"Brother wouldn't do that, right, brother~?"
Qian Renxue shook Lin Feng's arm, speaking in a spoiled, flirtatious tone.
Lin Feng shivered in response, and Chrysanthemum Douluo standing beside them wore an odd expression.
"No, no, of course not," Lin Feng quickly said.
Dugu Bo curled his lip."Young lady, if you don't want to lose favor once your brother gets a girlfriend, you'd better pick him a good one.Look over there—my Yan Yan is perfect, around your age too. You two would get along well.If she became your brother's girlfriend, she'd surely treat you like a queen."
Qian Renxue glanced at Dugu Bo, narrowing her eyes with a sly smile."Oh? Is that so, brother~?"
Lin Feng sighed and rubbed his forehead."Grandpa Dugu, please stop joking. Let's just go."
Dugu Bo waved them off and tossed a jade bottle."Inside are ten antidotes to the poisonous miasma. That's more than enough. Go yourselves—this old man needs to spend time with Yan Yan."
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked surprised."Old poison geezer, you trust us that much?"
Dugu Bo scoffed."What, you think I'm like you?You cursed me once and chased me around for ten years!If Xiao Feng ever stooped so low as to steal, then I must be blind."
Chrysanthemum Douluo awkwardly cleared his throat.Maybe... he was the one in the wrong after all?
Lin Feng clasped his fists and bowed."Thank you, Grandpa Dugu."
"Alright, alright. It should be us thanking you.If not for you, we'd still be lost on how to resolve our martial soul issues."
Dugu Bo sighed, then suddenly asked,"Kid, are you sure you don't want to marry Yan Yan once she's older?As I recall, the Grand Worshipper isn't all that old-fashioned. If not a wife, she could be a concubine?"
Lin Feng replied irritably,"What kind of grandpa tries to sell off his granddaughter as a concubine?"
"Haha, whether it's wife or concubine, it's all the same.As long as you treat them equally and sincerely, Yan Yan won't lose out," Dugu Bo said, stroking his beard with a big smile.
"Alright, alright. Can we just go already?"
"Sure, but if you change your mind, let me know."
On the way to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Qian Renxue pinched Lin Feng's arm."You really are something—charming both the young and the old?"
"What nonsense... Dugu Bo was the one pushing it on me."
"And you didn't refuse?"
Lin Feng's face darkened."Of course I did! I refused clearly and firmly! He just keeps bringing it up nonstop."
Qian Renxue smirked with interest."Brother~ Should your little sister help find you another girlfriend?"
Hearing the familiar teasing tone, Lin Feng felt odd inside. You already did, he thought.
"No need. I'll find one myself."
"Hmph."
Under Lin Feng's lead, the three of them arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes widened in shock.
"Incredible! To think such a treasure truly exists in this world… it lives up to its name.Top-grade, mid-grade, top-grade, top-grade, top-grade…"
He stared at the surrounding medicinal herbs in agony—so close, yet out of reach.
"The pain of seeing but not possessing," he muttered, nearly going mad.
"Master Feng!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo turned, eyes blazing."Please have the Grand Worshipper win Dugu Bo over completely. We must take this place!The herbs here are enough to raise dozens of high-ranking Soul Sages!"
Qian Renxue was shocked, glancing around."Is it really that amazing?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded solemnly."Absolutely. Even if over half the herbs here are poisonous, the remaining ones include many top-grade herbs.Their medicinal power can enhance the talents of ordinary soul masters.Honestly, even the entire Douluo Continent combined might not rival this one spot!"
Lin Feng, meanwhile, was thinking of another place—the habitat of the Silver Dragon King.That massive chunk of Essence of All Living Things had always made him envious.
Qian Renxue reined in her shock and tapped Lin Feng's shoulder."Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"It's all the same. Dugu Bo's already aboard our ship—he can't leave now.Three years from now, if he wants out of Spirit Hall, he'll probably have to beg us to let him go."
Qian Renxue laughed."You're evil."
"Not really," Lin Feng chuckled.
Chrysanthemum Douluo watched the two of them with growing suspicion.Both of them are so cunning... and something's weird between them too.
"Where are the two immortal herbs we need?" Qian Renxue asked.
Lin Feng pointed toward the center of the Yin-Yang Well."Right over there."
Chrysanthemum Douluo followed his gaze and gasped again."Ah! With the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well here, it's only natural that the companion herbs would exist.Congratulations, Your Highness! With these, you'll fear neither fire nor water—no evil can harm you!"
Qian Renxue's face lit up with joy."All thanks to Feng~ Love you!"
Smack.
Chrysanthemum Douluo stared at the sky in silence, pretending he saw nothing.No need to be too dutiful—as long as no lives are lost, he'd turn a blind eye.
Lin Feng ruffled Qian Renxue's hair and turned toward the well.A massive black tent-like structure had already been set up, with a small vent at the top to let the steam escape.
Qian Renxue asked curiously,"Feng, what's this for?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo muttered knowingly,"According to legend, the Yin-Yang Well's extreme cold and heat will destroy all clothing.I'll go stand guard outside for spirit beasts."
The next second, he vanished with a sly grin.
"Huh…?"
Qian Renxue's face flushed red. Her beautiful eyes turned sulky."Feng, you've really turned bad."
"Not at all. That's just how the herbs must be absorbed. I even prepared this big tent for you.Don't worry—once you're inside the well, I'll stay outside. I promise not to peek."
Qian Renxue heard his vow and unexpectedly felt a tinge of disappointment."Alright, but don't go too far."
"Of course."
The two gradually approached the well. When the energy fluctuations intensified, Qian Renxue activated her soul power and stepped forward.
Following Lin Feng's instructions, she picked both herbs and took them simultaneously—then, without hesitation, jumped into the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
For some reason, Lin Feng felt her gaze right before she jumped was a little odd—was that… longing?
He chuckled to himself and sat down to meditate nearby.
"Ahhh—!"
Qian Renxue cried out in pain as her clothes were instantly turned to ash by the extreme energy.Her flawless, divine figure was now submerged in the spring.
Lin Feng calmed himself, ignoring his restless thoughts, and waited patiently.Qian Renxue's moans of pain gradually eased into low murmurs.
The forging of her golden body had begun.
T/N: For up to thirteen chapters ahead on this fic and twenty on my other, become a P@tron at P@treon.com/LordHipposApostle