Dugu Bo and Ye Qing: A Pair of Arch-Enemies in This World

When Ye Qing heard that, the weight in his heart finally lifted.

It was settled.

The old man was clearly planning to have his back.

Though the old man usually treated him like he could do nothing right, when it mattered, he really was protective of his own.

Why was he feeling a little touched?

"Kid."

Dugu Bo suddenly changed the subject. His emerald eyes swept over Ye Qing as he lowered his voice. "Come with me. I have some private matters to discuss with you."

The small flicker of gratitude in Ye Qing's heart was instantly doused.

He was done for.

This old man definitely had nothing good in mind!

But with Yanzi and Ye Lingling right there, he could not exactly refuse. He could only brace himself and follow Dugu Bo away.

Ye Lingling watched their receding figures, curiosity flashing through her blue eyes.

She turned to Dugu Yan and softly asked, "Yanzi, is Ye Qing's relationship with your grandfather... good?"

Dugu Yan's expression instantly became complicated.

Good?

For a moment, she did not even know how to describe the relationship between those two.

"It should... be fairly good, I guess? Haha."

Dugu Yan scratched her head and gave an awkward laugh.

Scenes from the past few months of Ye Qing and her grandfather getting along rapidly flashed through her mind.

When they first met, her grandfather had nearly poisoned Ye Qing into pulp.

Later, her grandfather had used Ye Qing as a test subject for poison.

And after that, the two had even fought.

"Their relationship, how should I put it..."

Dugu Yan carefully considered her wording.

"They're like an old man and a young man who are constantly at each other's throats."

"Ye Qing calls my grandfather 'old man,' and my grandfather calls him 'little bastard' and 'brat.' That's how they are."

Ye Lingling's lips parted slightly.

A rare trace of astonishment appeared on her usually calm face.

He called a Title Douluo an old man?

And he was still alive?

Dugu Yan seemed to see her confusion and sighed. "The first time Ye Qing called him that, I thought he was as good as dead too."

"But later I realized that although my grandfather cursed fiercely, he actually... seemed to enjoy it."

She paused, a faint smile rising at the corner of her lips.

"No one had ever dared speak to him like that before."

"On the surface, he blows his top, but I think he actually likes Ye Qing quite a lot."

Ye Lingling fell silent for a moment, then gently nodded.

There was a saying: fighting meant affection, and scolding meant love.

A Title Douluo's temperament really was different from that of ordinary people.

Several dozen steps away.

Dugu Bo casually set up a Soul Power barrier.

Emerald Soul Power condensed in the air into a translucent membrane of light, completely cutting off all outside sounds.

Then he turned around and stared at Ye Qing for a full three breaths.

Ye Qing felt his scalp tingle under that gaze.

His heart pounded wildly.

Was the old man settling scores with him?

Or was he going to test poison on him again?

That was not right. He had not provoked him lately!

"The brat's performance at the academy has been decent. You haven't embarrassed me, Dugu Bo."

Dugu Bo's voice was unusually gentler.

Ye Qing instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the old man had not called him over to cause trouble.

Now he could relax.

Still, considering how quickly the old man changed his expression, he could not let down his guard.

He hurriedly played along, clasping his hands with a grin. "It is all thanks to your excellent teaching, Senior!"

"Without your guidance, where would I be today?"

The corners of Dugu Bo's mouth visibly lifted.

Then he forcibly suppressed them with a cold snort.

He knew perfectly well that he had not taught this brat much of anything.

Helping him hunt Soul Rings was true enough.

But cultivation, combat, and the use of Soul Skills had all been figured out by the brat himself.

Still, who did not enjoy flattering words?

Old Poison refused to admit it aloud, but the smugness in his heart was nearly leaking out through the gaps between his brows.

"At least you still have some conscience."

Dugu Bo snorted and took a jade token from his sleeve, handing it over.

Ye Qing accepted the jade token and examined it.

The front bore the emblem of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, while the back was engraved with a line of small characters: Heaven Dou Student · Ye Qing · Special Admission.

The jade was warm and smooth to the touch. It was clearly a fine piece.

"I have already spoken to Prince Xue Xing. Your enrollment procedures have all been handled. You will receive the highest treatment available to Heaven Dou students."

Dugu Bo paused, his tone carrying a faint warning.

"From now on, just stay at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and focus on your studies."

"As for that kid from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, just as I said before, you don't need to fear offending him."

Ye Qing rubbed the jade token, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The old man had paved the road for him perfectly, even taking responsibility for offending people on his behalf.

"Thank you, Senior."

Ye Qing clasped his hands solemnly, a rare serious expression on his face.

For once, he did not grin or make a joke.

Seeing him so serious, Dugu Bo also, for once, did not pull a sour face.

Old Poison stood with his hands behind his back.

"Hmph. It's good that you know to be grateful."

Dugu Bo lowered his voice, and it carried a gravity Ye Qing had never heard from him before.

"I have owed few favors in my life. You are one of them."

"Yanyan's poison and my poison were both resolved by you."

"I do not say these things aloud, but I remember them in my heart."

Ye Qing fell silent.

He suddenly felt a little unaccustomed to this version of Dugu Bo.

The arrogant old man who usually threatened him with poison at every turn and blew his top had suddenly become so serious that Ye Qing did not quite know how to react.

"You give me too much credit, Senior."

Ye Qing came back to his senses, thinking that perhaps the old man had changed his nature today.

Seeing Dugu Bo turn to leave, he suddenly remembered something important.

"Please wait, Senior!"

He quickly caught up, a dazzlingly excessive smile plastered across his face.

"Um... do you happen to have any plans to visit the Star Dou Great Forest for a little relaxation lately?"

Dugu Bo halted. His emerald eyes slanted toward him.

"Speak plainly."

"Ahem."

Ye Qing rubbed his hands together, choosing his words carefully.

"My sixth and seventh Soul Rings both need to be over fifty thousand years old."

"Do you know whether Sunset Forest or Star Dou Great Forest has any suitable nests of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts?"

The corner of Dugu Bo's eye twitched twice.

Over fifty thousand years.

His sixth and seventh Soul Rings already needed to be fifty thousand years old.

Would his eighth Soul Ring, and even his ninth, not be reaching for the heavens?

Normally, a soul master's sixth Soul Ring was only around twenty thousand years at most. Yet this brat opened his mouth and demanded more than double that.

"You sure know how to pick your moment."

Dugu Bo's face remained expressionless. "Taking advantage of my good mood to push your luck, are you?"

"Senior is wise and mighty, and your word is as good as gold. You certainly wouldn't forget something you promised!"

Before Ye Qing could finish his barrage of flattery, Dugu Bo impatiently waved him off.

"Enough, enough. Could I possibly forget something I promised you?"

"Even if you had not mentioned it, I was planning to make a trip to Star Dou Great Forest and Sunset Forest to scout out suitable nests of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts for you."

Dugu Bo was not so despicable that he would break an agreement with a junior.

Especially not when that junior was his granddaughter's future husband.

The stronger Ye Qing became, the more at ease he would be.

Ye Qing's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Senior!"