At Yuexuan's refined top floor, warm lanterns lit the polished wood hall. Wine cups clinked as laughter and chatter spilled in rhythm.
"Kitty, just one more glass!"
Lu Yuan leaned lazily against the cushions, urging Zhu Zhuqing with a half-playful grin.
"No." She shook her head firmly, cheeks tinged faintly pink. "I've had enough."
Undeterred, he tilted the jar toward another familiar figure. "Rongrong, how about you?"
"…No thanks," Ning Rongrong said suspiciously, hugging her cup like a shield.
Lu Yuan pouted, clearly dissatisfied. Ever since Xue Ke had first dragged them to Yuexuan, it had become his drinking ground of choice. Tang Yuehua herself had reserved the most private room at the top for him, turning the place into his unofficial retreat.
From the stairs, grace came gliding in silver silk. Tang Yuehua herself, hair curled and smile composed, stepped over. "These must be your girlfriends?"
Lu Yuan beamed proudly. "Of course! They'll be family in the future, Big Sis Yuehua needs to take care of them, right? Everyone should live together in harmony."
His words were so casual, so brazen, that Yuehua nearly stumbled. Her cheeks flushed crimson. "Nonsense! Say that again and I'll throw you straight out!"
"You can ignore him," Zhu Zhuqing muttered quietly.
"Yuehua Big Sis," Ning Rongrong piped up suddenly, seizing the chance to change the subject, "can I learn etiquette from you here?"
A bright smile warmed Yuehua's lips. "If you wish to learn, my doors are always open. In fact, in the coming days I'll be giving several harp lessons. You're welcome to attend any time."
The younger girls' eyes lit with interest, and Yuehua found herself charmed as always. She was the senior here, but seeing these bright, energetic young women made her heart feel youthful again.
But before the mood could deepen, footsteps clattered hurriedly up.
"Lu Yuan, quick! My grandfather's poisoned himself again!"
Dugu Yan burst into the room, worry twisting her usually composed face.
Lu Yuan blinked, jar halfway to his lips. "Eh? What happened?"
Her voice broke as she explained. "Grandfather was teaching me how to channel our Bi-Phosphorus Snake techniques when suddenly he coughed blood! He said the venom he's suppressed his whole life… it lashed out today. Before losing consciousness, he told me—if it gets bad—to fetch you."
Her eyes glistened. "Lu Yuan, please. Help him."
Lu Yuan exhaled slowly, the weight of the request sobering him like a bucket of cold water. He set down his wine and stood in a crackle of energy. "Then let's move."
Before Dugu Yan could blink, he wrapped her in his aura and vanished from Yuexuan in a streak of speed.
…
Outside Tiandou City, as they raced, she told him everything.
Dugu Bo had long known the venom in his body was a time bomb. But he had lived with it too long, built his cultivation from it too deeply. To purge it was impossible. He had always carried this burden, waiting, knowing the day would come. He hadn't expected it to explode without warning.
The thought of her sharp-tongued yet stubborn grandfather finally succumbing clawed at Dugu Yan's heart. Tears stung her eyes, but she pressed on.
Just when the forest began to come into view, Lu Yuan suddenly halted.
"Why'd you stop!" she panicked. "If we don't hurry, Grandfather might—"
But her words died. Standing ahead on the path was a woman, golden hair cascading like a waterfall, silver silk shimmering in the breeze. Every step she took carried a natural allure, the kind that tugged eyes and hearts as if by spell.
"Who… who are you?" Dugu Yan stiffened.
Lu Yuan tilted his head. "A beauty in the middle of the road? Can't you pick a better time? I've got no time to drink with you right now."
The stranger's lips curved in a half-smile. "So you're Lu Yuan. They say you're strong—I'd like to test it myself."
Her voice dripped honey, half-challenge and half-seduction.
Lu Yuan sighed. "Not today. Another time, maybe. Right now, I've got business."
"My name is Hu Liena," she purred, her crimson eyes glowing as her body shifted. Behind her, a great fluffy tails burst forth as scarlet spirit light rippled from her. "Now we know each other, so let's dance."
"Are you kidding me?!" Dugu Yan snapped at her. "My grandfather's dying and you're flirting with duels?!"
Hu Liena ignored her, hips swaying as her second ring flared. Her charm aura poured forth, saturating the air.
Her eyes sparkled. She winked at Lu Yuan. Heat flushed the air around them. Ordinary men could rarely withstand her allure.
But Lu Yuan was no ordinary man. His aura surged outward like a tidal wave. He stepped through the charm as if it were nothing. The backlash struck Hu Liena herself, and she gasped, stumbling backward, chest tightening.
Impossible. For him to casually deflect her charm and reverse it back, he had to outclass her by at least two great levels.
She inhaled sharply, realization dawning. This wasn't rumor. The whispers were true—Lu Yuan's power was abnormal.
And before her mind could recover, black light flickered. Her body lurched. In less than an instant, her aura collapsed as she was hoisted effortlessly onto Lu Yuan's shoulder.
Her mouth was sealed by a muffling force of spirit energy. She thrashed, but it was useless.
The powerful, proud Holy Maiden of the Martial Soul Hall—carried like a sack of grain.
Her heart thumped wildly. This guy really is a monster…
Dugu Yan gawked before remembering her urgency. "Enough wasting time! We have to go!"
Lu Yuan adjusted the squirming girl on his shoulder with a grunt. "Fine. Let's move."
…
At the edge of Sunset Forest, the stench of poison tinged the air.
"Grandfather!" Dugu Yan cried.
From beneath ancient pines, Dugu Bo appeared, his robes ragged, his face pale. Black-purple veins marred his lips and eyes, the venom eating him from within. His steps faltered.
"Old Poison," Lu Yuan said grimly, "still standing, I see."
Dugu Bo sneered despite his dire state. "Barely. Don't worry… I won't die that easily."
But his gaze darted to Lu Yuan's shoulder. His lips twitched visibly at the sight of the bound, wriggling Hu Liena. "Again…? Why is it always you dragging someone else's daughter while running to me?"
Lu Yuan tossed the matter with a shrug. "Later. Let's talk about saving your life first."
Breathing hard, Dugu Bo pressed one trembling hand against the tree bark to steady himself. The venom within was boiling like fire and ice together, his control fraying every second.
"Lu Yuan," he rasped, "use your sword. Draw the poison out."
Lu Yuan frowned. "You sure about that? You don't even know what this sword will do. It might gut you worse than the venom."
He remembered vividly the first time its edge had shredded Shi Nian into a dried corpse.
Dugu Bo wheezed a laugh, bitter but unyielding. "Better I gamble on your abnormal sword than let my own poison eat me alive. If I don't act now, I'm done."
His emerald eyes locked on Lu Yuan's. "Help me."
Lu Yuan tightened his grip on his sword hilt.
This was no casual brawl or drunken scuffle anymore. For once, his blade was poised not against an enemy—but to save a comrade in peril.
--
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