Dugu Bo couldn't understand what was happening, no matter how much he thought about it. Deciding not to dwell on it, he turned his attention to another matter.
"Sir, we've been in Dian Du City for a few days now. Shouldn't we leave and continue heading south?"
As he spoke, Dugu Bo subtly glanced at Guang Yue, not revealing where they were actually going or what they planned to do.
After all, he didn't want Ju Hua Guan to know that he had been poisoned.
If Ju Hua Guan found out, things would be terrible.
Dugu Bo could already imagine Ju Hua Guan's disgusted expression upon learning that a Titled Douluo, renowned for his mastery of poison, had been poisoned by his own Martial Soul's toxicity.
Therefore, this matter absolutely could not be leaked.
Dugu Bo had already decided that once Yang Wudi cured his poison, Ju Hua Guan wouldn't find out as long as he didn't slip up himself.
"No rush," Lin Rong said lazily, propping his head up with one hand at the dining table.
"I have matters to attend to today. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to depart."
Their conversation sparked Guang Yue's curiosity. He thought to himself:
This old poison master actually wants to leave in a hurry instead of taking advantage of a golden opportunity to order me around. What could possibly be so important?
As he pondered, a gentle breeze blew in from outside the window, causing the morning glories growing on the wall to sway slightly.
A faint, elegant fragrance drifted into Guang Yue's nostrils with the breeze, drawing his gaze outside.
Listening to the indistinct commotion from outside the courtyard, Guang Yue remembered that today was the day of the Hundred Flowers Appreciation Convention.
Too many shocking events had occurred yesterday, causing him to almost forget his original purpose for coming to Dian Du City.
Well, it's a good thing the old poison master is in a hurry to leave. At least he won't disturb my enjoyment of the flower appreciation event.
This is a grand event held only once every ten years. I can't let this fellow ruin my good mood.
I wonder what new flower varieties the gardeners have cultivated this year that are worth collecting? I'm truly looking forward to it.
...
Lin Rong had little interest in flowers and gardening.
Dugu Bo also found no interest in these plants.
Therefore, among their group, only Ghostly was pulled by Guang Yue to attend the flower appreciation convention in Dian Du City's central garden.
Soon, the morning passed.
It was noon.
In front of a manor on the southern side of Dian Du City.
Ye Wenxin, who had recently returned from the central garden, personally waited there to welcome the distinguished guest.
Looking at the face before him, which bore a five-tenths resemblance to the figure in his memory, Ye Wenxin was momentarily dazed, unsure how to address the person.
"Marquis Ye, it's been a long time," Lin Rong greeted first, his still-childish face sporting a practiced smile that was insincere yet flawless.
The childish voice brought Ye Wenxin back to reality. After steadying himself, he returned the greeting:
"Duke Lin, please come in."
With that, the group proceeded on foot toward the depths of the manor.
When Ye's ancestors first purchased this property, it was merely to have a fixed residence.
Therefore, the manor was not very large.
As they walked further in, Lin Rong surveyed the surroundings. He noticed that the flowers and plants grown here were all very common varieties. No one had been tasked with pruning them, allowing them to grow wild and unrestrained, making the path feel as fresh and natural as a primeval forest.
Seeing Lin Rong surveying his family's manor, Ye Wenxin's eyes flashed as he said, "Unlike most other flower and plant enthusiasts, our Ye family is generally interested in rare, unique, and beautiful flower and plant species.
"Rather than that, our Ye family prefers the vigorous and free-growing appearance of flowers and plants, unrestrained and full of life's vitality.
"Few people share our Ye family's passion for flowers and plants, but your mother happened to be one of the rare few who did.
"Your Lin family ancestors have never shown much interest in flowers and plants. Your arrival in Dian Du City is likely due to inheriting your mother's love for them."
Upon hearing this, Lin Rong continued walking inward silently, choosing not to reveal that his interest in flowers and plants was actually quite moderate.
With this favorable impression, convincing Ye Wenxin to submit to him would be much smoother.
Two quarters of an hour later.
They took a boat to a lake island in the heart of the manor.
In the center of the island, the group was seated around a dining table, and attendants orderly placed platters of food on the table.
Looking at the various delicacies served by the attendants, the old butler's lips moved, and he transmitted a message to Lin Rong:
"Young master, these dishes are all the ones the madam used to love. Especially the crucian carp soup in front of you, it was the madam's favorite."
"...After hearing the old butler's transmission, Lin Rong was momentarily speechless. After a moment, he uttered three words:
"You've thought of everything."
It truly shows thoughtfulness; not only does Ye Wenxin know his mother's dietary preferences, but he hasn't forgotten them even after so many years.
A attendant walked up to Lin Rong and reached for a bowl, intending to serve him soup. The old butler saw this and signaled the attendant with his eyes to hand the bowl over to him, deciding to personally attend to the young master.
Soon, a bowl of fish soup, filled to seven-tenths capacity, was prepared. A spoon was placed inside, and the bowl was set down on the table in front of Lin Rong.
Across the dining table, Ye Wenxin picked up his soup bowl and said with a smile:
"Actually, I really love this fish soup myself."
After speaking, he lowered his head and blew on the surface of the soup before taking small sips.
Hearing this, Lin Rong's expression was quite subtle. He thought to himself:
"Heh, I don't believe a word of that!"
But outwardly, he still picked up his spoon, scooped up a spoonful of fish soup, blew on it gently before drinking it.
Regarding his culinary preferences, while Lin Rong had more or less inherited the tastes of his parents in this life, he was also influenced by his preferences from his previous life.
He neither liked nor disliked fish soup.
Even so, he had to admit that this crucian carp soup tasted delicious, and the cooking time was perfectly judged. The crucian carp in the soup was tender and flavorful, and the meat was not tough at all.
Although this crucian carp soup was his mother's favorite dish when she was alive, due to his own dietary preferences, the chefs in the manor had never prepared any kind of fish soup.
Therefore, this was the first time he had ever tasted crucian carp soup.
After finishing the soup, both of them tacitly refrained from picking up their chopsticks, instead looking at each other.
Ye Wenxin was the first to speak:
"Duke Lin, what brings you here for a visit today? May I ask for what purpose?"
After asking, seeing that Lin Rong had no intention of replying, Ye Wenxin waved his hand, signaling the attendants standing around them to withdraw.
Soon, the attendants left one by one. After a short while, only he and the master and servant couple opposite him remained.
"Now, besides you and me, there's only your butler here."
"I think you can tell me now."
To this, Lin Rong still did not answer. Instead, he unleashed his innate domain, which transformed into a sky-blue light shield covering the open-air dining area.
Ye Wenxin, sitting opposite him, was somewhat surprised but made no move himself, remaining seated and waiting for Lin Rong to speak.
"In Heaven Dou, no, among all the nobles on the entire continent, only your Ye family and my Lin family have had few descendants."
"Therefore, I feel our two families are quite fated to meet."
Lin Rong began by saying these words to build rapport, then continued:
"By seniority, I should call you Uncle."
"Uncle Ye, if a war that sweeps across the continent were to occur in the future, and every influential force on the continent had to declare its allegiance, how would your Ye family choose?"
Facing this question, Ye Wenxin pondered for a moment before resolutely replying:
"Of course, we would fight to the end with our country, with no regrets even in death!"
"However, Lin... Nephew Lin, why do you ask such a question? Have you received some inside information?"
Upon hearing this question, Lin Rong merely shook his head slightly and gestured with both hands, indicating:
"Inside information? There is no inside information at all, because this is something that will inevitably happen in the future."
"Since you have decided to fight to the end with Heaven Dou, then if the person on the throne were not Xue Ye, not anyone from the Xue family, but me, sitting before you, would you still make the same choice, Uncle Ye?"
Such treasonous remarks made Ye Wenxin tremble with fear, breaking out in a cold sweat. He instinctively turned his head to look around.
Seeing the sky-blue light shield surrounding them, Ye Wenxin finally relaxed. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and said with a trembling voice:
"Duke Lin, please don't joke with me. Raising an army to rebel and seizing the throne would leave a name of infamy for thousands of years."
"Moreover, what makes you think you can successfully seize the throne? Not to mention other factors, just the Royal Knights controlled by the imperial family are a mountain you cannot overcome."
"What makes you think so?" Hearing this, Lin Rong smiled calmly and actively activated the divinity he had nurtured within him for nearly two years.
As the divinity within him was activated, Lin Rong's entire demeanor underwent a drastic change.
Humanity receded, divinity revealed.
His face, still bearing traces of youth, was devoid of any expression, and his dark eyes held a look of indifference towards all living beings.
An overbearing and majestic aura emanated from Lin Rong, his flowing long hair moving as if in a windless environment, giving the impression of a deity naturally superior to all beings.
"Above heaven and earth, I alone am honored."
Looking at the transformed Lin Rong, Ye Wenxin felt an urge to bow down and worship him. Startled, he quickly bit his tongue to maintain his clarity of mind.
Lin Rong did not speak, but his indifferent voice echoed through the surrounding space:
"It is with this power that transcends common sense, this divinity that only gods possess."
"Is this answer sufficient?"
"Tell me, what is your choice!"
The indifferent voice, mixed with mental power and amplified by divinity, resonated deeply within Ye Wenxin's mind.
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