"Fang Ling..." Dugu Yan suddenly stopped in her tracks, her face drastically changing.
"Fang Ling, don't!" Ye Lingling forgot her shyness and fear, and resolutely embraced him tightly from behind.
As if trying to lock him in place this way, refusing to let him take a single step away.
"Lingling-jie..." Fang Ling placed his hand over her warm, delicate hand, then gently pulled it away. "Trust me."
"How can I trust you? What if you die?" Ye Lingling's trembling had barely subsided, but now tears welled up again.
These past four months had been the most wonderful time in her life.
If Fang Ling died, she would lose her only friend in this world, returning to loneliness once more.
Just a friend... probably...
There was not a trace of worry on Fang Ling's face. He laughed boldly and said,
"How could I die before becoming a true dragon soaring through the skies, running freely across this world?"
"Lingling-jie, don't worry. I'll come back."
"Then… don't die, please don't leave me alone." Ye Lingling wiped her eyes, tears glistening at the corners, filled with worry and reluctance.
"I'll wait for you."
The words were simple, but the emotion behind them was unmistakable.
What began as a convenient partnership, getting healing help from Ye Lingling at Qin Ming's suggestion, had somehow led to a genuine bond.
They had both mentioned liking someone else before, even emphasized it repeatedly. She knew that.
And yet, things turned out like this...
The hardest to resist is a beauty's kindness.
As Fang Ling leaned against Ye Lingling's embrace, feeling the warmth and softness, he finally began to understand what that phrase meant.
The world was chaotic and noisy, and there were so few who genuinely cared for him.
He was just a passerby in the Douluo Continent, like a kite with a broken string, adrift, without anchor.
He had goals, yes, but the journey was lonely and uncertain.
Until now. This long-lost emotional connection was like finding solid ground. A hollow heart finally felt full.
"Wait for me, Lingling-jie. I'll definitely come back alive."
Fang Ling was overwhelmed with emotion, and his parting words were spoken with deep sincerity.
He could never let Ye Lingling down, not after receiving such grace from her.
When he returned, he would give her a huge surprise.
There were so many types of immortal herbs, surely one could work with her Nine Heart Begonia spirit?
"Fang Ling, I'm sorry, I..." Dugu Yan was filled with guilt. It was her fault. If not for her, Fang Ling wouldn't be in this situation.
But Fang Ling cut her off:
"Yan-jie, don't say sorry. I should be the one thanking you."
"I know my own limitations well. His Excellency is right, I do need a chance like this."
Fang Ling didn't say more. He gently wiped away the tears on Ye Lingling's face.
"Then, Lingling-jie, Yan-jie, I'm heading off. Be sure to tell Teacher Qin Ming that I've gone to train with His Excellency."
"This trip may take a long time, don't worry about me."
He glanced back at Dugu Bo, who immediately understood and grabbed Fang Ling by the collar.
"Alright, the farewells end here. Yan-yan, go have fun with that little Ye girl. No need to worry about this brat, I won't kill him."
A breeze blew by, and the pavilion was instantly two people fewer.
In the air, Fang Ling was protected by Dugu Bo's soul power, so the cold wind didn't touch him at all.
Looking at the rapidly passing scenery below, he spoke softly:
"Senior, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?" Dugu Bo looked surprised.
"Thank you for letting me say goodbye to Lingling-jie."
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity to move forward."
"You're still thanking me? Aren't you afraid I'll just kill you? In the Soul Master world, I'm known for being petty and shameless," Dugu Bo said, his tone vaguely playful as he brought up his own infamy.
Fang Ling smiled, "I trust in your character, senior. And I believe in the promise you made to your granddaughter."
"I'm not even worth lying to. I'm just a soul master with no background. If you wanted to, you could've killed me with a single slap."
"So, you must want something from me."
His words carried a strange certainty, like he had already seen through Dugu Bo's intentions.
"You're a clever one," Dugu Bo admitted. He liked smart people and detested fools.
A thought crossed his mind. "You guessed that much just now. Why not guess what I actually want you to do?"
Fang Ling chuckled.
It was obvious, like a clear stream under the sun, nothing hidden at all.
Any halfway intelligent person could figure it out. No need to conceal anything.
So, he answered directly:
"You've been poisoned. A difficult one to deal with, and it's hereditary, passed on to Yan-jie. So you're looking for a way to detoxify using a special place or rare medicinal treasures."
"But they're too precious, or you don't recognize them, or you don't dare ask for outside help. So you want me to rely on my instincts to identify them, right?"
Dugu Bo felt like his mind had just been laid bare, an uncomfortable feeling.
"You've got a sharp brain. Sometimes I wonder if you were once a beggar..."
That was something Dugu Yan had told him.
Fang Ling had never tried to hide his background as a beggar, or his crippled leg. He was open and frank about it.
Now, Dugu Bo realized he had been judging Fang Ling with his own biases, an utterly foolish thing to do.
Someone like Fang Ling was like the blazing sun, bright and dazzling, illuminating everything around him. His very existence was a beacon of light.
Even if he had feelings for Yan-yan, he wouldn't feel inferior because of his background.
Fang Ling didn't react, just laughed heartily.
"So what if I was a beggar? With a crippled leg dragging me down, I had to be clever just to survive."
Dugu Bo nodded slightly in agreement, though he spoke with a touch of regret:
"Your willpower is admirable. If your legs had been intact and you had a rare talent, you would've had an extraordinary future. What a shame..."
Despite his bad reputation, Dugu Bo's temperament was actually rather easy-going.
If the conversation went well, he was quite pleasant to talk to.
"You're underestimating me, aren't you?" Fang Ling raised an eyebrow.
"Everything in this world is unpredictable, constantly changing."
"So why can't I ride the winds of change and become a trendsetter of the times?"
Dugu Bo was startled by the continued confidence Fang Ling displayed.
"Where's this wind coming from?"
"You're the one sending it, senior."
Dugu Bo gave him a long look. His green eyes were deep and thoughtful.
"You're really saying you want to ride the tides of this era?"
"Pope Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall, twin spirits, became a Titled Douluo at a young age, with unmatched strength. Now that's the real wave of this era."
"And I'll count too. You'll see," Fang Ling replied cheerfully, not intimidated at all.
Bibi Dong still had a long road to godhood. He had his own advantages, it might not take him longer.
"Heh~!" Dugu Bo didn't bother responding.
This kid might not even survive the upcoming trials. All that bold talk and those promises would be a joke if he died.
Let's wait until he's actually ready to take off.
The two stopped talking and continued their journey in silence.
As a Titled Douluo with the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor martial spirit, Dugu Bo was a control-type, but still extremely fast.
Soon, they arrived at the edge of a funnel-shaped valley.
Heat rose from within, carrying a distinct scent of sulfur.
Gripping Fang Ling's increasingly worn collar, Dugu Bo exhaled lightly.
"We're here."
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