Ye Yin's hand moved gently over Dugu Yan's smooth skin, his touch both curious and appreciative. His fingers traced the soft curves of her body, eventually coming to rest on one perfect spot, feeling a delicate softness that reminded him of a balloon filled with warm water. He shifted his attention, his other hand finding its place in a different, more intimate location. The sensation was entirely new, like dipping his hand into a hidden spring. A soft sigh escaped his lips as a single thought echoed in his mind: She truly is made of water.
Miles away, at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dugu Bo leaned against the rough bark of a large tree by the edge of the lake. He stared blankly at the water's surface as small ripples disturbed the calm reflection of the sky. He had been waiting for a while, and his patience was beginning to wear thin.
"It's been so long," he murmured to himself, his voice a low rumble. "I wonder how those two are getting along."
He let out a heavy sigh, his thoughts drifting to his granddaughter. "Yan Yan has been spoiled by me since she was a little girl. It's always been hard to get through to her, to make her see what's best. It took that Yu Tianheng boy ages to finally get her to like him, and look how that turned out."
A frown creased his brow. He had higher hopes for this new arrangement. "For Yan Yan to develop feelings for Ye Yin… that's probably going to be a difficult task. But maybe today, with this opportunity I've given them, they can have a real conversation and get to know each other."
He began to pace slowly by the water's edge, outlining his grand plan in his mind. "Things need to progress slowly and naturally, of course. First, they need to have a good talk, to build a foundation. Second, they can go on a proper date. After that comes the third step: holding hands. It's a simple but important gesture. Fourth, a kiss, to seal their growing affection. And fifth," a sly grin spread across his face, "they can take things a step further."
He chuckled, pleased with his own cleverness. "Later, when I think the time is right, I'll just slip them a little aphrodisiac. That should speed things along, and everything will be smooth sailing from there!"
He stopped pacing and looked back towards the academy buildings, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. The idea that Dugu Yan might be unhappy or suffer in any way by being with Ye Yin never even crossed his mind.
Suffer? That's impossible, he thought with absolute certainty. Dugu Yan has me, Dugu Bo, backing her. Who in this world would dare to make my granddaughter suffer?
His thoughts drifted to potential rivals, his expression hardening. Even if that girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School tries to bully Yan Yan, I'll march right over to their clan and demand an explanation. If things really get ugly… He scoffed internally. Although I know I am no match for their two Titled Douluos working together, I can make sure their precious Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has nothing left but Titled Douluos! The unspoken threat hung heavy in his mind, a promise of poison and destruction that only the Poison Douluo could deliver.
Back in the room, after a long and passionate kiss that left them both breathless, Ye Yin gently pulled away and brushed a stray strand of hair from Dugu Yan's face. He looked into her eyes, which were hazy with emotion.
"Yan Yan," he whispered, his voice soft. "Activate your Spirit. I want to see it."
Dugu Yan, lost in the moment, simply nodded in agreement without any hesitation.
A brilliant, emerald-green light suddenly erupted from her body, filling the entire room with its glow. In a flash, her form began to change. Her legs fused together and elongated, covered in shimmering green scales. Her lower body transformed into that of a massive serpent, while her upper torso remained human. With her Spirit active, her snake-like body swayed gracefully, her head now towering even over the tall Ye Yin.
Ye Yin pressed himself against her, feeling the cool scales of her new form. Dugu Yan's long serpent tail stretched out behind her, coiling across the floor of the room. As she flattened her tail to support her weight, her human torso gradually lowered, bringing her face-to-face with him once more. Her long, forked tongue flickered out, wrapping playfully around his body, sending a jolt of electrifying pleasure through him. The sight of her human head atop a powerful snake body, combined with her uniquely captivating features, was an intoxicating experience. Ye Yin felt a dizzying sensation, as if his soul was floating, about to fly away. This was a thrill unlike any he had ever known.
Elsewhere in the same building, Yu Tianheng was searching frantically. He moved from room to room, his heart pounding in his chest with a rising sense of panic and dread. He was on the verge of going mad.
Where did Dugu Yan go? Why can't I find her anywhere?
"Yan Yan!" he yelled, his desperate voice echoing through the corridors. "Where are you?!"
A faint echo of his shout managed to seep through a crack in the door, reaching the ears of Ye Yin and Dugu Yan. The sound was distant, but the name was unmistakable. Yu Tianheng was here, and he was looking for her.
Instantly, a new feeling surged through Ye Yin—a jolt of pure, unadulterated adrenaline. The risk of being discovered added an incredible layer of tension and excitement to the situation. It was incredibly stimulating. He had never expected something like this to happen. Would Yu Tianheng find them? Would he burst through the door at any moment?
The thought was thrilling. If Yu Tianheng finds out about this, wouldn't that make Dugu Yan and me an adulterous pair? Ye Yin pondered the idea for a moment. In truth, the thought wasn't entirely unpleasant. It was far better to be the bold Ximen Qing than the pathetic Wu Dalang. And Dugu Yan, especially in her mesmerizing Spirit form, was infinitely more captivating than any Pan Jinlian.
His mind briefly compared her to the other girls he knew. Ning Rongrong couldn't use her Spirit in a situation like this. Xiao Wu, after activating her Spirit, gained incredibly long legs and a cute pair of rabbit ears, allowing her to stand tall without any effort. Zhu Zhuqing, in her Spirit form, grew a long and slender cat tail that added to her mysterious charm. But none of them, in his opinion, could compare to the breathtaking sight of Dugu Yan as a beautiful, human-headed serpent.
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