Dugu Bo

Dugu Bo froze for a moment and looked down at his granddaughter in his arms. Seeing that Dugu Yan's eyes were slightly red, his expression changed abruptly. He grabbed her by the shoulders, his voice low. "Yanyan, tell me, who bullied you? Just watch Grandpa go skin him alive."

Dugu Yan lifted her head, a faint blush spreading across her face. A shy look flashed in her eyes, and she spoke with a young girl's bashfulness. "It's not that serious, Grandpa. It's just... I've taken a liking to a young man."

Dugu Bo raised his eyebrows, unable to believe his ears.

"He's that Blue Silver Grass Soul Master who defeated Yu Tianheng at the Great Soul Arena." Dugu Yan's voice grew softer and softer. "I went to see him today and offered to be his girlfriend, but he... he actually found all sorts of excuses to turn me down."

Dugu Bo's eyes went round, his eyebrows bristling as the surprise on his face turned to anger.

Dugu Bo slammed his palm down on the stone table beside him, raising his voice several notches. "What? The man doesn't know what's good for him! Is my granddaughter not good enough for a single blade of his grass? Who does he think he is?"

Startled by Dugu Bo's reaction, Dugu Yan hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and explained, "Grandpa, calm down. He... he didn't exactly turn me down. He just gave two reasons."

"What reasons?" Dugu Bo's voice was still harsh, though a little quieter than before.

"He said he was only eleven and didn't want to get involved so young. Then... then he said he was actually only eight and had made up being eleven."

The corner of Dugu Bo's mouth twitched. He was obviously giving her the runaround.

Dugu Bo was about to curse him out when Dugu Yan added, "And he said I had a deadly poison in me. Unless the poison was cleared from my body, he couldn't accept my pursuit."

At those words, Dugu Bo's entire body went rigid. His pupils contracted slightly, and a sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes.

But only for an instant.

Dugu Bo's expression quickly returned to normal. He sat down on the stone stool beside him and asked calmly, "What did he say?"

Dugu Yan looked at Dugu Bo in confusion. She had thought he would fly into a rage, but his reaction was unexpectedly calm. Something seemed off.

Dugu Yan said, puzzled, "He said his Martial Soul was very sensitive to poison, and that I had a deadly poison in my body. He also said something about the Jade Phosphorus Snake Martial Soul's poison turning on its host. Grandpa, was he talking nonsense?"

Dugu Bo was silent for a moment. His gaze fell on the teacup, and he studied his reflection in the tea: his graying hair and beard, his gaunt face, and those unfathomable eyes. His finger rubbed gently around the rim of the cup, round and round, as though drawing an invisible circle.

"How outrageous." Dugu Bo rose to his feet, anger on his face. "Come on, Yanyan. Take me to teach him a lesson."

Dugu Yan caught Dugu Bo's sleeve and urged him worriedly, "Grandpa, talk to him nicely, all right? Don't frighten him. He... he didn't mean any harm. Maybe he was just making excuses."

Dugu Bo stared wide-eyed at his precious granddaughter, his face full of disbelief. Didn't you ask me to stand up for you? Why are you taking his side now?

A jumble of feelings churned in Dugu Bo's heart. He sighed and patted Dugu Yan on the shoulder. "All right, all right. Grandpa knows his limits. I won't frighten your little boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend yet!" Dugu Yan retorted, her voice shy.

"He will be soon." Dugu Bo shook his head, took Dugu Yan's hand, and led her out of the residence.

When Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan arrived at the Ye Residence, Ye Renxin was holding a teacup and chatting with Tang San.

Dugu Bo strode into the East Garden, a fierce presence radiating from him that kept others from approaching. His jade-green eyes swept around the courtyard before settling on Tang San.

Tang San stood and bowed slightly. "This junior is Tang San. Greetings, Your Majesty Poison Douluo."

Dugu Bo looked down at Tang San, a cold light flickering in his eyes. His voice was low. "Are you that Cy-something Yanyan was talking about?"

"I am."

"My granddaughter taking a liking to you is your good fortune. Yet you don't know what's good for you, making up lies to fool her? Eight years old? Poisoned? Do you think my granddaughter is easy to bully?"

The corners of Dugu Bo's mouth curved into a cold smile as he spoke, anger in his voice.

A chill ran down Tang San's spine.

A Titled Douluo's presence was no joke. Although he had shared a room with a Titled Douluo since childhood, Tang Hao had never displayed such a presence.

That invisible pressure was like a mountain bearing down on his chest, leaving him unable to breathe.

Tang San stepped back to Ye Renxin's side and met Dugu Bo's eyes. "Your Majesty Poison Douluo, this junior has not made anything up. I really am eight years old. If you don't believe me, you can feel my bones to check. Also, my Martial Soul is very sensitive to poison. There really is poison in Sister Yan's body, slowly eating away at her. I meant no harm; I was only telling the truth."

Ye Renxin stood, walked over to Dugu Bo, and patted him on the shoulder. His voice was gentle. "Brother Dugu, calm down. I know this boy. Let him finish what he has to say. If anything he says is wrong, it won't be too late to get angry then."

Dugu Bo glanced at Ye Renxin, the sharpness in his gaze easing a little. He gave a snort, folded his arms, and stepped back, giving Ye Renxin face.

Dugu Yan peeked out from behind Dugu Bo and glanced at Tang San, a trace of apology flashing in her eyes.

Tang San took a deep breath and continued, "Your Majesty Poison Douluo, although this junior doesn't know how to cure poison, I can offer some ideas for doing so. If you think I'm wrong, just consider it nonsense."

Dugu Bo's eyebrows rose slightly. If anyone else had said that, he would have slapped them already. But Tang San had seen the poison in Yanyan's body at a glance. Could he really have a solution?

Dugu Bo was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Ye Renxin.

Ye Renxin understood and nodded. "There's a secret room in the rear courtyard. No one will disturb you there."

Tang San, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan went to the secret room.

Dugu Bo closed the door and turned to face Dugu Yan and Tang San. His expression was no longer as fierce as before. Instead, it had grown grave and solemn, with a pain he had suppressed for a long time showing between his brows.

Dugu Bo was silent for a moment before he spoke. "Yanyan, there's something Grandpa has never told you."

Dugu Yan's heart sank.

Dugu Bo sighed and told Dugu Yan everything about the Jade Phosphorus Snake Martial Soul's poison turning on its host.

From how the Martial Soul's poison accumulated in the body, to the symptoms and course of its backlash, and finally to how his son, Dugu Yan's father, had lost his life to the poison.

When Dugu Yan finished listening, she went rigid. Her face turned pale, her lips trembled slightly, and something welled up in her eyes.

"So that's what happened." Dugu Yan's voice was soft. "That's how Mom and Dad were poisoned to death. I hate this Martial Soul. I hate it!"

Dugu Yan's tears finally fell.

Dugu Bo reached out and pulled Dugu Yan into his arms. His rough palm gently stroked the top of her head as he said softly, "Yanyan, Grandpa is here. I won't let anything happen to you."

Only after crying for a long while did Dugu Yan lift her head from Dugu Bo's embrace. Her eyes were red and swollen, and the tip of her nose was red. She wiped away her tears and turned to Tang San, her eyes full of pleading and hope.

"Tang San," Dugu Yan said hoarsely, "save my grandpa. As long as you can save him, I'm willing to do anything."

Hearing this, Tang San couldn't help sighing inwardly. It looked like he really was going to become a "grass-fucking hero."