Dugu Yan saw that it was her grandfather and ran toward him in grievance.
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan threw herself into Dugu Bo's arms.
Although Dugu Bo had been meditating inside just now, he had sensed everything happening outside.
"Hmph!" In an instant, the pressure of a Title Douluo bore down on Ye Yuan.
Ye Yuan immediately released his martial souls to resist. The Candle Dragon coiled around his body while the Bloodthirsty Sword stood before him.
He was utterly terrified. After all, Dugu Bo cared deeply for his granddaughter.
If Dugu Bo truly made a move, there was no way he could escape.
Dugu Bo stared at Ye Yuan disdainfully. "Twin Martial Souls. Is that supposed to be impressive?"
The pressure of his Soul Power instantly shattered Ye Yuan's resistance.
His entire body was forced to the ground.
"Senior, this... this is all a misunderstanding!" Ye Yuan said with difficulty.
"You drew your sword on my granddaughter. What misunderstanding could there be?"
Dugu Bo took out his Wishful Hundred Treasure Pouch and gave it a gentle wave.
He summoned a massive Jade Scale Snake. "Kid, this snake of mine hasn't eaten in days. Today, you'll be its lunch."
"Go."
At Dugu Bo's command, the Jade Scale Snake opened its bloody maw and charged at Ye Yuan.
"Grandpa, wait!" Dugu Yan shouted from the side.
Dugu Bo immediately released his Soul Power, stopping the Jade Scale Snake.
Dugu Bo turned around. "What is it, Yan'er? Do you want to do it yourself?"
Dugu Yan's face reddened. Then she leaned close to Dugu Bo's ear and whispered to him.
"Grandpa, that's what happened."
After saying that, Dugu Yan immediately covered her face and turned away, no longer looking at Dugu Bo.
Her gaze wandered, occasionally drifting toward Ye Yuan.
The killing intent in Dugu Bo's eyes gradually faded, but the anger in his heart only grew stronger.
"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky, kid."
Dugu Bo recalled the Jade Scale Snake and lifted the pressure from Ye Yuan.
Ye Yuan felt as though a huge burden had been lifted. He lay on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his body.
Ye Yuan had nearly become a pile of snake dung.
That would have been the most humiliating way to die.
The sky gradually darkened. Another wave of searing pain ran through Dugu Bo's body, but seeing his granddaughter there, he did not show it.
Ye Yuan slowly climbed to his feet.
He did not know why Dugu Bo had spared him. He only knew that, at least for now, he was alive.
"Speak. What are you here for?"
"If you don't tell me, you'll die anyway!"
Ye Yuan cupped his hands toward Dugu Bo. "This junior, Ye Yuan, has come to discuss a deal with Senior Dugu Bo."
Dugu Bo said disdainfully, "A deal? With you?"
"As a Title Douluo of the Heaven Dou Empire, what can't I obtain? What could you possibly have to trade with me?"
Ye Yuan glanced at Dugu Yan, and his eyes happened to meet hers.
Dugu Yan seemed as though she had seen the man she loved, shyly averting her gaze.
Ye Yuan was rather baffled by this.
No, sis, what's with that bashful expression? Weren't you ready to die just a moment ago?
He could only sigh at how quickly women changed their faces.
Dugu Bo understood Ye Yuan's hint and said, "Just say it. She's my granddaughter, not an outsider."
Seeing that Old Poison had agreed, Ye Yuan straightened up and said, "I can save Senior Dugu Bo's life. Can that serve as the stake in our deal?"
Dugu Bo flew into a rage and grabbed Ye Yuan by the throat. "Kid, don't spout nonsense! Are you cursing me to die?"
"As a Title Douluo, this old man can live for at least another hundred years!"
Ye Yuan said with difficulty, "In your early years, you focused solely on strengthening your poison arts. By now, the poison has already spread throughout your entire body!"
"Nonsense! Do you think I don't understand my own body?!"
"Your Jade Scale Snake Emperor is inherently highly poisonous. A beast martial soul is closely connected to its master's body, unlike a tool martial soul, where the two are separate."
"Over the years, your body has already been corroded by your own toxins. Coupled with your cultivation of poison arts, you don't have much time left!"
"If you don't believe me, touch your third rib. Your poison acted up today, didn't it?"
"Doesn't your third rib hurt unbearably, like venomous insects gnawing at your heart?"
Dugu Bo released Ye Yuan and touched the place Ye Yuan had indicated.
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
Seeing the expression on her grandfather's face, Dugu Yan knew Ye Yuan had been right.
"Grandpa, is it true?" Dugu Yan asked worriedly.
Dugu Bo had never expected that the poison arts he had been so proud of would ultimately harm him!
Suddenly, he thought of something and immediately turned to look at his granddaughter.
Ye Yuan dusted himself off and said, "If nothing unexpected happens, your granddaughter has already been poisoned as well."
"Though hers is not as severe, she does not possess your formidable strength."
"In the near future, she too will die from the poison!"
Dugu Bo suddenly looked panicked. It did not matter if he died, but his granddaughter could not die. She was his only descendant in this world.
He absolutely could not let his granddaughter die.
Dugu Bo suddenly shouted at Ye Yuan, "You have a way?!"
Ye Yuan said unhurriedly, "So, Senior, can we discuss our deal properly now?"
"Good kid! If you can't give me a proper answer, this old man will chop you into eight pieces!"
"Tell me about your deal."
Ye Yuan said slowly, "I can save both you and your granddaughter."
"My first condition is that, after saving the two of you, Senior must allow me to choose whatever I want from the items in your medicinal garden."
Dugu Bo immediately nodded. "Fine. As long as you cure the poison in my granddaughter and me, you can choose whatever you like from my medicinal garden."
Ye Yuan continued, "My second condition is that Senior joins Spirit Hall."
At those words, Dugu Bo's pupils abruptly contracted. He had never expected the kid before him to be from Spirit Hall.
Then again, with the pathetic state of the two great empires, how could they possibly nurture such a monster?
He stood there and pondered for a while.
He currently served the Heaven Dou Empire and knew quite a few things.
The Heaven Dou Empire was gradually declining. Although the Star Luo Empire remained powerful, its strength had stagnated.
Spirit Hall alone was now at the height of its power, vaguely showing signs of wanting to contend with the two great empires.
If he chose the wrong side now, what awaited him would be utter ruin.
He could abolish Dugu Yan's poison arts and let her live as an ordinary person.
Perhaps she could still live for several decades. But if he chose the wrong side, then given the current situation, Spirit Hall and the two great empires would inevitably go to war within ten years or so!
When that time came, it would be difficult to get away.
But if Dugu Bo died, without his protection, Dugu Yan, an ordinary woman, would likely find it difficult to live happily on Douluo Continent.
In the end, Dugu Bo let out a long sigh. "I can agree to all your conditions, as long as you cure my granddaughter and me."
Ye Yuan smiled. "Then let's go to the medicinal garden first. Some of the herbs I need are there."
After saying that, he headed toward the medicinal garden. Not far away was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well; its soaring red and blue light was impossible to miss.
Dugu Bo and his granddaughter followed slowly behind him.
Looking at the expression his granddaughter could not hide no matter how hard she tried, Dugu Bo pretended to be saddened. "Ah... now that you have a young man, you don't care about Grandpa anymore."
Dugu Yan pushed her grandfather, blushing. "Oh, Grandpa."
Dugu Bo laughed heartily. "Don't worry. Once he cures the two of us, Grandpa will wrap this kid up and hand him over to you."
"Then you can do whatever you want with him. Grandpa will just wait to hold his great-grandchild."
"Oh, right, Yan'er. Do you want Grandpa to give that kid some medicine?"
Dugu Yan stomped on her grandfather's foot. "You old lecher!"
"Hahaha..." Dugu Bo laughed.
Before you continue