Even Dugu Bo had to admit that Ye Qing's way of doing things naturally made people like him.
But he still decided to put a damper on the boy who rubbed him the wrong way.
Old Poison turned to Dugu Yan. "Yanyan, you saw that, right? This is the man you chose."
"He even dares to scheme for your grandfather's things. He's so sly and deceitful. Are you really planning to spend your life with someone like him?"
"???"
Ye Qing's heart gave a sudden thump.
So this was your game, Old Poison! You'd been waiting to pull this on me!
He couldn't help glancing nervously at Dugu Yan.
"..."
Dugu Yan's expression was complicated.
She looked at Ye Qing, his reflection mirrored in her emerald-green eyes.
She'd known from the very beginning that Ye Qing was scheming to get these Immortal Herbs.
From the first time he mentioned her grandfather's Medicine Garden, from the moment he singled out that Golden Tulip, she'd had her suspicions.
But she wasn't angry.
On the contrary, she was pleased.
That was right—pleased!
The man she, Dugu Yan, loved could come from humble beginnings. He could have mediocre talent.
But he couldn't be content with mediocrity or settle for the status quo.
When Ye Qing had only three levels of Soul Power, he'd already dared to find a way to plot for her grandfather's Immortal Herbs.
That refusal to live beneath others, that audacity to scheme for what he wanted—that was what she valued most.
Yanzi took a deep breath and turned to face her grandfather.
"Grandfather."
Her voice was soft, but firm. "I'm willing to be with him."
"..."
The determination in his granddaughter's eyes left Dugu Bo speechless.
It seemed his granddaughter had a mind of her own now...
That should've been a good thing.
So why did it feel so awful?
Especially when he saw Ye Qing's smug expression growing by the second.
That bastard really deserved to die!
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan stared at each other for a long time.
The air was so quiet they could hear the spring water bubbling in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
At last, Dugu Bo sighed.
"Alas..."
His sigh held too much: helplessness, heartache, and unwillingness.
What kind of person had Dugu Bo never met? What kind of situation had he never experienced?
But today, for the first time, he felt old.
A daughter grown up could no longer be kept at home!
"Boy."
Dugu Bo turned and glared at Ye Qing, looking thoroughly displeased.
"I'll give you a year. If you can make some initial progress in resolving the poison in my body within that year, I'll let you marry Yanyan and join the Dugu Family."
Ye Qing's mouth twitched.
Join the Dugu Family?
The old man really did see him as a live-in son-in-law.
Fine, it didn't matter.
What was the mere title of live-in son-in-law compared to this garden full of Immortal Herbs?
"Deal."
Ye Qing nodded without hesitation.
"Don't agree so quickly."
Dugu Bo sneered. "Tell me, what if you fail?"
"If I fail, you don't need to lift a finger, Senior. I'll leave myself at Yanzi's mercy."
Dugu Bo gave a snort, amused by his words.
After being deceived this badly, would Yanyan really have the heart to punish you?
"But, Senior."
Ye Qing changed tack. "I have one more condition."
Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow. A dangerous glint flashed in his emerald-green eyes.
"You've stolen my granddaughter away, and you still dare to bargain with me? You've got some nerve."
"I wouldn't dare."
"It's just that this condition is directly related to whether I can help you with your poison."
"Let's hear it."
"I want to use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's waters to take the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot."
Dugu Bo's expression froze. He looked at Ye Qing as if he were already dead.
"Boy, do you know what that water is? Even I wouldn't dare touch it lightly, and you want to jump in?"
"Yes."
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Ye Qing glanced at Dugu Yan.
She was looking at him too, worry filling her emerald-green eyes.
"I want to live, but even more, I want a future worthy of Yanzi."
Ye Qing's voice wasn't loud, but every word rang with conviction.
"Senior, I was born with a Trash Martial Soul."
"In the Soul Master World, with talent like mine, I wasn't even considered an ordinary person. I was just trash."
"If I don't take a chance, then even if you and Yanzi don't look down on me, I'll look down on myself."
"Ye Qing..."
Dugu Yan's eyes reddened slightly.
She'd always known there was a fire burning inside Ye Qing.
But this was the first time she'd heard him say it with such seriousness.
"..."
Dugu Bo fell silent for a long while.
His gaze shifted as he looked at Ye Qing.
He couldn't help reflecting on how much his opinion of the boy had changed along the way.
From his initial contempt, to scrutiny, and now to a measure of recognition and admiration.
This boy really was something.
Not because of how much he knew, but because of the ruthless streak in his bones.
That daring to risk his life for a chance— not everyone had that kind of nerve.
"Forget it."
Dugu Bo waved a hand. "Use whatever herbs you want in this Medicine Garden, as long as you don't get yourself killed."
"Many of the herbs here require even me to handle them with care."
Ye Qing's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Senior!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, he turned and walked off.
He left so briskly, so eagerly.
Dugu Bo watched his retreating back, his mouth twitching.
Was this boy here to marry his granddaughter or stock up on goods?
Ye Qing couldn't care less.
At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind—he'd struck it rich!
The Medicine Garden by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well held far more than the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot.
The Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum... they were all here.
Now, all these treasures lay within his reach!
Immortal Herbs were free!
Ye Qing darted back and forth through the Medicine Garden, his eyes shining like lightbulbs.
He was going to gather every Immortal Herb that matched the descriptions in the original story!
Dugu Bo pulled Dugu Yan away from Ye Qing.
He set up a Soul Power barrier to make sure the boy couldn't hear a single word.
"Yanyan."
Dugu Bo's expression was more serious than ever. "Tell Grandpa the truth. Are you pregnant?"
"???"
Dugu Yan's face turned red all the way to her ears.
She flushed faster than an Agility Attack System Soul Master could activate a Soul Skill.
"N-no, not yet..."
Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's buzz. "Ye Qing taught me to say those things. He said you wouldn't lay a hand on him if I said that."
"?"
Dugu Bo's face turned green.
He'd coached his granddaughter to lie to her own grandfather?
That little bastard!!!
"What else did he teach you?"
Dugu Yan's eyes darted this way and that. She looked everywhere but at her grandfather.
"Yanyan."
Dugu Bo's voice sank a little.
"Ugh!"
Dugu Yan lowered her head.
She stared at her toes, her voice growing quieter and quieter. "He... he also taught me a set of... 'Eighteen Ways to Handle the Old Man.'"
Dugu Bo's temples throbbed twice. "Handle what?"
"Handle... the old man..."
Dugu Yan nearly buried her face in her chest, but she still dutifully confessed everything.
"The first style is called 'Swear a Vow.' When you threaten him, Grandpa, I'm supposed to swear I'll never speak to you again for the rest of my life..."
Dugu Bo's face darkened.
"The second style is called 'Eyes Full of Tears.' I'm supposed to say you can't stand seeing me cry, Grandpa, and that you'll soften as soon as I do..."
Dugu Bo's face darkened further.
"The third style is called 'Run Away from Home'—"
Dugu Bo's face turned black as the bottom of a pot.
"And then there's the fourth style, the fifth style..."
"Enough!"
Dugu Bo flung his sleeve, his beard bristling with anger.
He was a Titled Douluo, and he was going to let some little brat handle him?
And what was this "Eighteen Ways to Handle the Old Man"?
Who was he calling an old man?!
"That little bastard really is no good!" Dugu Bo ground out through clenched teeth.
Dugu Yan raised her head and looked at her grandfather's furious face. A smile suddenly escaped her.
Because she realized that, though her grandfather was cursing up a storm, the murderous intent from before had vanished from his eyes.
He was just angry, like an ordinary old man.
"Grandpa, you're not against it anymore?"
Dugu Bo snorted and turned his head away. "Would it matter if I were?"
"If I objected, wouldn't you just use those 'Eighteen Styles of Handling the Old Man' on me?"
"Oh, Grandpa~"
Dugu Yan rushed over and wrapped her arms around his, pressing her cheek to his shoulder.
She'd been making that very move to coax him since she was very, very little.
And it worked quite well on Dugu Bo.
His body stiffened slightly, then slowly relaxed.
His rough palm gently patted his granddaughter's head.
"Yanyan, Grandpa only wants you to be happy."
"Though that brat's full of bad ideas, your grandpa knows how to judge people. He truly cares about you."
Dugu Yan murmured an acknowledgment, her eyes growing a little hot.
Seeing his granddaughter like this, Dugu Bo felt both angry and helpless.
Forget it. His granddaughter had already gone and made a done deal of it. What good would it do to keep opposing them?
It wasn't as if he could really poison that brat into a puddle of goo, was it?
Though he really wanted to.
Dugu Bo clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the Medicine Garden.
His gaze swept over the Immortal Herbs growing everywhere, then settled on Ye Qing, who was excitedly treasure hunting in the distance.
"That brat may be a weakling who likes to hide in the back, but at least he's got brains and guts."
"If I leave Yanyan in his hands, she probably won't be bullied in the future."
He muttered to himself, then suddenly thought of something and added, "But I'll settle the score with that little bastard over those 'Eighteen Styles of Handling the Old Man' sooner or later!"