Heaven Dou City, Dugu Mansion.
A shadow landed on the eaves, stirring a faint ripple.
"Hmm?" Dugu Bo, who had been cultivating on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes. The quilt shifted slightly, and his figure vanished from the spot.
The shadow on the roof instantly changed direction. After a few leaps, it floated down into a courtyard.
"No wonder the Land Dragon Golden Melon brought you such a change." Before even landing, the voice had already sounded.
"How do you know that?" Dugu Bo's expression changed. He had thought it was Spirit Hall people recognizing his granddaughter or Yang Yunhai during their trip outside and then linking it to him. He never expected Chrysanthemum Douluo to directly name the Immortal Herb he had taken. That was a bad sign.
"Not going to invite me in? I came to talk business today." Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a slight nod.
"Yue Guan, you'd better not play any tricks. I'm not afraid of you now." Dugu Bo snorted coldly and turned back into the house.
Chrysanthemum Douluo curled his lip and followed.
Soon, the two of them sat in the living hall. Dugu Bo dropped into a chair with a clap and said coldly, "Go on. What brings you here in the middle of the night?"
Unbothered, Chrysanthemum Douluo sat across from him, glanced sideways, and said leisurely:
"Old Poison, have you never wondered how Yang Yunhai, at such a young age, knows pharmacology so well and even recognizes Immortal Herbs?"
Dugu Bo's expression froze. He stared and voiced the guess he hadn't wanted to accept.
"Xiao Hai's teacher… is you?"
"Other than me, who else on this continent could have such medical skill? If he weren't my disciple, do you think I would have sought you out to resolve our feud in the first place?" Chrysanthemum Douluo gave him a disdainful look.
"Old Poison, I really didn't expect that after spending decades on poison, you'd almost die from it — and in the end, my disciple had to save your life."
Dugu Bo's old face flushed. He snorted. "Cut the crap. Get to the point."
"Hmph. I figured as much. Your sudden improvement, your martial soul's growth in strength… Xiao Hai must have given you one of my Immortal Herbs, right?"
The implication was clear: your disciple saved me, I returned a Immortal Herb, and now we're even.
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. "It's all fate. My disciple was kindhearted. Not knowing our feud, he saved you and your granddaughter. Because of that, he gained a Immortal Herb. I benefited as well. You and I buried our grudges and can sit here at the same table. When you think about it, isn't that fate?"
Dugu Bo silently agreed. If Chrysanthemum Douluo hadn't taken Xiao Hai as a disciple and taught him medicine, his and his granddaughter's poison could never have been cured, let alone later enjoying Immortal Herbs, evolving their martial souls, and improving their strength.
So he snorted and said, "You're starting to sound sentimental, like a woman."
Then Chrysanthemum Douluo turned toward him and clasped his hands slightly. "Brother Dugu, thank you for protecting Xiao Hai during this time."
Dugu Bo went silent, then waved dismissively. "I only did it to repay Xiao Hai. It has nothing to do with you."
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised a brow. "So you're repaying him by trying to have your granddaughter offer herself?"
"What do you mean by that?" Dugu Bo's face hardened.
Chrysanthemum Douluo gave him a knowing look. "Old Poison, we've been rivals for nearly ten years. Don't I know you? But don't worry, I won't stop it. In fact, I can help you."
Dugu Bo was stunned, giving Chrysanthemum Douluo a look-over. "Yue Guan, did you take the wrong medicine? This isn't like you."
"The Pope wants you and your granddaughter dead." Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly dropped the bomb.
Dugu Bo's expression darkened. "Why?"
"You and your granddaughter ate Immortal Herbs and your martial souls evolved. That can't stay hidden. So Xiao Hai wrote to me, asking me to cover for you. Everyone knows our feud. So if certain words came from me, they'd be more believable than from you." Chrysanthemum Douluo said, "But no matter what, I couldn't avoid going through Pope Bibi Dong. So I had to tell her in advance to get her consent."
"I thought she'd want to use Xiao Hai to rope you in, so she'd agree. And she did. But once she learned the Immortal Herbs could evolve dragon-type martial souls…"
His voice lowered.
"You've heard she once had a relationship with Yu Xiaogang."
"Is this woman insane!?" Dugu Bo blurted out.
Bibi Dong clearly wanted to kill them and use their blood to see if it could fix her old lover's martial soul defect. As the Pope of Spirit Hall, to want to kill a Title Douluo she could have allied with — all for a man she hadn't seen in twenty years? If that wasn't madness, what was it?
"Although Xiao Hai didn't name the herbs in his letter, once she saw the change in you two, she guessed I knew more. After all, I'm Xiao Hai's teacher," Chrysanthemum Douluo went on.
"So she asked you directly." Dugu Bo pressed.
"Of course." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. "If I hadn't answered, she might have sent people after you outright. So I told her about the Nine-Grade Dragon Ganoderma and the Land Dragon Golden Melon, but said the medicinal power had already been spent in martial soul evolution. Even killing you for blood would be useless."
Dugu Bo exhaled and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Brother Yue."
If Bibi Dong really wanted to move against him, he might not survive.
"I did it for Xiao Hai," Chrysanthemum Douluo said plainly. "With you here, I can rest assured letting him stay in Heaven Dou City."
Dugu Bo nodded. "So, Bibi Dong demanded the herb information?"
"In exchange for a 35,000-year soul bone." Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered.
Dugu Bo was stunned. "That Bibi Dong really has a thick face. Trading a 35,000-year soul bone for Immortal Herb information? She dares say that?"
"Even knowing what they can do, and even though I'm a 96th rank Title Douluo, a veteran who's supported her for years… all she offered was that." Chrysanthemum Douluo fanned the flames.
"Tch, what nonsense." Chrysanthemum Douluo said flatly, "Do you know what this tournament's champion prize is?"
"What?" Dugu Bo asked quickly.
"Three soul bones." Chrysanthemum Douluo's tone was calm as he explained.
Dugu Bo was surprised. "Is there something more to it?"
"They're already spoken for." Chrysanthemum Douluo explained about Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, how they had reached the Soul King stage through Yang Yunhai's theory of surpassing limits when absorbing rings, and how Bibi Dong had funneled vast resources to them.
"Damn. And she never thought to spare a little resource for Xiao Hai?" Dugu Bo fumed. "Brother Yue, you've worked for her for years, yet she values three juniors over you."
He paused, then asked, "Tell me, have you or Ghost ever received a soul bone from her? And you didn't hand over Xiao Hai's soul skill development theory, right?"
"I'm not stupid," Chrysanthemum Douluo said coldly. "And no, we've never received one."
"Bibi Dong really is shameless," Dugu Bo cursed. Then his eyes sharpened. "Brother Yue, why don't you and Ghost leave Spirit Hall? The three of us can protect Xiao Hai and build our own faction."
Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head. "For now, staying in Spirit Hall protects Xiao Hai. Today, I gave him the soul bone Bibi Dong gave me. He plans for Zhu Zhuqing to use it to help her absorb a 10,000 year fourth ring."
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed. "Two 10,000 year fourth rings… that will attract attention."
"Which is why we stay. At least Spirit Hall won't move against Xiao Hai. Instead, they'll want to protect him. And Ghost and I can use our ties to him as an excuse to watch over him in Heaven Dou City."
Dugu Bo raised a brow. "So Xiao Hai told you about targeting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Tang Hao."
"Yes. Just waiting for the tournament to draw them out." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. "And if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan makes a move, we'll have justification. Any soul bones gained, Ghost and I won't take. They'll be yours, to repay the debt of the herbs and thank you for guarding Xiao Hai."
"I won't refuse. Those bones will be useful for me and Yan Yan," Dugu Bo said. "But any soul bones from Tang Hao or the Clear Sky Sect will be yours."
"In that case, Brother Dugu, happy cooperation." Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled. He drew out a slip of paper and set it on the table. "Here's a recipe I happened upon. No herbs needed, only ingredients from beasts. Supposedly tasteless and colorless. I guarantee my disciple will never detect it. After all, everything he knows, I taught him."
Dugu Bo was stunned, then picked up the paper. The note at the top read: One whiff, and you'll last till dawn in battle!
'Damn, that's something!'
He scanned the ingredients, and his eyes lit up. He tucked the paper away and cupped his hands. "Brother Yue, once it works, I'll treat you to a drink."
Chrysanthemum Douluo chuckled and nodded.
(End of Chapter)
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