Sorrow and Hope

### Excited as he was, Oscar still needed to maintain his persona. If he made Dugu Bo uncomfortable, getting kicked out would only take a word from him.

After all, Oscar's side still lacked the strength to contend with a Titled Douluo. Gai Yue might be able to exchange a couple of moves with Dugu Bo, but likely no more than that.

The terror of a Titled Douluo was not just empty talk. None of those who stood at the pinnacle of the Spirit Master World were simple figures.

As they chatted casually, Oscar obtained the result he had hoped for most. Still, he wanted to add a little more to the bargain.

The atmosphere was just right, and seeing how easygoing Dugu Bo seemed, Oscar hesitated repeatedly before finally asking, "Senior, have you never considered removing the poison from you and Dugu Yan? Not only does it greatly affect you, but for Dugu Yan, it should also be an unbearable agony."

At the mention of this topic, the previously relaxed and peaceful atmosphere instantly turned somewhat cold. Dugu Bo's gaze grew a bit more desolate, while Dugu Yan's face took on a trace of sorrow.

"Your knowledge is no less than mine. If I had a way to solve this problem, do you think I would still be like this?" Dugu Bo sighed. "But how did you know that I, too, suffer from this poison? I am a Titled Douluo. Could it be that I cannot even control my own poison?"

Dugu Bo was no longer surprised that Oscar could see through his secret, because from their previous conversation, he had already understood that Oscar's knowledge was no less than his own.

Thus, he asked only to test Oscar and to find out whether Oscar truly knew his greatest secret after being afflicted by the poison.

Oscar merely kept smiling. "I know Your Excellency wishes to test me, and I should be considered to have seen through Your Excellency's secret. But if I say it aloud, will it affect Your Excellency?"

Dugu Bo was slightly stunned. He then glanced at Gai Yue atop the giant tree beside them, remained silent for a while, and only then slowly said, "Meeting is fate. Speak freely. But if you truly get it right, I hope you can keep it secret. Otherwise, even though this old man admires you greatly, I still will..."

Dugu Bo did not continue, but Oscar understood what he meant. "Then this junior will boldly analyze it for you, Senior."

Dugu Bo nodded slightly and assumed a listening posture. Dugu Yan held a small wooden stick in her hand, poking at the fire while pricking up her ears.

Oscar paused, then slowly said, "Your Excellency, whenever the sky turns overcast or it rains, do your sides beneath the ribs feel numb and itchy, with the sensation gradually worsening?"

Oscar had only spoken two simple sentences, yet Dugu Bo's pupils instantly contracted. If he had still been uncertain whether Oscar possessed such ability before, then now he had no reason to doubt it at all.

Because Oscar's words were completely accurate, Dugu Bo nodded slightly, and Oscar continued, "This should occur once at noon and once at midnight. Given your current condition, each episode should last for more than two full hours."

"Every late night, around the third watch, your scalp and the soles of your feet will feel as though needles are piercing them, and your entire body will convulse for at least an hour."

"I can scarcely imagine that agonizing process, so I concluded that you are not merely poisoned—the poison has already seeped into your bones."

Upon hearing Oscar's words, Dugu Bo's expression changed from initial surprise to gloom. Oscar had revealed his secret, and it was also the pain of his entire life.

Had he not broken through to the realm of Titled Douluo, he might have long since been tortured to death by it.

After hearing this, and seeing that Dugu Bo did not deny it, the indescribable grief in Dugu Yan's heart swelled even further.

"Grandpa... You... Why have you never told Yan Yan? I thought the pain I endured was already... You..." Dugu Yan, who had been playing with the fire using her little stick, was now crying so hard she could barely speak. Tears streamed from her eyes.

Whenever her poison acted up while she was growing up, Dugu Bo had always comforted and soothed her. She had believed that Grandpa, one of the strongest Titled Douluo on the continent, could never possibly suffer such an experience.

Yet unexpectedly, the pain Dugu Bo endured was more than ten times hers.

Seeing Dugu Yan crying her eyes out, Dugu Bo could not help shooting Oscar a glare. He gently drew Dugu Yan into his arms, patted her back, and comforted her softly. "Yan Yan, you are a grown girl now. Don't cry. This little bit of pain is nothing to Grandpa. It is Grandpa who should feel heartbroken. If I had mastered a way to detoxify you, you would not have to endure this undeserved suffering."

Watching the grandfather and granddaughter suddenly enveloped in sorrow, Oscar unexpectedly felt the same pain. Gai Yue, atop the giant tree, could not help looking at Dugu Bo a few more times.

So even the famed Poison Douluo had such hardships? This was life, perhaps. Even those far stronger than oneself had their own suffering.

Dugu Bo gently patted Dugu Yan's back, not knowing whether he was speaking to Oscar or to someone else. "Do you know what it feels like for a little girl of only two or three years old to be tortured by this deadly poison until she cannot sleep for days and nights, unable even to speak clearly, with no understanding of the world, yet forced to endure such pain every day?"

"I have lived through it, but I never dared recall it, because that was the most painful time of my life. Despite possessing strength that could shake the continent, I could not even solve such a small matter. I could only watch my little granddaughter every day..."

Hearing those words, tears inexplicably welled in Oscar's eyes. Why had he never felt this way when reading the original novel?

Now that this grandfather and granddaughter were right before him, hearing such heartbreaking words, Oscar felt that Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan might be among the most miserable people on the continent.

And there was his teacher, Gai Yue. At such a young age, his family had been wiped out. Of the entire clan of over a thousand people, he alone had escaped. How much pain must he have endured to emerge from that? Compared to them, Oscar felt that he was already very fortunate.

Only after a long while did Oscar slowly say, "Senior, if I can see your problem, do you truly think I merely possess a bit of knowledge?"

Hearing this, Dugu Bo initially did not think much of it. He merely continued gently patting Dugu Yan's back, his eyes full of heartache for his granddaughter.

But he quickly came to his senses. He looked at Oscar with considerable surprise, and there was even a trace of anticipation in his eyes.

"What do you mean? Could it be... Could it be that you have a way to solve Yan Yan's and my problem?"

Yet the moment Dugu Bo spoke those words, he immediately felt that he had been too presumptuous.

Oscar's displayed knowledge had indeed astonished him, but he had searched his entire life without finding a perfect solution to his poison. Could an eleven-year-old child like Oscar truly have one? Please bookmark and vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets! Thank you, brothers, for your rewards over the past two days. I will definitely keep up the good work.

Also, I am begging for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, and follow-up reads.

Last week, the novel received its first round of recommendations, but yesterday the editor told me the second round was looking uncertain. So we still need everyone to generate more support and strive to get through a few more recommendation rounds.

Only then can we gain exposure and traffic. With traffic, the author will have more motivation to keep writing. Please, everyone!!

My deepest thanks!!