Chapter 275: After the Battle, Meeting Ye Lingling Again
Tai Tan stood dazed, his body still spattered with the blood of his clansmen.
It was the blood splashed from those torn apart by the massive crossbows.
Niu Gao and Bai He's faces were grim as well; every trip to Tiandou City seemed ill-fated.
They had only just arrived, and now their clansmen suffered losses again.
Footsteps approached—Tai Nuo emerged from the mansion, carrying Yang Wudi on his back.
The medicinal poison raging within Yang Wudi's body had yet to subside, leaving him extremely weak.
Even though the fighting had been brief, he felt every tremor of it.
Upon stepping outside and seeing the carnage, his expression turned dark as iron.
A surge of blood welled in his chest before he spat out a mouthful of black blood.
Tai Nuo quickly set him down.
"Old Goat, who dared attack you?" Bai He roared in anger.
Initially, he had blamed Yang Wudi—if Yang Wudi had come out sooner, this catastrophe could have been avoided.
But now, seeing his condition, he realized it was no act—the man was truly hurt.
Yang Wudi's spirit was listless. Just moments ago, Dugu Feng had quietly retrieved the trace of Tyrant Poison he had sent into Yang Wudi's body.
Still, the injuries needed time to heal through meditation.
With a pained face and a weak voice, Yang Wudi said, "The toxins flared... caught me off guard—sustained heavy damage."
Bai He and Niu Gao exchanged stunned looks.
What a terrible coincidence!
Both could only offer bitter smiles; the losses would have to be accepted as misfortune.
"You must treat the wounded at once!" Qian Renxue commanded the healing soul masters of the royal corps to tend to the injured members of the Four Single-Attribute Clans.
She walked over to Tai Tan and spoke candidly: "Patriarch Tai Tan, elders, this was my uncle's recklessness.
He has been too worried about His Majesty's health, his tension bordering madness, so he gave that order.
If not for Young Master Dugu and Marshal Ge Long arriving in time, I wouldn't know how to contain the disaster.
My uncle is beyond my control.
Your loss pains me deeply.
You came to Tiandou to build a future—trusting in our empire—and Tiandou will never betray that trust.
I will make restitution for everything you've lost!"
Tai Tan wanted to curse. Can compensation bring the dead back?
But he dared not.
At least Qian Renxue's civility far surpassed Prince Xue Xing's arrogance.
He had no choice but to swallow his anger.
Glancing at Dugu Feng and Ge Long beside him, Tai Tan bowed. "Many thanks to Young Master Dugu, to Marshal Ge. Without you both, our losses would have been unimaginable."
Dugu Feng smiled modestly and waved his hand. "I heard the Breaking, Defense, and Agility Clans recently arrived in Tiandou.
Since you are here, you are now part of the Tiandou alliance.
From this day forward, we stand together without division.
You'll soon see how united the soul masters of Tiandou truly are."
Dugu Feng's poise was commanding, and Ge Long, who merely stood by silently, seemed almost a supporting actor.
It left Tai Tan, Yang Wudi, and the others in awe of the Dugu family's influence in the capital—and of Dugu Feng's rising stature.
This was indeed the brilliance of the empire's greatest prodigy.
They said no more, turning immediately to treat their wounded.
There were still many injured to save.
Dugu Feng and Qian Renxue mobilized additional royal soul masters and healers from various institutes.
Their determination to treat every single survivor impressed Tai Tan and his comrades completely.
Their resentment against the Tiandou Empire faded.
They finally understood why the Crown Prince enjoyed such high praise.
Her dedication to the soul master world was clear to see.
"My uncle was reckless again, unable to face reality. Brother Feng, your help was invaluable," Qian Renxue said softly.
Ge Long had already departed to command the heavy infantry.
The city's defense forces were next for him to take charge of—by Qian Renxue's order.
After this, Prince Xue Xing would lose all power.
Qian Renxue's mood lightened, her tone warm with gratitude.
"Brother Xue, you flatter me," Dugu Feng replied calmly, as if his actions were trivial.
But inwardly, he analyzed Qian Renxue's strength.
During the Tiandou coup in the original story, she was already a Soul Sage.
Now, a year before that event, what was her true power?
Every meeting, Dugu Feng discreetly examined her aura.
But her energy signature remained steady and well-hidden, difficult to detect.
Only after Prince Xue Xing conceded did Dugu Feng sense a fleeting fluctuation.
Stronger than before—she had already absorbed her seventh soul ring.
And apparently not recently.
He had shown his Soul Emperor strength openly; Qian Renxue's mild surprise but lack of shock proved her confidence.
She likely stood around level seventy-five.
For someone born with level twenty innate soul power and enhanced by near-hundred-thousand-year bones, that was actually slow.
Tang Hao had reached Soul Sage by thirty; Qian Renxue, at twenty-nine, only level seventy-five.
Clearly, politics had held her back.
Perfect. The more she focused on ruling, the slower she'd grow.
"Brother Xue, it's best to ascend quickly to avoid unforeseen troubles," Dugu Feng reminded.
Qian Renxue nodded slightly—mutual understanding without words.
After a while, the situation at the Strength Clan Mansion stabilized.
Dugu Feng and Qian Renxue took their leave, strolling through Tiandou City together.
Soon, Dugu Feng arrived at a quiet residence.
Sensing through his spirit bead, he found Ye Lingling inside.
She carried one of his beads—split from Dugu Yan's. Since Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were close friends, he had long arranged an opportunity to transfer it to her.
Entering Ye Mansion and announcing himself, he was quickly welcomed.
He hadn't seen Ye Lingling in years. His old promise to take her around the continent had remained unfulfilled.
Now seemed the perfect time.
As he waited, he felt the bead's faint resonance drawing nearer.
Ye Lingling appeared at the door.
She wore a black dress cinched at the waist by a sapphire ribbon bow, accentuating her graceful figure.
Her cascading blue hair framed her face like a waterfall.
To Dugu Feng, she looked more mature than ever.
What surprised him most—she wore no veil.
Her clear eyes, dazzling and expressive, locked directly with his.
Even Dugu Feng, who prided himself on composure, felt a flicker of unease.
Before, Ye Lingling always hid her face, concealing expression and emotion.
But now, every thought of hers lay open within those eyes.
(END CHAPTER)
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