Chapter 52: Dugu Yan — Grandpa, You Don't Want Me to Die Before Thirty, Right?
The next day at noon.
Lin Chen slept until the sun was already high in the sky before finally waking up.
As soon as he walked out of his room, he saw Dugu Yan approaching him with a bright smile.
"Sister Yan, why are you so happy?"
Dugu Yan happily came to Lin Chen's side and, out of habit, rubbed his head with her small hand.
"Little brat, didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to meet my grandfather?"
"My grandfather just returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Once he gets home later, I'll take you to meet him."
Originally, Dugu Yan thought she would need to send a letter asking her grandfather to return.
But when she went to school today, she discovered that her grandfather had already returned to Heaven Dou City and was likely at Prince Xue Xing's residence.
"So soon?!"
Lin Chen rubbed his eyes, silently marveling at his good luck.
He had only met Dugu Yan yesterday, and today he would already be facing Dugu Bo.
Thinking of this, Lin Chen grabbed Dugu Yan's hand and reminded her cautiously:
"Sister Yan, when your grandfather gets angry later, you must protect me. My future depends on you."
Hearing Lin Chen's ambiguous words, Dugu Yan shot him a sideways glance. This little brat really didn't know how to speak properly.
"Alright, alright, I know. Don't worry. I promise I'll protect you."
Dugu Yan patted her slightly fuller chest and made her promise.
Just then,
"Yanyan, Grandpa's back!"
"Did you miss Grandpa?"
Dugu Bo's voice arrived before he did, his strong voice echoing throughout the Dugu residence.
The next moment,
A thin old man with emerald-green eyes and a green robe appeared before Lin Chen and Dugu Yan.
"Grandpa!"
"I missed you so much. You're finally back!"
Dugu Yan excitedly rushed forward, spreading her arms wide to give Dugu Bo a big hug.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo opened his arms and embraced his beloved granddaughter, his gaze filled with affection.
Dugu Bo had lived a solitary and arrogant life, acting entirely according to his own preferences and earning a terrible reputation outside.
But toward Dugu Yan, his only family, he was extremely doting, unable to bear even the slightest grievance coming her way.
"Hmm?"
"Yanyan, why is there a child here?"
After releasing Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo finally noticed Lin Chen standing not far away, who looked about six or seven years old.
Lin Chen's appearance was fair, tender, and adorable—the kind that easily inspired affection.
Could it be that his granddaughter liked this type? Raising him from childhood?
"Grandpa, that's my friend. His name is Lin Chen."
"Oh, right, Grandpa. Lin Chen wants to meet you to discuss something."
Dugu Yan introduced Lin Chen to Dugu Bo.
Then, remembering Lin Chen's earlier reminder, she continued:
"Grandpa, whatever Lin Chen says later, don't get angry, okay?"
Dugu Yan held Dugu Bo's calloused hand and shook it repeatedly while acting spoiled.
"Alright, Yanyan. How could Grandpa argue with a child?"
"Don't worry, no matter what that little Lin Chen says later, I won't hold it against him."
Dugu Bo smiled kindly at Dugu Yan, patting his chest as he made the promise.
"That's good."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan's eyes curved into crescents, and the smile on her face grew even brighter.
"Lin Chen, come over here. This is my grandfather, the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo."
Dugu Yan waved toward Lin Chen in the distance, signaling him to hurry over.
Lin Chen walked to Dugu Yan's side and took her hand, catching her off guard.
"What are you doing?"
Dugu Yan was startled by Lin Chen's sudden action, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Sister Yan, this makes me feel safer."
Lin Chen chuckled awkwardly as he explained, though, being too short, he didn't notice her expression.
But Dugu Bo certainly did.
He had clearly seen Dugu Yan's shy reaction.
At that moment, Dugu Bo became completely convinced that his granddaughter was interested in this boy Lin Chen, perhaps even thinking of raising him like nobles sometimes did.
Still, Dugu Bo didn't care. He had never been bound by worldly conventions. As long as his granddaughter was happy, that was enough.
"Fine. Then say what you need to say quickly and let go of me."
Dugu Yan spoke softly to Lin Chen.
If Lin Chen were just an ordinary child, she wouldn't have reacted like this.
But she knew clearly that Lin Chen was only a child in appearance. His mind was mature.
"Senior Dugu, forgive my bluntness. The poison in your body runs deep, and I can cure it."
Lin Chen looked directly into Dugu Bo's emerald-green, oppressive gaze. His golden eyes showed no fear, only confidence.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's previously smiling face instantly turned serious.
A terrifying killing intent, difficult for ordinary people to detect, appeared in the depths of his green eyes.
If Dugu Yan hadn't been present, Dugu Bo might have already killed Lin Chen—even if he was only a child who had just awakened his martial soul.
"Boy, what nonsense are you talking about? Do you know my title is Poison? I am Titled Douluo. How could I be poisoned?"
Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, staring at Lin Chen as he questioned him.
Lin Chen remained steady and continued:
"Senior Dugu, if I'm not mistaken, whenever it's cloudy or rainy, you feel numb itching in both sides of your ribs that gradually intensifies. It occurs once at noon and once at midnight, each time lasting two hours. And late at night, the crown of your head and the soles of your feet feel stabbing pain like needles—unbearable."
At this point, Dugu Bo could no longer conceal his killing intent.
Terrifying soul power enveloped Lin Chen, making him feel as though he were standing at the edge of an abyss.
Hearing his secret described so precisely, Dugu Bo no longer cared about the promise he had just made to Dugu Yan.
His soul power surged toward Lin Chen.
"Boy, you're courting death!"
If his enemies learned that his martial soul poison was backfiring on him, it would become a fatal weakness.
When the poison flared up, it was when Dugu Bo was at his weakest.
That was why he often left to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, relying on its environment along with his cultivation as a Titled Douluo to suppress the poison's outbreaks.
But now, this secret has been spoken aloud by Lin Chen.
If Lin Chen couldn't give him a reasonable explanation, even if it meant breaking his promise to Yanyan, Dugu Bo would kill him on the spot.
Feeling her grandfather's bone-chilling killing intent, Dugu Yan panicked.
'Grandpa… Lin Chen has the spatial jade slip. If you scare him away, solving the poison backlash will become impossible…'
Seeing the situation escalate, Dugu Yan stepped in front of Lin Chen, facing her grandfather.
"Grandpa, you're not allowed to hurt Lin Chen."
"Your granddaughter is also suffering from poison backlash. If it isn't resolved, I won't live past thirty."
"You don't want your granddaughter to die before thirty… right?"
End of Chapter