Bibi Dong gave a faint nod.
"Your disciple is truly impressive. Now it seems leaving him in Heaven Dou City was the right decision. If this matter succeeds, Elder Ju, you and your disciple will both have great merit. I won't forget your contribution."
"Thank you, Your Holiness." Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed with professional precision.
Bibi Dong inclined her head. "If there's nothing else, you may all withdraw."
"Yes." Both Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo bowed together before turning and leaving.
Once outside the hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo, expression unchanged, gave Ghost Douluo a subtle glance.
Ghost Douluo immediately understood and silently followed him back to their quarters.
Not long after, under Ghost Douluo's slightly puzzled gaze, Chrysanthemum Douluo shut the door with a snap, sneaky as ever. "Old Ghost, come. I'll show you something good."
As he spoke, he strode into the inner chamber. Ghost Douluo suppressed his doubts and followed closely.
Inside, Chrysanthemum Douluo turned, opened his palm, and revealed a strange plant shimmering faintly.
"This is the Wailing Bell Grass."
He quickly explained the situation.
"I didn't expect Dugu Bo to have such a treasure." Ghost Douluo was inwardly shocked, though his face remained calm, betraying nothing.
"Who cares what he had. It's ours now." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded slightly.
Then he opened his other hand, producing a stack of books. "This is from Xiao Hai. Take a look, Old Ghost."
Ghost Douluo accepted the books, flipped through them quickly, and his expression grew grave. He lifted his head. "Old Guan, you want me to keep this quiet for now?"
The fact that Chrysanthemum Douluo hadn't presented it directly to the Pope was already an answer.
"Old Ghost, Xiao Hai treats me so well as his teacher. I should also think about his future." Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke earnestly.
"The Spirit Hall values us, yes, but only in name. Outsiders will always remain outsiders." He added, "And the rewards for the next Continental Spirit Master Tournament,you and I both know who they're prepared for."
They had both served two Popes already, working faithfully for decades. Yet not once had either of them been rewarded with a spirit bone.
Ghost Douluo fell silent, then gave a slow nod. "I understand."
After decades as partners, there was no need for many words between them.
"Old Ghost, hurry and absorb this immortal herb." Chrysanthemum Douluo said eagerly, dropping his usual sharpness by half in front of his partner.
Ghost Douluo shook his head. "No rush. You just broke through not long ago. If I do the same now, the Pope,or even the Grand Priest,might become suspicious. They could link it to Xiao Hai. Better to wait a while."
The chance was small, but it was safer to be cautious.
"Alright. Steady is better." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded and stored the herb away.
"Also, there's another matter. I wonder if you think it's worth considering," Ghost Douluo said. "With Dugu Bo's personality, even if Xiao Hai saved his life, would that alone make him risk offending the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to protect the boy?"
"What do you mean?" Chrysanthemum Douluo's brows furrowed.
"If I'm not wrong, Dugu Bo is trying to make Xiao Hai his granddaughter's husband." Ghost Douluo nodded.
"With his temper, he might even resort to drugs."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes widened. "That old bastard! So shameless?"
"No background, yet talent and strength far surpassing his peers. With Dugu Bo's experience, he can't possibly fail to see that Xiao Hai has the potential to become a Titled Douluo. On top of that, after consuming those rare treasures, Xiao Hai's blood itself carries detoxifying effects. For the Dugu family, that's priceless."
"No background, incredible potential, and the ability to neutralize poison,he's the perfect candidate for a grandson-in-law.
"Once a child is born, Dugu Bo might even convince Xiao Hai to let one of them take the Dugu name, extending his bloodline. That's something the Blue Lightning Clan would never allow,no way would they let a child of the Yu family change surnames."
"If Dugu Yan marries into their clan, the Dugu line is finished."
"So I suspect Dugu Bo followed them this time not just to 'protect' Xiao Hai, but also to keep watch over Yu Tianheng. One, to make sure Dugu Yan doesn't do anything in front of Xiao Hai that leaves a bad impression.
"Two, to dig up flaws in Yu Tianheng, so he can whisper them into his granddaughter's ear later and push her toward breaking up."
"And protecting Xiao Hai is the perfect cover.
'I'm only here to guard my benefactor. It just so happened I caught Yu Tianheng in the act of wrongdoing.' Perfectly reasonable."
"That old schemer!" Chrysanthemum Douluo cursed and turned in a hurry. "I have to warn Xiao Hai."
If Dugu Bo succeeded, wouldn't his own disciple have to call that old man 'Grandfather'?
Wouldn't that make him a rank lower in seniority?
"Honestly, Old Guan, I don't recommend it." Ghost Douluo said flatly.
"Because he's a Titled Douluo?" Chrysanthemum Douluo stopped, suddenly realizing.
"That's part of it. Marriage is one of the fastest ways to forge binding ties." Ghost Douluo said. "If Dugu Yan really marries Xiao Hai, Dugu Bo will be tied to us whether he likes it or not. Add us two into the mix,three Titled Douluo in total. Even the Grand Priest couldn't ignore that."
"In that case, our standing in the Spirit Hall becomes more solid, and Xiao Hai's future path smoother."
The Grand Priest… Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately understood his old partner's point. This was a matter of power balance.
"Second, if the marriage succeeds, Xiao Hai is already part of Spirit Hall. Even if Dugu Bo realizes everything, he'll have no choice but to accept it. Even if he refuses to join us, his heart will still lean our way. Old Guan, if I can see this, do you think the Pope hasn't already?"
"So if you intervene, and the Pope learns of it, how do you think she'll feel?"
"Without question, she would think less of us both. And that would affect Xiao Hai down the line."
Chrysanthemum Douluo fell silent.
"So, for Xiao Hai's future, I wouldn't interfere. But… if Dugu Bo really succeeds, it could hurt Zhuqing's feelings."
"Of course, Xiao Hai might handle it well. Judging from his actions so far, he's a clever one."
"Taking everything into account, I say don't meddle." Ghost Douluo concluded.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's face twisted with conflict. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and said bluntly, "Forget it. I won't get involved! Not my problem to bear!"
"By the way, if you agree, I could take Zhuqing as my disciple." Ghost Douluo added. "I may not have a beast spirit, but I'm also an agility-attack type. I can still guide her a bit. Consider it repayment for Xiao Hai's gift of the immortal herb. She's such a good girl,who wouldn't like her?"
"That's perfect!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes lit up. "That way, we'll both have the standing to deal with that old poison freak."
Ghost Douluo nodded.
Funny thing was,he had been thinking the exact same way.
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