Dugu Bo: If Lin Yan dares to resist, I'll tie him up and bring him to you

Qian Renxue shifted the topic.

"Let's leave the matter of Yu Tianheng at that. In a few days, I will use the power of Spirit Hall to cause some interference for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family."

"With coordination from both inside and out, the storm surrounding this incident will soon come to an end."

"As for Dugu Bo."

"I know you dislike the convoluted schemes of the imperial court, but..."

"Dugu Yan is quite interested in you. For the sake of Spirit Hall, do not refuse her for now, and try to win her over."

"Of course, you are still young. It wouldn't be a bad idea to develop things with her in a few years."

Lin Yan's face flushed red.

"I... I..."

Watching his stammering appearance, Qian Renxue let out a soft, amused laugh.

"What? Are you shy?"

Lin Yan did not speak, burying his head even lower.

Seeing this, Qian Renxue used her fair, jade-like fingers to vigorously ruffle Lin Yan's purple hair, then said with a smile.

"I didn't ask you to develop anything with her right now, look at how shy you are."

"Stay in the manor for these next few days. Once this storm has passed, you can return to the academy."

"Alright."

Before long, the two walked out of the secret chamber.

Qian Renxue resumed her identity as Xue Qinghe and escorted Lin Yan to the guest room.

A gentle breeze blew by, stirring his hair.

After closing the door, Xue Qinghe did not return to his own room immediately, but instead leaned against the railing, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

Tonight, he had said a great deal from the perspective of Spirit Hall...

Xue Qinghe did not know if Lin Yan could fully grasp it, but...

If he didn't understand it the first time or the second, hearing it enough would naturally form a fixed impression in a young boy's heart.

And that impression was: everything is for the sake of Spirit Hall!

However, looking at the moon in the sky, the image of Lin Yan's innocent smiling face surfaced in Xue Qinghe's mind again.

Am I really going to raise him into a tool?

On the other side.

The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Dugu Bo had already brought Dugu Yan back to the herb garden, intending to keep his granddaughter protected until the matter regarding Yu Tianheng was resolved.

It had to be said, Dugu Bo was truly being overly cautious.

Inside the herb garden.

The grandfather and granddaughter were idly fiddling with the rare herbs in their pots, the atmosphere somewhat subtle.

In truth, Dugu Yan knew that her willfulness today would put her grandfather in a difficult position, but there was no helping it...

Lin Yan had fought Yu Tianheng today for her sake; she could not just stand by and do nothing.

Besides... the problem was already solved, wasn't it!

At worst, she would just have to act spoiled with her grandfather a few more times later to coax the old man.

"Do you have feelings for that boy?"

As she was calculating in her heart, Dugu Bo suddenly spoke up.

Dugu Yan's expression froze, and then she said in a bashful, annoyed tone.

"What are you saying, Grandfather! How old is he?"

"Heh~"

Dugu Bo let out a scoff.

"I think your own maturity might not even match his."

"What?"

Seeing Dugu Yan's look of astonishment, Dugu Bo began to explain.

"According to you, he is young and naive, but why was he so calm when he saw a Title Douluo like me?"

"Because you're my grandfather!"

"And you just said he was naive; perhaps he doesn't even know what the status of a Title Douluo signifies."

Dugu Yan defended Lin Yan as a matter of course.

At this, Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, his tone laced with a hint of anger.

"And you still say you have no feelings for him?"

The air fell into a heavy silence.

Dugu Yan looked at her grandfather in disbelief.

"I..."

She wanted to retort, to act angry first so that Dugu Bo would coax her, hoping that might allow her to muddle through the situation at hand.

But Dugu Bo spoke first.

"Do you have any idea that if I protect that brat, it means there will never be any possibility between you and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family ever again?"

Dugu Bo wore an expression of deep frustration, as if lamenting her lack of foresight.

Seeing this, the young girl lowered her head.

She remained silent for a long while. Seeing that Dugu Bo would not back down or offer any comfort, two teardrops fell from her eyes, and she said in a pitiful, aggrieved voice.

"So what if there isn't? I never liked Yu Tianheng in the first place."

"It was you who insisted I associate with him."

Her tears hit the ground, splashing and spreading out.

Dugu Bo took it all in, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.

How he wished he could let Dugu Yan live as she pleased, free and unrestrained, but...

The poison of their martial soul had seeped deep into their marrow; even Dugu Bo did not know how much longer he had to live.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family was the most perfect backing he had found for Dugu Yan, yet now, it had all vanished like a bubble.

He took a deep breath, and a mist of tears welled up in his murky eyes.

"Yanyan, what will you do after I'm gone?"

Dugu Yan looked up in shock.

"What are you saying, Grandfather!"

"You are a Title Douluo; you still have over a hundred years of life left. Why are you saying such depressing things?"

The young girl still had tear tracks on her face, and as Dugu Bo looked at her through his blurred vision, he suddenly burst into tears himself.

Damn it! Why can't I live just a little longer? Yanyan hasn't even grown up yet!

Realizing that Dugu Bo's emotions were unstable, Dugu Yan stepped forward and huddled into his arms.

"I won't be willful anymore. Please don't be sad, Grandfather."

In the herb garden, the grandfather and granddaughter wept in each other's arms.

Dugu Bo looked up at the sky, his hand gently patting the girl's back, his demeanor one of extreme sorrow.

The world knew him only as the glorious and ruthless Poison Douluo.

Yet they did not know that his entire life had been plagued by "poison," not only forcing him to endure the bone-eroding pain himself but also causing those around him to die tragic deaths one after another.

Now, he sensed that his end was approaching and his days were numbered.

Today's incident regarding Yu Tianheng and Lin Yan was merely a fuse, one that happened to ignite all the grievances and sorrows he had bottled up over the years, leading to his emotional outburst just now.

Dugu Bo did not want to die; he did not want to leave Dugu Yan without support.

He had made countless enemies in his youth; if he died, how would Dugu Yan survive without a background? (Reference: The extinction of the Jade Phosphor Snake martial soul ten thousand years later.)

A long time passed, and the two of them cried for a long while.

Finally, Dugu Bo drew a breath and said, sounding drained of all strength.

"If you like that brat, then act quickly, lest someone else beats you to it."

Dugu Yan's head remained buried in his chest as she mumbled.

"I... I already told you I didn't."

"Yanyan..."

Dugu Bo gently patted the girl's back and said earnestly.

"Go and fight for the person you like and the things you want; Grandfather will always support you."

"If he dares to resist, Grandfather will just tie him up and bring him to you."

"Once the storm over this matter passes, bring him home for me to see."

Dugu Bo's mindset had shifted.

Since he could not stop the arrival of death, he would let his granddaughter experience as much happiness as possible before it came.

Lin Yan, was it?

Since his granddaughter liked him, he would force the boy to be with her, even if he had to feed him Whale Glue to make it happen.

Otherwise, once he was dead, there would be no one left to stand up for Dugu Yan...