Dugu Bo's breathing was ragged, his face pale and lips faintly discolored. He waved Lu Yuan closer, ignoring Dugu Yan's frantic protests.
"I know my own body," he said coldly. "Your sword may carry a strange, evil aura, but it won't kill me. Not unless you drive it straight through my Heavenly Spirit Cover."
His tone was rough, sharpened by pain.
Lu Yuan frowned. "Old Poison, are you really sure about this? If you force yourself and something goes wrong, I'll help you find another way. No need to gamble your life here."
Even Dugu Yan stepped forward, shaking her head. "Grandpa, Brother Yuan's right—this is reckless! The imperial family in Heaven Dou surely has a way to treat you, let them try—"
"Enough!" Dugu Bo barked, his emerald eyes blazing. He leaned forward and thrust out his wrist. "It's enough that you two are willing to stand here with me. Don't mistake me for some fragile child—the strength of a Title Douluo isn't that easily broken."
Lu Yuan and Dugu Yan exchanged uneasy glances. But in the end, Lu Yuan slowly unsheathed his long sword. The blade shimmered faintly, a secluded gleam that seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat.
He hesitated only a breath, then pierced Dugu Bo's wrist.
Clang! The blade slid into flesh, and at once black blood burst forth, so thickly toxic that the soil hissed wherever the droplets landed. The moment it touched Lu Yuan's blade, the poisonous blood turned to vapor, smoke rising in curls of black-green mist.
Lu Yuan's sword shivered in his grip, almost as though… awakening.
A wave of devouring power erupted, and to Lu Yuan's astonishment, the blade began to pull—sucking venom straight out of Dugu Bo's channels. Like a river reversing flow, the venom rushed into the sword, drawn by a hunger neither man expected.
Dugu Bo's lips and eyes began losing their purple sheen, the discoloration fading visibly. His body trembled as the flood of poison drained, yet for the first time in decades… he felt lighter.
But then panic surged.
"Boy! Stop!" Dugu Bo barked, gasping. His vision spun. Sweat trickled down his brow as his knees wavered.
If this went on, the blade wasn't just drawing venom—it was trying to drain more. Blood, cultivation essence, perhaps even his very life.
For the first time in decades, the proud Title Douluo felt his own strength slipping away into someone else's hands.
But he swallowed his words. Asking for help… that was a humiliation he still couldn't spit out.
Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes. He released his grip slowly and pulled the blade free. The sword's ominous aura dimmed, grumbling as though dissatisfied with its meal.
"Old Poison," Lu Yuan said calmly, sheathing it, "no need to say it. I know what you're feeling. Don't worry—I won't let that sword devour you whole. You want me here? Then I'll stay until every ounce of that venom has been purged. A day, a week, however long it takes."
Dugu Bo froze. His expression flickered with something unreadable. For just a moment, his pride thawed in quiet gratitude.
And then Lu Yuan ruined it.
"Anyway, I'm off to your medicine garden. If something comes up, just yell."
"…."
Dugu Bo's mouth opened, then clamped shut. Was this brat serious?! First he stirred emotion, then bolted straight for his precious herbs. Tears almost came to his eyes—but they weren't from the poison.
"Gan!" Dugu Bo cursed savagely, fury restrained only by exhaustion.
Sure enough, Lu Yuan ran gleefully toward the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, dragging the still-bound Hu Liena slung across his shoulder.
…
Once Dugu Bo was stable, Lu Yuan finally had time to turn his attention to the fox in his clutches.
Smack! Smack!
Two sharp slaps landed squarely on Hu Liena's backside.
"Well now, still acting all tough?" Lu Yuan teased, leaning down. "Not talking?"
Silence.
Another crisp smack echoed, followed by muffled cries. Hu Liena's beautiful eyes glared daggers, but her resentment only deepened.
"…Wait a second," Lu Yuan murmured suddenly. His eyes widened with realization. "Ohhh! Your mouth was sealed with spirit power this whole time!"
He slapped his forehead. No wonder she kept glaring without a word.
With a flick, he dispelled the seal.
"You bastard!" Hu Liena exploded immediately, cheeks crimson, chest rising with fury. "How dare you tie my mouth shut and then spank me for not speaking? Do you take me for a fool?!"
Lu Yuan blinked innocently. "Huh? So you were angry about that."
"You—!" She clenched her silver teeth in fury.
But the bastard didn't even let her catch her breath. He stared as though studying prey, smile curling strangely. "What's the matter, little fox? Afraid of me now?"
Her throat tightened instinctively. This wasn't the arrogant Holy Maiden who had strolled out to challenge him earlier. This time, she felt her heartbeat spike in panic.
No way… He wouldn't do something crazy, would he?
"You've been captured," Lu Yuan declared shamelessly, rubbing his hands with a theatrical grin. "And now you'll face my merciless interrogation."
Hu Liena blinked, dumbfounded. "Interrogation? Without even asking a question first?!"
She wanted to cry. Who interrogated like this?!
But before she knew it, she had spilled everything—her name, her Martial Soul, her rank, her status as Bibi Dong's personal disciple, even secrets she shouldn't have confessed. Under the mix of humiliation, fear, and Lu Yuan's relentless pestering, she couldn't endure long.
By the time he leaned back with that satisfied grin, Hu Liena was slumped in defeat.
"I've told you everything! Everything I should and shouldn't have said. What else do you want?" she demanded.
Lu Yuan shook his head firmly. "Let you go? Impossible. You're Martial Soul Hall's golden girl. If I just release you, you'll run straight back and blab about the medicine garden. Then Martial Soul Hall would come swarming here to flatten the place. Do I look like an idiot?"
Her heart sank.
Now she understood the real danger. Her little whim—challenging this abnormal man out of pride—had thrown her straight into shackles thicker than iron.
If she didn't return soon, her absence alone would alert Bibi Dong. And then…
"You bastard…" her voice quavered with rare uncertainty.
Lu Yuan leaned back, tipping wine down his throat, then lazily draped an arm over her trembling shoulder.
"Relax, little fox. Just drink with me, or spar with me. Either works. Why run back so quick, hm? Isn't this nice?"
She stiffened, face flushing. "Nice?! This—this is shameful! Let me go!"
"It's sunny here," Lu Yuan said cheerfully, entirely ignoring her fury. "Besides, you can keep me company while I shop for herbs. Oh, by the way, your Pope—she likes me, doesn't she?"
Hu Liena's head whipped up, her beautiful eyes blazing. "You dare slander Teacher like that?!"
Lu Yuan grinned over his jar. "Come on, even if she fought me for your sake, it's obvious she wants me. Although really, there's no need for her to fight over me. If she wants my bed that badly, she can just say so."
"You—insufferable!!" Hu Liena nearly fainted on the spot.
Lu Yuan only chuckled and carried on. "Don't be so tense. While you're here, let's explore." He spread his arms toward the blazing core of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, medicinal herbs glittering in unique brilliance.
Hu Liena turned, breath catching at the sight. Unfamiliar flora shimmered, glowing under the twin springs of ice and fire.
"What… what is this place?" she whispered.
"My medicine garden," Lu Yuan replied smugly. "Every plant here is a treasure. Eat one, and your cultivation level soars straight up."
Hu Liena scoffed aloud, fury mixing with disbelief. "Blow it out of your gourd! Even in Martial Soul Hall, with all the treasures I've seen, nothing like this exists. You expect me to believe eating one plant can skyrocket a soul master's rank?"
Lu Yuan's grin widened as he laid a hand on his sword. "Then watch closely, little fox. You'll see how I cultivate."
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