Should I Make This Kid My Grandson-in-Law?

Luo Chen took a gold soul coin from the Nightmare Ring and used his spiritual power to mold it into a golden blade.

He carefully severed the stem of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. Taking a jade bottle from the ring, he placed the immortal herb inside.

"Senior Dugu, this junior needs to use the ice and fire energy here to catalyze the medicinal effects of this herb, while also allowing An'an's body to gradually adapt to this environment."

Luo Chen looked up at Dugu Bo. "But before that, there is something I need to make clear to you, Senior."

"Speak. What is it?"

"The power of time I control can help you suppress the toxins of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. However, I cannot claim to cure it completely; I can only delay it. While I cannot do it right now, I guarantee that I can suppress your poison, and as for your granddaughter, I might even be able to cure her entirely! In the ways of the world, it is an equivalent exchange. What do you think?"

Dugu Bo stood by the edge of the well with his hands behind his back, silent for a long time.

"You brat, you're quite righteous. If for nothing else, even if you fail to cure us in the future, I, Dugu Bo, acknowledge you as a little brother today." He chuckled. "I agree. You and your sister may stay at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for as long as you like; I will not drive you away. Furthermore, feel free to use these immortal herbs, just don't waste them."

Luo Chen was overjoyed and bowed in salute.

"Many thanks, Senior Dugu."

"Enough, no need for thanks. And from now on, stop calling me Senior; we shall address each other as brothers." Dugu Bo waved his hand. "I'll say the ugly part first: if you want to fully awaken your sister's martial soul, it will likely require even purer energy to satisfy the devouring power. Perhaps you will need to use the energy within those two immortal herbs to truly activate the devouring power inside her. This process is extremely dangerous. Think it through yourself; if you need it, I can protect little An'an."

Luo Chen was stunned.

The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid was for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the origin, while the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Blazing Apricot Delicate Herb were two vastly different, extreme substances; only by consuming them together could one forge a body immune to ice and fire.

He had assumed that if Tang San could withstand it, then An'an could also handle this medicinal potency.

But An'an was only a six-year-old child after all. Even he dared not attempt it lightly now; he needed to be fully prepared.

An'an certainly could not consume them directly.

"Then we shall build the foundation first. The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid will nourish her origin and strengthen her body. By the time she truly has to face the power of ice and fire, she at least won't collapse on the spot. I will find a safer way."

Dugu Bo glanced at him without a word, turned, walked to the old tree, sat down against the trunk, and closed his eyes.

Luo Chen knelt down and placed his hands on Luo An'an's shoulders.

"An'an, in a moment, Brother is going to feed you this flower. You will feel a bit hot and a bit cold, but it won't be very uncomfortable—just like the water temperature changing while you're taking a bath. You must hold on; once this flower is digested, your body will become much stronger."

Luo An'an stared at the milky-white Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid on the rock, her little face tense.

"Brother, is this the flower that tastes like bitter melon?"

Luo Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"You little rascal, Brother was just teasing you. This isn't bitter."

"Really?"

"Really. When has Brother ever lied to you?"

"You just lied to me a moment ago and said it was bitter."

Luo Chen: "..."

Luo An'an took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth wide.

"Ah--"

Luo Chen used the small blade to slice the petals of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid one by one, placing them into Luo An'an's mouth.

Luo An'an chewed, her brow furrowing slightly. It wasn't sweet, nor was it bitter; the taste was faint, like chewing on flavorless vegetable leaves.

But after swallowing, a warmth rose from her stomach, flowing through her blood vessels to her limbs and bones. Immediately following was a wave of coolness—not cold, but like taking a sip of well water in the summer.

The little girl's furrowed brow smoothed out, then shifted into confusion.

"Brother, this is fun, and it feels so comfortable."

Luo Chen did not let his guard down. He extended his hand, and silver-white time energy surged from his palm, enveloping the remaining petals of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, slowly and bit by bit dissolving the medicinal power and sending it into Luo An'an's body.

Dugu Bo, who was secretly watching from under the old tree not far away, sat with one hand resting on his knee. Though he appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"This kid is not simple. He looks about the same age as Yan Yan; should I introduce them? No, that won't do. I just started calling him brother, and I haven't figured out his background yet. Let's wait and see, yes!"

Dugu Bo nodded to himself in affirmation.

Luo Chen had no idea what thoughts were churning in Dugu Bo's mind. He was fully focused on dissolving the final petal of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and sending it into Luo An'an's body.

Luo An'an let out a long breath and opened her eyes, which were sparkling.

"Brother, I feel like I've become a little lighter."

"It's not that you've become lighter, it's that An'an has become stronger!" Luo Chen lifted her off the rock and used his sleeve to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead. "How do you feel? Is there any discomfort?"

Luo An'an moved her hands and feet, hopped twice, and said in a milky voice, "No discomfort! I just feel warm all over! Brother, can I catch soul beasts now?"

"It's still too early. Let the medicinal power stay in your body for a few more days. Once it's fully absorbed, Brother will help you wake up that little black ball, and perhaps there will even be a very beautiful outfit for you!"

"An outfit! Will there really be a pretty outfit?"

"That's right, the most beautiful outfit that only An'an can wear!"

"Yay!"

After her excitement faded, Luo An'an suddenly remembered something and looked at Luo Chen nervously. "Brother, you aren't going to leave again, are you?"

"Brother isn't leaving." Luo Chen ruffled her hair. "Brother will stay with you for these next few days."

Luo An'an was delighted, turning to chase after a small toad that had hopped out from who knows where.

Dugu Bo only then slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and walked over to Luo Chen's side.

"Is it done just like that?"

"That's right," Luo Chen said. "This immortal herb is sustainable."

"As long as you know what you're doing." Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, watching Luo An'an chase the toad in the distance, when he suddenly asked, "Kid, how old are you this year?"

"Seventeen."

"Seventeen years old, a Spirit Ancestor, possessing a strange martial soul capable of capturing spirit beasts, and even wielding the power of time. Your talent is something you wouldn't find a second of in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, or perhaps even the entire continent." Dugu Bo's gaze shifted from Luo An'an to Luo Chen's face, his tone carrying a hint of probing. "Who else is in your family?"

"My parents, and this younger sister."

"No fiancée?"

Luo Chen was stunned for a moment, not expecting Dugu Bo to ask such a thing.

"None."

"Oh." Dugu Bo nodded, his expression blank, though the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "Then, when you were attending the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, did you get to know any female classmates?"

Luo Chen felt that something was off. Why was this old poison master, Dugu Bo, suddenly concerned about his private life? Could it be that he had some sort of idea regarding him?

"This junior only stayed at the academy for less than a year, and I've been away for ten years, so I didn't really keep in touch with my classmates," he answered truthfully, while secretly raising his guard.

"That's good, that's good," Dugu Bo muttered to himself.