Even If It Costs Everything!

Tea House

Inside an antique-style private room.

Wisps of white smoke swayed gracefully from the Bronze Incense Burner, lingering throughout the room.

The elderly man in a long azure robe held a Jade Cup, gently blowing away the mist curling above it before taking a light sip.

The tea began bitter, turned mellow in the middle, and ended sweet, possessing a rather unique flavor.

A youth in white sat directly opposite the old man.

Though young, he did not yield in the slightest before this long-renowned elder, remaining calm and composed.

Qian Renxue did not continue following them.

After all, she still bore the identity of the Crown Prince. She could not possibly remain away from the palace all day.

Moreover, she had no interest in the transaction between Luo Li and Dugu Bo.

Thus, after bidding them farewell, she returned to her Eastern Palace.

Luo Li, meanwhile, followed Dugu Yan to this tea house.

"What business does King Frost Extreme have with this old man?"

Dugu Bo slightly raised his eyelids and asked softly.

When he saw Luo Li accompanying his granddaughter upon her return, he had been completely baffled.

However, he was not particularly nervous.

After all, Dugu Bo had long understood this King Frost Extreme's attitude toward him.

Though the battle outside Heaven Dou City had been impressive, neither side had ever harbored killing intent.

"A transaction."

Luo Li stated his purpose directly.

"A transaction?" Dugu Bo froze, unable to understand what Luo Li meant.

Why had he suddenly come to seek some transaction with him for no apparent reason?

Dugu Bo considered himself, despite being a Titled Douluo, to be more like an idle cloud and wild crane in the way he lived.

Other than a granddaughter and an Herb Garden, he had nothing else.

Compared to King Frost Extreme, who came from the Luo Family, one of the Seven Great Soul Master Families, and had been granted the title of King, he indeed seemed somewhat shabby.

What could he possibly possess that this King Frost Extreme would take a liking to?

Luo Li set down his teacup and slightly lifted his gaze.

"Senior Poison Douluo, the subject of this transaction is some of the herbs in your Herb Garden."

At those words, Dugu Bo frowned slightly.

He believed he had protected his Herb Garden quite thoroughly. How did Luo Li know about it?

Luo Li had only arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy today to serve as its headmaster. He had never interacted with Yan Yan before, so Yan Yan could not possibly have told him.

Though puzzled, Dugu Bo still nodded slightly.

"If King Frost Extreme has taken a liking to anything, simply take it from this old man."

He did not mention any conditions and directly agreed to let Luo Li take whatever herbs he wished.

After all, in Dugu Bo's view, although he had acted that day due to a favor owed to Xue Xing and had held no killing intent, the fact remained that he had attacked Luo Li.

Though Luo Li did not seem to care, Dugu Bo had always felt guilty about it.

Now that Luo Li was interested in some herbs from his Herb Garden, Dugu Bo was more than willing to let him take some.

In any case, many of those herbs were of little use to him.

He could treat it as repayment for Luo Li's kindness in not holding a grudge.

After all, Luo Li had already been able to defeat him when he was merely a Soul Saint.

Now that he was a Soul Douluo, Dugu Bo certainly stood even less chance against him.

If Luo Li truly held grudges over every slight, then neither he nor Yan Yan would likely escape disaster today.

That Luo Li did not hold a grudge was already an immense kindness to Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo's ready response left Luo Li slightly stunned.

He truly had not expected Dugu Bo to agree so readily.

He had not even named any conditions.

Seeming to notice Luo Li's surprise, Dugu Bo explained,

"Consider this this old man's apology for offending King Frost Extreme that day."

Hearing this, Luo Li understood Dugu Bo's thoughts.

He shook his head slightly.

"What happened that day is already in the past."

"If I had truly harbored resentment, I would not have remained inactive all this time. Since it is a transaction, there must be something to trade."

Dugu Bo wanted to say more, but Luo Li raised a hand to stop him.

"Why not let me finish, Poison Douluo?"

Those silver eyes stared at Dugu Bo before him, their gaze piercing, making Dugu Bo instinctively feel somewhat uneasy.

He actually felt as though he had been completely seen through!

"Senior Poison Douluo, the poison has already seeped into your very bones, hasn't it?"

The moment those words were spoken, Dugu Bo felt as though he had been struck by lightning.

Yet when he considered the many legendary deeds of the Young King before him, it seemed reasonable again.

He did not hide it and nodded calmly in admission.

"I did not expect King Frost Extreme to have studied such matters as well."

"That is correct. This old man's body has already been poisoned to the core."

Dugu Bo's frank admission immediately made Dugu Yan, seated nearby, unable to remain calm.

She cried out in panic, "How is that possible? How could I not know?"

"Grandfather, you are the Poison Douluo. How could poison have seeped into your very bones?!"

The calmness and charm usually present on Dugu Yan's pretty face were nowhere to be found.

Tension and fear filled that delicate face.

Dugu Yan's parents had died early. Her only remaining relative was her grandfather, Dugu Bo.

That sole familial bond was something she treasured beyond measure.

Dugu Yan absolutely could not accept the thought of losing her last remaining family member!

Now that she had heard her grandfather Dugu Bo had been poisoned to the core, how could she possibly remain calm?

Seeing his nervous granddaughter, Dugu Bo let out a soft sigh.

He had originally intended to hide this from her forever, so that she would not worry.

However, he had not expected Luo Li to see through his condition as well, so he simply stopped concealing it.

He extended his hand, as cracked and dry as parched earth, gently rubbed Dugu Yan's head, and sighed softly.

"Grandfather did not mean to hide it from you. I simply did not want you to worry."

"This is the curse of Grandfather's Martial Soul."

"While the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul granted me powerful poison attributes, it also brought hidden dangers to both me and those close to me."

"Your parents... they died because of this poison."

Dugu Bo's voice sank lower, and a self-mocking smile appeared on his aged face.

"Poison Douluo, Poison Douluo..." He murmured his title several times.

"How many in this world know that the Titled Douluo famed for poison is helpless even against the poison ravaging his own body?!"

"The Jade Phosphor Snake Emperor Poison truly is incomparably tyrannical. Not only does it terrify outsiders, even this old snake has fallen victim to it!"

Dugu Bo raised his teacup and drank the scalding tea in one gulp.

The blazing heat burned his throat, but that scorching pain was far less than the pain in his heart.

He did not care much about himself. He had lived for so many years; he had lived enough.

He only pitied his precious granddaughter...

Dugu Bo's gloomy eyes reflected Dugu Yan's devastated little face, and his gaze grew firm.

"Yan Yan, don't worry. Before Grandfather can no longer hold on, I will definitely find a way to resolve the poison in your body, even if..."

"It costs me everything!"

Suddenly realizing something, he sharply turned to Luo Li, hope igniting in his eyes.

This King Frost Extreme had first proposed a transaction, then exposed the fact that poison had seeped into his very bones.

Surely these could not be unrelated, accidental actions.

Could it be...

Did this King Frost Extreme have a way to resolve the damned poison within their bodies?!

Dugu Bo's breathing grew heavy.

It did not matter whether it was for himself. Even if it was only for his granddaughter, he could not give up even the slightest shred of hope!

"My lord..."

Dugu Bo's voice trembled uncontrollably, dry and hoarse.

Even his form of address had changed from King Frost Extreme to my lord.

For someone as proud as Dugu Bo, the difficulty of such a change was easy to imagine.

"Could it be that you..."

Luo Li's next words were like a lifeline, instantly sending Dugu Bo's emotions surging and making his body tremble uncontrollably.

"That's right. I can resolve the poison in your bodies."