Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 79: Ye Lingling

After consuming the whale gelatin, Yang Potian's entire body felt as if it were on fire; his skin had turned visibly red, almost glowing. A fierce, consuming heat seemed to well up from deep within, bringing with it a strange, uncontrollable desire.

He quickly went into the bathroom and jumped into a pre-filled bathtub. The water brought slight relief, but it began heating up rapidly. Even with the faucet turned on full, it did little to cool the burning sensation within him.

At that moment, he heard a knock at the door and a voice called from outside, "Captain, I have a question I wanted to ask you. Are you free?"

From the voice, it was clearly Ye Lingling.

Since forming their team, the members had come to respect Yang Potian's depth of knowledge and experience, especially his expertise in medicinal herbs, which had even impressed Ye Lingling, a member of a family known for their medical expertise. She frequently sought him out to ask questions, particularly related to healing techniques and studies.

Suppressing the burning sensation within, Yang Potian called out from afar, "Lingling, I'm sorry, but I'm not available right now. Can we talk another time?"

As someone from a renowned medical family and a skilled healer, Ye Lingling immediately sensed something unusual in his tone. "Captain, do you need help with anything?"

"No, Lingling. I'm fine, really. There's nothing to worry about," he replied, gritting his teeth.

Ye Lingling wasn't convinced. She broke down the door — a simple task for a Spirit Grandmaster — and upon entering, was shocked by what she saw.

Yang Potian was submerged in the bathtub, his entire body radiating heat. Even though the faucet was still running, it couldn't cool him down. His face was contorted, as though he was holding back intense pain, just like patients in severe distress.

"Captain, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?" she asked, visibly worried.

Gritting his teeth, he said, "Lingling, I really don't need help. Please, just go."

"You're in no condition to say you're fine," she replied, resolute, as she summoned her Nine Hearts Begonia spirit, letting its powerful healing energy envelop him.

However, Yang Potian wasn't physically injured; his body and spirit power were undergoing an intense transformation, almost a rebirth, making her healing ineffective.

Clinging to his last shred of clarity, Yang Potian bit down hard on his tongue, causing blood to drip from his mouth. "Lingling, please go. I'm fine — I just overdid it with a strong tonic."

Ye Lingling, knowledgeable in medicinal herbs, picked up a faint scent of whale gelatin in the air, an aroma so potent it even made her own heart race.

She looked him over carefully and, seeing the blood at the corner of his mouth, assumed he'd hurt himself internally. She immediately strengthened her spirit power to increase the healing effect.

This actually worsened the situation. His mental state, already stretched to the limit, was now engulfed by even more intense urges as foreign spirit energy flowed into him.

Through hazy vision, he saw only the figure of a beautiful girl standing before him, draped in black, like a vision from a dream.

"Lingling, please leave now," he managed to gasp, "I can't hold back any longer."

But she didn't move, her eyes misty with a hint of resolve. Gently, she removed her veil, revealing an exquisite face, pure and elegant, like a fairy descending from the heavens.

In that moment, Yang Potian lost all self-control, pulling her into his arms with a force driven by instinct, desire overwhelming all reason.

...

He didn't know how much time had passed. When he finally regained clarity, he was lying on his bed, holding a sleeping Ye Lingling in his arms.

He remembered fragments of what had happened between them, realizing that they had crossed a boundary they shouldn't have.

He looked around at the disheveled room, seeing scattered remnants on the bed and sofa, evidence of an intense night.

Looking down at the beautiful, serene face in his arms, flushed slightly pink even in her sleep, Yang Potian thought about her kind heart and strong spirit. She was dedicated to her teammates, never sparing her strength to heal others, and was willing to push herself in the most grueling environments. In every way, she was remarkable.

Just then, Ye Lingling began to stir. Her eyes opened slowly, and as she looked at him, they held a complex mix of emotions. For a moment, their eyes met, locking together in shared silence. A blush spread across her cheeks.

In that quiet, they both retrieved clothes from their spirit storage rings and dressed quickly, moving in perfect sync.

Throughout the process, Ye Lingling didn't scream or panic; there was only a hint of sorrow in her expression.

After dressing, Yang Potian broke the silence. "Lingling, don't worry. I'll take responsibility for what happened last night."

Ye Lingling shook her head. "Captain, I chose to stay. It wasn't your fault; I stayed willingly."

"Regardless, Lingling, you're my woman now. I'll take care of you," he said firmly.

A faint light of hope flickered in her eyes, but there was still sadness. "Captain, I know your character, and I know you'd honor your word. But you don't know the curse of my Nine Hearts Begonia lineage. Only two spirit masters of this spirit exist in the world at any time, and only one can live. A new Nine Hearts Begonia can only be born when one dies."

"This fate is a constant shadow over us. I don't want you to share in that pain, nor do I want our future children to bear it."

Yang Potian's eyes filled with determination. "Lingling, don't worry. I was born to shatter curses. The Yang Clan knows every medicinal herb under the sun, and from this day on, I promise I'll find a way to break the curse of Nine Hearts Begonia."

"I don't believe in being bound by fate or curses. As long as we're together, nothing can stop us — not even heaven itself."

Ye Lingling's face softened, touched by his words. But then, she said quietly, "Captain, this is all so sudden. Please, let me think about it."

"Of course, Lingling. I'll work even harder for us both," he replied.

Her face flushed deeply, and with a soft "Mm," she left quickly.

Watching her leave, Yang Potian sighed. "Fate... My life's purpose is to defy it."

(End of Chapter)

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