Du Gu Yan's face flushed like a ripe peach, red enough to drip juice at a squeeze. Hearing Oscar's words, she quickly slipped off the soul tool rings from her fingers and tossed them back to him.
Then, she spun around with her back to him, not daring to glance again.
Novel scenes were one thing—reality was another. Confronted with such a situation, Du Gu Yan was far too embarrassed to keep looking.
Her heart was still racing with joy and relief that Oscar was alive, but the shocking image she had just witnessed replayed itself in her mind, stirring her even more.
So… so impressive… The thought slipped unbidden through her head.
Oscar, meanwhile, caught the rings and hurriedly drew out a set of clothes to put on. Once properly dressed and tidy again, he walked over, lightly patting her shoulder.
"Elder sister, are you alright?" he asked softly.
The sudden touch made Du Gu Yan jolt, and she shrank from looking at him. "I-I'm fine!" she stammered quickly.
Oscar couldn't help but find her shy demeanor adorable. Truthfully, after being seen completely, he didn't feel like he'd lost out.
He thought a moment, then teased:
"There's no need for you to be embarrassed. After all, I'm the one who was seen. If anyone should feel shy, it's me. Of course, if you really feel bad about it… You could always let me look back, you know…"
Before he could finish, Du Gu Yan whipped around, clapping a hand over his mouth, her face blazing red. "You absolutely cannot!" she blurted.
Oscar didn't dodge, letting her cover his lips. With her so close, their gazes locked—this time unobstructed. Staring at her delicate, blushing face, Oscar thought to himself: If I really ended up with her in this life, it wouldn't be so bad.
She had the looks, the figure, the charm—and behind her stood Dugu Bo and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well as dowry. It was hardly a loss.
Still, he refrained from going too far. With Dugu Bo around, one slip and the old man might skin him alive.
But soon, Oscar would realize Dugu Bo had already left and wouldn't be back for a while.
Du Gu Yan, after a few seconds of flustered eye contact, suddenly withdrew her hand and dropped her head, mumbling:
"I… I didn't mean to. I thought you were already… already gone. Who knew you'd suddenly appear like that… without a stitch…"
Her voice grew softer and softer as she trailed off, face burning.
Oscar chuckled inwardly. In the original story, she had always carried a strong "big sister" aura when she first appeared. But now, standing before him, she was like a timid little girl. Raising her into a proper queenly big sister later… wouldn't that be an achievement?
He smiled wryly. "I see. Then it's my fault. But didn't I explain already? I never imagined you wouldn't be able to find me. My soul tool was right there—how could I have just vanished without it? Surely I wouldn't abandon my soul tool and run off to die, right?"
Hearing that, Du Gu Yan realized he had a point. Yesterday, she and her grandfather had panicked too quickly, not thinking it through. Now that Oscar explained, it did sound foolish.
But then she thought of Dugu Bo—and her face turned pale. Looking up at Oscar with wide, pitiful eyes, she whispered:
"O-Oscar…"
"Hm?"
"There may be trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"My grandpa and I both thought you were gone. Just half an hour ago, he left. He went to Shrek Academy… to tell your teachers the news of your death…"
Oscar's expression turned odd. So fast?
Really? Discovering someone missing in the afternoon and by the next morning, you're already delivering death notices? No thorough searching? No rescue attempt?
But then, thinking it through, Oscar sighed inwardly. This basin was tiny, surrounded by Dugu Bo's poison arrays—no way out. And within the basin, there was only the Ice and Fire Well. With his aura hidden, only his soul tool was left behind… what else could anyone conclude but death?
He covered his face, speechless. He really should have told Dugu Bo beforehand about consuming the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot. After all, Dugu Bo had already permitted him to use the immortal herbs. Surely he wouldn't have objected.
Now it was too late. Explaining was impossible. Even with his third spirit ability granting him the speed of the Swift-Tailed Sparrowhawk—close to ten thousand-year level—he could only sustain it for fifteen minutes per use.
And with his current spirit power, he could only store around ten to twenty activations at best. Chasing down a Title Douluo at rank 91? Impossible. By now, Dugu Bo was long gone.
So Oscar forced himself to calm down. If he couldn't catch up, the misunderstanding would have to persist—for now.
True, when Ge Yue and the others heard the news, they would be devastated. They might even clash with Dugu Bo. But Oscar didn't believe Dugu Bo would kill them. The man's reputation might be harsh, but when it came to keeping his word, he wasn't unreliable.
Besides, he had promised to keep Oscar safe. For his student to "die" under his watch in a single day, it was clearly his fault. Surely he wouldn't vent his anger on Shrek.
Convinced of that, Oscar could only pray that both sides remained civil. Then, he stopped wasting time and carefully explained the detoxification method to Du Gu Yan.
For now, she couldn't apply it fully—she lacked spirit bones to store and process the toxins. But she could at least begin practicing the motions, familiarizing herself with the technique.
Oscar lectured seriously, but noticed she kept zoning out, her face flushing again and again. He flicked her forehead lightly.
"Elder sister! This is about your life—stop daydreaming! What are you thinking about?"
"Ow!" Du Gu Yan squeaked, covering her head and pouting. "Why did you do that? Do you know how scared I was yesterday when I couldn't find you? I nearly cried myself to death—then today you suddenly appear out of nowhere!"
Oscar almost laughed. Why does this feel like coaxing a girlfriend?
He sighed and softened his tone. "That's my fault. From now on, I'll discuss things with you first, alright? But let's not get distracted now. We'll finish the training, and then in the afternoon, I'll sit and chat with you as long as you want. Deal?"
At that, Du Gu Yan's pout lifted into a smile. "That's better. Then I'll forgive you."
Oscar: "…"
He resisted the urge to tease further and went back to explaining the detox process in detail.
After a few rounds of practice, Du Gu Yan realized Oscar's method truly allowed her to refine some of the poison in her body. Though without spirit bones, she couldn't truly purge it yet, at least she could attempt partial refinement and gradually adapt.
When they finished their serious work, she pulled him along to the stone houses carved into the cliff face for lunch. These chambers—built by Dugu Bo—were for cultivation, poison refinement, and living quarters.
Normally, Du Gu Yan had to rely on her martial spirit's snake tail to climb the special path carved into the cliff by her grandfather. But with Oscar, it was different.
When she mentioned returning to the stone houses, Oscar extended a hand. She thought he meant to fly her up like last time with his third spirit ability. Shy but willing, she took his hand.
Instead, he yanked her into his arms, spinning her around until she landed against his chest.
Staring up at him in shock, she thought frantically: So bold! Just holding hands would have been enough to fly. Why pull me into your arms?
Oscar smirked. "Sister, you've already seen everything of me. Hugging you once—just think of it as interest paid back."
Before she could react, his left hand flared with azure spirit power, forming a shimmering jade longsword about 1.2 meters long.
The sword floated horizontally before them. Oscar, still holding her by the waist, stepped onto it—bringing her along.
Du Gu Yan's eyes widened in disbelief. Wasn't he a food-type spirit master? Since when could he wield a sword?
Standing pressed against him, her back against his chest, she heard his warm voice in her ear:
"Don't worry. I'll protect you."
His breath tickled her earlobe, making her cheeks redden again.
The intimacy was overwhelming. With his arms firmly wrapped around her waist to steady her, she didn't even know what to do with her hands. And when she recalled his words about "paying interest," her whole body felt strange.
Yes, she had to admit—she was starting to harbor feelings beyond friendship for Oscar. But never had she imagined such closeness, so soon!
Before she could think further, the jade sword soared upward.
She wasn't afraid of flying—her grandfather had often carried her—but this was different. This was sword-riding.
A dream from all those storybooks she read—riding a sword into the sky in the arms of a heroic partner. And now, it was happening for real.
Eyes bright, she spread her arms wide, embracing the wind.
Oscar, seeing her shy expression melt into enjoyment, circled in the air a few times, savoring the feeling of holding her as the wind swept past.
Her emerald hair fluttered against his chin and nose, fragrant and soft. Her fifteen-year-old figure pressed against him was perfect, every shift brushing against his "capital" and driving his thoughts wild.
Oscar was only eleven, but in this world, children matured early. With three spirit rings already absorbed, his body had developed well beyond his years.
Still, he restrained himself. Now wasn't the time. If Dugu Bo found out… I'd be finished.
So, after a few rounds, he directed the sword toward the stone houses.
There, they ate lunch and chatted. Gradually, Du Gu Yan calmed down.
Yet in the back of her mind, the "giant image" she had seen earlier still wouldn't fade. Especially since during their flight, she'd felt something hard pressing against her whenever she shifted.
Once, she even deliberately rubbed against it, testing—only to flush scarlet.
She didn't dare ask. What if Oscar teased her into letting him "look back" in exchange?