Early the next morning, inside Dugu Residence.
"Whoo~ whoo~ whoo~"
Yu Tianshuo had just finished washing up and stepped out of his room when he saw his senior brother still holding a horse stance in the courtyard.
But when he noticed the snot bubble on his senior brother's nose, he couldn't hold back a laugh.
That laugh successfully woke Dugu Yuan, who'd been dozing off.
He looked at Yu Tianshuo, doubled over with laughter, then at himself, still holding the horse stance.
After sucking in some drool that was dribbling from his mouth, Dugu Yuan tried to move his body, only to find that he couldn't move at all.
Oh no! His legs had gone numb.
Dugu Yuan hurriedly called to Yu Tianshuo for help.
"Damn it, junior brother, stop laughing and come help me! My legs are numb!"
Yu Tianshuo said nothing, only laughed even louder.
"Ha ha ha ha ha—!"
Dugu Yuan looked at his gleeful junior brother with utter despair, speechless.
Just as he was about to ask for help again, the door to Dugu Bo's room was kicked clean off its hinges.
Seeing his master, who seemed to have been woken by the noise, Yu Tianshuo knew he was probably done for.
Sure enough, after taking one look at the scene, Dugu Bo said nothing and simply pulled out his Bone Whip, charging at Yu Tianshuo.
"Ha ha ha ha, Master, spare me! Ha ha ha! I won't do it again, ha ha ha!"
Watching his junior brother get chased, Dugu Yuan felt a rush of satisfaction.
That feeling lasted only until the two of them started using him as a pillar to run around.
Dugu Yuan was now even more utterly despairing. In a hopeless tone, he said,
"You two can fight all you want, but could you please stop hitting me by accident? It hurts—ah!"
He was still talking when a whip cracked across his body, making him shriek again.
Early in the morning, Dugu Residence was once again in utter chaos.
Just then, Dugu Yan's voice at the entrance interrupted the trio's "morning training."
"Grandpa Xue Ye, my grandpa's still sleeping. Don't disturb him, okay?"
But when Dugu Yan turned and saw her grandpa, father, and older brother all in the courtyard, she excitedly ran toward them.
"Ah! My adorable little Yanyan!"
As he spoke, Dugu Bo crouched down, ready to catch Dugu Yan as she ran toward him.
But to his surprise, Dugu Yan ran right past him and leaped straight into Yu Tianshuo's arms, then called out in a childish voice,
"Brother Tian Shuo, you promised yesterday that you'd take Yanyan out to play!"
Feeling the murderous glares coming from his master and senior brother, Yu Tianshuo was beginning to sweat.
Still, he kept smiling and gently patted Dugu Yan's head as he said,
"Of course I'll keep my promise. But Yanyan has to wait a little while first. Your big brother still has to do his morning training before he can take you out to play."
Dugu Yan obediently nodded, climbed down from Yu Tianshuo, and ran over to Dugu Bo again. With another leap, she landed securely in his arms.
The moment Dugu Bo caught Dugu Yan, his face lit up with joy. He began teasing her, even pretending to be angry as he asked whether she didn't love Grandpa anymore.
Watching this, Yu Tianshuo could only smile happily. Aside from his senior brother's resentful glare, which felt like a thorn in his side, it was truly a wonderful day.
Only then did Xue Ye the Great enter the rear courtyard. He smiled at the scene before him, but he had business to discuss, so he coughed to draw the attention of all four of them.
But just as he was about to speak, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
Where was Dugu Bo?
And who was that man who looked almost exactly like Dugu Bo had when he was young?
His mind stalled for a moment, but he still managed to use the skill every emperor needed: ask when something seems off.
He asked in confusion,
"May I ask whether Lord Dugu has risen? And who is this child who looks so much like Lord Dugu?"
Suddenly, Xue Ye the Great seemed to think of something. His eyes widened with realization as he said,
"Oh! Could this be a child Lord Dugu had while away from home?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, everyone was stunned, and the atmosphere fell silent.
Seeing this, Xue Ye the Great thought, Oh no, I may have said the wrong thing. Just as he was about to try to make amends,
Dugu Yuan was the first to lose control and burst out laughing. His laughter was so loud that Yu Tianshuo couldn't hold back either and doubled over laughing on the spot.
The most bewildered person there was Xue Ye the Great; the darkest expression belonged to Dugu Bo; and the one laughing along most happily was Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan didn't know what was so funny, but seeing her father and older brother laugh made her want to laugh too.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha—!"
Dugu Bo's face darkened like the bottom of a pot as he released his Martial Soul and Soul Rings.
"Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!"
The aura of a Titled Douluo burst forth. Everyone present except Yu Tianshuo, who wasn't afraid of the pressure, and Dugu Yan, who was protected, felt the weight of it.
The terrifying presence of a high-ranking predator eyeing its prey descended over Dugu Yuan and Xue Ye the Great.
But the pressure came and went quickly. Dugu Bo had only given the oblivious emperor a small lesson.
He wanted him to understand that a Titled Douluo could not be insulted. As for Yu Tianshuo, who was still laughing under the pressure, Dugu Bo ignored him. He simply decided to teach that fellow a lesson after dealing with the current matter.
Emperor Xue Ye took a handkerchief from his robes and wiped the cold sweat that had gathered on his forehead. He couldn't help thinking,
What's going on? Is this guy Dugu Bo? How has he grown young again?
Was that a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring I saw flash by just now?!
No, I need to give Dugu Bo a few more Soul Bones when I get back and sweeten the deal.
As long as I keep Dugu Bo on my side, my great Heaven Dou Empire can be great again!
At that thought, Xue Ye's gaze grew even more fervent.
He looked at Dugu Bo as if he were a peerless beauty.
That look sent a shiver of disgust through Dugu Bo. Only after Dugu Bo shot him a dangerous look did Xue Ye the Great finally rein himself in.
"Cough, cough, cough—"
After a few more coughs, Xue Ye the Great also used them to cover up his embarrassment. His gaze really had been a little too forward just now, but it was fine. He was the emperor; he had thick skin.
Once he had composed himself, Xue Ye the Great said solemnly,
"Lord Dugu, I was blind just now. Do you have time to discuss some matters of state with me?"
Dugu Bo didn't say anything this time. He only nodded, signaling for Xue Ye the Great to follow him.
Xue Ye the Great followed Dugu Bo. As he passed Yu Tianshuo, he also mentioned that Xue Qinghe was outside and that Yu Tianshuo could go chat with her if he had time.
Hearing that Xue Qinghe had come too, Yu Tianshuo thought it would be nice to have a chat with her. He nodded and accepted the suggestion, then picked up Dugu Yan and headed to the front courtyard.
The rear courtyard fell silent once more, leaving only Dugu Yuan, still holding his horse stance and utterly despairing.
"Could someone please come and help me? Boohoohoo."
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