"Greetings, Senior Dugu. Yu Tianheng pays his respects!" Though Yu Tianheng felt a little nervous upon meeting the grandfather of the one he loved, he still maintained a calm and composed demeanor. After all, as the heir to the third strongest clan on the continent, he could not disgrace his family.
"Young man, they say you're the most talented of your clan's current generation, even more so than that exceptional Yu Tianxin. But to me, you're nothing special. You can't even compare to a child under nine years old," Dugu Bo glanced at Yu Tianheng and sneered coldly.
Yu Tianheng was momentarily embarrassed because everything Dugu Bo said was true. He truly couldn't defeat Tianlin. He hadn't been able to in the past, and now that Tianlin's level had increased, he was even less of a match for him.
"Tianheng acknowledges his inferiority. Apologies for making you laugh, Your Eminence. Compared to Tianlin, I'm unworthy of being called a genius. In the future, I can only rely on hard work to make up for the gap." Yu Tianheng ultimately chose to admit it openly and honestly.
Although his words seemed self-deprecating, they made Dugu Bo's eyes light up. If Yu Tianheng had shown defiance or anger just now, Dugu Bo would have looked down on him even more. A man who couldn't even admit his failures didn't deserve to be his granddaughter's husband. But unexpectedly, Yu Tianheng was able to handle it with such calmness.
With a resilient and composed temperament, hiding any dissatisfaction deep within, combined with exceptional talent and an excellent family background, Dugu Bo had to admit that Yu Tianheng was indeed worthy of his granddaughter Yan'er. Even he couldn't find any significant flaws to pick on.
However, while he acknowledged this, liking Yu Tianheng was another matter entirely. Perhaps in a hundred years, he might consider it.
Dugu Bo snorted coldly, ready to leave. At that moment, Tianlin suddenly called out, "Senior Dugu, please wait. I have something I wish to discuss with you privately."
"Oh? What could a little brat like you possibly have to say to me? Don't tell me Sword Douluo has a message for me through you?" Dugu Bo guessed, knowing that Tianlin was Chen Xin's disciple. That was the only possibility he could think of.
Tianlin thought for a moment and said, "That's right. My master entrusted me with a very important matter. He instructed that if I happened to meet you when you came to visit Sister Yan, I was to inform you of it. However, this matter is extremely confidential and must be conveyed privately."
Tianlin had no other choice. If he claimed it was his matter, Dugu Bo would never believe him. After all, Tianlin was not even nine years old yet.
"Fine, kid. Follow me!" Dugu Bo grabbed Tianlin and disappeared in an instant. His speed was so fast that even Qin Ming, a Soul King, couldn't react in time.
The gap in strength between a Soul King and a Titled Douluo was truly like a chasm.
Very soon, Dugu Bo brought Tianlin to a small lake outside the academy. "Kid, rest assured. There's no one else around here. Say what you need to say."
"Yes, Senior. May I ask, on rainy days, does the numb itching around your ribs persist? Has it been intensifying?" Tianlin asked directly.
"What did you say?" Dugu Bo's gaze instantly turned sharp.
Tianlin, as if oblivious to the change in Dugu Bo's expression, continued, "Senior, your symptoms occur twice daily, at noon and midnight. Given your current condition, each episode should last at least an hour. Furthermore, late at night, around the third watch (11 PM to 1 AM), you experience needle-like stabbing pains at the top of your head and in the area near your heart. Your entire body convulses for at least half an hour. Am I correct?"
"You little brat, shut your mouth!" Dugu Bo could no longer contain himself and grabbed Tianlin by the neck.
This was his deepest secret. No one else knew about it, and he refused to let anyone know. If his enemies learned the timing of his symptoms and launched an attack during those moments, not even a thousand lives would be enough to save him.
"Senior, there's no need to be angry. Since my master instructed me to convey this to you so openly, he naturally has no intention of harming you," Tianlin said without the slightest hint of fear. He knew Dugu Bo wouldn't dare kill him. After all, he was backed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and Dugu Bo was someone who valued his own life greatly.
Moreover, in Dugu Bo's mind, even if he killed Tianlin, it wouldn't solve the issue. He assumed that Chen Xin had discovered this secret and instructed Tianlin to pass it along. If he truly killed Tianlin and angered Chen Xin, even if Chen Xin didn't retaliate personally, simply spreading news of Dugu Bo's poisoning would be enough to ruin him.
Furthermore, as Tianlin had pointed out, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan approached him directly after discovering his condition. It was clear they had no ill intentions. Otherwise, they could have easily taken advantage of his moments of vulnerability to kill him.
"Speak. What does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan want from me in exchange for keeping this secret?" Dugu Bo released Tianlin and asked in a deep voice.
"Senior, I do have a request. But before that, I humbly ask for a chance to cure the poison in your body," Tianlin replied. He wanted to help first and then seek compensation. That way, he could claim the rewards with a clear conscience.
"What did you say? You can cure the poison in my body? Kid, don't joke about such things. Even your master might not be able to do that," Dugu Bo said, utterly unconvinced by the claims of an eight-year-old child.
"My master indeed cannot, but I can. Senior, if you promise to keep this matter confidential, I am willing to prove it to you immediately," Tianlin replied confidently. He knew that to gain Dugu Bo's trust, he would have to demonstrate his abilities.
This piqued Dugu Bo's interest. He smiled faintly and said, "Alright. I promise that if you can truly prove it, tonight's events will remain a secret between the two of us."
Tianlin nodded. He didn't need Dugu Bo to swear an oath. Although Dugu Bo's reputation wasn't great, his integrity was well-known across the continent.
"Holy Spirit Pearl, Holy Breath Domain," Tianlin finally revealed his second martial soul in front of a fourth person.
"A pearl? But isn't this child's martial soul a sword? Could it be… a twin martial soul?!" Dugu Bo's expression turned to one of shock. The boy before him wasn't just frighteningly talented, he was also a twin martial soul wielder. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had truly stumbled upon an extraordinary treasure.
At that moment, as the domain enveloped the area, Dugu Bo suddenly felt the poison in his body being alleviated. His entire body felt inexplicably lighter.
"Senior, please sit cross-legged and follow the incantation I will now recite to guide your soul power," Tianlin instructed.
He began chanting an incantation, a method recorded in the Yuheng Herbal Scripture—a technique developed by Grass Valley for suppressing internal poison.
Dugu Bo, being a poison expert, immediately recognized the profoundness of the incantation. Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged and began guiding his soul power as instructed.
Under the dual effects of the Holy Breath Domain and the incantation, Dugu Bo's pale complexion gradually improved. For him, this was an unprecedented experience.