Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Chapter 475 Love

Yan's face was very red, so red it looked like it was about to bleed. His short, crimson hair was scattered messily across his forehead, obscuring his eyes, which always burned with fighting spirit.

He was still clutching a wine jar in his hand, holding the mouth of the jar to his mouth, and gulping it down his throat.

The liquor dripped down his chin, soaking his clothes, but he was completely unaware.

"Why……"

He put down the wine jar and muttered to himself, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

"Why him... why Xue Qinghe..."

Hu Liena's face kept appearing in his mind.

The woman he had protected for so many years, the woman he was willing to give everything for, the woman he thought would one day turn around and look at him.

She fell in love with someone else.

A man he had never seen before.

An emperor of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

Yan gulped down a large mouthful of wine, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat and into his stomach, burning his internal organs.

But this burning sensation was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

"Yan?"

A voice came from the alley entrance, tinged with surprise.

Yan raised his head and squinted at the person who had just arrived.

Under the moonlight, a tall, slender figure walked towards him. His short, golden hair shimmered softly in the night, and his holy aura could not be concealed even in the dim alley.

Florian.

He had just left the Spirit Hall and was heading back to his residence. As he passed through this alley, he smelled a strong odor of alcohol and a familiar fluctuation of soul power.

He walked over and saw Yan slumped on the threshold of the tavern, and empty wine jars scattered all over the ground.

Florian's brow furrowed slightly.

He had known Yan for several years and had never seen him drink like this before.

In his memory, Yan was always that warrior with boundless fighting spirit and an indomitable will. No matter how strong the opponent, he would never flinch.

But now...

Florian crouched down, looking at Yan's flushed face and unfocused eyes.

"How much did you drink?"

Yan looked at him, blinked, and seemed to recognize the person.

“Flo...Florian…”

His tongue was tied in knots, and his voice was muffled.

"Tell me...tell me what's wrong with me?"

Florian's brow furrowed even more.

"what?"

Yan took another swig of wine, spilling it all over himself.

"Nana...Nana...she's fallen for someone else..."

His voice was choked with sobs, like the whimpering of a wounded wild beast.

Florian fell silent.

He certainly knew that Hu Liena was going to Heaven Dou City. Almost everyone in the Spirit Hall knew.

The Pope personally ordered that Hu Liena would go to the Heavenly Dou Empire under the guise of a marriage alliance to become Xue Qinghe's concubine.

The reason given was that Hu Liena fell in love with Xue Qinghe at first sight during the Soul Master Competition.

Florian, of course, did not believe this reason; he suspected there must be some hidden story.

But he didn't expect Yan to be in so much pain because of this.

And surprisingly, no one had guessed that this was Hu Liena's mission.

But as a teammate, Florian felt it was necessary to help him.

"Yan, stop drinking." Florian reached out to take the wine jar from his hand.

Yan dodged suddenly, and the wine jar almost fell to the ground.

"Leave me alone!"

His voice was loud and echoed in the quiet alley.

Then his voice lowered again, so low it sounded like he was talking to himself.

"Leave me alone...let me drink...let me drink myself to death..."

Florian looked at the disheveled man before him and sighed softly.

He didn't try to persuade him any further.

He simply reached out and helped Yan up from the ground.

Yan's body was heavy, like a lump of mud. Florian had to use a lot of effort to put one of his arms on his shoulder.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

Yan leaned against him, muttering something indistinctly.

Florian didn't hear clearly, nor did he want to hear clearly.

He helped Yan walk step by step out of the alley.

The moonlight shone on the two of them, casting long shadows.

The tavern waiter poked his head out, glanced at the empty wine jars scattered on the ground, then looked at the two departing figures, shook his head, and began to clean up.

……

Yan's residence is not far away.

Florian helped him across two streets, turned into a quiet alley, and stopped in front of a wooden door.

He took the key from Yan's pocket, opened the door, and helped the staggering Yan inside.

The courtyard was dark; no lights were on.

Florian helped Yan across the yard in the dark, opened the door, and placed him on the bed.

As soon as Yan touched the bed, he collapsed, like a lump of mud.

His eyes were half-open, and he was muttering something.

"Nana...Nana..."

Florian stood by the bed, looking at Yan, who was completely drunk, and sighed.

"Love."

Yan didn't notice Florian's sigh and continued to murmur Hu Liena's name.

Florian sighed, pulled the blanket over Yan, and covered him with it.

Then he turned and walked toward the door.

Chapter 476 Changes in All Parties

Florian's footsteps faded into the distance, and the door closed gently behind him, shutting out the cool night breeze from the courtyard.

The room fell silent, save for Yan's heavy breathing and the faint sound of a watchman's drum coming from afar outside the window.

He lay on the bed, his eyes half-open, staring at the dim ceiling above him.

The alcohol was taking effect, and his head felt heavy, like it was stuffed with a wad of soaked cotton. But his mind was crystal clear.

The pain was visibly intense.

“Nana…”

He murmured, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.

The only response he received was the sound of the wind outside the window and the heavy, pounding of his own heart.

After an unknown amount of time, the effects of the alcohol finally overwhelmed him completely.

Yan closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

In my dream, Hu Liena was still there.

She was wearing a deep purple dress, standing in the Spirit Hall's training ground, and smiling at him.

That smile was as bright as spring, so dazzling that he couldn't open his eyes.

He tried to reach out and grab her, but he couldn't lift his hand.

He wanted to call her name, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he couldn't make a sound.

She walked further and further away, until she finally disappeared into a white light.

Yan suddenly opened his eyes.

It was already daylight.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

He lay on the bed, staring at the light and shadow for a long time, then slowly sat up.

A hangover headache surged like a tidal wave, Yan's temples throbbed, and he felt nauseous.

He looked down at his wrinkled clothes and the dried blood on his hands.

That's from when I clenched my fist yesterday and my fingernails dug into my palm.