"It... it's whale rubber."
Dugu Yan hesitated, but finally spoke.
"Whale rubber?!"
Dugu Bo's gaze abruptly changed. His presence as a Titled Douluo erupted uncontrollably, and green poisonous mist swirled around him.
"Who gave you that stuff to eat!"
Yu Tianming was just about to rise and explain when Dugu Yan suddenly spread her arms and blocked his way, staring straight at her grandfather with her emerald eyes. "I wanted to eat it myself! Grandpa, don't go blaming people!"
"It isn't what you think, either. My physical constitution has improved by a huge amount!"
Dugu Bo's expression grew even uglier at the sight of his granddaughter protecting him like a mother shielding her young.
"Yanyan, move aside!"
"No!" Dugu Yan lifted her face, her tone firm. "If you dare touch them, I... I'll never speak to you again!"
The students in the cafeteria had already scattered and fled.
Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's fearsome reputation preceded him. Once he flew into a rage, no one dared remain in the cafeteria, afraid they would be fish caught in the spreading fire.
"Phew..."
Dugu Bo drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger.
The green poisonous mist swirling around him slowly receded, but his cold, sinister snake eyes remained fixed on Yu Tianming and the others.
"Fine, Grandpa will hear your explanation." His voice was low, carrying unquestionable authority. "But if anyone dares deceive me..."
Dugu Yan sighed in relief and quickly took her grandfather's arm. "Let's talk outside!"
She turned and shot Yu Tianming a look, signaling him not to follow, then tugged Dugu Bo briskly out of the cafeteria.
On a tree-shaded path outside the cafeteria, Dugu Yan made sure no one was nearby before letting go.
"Grandpa, promise you won't get angry before you've heard everything." She blinked her emerald eyes, showing a rare, wheedling expression.
Dugu Bo's expression softened slightly, but he still gave a haughty snort. "None of that. Out with it!"
"Actually, here's what happened..."
Dugu Yan gave a detailed account of whale rubber's true effects and how Yu Tianming had shared this secret with them.
Her eyes sparkled as she described how Yu Tianming had thoughtfully prepared ice spirit spring water for her and Ye Lingling, and how her physique had improved by nearly seventy percent after taking the whale rubber.
"That boy named Yu Tianming..."
Dugu Bo looked thoughtful. "He does know a thing or two."
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan stamped her foot. "He kindly shared such an important secret, and you treated him like that."
Dugu Bo suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Yanyan, don't tell me you have feelings for that boy..."
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Dugu Yan's pretty face instantly flushed red. "We're... we're just friends!"
Alarm bells rang in Dugu Bo's heart at his granddaughter's reaction.
But he suddenly thought of something, and his gaze dimmed for an instant. He gave a dry cough and changed the subject. "Who else knows about this whale rubber matter?"
"Just the eight of us on the team, and... the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
Dugu Yan answered honestly, "Tianming said he's already sent word back to his clan. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will be purchasing a batch of high-quality whale rubber next."
Dugu Bo nodded.
The Dugu Family consisted of just him and his granddaughter. He was already a Titled Douluo and had no interest in whale rubber.
Then,
Dugu Bo stroked his granddaughter's head, his tone suddenly softening as he smiled. "Yanyan, Grandpa was rash today, but..."
Dugu Bo changed tack.
"You're a girl. From now on, you absolutely must not take whale rubber in front of boys."
"That includes Yu Tianming!"
Remembering her body's reaction after swallowing the whale rubber, Dugu Yan blushed and said bashfully, "Grandpa, what nonsense are you saying?"
"I took the whale rubber last night. It was just Lingling and me in the dorm!"
"Mm."
Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction, then took a black card from his Storage Soul Tool. "There's a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in here. Take it and enjoy yourself in Heaven Dou City. Buy whatever you want."
He glanced at his granddaughter. "If you want to buy things to share with your teammates... that's up to you, too."
Dugu Yan accepted the black card in delighted surprise. "Thank you, Grandpa!"
Her eyes darted, and she wheedled again. "Then shouldn't you apologize for how you treated my friend just now?"
"Hmph!"
Dugu Bo's expression darkened. "You want me to apologize to a six-year-old brat?"
"But you just..."
Dugu Bo interrupted his precious granddaughter, saying gravely, "Forget about an apology. But... I'll count this as owing him a favor."
As he spoke, he took an emerald-green jade pendant from his robes. "Give him this."
Dugu Yan accepted the pendant and saw a lifelike Jade Phosphorous Serpent carved into it, with two tiny emeralds set into its eyes.
"With this pendant, he can have me agree to one condition." Dugu Bo raised his head haughtily. "Will that do?"
Only then did Dugu Yan smile. "Grandpa is the best!"
When the two returned to the cafeteria, Yu Tianming and the others were waiting.
Dugu Bo's gaze flashed like lightning as he looked Yu Tianming over for a moment. Then he suddenly flicked a finger, and the emerald-green jade pendant landed steadily before Yu Tianming.
"Boy, take it."
Under his granddaughter's warning gaze, Dugu Bo's tone grew considerably gentler. "For what happened today... consider me in your debt."
Yu Tianming accepted the pendant in surprise. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, with faint fluctuations of Soul Power.
He was just about to offer his thanks when Dugu Bo turned away.
"Yanyan, Grandpa still has things to do." Dugu Bo fondly ruffled his granddaughter's hair. "Take your friends into the city for a look around. Remember to return to the academy before dark."
Dugu Yan nodded happily. "Got it!"
Once Dugu Bo left, the atmosphere in the cafeteria immediately relaxed.
Dugu Yan excitedly waved the money pouch in her hand. "Grandpa gave me some pocket money. A hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!"
"Come on, let's go to the best shops in Heaven Dou City and buy all their high-quality whale rubber!"
Yu Tianheng was the first to react, looking delightedly at the pendant in his younger brother's hand. "Tianming, that's a promise from Poison Douluo!"
A favor from a Titled Douluo-and from Dugu Bo, who was invincible in group battles, at that.
Its value was impossible to measure!
Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would treasure it like a priceless jewel.
Shi Mo, meanwhile, was dumbstruck. "A hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, as pocket money? That's inhumanly rich... How much whale rubber could that buy..."
One had to know that a single Gold Soul Coin was enough for an ordinary family of three to live on for half a year.
Even some minor nobles couldn't produce a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!
And this was merely Dugu Yan's pocket money.
Ye Lingling chuckled. "Yanzi, your grandpa treats you so well."
Yu Tianming looked in the direction Dugu Bo had left, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He lowered his head and rubbed the jade pendant in his hand, secretly delighted. A favor from a Titled Douluo was more precious than any treasure.
Moreover,
With this connection, it would be even easier to obtain the immortal herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
When it came to opportunities on the Douluo Continent, immortal herbs were absolutely among the very best, surpassing even Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones.
Yu Tianming was definitely going to snatch the immortal herbs first. There was no way he would leave them to Little Scumbag...
Dugu Yan was already impatiently pulling Ye Lingling outside. "Lingling, come on! I know a jewelry shop in Heaven Dou City!"
Everyone exchanged smiles and followed the jubilant Dugu Yan out of the academy.