"I didn't sense it wrong. I checked three times just now. The poison in your body really has decreased!"
Dugu Bo smiled as he rubbed Dugu Yan's head, speaking gently.
At his answer, Dugu Yan's eyes reddened. Since she was little, the poison in her body had only ever increased, never decreased.
When Dugu Yan was young, she had witnessed her father's death and seen how deeply it grieved Dugu Bo, leaving him despondent for a long time. She didn't want her grandfather to have to witness her death, too.
That was one of the reasons Dugu Yan had always worked hard to grow stronger.
"Yan Yan, think carefully. What have you done these past few days while I was away? How were those things different from what you usually do?"
Dugu Bo took out a handkerchief and wiped Dugu Yan's face.
Once she had calmed down, Dugu Yan told Dugu Bo what she had done during the three days he'd been gone.
"So, these past three days, aside from fighting that boy from Yu Yuanzhen's family, all you did was go out shopping and buy a few jade bracelets?"
After hearing about Dugu Yan's activities, Dugu Bo frowned without thinking.
Eliminate every wrong answer, and the one left—no matter how impossible—must be the truth!
After all, Dugu Bo had already inspected the jade bracelets Dugu Yan bought. There was nothing special about them.
"Yan Yan, stay here. I'm going out for a bit."
Dugu Bo glanced out the window. The sun was nearly setting. If he didn't sort things out today, two people would probably be kept awake tonight.
"All right, Grandpa! I'll wait at home for you to come back for dinner."
Dugu Yan didn't ask any questions when Dugu Bo said he was going out. She understood what her grandfather intended to do.
After having dinner with Yu Hengqing, Yu Yuanzhen sat in his study, dealing with the sect's affairs.
"Poison Douluo, have you run out of places to eat? Why come all the way to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?"
Yu Yuanzhen didn't even look up at Dugu Bo, who had suddenly appeared. He continued going through the files in his hands.
Dugu Bo didn't react to Yu Yuanzhen's sarcasm. He simply poured himself a cup of tea and sat across from him, sipping it at his leisure.
"So the great Poison Douluo broke into someone else's study at night just to pour himself a cup of tea!"
Yu Yuanzhen set aside the files he'd finished and looked up at Dugu Bo, who was enjoying his tea.
"I'd like to ask you for a favor, Sect Master Yu. We can discuss the price."
Dugu Bo took a sip of tea, met Yu Yuanzhen's gaze, and spoke unhurriedly.
Yu Yuanzhen was surprised that Dugu Bo had come to ask him for help. After all, Dugu Bo was famous for being solitary and proud.
Still, Yu Yuanzhen didn't respond. He was curious to see what Dugu Bo could offer.
After waiting for a long time without getting a reply, Dugu Bo snorted inwardly. Yu Yuanzhen really was the sort who wouldn't let go of the hawk until he saw the rabbit!
Dugu Bo set a jade box on the table. Inside it lay a pale purple medicinal herb.
"I hear the third young master of the Yu family is somewhat frail by nature. I think this heavenly treasure should be enough to meet your requirements, Sect Master Yu."
Yu Yuanzhen waved a hand, and the jade box flew over to him. He opened it.
When he saw what was inside, his expression remained unchanged, but a storm was already raging in his heart.
I never imagined Dugu Bo had a heavenly treasure like this!
"Since Poison Douluo has come to me in person for help, I can hardly turn you down, given that we're both Titled Douluos."
Seeing Yu Yuanzhen calmly put the jade box away, Dugu Bo's mouth twitched.
Does he have no shame at all? Did I say you could have it? And you just took it!
An hour later.
Yu Yuanzhen watched with a broad smile as Dugu Bo stormed out of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
"I never knew Poison Douluo had such a rich collection. Indeed, one must never underestimate anyone who cultivated to the rank of Titled Douluo on their own!"
Once Dugu Bo's presence had completely vanished from the sect's territory, Yu Yuanzhen's expression turned grave.
"Xiao Qing probably isn't asleep yet. I'll go tell him he doesn't have to go to school tomorrow!"
The next morning.
"Leiyi, we didn't hurt Dugu Yan yesterday, did we? Why does Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, want to see me?"
The night before, while Yu Hengqing was cultivating, Yu Yuanzhen had suddenly come to tell him that Dugu Bo would be visiting him today.
"Yesterday, you weren't using enough force with your Soul Skill to hurt that little girl. As for why Dugu Bo is coming, there must be another reason."
Ever since waking from its slumber, Leiyi had been teaching Yu Hengqing to control the power of his first Soul Skill. At Yu Hengqing's current level, there was no way he could hurt Dugu Yan.
After a long while, Yu Hengqing and Leiyi still couldn't figure out why Dugu Bo was coming.
"Forget it! We'll block the soldiers when they come and cover the water when it rises. I don't believe Dugu Bo would dare pull anything under my dad's nose."
Giving up on trying to work it out, Yu Hengqing rose and headed to the reception hall.
"Greetings, Poison Douluo! I'm Yu Hengqing. I heard you wanted to see me?"
Although he didn't know why Poison Douluo had asked for him, he still had to show proper respect. After all, the man hadn't fallen out with him.
"I'm not one for beating around the bush. I'll get straight to the point: I came today because of my granddaughter, Dugu Yan."
Looking at Yu Hengqing, Dugu Bo was reminded of the medicinal herb Yu Yuanzhen had extorted from him the previous night. His heart immediately began to bleed.
He came because of Dugu Yan? Could Dugu Bo be trying to play matchmaker?!
Hearing that Dugu Bo had come for Dugu Yan, Yu Hengqing was startled.
"Poison Douluo told me that after his granddaughter sparred with you yesterday, her Martial Soul showed signs of evolution. He'd like you to spar with Dugu Yan once more, in front of the two of us."
Afraid Yu Hengqing might misunderstand Dugu Bo's intentions, Yu Yuanzhen immediately explained.
"Martial Soul Evolution?"
Yu Hengqing was even more confused.
What did he mean, Dugu Yan had shown signs of Martial Soul Evolution after sparring with him? If you were going to lie, at least come up with a better excuse!
"That's right. I'd like to confirm whether this Martial Soul Evolution has anything to do with you."
Dugu Bo promptly followed up. He didn't want to tell Yu Hengqing the truth, so he deliberately kept things vague.
Dugu Bo didn't want outsiders like Yu Hengqing to know that the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor caused poison to build up in its wielder's body.
As long as neither Dugu Yan nor he said anything, who could know whether Dugu Yan's Martial Soul had evolved?
"If I can help Senior Sister, I'd be more than willing."
Yu Hengqing glanced at Dugu Yan, seated beside Dugu Bo, and noticed that she was deliberately keeping a straight face, as if hiding something.
"Since that's settled, let's begin now!"
At Dugu Bo's urging, the sparring match soon began at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's training ground.
Not knowing what Dugu Bo was after, Yu Hengqing used the same amount of force as yesterday when he sparred with Dugu Yan.
For some reason, though, Dugu Yan seemed to be deliberately pushing him to use his Soul Skill during their match. The moment she realized Yu Hengqing was intentionally holding back from using it, that sense of deliberate provocation grew even stronger.
"Thank you for the match, Senior Sister!"
In the end, Yu Hengqing still used his Soul Skill to defeat Dugu Yan.
With Titled Douluos backing both sides, dodging endlessly was pointless. He might as well face her bravely.
The moment Dugu Yan lost, Dugu Bo appeared on the arena and helped her up.
"Sect Master Yu, I've gotten the result I wanted, so I won't keep bothering you."
Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan by the hand and led her off the arena, looking up at Yu Yuanzhen in the spectator stands.
"Of course, I'll consider the terms you proposed."
"Is that so? Then I'll await good news from you, Poison Douluo!"
Yu Yuanzhen watched as Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan disappeared through the doorway.
Before you continue