When he heard Dugu Bo use the words "ungrateful," Lin Yan gave an awkward smile.
"Senior, you said the same thing to Clan Head Ye a few days ago."
Dugu Bo's smile froze. He quickly recalled the scene from a few days earlier, when he had snatched the boy away from Ye Mansion.
His old face flushed red, and then he scolded him with a laugh.
"You brat, you don't know what's good for you!"
"Wasn't I doing it for my granddaughter? You can't tell me Yan Yan isn't good enough for you."
Dugu Yan's pretty face reddened at his words.
Lin Yan only nodded slightly, without replying.
Now that the grandfather and granddaughter had resolved their issues, it was time for him to reap the rewards.
He clenched his fist, suppressing his excitement as he said, "Now that you and Senior Sister have been cured of your poison, I'd like to take a few Immortal Herbs from your garden. That won't be a problem, will it?"
Dugu Bo had naturally seen through Lin Yan's intentions.
Clearly, the garden also held Immortal Herbs that could help Lin Yan's Martial Soul evolve and make him stronger.
But seeing through his intentions didn't mean Dugu Bo would be too stingy to share his treasures.
Not only that, he wanted Lin Yan to grow stronger as soon as possible. Only then would he be able to give Dugu Yan a better life in the future.
"Boy!"
"Take whatever you want from this garden. If the herbs here aren't enough, tell me where to go, and I'll fetch more for you right now."
"Hell... even if you want my granddaughter right now, I can give her to you."
"Grandpa! What are you saying?"
Before Lin Yan could respond, Dugu Yan thumped Dugu Bo's arm with her small fist.
"How old is he? Can you stop saying things like that?"
"You shameless old man!"
The young woman's expression was bashful and annoyed. Seeing her like that made Dugu Bo laugh even louder and act even more shamelessly.
For a moment, the atmosphere between them was warm and cozy.
Watching the grandfather and granddaughter, Lin Yan couldn't help smiling too.
"Oh, right. I've been away from the academy all day. Could I trouble you to let the Crown Prince know that I've found a breakthrough opportunity and need a few more days before returning to Heaven Dou City?"
"That way, the Crown Prince won't worry about me."
Lin Yan thought of Qian Renxue. If she worried about his safety and sent a Titled Douluo to cause trouble for Dugu Bo, that would be disastrous.
"No problem. I'll go right away."
Since this involved the royal family, Dugu Bo didn't want to delay.
Besides, his Martial Soul had evolved, and he was in such a good mood that he wanted to show off. So he agreed at once.
"Yan Yan, stay here in the garden with this brat. Grandpa will be back after a short trip."
"Okay."
Dugu Yan nodded.
But just as Dugu Bo was about to fly into the air, he seemed to remember something and glanced back at Dugu Yan.
"Um... come here for a moment, Yan Yan."
Dugu Yan didn't understand, but she followed Dugu Bo to a corner.
There, Dugu Bo furtively took a brown object from his Ruyi Treasure Pouch and said, "This is millennium Whale Glue. Feed it to him!"
The girl's puzzled expression instantly turned to utter shock.
Dugu Yan couldn't believe that her own grandfather would say something so outrageous at a time like this.
Feed Lin Yan Whale Glue? He was still so young!
And even if her grandfather wanted to bring her and Lin Yan together, there was no need to resort to this kind of trick.
"What are you doing, Grandpa? If you keep this up, I'm not talking to you!"
This time, Dugu Yan was genuinely angry. There was no bashfulness in her voice, only indignation.
But Dugu Bo didn't seem to mind. He explained as if nothing were wrong.
"Yan Yan, you know how many people want that brat. If you hesitate any longer, that girl from the Ye Family will get to him first."
"When that happens, it'll be too late to regret it."
Dugu Bo looked so serious that even the angry Dugu Yan began to doubt herself.
"And you're my granddaughter, Dugu Bo's. You absolutely can't end up behind anyone else."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo slapped the Whale Glue into Dugu Yan's hand.
"No, it's too soon..."
The girl hurriedly refused. While Dugu Bo hadn't yet pulled his hand away, she shoved the Whale Glue back into it.
Dugu Bo frowned.
"Too soon?"
"Wait any longer, and it'll be too late!"
"Since you won't cooperate, don't blame Grandpa."
A resolute glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes.
The next second, he stuffed the Whale Glue straight into Dugu Yan's mouth.
Afraid she wouldn't swallow it, he covered the girl's delicate face with both hands and shook her for quite a while.
"Mm—cough, cough..."
As a Soul Grandmaster, Dugu Yan was no match for him. After choking and coughing repeatedly, she eventually swallowed the Whale Glue.
"Grandpa, you..."
"Enough. Grandpa's leaving. Don't disappoint me!"
Before Dugu Yan could get angry, Dugu Bo gave her a wicked smile, then transformed into a streak of light and flew into the sky.
Silence fell. Dugu Yan was completely dumbfounded.
Feeding his own granddaughter Whale Glue—Dugu Bo had to be the only person on the Douluo Continent who could do something like that.
She watched the green speck in the sky grow smaller and smaller, feeling helpless and despairing.
That was millennium Whale Glue! It was over...
Sure enough, as if to confirm her fears, the girl's body soon began to grow hot.
The Whale Glue's medicinal effects had kicked in!
Dugu Yan felt her body gradually go limp. Her clear mind was battered by wicked thoughts, dragging her deeper and deeper into their grip.
She looked at the boy not far away.
"Lin Yan."
Lin Yan was picking Immortal Herbs. The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower that could purify Evil Fire, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma that could repair flaws in a Martial Soul, the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew that could improve spiritual power...
He picked every herb he recognized.
Hearing Dugu Yan call him from behind, Lin Yan didn't even turn around. He dug up the roots of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and casually answered, "What is it, Senior Sister?"
Dugu Yan's temperature kept rising. Her reason was on the brink of collapse. With the last shred of clarity she had, she managed to say, "Y-you... come here for a moment..."
"Oh! Just a second. I'm still picking Immortal Herbs. I'll come over as soon as I'm done."
Lin Yan didn't think much of it; he was absorbed in the joy of his harvest.
After today, he'd be able to completely resolve the flaws in his Martial Soul. And then there was Wen Ruan...
If he chose a suitable Immortal Herb for Wen Ruan, he could definitely help her Ice Flower Butterfly Martial Soul reach an even higher level.
As he thought about it, a slight smile appeared on his youthful, fair face.
But... just as he was lost in his pleasant fantasies, a soft, delicate body suddenly pressed against his back.
All her weight bore down on him, as if he were her only support.
That was right. Dugu Yan could no longer hold back. She wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Lin Yan, I can't take it anymore... Grandpa fed me Whale Glue."
"What?"
Lin Yan turned around, and their eyes met. Her cheeks were flushed with an unnatural redness. They were so close that they could see each other's eyelashes.
The girl's gaze was hazy, her breath hot. Lin Yan swallowed...
"Se-Senior Sister, actually, I..."
"Mm..."
Their lips met, silencing everything Lin Yan had meant to say.