Dugu Bo's Arrival, Nine-Section Emerald

Bai Wanwan's eyes lit up. "Senior, are there any restrictions on the condition you mentioned?"

"What if, when I ask Senior to handle something for me, Senior tries to shirk it? That would be quite troubling."

Her fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest, producing a rhythmic patter as Bai Wanwan looked at Dugu Bo before her with a faint, ambiguous smile.

"As long as this old man is still alive, and it is within my capabilities, any matter is acceptable so long as it does not harm my granddaughter. And you may rest assured: while this old man is no great man, I have always kept my promises. Anything I agree to do, I will certainly accomplish."

Dugu Bo's voice was calm, yet it carried an unmistakable strength.

Bai Wanwan said nothing, her fingertips continuing to tap against the armrest.

The terms Dugu Bo offered were highly appealing. Nor did Bai Wanwan worry that, after she helped him remove the poison, his promise would become meaningless. From the descriptions in the original work, Dugu Bo truly was someone who kept his word.

After pondering for a moment.

Bai Wanwan slowly raised one finger. "How about adding one more condition?"

"What condition?"

Dugu Bo's brow furrowed ever so slightly, and a trace of displeasure arose in his heart.

He believed he had already shown considerable sincerity, yet this little girl before him was actually trying to push for more. Still, when he thought of the detoxification, Dugu Bo did not reveal his displeasure. Instead, he put on an attentive expression.

"I heard that Senior has a pet snake. Could you let it out for me to see?"

Bai Wanwan leaned forward slightly, studying the Ruyi Treasure Pouch hanging from Dugu Bo's waist with great interest.

The Ruyi Treasure Pouch was also a Soul Tool. Its greatest difference from other Storage Soul Tools was that it could store not only inanimate objects, but living creatures as well.

"A pet snake?"

"You mean the Nine-Section Emerald?"

Dugu Bo removed the Ruyi Treasure Pouch from his waist and reached inside, taking out a small snake that was jade-green all over, crystal-clear, and marked with nine emerald sections along its body.

The instant the little snake appeared, it crawled up along Dugu Bo's fingers before finally coiling around his wrist.

"The Nine-Section Emerald is one of my greatest treasures, the finest among Bamboo Pit Vipers. I have fed it all manner of poisons and poisonous herbs since it was young. Its venom can slaughter an entire city. If an ordinary Soul Master is bitten, they will turn into pus within three breaths, leaving not even bones behind."

"And don't let its small size fool you. Its body is harder than refined steel, and even sharp blades can scarcely harm it."

Dugu Bo explained softly.

At that moment, the Nine-Section Emerald coiled around his wrist turned its head and looked toward Bai Wanwan. Just as it was about to bare its fangs viciously, it saw a pair of Azure Blue eyes quietly staring at it.

A natural suppression and fear rooted in its bloodline instantly stiffened the Nine-Section Emerald's body. It then curled itself into a ball, not daring to move at all.

"Senior, you have raised this Nine-Section Emerald so well. Its jade-green, crystal-clear body is truly beautiful."

"I wonder if Senior would be willing to part with it?"

Bai Wanwan leaned closer, carefully examining the Nine-Section Emerald.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo hurriedly pulled the Nine-Section Emerald farther back. He was starting to suspect that Bai Wanwan had not listened to a word he said. He had clearly stated that the Nine-Section Emerald possessed venom capable of slaughtering a city, yet she still dared to get so close.

"You have a good eye."

"But it is not that I am unwilling to give it to you. This Nine-Section Emerald is highly venomous. If it bites and injures you, that would be no laughing matter."

Dugu Bo's tone was extremely serious.

"Senior needn't worry about that. I am confident it won't bite me."

Bai Wanwan smiled indifferently.

Bite her?

Seeing the Nine-Section Emerald curled into a ball like that, Bai Wanwan felt that even if she went up and slapped it, it would not dare lift its head.

"You are certain you want it?"

Dugu Bo lowered his head to look at the Nine-Section Emerald. Though he felt there was something strange about its current state, he did not think much of it. He merely hesitated over whether to give it away.

He had no particular reluctance to part with the Nine-Section Emerald.

What worried him was that, at some unknown moment, the Nine-Section Emerald might bite Bai Wanwan, and she would die on the spot.

Though he did not particularly care whether Bai Wanwan lived or died, he cared greatly about having his granddaughter detoxified.

"I am not someone who forcibly takes what others cherish. If Senior truly cannot bear to part with it, then forget it."

"But the Nine-Section Emerald was not included in the condition Senior mentioned. If you are unwilling to give up even one snake, I have to wonder whether the condition Senior just stated was genuine."

Bai Wanwan leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs.

"Since you insist on having it, this old man shall give it to you."

Dugu Bo looked at the Nine-Section Emerald in his hand. After thinking for a moment, he did not hand it directly to Bai Wanwan. Instead, he placed it back into the Ruyi Treasure Pouch, then set the pouch itself before Bai Wanwan.

"Senior is indeed quite sincere."

"Then I will also be frank with Senior. I am very interested in the condition you mentioned. I agree to detoxify you, but I need to prepare some things for the treatment."

"Once I have everything prepared, I will remove Senior's poison. And Senior can rest assured, I will not trouble you with every little matter. I will only ask Senior to act in matters I cannot handle myself, or matters that are inconvenient for me to deal with personally."

Bai Wanwan picked up the Ruyi Treasure Pouch and examined it with great interest.

Whether it was the Nine-Section Emerald or the Ruyi Treasure Pouch, she was extremely interested in both.

There was no need to say much about the Nine-Section Emerald. It was small and carried lethal venom. Whenever someone got on her nerves, she could simply release it and have it bite them when they least expected it.

As for the Ruyi Treasure Pouch, Bai Wanwan felt that this Soul Tool would be far more useful in her hands than it had ever been in Dugu Bo's.

In Dugu Bo's hands, it could only hold poisonous herbs and Nine-Section Emeralds. But in Bai Wanwan's hands, it could hold far more than just Nine-Section Emeralds. She could even choose a few obedient Spirit Beasts and put them inside, releasing them whenever they were needed.

"As long as it can cure poison, nothing else matters."

"But there's one thing I need to remind you of again. The Nine-Section Emerald's venom is no joke. You must be extremely careful when dealing with it."

After giving the warning with a grave expression, Dugu Bo prepared to get up and return to his small courtyard.

But at that moment, Bai Wanwan called out to stop him.

"Senior, how large is the space inside this Ruyi Treasure Pouch? How much can it hold?"

Bai Wanwan looked at Dugu Bo curiously.

"The space inside the Ruyi Treasure Pouch isn't very large, but it's sufficient for everyday use. You saw those Nine-Section Emeralds just now—holding a little over a hundred of them is probably about its limit."

Dugu Bo thought for a moment before answering softly.