Dugu Bo

"Hmm? Someone's here?"

At that moment, Dugu Bo, who was meditating not far from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, opened his eyes.

He could sense someone rapidly passing through the poisonous mist he had set up, with a clear purpose.

"Could it be that old chrysanthemum?" Dugu Bo frowned. He did not recall ever revealing the location of this herb garden to anyone.

How had that old chrysanthemum found out?

However, this was his home ground. The numerous Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flowers around the perimeter were his natural allies, so Dugu Bo did not hesitate as he rushed toward the intruder.

"Greetings, Senior Dugu Bo."

What surprised Dugu Bo was that the visitor was not some Titled Douluo, but merely a little Soul Elder he had no impression of whatsoever.

"Boy, get out of this old man's herb garden before I lose my temper!" Dugu Bo said coldly, his hands clasped behind his back.

Although he did not know what method the other party had used to avoid the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flower's poison, Dugu Bo clearly did not have the patience to slowly question him. There were plenty of people on Douluo Continent capable of such a thing; one more or less made no difference.

"Senior Dugu Bo, please calm yourself and hear this junior out," Lang Lei said. With Little Griseo present, he was still quite the gentleman.

"Boy, can't you understand what I'm saying?!" Dugu Bo roared. "I've changed my mind. You two will stay here!"

As he spoke, Dugu Bo charged at Lang Lei, reaching out to seize his throat.

"Honestly, can't we just calm down and talk properly?" Lang Lei helplessly set Little Griseo down and used Earth Dragon Dust to shield her from the poisonous gas.

Then he charged at Dugu Bo.

An hour later—

Lang Lei planted one foot on Dugu Bo's back and bent down. "Can we talk properly now?"

Dugu Bo nodded in shock, his pupils filled with bewilderment after his entire worldview had been shattered.

"Honestly, did we really have to fight before we could talk?" Lang Lei released Dugu Bo and stretched his body. "Sometimes, fists really work better than reason..."

Dugu Bo looked resentfully at this person who had barged into his herb garden and beaten him up...

A Soul Elder?

"Eugh, don't look at me like that, you nasty old man." Lang Lei picked Little Griseo up again and spoke with disgust.

"..."

A few minutes later, Dugu Bo, having sorted out his thoughts, looked complicatedly at Lang Lei, who was sitting in the distance with Little Griseo in his arms.

That guy looked like a Soul Elder on the surface, but his strength was no weaker than Dugu Bo's, a Titled Douluo!

Sure, he specialized in poison! But wasn't this far too absurd?!

Moreover, Dugu Bo had discovered that his poison could not even get close to the other man!

After all, when Lang Lei had fought earlier, he had thrown fire and lightning around, used all kinds of weapons, and created terrain in an endless variety of ways.

It had been sparks and lightning all the way.

Combined with Lang Lei's various buffs and damage reduction, Dugu Bo could only cry out that the guy had cheats.

"So, what did you want to talk to this old man... to me about?"

"Let's talk about the issue with your martial soul, and about your granddaughter," Lang Lei said directly without beating around the bush.

"What did you do to Yanyan?!" Upon hearing Lang Lei's words, Dugu Bo immediately became wary again.

"Don't get so worked up. I haven't done anything yet!" Lang Lei said as he rubbed Little Griseo's head.

"Yet?"

"Ah, no. What I mean is, I merely happened to run into the team your granddaughter was with in the Star Dou Great Forest," Lang Lei explained. "We got along fairly well, and I have a decent impression of them."

"The Imperial Dou Team?" As someone doting on his granddaughter, keeping up with her recent circumstances was basic practice for Dugu Bo.

"Yes." Lang Lei nodded. "I spent some time with your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, in the Star Dou Great Forest. While chatting, I learned a few things—for instance... that her grandfather had a very beautiful herb garden."

Dugu Bo's expression turned complicated. It was not that he blamed Dugu Yan, but rather that he was concerned about Lang Lei's intentions.

Given his physical condition, it was impossible for him to give up this herb garden, which was highly useful for suppressing his poison.

If the other party was the unreasonable sort, then this matter likely could not be settled peacefully.

More tragically, he could not even defeat him...

He, Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, could not beat a Soul Elder (д;)!

"This... young friend."

"Just call me Lang Lei."

"Mm, Young Friend Lang Lei, I'm afraid this puts this old man in a difficult position."

"I know."

"Pfft—"

You know, and you still came to make things difficult for me!

Then Lang Lei's next sentence made Dugu Bo leap to his feet.

"Isn't it just the poison inside your body that you can't get rid of?" Lang Lei said as if it were nothing. "Oh, right. Your granddaughter Dugu Yan seems to have it in her body too, though not as much as you, and her condition isn't as severe."

"Young friend, do you have a solution?!" Dugu Bo became excited, not caring how the other party knew. "If you truly can solve it, I'll offer up the herb garden with both hands!"

This was not merely for himself, but also for his lovely granddaughter.

The other party had been able to tell at a glance that his granddaughter Dugu Yan had poison in her body, and could even see that she and he had been afflicted by the same kind of poison, only that his was more severe. Most likely, the other party truly had a solution.

"I do, but there are conditions," Lang Lei said.

"What conditions? As long as you can cure this problem of mine, even if I must climb mountains of blades and plunge into seas of fire, what would I dare not do?!"

"You don't need to climb mountains of blades or plunge into seas of fire." Lang Lei's face darkened as he waved his hand. "Let me borrow your herb garden for one day. During that day, go bring your granddaughter Dugu Yan here. I'll work out a solution for you two."

"Alright!" Dugu Bo agreed without hesitation.

Leaving aside the fact that the other party could defeat him and could have simply taken it by force rather than negotiating terms with him, that alone showed the other party's noble character.

Such a person would certainly not go back on his word.

Besides, he did not recognize nearly any of the herbs in this garden, much less know how to use them. Every single one was highly poisonous, to the point that even he had to keep his distance.

Even if the other party took them all, he had nothing to feel sorry about.

And then there was the pool of water in the herb garden, its blue and red waters reflecting each other. That was the true reason he treasured this place.

Even he could not touch that pool. He did not believe Lang Lei, who was only slightly stronger than him—or so Dugu Bo believed—could directly carry away such a vast wonder.

Not even a Limit Douluo could do that, alright?!

It could only be said that when one's fist was bigger, one really could avoid a lot of trouble.

"Young Friend Lang Lei, feel free to take any herbs from the garden. I'll be back shortly."

"By the way, your granddaughter and the others are most likely in Suotuo City participating in spirit battles right now. You can check there first," Lang Lei reminded him.

"Alright. Thank you for the reminder, Young Friend Lang Lei."

Dugu Bo clasped his hands in salute and quickly departed.

"Alright!" Only after Dugu Bo had gone far away did Lang Lei drop his calm facade. "Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, here I come!"

"Brother Lang Lei... is acting weird~"