Chapter Fifty-Seven Dugu Yan

When Han Fei arrived at the scene of the kidnapping, Ji Wuye had already been waiting for some time.

“Ninth Prince, you certainly are a busy man—only just now showing up,” Ji Wuye remarked with biting sarcasm.

“To do a good job, one must first sharpen his tools. Acting rashly achieves nothing,” Han Fei replied, not missing a beat.

“I just hope your skills are as sharp as your tongue,” Ji Wuye said no more, beginning to organize his men for a tentative assault.

“Is there anything I can help with?” At this moment, Li Yu emerged from behind Han Fei.

“Brother Fang, shouldn’t you be accompanying your lady?” Han Fei smiled as he saw Li Yu’s eager face.

“Women are like clothes; brothers are like limbs,” Li Yu declared with righteous conviction.

“Coming from you, that’s not very convincing, Brother Fang!” Han Fei’s expression was one of amused incredulity.

“Don’t believe me? Watch—I'll go chat with the robbers inside,” Li Yu said, heading toward the courtyard.

“Hey—!” Han Fei was taken aback and quickly stepped forward to pull Li Yu back.

“Brother Fang, this is no joke,” Han Fei said, unusually serious.

“No worries. If they’d wanted to kill the Crown Prince, they would have already. I just want to ask their true intentions,” Li Yu gave Han Fei a reassuring look.

“Let him go. If he gets himself killed, only he’s to blame,” Ji Wuye came over, clearly irritated.

Ji Wuye’s temper was flaring; nothing seemed to please him.

Li Yu, still carrying his signature small wooden stick, strode into the ruined courtyard as the wind whistled.

“Tsk tsk tsk—” Li Yu surveyed the ground, crawling with snakes, insects, rats, and ants, scattered limbs, and the bodies of dead soldiers, their heads lolling, forming neat battle lines facing the gates.

“How could my little fairy be kept in such a place?” Li Yu muttered as he shook his head, venturing deeper.

“Yu—why are you here?” Yan Lingji, still clad in her fiery red gown adorned with black patterns, her perfect figure outlined dreamily, her black hair fluttering in the wind, eyes soft and full of allure, greeted Li Yu. Every time he saw her, he was entranced.

“I was worried about you, so I came to check on you,” Li Yu moved forward to gently take her delicate hand.

“You’re not hurt, are you?” Li Yu brought her hand to his nose and sniffed lightly.

“Grand Tutor? Grand Tutor, save me—it’s me! We’ve met at court!” The Crown Prince cried out.

Li Yu looked closely, pointing at him, “Who is this? Where did this beggar come from?”

“It’s me, Grand Tutor! I’m the Crown Prince! They kidnapped me!”

“Wow! Oh!—Good heavens! How did you end up like this?” Li Yu was startled.

“Grand Tutor, I’ve suffered so much! First I fell in the water, then they dragged me all the way, and beat me—boohoo…” The Crown Prince began to cry.

Born with a silver spoon, he had never endured such hardship; even Li Yu felt sympathy.

“You lot—really, if you want to kill him, just do it. Why torment this useless thing?” Li Yu scolded Tian Ze, who sat aside, silent, striking a pose.

“He tried to escape, so I had to teach him a lesson,” Yan Lingji blinked her beautiful eyes.

“Oh! Wife, you did well—enjoy it? Want to kick him a couple more times for fun?” Li Yu quickly changed his tune when he saw Yan Lingji was the one disciplining him.

“Grand Tutor—?” The Crown Prince, slow to realize, pointed at Li Yu, then at Yan Lingji, who had beaten him the hardest.

“You’re in cahoots?” The Crown Prince was incredulous—Han’s Grand Tutor standing beside the kidnappers, shamelessly flaunting affection.

Could anything be more absurd?

“King of Poisons, do you have any medicine to make someone mute, dry his tongue?” Li Yu looked in disgust at the filthy, reeking Crown Prince.

“One moment.” The ragged King of Poisons rummaged at his chest, fetched a black pill, and flicked it gently into the Crown Prince’s mouth.

Li Yu eyed him suspiciously, sure he saw the King of Poisons rub his chest on both sides—was this pill akin to Ji Gong’s legendary medicine?

“What did you make me eat—” Before the Prince finished, his throat seized and he could no longer speak.

He clutched his throat, pointed at everyone, terror-stricken.

“No need to act against him—someone outside will finish him. I’ve come to negotiate. Later, I’ll announce your condition: you’re willing to trade the life of Ji Yi Hu for the Crown Prince. Let’s see how Ji Wuye responds,” Li Yu glanced at Tian Ze, sharing his plan.

“What’s the point?” Tian Ze was not forthcoming.

“Winning hearts is best. I want to create irreconcilable rifts between Ji Wuye and King An of Han,” Li Yu smiled.

“Suit yourself—I won’t last much longer; my poison is about to flare,” Tian Ze voiced his concern.

“No need for long—when this is done, I’ll get your antidote,” Li Yu promised.

“Thank you,” Tian Ze said, rare gratitude showing.

“No need to thank me—I'm only doing this for Ling’er,” Li Yu, still holding Yan Lingji’s hand, was reluctant to let go.

“I’ll leave now—take care,” Li Yu patted Yan Lingji’s hand, reluctant to part.

“Yu—take care yourself,” Yan Lingji’s gentle voice called after him.

“I will.” Li Yu waved and walked away.

…

“What? Impossible!” Ji Wuye’s roar echoed.

“Does the general value his son’s life more, or the Crown Prince’s?” Li Yu, hands behind his back, twirled his wooden stick, asking calmly.

The puppet Crown Prince was Ji Wuye’s years-long investment.

But Ji Yi Hu was his only son.

Ji Wuye had never felt so stifled—he cursed Bai Yifei, who was nowhere to be found, for leaving such a mess, claiming it was all under control.

Bah!

…

Han Palace

Ji Wuye reported the events to King An of Han, casting suspicion on Li Yu.

“My lord, I find Fang Yu’s motives questionable. Of all the court, why insist my son be traded for the Crown Prince?”

King An frowned, “What, General Ji, are you unwilling?”

Ji Wuye replied helplessly, “Not unwilling, my lord—only afraid it might all end up for nothing.”

But upon hearing the Crown Prince could be exchanged for Ji Wuye’s son, King An was somewhat relieved. Watching Ji Wuye from the dais, his face softened, “If Ji Yi Hu can trade for the Crown Prince, later someone else can be traded for Ji Yi Hu. No need to worry, General Ji. Proceed as planned.”

With that, King An retired to the inner palace, leaving Ji Wuye speechless.

…

While Ji Wuye struggled to communicate with his son, Li Yu, the mastermind, was at Han Palace, entangled with Lady Mingzhu.

“Yu Lang—I find myself unable to live without you,” she whispered, clad in a seductive black silk nightdress, three thousand soft strands draped over her chest, sitting atop Li Yu like a queen, hairpin pressed to his teasing tongue, gazing seductively at him, his limbs bound to the bed.

“Lady, let me go—I can’t take it anymore,” Li Yu, blindfolded, felt more sensitive than ever, suffering under her relentless torment, longing to release his pent-up desire.

“No rush—the night is long. Tonight, you’re mine,” her sultry voice surrounded him, further stimulating his vulnerable nerves.

…

Dawn broke.

Li Yu embraced Chao Xi Yue in his arms, reflecting on the night’s madness.

This tidal enchantress was incredible. Chao Xi Yue gave Li Yu sensations he’d never experienced with other women—so fresh, so intense.

“Yue’er—do you have any way to cure Tian Ze’s poison?”

“Why care if he lives or dies? I don’t know what poison he’s afflicted with. To cure it, I’d need a sample from my cousin,” she replied, raising her enchanting swan neck and asking, “I haven’t seen my cousin lately; Ji Wuye is searching for him, but he seems to have vanished.”

Li Yu kissed her alluring neck, “Your cousin is recuperating at Blood Fortress—he can’t come out yet.”

Lady Mingzhu was surprised, “You wounded him?”

“What, feeling sorry?” Li Yu said jealously.

“His fate means nothing to me. I’m just curious—few in Han can injure him,” Chao Xi Yue scoffed.

“Lady, when this is over, come home with me. I want to marry you,” Li Yu said, earnestly.

“What about King An of Han? By law, I’m his wife,” Chao Xi Yue pressed, wanting to see how Li Yu would resolve this.

“Rest assured—I have a way,” Li Yu replied confidently.

“When the time comes, be my bride,” he said, gently tapping her chin and kissing her deeply.

Chao Xi Yue felt her body react again; she flipped onto Li Yu, riding him like a wild horse.

…

When Li Yu returned to the kidnapping scene, he saw a young man squatting on the ground, wailing.

“Father, I don’t want to go—let yourself go instead!”

“Unfilial son! The Crown Prince is worth his weight in gold. Trading for him is your honor! There’s no excuse,” Ji Wuye said, kicking his son.

Ji Wuye had realized he was young enough to have more sons, but if the Crown Prince died, the cost would be too great. Where else could he find such a fool to act as puppet? The royal house had only one such dullard.

Aside from the Fourth and Ninth Princes, the other princes were discreet but no fools.

“My son will have to trouble the Grand Tutor to escort him,” Ji Wuye said, smiling through gritted teeth as Li Yu arrived.

“No problem—all for His Highness the Crown Prince,” Li Yu replied, his gaze drifting to a distant thicket.

Li Yu’s senses now spanned five kilometers; if he wished, even the ants within that radius were clear to him.

Han Qiancheng, hiding in the shrubs, was not beyond Li Yu’s notice, though it drained his energy, so he rarely used it.

Li Yu grabbed Ji Yi Hu by the collar, dragged him to Tian Ze, and dropped him at his feet.

The Crown Prince, after a day’s absence, was unrecognizable, his mouth swollen like Ouyang Feng’s. Seeing Ji Yi Hu feigning death, the Crown Prince knew rescue was imminent and kowtowed fiercely to Li Yu.

Li Yu sidestepped—he never intended to save the Crown Prince.

“Yu—this is so boring. End the farce quickly! I don’t want to stay here,” Yan Lingji flitted to Li Yu’s side, speaking softly.

“Of course. Today it will be resolved,” Li Yu, too, hated to see his beloved suffer in such a place.

Li Yu signaled to the King of Poisons, who hadn’t bathed in thirty years.

The King of Poisons, practiced as ever, rubbed his body.

Outside, Ji Wuye, Han Fei, and the others awaited anxiously. Finally, someone stumbled out.

With a swollen pig face, sausage lips, and reeking body, only the recognizable royal robe showed it was the Crown Prince, sobbing incoherently.

“My brother, you’ve worked hard! Escort the Crown Prince back to the palace,” Han Fei, undeterred by the stench, helped him into the prepared carriage.

Ji Wuye watched the Crown Prince leave, his gaze fixed anxiously on the courtyard—his son was still inside.

“Ah! Kill!” With a shout, the sounds of fighting erupted within.

Han Fei sensed trouble and was about to call for help when Ji Wuye charged in.

He recognized the voice—it was Ji Yi Hu.

Inside, Li Yu was cradling Ji Yi Hu, his son’s face blackened, life uncertain.

The kidnappers had vanished.

Li Yu’s arm was slashed, blood staining his white clothes.

“What happened?” Han Fei asked Li Yu as he arrived.

“Never mind—saving the young general is urgent,” Li Yu replied weakly to Ji Wuye.

“Get help!” Ji Wuye, ignoring the details, picked up his son and rushed out.

Before he’d gone far, a soldier ran in, shouting to Ji Wuye.

“What’s happened?” Han Fei asked, recognizing the soldier as the one who escorted the Crown Prince.

A bad feeling crept over him.

“The Crown Prince—he was shot and killed on the way!” The soldier finally managed to explain.

Ji Wuye staggered, nearly dropping his son.

Han Fei raced to the scene.

Ji Wuye followed, carrying his unconscious son.

“There’s still a casualty here,” Li Yu murmured to the fading crowd.

Yan Lingji had truly not held back.

Clutching his wound, Li Yu left the courtyard, longing for a warm embrace.

…

Vast sky, endless wilds.

Wind swept the grass, revealing cattle and sheep.

On the boundless prairie, Li Yu’s avatar, after more than a month in North Hu, gazed at the spring-green fields and distant flocks, feeling his soul unburdened.

He sat cross-legged; as his meridians circulated, invisible spiritual energy formed streams, converging rapidly and entering his organs, finally gathering in his golden dantian.

With warm currents flowing through him, Li Yu opened his eyes to see a beautiful maiden.

“Wife, when did you arrive?” Li Yu smiled, pulling her into his arms, savoring her tenderness.

“When those four little animals appeared above your head, I came. Husband, what technique are you cultivating for those illusions to appear?” Hu Ji asked curiously.

“I don’t know—ever since I combined Taiji and the Dao De Jing, my cultivation has diverged. I think I need to visit the Daoist Tianzong—they have the deepest understanding of the Dao De Jing,” Li Yu shared his intention.

“Husband, you’re leaving?” Hu Ji clung to him, reluctant.

“Yes, I must return to Xianyang—two wives are pregnant. I need to check on them,” Li Yu looked to the distant east.

“Husband, I want to bear your child, too,” Hu Ji said seriously.

“You’re too young—early childbirth isn’t good for your health. I want us to be together for a long time,” Li Yu teased her nose.

“Husband—love me,” Hu Ji flipped onto Li Yu.

“Here?” Li Yu glanced at the sky as his shelter, earth as his bed.

“Here,” Hu Ji murmured, kissing him.

…

Han’s Xinzheng

Zilan Pavilion

“Zier, your husband is wounded! Aren’t you going to comfort me?” Li Yu looked pitifully at Zi Nu.

“How’d you get that wound? Ling’er’s doing, isn’t it?” Zi Nu, sharp as ever, immediately saw through it.

“My wife is so clever,” Li Yu grinned, raising his arm for Nong Yu to bandage.

“Little Yu is the best—give your husband a kiss,” he said, leaning toward Nong Yu.

“Husband, don’t underestimate this wound. Infection would be bad,” Nong Yu tended him gently.

“One kiss and it won’t hurt,” Li Yu shamelessly kissed Nong Yu’s delicate cheek.

The two women could do nothing with him—they loved this tormentor too dearly.

General’s Mansion

Ji Wuye, staring at Ji Yi Hu on the bed, his face as dark as his son’s.

Eyes shut, deathly aura gathering.

“How is my son?” Ji Wuye asked the doctor at his side.

“The young general has been poisoned with a complex mix. I can’t identify the toxins without knowing the poisoner,” the doctor replied honestly.

Upon hearing this, Ji Wuye grew furious, kicking the doctor, “What use are you? Next!”

Another white-haired doctor approached, trembling, examining Ji Yi Hu.

The deeper he investigated, the grimmer his expression.

“General, the young general has been poisoned with at least dozens of compounds. I am powerless. You must find the poisoner,” he advised, trembling.

“If I could find the poisoner, would I be wasting time with you? How long does my son have?” Ji Wuye pressed.

“Three days, at most,” the doctor replied conservatively.

“Within three days, find a solution—or you’ll all accompany him to the grave,” Ji Wuye threatened the dozen doctors.

…

Heavenly Dou Empire

Li Yu, inspired by fantasy novels, attempted sword-flight, stepping onto the Bluewater Sword.

“Fly,” he commanded, pointing ahead.

A breeze blew—

Li Yu remained awkwardly in place.

He checked his golden dantian—why no reaction?

Something was missing. He needed to visit Tianzong.

“Ha ha ha—Grandpa, this guy is so funny!” A clear voice rang out.

Li Yu: “…”

Who was that—so rude?

A purple-haired, green-eyed girl appeared, in a low-cut short dress, her beauty fully on display.

Wasn’t that Dugu Yan?

Why was she here—and calling him grandpa?

Only then did Li Yu notice the upright elder beside her, short white beard, slender, clean.

Grandfather and granddaughter—what a coincidence.

“Beautiful lady, I am Li Yu, pleased to meet you both among the vast crowds,” Li Yu jumped off the Bluewater Sword, introducing himself politely.

“Oh, interesting!” Dugu Bo, the elder, was intrigued by the bold youth, who dared flirt with his granddaughter.

“Do you know who I am?” Dugu Bo fixed a sharp gaze on Li Yu.

“Bilin Douluo Dugu Bo, known throughout the land. As the saying goes, a hero’s life is lacking if he’s never met Dugu Bo,” Li Yu flattered smoothly.

“You know me—why aren’t you afraid?” Dugu Bo was curious; even Yu Tianheng, who pursued his granddaughter, was cautious, but this young man was not.

Li Yu chuckled, “From small things, great ones grow. To raise a granddaughter as gentle and beautiful as Dugu Yan, you must have been a handsome man in your youth. Besides, you are upright and principled—why trouble a mere stranger like me? And I admire Miss Dugu greatly—perhaps we’ll be family someday!”

“Ha ha! You’re amusing—just my kind of person. Will you be my disciple?” Dugu Bo stroked his beard, smiling.

“Grandpa, this guy doesn’t seem reliable—why do you value him so highly?” Dugu Yan asked, puzzled.

“My dear Yan Yan, I just tested him with seventy percent of my pressure—he felt nothing,” Dugu Bo explained.

“Grandpa, you must be joking! Even a normal Douluo couldn’t remain calm under your pressure,” Dugu Yan was now interested in Li Yu.

“Senior, since fate brings us together, I know a method that can relieve your urgent trouble,” Li Yu interrupted, stealing Tang San’s opportunity.

“Senior, do you experience tingling in your sides on cloudy, rainy days?”

“How do you know?” Dugu Bo blurted out.

Dugu Yan blinked, curious.

Even she didn’t know—how did he?

Li Yu didn’t answer, continuing, “And it worsens, lasts over an hour, occurring at noon and midnight. Late at night, around the third watch, your head and soles feel needle-like pain, full-body spasms for half an hour. Am I right?”

Dugu Bo grew agitated, lunging at Li Yu.

Li Yu had anticipated the attack, dodging swiftly—Dugu Bo seized only a shadow.

Such speed!

“Why not ask if I have a cure?” Li Yu smiled calmly.

“Oh? You have a way?” Dugu Bo was skeptical—he’d researched for years, found nothing, and this young man claimed a solution.

“Unable to see Mount Lu’s true face because one is inside it. Senior, you only tried to suppress your poison, never thought to transfer it—such as to an external soul bone,” Li Yu explained.

“Senior, you may not care, but Yan Yan is young and beautiful. Senior, don’t you agree?” Li Yu said, winking at Dugu Yan.

“Interesting fellow! I must take you as my disciple!” Dugu Bo delighted in Li Yu’s personality—far more fun than Yu Tianheng.

“I don’t want to be your disciple—I’m pursuing Yan Yan. If I call you master, I’d be a generation apart from her. No, no,” Li Yu refused.

“Courting death!” Dugu Yan, annoyed by his teasing, waved her hand—an azure giant snake lunged at Li Yu.

Not wanting to lose face before the lovely Yan Yan, Li Yu focused his energy, projecting a three-meter-wide Taiji diagram.

A massive azure dragon emerged, attacking the blue snake.

Dugu Bo had never seen such a martial soul.

Huge coral horns, fierce copper eyes, sharp teeth, long whiskers, snake-like body thicker than Dugu Yan’s Bilin Snake, with four strong limbs and sharp claws, a ridge of markings running from head to tail—magnificent and ancient.

The aura was eternal, ancient, and profound.

What was this creature? He’d never encountered it.

Compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, this was like a loach beside a real dragon.

Not only Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were stunned—even Li Yu was shocked.

Wasn’t this a Qinglong, one of the Four Spirits? How did I summon it?

“Go!” Li Yu commanded.

A dragon’s roar split the sky.

It lunged at the Bilin Snake; lightning flashed from its mouth, and the blue snake vanished.

Li Yu dashed forward, catching the nearly-falling Dugu Yan, “Yan Yan, are you alright? This is the first time I summoned it—no experience.”

He retracted his energy; the azure dragon roared resentfully, then faded from the sky.

“No wonder you disdain me, young friend. With such a martial soul, I underestimated you,” Dugu Bo chuckled, seeing Li Yu holding his granddaughter.

Though reluctant, Li Yu released the struggling Dugu Yan.

“Yan Yan, where are you headed?” Li Yu asked.

“Sunset Forest—we need a soul beast for Yan Yan,” Dugu Bo answered quickly.

Li Yu: “…”

“Yan Yan, what a coincidence—I’m headed the same way. Let’s go together!” Li Yu ignored Dugu Bo and spoke to Dugu Yan.

“Of course, young friend—I’d welcome your company,” Dugu Bo interjected.

Li Yu: “…”

“Yan Yan, what do you like to eat?” Li Yu continued.

“My granddaughter likes spicy food—her tastes are strong!” Dugu Bo chimed in again.

Li Yu, exasperated, said, “Brother, can you stop interrupting? If you don’t talk, there’s more love!”

“Yan Yan, how old are you? I’m sixteen,” he asked.

Dugu Yan, overwhelmed by Li Yu’s chatter, replied, “Twenty. Li Yu, can you stop pestering me?”

“Sure!” Li Yu didn’t insist—after all, there was plenty of time ahead.