Chapter 22: Dugu Yan: My Grandfather is Kind and Loving

The warm glow of the sunset bathed the Dugu family estate as Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling returned home from school. The orange light painted long shadows across the courtyard, highlighting their eager expressions—especially Dugu Yan's.

As soon as they arrived, a servant rushed up to report, "His Majesty, Poison Douluo, has returned."

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up with joy. "Grandpa's back!" she exclaimed, quickening her pace.

Beside her, Ye Lingling's expression twisted with concern. "Yanyan… your grandfather wouldn't hurt Lin Xiao, would he?"

Dugu Yan hesitated for a brief moment, her enthusiasm wavering. "Of course not! Grandpa knows Lin Xiao is my friend."

Ye Lingling raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Are you sure about that? Your grandfather has a… reputation, you know."

Dugu Yan's confidence faltered, her steps slowing. "Well... He can be a bit domineering toward outsiders, but he's always kind to me."

Ye Lingling lowered her voice, glancing around cautiously as if Dugu Bo could overhear from afar. "Maybe we should check if Lin Xiao's still alive."

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes but complied. "Grandpa isn't a monster, Lingling. He just—"

"Just keeps snakes, scorpions, and centipedes as pets?" Ye Lingling finished with a shiver.

Dugu Yan clenched her fists, her patience wearing thin. "They're just pets! That shows how loving he is!"

"Yeah, I'll believe that when I don't wake up from nightmares about poisonous snakes crawling into my bed," Ye Lingling muttered.

Unable to resist Ye Lingling's nagging, Dugu Yan called out, "Lin Xiao? Are you there? Grandpa?"

No response.

"Lin Xiao!" Dugu Yan tried again, this time louder.

Suddenly, the courtyard door swung open with a creak. A figure with long, red maple-colored hair emerged, smiling as brightly as ever.

"You're back, Sister Yanyan," Lin Xiao greeted cheerfully. "I was just having a very lively conversation with your grandfather."

Ye Lingling rushed forward, inspecting him like a concerned nurse. She poked his arm, checked his pulse, and even lifted his eyelids. "You're alive? No broken bones? No bite marks?"

Lin Xiao recoiled, waving her hands away. "What are you doing?!"

Relieved, Ye Lingling patted her chest. "You're still alive… thank goodness."

Lin Xiao: "…"

Dugu Yan: "…"

"I told you," Dugu Yan said, folding her arms smugly, "my grandfather is kind and loving. He'd never hurt Lin Xiao."

Ye Lingling didn't respond, merely nodding in silent skepticism.

"Lin Xiao," Dugu Yan asked curiously, "what were you two talking about anyway? Why didn't Grandpa answer me when I called?"

Lin Xiao's expression twisted strangely. How could he explain that Dugu Bo, the fierce Poison Douluo, had been busy frantically cleaning the remnants of his venom from the yard after their intense conversation? And that he had begged Lin Xiao to keep their little clash a secret?

"Uh… Senior Dugu wanted to give you a surprise," Lin Xiao lied smoothly.

As if on cue, Dugu Bo appeared at the courtyard gate, his expression soft and fatherly. "Yanyan, look what Grandpa brought back for you."

A small emerald-green snake slithered gracefully from his sleeve, coiling gently around his arm.

"Ah! Grandpa, it's beautiful!" Dugu Yan exclaimed with delight, scooping up the snake effortlessly. She played with it skillfully, letting it curl around her fingers.

Even Lin Xiao had to admit—it was a strangely mesmerizing creature.

Dugu Bo chuckled and turned to Lin Xiao. "I didn't realize at first that this boy was your friend, Yanyan. But I've found him to be quite brave." He paused and added, "A good friend, indeed."

Lin Xiao, catching Dugu Bo's subtle wink, played along. "Senior Dugu is very generous. Honestly, I regret not meeting him sooner."

Dugu Bo's laughter rumbled warmly through the courtyard. "Haha! This kid speaks well. If we keep talking like this, I might just take him in as a godson!"

Dugu Yan, now thoroughly convinced, beamed with pride. "See, Lingling? My grandpa is the kindest person ever!"

Ye Lingling, however, remained silently skeptical. Something about Lin Xiao's awkward smiles seemed off.

The conversation soon turned serious. Dugu Bo cleared his throat. "Yanyan, Lingling, Lin Xiao and I have already discussed a possible solution for our martial spirit defects."

Excitement flared in Dugu Yan's eyes. "Really?! Grandpa, you mean Lin Xiao can fix our martial spirits?"

Dugu Bo nodded, though his voice remained cautious. "There's hope, but we're not entirely certain yet. The process might be dangerous."

Dangerous or not, Dugu Yan's joy was unwavering. "As long as there's a chance, I'll take it!"

Dugu Bo shifted his attention to Lin Xiao. "When do you plan to leave for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"

Lin Xiao thought for a moment. "Soon—but I want to wait for the next eruption of my evil fire. I can feel it building up. The third eruption will bring a transformation."

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "You believe the fire will evolve?"

Lin Xiao nodded firmly. "Yes. If it transforms, it might become strong enough to retain its properties even after absorbing the herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I don't want to lose its power just yet."

Dugu Bo grinned approvingly. "You're a smart boy, Lin Xiao. Brave, too. I like that."

As Lin Xiao's confidence grew, so did Dugu Bo's trust. But behind Dugu Bo's approving smile, there lingered an unspoken thought:

If this boy succeeds, the hidden curse of the Dugu family might finally be broken.