stepped out of the residence, that suppressed anger exploded.
With a flash of emerald light, the green-haired old man soared into the sky like a streak of green lightning—heading straight for Heaven Dou Royal Academy!
At the academy gates—
A green light descended from the sky. The green-haired elder landed heavily and strode straight through the gates.
The guards recognized him instantly and didn't dare to stop him.
He marched directly to the Education Committee building.
Inside, all three Committee Members were present and working when the sudden arrival of this elder startled them. They quickly realized who it was—and why he was here. After all, they knew Dugu Yan hadn't attended classes for three days, and they understood perfectly well what had caused it.
"Ah, so it's the honored Poison Douluo! Forgive us for not welcoming you sooner," said Meng Shenji, the leading Committee Member, rising to his feet with a polite smile. The other two Committee Members also stood and offered respectful greetings.
But the green-haired old man's face was dark as thunder. Anyone could tell that he was in a foul mood.
"Enough with the formalities!" he snapped impatiently. "I'm here today to demand justice for my granddaughter! She's been wronged at your academy—don't you three owe me an explanation?!"
"Uh…"
The three Committee Members exchanged uneasy looks before Meng Shenji finally forced a wry smile. "Honored Douluo, it's all… a misunderstanding. Truly, just a misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding? Then why has my Yan'er locked herself in her room for three days, without even drinking a sip of water?"
The elder's face was grim; he could already picture his granddaughter's haggard face. Clearly, something terrible had happened to her here.
After another silent exchange of glances, the three Committee Members decided to tell him the truth. After all, it wasn't a serious conflict—just a matter of young people and their emotions.
"Actually… it's all because of this…"
Taking turns to explain, the three recounted the entire story.
In short: Dugu Yan had fallen in love with an exceptional student at the academy, only to later discover that the boy was already engaged—possibly even playing with her feelings. Heartbroken, she had run home without looking back.
After hearing their account, the old man's expression softened slightly. At least his granddaughter hadn't been bullied.
"So that's what happened…" he murmured. Then his tone hardened again. "The boy Yan'er liked—what's his talent like? If he's not completely useless, this old man could reluctantly let him marry into the Dugu family."
He spoke with casual authority.
If his granddaughter truly liked the boy, and the boy's qualifications were decent, Dugu Bo didn't mind using his status as a Titled Douluo to force the issue. He could make the boy break off his engagement and marry into the Dugu family instead. And if he refused… well, that was another matter entirely.
"This…"
The Committee Members looked at each other again, their faces showing hesitation. Finally, one of them said awkwardly, "His talent is indeed exceptional—top-tier, in fact. But that engagement… may not be so easy to dissolve."
If it were an ordinary engagement—even with a noble family—no one would dare refuse Poison Douluo's demand.
But Li Chang'an's situation was… different.
He was the Prince Consort, personally chosen by Emperor Xue Ye, and regarded as the future guardian of the Heaven Dou Empire itself.
Such a person couldn't simply be "given up."
"What? His fiancée has that much status?" Dugu Bo's brows furrowed, suspicion flashing in his eyes.
Meng Shenji hesitated, then said solemnly, "…He is His Majesty's appointed Prince Consort."
"Furthermore, His Majesty even granted him the title of Marquis to win his loyalty."
"…Prince Consort?"
Dugu Bo's frown deepened. Things had just gotten much more complicated.
If the engagement had been with some minor noble— even a duke or marquis—he could have relied on his strength and reputation to force a compromise.
But against an Emperor?
Even a Titled Douluo couldn't easily throw his weight around there.
And it was clear that Emperor Xue Ye valued Li Chang'an greatly—he had given his daughter's hand in marriage and bestowed him a noble title. That level of favor meant the Emperor saw him as a key figure for the empire's future.
This was going to be… troublesome.
(End of Chapter)
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