"Second Uncle, your nephew Dugu Shuo comes to pay his respects!"
A voice boomed outside the manor gates, startling both Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.
"He dares to come here? Hmph, I want to see what excuses he can make!" Dugu Bo's fury flared.
He ordered for Dugu Shuo to be brought in.
The moment Dugu Shuo stepped inside, he caught sight of Dugu Yan's tear-reddened eyes. He sighed inwardly. So Feng'er really managed to drive her into a rage…
"Dugu Shuo, are you trying to lose your son?" Dugu Bo's tone was deathly calm.
Dugu Shuo, however, remained composed. "It was I who instructed Feng'er to act. Even if Yan hadn't called him onto the stage, he would have challenged Yu Tianheng himself. Yan and Yu Tianheng are simply not suited."
Bang!
Before he could finish, emerald light burst from Dugu Bo's eyes.
Dugu Shuo's body was hurled backward, slamming into the wooden doors behind him.
"You think yourself the head of the clan? Since when do you have the right to interfere in Yan's affairs?" Dugu Bo's voice was like ice.
"Second Uncle, you should understand this better than anyone. Every member of the Dugu clan, man or woman, once the poison erupts, will inevitably drag their partner into suffering.
If Yan truly marries into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, once the poison flares up, how will she survive among them?"
Pain radiated from his back, yet Dugu Shuo's expression did not falter.
"Yu Tianheng has been groomed since childhood as their heir. Do you really believe he pursues Yan out of love? Then you underestimate Yu Yuanzhen far too much.
That man even sent his crippled, mutated son into Spirit Hall to bargain for benefits.
Among the Upper Three Sects, none are more cunning than Yu Yuanzhen.
Now, the continent's situation is unstable. Spirit Hall plots to topple the Heaven Dou Empire. The recent incident with the Elephant Armored Sect, and Chrysanthemum Douluo's strike against you—these were no coincidences.
Heaven Dou City stands at the very heart of the storm.
Second Uncle, do not let yourself become a pawn for the Upper Three Sects."
Dugu Shuo's voice was calm but cutting.
Dugu Yan suddenly exploded, her face full of rage.
"With Grandpa here, what can the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan do to me?
And you—without Grandpa's deterrence, would the Dugu Clan dare seize the profits of the Great Spirit Arena? Dare to annihilate the Elephant Armored Sect?"
Dugu Bo's face grew darker still, his words laced with venom.
"You, a man one step from death at any moment, presume to meddle so much?"
But Dugu Shuo only smiled.
"Second Uncle, the Dugu Clan is a whole. As long as I live, I will think for the clan. Even if I die, Feng'er remains. Sooner or later, he will form his Poison Core and solve the poison that plagues us.
This time, I came also to remind you that Emperor Xue Ye has already been poisoned. The culprit is in Heaven Dou City.
I suspect Spirit Hall has another poison-type Titled Douluo.
And Yu Yuanzhen must know of Spirit Hall's schemes, yet has he ever warned you?
For your own safety, do not leave the city for now."
His words, half-true and half-false, hung heavy in the air.
Dugu Yan's expression shifted uneasily.
Even Dugu Bo's face flickered. He had long known his nephew was calculating and deep-minded, his means plentiful.
Had he truly discovered this much?
These were things even he himself hadn't confirmed.
But… that killing intent from Chrysanthemum Douluo last time had been all too real.
He could not deny it—this nephew of his was not without ability.
"Enough. You've said your piece. Now get out.
If you dare act without leave again, I won't forgive you!"
Dugu Bo barked coldly.
Yet in the end, he still hadn't raised his hand further.
Dugu Shuo merely turned, bowed slightly, and strode out.
"Grandpa, is it true? Does Spirit Hall really want to kill you?" Dugu Yan asked softly, shaken by his reaction.
Dugu Bo snorted. "Yan, you need not worry. They can't kill me."
But after a moment, he added slowly, "Still… there was truth in his words. The Dugu Clan is one whole.
That is why so few outside know of the feud between our two branches.
And don't underestimate Dugu Feng. Though young, he may not be much weaker than that uncle of his.
I suspect they've already found some method to resist the poison. Otherwise, Dugu Feng could never have lasted this long."
Suspicion flickered in his eyes.
This, more than anything, stayed his hand.
He would never pass up a chance to solve the poison curse that plagued their clan, even if it meant tolerating his rivals for now.
As for the poisoned Emperor Xue Ye, and rumors of another poison-type Titled Douluo in Spirit Hall… those, he would have to investigate himself.
——
Outside the manor, Dugu Shuo finally exhaled a quiet breath of relief.
So Second Uncle isn't completely blind. Good.
What was a Titled Douluo in the grand game of the continent? Pawns and cannon fodder could fall at any time.
For a clan to endure through the ages, it could not rely on one man or two alone.
No matter what, the two branches must maintain at least outward peace.
If Dugu Bo had pressed harder, Shuo had been ready to reveal the method of suppressing poison with soul bones.
After all, it was no true cure but just a temporary reprieve.
Fortunately, for now, Dugu Bo seemed wary enough of Spirit Hall.
But this would strain ties with Yu Yuanzhen even further.
That old dragon was scheming already hence best not get too close.
I must break through to Soul Douluo soon. Remaining a Soul Saint is far too weak!
Step by step, Dugu Shuo returned to the clan's ancestral hall, lost in thought.
There, Dugu Feng awaited him.
Truthfully, father and son thought the same—at worst, they could reveal the soul bone detox method.
It wasn't the true cure, so it wasn't much of a loss.
"Feng'er," Dugu Shuo asked suddenly, smoke curling through the ancestral hall, "how do you think we should handle the Serpent Branch?"
Dugu Feng's mind spun.
Knowing the future plot, he could never allow Dugu Bo to continue being Tang San's loyal lackey.
But he couldn't reveal such things now.
"Everything must be guided by one principle—the survival and strength of our clan." Dugu Feng answered carefully.
A rare smile crossed Dugu Shuo's face.
"Correct. Look at the Clear Sky Sect. Once the greatest sect in the world, faced with destruction, they bent without breaking, closing their gates to preserve their strength.
As the future patriarch of the Dugu Clan, you must remember: every decision you make must place the clan's legacy above all else."
"Yes, Father." Dugu Feng bowed his head.
"I will be entering seclusion soon, to charge at the Contra realm. Until then, clan affairs will be in your hands."
Dugu Feng nearly choked.
As always, his father's 'lessons' ended with one more burden piled onto his shoulders.
Not long after, Dugu Feng left the clan grounds and returned to his dormitory at the Royal Primary Spirit Master Academy.
The first sight that greeted him was Ning Rongrong, waiting with her arms folded.
"You ran off so quickly. Don't tell me you were afraid of Dugu Yan making trouble for you? With me here, what's there to fear?"
Her voice was tinged with mock complaint.
A warmth stirred in Dugu Feng's heart. Since returning from Slaughter City, in all his time with Ning Rongrong, he had never once seen her act spoiled or unreasonable.
Instead, she had been earnest in cultivation, and surprisingly kind toward him.
"I just remembered some matters and went back to the clan. Come—let's continue our training. I want to reach Soul Elder soon and obtain my third ring."
"Cultivation, cultivation, it's always cultivation with you! Is that all you ever think about?!?" (T/N : ...Gf?)
Ning Rongrong huffed in exasperation.
Here I am, such a great beauty beside you and all you can think about is training? Just what goes on in your dense head?!?