"Alright, alright, no more teasing."
Seeing that Dugu Yan was genuinely anxious, Lin Jiang finally wiped the smile from his face. His movements quickened slightly, but his tone remained steady.
"Come on. Let's go pay our respects to the Poison Douluo, the senior whose name shook the continent."
In the courtyard, Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his dark green hair stirring despite the lack of wind.
Though he had not deliberately released his aura, the invisible pressure of a Titled Douluo had already made the air in the courtyard feel stagnant.
His blazing gaze remained fixed on the door that had just opened.
With a creak, the door swung open.
Lin Jiang and Dugu Yan walked out one after the other.
The blush had not yet fully faded from Dugu Yan's cheeks. Her eyes shifted evasively as she tried her best to appear natural.
Lin Jiang, meanwhile, followed half a step behind, his expression calm and his bearing composed.
He stepped forward, neither servile nor overbearing, and bowed to the elderly man standing in the middle of the courtyard, whose presence was as deep as an abyss and as steady as a mountain. His voice was clear.
"This junior, Lin Jiang, pays his respects to Senior Poison Douluo!"
Dugu Bo's gaze fell upon Lin Jiang almost tangibly. He looked him over from head to toe, then nodded slightly, his tone revealing neither pleasure nor anger.
"Oh? So you are Yan Yan's guest?"
Though phrased as a question, his gaze shifted toward his granddaughter with a trace of scrutiny.
"Yes, Grandpa!"
Dugu Yan hurriedly nodded and strode to Dugu Bo's side, affectionately wrapping herself around his arm as she tried to change the subject by acting spoiled.
"Why did you take so long to come back?