Chapter 67: Grandfather and Granddaughter's Conversation, Dugu Yan Wants to Follow
No one knew how much time had passed before the heavy atmosphere in the room finally lightened.
Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter, who stood there in a daze, his eyes flashing with guilt as he softly said, "I'm sorry, Yan Yan, for only telling you this now."
Hearing his words, Dugu Yan snapped out of her trance.
Looking at her grandfather's aged face and how he was forcing himself to stay strong just to comfort her, her heart clenched.
Yes, she had lost her father, but her grandfather had lost his son.
She had been too young at the time to understand anything. Even if he had told her back then, what could she have done? At least over the years, he had always been there for her, fulfilling her every request. He was the only family she had left.
"Grandpa…"
Dugu Yan suddenly threw herself into Dugu Bo's embrace, sobs escaping her lips. Her cries grew louder and louder until they echoed throughout the entire room.
Crying was good. Crying was a release.
Dugu Bo had prepared himself for resentment, for blame, but his granddaughter's reaction was much better than he had anticipated.
Perhaps she was simply overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the truth, exhausted by the flood of emotions. As she cried, she eventually fell asleep in his arms.
Looking at his granddaughter's tear streaked face, Dugu Bo let out a long sigh and carefully carried her back to her room.
Afterward, he ordered the servants to prepare food and keep it ready at all times. He himself, however, merely sat outside her door, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
It wasn't until 2 p.m. that Dugu Yan finally woke up.
The moment she recalled what had happened earlier, she quickly rushed out of her room only to see her grandfather standing there, turning to her with the same warm smile as always.
"Grandpa…"
Recalling everything from the morning, she hesitated, feeling a little awkward.
"Alright, you slept long enough. You must be hungry. The food is ready. Let's eat first, then I have something else to tell you. This time, I promise it's good news."
Dugu Bo extended his hand, and Dugu Yan, out of habit, placed hers in his. The two of them walked together toward the dining hall.
Perhaps it was because she was truly hungry, or maybe she was simply eager to hear what her grandfather had to say. Either way, this time, she completely abandoned her usual elegant dining habits and finished her meal in record time.
Seeing that she was done, Dugu Bo put down his chopsticks as well and led her toward the inner chambers of the estate.
They stopped outside a secluded training room.
After checking multiple times to ensure no one was around, Dugu Bo brought Dugu Yan inside, sealing the surroundings and erecting a soul power barrier before finally turning to face her.
"Do you remember the young man I mentioned back at the academy?"
"He's really at Rank 30 already, Grandpa?"
Dugu Yan was still skeptical. Someone younger than her, yet already stronger than her? That was hard to believe. She was considered a genius at the academy if such a person existed, how had she never heard of him?
Dugu Bo glanced at her before shaking his head seriously. "Actually, I kept some things from you."
Dugu Yan let out a sigh of relief.
She didn't know why, but ever since her grandfather returned, he had been speaking in such a strange, suspenseful way. She wasn't used to it at all.
"I didn't tell you… that although he looks about your age, he's actually even younger. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes if I hadn't personally examined his body I wouldn't have believed it myself."
Dugu Bo's tone carried deep admiration.
"Then… he's twelve? No, he can't be eleven, right?" Dugu Yan guessed uncertainly.
"No. He's only seven. He won't turn eight for another six months."
Dugu Bo looked her straight in the eyes as he spoke.
"That's impossible! What, did he start cultivating at one year old? Grandpa, if you're going to lie, at least make it believable this is just "
Mid sentence, Dugu Yan fell silent, staring at her grandfather's calm expression.
She knew this look.
The only times she had seen her grandfather this serious were when he was discussing important matters with her father.
A long silence passed before she swallowed dryly and murmured, "Seven years old… That's too ridiculous."
"I wouldn't lie about this. In fact, I only met him two days ago. At that time, he wasn't this strong yet, but he was already at Rank 23."
Dugu Bo chose to tell the truth.
"Rank 23, Rank 30… Given his age, it makes no difference to me."
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes.
"Wait, that's not right two days ago? You're saying he advanced seven ranks in just two days?"
She immediately caught the key detail and turned to her grandfather for confirmation.
"That's right. We met during a treasure hunt."
Dugu Bo subtly altered the wording. He wasn't about to tell his granddaughter that he had been completely powerless and nearly lost his life.
"That's some ridiculous luck… But what does this have to do with you, Grandpa?"
Dugu Yan asked curiously.
"It has everything to do with me. Because he can cure both of us of our bloodline's poison… and more than that."
Dugu Bo enunciated each word clearly.
Dugu Yan blinked.
She had never suffered from poison backlash before, so her thoughts hadn't yet shifted to that perspective.
"Do you think I disappear every month for no reason? I leave to suppress the poison eating away at me. If I fail to endure it… I die. And I don't want to drag you down with me."
Dugu Bo's voice carried a rare bitterness.
"Then, Grandpa… are you…?"
Dugu Yan's voice trembled, laced with tears. She rushed forward, gripping her grandfather's sleeves tightly, scanning him from head to toe in panic.
"Don't worry, I'm fine now. And I'll be fine in the future."
Dugu Bo stroked her hair gently.
"Right now, you don't feel much because your soul rank is still low. But as you grow stronger, the poison in your bloodline will intensify. One day, just like your father, you'll reach a point where you can't suppress it anymore. And by then… even I won't be able to save you."
"Luckily… I met him in time."
"Then, Grandpa, let's go find him now! He can heal you!"
Dugu Yan grabbed Dugu Bo's arm and tried to pull him toward the door only to find herself gently stopped.
"Calm down. I already made an agreement with him. He will cure both you and me. But it will take time. I don't know exactly how long, so I came back to tell you."
Dugu Bo's voice was much softer than before.
"Conditions? What are the conditions? Can I help?"
"And… I want to go with you, Grandpa. I want to see him heal you with my own eyes."
"I don't want to stay here alone anymore. Please, promise me?"
Dugu Yan looked up stubbornly, her eyes locked onto her grandfather's, filled with fear fear that he was only comforting her, fear that he would leave and never return, fear of being left all alone.
"This…"
Dugu Bo frowned.
He hadn't expected her to want to come along.
"Is that a no?"
Dugu Yan asked softly, carefully studying her grandfather's face for any hint of his true thoughts.
But she was disappointed he was genuinely contemplating it.
After a long moment, Dugu Bo sighed.
"I can't decide that on my own. I need to ask first. The place we're going is special, and the person we're meeting is… even more special."
"Grandpa, take me with you! I'll be good. And since he's treating me too, I'm going to meet him eventually, right?"
Dugu Yan immediately resorted to her ultimate weapon clinging to his arm and shaking it slightly.
"…Fine. I'll ask."
Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and gave in.
"But first, pack your things extra clothes, survival supplies. And if they say no, you have to stay here. Understood?"
Dugu Yan nodded obediently.
Seeing her agree so quickly, Dugu Bo felt relieved.
After reminding her not to tell anyone, he rushed out of the estate and toward the city gates.
"I hope Guang Ling is already back," he thought.
(End of Chapter)
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