Douluo: Emerald Poison Emperor

Dugu Bo carefully helped Chen Ming up, placing his hand on Chen Ming's wrist to check his pulse. Using his soul power, he cautiously examined Chen Ming's condition. He found that not only was Chen Ming's soul power and vitality abundant, but there were also no traces of his poison left in Chen Ming's body. Once he confirmed that there were no negative effects from the earlier incident, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Although the treasures he had collected over many years were scattered across the floor in the chaos, and the meridian diagram on the wall had been torn apart by the surging soul power, neither of them paid any attention to those things at the moment.

Chen Ming openly stored the dragon core in his soul storage tool, and Dugu Bo did not ask what it was.

From what he had seen and from the events that had just unfolded, Dugu Bo could tell that the rough-looking stone sphere was something extraordinary. But Dugu Bo was a man of clear distinctions between gratitude and resentment. Since Chen Ming had shown him great kindness, there was no way he would ever harm Chen Ming.

Even if Chen Ming were to present an entire set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones, Dugu Bo would never entertain thoughts of robbery. Instead, he would go out of his way to protect Chen Ming and ensure that the news of his treasures would not leak out.

"This place is a mess after what happened earlier. Let's head upstairs and have a proper conversation. With all the commotion just now, who knows what's going on above?"

At this, Dugu Bo patted Chen Ming on the shoulder.

"It should be around noon outside. Why don't you stay and try the cooking at my place?"

"Thank you, Grandpa Dugu."

"Why so formal? Just call me Grandpa. Treat this place as your own home."

Dugu Bo waved his hand and led Chen Ming toward the mechanism to exit.

Although the outer decorations were somewhat damaged, the mechanism, whose creator remained unknown, was still functioning perfectly. Dugu Bo casually activated the internal mechanism, and the stone slab above them began to move.

Just as the mechanism opened, before Chen Ming and Dugu Bo could climb up, a figure dressed in emerald green rushed down in a hurry. Behind her, her uncle was awkwardly reaching out, trying to stop her.

Both Chen Ming and Dugu Bo had sharp eyesight and immediately recognized the figure as none other than Dugu Yan.

With a wave of his hand, Dugu Bo enveloped Dugu Yan in a gentle soul force, allowing her to land softly in front of the two of them.

Although Dugu Yan, with her quasi-Soul Elder strength, could have jumped from that height without any issue, Dugu Bo still took precautions.

"Yan Yan, what's wrong? Why are you in such a rush? Did someone bully you?"

After Dugu Yan landed, Dugu Bo noticed tears in the corners of her eyes, her bloodshot eyes, and her overall exhausted demeanor. As a doting grandfather, Dugu Bo immediately felt a pang in his heart, and his expression grew serious.

"Grandpa, you're the one bullying me!"

Dugu Yan grabbed Dugu Bo's arm and shook it forcefully, her face filled with displeasure.

"Huh? Yan Yan, how did Grandpa bully you?"

Hearing his granddaughter accuse him, Dugu Bo raised his other arm, pointing to his face in disbelief.

Dugu Yan noticed that Dugu Bo's face seemed to have become a bit younger, but her mind wasn't focused on that.

"Grandpa, Chen Ming saved my life at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, but as soon as you returned, you captured my savior! When you first got back, you even had Uncle lie to me, saying you weren't here. It wasn't until I sensed your soul power rampaging in the study that I realized you were back. When I rushed out of my room, Uncle tried to send me back, saying it was your order."

"Grandpa, you always say that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a fountain of gratitude, but now you're treating my savior like this. Isn't that completely against what you've always taught me?"

Dugu Yan pouted and complained to Dugu Bo, completely unaware of Chen Ming's awkward presence in the corner.

Hearing Dugu Yan's words, Dugu Bo seemed to realize something. Suddenly, he grinned, turned around, and grabbed Chen Ming from the corner, placing him in front of Dugu Yan.

"Yan Yan, look, is Grandpa really that unreasonable? Your little sweetheart is perfectly fine."

When Dugu Yan saw Dugu Bo suddenly grab Chen Ming and place him in front of her, she froze. She hadn't noticed Chen Ming's presence while she was complaining to her grandfather. Now, realizing that Chen Ming had witnessed her act so childishly, she felt as if the dignified image she had maintained at the academy had completely shattered.

When she heard Dugu Bo refer to Chen Ming as her "sweetheart," Dugu Yan's face turned bright red. She stomped down hard on Dugu Bo's foot.

"Grandpa, he's not my sweetheart! He's just my savior!"

Seeing his granddaughter's flushed face, Dugu Bo instantly understood her feelings and thought there might be something to this situation. He immediately turned to Chen Ming, winked at him slyly, and then put on a deliberately serious expression.

"Yan Yan, are you saying this boy isn't your sweetheart?"

Dugu Bo's tone was calm and without malice, but it startled Dugu Yan. She quickly spread her arms to shield Chen Ming.

"Grandpa, stop it! If you keep this up, I won't talk to you anymore!"

Dugu Yan tried to push Chen Ming behind her, but she didn't realize that Chen Ming's physique was far sturdier than hers. No matter how much effort she used, he didn't budge an inch. Instead, her entire body pressed tightly against his.

Feeling the warmth and masculine aura from Chen Ming behind her, Dugu Yan froze as if she had been petrified by one of Dugu Bo's soul skills. She didn't even blink.

At that moment, with her body in close contact with Chen Ming's, Dugu Yan couldn't help but recall that awkward afternoon, the events that transpired between them, and what had happened before he took her out of the mimicry cultivation field.

If this were a comedic manga, Dugu Yan's head would now be steaming like a kettle, her forehead hot enough to boil water.

Noticing this, Chen Ming awkwardly took two steps back, poked Dugu Yan's waist lightly, and said hesitantly:

"Um, Dugu… classmate…"

"Call me Yan Yan!" Dugu Yan blurted out without thinking when she heard the words "Dugu classmate."

"Uh, Yan Yan, Grandpa and I get along just fine. He's very kind. The key issue has been resolved, and we can address the rest in the future. So, there's no need to worry."