Though having such a wife with the backing of a Title Douluo would be a burden, many men driven by greed and ambition would still flock to her.
But how could Dugu Yan ever look upon such men? After all, this was the continent of romance!
These men, seeking wealth and power, who might betray her at any moment, were utterly beneath her consideration.
At this time, Yu Tianheng—a man of comparable social standing and handsome appearance—appeared!
Though Dugu Yan suspected that her boyfriend was also drawn to her family background, at least he was better than those disgusting men.
Thus, Dugu Yan decided to give Yu Tianheng a chance, and the two became boyfriend and girlfriend.
Precisely because she understood this reality, Dugu Yan knew that the cornerstone of her relationship was none other than her grandfather.
And now, to learn that Dugu Bo—the pillar of strength in others' eyes—was similarly plagued by his own martial soul's toxins left Dugu Yan emotionally devastated.
By now, Dugu Yan was crying profusely, her heart overwhelmed with uncertainty about the future, leaving her feeling lost and helpless.
Sensing the familiar footsteps approaching from behind, Dugu Yan wiped away her tears and called out softly, though somewhat aggrieved:
"Grandfather."
Dugu Bo gently stroked his granddaughter, who had now grown into a mature beauty. No matter what Dugu Yan looked like, in his eyes, she would always be his beloved little granddaughter.
However, Dugu Bo inwardly sighed. His granddaughter's naivety was truly too apparent.
He had been discussing critical matters with an outsider, yet here she was, sobbing audibly. If he hadn't used his soul power to suppress the sound from spreading, it would have been quite awkward.
Taking Dugu Yan by the hand, Dugu Bo brought her back to her room and said:
"Yan Yan, you now know my situation, but don't worry. At the very least, I'll be fine until you've fully grown up. And as for that young man you saw today—he seems to have a deep understanding of healing. Perhaps he can truly break the curse that has plagued our family."
By now, Dugu Yan had calmed down, though her enchanting eyes still shimmered red, evoking pity.
At this moment, she recalled Ye Wen's appearance and the gentle, refined tone of his voice during his earlier conversation with her grandfather.
For the first time, Dugu Yan felt her heart race inexplicably.
She didn't understand this newfound emotion, but it didn't matter. As long as Dugu Bo was safe and sound, she was content.
"Even though you say so, Grandfather, you must take care of yourself," Dugu Yan said tenderly.
For a solitary old man like Dugu Bo, nothing brought greater joy than having his beloved granddaughter show concern for him.
The grandfather and granddaughter exchanged words of care for a while longer. Finally, Dugu Bo hesitated before speaking:
"Yan Yan, I shouldn't meddle too much in your romantic affairs, but you must have noticed that Yu Tianheng has ulterior motives.
I hope you'll be more cautious when choosing your future partner.
At the very least, choose someone who truly loves you, not someone who's only after other things."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo's gaze grew melancholic.
Outsiders only saw him as unpredictable, but how many truly understood his past?
He had lost his wife in his youth, his son in middle age, and now, in his twilight years—were it not for Ye Wen's intervention—he might have even lost his only granddaughter. Faced with such a despair-inducing life, who wouldn't go mad?
Though Dugu Yan had been unconscious from the poison, she hadn't been entirely unaware. For a period, she had sensed who was around her—and notably, Yu Tianheng had been absent.
Though she tried to console herself, reasoning that there must have been unforeseen circumstances, her perception of Yu Tianheng had nonetheless worsened unconsciously.
Afterward, Dugu Bo summoned the household servants and instructed them to take good care of Dugu Yan. Though he had suppressed her toxins, her body still bore real injuries, and proper recuperation was essential.
Once outside the room, Dugu Bo's expression turned icy.
"Shrek… Hmph."
His voice was soft yet brimming with killing intent. Ever since losing his son, Dugu Bo had vowed never to let anyone harm Dugu Yan again.
And now, someone had nearly caused her death from poisoning!
Regardless of whether it was a sparring match or something else, Dugu Bo had already sentenced Shrek to death.
As for bullying the weak? He, Dugu Bo, had never cared about appearances!
Having struggled countless times on the brink of life and death, Dugu Bo had long grasped the true essence of life. Face? It was nothing but a false mask, the most worthless thing imaginable.
Though Dugu Bo himself lacked a personal network of influence or intelligence, he was backed by the Tian Dou Empire. A single word to Prince Xue Xing would ensure that nobles delivered all the intelligence he needed.
Though Dugu Bo yearned for vengeance, upon reviewing the current intelligence on Shrek, his expression grew unusually solemn.
The teachers of Shrek Academy held no weight in Dugu Bo's eyes. What was an "Immovable Bright King" or a "Golden Iron Triangle"? Without the title of Douluo, they were nothing but insignificant figures.
However—
Dugu Bo rubbed the intelligence report in his hands, his gaze shadowed.
"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Star Luo Empire's prince, huh? Never would I have thought that a mediocre academy would harbor such troublesome individuals."
But soon, Dugu Bo's lips curled into a sinister grin.
As the saying goes, every debt has its debtor. Though he couldn't touch those with powerful backgrounds, could he not annihilate a useless Blue Silver Grass like Tang San?
As for Yu Xiaogang's disciple—
Hmph. That old dragon of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family wouldn't dare provoke him. If pushed too far, Dugu Bo wouldn't hesitate to show Yu Yuanzhen what it meant to face the Poison Douluo.
Still, retaliating against Shrek was a minor matter. What mattered most now was treating Dugu Yan's injuries.
Dugu Bo had already lived for seventy or eighty years—more than enough. At this point, the only person he truly cared about was Dugu Yan.
As for his own survival, Dugu Bo no longer gave it a second thought.
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, Dugu Bo introduced Dugu Yan to Ye Wen. Ye Wen sincerely addressed her as "Senior Sister."
Though Dugu Yan's face flushed slightly at being called this, Ye Wen, preoccupied with thoughts of mythical herbs, didn't notice.
However, after riding Flender's True Body flying mount, Ye Wen found himself abruptly grabbed by the scruff of his neck and flown through the sky by Dugu Bo. He found this experience decidedly unpleasant.
But unpleasant or not, compared to the life-changing benefits awaiting him, Ye Wen considered this minor discomfort insignificant!
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