Yin Xuan watched Dugu Yan stumble around, clearly drunk. He let out a quiet sigh and wrapped an arm around her waist, then glanced at a nearby attendant. "Can you show me to her room?"
"Right this way," the attendant said, leading them off.
Yin Xuan nodded to another servant, "Could you bring some hot water and hangover soup? She'll need it when she's up."
"I'll get it now," the person replied and hurried away.
The old man who served Dugu Bo had seen everything. He smiled a little as he shuffled behind Yin Xuan.
Dugu Yan barely stayed at home thanks to her studies at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so her bedroom was simple. Still, that place smelled faintly sweet and kind of dreamlike. The attendants here were thorough.
Her room was spotless, obviously cleaned as soon as she got back.
"I'm gonna sleep for a bit," Dugu Yan said, cheeks flushed and grinning at Yin Xuan. "Go play by yourself."
Play with what?! Yin Xuan thought. He removed her jacket, shoes, and socks, helping her get comfortable in bed. The old man waited quietly outside the door, so Yin Xuan stepped over.
The old man smiled, "Young Master's room is ready too. Why not stay the night? Tomorrow, you and Young Mistress can return to the academy together."
Yin Xuan shook his head, "I'm not the young master. My name's Yin Xuan, that's what I picked for myself. Just call me A Xuan."
The old man chuckled, "House rules are rules. You're the Young Mistress's boyfriend and the Master recognizes you. I can't just call you by your name."
"Follow me," he said.
"No thanks," Yin Xuan replied. "I'll head to the back garden—good place for cultivation."
The old man blinked, surprised by that answer.
Yin Xuan went out to the garden, sat cross-legged, and spread his Dark Blue Silver Domain. His mental force swept through a three hundred meter radius—he was squeezing all he could from his domain.
He focused on improving it, since that's just about all he could do for now. Self-created Spirit Abilities? No rush. It wasn't the time for that. His Dark Blue Silver Emperor wasn't strong enough yet. If he forced it, it might mess up his progress. He definitely didn't want to end up like Feng Xiaotian.
The morning after.
Yin Xuan finished his meditation and opened his eyes—then jumped to find Dugu Bo's wrinkled face barely a fist away.
"Whoa!"
Yin Xuan flinched back. "What are you doing?"
"Am I really that scary?"
Dugu Bo rolled his eyes, "The more I look at you, the more you seem off. Your Bone Age shows you're several years younger than my granddaughter, yet your spirit power is just two levels behind. Your cultivation speed's nuts."
Yin Xuan shrugged, "All I do is cultivate. Not much else interests me."
Dugu Bo grinned, "You're a boring kid. You just bury yourself in cultivation and have no private life—how's that healthy?"
Yin Xuan sighed and gazed at the sun crawling up the horizon. He looked thoughtful, a little melancholy.
Dugu Bo watched, itching to roast him, but honestly, it didn't feel right. Not for a Titled Douluo.
"Let's go see if Yan Yan's up," Dugu Bo said finally. "Then you and her are coming somewhere with me."
Yin Xuan followed.
"Does my granddaughter even know your real age?" Dugu Bo asked, curious.
"Nope. I've never brought it up, and she hasn't asked."
Dugu Bo found that funny. He had no intention of telling her either. It would be hilarious when Dugu Yan figured it out herself.
They reached Dugu Yan's door just as she finished washing up.
"Grandpa, Xuan," she said cheerfully.
Dugu Bo smiled, "Yan Yan, I'm taking you somewhere. It's where I go to cultivate in seclusion. You'll probably need it in the future."
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. "Alright, let's go!"
She glanced at Yin Xuan, a bit embarrassed. Her cheeks pinked. "Xuan, I didn't do anything weird to you yesterday, did I?"
Yin Xuan laughed, "Not yet."
Her blush deepened at that strange reply.
"Hehe—" Dugu Bo smiled, saying nothing. Pretty good, this trio.
...
...
Deep in the core of Sunset Forest.
Spirit Beasts over ten thousand years old roamed here. Not many folks dared to go near.
Inside a cave clinging to a sheer cliff, Dugu Yan held up a Spirit Tool Lamp, peering around with curiosity.
Dugu Bo pointed out over the cliff to a forest about five hundred meters below. "There's a big pink flower in my Medicinal Garden that looks a lot like the ethereal fragrance immortal herb you told me about yesterday. Take a look, see if it's the same thing?"
"Grandpa, stop calling him 'kid'. Xuan has a name," Dugu Yan said, annoyed, striding over.
"It feels weird calling him by his name," Dugu Bo grumbled.
"It doesn't matter if Xuan's name sounds odd, you can't just keep calling him 'kid'. Call him by his name!" Dugu Yan demanded.
Dugu Bo threw up his hands. He looked at Yin Xuan, "Fine, you pick. What should I call you?"
"Just call me A Xuan. That's simple enough."
Dugu Bo nodded, "Alright, A Xuan it is. Let's go." He grabbed them both and flew down to the forest.
The cliff was a steep natural barrier, and poison miasma hung thick outside. Even ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts avoided it. Anyone who stumbled in would probably die from the miasma.
First thing you saw was thick mist. Then came strange glowing flowers and herbs.
"Grandpa, you even set up a hot spring here?" Dugu Yan teased, eyebrows raised. "You really know how to enjoy life!"
"What hot spring? That thing's lethal!" Dugu Bo said, shuddering a little. "Enjoying life? That nearly killed me!"
Dugu Yan jerked, surprised.
"This is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Yin Xuan said, eyes fixed on the dual-colored spring water. "Extreme cold and extreme heat. That spring water is insanely strong—Titled Douluo would struggle with it."
Dugu Bo shot him a look, "A Xuan, you actually know this place?"
Yin Xuan shrugged, "I know what it's called, but not much else."
"Ah..." Dugu Bo looked disappointed.
Then—
"Can you stop pausing like that? Just spit it out already," Dugu Bo grumbled.