Tang Xuan's Fear

"No, no, Little Monster, your thinking is wrong." Dugu Bo stroked his chin, deep in thought.

"Hm? What's wrong with it?" Tang Xuan scratched his head.

The facts were right in front of them. What could possibly be wrong?

Dugu Bo did not reply.

From the movement of his eyes, it was clear that his almond-sized brain was spinning at high speed.

Tang Xuan did not dare interrupt him.

He could only wait.

After a while—well, call it a while.

In any case, he had no idea how much time had passed.

Dugu Bo suddenly slapped his thigh. "That's it—cause and effect. Little Monster, you've got the causal relationship backward, haven't you?"

"Huh?" Tang Xuan's mind went blank.

How had this turned into cause and effect? What did this have to do with cause and effect?

Dugu Bo said solemnly, "Pain and suffering are not brought about by the flower. They are trials those people must go through in their lives. People are the cause; the flower is merely the result."

"With this flower, you can see the pain they have endured. But without this flower, would those people not have had to die?"

"It is precisely because of this King of Immortal Herbs that suffering like separation in life and death stopped at merely being ordinary suffering, rather than worsening into actual separation in life and death. Isn't that so?"

Tang Xuan immediately fell silent.

Take Xiao Wu, for example.

Her decision to venture into the human world as a Hundred-thousand-year-old Shapeshifting Soul Beast—

whether or not she possessed the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, being hunted by Spirit Hall was only a matter of time.

On the contrary,

it was the appearance of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red that allowed Xiao Wu to confirm her feelings for Tang San.

Only then, after seeing Tang San kill himself to extract his bone, was Xiao Wu willing to perform a Soul Sacrifice on him.

And it was also because the Lovesick Heartbreak Red existed

that Xiao Wu could retain a sliver of life after the sacrifice.

Suffering had not been brought by the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

Rather, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red had preserved a sliver of life for its holder.

It preserved the "screen" through which people could witness this suffering...

"Perhaps I was overthinking it?" Tang Xuan said hoarsely.

But Dugu Bo shook his head. "It isn't overthinking. I don't believe a Little Monster like you fails to understand such a simple truth. You were merely using self-deception to conceal the deepest fear in your heart."

"I can tell that you had already chosen a recipient for this Lovesick Heartbreak Red long ago, and you are absolutely certain that she can pluck it. That is why you are afraid—afraid that she will suffer, and even more afraid that you will not be able to protect her."

Tang Xuan fell silent once more.

Seeing his tightly clenched fists,

Dugu Bo realized he had guessed correctly.

Yet he said nothing more, merely gently patting Tang Xuan on the shoulder.

"Go. Give the Lovesick Heartbreak Red to her. At the very least, when she suffers hardship, it can preserve a sliver of life for her."

The moment Dugu Bo finished speaking,

the Lovesick Heartbreak Red blossomed with a brilliant Red Light.

It was as if it understood Dugu Bo's words and could not wait to meet its owner.

Perhaps the story in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, the one belonging to the Flower Immortal, was true after all...

Tang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Under Dugu Bo's encouraging gaze, he tightly gripped the Black Absolute Stone and placed it into the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch.

Then he took a deep breath, spread the Mysterious Wing Soul Bone, and soared into the sky.

Dugu Bo watched Tang Xuan's retreating figure with a smile.

But when he sensed something unusual in his hand, he suddenly realized something.

Without another thought, he strode after Tang Xuan.

"Little Monster, wait for me!"

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Tang Xuan landed in an uninhabited area. Just as he retracted the Mysterious Wing Soul Bone, he heard a familiar voice from beside him.

"You brat really was eager to get back, huh? Didn't you bother checking whether anyone was following behind you?" Dugu Bo said irritably.

Along the way, Tang Xuan had used Teleportation several times.

If Dugu Bo had not broken through to Level 92 and gained a bit more Mental Power,

and if he had not known Tang Xuan's destination was Heaven Dou Royal Academy,

he truly would have lost him.

"Old Monster? When did you get here? And what are you here for?" Tang Xuan stared at him as though he had seen a ghost.

Dugu Bo rolled his eyes so hard they nearly turned over. "What do you think I'm here for? How am I supposed to eat the Ninth-grade Dragon Ganoderma? Did you tell me?"

He had nearly poisoned his entire family to death.

But he was still an expert in poison.

He knew all too well what would happen if one took the wrong medicine.

Tang Xuan looked slightly embarrassed. "Ahahaha, I forgot... Just eat it. Eat it directly."

Ganoderma had always been mild in nature.

Even the Ninth-grade Dragon Ganoderma that had grown Bathed in Dragon Blood was no exception.

No matter how it was consumed, it would not harm the body, much less damage its medicinal properties.

Dugu Bo felt a breath of air stuck in his chest with nowhere to vent.

He actually understood the properties of ganoderma as well.

But the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot,

and that King of Immortal Herbs, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, which Tang Xuan had taken before, had truly scared him.

What if Immortal Herbs had some unusual properties?

It had not even been two days since his poison was cured.

His life was not cheap either. There was nothing wrong with being cautious.

At that thought, Dugu Bo suddenly stopped being angry.

He somehow managed to talk himself into feeling better.

"Hmph. Forget it. I won't lower myself to the level of a little brat. I'm going to see my Granddaughter." Dugu Bo snorted and strolled toward the academy with stately steps.

Tang Xuan smiled helplessly and followed after Dugu Bo.

This Old Monster truly was an old child.

Imperial Dou Fighting Team training grounds.

The moment Ning Rongrong saw Dugu Bo, she could not help rolling her pretty eyes.

This old fellow had whisked away her Brother Xuan, and she still had no idea where he had gone.

The sight of Dugu Bo made her furious.

But just as she was about to mock him,

she suddenly caught sight of the figure behind Dugu Bo—the one she had been longing for.

"Brother Xuan!"

The tears Ning Rongrong had held back for three months instantly burst forth. She threw herself into Tang Xuan's arms, her little fists repeatedly pounding his chest. "Brother Xuan is such a liar! Didn't you promise Rong Rong that you would come back soon? It's already been three months, sob sob sob..."

"All right, Rong Rong. Haven't I come back?" Tang Xuan gently patted the Little Girl's back to comfort her.

His gaze unconsciously softened.

Ning Rongrong missed him, but how could he not miss Ning Rongrong?

After venting for a long while,

Ning Rongrong finally raised her head and said through sniffles, her expression solemn, "Brother Xuan, from now on, you have to take me with you wherever you go. Otherwise, I'll... I'll..."

She had wanted to say that she would never speak to Tang Xuan again.

But when the words reached her lips, she could not say them.

If she really said that, she would surely be the first one to take it back.

Naturally, Tang Xuan could see through the Little Girl's thoughts, and amusement appeared in his eyes. "All right, I promise you. From now on, I'll take Rong Rong with me wherever I go."

"Come down first. I have gifts for everyone."

Only then did Ning Rongrong reveal a satisfied smile and release Tang Xuan from her embrace.

Yet her hands still clung tightly to one of Tang Xuan's arms, as though she feared her Brother Xuan would fly away again.

"Tang Xiao Xuan, what gifts?" Yu Tianheng stepped forward, his eyes full of anticipation. "Don't tell me they're Soul Bones again?"

The Imperial Dou members spent every day together.

They had long known that Dugu Yan had been afflicted by deadly poison.

Naturally, the Soul Bone had not been kept secret either.

Tang Xuan shook his head mysteriously. "They aren't Soul Bones, but the value of these gifts far surpasses Soul Bones by who knows how many times. They are enough to let every member of our Imperial Dou Fighting Team break through to Soul Elder on the spot!"