Ning Rongrong arrived at the Medicine Refining Pavilion.
Because of her physical condition, Dugu Yan had been staying there these past days so that Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin could easily monitor her state and treat any sudden complications in time.
Using her perception, Ning Rongrong quickly located Dugu Yan's room.
Knock knock knock—
"Is that you, Grandpa?"
A familiar voice came from inside.
"It's me, Sister Yan Yan. I'm back."
BANG—
The door was yanked open with force.
"Rong… Rongrong!"
Ning Rongrong stumbled and nearly fell. She truly hadn't expected Dugu Yan to suddenly throw her arms around her.
"Sister Yan Yan…" Feeling the soft, curvaceous body and the faint fragrance of a young woman, Ning Rongrong reached out and gently stroked Dugu Yan's head. "It's all right. I'm back now."
Dugu Yan's face was deathly pale, as though she had just recovered from a serious illness. Heavy dark circles ringed her eyes.
Though not as bad as She Long and Ci Xue after being beaten by Kurumi, it was still far from a healthy state.
"I thought I'd never see you again." After hugging her for a long time, Dugu Yan finally let go, stepped back, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself just now. I haven't been sleeping well these past few days, I…"
"It's fine, I understand." Ning Rongrong patted Dugu Yan's shoulder. "I came this time specifically to solve your problem. I've already heard the rough details from your grandfather."
"I'm really sorry for making you worry again."
"Nonsense." Ning Rongrong shook her head. "If anyone is to blame, it's me. If I hadn't asked you to kill all those sea spirit beasts, this wouldn't have happened."
"Hey, Sister Yan Yan, look into my eyes." As she spoke, Ning Rongrong tilted her head up slightly—Dugu Yan was a little taller than her.
Their eyes met, and the pupils in Ning Rongrong's eyes began to change.
Dugu Yan instantly felt her mind grow heavy and dizzy.
Bang.
It was as if she heard some sound. Her head shook, and Dugu Yan lost consciousness.
She staggered and collapsed, but Ning Rongrong caught her and carried her back to the bed.
Tokisaki Kurumi slowly lowered the pistol she had been pressing against the back of Dugu Yan's head.
"Master, are you sure this method will really work?"
"I don't want her swinging from one extreme straight to the other," Tokisaki Kurumi grumbled. "I don't fancy the idea of us accidentally turning Dugu Yan into someone who wakes up and decides to exterminate all spirit beasts."
"I don't like spirit beasts, but I'm not at the point of wanting to wipe out every last one of them."
"Don't worry."
Ning Rongrong laid Dugu Yan on the bed and turned to Tokisaki Kurumi, who was standing in the doorway.
"I left a wisp of my consciousness inside as insurance. It will correct any extreme emotions Dugu Yan develops. Unless something completely unexpected happens, there won't be any problems."
Tokisaki Kurumi rolled her eyes. "Whenever someone says 'unless something unexpected happens' or 'once this is done we'll go home and get married,' something unexpected happens one hundred percent of the time."
"There won't be that many unexpected things. Impossible." Ning Rongrong walked over to Tokisaki Kurumi and poked her forehead with a finger. "Break before you build. Using poison to fight poison is the best method right now."
"No one else can pull Dugu Yan out of this. If she herself has no confidence, nothing anyone else does will matter."
"Tch. Nothing but crooked reasoning." Tokisaki Kurumi pouted. "Then what are you going to tell Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin?"
"What you're doing is pretty extreme. If they find out…"
"There's no need to hide it. Since we're doing it, we'll own up to it."
"Ning Rongrong, let me tell you—my memories are not pleasant to experience. Tens of thousands of years ago, humans and spirit beasts were nowhere near as harmonious as they are now."
"Exactly. That's why she has to experience it all."
"Otherwise, her psychological burden will never go away."
"You have your justice, I have mine. Humans, spirit beasts, or even the lofty gods above—aren't they all the same?"
"I'm done arguing with you. Go spout your crooked logic to that old man of yours at home."
Tokisaki Kurumi huffed, turned away, and said, "I'm going for a walk. Call me when it's time to leave."
"Got it."
The moment Ning Rongrong finished speaking, Tokisaki Kurumi stepped into the already-prepared spatial portal.
Ning Rongrong walked unhurriedly out of the Medicine Refining Pavilion. The moment she stepped through the main door, she saw Ning Fengzhi, Dugu Bo, and the others rushing over.
"Rongrong, have you seen Yan Yan? How is she?" Dugu Bo asked anxiously before he even caught his breath.
"I've grasped the situation, but…"
Ning Rongrong's hesitant tone made Dugu Bo's heart sink.
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious." Ning Rongrong waved her hand. "It's just that the method I'm using might be a little intense."
She explained to everyone present the "Kyōka Suigetsu" dreamscape plan she and Tokisaki Kurumi had discussed.
"This…" After hearing it, Dugu Bo and the surrounding Title Douluo looked at each other.
"Forcing Dugu Yan to experience the memories of the wars between humans and spirit beasts that the Dark Devilgod Tiger witnessed tens of thousands of years ago—isn't that too cruel?"
Although the Dark Devilgod Tiger hadn't lived a full hundred thousand years, it had still lived for tens of thousands.
It had naturally witnessed countless wars between humans and spirit beasts.
And as a being that inherently carried the power of devouring, the Dark Devilgod Tiger had always been drawn to wherever there was war.
"We need Dugu Yan to believe that what she did was just."
"Only then can she truly walk out of this. And since those events are Kurumi's real memories, they should help her change her perspective."
"But isn't this far too dangerous?"
"I've taken full protective measures. Relax. At most two days, and Sister Yan Yan will wake up. By then, the hero eulogies from Xue Ke's side should have arrived as well."
After finishing, Ning Rongrong thought for a moment and added, "Someone needs to watch over Sister Yan Yan for the next two days. Because it involves a dreamscape, if the dream believes she has died…"
"Although she won't actually die, her spirit and body will still suffer massive damage."
"In short, two people need to guard her until she wakes up."
"Renxin and I can do it. We're already staying in the Medicine Refining Pavilion anyway," Ye Renxin suggested.
"That works." Ning Rongrong looked at Dugu Bo. "What do you think, Senior Dugu?"
"Perfect! With Renxin helping, I'll have company."
After Ning Rongrong finished giving Dugu Bo some final instructions, she led the group to the training grounds reserved for the clan's Title Douluo.
"This place will do. I just happen to want to test everyone's strength."
Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin had to watch over Dugu Yan, so they did not come.
"Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone don't need to participate. Father, you can provide buffs, that's fine."
"I just want to have a simple spar with the elders."
Ning Fengzhi fell silent for a moment, then looked at the elders on both sides and asked,
"What do you all think?"
"This… even with the Sect Master's boosts, we're still no match for the Young Sect Master!"
The difficulty was clear in their tones, and others voiced their agreement.
"Don't worry, it's not one-on-one. It's all of you—except Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone—against me."
"Even then, you're scared?"
"Young Sect Master, may I use soul tools?" The one who stepped forward was Lou Gao, the only person in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan who possessed two 100,000-year soul rings—and both were connected to Ning Rongrong.
Though only a support-type soul master, those soul rings were simply too beautiful to ignore.
Level 92 support soul master, Lou Gao.
(End of Chapter)