Showdown and Promise, No Multiple Choice

"It's nothing..."

Dugu Bo couldn't even find a reason to lose his temper.

"By the way, Old Senior Dugu, while sparring with Yanyan over the past two years, I discovered that high-speed circulating wind can gradually purge the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul poison. If you encounter any experts who use wind in the future, please take note."

Xue Yao said with a smile, but as soon as he finished, Dugu Bo's eyes widened to the size of bells.

"What did you say?!"

The terrifying pressure that had filled the training room vanished in an instant.

This Poison Douluo, who made countless soul masters tremble at the mere mention of his name, was now trembling slightly at Xue Yao's words.

"High-speed circulating wind can gradually purge the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul poison?!"

This sentence struck Dugu Bo's heart like a heavy hammer.

He stared fixedly into Xue Yao's deep, calm eyes, trying to find any trace of a lie or exaggeration.

However, he failed.

In the eyes of this young man, he saw only a heart-stopping composure and confidence.

"You've done it?"

Dugu Bo's voice was hoarse.

"Naturally, I have."

Xue Yao replied with the same smiling face.

"Why does Old Senior Dugu ask? Could it be..."

As he spoke, an exaggerated expression of shock appeared on Xue Yao's face; his acting skills were good enough to win an award.

After a long while, the sharpness and wariness in Dugu Bo's eyes faded completely.

He let out a long sigh, his voice filled with endless exhaustion and vicissitudes.

"Yes."

"You guessed right. All that talk about returning to simplicity or unity of heaven and man is complete nonsense."

"My Dugu Clan has inherited the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul for generations. Although the poison dominates the world, the martial soul itself is a curse. As cultivation deepens, the toxins invade the host's internal organs. My son was tortured to death by this damned poison!"

"I have spent most of my life searching for a cure, but I have found nothing. Now, my body has reached its limit; I won't live for many more years..."

"My death is not worth mentioning. I have killed countless people in my life; I've lived long enough."

Dugu Bo suddenly raised his head, looking at Xue Yao with burning eyes, his tone becoming unprecedentedly solemn and earnest.

"However, Yanyan is innocent! She is the only blood relative I have left in this world, but now, whenever it rains, she experiences numbness and itching in her ribs... The poison has already begun to backfire on her!"

Dugu Bo took a deep breath, as if he had made a major decision, and stared straight at Xue Yao.

"Xue Yao, you are an incredibly clever kid. Don't tell me you don't see how Yanyan feels about you!"

"That girl was spoiled rotten by me since she was a child, but ever since you came to the academy, she has been like a different person. She trains desperately not just to defeat you, but to be qualified to stand by your side and have you look at her more!"

"In these three months, she has been in closed-door cultivation several times and almost suffered a cultivation deviation, all while muttering your name!"

"I was hesitant at first, but seeing your intelligence and methods today, I concede. Xue Yao, if I ever can't hold on anymore, I entrust Yanyan to you! As long as you can save her life and cure the poison in her body, my life, all the resources I possess, and even everything in the Dugu Clan, will be yours from now on!"

This was the most humble and heavy entrustment from a Title Douluo at the end of his rope, a grandfather who loved his granddaughter deeply!

Facing Dugu Bo's heartfelt confession, Xue Yao put away the composure and smile on his face.

He stood up, his expression solemn, and bowed to Dugu Bo with the utmost respect as a junior.

"I admire Old Senior Dugu's love for your granddaughter."

"As for Senior Yanyan's feelings, I am not made of wood; I naturally feel them. Although she appears headstrong on the surface, she is pure and kind at heart. She is a good girl worth cherishing."

"I can promise you that as long as I am here, I will never let Yanyan suffer any grievances. As for the backlash of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul poison in your bodies, I not only have a way to suppress it, but I am ten percent certain that I can completely transform the toxins within you into nourishment to boost your strength!"

Hearing this resounding promise, the dim light in Dugu Bo's eyes instantly flared with brilliance.

However, before he could thank him, Xue Yao's next words caused his expression to freeze instantly.

"However."

"Senior, there are some things I must make clear to you today to avoid any future discord."

"The grace of a beauty is heavy, and I will never let down Yanyan's feelings for me. But I will also not let down Lingling."

Xue Yao tilted his head slightly, his mind filled with the image of Ye Lingling's cold, lonely, yet gentle eyes.

"Lingling has silently accompanied me for the past two years, and her feelings are no less than Yanyan's. I am a greedy person, and I don't like making choices. I will not give up Lingling for Yanyan, nor will I fabricate a lie about loving only Yanyan just to appease you."

"I will use everything I have to protect the women I love. What I want is for them to be able to stand by my side openly and safely. If you think I am too greedy or that Yanyan is being wronged, you are free to take her away now. But the cure I promised you remains valid."

Once these words were spoken, the air in the entire training room seemed to freeze again.

Dugu Bo widened his eyes, looking at Xue Yao as if he were a monster.

He had lived for most of his life and had seen countless hypocritical, lying, fake gentlemen.

Those playboys from great families, in order to gain his protection and Dugu Yan's beauty, which one of them hadn't sworn to heaven that they would only love one person in this life? Yet, behind their backs, they were nothing but scoundrels.

Yet this young man before him was something else; faced with a Title Douluo entrusting him with his granddaughter, he actually had the audacity to declare right to his face that not only did he want his granddaughter, he wanted another girl too, and he wouldn't let go of either!

"You... you brat!"

Dugu Bo was so incensed his beard bristled and his eyes bulged.

"My granddaughter, the descendant of the dignified Poison Douluo, and you expect her to share a husband with another woman?! What do you take the Dugu Clan for?!"

Dugu Bo glared at Xue Yao, breathing heavily in ragged gasps.

However, when he met Xue Yao's gaze, the fury in his heart inexplicably began to subside.

Thinking about it carefully, on this continent where strength reigned supreme, it was common practice for powerful male spirit masters to have multiple partners.

What truly concerned Dugu Bo was not how many women Xue Yao had, but his attitude toward Dugu Yan.

If Xue Yao had hypocritically sworn today that he loved only Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo would have instead felt that this youth was too calculating and not a suitable match.

On the contrary, Xue Yao dared to stand against the pressure of a Title Douluo and speak bluntly about his sense of responsibility toward both girls.

This courageous character proved that he was a man who valued loyalty and affection!

Dugu Bo's rigid expression suddenly softened, even revealing a trace of an extremely awkward, bitter smile.

"You little monster, your temper is even more stubborn than this old man's."

"Fine, fine. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; I'm too lazy to manage you young people's affairs, and I couldn't even if I wanted to."

"As long as you remember your words today, don't let Yanyan suffer any grievances, and don't abandon her after winning her heart, I will be able to die in peace."

"Rest assured, Senior, my word is worth its weight in gold."

"Then now, shouldn't you take me to see that 'treasure land' you use to suppress your toxins?"

Dugu Bo's hand holding the teacup froze abruptly, his mung-bean-sized eyes widening once more as he stared at Xue Yao in utter disbelief: "You... you even know about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?!"