Qian Renxue changed the subject.
"As for Yu Tianheng, that's settled. In a few days, I'll use Spirit Hall's influence to stir up trouble for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"Once we coordinate from both sides, this whole matter will blow over quickly."
"As for Dugu Bo..."
"I know you don't like all the scheming in the royal court, but..."
"Dugu Yan is quite taken with you. For Spirit Hall's sake, don't reject her for now, and try to win her over."
"Of course, you're still young. There's nothing wrong with seeing where things go with her in a few years."
Lin Yan flushed.
"I... I..."
Seeing him stammer like that, Qian Renxue burst out laughing.
"What is it? Are you embarrassed?"
Lin Yan didn't say anything. He lowered his head even further.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue rubbed his purple hair even more vigorously with her fair fingers, then laughed and said,
"I didn't tell you to start something with her right now. Look how embarrassed you are."
"Stay here at the estate for the next few days. Once this whole matter has blown over, you can go back to the academy."
"Okay."
Before long, the two of them left the secret chamber.
Qian Renxue changed back into Xue Qinghe and escorted Lin Yan to the guest room.
A breeze swept by, lifting his hair.
After Xue Qinghe closed the door, he didn't return to his own room right away. Instead, he leaned against the railing and gazed up at the bright moon.
Tonight, he'd said a great deal from Spirit Hall's point of view...
Xue Qinghe didn't know if Lin Yan had understood everything, but...
If he didn't understand it once, or twice, then after hearing it often enough, a fixed impression would naturally take shape in a young man's mind.
And that impression would be: everything was for Spirit Hall!
But as he gazed at the moon overhead, Lin Yan's innocent smile surfaced in Xue Qinghe's mind.
Do I really have to turn him into a tool?
Meanwhile.
At the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Dugu Bo had already brought Dugu Yan back to the medicinal garden. He wanted to keep his granddaughter safe until the matter with Yu Tianheng was settled.
There was no denying it: Dugu Bo was being far too cautious.
In the garden.
The grandfather and granddaughter listlessly tended to the rare plants in their pots. The mood between them was a little awkward.
Dugu Yan knew that her impulsiveness today had put her grandfather in a difficult position, but there was nothing she could do...
Lin Yan had fought Yu Tianheng for her sake. She couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Besides... the problem was already solved, wasn't it?
At worst, she could just sweet-talk Grandpa a few more times and coax the old man into a good mood~
"Are you interested in that boy?"
As Dugu Yan was mulling things over, Dugu Bo suddenly spoke.
Dugu Yan froze, then said in embarrassment and annoyance,
"What are you talking about, Grandpa? How old is he?"
"Heh."
Dugu Bo gave a derisive snort.
"I'm not even sure you're as mature as he is."
"What?"
Seeing Dugu Yan's bewildered expression, Dugu Bo began to explain.
"By your account, he's young and immature. So why was he so calm when he met me, a Titled Douluo?"
"Because you're my grandpa!"
"And you said yourself that he's immature. Maybe he doesn't even know what a Titled Douluo's status means."
Dugu Yan naturally came up with excuses for Lin Yan.
At that, Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, a trace of anger creeping into his voice.
"And you still say you're not interested in him?"
Silence fell.
Dugu Yan stared at her grandfather in disbelief.
"I..."
She wanted to argue, to get angry first and make Dugu Bo coax her. Maybe then she could brush the whole thing aside.
But Dugu Bo spoke before she could.
"Do you realize that if I protect that brat, it means you'll have no chance with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan from now on?"
Dugu Bo looked utterly exasperated.
Seeing this, the girl lowered her head...
She stayed silent for a long while. When it became clear that Dugu Bo wasn't going to back down or comfort her, two tears slipped from her eyes. She spoke with a wounded pout.
"Fine, then I won't. I never liked Yu Tianheng anyway."
"You were the one who insisted I spend time with him."
Her tears fell to the ground, splashing and spreading into a shimmering blur.
Dugu Bo took it all in, his heart a jumble of emotions.
How could he not want Dugu Yan to live freely, doing whatever she pleased? But...
The poison of her Martial Soul had seeped into her bones, and even Dugu Bo didn't know how much longer he himself had to live.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was the best backing he could find for Dugu Yan. Now, though, it had all turned to nothing.
He drew a deep breath. Tears clouded his own murky eyes.
"Yan Yan, what will you do after I'm gone?"
Dugu Yan looked up in astonishment.
"What are you talking about, Grandpa?"
"You're a Titled Douluo. You have more than a hundred years left to live. Why say something so depressing?"
Tears still streaked the girl's face. Dugu Bo looked at them through his misty eyes, and before he knew it, he was crying too.
Damn it! Why couldn't he live a little longer? Yan Yan was still so young!
Realizing that something was wrong with Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan stepped forward and nestled in his arms.
"I won't be so willful anymore. Please don't be sad, Grandpa."
In the medicinal garden, the grandfather and granddaughter clung to each other and wept.
Dugu Bo tilted his head toward the sky and gently patted the girl's back, his grief plain to see.
Everyone knew him as the Poison Douluo, a man of boundless prestige and ruthless resolve.
But no one knew that the word "poison" had haunted him his whole life. Not only did he regularly endure pain that gnawed at his bones, but those around him had also died one after another because of him.
Now he could feel that his time was nearly up.
The matter with Yu Tianheng and Lin Yan today had only been a spark. It happened to ignite all the grievances and sorrow he'd carried for years, and that was why his emotions had erupted.
Dugu Bo didn't want to die. He didn't want Dugu Yan to be left with no one to rely on.
He had made countless enemies in his younger days. Once he was gone, how could Dugu Yan survive without anyone powerful backing her? (By comparison, the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul would be extinct ten thousand years later.)
After a long while, and a great deal more crying, Dugu Bo finally drew a breath and spoke weakly.
"If you like that brat, make your move soon, before someone else beats you to it."
Dugu Yan's head was still buried against his chest. She mumbled,
"I... I already told you I don't."
"Yan Yan..."
Dugu Bo gently patted the girl's back and spoke earnestly.
"Go after the person you like and the things you love. Grandpa will always support you."
"If he dares to resist, I'll tie him up and bring him to you."
"Once this whole matter blows over, bring him home so I can meet him."
Dugu Bo's outlook had changed.
Since he couldn't stop death from coming, he would let his granddaughter experience as much happiness as possible before it arrived.
So, his name was Lin Yan?
If his granddaughter liked him, then Dugu Bo would even feed him Whale Rubber to make sure he won her heart.
Otherwise, once he was dead, there'd be no one left to stand up for Dugu Yan...
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