Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
Xue Beng trembled and shook, not daring to meet Ye Lan's eyes.
He stammered, "Ye… Ye Lan, I… I was wrong… wrong. I shouldn't have picked a fight with you, I shouldn't have bullied anyone, I…"
Tears and snot streamed down his face as he sobbed, repeatedly admitting his mistakes.
Seeing Xue Beng's sorry state, Ye Lan waved his hand and said, "For Grandpa Dugu's sake, I'll let you off this time.
But if I ever hear about you causing trouble in the academy again, you'd better pray you can hide inside the Heaven Dou Palace for the rest of your life before I find you."
"Yes, yes, yes! I promise I'll never do anything bad again. From now on, I'll follow your lead." Xue Beng said, wiping away his tears and snot with his arm.
Once Xue Xing saw Xue Beng finish his tearful apology, he led him over to Dugu Bo and said, "Many thanks to Senior Dugu for mediating this matter between me and Young Friend Ye Lan. Since Xue Beng has sincerely admitted his fault, I'll take my nephew and leave first."
Since Dugu Bo still planned to take Ye Lan to see Dugu Yan, he simply nodded.
After Xue Xing and Xue Beng left, Dugu Bo said to Ye Lan, "I have to thank you for giving this old man some face. Years ago, Xue Xing saved my life. Over the years, I've helped him with many things, and we gradually developed a friendship. That's why I stepped in to mediate between the two of you.
However, if Xue Beng or Xue Xing ever provoke you again, you don't need to consider my feelings. In fact, I'll stand on your side. That Xue Beng—after so many years, I've yet to see him do anything decent. If there's ever a conflict between you in the future, I can guarantee it'll be that brat's fault."
Ye Lan nodded, feeling a warm glow in his heart.
He hadn't expected that, in Dugu Bo's eyes, his position would rank higher than Xue Xing's. Could it be that Dugu Bo really thought of him as a future grandson-in-law?
There's no sign of it happening yet!
Dugu Bo turned to Meng Shenji. "Chief Meng, do you know where Yan Yan is right now? Is she still at the academy?"
Meng Shenji, realizing that Dugu Bo truly intended to set up Ye Lan and Dugu Yan, quickly said, "I think Qin Ming has taken Dugu Yan with the Heaven Dou First Team to compete at the Heaven Dou City Great Spirit Arena.
Why don't I take you and Young Friend Ye Lan to the Heaven Dou First Team's usual training grounds? By evening, Dugu Yan should return there."
"No rush. Ye Lan, can you drink? How about we have a meal together at noon?" Dugu Bo asked.
"I… think so?" Ye Lan hesitated, recalling the last time he drank with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing until they all blacked out. To this day, he still wasn't sure what had happened that night.
Dugu Bo clapped Ye Lan on the shoulder and laughed. "A man can't go through life without knowing how to drink. Today, you'll drink your fill with this old man!"
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, First Team Training Grounds
The setting sun cast long shadows as the three academy elders, Ye Lan, and Dugu Bo stood together, chatting animatedly.
Dugu Bo wore an expression full of nostalgia as he recounted stories of his youth roaming the Douluo Continent, while Ye Lan listened quietly, absorbing the tale of his senior's growth.
"Grandpa! What brings you here to see me?!" a figure exclaimed, rushing straight into Dugu Bo's arms.
Ye Lan turned his head to look. Purple short hair and bright green eyes made her fair skin appear even paler.
A small tear mole at the corner of her eye added a hint of allure to her already bewitching appearance. The blue off-shoulder short dress she wore clung tightly to her figure.
From Ye Lan's perspective, the purple-haired girl's figure was displayed to perfection.
Ye Lan just glanced at her, but her bewitching charm left a deep impression on him.
"Of course, Grandpa came to see how my Yan Yan is doing!" Dugu Bo said with a smile.
By now, the entire Heaven Dou First Team had gathered before them.
Ye Lan pulled his gaze away from the purple-haired girl and looked over the other team members.
Two tall, burly men with similar features were clearly the Shi brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, martial soul: Xuanwu Turtle.
In front of the brothers stood a tall, lean man in his early twenties, with a broad forehead, straight nose, and a head of spiky black hair. His appearance was imposing, though his expression remained stiff.
Ye Lan guessed this must be Yu Tianheng, martial soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Behind Yu Tianheng was a short, delicate-looking boy with white hair.
He was most likely Yu Feng, an agility-attack type battle soul master with the martial soul Wind Bell Bird.
To Yu Feng's right stood a tall, thin man with a sinister air and black hair—likely Oslo, also an agility-attack type battle soul master with the martial soul Black Panther.
As Ye Lan's gaze swept over the First Team, the imposing man in the center stepped forward and said, "Greetings to the First Seat, Second Seat, and Third Seat!"
Then he approached Dugu Bo, cupped his fists, and said respectfully, "Greetings, Senior Dugu. I am Yu Tianheng, Yan Yan's classmate."
Still nestled in Dugu Bo's arms, Dugu Yan frowned and turned back impatiently. "I told you not to call me Yan Yan, Yu Tianheng!"
Yu Tianheng's stiff face curved into a small smile, as though unfazed by her irritation.
Dugu Bo glanced at Yu Tianheng but did not respond.
Truth be told, Dugu Bo didn't think much of him.
Yu Tianheng's target wasn't really his granddaughter—it was him.
A direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, not training in his own clan's territory but instead enrolling in the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—
Wasn't that because his granddaughter was here?
The clan's so-called "training" was notorious in the upper circles of soul masters.
They called it training, but in reality, it was often just a pretext to mingle with heirs from other sects and clans.
Even that infamous failure of the clan, the "Grandmaster," was rumored to have courted quite a few women in his youth.
So Dugu Bo had no fondness for Yu Tianheng.
More importantly, Yu Tianheng's talent was not so extraordinary as to make Dugu Bo take special notice.
At best, he might one day reach Soul Douluo level, or if extremely lucky, barely attain the Title Douluo rank like himself.
After giving Yu Tianheng a cursory glance, Dugu Bo looked over at Ye Lan.
Comparing the two young men's appearances, his heart settled.
He knew his granddaughter was a complete pushover for a pretty face. Sooner or later, after spending time with Ye Lan, she was bound to fall for him.
A few seconds later, Dugu Bo noticed Yu Tianheng was still standing there with his fists cupped.
He gave him a brief nod.
Yu Tianheng thought this meant Dugu Bo acknowledged him. Suppressing his excitement, he prepared to walk over to Dugu Yan's side—
But before he could lift his foot, Dugu Bo brought Dugu Yan over to Ye Lan and said, "This here is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan. Her martial soul is the same as mine, the Jade Phosphor Serpent. She is a level thirty-seven control-type battle soul master."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo kept shooting Ye Lan meaningful glances, as if to say, Told you—you'll be pleased.
"Greetings, Miss Dugu Yan," Ye Lan said, meeting her bright green eyes.
Dugu Bo then added, "Yan Yan, let me introduce you. This is Ye Lan—he's four years your junior."
"Ye Lan?" Dugu Yan murmured.
(End of Chapter)