How Could I Let Others Think My Xiao Liang Had No One to Back Him Up?

Dugu Bo fixed Jiang Liang with a venomous stare.

He did not want to make things difficult for a child.

But this child... knew far too much!

He did not dare imagine what kind of situation he and his granddaughter would face if this matter got out.

Their former enemies would surely seize the chance to strike.

When that happened, both he and Yanyan would be doomed beyond redemption.

At that thought, nine Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—rose from his body at once.

Dugu Yan stared wide-eyed. "Grandpa, you..."

"Yanyan, go back inside first. Grandpa... has something to do," Dugu Bo said in a deep voice.

Yet, facing Dugu Bo with all nine rings raised, Jiang Liang did not panic in the slightest.

"Poison Douluo, are you afraid I'll expose this and bring your enemies down upon you, so you want to deal with me right here?"

"Indeed, not a bad idea."

"But have you not considered this? Since my master let me come here alone, would she not have given me some means of protecting myself?"

As he spoke, he activated the first of the tiny, tiny strands of Sword Qi Sword Mother had left him.

"Buzz—!"

He slowly raised two fingers like a sword before him. At his fingertips gathered a strand of Sword Qi whose killing power soared beyond the heavens!

That strand of Sword Qi was as thin as a hair and seemed utterly insignificant, yet it erupted with supreme sharpness that spanned heaven and earth.

Dugu Bo's movements instantly froze. At that moment, he felt death looming over him.

He had roamed the world of Soul Masters for so many years. Even when he had once faced Sword Douluo Chen Xin, he had never seen such terrifying sword intent!

Just who was this child's master?

Jiang Liang grinned. "Want to give it a try, Your Excellency? I happen to want to see whether my Sword Qi is stronger or your poison is fiercer."

Dugu Bo quickly recovered from his shock, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot. The way he looked at Jiang Liang was now filled with wariness.

"Brat, what exactly do you want?"

Jiang Liang replied with a smile, "Nothing much. I just want to make a deal with you, so there's no need for us to get so tense, right?"

"What do you seek? As long as you do not reveal this matter, I can fulfill any condition you name."

"Simple. I want the poisonous herbs in your estate in Sunset Forest."

"Of course, in return, I can help you resolve the backlash from your Martial Soul. At the same time, I can raise this big sister's strength by another level."

"You..."

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply. "Are you serious?"

He had initially thought this brat wanted to use the matter to threaten him. Who would have thought he had come to help detoxify him?

More importantly, this boy even knew he had an estate in Sunset Forest!

Jiang Liang smiled. "Of course it's true. I have three methods to help you solve this problem."

Dugu Bo frowned deeply. "Do you know that even Ye Renxin, head of the Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Family, would not dare make such a guarantee?"

"He doesn't dare, but I do!" Jiang Liang lifted his chin slightly, his face brimming with confidence and composure.

"Grandpa..." Dugu Yan gently tugged at her grandfather's sleeve.

That little brat did not look like he was lying. Perhaps he really could help their family resolve the backlash from their Martial Souls.

Dugu Bo turned to glance at his granddaughter, and his attitude softened. "You can really resolve it?"

"I can't say one hundred percent. Seventy or eighty percent, perhaps." Jiang Liang slowly lowered his sword fingers, and the strand of Sword Qi with killing power beyond the heavens returned to his body.

Sword Mother had only given him three strands of Sword Qi. He could not just fire them off carelessly.

"Fine, I agree. When do we begin?"

"Tomorrow."

Jiang Liang grinned and stretched lazily. "It's my first time in Heaven Dou City, and I haven't had the chance to look around properly. How about I rest today, then we go to your estate together tomorrow?"

"Very well." Dugu Bo looked up at the sky. "It is getting late. Stay at my residence today."

But Jiang Liang smiled and waved a hand. "Forget it. I wouldn't dare stay at Poison Douluo's residence. What if you poison me to death in the middle of the night? Where would my master find such a fine disciple as me then?"

"We'll meet at the western city gate tomorrow at the hour of the Snake."

With that, he turned and left without looking back.

Dugu Bo was so furious that his beard crooked.

What did this brat take him for?!

Setting aside whether the brat could help them resolve the Martial Soul backlash, just that strand of Sword Qi the brat had condensed earlier was enough to make him hesitate to act.

He was afraid of provoking the unfathomable master behind that brat.

Dugu Yan watched Jiang Liang's departing figure, her beautiful green eyes filled with curiosity.

That little brat did not look very old, yet he was unafraid of her grandfather and carried a composure and calmness utterly unfitting for his age.

Jiang Liang?

I'll remember you, then!

After leaving Dugu Bo's residence, Jiang Liang finally let out a long breath, a relaxed smile appearing on his face.

The Immortal Herbs of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well were as good as reserved.

Now, he only needed to wait until tomorrow to get his hands on them.

"Xiao Liang, you did quite well just now." Sword Mother's voice followed, as gentle as water as always.

Jiang Liang chuckled. "That was thanks to the three strands of Sword Qi Fairy Sister left me. Otherwise, I would have been dead today."

Sword Mother laughed softly. "That would not have happened. That man was at most at the half-step Golden Core level. If he had truly attacked you, I would not have been polite either."

"How could I let others think my Xiao Liang had no one to back him up?"

Jiang Liang smiled even more happily at that.

He liked this feeling of having someone to protect him.

Then, he wandered around Heaven Dou City until nightfall. After buying some local specialty foods, he found an inn to rest in.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

Before the hour of the Snake had even come, Dugu Bo had already brought Dugu Yan to wait at the western city gate.

They waited until a quarter of an hour past the hour of the Snake before Jiang Liang finally strolled over at an unhurried pace.

Dugu Bo's forehead was covered in dark lines. "You brat, didn't we agree on the hour of the Snake? It's nearly noon already!"

Jiang Liang waved a hand unconcernedly. "Doesn't Your Excellency know I'm only six? I'm still growing, so it's normal to sleep a little more."

Dugu Yan could not help letting out a snort of laughter.

It was her first time hearing someone make sleeping in sound so refined and fresh.

This little brat was truly too amusing!

Dugu Bo gritted his teeth in anger. "Children in other families rise before dawn to cultivate bitterly. Who is as lazy as you?"

"Heh, my master doesn't even control me, so why are you?" Jiang Liang rolled his eyes irritably. "Let's go, let's go. We're heading to Sunset Forest."

Dugu Bo was left speechless. He fiercely flicked his sleeve. "Then get in the carriage already! If you keep dawdling, I won't wait for you!"

Jiang Liang shot him a speechless glance, then climbed into the carriage with a yawn.

Once he boarded, the carriage slowly set off toward Sunset Forest.

Along the way, Dugu Yan kept staring at Jiang Liang. "Are you really only six? Did you just awaken your Martial Soul?"

Jiang Liang continued yawning. "Yeah. If you count it out, I awakened it only half a month ago."

"Half a month ago?!" Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes widened. "And you dared come to Heaven Dou City alone? And... yesterday, you nearly fought my grandfather!"

"So what?" Jiang Liang snorted. "The Sword Qi my master left me is incredibly powerful. Someone like your grandfather would be finished in one blow."

Dugu Yan's delicate brows furrowed as she asked curiously, "Who is your master?"

"Want to know?" Jiang Liang raised a brow and gave a mischievous smile. "Kiss me once, and I'll tell you."

"You..." Dugu Yan instantly flew into embarrassed anger, her little face flushing pink as she glared viciously at Jiang Liang.

Outside, Dugu Bo, who was driving the carriage, heard their conversation and was instantly furious enough for smoke to come from all seven orifices.

This brat actually dared flirt with his granddaughter right in front of him!

If he could beat him, he would have stopped the carriage and given this brat a vicious beating right now!

The more Dugu Bo thought about it, the angrier he became. He raised his whip with all his strength and urged the carriage to its utmost speed.