Standing at the academy entrance.
Watching Xiao Wu follow a few meters behind Tang San, Ye Qiu couldn't help but smile slightly.
Waiting until the fine hairs standing up on his arm returned to normal.
Tang Hao's prying gaze moved away.
Only then did Ye Qiu slowly turn and leave, his direction of travel completely opposite to Xiao Wu's.
He was going to Sunset Forest to input the immortal herb extraction code.
That's right.
Ye Qiu wanted to trick Dugu Bo, or rather, help him suppress the toxins in his body.
After all, he was a lone wolf now.
What if he ate the immortal herbs?
When you're out in the world, how can you get by with just talent and no backing?
Your status in the world is something you fight for yourself.
Dugu Bo was an excellent candidate, a wild Title Douluo who didn't belong to any faction, and his only relative was his granddaughter Dugu Yan, who desperately needed saving.
Ye Qiu felt he could easily tie Dugu Bo down.
Regarding the description of Dugu Bo's symptoms, Ye Qiu remembered they seemed somewhat similar to rheumatism, so Ye Qiu remembered this code quite clearly.
Moreover, most fanfiction would write about it at least once.
Immortal Herb Extraction Code:
Every time it was cloudy and rainy, Dugu Bo would experience numbness and itching in his ribs, which would gradually intensify and last for over an hour, occurring once each at noon and midnight.
Every time late at night, around the third watch, Dugu Bo would experience needle-like stinging pain on the top of his head and the soles of his feet, with full-body spasms lasting at least half an hour.
...
After all, Ye Qiu was a newcomer.
Even when going to Sunset Forest with a clear objective, Ye Qiu was very careful and cautious.
After all, on the road, he could basically only rely on himself for protection.
It was much better when he arrived in a city; Ye Qiu could use his identity from the Spirit Hall to get free food and lodging, and even free night watchmen, so he could sleep soundly.
It took half a month for Ye Qiu to arrive at Sunset Forest, and he immediately began searching for the poisonous mist in the center of the forest.
He was discovered by ten-thousand-year spirit beasts several times.
Fortunately, Ye Qiu activated his spirit transformation in time, turning into a puddle of black fluid when hit, which was mercilessly trampled by the spirit beasts.
Only then did he slowly find a place to recover.
Hard work pays off!
After spending three days, Ye Qiu finally found the poisonous mist outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
...
Nuoding Academy.
A year was a semester, and a holiday was roughly two months long.
In the blink of an eye.
It was the start of the school year again.
This year.
Would be Ye Qiu's last year at Nuoding Academy.
Xiao Wu and Tang San had returned to the academy from Holy Spirit Village early.
"Xiao Wu, want to go eat together?"
In Dorm 7.
After Tang San finished tidying his things, he walked up to Xiao Wu and extended an invitation.
Xiao Wu had already finished tidying up and was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring unblinkingly at the entrance of Dorm 7.
Hearing Tang San's voice, Xiao Wu looked up at him for a moment before looking away and gently shaking her head.
"Little San, I don't have an appetite.
You go ahead."
"Alright."
Tang San knew Xiao Wu was waiting for Ye Qiu to return, and his expression was a bit unnatural.
He offered comfort, saying, "Don't worry, since Ye Qiu promised he'd come back, he definitely won't break his word.
Maybe he's on his way right now."
"Mm, I know he'll come back."
Xiao Wu nodded slightly, smiled, and without even looking at Tang San, continued to stare at the entrance.
"..."
Tang San opened his mouth, sighed helplessly, turned and left, his expression somewhat dim.
As the only girl in Dorm 7, after spending so many years together, the 'pure and unsullied' Tang San couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for Xiao Wu.
However, Xiao Wu had her entire heart set on Ye Qiu.
No matter how he tried to show kindness, he couldn't get much closer to her.
During this time, Ye Qiu wasn't around.
Tang San often thought.
If, back then, when Xiao Wu looked at his blanket, he had invited her to share it, would he be the one Xiao Wu was thinking about now?
Unfortunately, there are no 'ifs'.
Ye Qiu was still around, so he could only treat Xiao Wu as a sister for now.
After Tang San left.
The entire Dorm 7 became quiet.
Xiao Wu looked at the entrance, feeling a bit lost, pouting her lips in grievance.
She walked to Ye Qiu's bed and began tidying up the bedding she had previously helped him arrange.
...
A few kilometers outside Nuoding City.
Ye Qiu, with short black hair and wearing black close-fitting clothes, was being held by someone and flying through the air.
The person holding Ye Qiu had dark green hair and beard, wore a grey robe, and had dark green eyes.
His body was tall and straight like a spear, and his face held a hint of a wicked smile.
"Senior Dugu, just drop me off here.
Thank you for the trouble," Ye Qiu said with a forced smile, looking at the small city in the distance.
Dugu Bo's speed was too fast, filling his mouth with wind.
"Hehehehe"
Dugu Bo let out a strange laugh, landed in a small grove below, and threw Ye Qiu onto the ground.
"Kid, I really don't know why you want to come to this small place.
If you ask me, wouldn't it be better to follow my Yan Yan's wishes and go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"Damn it!
Senior, can't you be a bit gentler?
I'll break!"
"If you do this again on the way back, I'll complain!"
Ye Qiu tumbled twice in the air, finally dispelling the force and landing steadily on the ground.
He looked at this old rascal, this somewhat righteous yet somewhat wicked Title Douluo, with a resentful expression.
"Haha... With your physical condition, even falling from higher up wouldn't injure you," Dugu Bo said, standing on a treetop, stroking his dark green beard, unable to resist lecturing.
"Back then, when you tried to steal medicine and fell from the cliff into Yan Yan's bathtub, it didn't even kill you."
"You're still talking about that!
Speaking of Sister Yan Yan, I haven't lectured you yet.
Even if you're anxious to hold a grandson, you shouldn't drug us!"
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes, not expecting this old poison master to be so eccentric that he would even drug his own granddaughter.
"Hmph!
What's wrong with getting it done quickly?
Watching you young people being lovey-dovey makes this old man's liver hurt!"
Dugu Bo thought of his granddaughter's initial disdain, wanting to kill Ye Qiu for seeing her body, and then later clinging to him, which made his liver hurt.
The most disgusting thing was this kid Ye Qiu, who actually dared to string his granddaughter along, acting like he was already married and making Yan Yan fall in love with him but unable to have him.
He really had the guts of a bear and the ambition of a leopard!
A married man still sticks to his granddaughter every day, claiming it's for faster cultivation and easier toxin removal, but instead, he turns into black silk wrapped around her legs...
What kind of married man is that?!
Seeing Dugu Bo's somewhat unfriendly gaze, Ye Qiu also guiltily dodged it.
Wasn't he afraid of being trapped by Dugu Bo in return?
If that really happened... What would become of the little bunnies he had painstakingly raised?!
How could he give them a warm home in the future?!
So, of course, he had to make Dugu Yan make a clear statement.
He wanted to be responsible, but he didn't want to suffer the pain of a love triangle.
Although it would make others envious, it was detrimental to one's body and spirit and not advisable.