What did Grandpa mean by "how do you feel about that lord"?
In her mind, Dugu Yan pictured Aether's face—free-spirited, handsome, and just about every flattering adjective one could use to describe a man. That lord practically had the word invincible written across his face. And yet Grandpa was asking her what she thought of him?
She couldn't help but silently roast him in her heart. Why is Grandpa saying something so weird?
"What's the matter, Yanyan?"
Dugu Bo frowned at his granddaughter, confused by the Grandpa, are you sick? Look on her face.
"…It's nothing."
Dugu Yan shook her head, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Grandpa, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Hehe~"
Dugu Bo chuckled sheepishly and reached out to pat her head. As she pouted and ducked away from his hand, he slowly continued,
"Yanyan, before I knew it, you've grown up. Do you know what Grandpa's wish used to be?"
He stroked his beard and walked into the room, his voice carrying over his shoulder.
"My wish used to be taking good care of you, and finding a way to remedy the flaws in our clan's martial soul…"
Having said that, he let out a long sigh, and then added,
"Thankfully, Heaven didn't abandon us. It let me meet that lord…"
Seeing her grandfather caught up in his emotions, Dugu Yan followed him into the room. She picked up the teapot on the table and poured two cups of tea, sliding one toward him and sipping the other herself.
Dugu Bo sat at the table, sipping the tea his granddaughter had poured.
"Thanks to that lord, Grandpa's long-cherished wish has been fulfilled. But now, Grandpa has one more wish."
Dugu Yan's lips twitched. Grandpa, just how many wishes do you have?
But she didn't say it out loud. Instead, she rested her chin in her hand and listened to his rambling patiently.
As she'd grown older, she had come to understand just how much hardship and sorrow Grandpa had endured all these years.
Especially when one family member after another had fallen victim to their clan's toxic martial soul right before his eyes.
Now, she was the only family he had left. And to her, he was the only family as well.
"I've been chasing my ambitions all my life," Dugu Bo said quietly, "but now that I'm old, I'm starting to feel tired."
"Grandpa, don't say that! You're the famous Poison Douluo, known across the land!"
Dugu Yan couldn't help but speak up, hearing the fatigue in his voice.
"Poison Douluo or not, even a Titled Douluo has their limits…"
He looked at her with gentle eyes.
"That's why, if the day ever comes that I'm no longer around… what will you do, Yanyan~?"
"Grandpa…"
His words struck directly at her heart, leaving her breathless.
All her life, she had seen him as an unshakable pillar, someone who could shoulder the heavens. Even now, he was her rock.
But to hear him speak so wearily, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
So that's what he'd been thinking—not about breaking through further or gaining more power, but about using the time he had left to care for her and look after her future.
"Grandpa, don't say such ominous things. You're not old! There's still a long, long time ahead. You still have to watch me grow stronger and reach the same heights you did…"
Dugu Yan looked earnestly at the elderly man before her. In this moment, he wasn't the formidable Titled Douluo, nor the imperial guest of honor—he was just a grandpa who wanted to have a heartfelt chat with his granddaughter.
"Sigh~"
Dugu Bo let out another sigh and gazed at her with a forlorn look.
"Yanyan, can you help Grandpa fulfill his final wish?"
"Grandpa, just tell me what it is—I'll definitely make it come true!"
Though she was seventeen or eighteen now, Dugu Yan had grown up under his protection.
She hadn't experienced the sorrows and joys of life in full, and couldn't stand the weary sadness in his voice. Her heart was completely wrapped up in his emotions, and her eyes began to redden.
"My last wish… is for you to find a good man. Someone who, after Grandpa is gone, can stay by your side and take care of you."
"…"
Dugu Bo's solemn expression sent her heart plummeting like a roller coaster.
One moment she was moved by his sentiment, the next she wanted to kick him out the door.
So all that roundabout talk was just Grandpa trying to set me up?!
"Grandpa! You, you—!"
Dugu Yan stamped her foot in embarrassment and indignation.
"It's not like no one wants me! Why are you even worrying about this stuff?"
With that, she pounced on him and tugged hard at his beard, making Dugu Bo wince and scramble backward.
"Ahem—Yanyan, I'm not trying to rush you. It's just… the way things are going in the world, I have to think about your future."
"You worry too much. Changing world? What change? Hmph, if that's all, I'm going to bed."
She shot him an exasperated look and turned toward the door. But just as her hand touched the knob, she paused, turned around, and said,
"Grandpa, I heard from one of the academy's elders—there've been some unfamiliar people watching Heaven Dou lately. Be careful when you go out. Their soul power feels really… strange."
She recalled the emergency meeting they'd held at the academy a few days ago, warning students to avoid going out unnecessarily.
According to information from the empire, ever since the Crown Prince had been declared a fugitive, a mysterious force had started to move behind the scenes in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Their methods were suspicious, enough to worry even the highest levels of the empire.
"Mhm, I'm aware of it. Go on and rest. When morning comes, Grandpa will take you soul hunting."
Dugu Bo nodded.
"Oh right—two other young girls will be joining us tomorrow."
"Huh? Who?"
Dugu Yan paused at the door, blinking in surprise.
"They're the two girls who follow that lord. Their soul power just advanced, so they need new soul rings."
"I know! It's Keke… and Paimon?"
Her eyes lit up. She'd seen those two girls beside Aether and remembered their names.
Dugu Bo shook his head.
"It's Keke and Zhu Zhuqing."
"Zhu Zhuqing? Wait, why her?"
Dugu Yan had fought against Shrek Academy before, so she knew who Zhu Zhuqing was.
But wasn't Zhu Zhuqing always with Tang San and the others?
What was she doing here?
"That lord had other matters to attend to, so he asked me to take them into the forest to hunt soul beasts."
He briefly explained the situation to her.
"…I see."
Dugu Yan felt a pang of regret. She had arrived too late and missed the chance to see him.
"Alright then, off to bed. Tomorrow morning we head to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter with warmth and affection as he gave the reminder.
"Okay."
Dugu Yan nodded. This estate had its own little room set aside just for her.
_
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