Recruitment

"All right, all right, stop messing around." Ming Lunyu gave Tang Fu'er's head one last rub, then shot Ma Hongjun a look. Ma Hongjun immediately grinned and peeled Tang Fu'er off Ming Lunyu.

Ming Lunyu looked at Dugu Bo and said seriously, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Ming Lunyu. Ming as in bright, Lunyu as in feather fan and silk headscarf. This is Ma Hongjun, and this is Tang Fu'er."

Dugu Bo pursed his lips. "Dugu Bo." That counted as an introduction.

Although he had been thoroughly intimidated by the pressure of a limit Douluo, Dugu Bo gradually recovered after his brief shock. He neither dared to appear overly arrogant nor acted excessively fawning. He still had some pride in him.

"May I ask what brings the three of you here?" Dugu Bo asked in a deep voice.

Ming Lunyu smiled. "We merely discovered the massive poison formation and feared that some villain might be planning to use it for some unspeakable purpose, so we came in to investigate. We never expected to find such a treasure land within."

Ming Lunyu's reason was not entirely fabricated. He had merely omitted the fact that he had also entered in search of treasure.

Besides, he truly wanted to know why the Poison Mist outside had been arranged. And when it came to poison, wasn't the first impression that it was more often used by bad people? Before entering, he had already prepared himself for a fierce battle.

Dugu Bo's expression changed. From the corner of his eye, he discreetly glanced at Tang Fu'er, who was looking up at the sky, and secretly groaned inwardly.

"Could it be that you have your eyes on this place as well and wish to claim it for yourselves?"

Ming Lunyu shook his head. "Not at all. If we wanted to do that, we could have attacked you while you were healing."

"Then what is your purpose?" Dugu Bo was somewhat stunned.

The corners of Ming Lunyu's lips curled upward, revealing a wicked smile. He looked just like a devil luring a young girl into depravity.

"I want... you."

A chill ran down Dugu Bo's spine, and his entire body trembled. He quickly understood what Ming Lunyu meant. "Do you want me to join your clan or sect?"

Dugu Bo guessed that Ming Lunyu and Ma Hongjun were most likely direct disciples of some reclusive sect or heirs of some hidden clan, while Tang Fu'er was probably some ancient monster who had mastered the art of preserving her appearance and served as the two boys' protector.

Ming Lunyu nodded with a smile and corrected him. "I do want you to join me, but I do not have a sect or clan. If there has to be one, then this sect currently consists of only the three of us. There is no need for me to lie to you."

Dugu Bo's mind became tangled again.

Not a hidden faction? Then where had these two genius youths and that Rank 99 Titled Douluo come from?

"Why do you want to recruit me?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Ming Lunyu looked as though Dugu Bo were asking something obvious. "There are many reasons. First, you are strong enough, and you possess this treasure land. Having you join us definitely would not be a loss. Not only would it increase our combat strength, it would also grant us precious resources—since you would be my subordinate, it would not be too much for me to pick one or two herbs from here, would it? Second, you are not really a bad person."

"You can even tell what kind of person I am?" Dugu Bo looked unconvinced.

"Do you really want to know how I can tell? Let me make this clear in advance: if I tell you the reason, then if you still refuse to join me afterward, the only path left for you will be death." Ming Lunyu's smile deepened.

Dugu Bo fell silent. This was a naked threat. He was not afraid of death, but he could not die so casually. He still had a granddaughter to care for.

Ming Lunyu shook his head regretfully. "Since you do not want to know, I will continue. The third reason is that there is something about you that I can use to keep you in check."

"Hm? What do you have on me? Are you saying my life is in your hands? Or do you think this old man will submit to you just because you threaten me?" Dugu Bo asked in confusion.

It was true that circumstances were stronger than he was, but Dugu Bo had principles. Coercion would not work on him.

"No, no, you misunderstand. When did I ever say I wanted to force you? If you are still unwilling after hearing me out, we will leave immediately." Ming Lunyu was utterly confident.

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes. "Go on, then."

"Heh, then I will be direct. Senior Dugu, these past years, being tormented by poison has not felt very good, has it?" Ming Lunyu put on a show as he summoned his folding fan and snapped it open.

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted. He urgently grabbed Ming Lunyu by the shoulders. "You know? Do you have a solution?"

Faced with Dugu Bo's intense reaction, Ming Lunyu calmly removed his hands. "I understand your problem. Though your Jade Phosphorous Serpent lineage possesses formidable poison, it is also a double-edged sword. It can poison others, but it can also poison yourselves."

Tang Fu'er had told Ming Lunyu this.

Dugu Bo listened intently. He knew the following words would be the key.

"You are so desperate to find a solution not for your own sake, are you? Even facing the threat of a Rank 99 Titled Douluo did not make you lose your composure like this, yet merely hearing that there might be hope of resolving the poison has made you so impatient... Senior Dugu, you have someone you cannot bear to let go of, don't you?"

Dugu Bo was silent for several seconds before revealing the truth. "You guessed correctly. This old man has a granddaughter, and only one granddaughter left... My son died from Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, and as my granddaughter's Soul Power increases, she too has gradually begun to suffer from the serpent poison."

"Has it only just begun?" Ming Lunyu's gaze became even more confident. "Then what if I said I could resolve the problem in your granddaughter's body? Would you be willing to..."

"No problem!" Dugu Bo urgently cut him off, shouting loudly in a loss of composure. "If you truly have a way to resolve the poison in my granddaughter's body, what would it matter if this old life of mine were given to you? Not only that, this entire herb garden will be yours as well! As long as you can truly do it..."

Seeing Dugu Bo like this, Ming Lunyu could not help but feel moved.

If it were Grandpa, he would also give everything for me, just like him...

Hu Dasheng's smile surfaced in Ming Lunyu's mind.

Steadying himself, Ming Lunyu said calmly, "Then it is settled. Senior Dugu, allow me to show you what I can do."

Knowing that the overall situation had been decided, Ming Lunyu no longer hid anything. He put away his Folding Fan Martial Soul as two gray Soul Rings rose around him. Inverse Yin Yang, activate!

"This is... Twin Martial Souls!" Dugu Bo was shocked once again.

"Is that really necessary? Brother has always had Twin Martial Souls." Ma Hongjun wore an expression that said this old man had never seen the world.

Dugu Bo gave an embarrassed snort. "You do not think Twin Martial Souls are something common, do you? Have you ever seen any other Twin Martial Souls?"

Ma Hongjun shook his head. "No, I have not."

"Then there you have it. Was I wrong to be surprised?" Dugu Bo suddenly looked as though he had regained some ground, a trace of pride appearing on his face.

Ming Lunyu circulated his Martial Soul, and gray Soul Power surged toward Dugu Bo.

"Do not resist."

Dugu Bo sensed no malice and gradually relaxed, allowing Ming Lunyu's Soul Power to enter his body.

"This!"

The instant the Soul Power entered his body, Dugu Bo's eyes widened.

He only felt that this gray Soul Power was incomparably gentle, like a vast and boundless starry sky capable of containing all things. It was also like a mother's palm, bringing comfort and peace of mind.

Most importantly, he felt that whenever the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison within him came into contact with this gray Soul Power, it was like ice melting beneath a spring breeze, changing from stubborn hardness into gentle softness.

No... the poison had not changed. His body had changed! Even the meridians touched by this Soul Power were gradually undergoing a miraculous transformation, becoming more suited to the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison. His body and poison, which should have been utterly incompatible, were actually beginning to harmonize. They no longer clashed against each other but instead complemented one another. Though the progress was extremely slow, it allowed Dugu Bo to see hope of being cured.

Ming Lunyu stopped, a regretful expression appearing on his face.

"What is it?" Dugu Bo asked nervously. Ming Lunyu was now his lifeline; his granddaughter's life rested entirely on him.

"Your body has been poisoned too deeply. With my current Soul Power, I cannot save you. But your granddaughter has only just begun to show symptoms. I can guarantee that I will make her recover completely."

Dugu Bo was not disappointed upon hearing this. As long as his granddaughter was well, nothing else mattered.

He immediately cupped his hands toward Ming Lunyu. "This old man is now completely convinced. According to our agreement, this old life of mine shall be at your command. I only hope that you will also honor our agreement and cure my granddaughter."

Ming Lunyu's lips curved upward as he accepted Dugu Bo's salute. "Do not worry. If you truly have the resolve to entrust your life entirely to me, I have a way to cure not only your granddaughter, but you as well."

"All right, we can discuss that later. Time is of the essence. Bring your granddaughter here quickly." Ming Lunyu did not respond to Dugu Bo's probing gaze for the moment.