Dugu Bo: You'd better not be bragging!

(Image of Liu Erlong)

Night fell, the sky dotted with stars.

Dugu Yan and Lin Jiang sat on the stone steps in the courtyard, gazing up at the stars.

The night breeze was slightly cool, accompanied by the rhythmic chirping of insects.

Dugu Yan turned her head to look at him: "Lin Jiang, are you thinking about enrolling in our Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Lin Jiang was taken aback.

"I can have Grandpa pull some strings," Dugu Yan said, resting her chin in her hand, "and get you in through the back door."

Lin Jiang shook his head: "No need, I don't want to go to school anymore."

"Hm?" Dugu Yan asked, curious, "Why?"

Lin Jiang turned to look at her and grinned: "Because I have you now."

Dugu Yan froze.

Then, her face flushed bright red.

What is wrong with this kid?!

At such a young age, where did he learn these cheesy pick-up lines?!

She turned her face away, pretending to look at the stars, though even the tips of her ears were burning red.

Lin Jiang's thoughts: School? Are you kidding me? With the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, who would still go to an academy? Isn't cultivating in such a treasure land much better than sitting in class?

Dugu Yan calmed her racing heart and turned back to look at him: "You really don't want to go to school?"

"Really don't."

"..."

Lin Jiang thought for a moment and spoke: "I would actually like to meet Senior Dugu Bo."

Dugu Yan was stunned: "You know my grandfather?"

"Of course," Lin Jiang said with a serious expression, "who hasn't heard of the great Senior Dugu?"

Inner thoughts: Known in the martial world as the weakest Titled Douluo, how could I not know him?

Dugu Yan fell silent for a moment.

She had been looking for an opportunity to test Lin Jiang.

"It's a pity..." she lowered her head, her voice muffled, "Like my grandfather, I have toxins accumulated in my body. He's never home because he's always out looking for ways to suppress the poison."

Lin Jiang looked at her: "Regarding your situation..."

Dugu Yan looked up.

"I might have a solution," Lin Jiang said slowly, "but it requires finding a spiritual treasure land rich in rare herbs."

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up instantly!

"Really!?"

"Of course."

Dugu Yan grabbed his shoulders: "I wonder if the treasure land Grandpa often visits meets your requirements! As soon as he returns, I'll have him take us there!"

Lin Jiang smiled: "Alright."

Dugu Yan stared at him, her eyes sparkling.

Lin Jiang really was a lucky star!

In a moment of excitement—

"Muah!"

She planted a kiss right on Lin Jiang's cheek.

Lin Jiang covered his face, stunned.

Dugu Yan was also stunned after the kiss.

The two stared at each other wide-eyed.

The next second, Dugu Yan's face turned red to the roots of her ears.

But she didn't shy away; instead, she stood up with her hands on her hips, acting righteous: "What are you looking at? So what if I kissed you? You're only six, I'm just expressing my joy!"

Lin Jiang: "..."

Six years old is still a boy, okay?

But seeing Dugu Yan's shy yet stubborn expression, he suddenly felt that staying here really wasn't a bad deal.

Dugu Yan turned her face away, pretending to look up at the stars.

But she couldn't suppress the corners of her mouth, and she secretly made a victory sign behind her back.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Lin Jiang discovered a serious problem.

The system indicated that one simulation required 100 Subversion Points.

And his current points were: 99.

He was short by just one point!

One point!

Lin Jiang stared at the number on the panel, feeling completely unwell.

Was this system doing it on purpose? It had to be on purpose, right?

Now he could only wait for Dugu Bo to return.

He hoped this old gentleman would come home soon, giving him a chance to earn some Subversion Points.

For the past few days, Dugu Yan hadn't even been going to school.

She followed behind Lin Jiang every single day.

When Lin Jiang zoned out, she would sit beside him, resting her chin on her hands and watching him.

When Lin Jiang asked her what she was looking at, she would simply say, "Looking at you."

Lin Jiang: "..."

Was this girl getting a bit too obsessed?

Dugu Yan truly felt that Lin Jiang was incredibly charming.

Not only was he handsome and well-spoken, but he also seemed to know so many things.

Even though he was only six years old, he spoke and acted like an adult.

It was just too interesting.

On this day.

"Yan Yan! Grandpa is back!"

A vigorous and powerful voice echoed from outside the estate.

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up, and she trotted toward the entrance: "Grandpa!"

Lin Jiang followed behind her and stood still in the courtyard.

An old man strode inside.

With a head of dark green hair, wearing a dark green robe, and possessing a cold, stern face, he radiated an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Title Douluo, Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo patted Dugu Yan's head, then his gaze shifted past her and landed on Lin Jiang.

He frowned.

"Hmm? Who is this brat?"

Dugu Yan hurriedly introduced him: "Grandpa, this is my new friend, Lin Jiang!"

Lin Jiang stepped forward and bowed properly: "Greetings, Senior Dugu."

"A friend?" Dugu Bo looked him up and down, his eyes filled with scrutiny. "He looks several years younger than you, doesn't he?"

Dugu Yan tugged on his sleeve in dissatisfaction: "He's greeting you!"

Dugu Bo ignored her, muttering to himself.

This brat looked fair and clean—a pretty boy!

What kind of love potion had he fed Yan Yan?

Dugu Yan grew anxious.

No, she had to make Grandpa get close to Lin Jiang too!

Lin Jiang was the one who could lead Grandpa to become a god in the future!

"Grandpa!" She gritted her teeth. "Lin Jiang has a way to cure your Poison!"

Dugu Bo's expression stiffened.

The next second, his face darkened.

"What? Him?"

He stared at Lin Jiang, his gaze as sharp as a blade: "A wet-behind-the-ears brat?"

"And—"

He took a step forward, and the pressure of a Title Douluo instantly enveloped the entire courtyard.

"How does a brat like you know about this secret?!"

The air seemed to freeze.

Dugu Yan's expression shifted, and she instinctively stepped in front of Lin Jiang. "It was me! I was the one who told him!"

Dugu Bo's brow furrowed even deeper. "Yan-Yan, move aside."

He stared at Lin Jiang, his tone turning cold. "What kind of man only knows how to hide behind a woman?"

Dugu Yan grew anxious. "But..."

Before she could finish, a hand rested on her shoulder.

"Sister Yan-Yan, it's alright."

Lin Jiang stepped out from behind her and stood before Dugu Bo, tilting his head back to look directly into those ink-green eyes.

His six-year-old frame remained motionless under the pressure of a Titled Douluo.

"Senior Dugu," he said, neither servile nor overbearing. "Since I said I have a way, I naturally wouldn't lie to you."

"Whether it is true or false,"

Lin Jiang smiled faintly.

"You will know once you try."

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes.

This brat, he's somewhat interesting.

"Oh?" He withdrew his pressure and let out a cold laugh. "And how shall we test it?"

Lin Jiang looked up at him, his face calm. "Try using your poison on me."

"What?"

Dugu Bo was stunned for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed.

"Hahahaha!"

The laughter shook the trees in the courtyard, causing leaves to rustle and fall.

"I have lived for so many years, and this is the first time I've heard such a request!"

He, Dugu Bo, held the title of "Poison"—who in the world did not know that?

Test him with poison?

If this wasn't seeking death, what was?

Dugu Yan's face turned pale, and she grabbed Lin Jiang's arm.

"You've lost your mind, Lin Jiang! Even if your Martial Soul is powerful, you cannot withstand my grandfather's poison!"

Lin Jiang patted her hand and gave her a smile. "Don't worry."

He then looked at Dugu Bo, his gaze resolute.

"Go ahead."

Dugu Bo finished laughing and looked down at this audacious brat, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Hahahaha, Yan-Yan, this friend of yours doesn't seem to have a very good head on his shoulders!"

He raised his hand, a wisp of ink-green soul power coalescing at his fingertips...