Chapter 56: The Rainfall

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Today's training, as expected, was once again running.

However, Dugu Yan was acting strangely. Wang Li stayed by her side as she ran, listening to her mumble softly:

"Just keep going…"

"At least make it through this morning…"

"…"

But not long into the run, Dugu Yan began to pant heavily, which was unusual given her physical condition.

Wang Li glanced around and noticed the damp air in the mountains had turned into mist, which, with each heavy breath Dugu Yan took, seemed to enter her body.

He spoke up:

"Yan Yan, don't breathe through your mouth. Inhaling too much cold air like that could let in evil spirit, making you feel worse."

"And if you're really feeling unwell, tell the teacher. He'll understand."

He had an inkling of what might be happening, though he couldn't bring himself to say it outright.

Dugu Yan heard his words and immediately closed her mouth, trying to regulate her breathing. She then looked at Wang Li with a playful smile:

"Xiao Li, this is my little secret. I just don't want anyone else to know. Since you saw it today, don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Now come in front of me and lead the way for a while. Next time we go to Heaven Dou City, I'll buy you some candied hawthorn sticks."

Wang Li couldn't help but feel speechless. She really treated him like a nine-year-old boy, offering him candied hawthorn sticks. Still, he did move ahead of Dugu Yan to shield her from the air resistance and the cold, sinister energy around them.

After a moment, he cautiously spoke:

"Yan Yan, my second soul skill can heal wounds and suppress some negative states. If you're feeling really bad, I can try using it."

Dugu Yan smiled weakly, but her pale face showed no sign of joy. She bit her lip, struggling to speak:

"It's useless. If healing soul skills could solve my problem, my grandfather would have hired high-level healers long ago. This is something I was born with…"

Wang Li didn't press further. There was no point in saying more. He'd have to wait for the right opportunity to try it out and see if it worked.

That opportunity came soon. Not long after, Dugu Yan, likely unable to bear the pain any longer, stopped and knelt on the ground, gasping for air.

Wang Li frowned. He immediately halted, turned back, and reached out to grab her hand.

Hiss!

Her skin was as cold as ice. Wang Li immediately summoned his martial soul and released his soul skill, while saying:

"Maybe it'll work. I don't want to see you suffering like this, Yan Yan…"

The Blue Silver Grass wound around Dugu Yan's arm, which Wang Li was holding. As his second soul ring glowed, his soul power transformed into life force, traveling through the Blue Silver Grass and into her body.

Although the air could also act as a medium, only by using Wang Li himself or his Blue Silver Grass as a conduit could the life energy be effectively contained and prevent it from dissipating.

Dugu Yan had initially intended to tell Wang Li not to bother with something so futile, but in the next moment, she froze.

She could feel it clearly—her body, which had been like dry earth for so long, was now receiving a nourishing downpour, her vitality being reignited by this mysterious energy.

Her bodily functions were thoroughly awakened, and warmth spread through her limbs, her organs, and every corner of her body. The toxins that had been corroding her from the inside out were even suppressed.

Dugu Yan knew where the poison came from: her martial soul. It had started to corrode her from the moment she was still in the womb.

At first, it was weak, but as the years went by and her soul rings accumulated, the toxins became stronger and the corrosion accelerated.

The stronger she became, the faster she was dying. If she didn't train, she would slowly face death.

This was a problem that even Dugu Bo, the Grandmaster of Poison, couldn't solve.

Wang Li's second soul skill, while seeming like a healing skill, actually didn't have much healing effect on its own. The life force converted from his soul power wasn't inherently restorative. However, it could be absorbed by anyone.

Once absorbed, this life force would nurture the source of life and awaken vitality. The outward effect was the healing of wounds and resistance to all harmful factors and negative states.

This was the difference between Wang Li's healing skill and those of other soul masters, and it was the reason he could help Dugu Yan.

Now, the one suppressing the poison in Dugu Yan's body was her own physiological functions. Was it her will to be corroded by the poison?

Clearly not!

Thus, when Wang Li's life force provided her body with the armor and weapons it needed, it immediately began to suppress and expel the toxins that had been encroaching on her.

Dugu Yan felt an overwhelming warmth wash over her and let out a yawn, mumbling sleepily:

"So warm… I just want to sleep…"

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier until she finally collapsed forward into Wang Li's arms.

Wang Li shook his head. It felt as though he was holding an ice block just moments ago, but now it was like holding a blazing furnace. He could guess the truth: Dugu Yan's body was effectively detoxifying itself, with Wang Li maintaining the use of his "Revitalization" soul skill. If his soul power were to run out, the life force within Dugu Yan's body would gradually fade.

This sudden situation was handled swiftly when Qin Ming arrived. He looked at the pair, paused for a moment, and then asked:

"What happened to Dugu Yan?"

Wang Li looked up, his expression serious as he replied:

"Teacher Qin, if Dugu Yan doesn't want to talk about it when she wakes up, you shouldn't press her to explain."

Qin Ming remained silent for a moment. He knew Dugu Yan's background well: she was the granddaughter of Poison Douluo, and her position as a titled Douluo put her at the peak of the continent's power. The name "Poison" carried a reputation that was both feared and revered.

Finally, Qin Ming nodded, understanding that everyone had their own secrets:

"I understand. If you talk about something, it's no longer a secret. But for now, take Dugu Yan back inside. It's going to rain."

Wang Li nodded and carefully picked Dugu Yan up. His soul power was rapidly draining, and since he was at a lower realm than Dugu Yan, he wasn't sure how much her condition would improve from this.

---

Three hours later, on the terrace…

Dugu Yan awoke from Wang Li's arms, scrambling to sit up. Her face flushed, and she gave him a light, indignant look as she rose to her feet. Meanwhile, Wang Li, spent from the soul power drain, had fallen asleep.

Seeing Wang Li still unconscious, Dugu Yan took a moment to collect herself, smoothing her hair and adjusting her dress. She walked over to the window, gazing out at the rain-drenched landscape with a contemplative expression.

She realized it had been years since she last felt this light and relaxed in such weather.

She bit her lip, then flashed a playful smile as she approached Wang Li, inspecting his face closely and speaking softly:

"Actually, Xiao Li, you're quite good-looking, you know. Heh."

When Wang Li woke up, he immediately saw Dugu Yan looking back at him. He yawned and asked:

"Yan Yan, are you feeling better?"

Dugu Yan's gaze was warm, and she chuckled lightly:

"I'm feeling better, but you, you little rascal, were so comfortable sleeping on me."

Wang Li rolled his eyes:

"Not comfortable. One minute, you were like an ice block; the next, you were like a furnace."

Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed with irritation, and she straddled Wang Li, gripping his face and pulling it in opposite directions with her delicate fingers. She huffed:

"You took advantage and then dared to complain! If I don't give you a proper scolding today, my name won't be Dugu Yan!"

(End of Chapter)