'What was he even thinking?'
'This was like two wealthy families with millions in assets arranging a marriage. You're the groom, the other side is the bride, and she's an only child. Now her elder asks for a bride price of just fifty thousand. As long as you agree, he promises that after the marriage all family assets will be yours, and the elders will fully support you in your career.'
'And you, as the groom, the direct heir of your clan, the clan master's grandson, already an adult… you tell the bride's elder that you can't decide on your own?'
'That you need to write home and ask permission?'
'Damn it, you're supposed to be the heir and future clan master! Already grown, and you can't even decide on fifty thousand? With no backbone, how can you expect the bride's elder to entrust his granddaughter to you?'
'And worse, you want to do it by letter?'
'There's no long-distance telephone in this world to explain things clearly and fight for it in real time. The elder clearly said at least fifty thousand, and even explained it's to treat your future wife's illness. Did it not occur to you to fight for more, to increase the chance of curing her? Instead you choose to send a letter? Never mind the delay—a letter back and forth takes who knows how long—but that attitude itself is a disaster.'
'If you don't even go in person, but leave it to others to decide, isn't that the same as handing your future wife's life over to someone else? What if your elders say no? At least go there in person. Even if you can't succeed, at least show you care.'
'But to just write a letter and be done with it—what will the bride's elder think? That you don't even care about his granddaughter's health, her life? And you dare say you love her?'
'Where is your responsibility as a man? You want to marry her, then you should be ready to be a husband. But then, where's your sense of duty?'
'Without even showing the attitude, how could he possibly hand her over?'
'Brother, I gave you the hint, and you still didn't get it. How could you not?' Yang Yunhai thought, watching Yu Tianheng's solemn expression and formal tone. He wasn't even panicked to the point of confusion—he just didn't get it.
'Damn it, you had the chance, and you blew it.'
In that moment, Yang Yunhai felt his older brother Tianheng, already an adult, was really lacking.
From the corner of his eye, he saw not far away Dugu Yan's face go pale. She must have realized the seriousness of this. As the granddaughter of a man as sharp as Dugu Bo, how could she not? And since Dugu Bo had brought her along and said all this in front of her, clearly they had already spoken about it beforehand. She had surely been hoping for her boyfriend to shine at this moment.
And now he had a winning hand and still turned it into a mess.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo's face didn't change. He nodded slightly, then stood.
"Good. I'll wait for your good news."
Then he turned to Dugu Yan, speaking lightly. "Yan'er, stay at the academy for these next few days and cultivate well. Once Xiao Hai and I confirm the method is effective, I'll come back to bring you over."
Then he turned to Yang Yunhai. "Xiao Hai, let's go."
He glanced once more at the stiff Yu Tianheng, then walked toward the door.
'Brother, with that reply, I can't even defend you. You're on your own now.' Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly. He actually didn't dislike Yu Tianheng—he wasn't fond of his uncle Yu Xiaogang, but this nephew wasn't so bad. Just… too conservative, too rigid.
He glanced at Yu Tianheng once more, then turned with a smile. "Brother Tianheng, Sister Yan, I'll be going first."
Dugu Yan nodded stiffly, while Yu Tianheng forced out a smile and nodded back.
Yang Yunhai nodded slightly in return, then turned and left.
After a moment, hearing his footsteps fade away, Yu Tianheng finally stepped closer to Dugu Yan and asked awkwardly. "Yan'er, did I say something wrong just now?"
"It wasn't that bad." Dugu Yan forced a smile. His answer had been clumsy, but his expression and tone had been serious. She felt at least his attitude was sincere. He was just wooden and slow, unable to respond cleverly in the moment.
Not wanting to dwell on it, she quickly changed the subject. "Tianheng, we need to work harder in training."
"Today I went with Grandpa to Xiao Hai's valley. We saw Xiao Hai and Zhu Zhuqing training…" She began to describe what she had witnessed.
"After seeing them today, I realized I haven't been working hard enough. The gap between me and them is getting wider." She spoke with deep emotion.
Yu Tianheng's face grew solemn as well. He nodded.
"We do need to train harder."
As heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, bearer of the strongest beast martial soul on the continent, he also had his pride. He couldn't accept falling behind.
Smiling, he said, "Yan'er, you go back and cultivate first. I'll write to the clan tonight. By tomorrow, the letter will be on its way. A five-thousand-year strength-type soul bone, the clan definitely has one. I believe my grandfather will agree."
"And since Senior Dugu personally came to invite Xiao Hai, that means his method has been recognized as effective. I believe this time your illness will be cured."
They had known each other for more than two years, been together for more than one. Because of Dugu Yan's illness, their relationship had never crossed the final line—not only because of her condition and her promise to wait until they were engaged, but also because of Dugu Bo's eccentric and intimidating presence.
A Title Douluo, reclusive and stubborn, harsh and unreasonable—if he found out they had gone too far before engagement, Yu Tianheng feared he might retaliate harshly. A beating would be mild. What he truly feared was poison—forcing absolute loyalty, binding him to Dugu Yan forever. Given Dugu Yan was his only family left in this world, Yu Tianheng truly believed Dugu Bo could do such a thing.
So, before knowing Dugu Bo's stance, Yu Tianheng didn't dare risk it.
'Isn't that smart? So why was he so dumb just now?' Hearing Yu Tianheng's calm analysis of Dugu Bo's actions today, Dugu Yan felt helpless. 'His IQ isn't low—it's just his EQ that's lacking.' She could only comfort herself with that thought.
For her part, she carried guilt. Her grandfather had tested her blood when she was little, and the conclusion was clear—her blood itself was poisonous. Anyone in contact with it risked being poisoned, and if it touched an open wound, it was guaranteed. To prevent accidents, Dugu Bo had told her as soon as she was old enough to understand.
From then on, she avoided close contact, especially physical touch. Friends were few. Until she joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy for training, where despite her poison martial soul making others wary, she managed to make friends, especially Ye Lingling.
Later Yu Tianheng came, determined to prove himself without relying on the clan. Perhaps thanks to his lightning attribute, which countered poison, he could touch her without issue. Even when blood splashed on him, as long as it didn't enter a wound, he could dispel the poison with lightning.
That was why she accepted his confession. Their relationship grew quickly, but she never dared cross the final line. For a girl, the first time meant blood—and with her poison, what if it hurt him? What if her grandfather found out and lashed out? She was terrified.
So she decided to wait until the Soul Master Tournament, when their futures would be clearer, when perhaps a cure would be found. She told him to focus on training, and he agreed readily.
She had been moved by that. She even made an effort to act more openly affectionate in front of others, so he wouldn't look bad.
For his part, Yu Tianheng was conservative. A few kisses and hugs were enough to make him happy. Their relationship was stable, never once an argument.
'Since Tianheng is so sure writing a letter will work, maybe he really does have the confidence.' Smiling softly, she stepped forward and hugged him, kissing his cheek. "Alright, Tianheng, you write your letter. I'll go cultivate."
She turned and left the room.
Yu Tianheng touched his cheek and smiled faintly, then hurried to his desk to write.
Outside, Dugu Bo's face darkened as soon as he left the dorm.
'Still angry, I see.' Yang Yunhai noted silently. After a moment, he spoke softly.
"Grandfather Dugu, Brother Tianheng is just a bit rigid. He didn't think that far. You needn't be too angry. As the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, with a respected position, he surely has the confidence—that's why he thought of writing first."
"Hmph! Rigid? He's not rigid—he's stubborn and foolish. Foolish to the extreme!" Dugu Bo's face grew colder.
"He's nearly twenty, and yet a boy younger than him can see what's obvious. Even when you hinted to him, he still couldn't get it. His first thought is to ask permission. Does he really think I, a Title Douluo, am worth less than a thousand-year soul bone?"
"And when his beloved's life is at stake, he didn't even think to fight for better terms. I said at least five thousand years—does he not get what at least means?"
"Such a man, with no decisiveness, no responsibility—how can I trust him with my Yan'er?"
'Not me. Don't drag me into this. I'm just a guy who studied compulsory history and got crushed by reality in my last life, still saving up for a bride price when I died. You think I wouldn't understand this? Of course I do. Five thousand years of culture and hard lessons in reality—anyone would understand.' Yang Yunhai thought bitterly.
If it were just ordinary families, Yu Tianheng's answer wouldn't have been wrong. Asking parents for help with bride money was normal. But this wasn't that. This was about a great clan and a Title Douluo. Here, it was all wrong.
In politics, in clans, the wife of a man without backbone suffers.
With Dugu Yan's talent, her potential with a soul bone, and Dugu Bo backing her, her future could be bright. She could be the best partner and greatest support. Why wouldn't you seize that?
'Shame he didn't see it.' Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly, then said aloud, "Maybe when the letter reaches Clan Master Yu, he'll knock some sense into him."
"We'll see." Dugu Bo said coldly.
Seeing that, Yang Yunhai said nothing more, following him out of the academy.
"You're too slow. I'll carry you." Dugu Bo suddenly said, then without warning grabbed Yang Yunhai by the back of his collar like a chicken, and took off into the air.
The cold wind whipped past, clothes fluttered, hair streamed in the air.
"…" Yang Yunhai could only endure, experiencing the feeling of flying.
The scenery blurred as they sped by. After a while, his eyes grew dizzy, his head heavy, and slowly his eyelids drooped shut. Soon, he was asleep.
"…" Dugu Bo glanced down, then curled his lip and kept flying.
Who knows how long passed before—smack! Yang Yunhai landed on the ground and jolted awake.
"Grandfather Dugu, are we there?" He rubbed his eyes as he stood.
(End of Chapter)
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