Yuan Longxuan didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward the collapsed girl.
He crouched down, gently brushing aside the strands of hair sticking to her cheek.
"Didn't expect we'd meet again in a place like this… little Xue Ke."
His voice stirred a sliver of consciousness in her.
It sounded familiar…
Her brown eyes slowly focused until she finally recognized him.
"You…! Big Brother Yuan..... I mean… Big Brother Yuan Longxuan!"
She was stunned.
Her second meeting with him turned out to be… this.
Xue Ye, upon seeing his daughter recognize the man, felt a fresh wave of calculations spark in his heart.
"Your Excellency, I—"
"Enough."
Yuan Longxuan cut him off once more.
"This little girl can cover five billion.
The remaining five billion must be paid within half a month."
Five billion for a delicate, cute princess—
A fair deal.
"Half a month from now, I expect to see five billion deposited into the Tianshui Academy account.
From today onward, the girl belongs to me.
She has no further connection to the Heaven Dou royal family."
As he spoke, he casually grabbed the ribbons on the back of her dress.
The girl.....barely a meter forty-something tall.....
was lifted effortlessly like a doll.
"Y-yes! Thank you, Your Excellency!
Thank you for your mercy!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Xue Ye immediately knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.
Meanwhile, Xue Ke stared at him with despair.
She couldn't understand.
Her father had always treated her gently.
Why would he…
pawn her off as a servant?
She was his daughter…
And yet...
he was willing to sell her away to save himself.
Three months had quietly passed, and within the waiting hall of the Royal Fighting Team, the air was oddly heavy.
"I'm sorry, Leader Qin Ming… but I'm leaving the Royal Fighting Team."
The one speaking was Dugu Yan.
The moment her words落下, every member present froze in disbelief. Some even wondered if they had heard wrong.
"Huh?! Sister Yan! Why are you leaving? What are we supposed to do without you? Our teamwork has always been perfect!"
Yu Feng spoke first. Though his personality leaned toward the flamboyant side, when it came to Dugu Yan.....this acknowledged "big sister" of the team.....everyone respected her.
She was the one person even deputy captain Yu Tianheng couldn't overpower.
"This matter is not open for discussion. From now on, Yu Tianheng will take over as captain."
After saying this, Dugu Yan turned toward Ye Lingling. She was one of the only two girls in the team, a healing-type spirit master, and naturally had a good relationship with Dugu Yan.
"Lingling, want to come with me? Big Sis will take care of you."
She casually slung an arm around Ye Lingling's shoulder, a familiar and protective gesture.
"I… Yan-jie, I can't. The royal family spent too many resources on me. I can't repay that debt…"
Ye Lingling's heart longed to follow, but rationality held her back.
Her cultivation devoured resources—leaving wasn't something she could afford.
"Hm, that is indeed a problem."
Dugu Yan nodded thoughtfully. "Fine then. Stay here for now.
Let me go find that good-for-nothing husband of mine first.....once I catch him, I'll have him help pay off your 'debt'."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
"H-husband?"
"Your… what?!"
Everyone's jaws dropped. Even Ye Lingling was stunned.
Yu Feng, the Shi brothers, even Yu Tianheng.....all turned wooden.
Dugu Yan… had a husband?
"Yan-jie… you… really?" the Shi brothers asked, trembling between curiosity and disbelief.
"What 'really'? I've told you before..
I already have a man."
Dugu Yan tossed her hair.
"Back when I awakened my spirit, he helped remove the poison from my body,
strengthened my martial soul, and that very year, we pledged ourselves to each other. So yes...
he's my husband."
The room erupted.
Yu Tianheng finally couldn't restrain himself. As Dugu Yan turned to leave, he called out:
"Yan! You really have a fiancé?! But you know… I...."
Dugu Yan stopped, turned, and her expression shifted into ice.
"Yu Tianheng, have some self-respect. He is not my fiancé.....he is my husband.
And as for you… don't delude yourself. I don't like you. We aren't the same kind of people."
A crushing aura erupted from her.....majestic, ancient, draconic.
Even Qin Ming, standing at the door, felt his scalp tighten.
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