"Amusing, isn't it? Truly amusing. Dugu Bo and Yue Guan have been rivals for decades, and to this day, neither has emerged victorious. They've even forgotten the original purpose of their conflict.
All they remember are the countless confrontations between them.
The reasons have long been forgotten!
'Old Poison, do you think our relationship should extend to the younger generation?'
Yue Guan leaned by the window, a smile on his face, and posed another question.
Extend...
Gazing at the playful scuffle between Wang Zhong and Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo fell into silence.
If it extended, it would mean forcing his granddaughter's only companion into becoming an enemy. Dugu Bo's heart trembled at the thought, let alone that young child.
Closing his eyes once more, Dugu Bo said wearily, 'Yue Guan, if you have something to say, just say it directly!'
'I promise you. As long as Wang Zhong stays with my granddaughter, no one, including myself, will lay a hand on him!'
Yue Guan nodded with satisfaction at the promise. Dugu Bo, despite his gloomy and eccentric personality, had never broken his word.
'Good, since you're willing to listen, then I shall speak.'
'Old Poison, you and I have reached the Titled Douluo realm, and frankly, we've gone as far as we can.'
'When advancement is clearly impossible, conflict becomes one of the few sources of amusement. But now, we have two juniors, maintaining the purest form of interaction before our eyes, playing and frolicking!'
'Can't such a radiant bond inspire us to put aside our past disputes?'
'We will eventually grow old and die, but they are still young and have a long future ahead. Let the matters of the elders be in the past!'
Yue Guan said with a sigh, his hands clasped behind his back.
Dugu Bo cast a sideways glance at Yue Guan, his expressionless face responding in a voice as calm as still water, 'So, you Chrysanthemum Guan, wish to cease fighting and no longer contend with me.'
'I, Yue Guan, can put aside our conflict for the sake of the younger generation. Old Poison, are you willing to let go of this feud for your granddaughter?'
Yue Guan's plain words plunged Dugu Bo into silence.
Juniors...
These words actually involved the future.
Wang Zhong was a disciple chosen by the Pope, the first in line to inherit the papacy. He represented the entire Spirit Hall.
If their relationship were to extend to Wang Zhong and Dugu Yan, it would not only turn Dugu Yan's only companion into an enemy, but it would also mean she would be an enemy of the entire Spirit Hall!
Dugu Bo did not care, and Dugu Yan might not necessarily fear it.
But originally, they were the best of friends! It was all because of the elders' relationship, and their petty disputes from the past.
Was it truly worth it?
Dugu Bo asked himself.
Not worth it!
But that did not mean he would stop fighting with Yue Guan.
'Chrysanthemum Guan, I will not interfere with the affairs of the younger generation.'
'No matter what relationship my granddaughter and Wang Zhong eventually develop, I will not let the relationship between you and me affect them.'
'In my eyes, he is merely Yan Yan's best playmate! Beyond that, he is nothing special, and has nothing to do with you, Yue Guan!'
Dugu Bo watched the two in the audience for a while, then walked towards the door with his hands behind his back.
Having discussed this, they had said all there was to say, and there was no reason to stay.
'Old Poison, a golden opportunity is now before you.'
'I ask you, do you wish to join Spirit Hall? With your strength, you could easily secure a position as an Elder.'
Yue Guan straightened up, his tone and expression solemn.
But Dugu Bo did not look back, nor did he turn around. 'Yue Guan, I cherish freedom and dislike being constrained.'
'The honorary elders of Spirit Hall are not subject to the same restrictions as us; you would only be called upon during major events!'
'Consider this position. Do you wish to take it?'
Dugu Bo paused for a moment, but ultimately did not stop. With his hands behind his back, he walked out of the room, step by step.
This reaction caused Yue Guan to chuckle softly.
'He did not accept, but he did not refuse either.'
'Interesting, Old Poison, it seems you're not unintelligent!'
Yue Guan glanced at Wang Zhong and Dugu Yan, who were still laughing and playing in the audience, and his heart was brimming with joy.
'Little Wang Zhong, well done!'
'Old Poison, I await the day we serve together! By then, I imagine everyone in the world will be astonished!'
'Hahaha, hahaha...'
After laughing for a good while, Yue Guan composed himself, tidied his emotions, and slowly left the room. He went to another private room and gently knocked on the door.
'Enter!'
Bibi Dong's majestic and stern voice emanated from within, and Yue Guan pushed the door open.
'Gui Mei informed me of certain matters, and I am aware of the events surrounding Wang Zhong. Yue Guan, tell me about your situation.'
As Yue Guan entered, Bibi Dong sat on the sofa, her gaze fixed on the audience. Although her expression remained unchanged, she felt a touch of helplessness in her heart.
She had let that young fellow go out for a bit of fresh air, and he had returned with the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo. It was truly bizarre.
'Yes, Your Excellency!'
Yue Guan placed his hand on his chest in a salute before slowly recounting everything that had transpired in the adjacent room.
While a thin wall could not block the perception of a Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo was also a Titled Douluo, and there was no need to provoke displeasure between them over trivial matters.
'Chrysanthemum Guan, you mean to say that Dugu Bo is likely to become an honorary elder of Spirit Hall in the future?'
Gui Mei's first reaction upon hearing this news was disbelief.
Everyone knew Dugu Bo's personality well: he acted on his whims, disliked constraints, and avoided interactions with outsiders. If it were that easy, he would have joined some faction long ago.
'I am eighty percent certain!'
'It's not just because Dugu Bo did not reject my offer.'
'It's also due to the relationship between that young fellow, Wang Zhong, and Dugu Yan!'
Yue Guan's expression was one of extreme confidence at this moment.
'Continue!' Bibi Dong said, gesturing for Yue Guan to elaborate on his reasoning.
'Dugu Bo's lineage, due to their martial soul, has almost died out, leaving only Dugu Yan as the sole survivor.'
'Furthermore, Dugu Yan is influenced by her grandfather's fearsome reputation, and coupled with the toxicity of her own martial soul, no peer would dare to associate with her!'
'Everyone fears being poisoned to death, yet Little Wang Zhong, unconcerned, plays with her. For a young girl who is utterly lonely and has no friends, this possesses an extremely powerful impact!'
'The intimacy Wang Zhong and Dugu Yan are currently displaying is the best proof! As long as they maintain this relationship, Dugu Bo, regardless of his willingness, will eventually be labeled as part of Spirit Hall!'
Yue Guan spoke with conviction, utterly confident in his words.
'Then, how will you resolve the issue of poison? If that young fellow Wang Zhong were to accidentally be poisoned during his interactions with Dugu Yan, the matter would become troublesome.'
Gui Mei frowned, voicing his concern.
'There's no need to worry about that.'
'Old man Dugu Bo, despite his gloomy and reclusive nature, has always kept his word when it comes to promises.'
'With him around, Wang Zhong will have no problems.'
'Moreover, I doubt Dugu Yan would be willing to poison Wang Zhong.'
'Because Wang Zhong is her only friend!'
Yue Guan smiled brilliantly. If it weren't for that promise and assurance, why would he have spoken so much with Old Poison?
Not directly fighting was already a good outcome.
'But Yue Guan, if we scheme for that young fellow Wang Zhong's friendship like this, could it breed resentment in him?' Ling Yuan added with a frown.
'Ling Yuan, your words are misguided.'
'Everyone here, including Her Majesty the Pope, has not explicitly instructed that young fellow Wang Zhong to befriend Dugu Yan.'
'We are merely leveraging the fact that they have become friends to gain Dugu Bo's favor.'
'If there is any scheming, then we are scheming against Dugu Bo, not against Little Wang Zhong and Dugu Yan! We will not interfere with the development of their friendship, no matter how far it goes!'
Yue Guan crossed his arms, his tone frank."