"Old Dragon, you should know that I have only this one granddaughter."
Dugu Bo suddenly spoke, his voice dropping a little. "If she suffers any grievances, I won't care about your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
Yu Yuanzhen nodded. "Rest assured. With Tianming's temperament, he won't mistreat Yanyan. Besides, there's Lingling too. Those two girls are so close."
Dugu Bo gave a soft snort. "That old fellow Ye Ren's granddaughter is certainly well-behaved, but..."
Before he finished, light footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.
"Grandpa, I'm back!" Dugu Yan skipped inside, still clutching the blue-purple jade pendant.
Dugu Bo had been in Heaven Dou City lately, so Dugu Yan came home at night.
When she saw Yu Yuanzhen there too, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she hurriedly greeted him:
"Hello, Grandpa Yu."
Yu Yuanzhen smiled affectionately. "Yanyan, do you like the jade pendant?"
Dugu Yan nodded, her eyes brimming with delight. "I do! Thank you, Grandpa Yu!"
Seeing his granddaughter like this, Dugu Bo felt helpless, yet a trace of tenderness welled up in his heart.
"Yanyan, come here."
Dugu Yan smiled and beckoned.
Dugu Yan obediently walked over to her grandfather. Dugu Bo gently ruffled her hair and asked quietly, "Do you really like that boy?"
Dugu Yan flushed even redder. She stole a glance at Yu Yuanzhen and murmured, "Grandpa, what are you talking about..."
"Forget it. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings."
Dugu Bo sighed and looked at Yu Yuanzhen. "But, Old Dragon Yu, let me put the ugly words first. If that brat Yu Tianming dares bully Yanyan, I'll make him pay!"
Yu Yuanzhen laughed heartily. "Good, good, good. With those words from you, I can rest easy."
At those words,
Dugu Yan's pretty face reddened as though blood had flooded it, and she swatted Dugu Bo's arm.
"Grandpa, I'm not talking to you anymore!"
With that, she fled into the house.
"This girl..."
Dugu Yan shook her head with a chuckle, a trace of fondness flashing in her eyes as she watched her granddaughter run off shyly.
He lifted his teacup, took a light sip, and said evenly, "Old Dragon, don't think this settles anything. Yanyan is still young. No one can say what the future holds."
Yu Yuanzhen stroked his beard, a keen gleam flickering in his eyes. "Naturally."
"If our two families could be joined in marriage, it would benefit us both. And..."
Yu Yuanzhen's expression turned solemn. "Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan might also be able to help with your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison backlash."
Dugu Bo's hand trembled slightly around his teacup, sending ripples across the tea.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "How did you know?"
"By chance."
Yu Yuanzhen looked perfectly composed. "There are many poison-attribute Beast Martial Souls, but we rarely hear of anyone suffering venom backlash. There must be a reason!"
"Heh."
Dugu Bo sneered, cutting him off directly, his emerald eyes fixed on the other man.
"That's because they're useless! Their cultivation isn't profound enough, and their Martial Souls' poison isn't strong. Naturally, they don't suffer poison backlash."
Yu Yuanzhen smiled. "Then what about that Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall?"
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Bibi Dong's Martial Soul was the Death Spider Emperor. Its venom was even stronger than the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's!
Yet,
Bibi Dong suffered no venom backlash.
Prompted by Yu Yuanzhen's reminder, Dugu Bo sank into thought. Only after a long while did he speak:
"Bibi Dong is Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff. Spirit Hall has vast holdings and an extraordinarily deep foundation. Who knows how she did it?"
A meaningful look flashed through Yu Yuanzhen's eyes as he slowly set down his teacup. "Old Poison, we've known each other for years. In truth, I came today to discuss another matter."
Dugu Bo frowned slightly. "Oh?"
"Spirit Hall is powerful now. The Upper Three Sects may claim to be branches of the same tree, but ultimately, each fights its own battles." Yu Yuanzhen's expression was solemn.
"Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wishes to forge a deeper alliance with the Dugu Family."
Dugu Bo sneered. "Just because I'm a lone Titled Douluo?"
"No."
Yu Yuanzhen looked Dugu Bo straight in the eye. "Because your mastery of poison stands unrivaled beneath the heavens. Because your granddaughter and our Tianming share mutual affection. Because..."
"Because we both know Spirit Hall's ambitions."
Dugu Bo's expression shifted slightly, his emerald eyes flickering thoughtfully.
"Old Dragon, what exactly do you want?"
Yu Yuanzhen said gravely, "I hope you'll become a guest elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. In return, I'll devote the entire clan's strength to helping you resolve your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison backlash."
"If Bibi Dong can avoid venom backlash, then you surely can too!"
Dugu Bo fell silent.
If he truly were alone, without a granddaughter, he could afford not to care too much about the venom backlash. At worst, he would die.
But he still had a granddaughter. Dugu Yan must not suffer this Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison backlash too!
He knew all too well what that pain piercing into the marrow felt like...
Then,
Yu Yuanzhen took an ancient-looking bamboo scroll from inside his robes. "This ancient text was obtained from an ancient ruin. It records some matters concerning poison backlash from Beast Martial Souls."
Dugu Bo accepted the bamboo scroll. After only a few glances, his pupils contracted.
What was recorded on it had indeed pointed him in a new direction. Though it was still far from resolving the venom backlash, at least there was hope.
"Old Dragon, this gift is too precious."
Yu Yuanzhen smiled. "As allies, we should naturally treat each other with sincerity. Besides..."
He glanced at the second floor. "Tianming is the future of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and I'm genuinely fond of Yanyan too."
Dugu Bo remained silent for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Good! Well done, Yu Yuanzhen! I, Dugu Bo, will remember this favor!"
He rose, Soul Power surging around him.
"From this day forth, I, Dugu Bo, am a guest elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"However,"
A sharp gleam flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. "If you dare use Yanyan, I'll make sure you learn the meaning of regret!"
Yu Yuanzhen rose as well, the power of lightning coursing around him. "Old Poison, why would I, Yu Yuanzhen, ever need to use the younger generation!"
"Today's alliance is to stand together against a powerful enemy, and for the children too."
The two Titled Douluos reined in their imposing presence at the same instant.
"In a few days, I'll visit the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan myself."
Dugu Bo put away the bamboo scroll. "Now, it's time to discuss Spirit Hall..."
The night deepened,
The two did not speak in private for too long before Yu Yuanzhen prepared to take his leave.
Just as Yu Yuanzhen turned to go, Dugu Yan suddenly poked her head out of a second-floor window. "Are you leaving, Grandpa Yu?"
She still clutched the jade pendant, which glowed a lustrous blue beneath the moonlight.
"Yanyan, why aren't you asleep this late?" Dugu Bo frowned.
"I... I heard you talking..."
Dugu Yan stammered, her gaze drifting between the two men.
Yu Yuanzhen laughed heartily. "Don't worry, Yanyan. Your grandfather and I have settled things. I'll have Tianming bring you to visit the clan another day."
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up.
She was just about to agree when she suddenly seemed to think of something and glanced at her grandfather.
Seeing that Dugu Bo had no intention of objecting, her smile immediately bloomed like a flower. "Thank you, Grandpa Yu!"
After Yu Yuanzhen left,
Dugu Bo watched his granddaughter's delighted expression and sighed softly. "Girl, have you thought this through? You're not the only one by that boy's side."
Dugu Yan lowered her head, toying with the jade pendant, and said softly, "Grandpa, I know. But I just like him..."