Dugu Yan Had Been Poisoned

Several days later, Qin Yuan returned to Heaven Dou City.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples had returned to report back a few days earlier, and Ning Fengzhi had also sent someone to deliver the promised payment to the Golden Saber Shop.

Along the way, Qin Yuan had been analyzing Bibi Dong's personality.

Making a deal with the devil was extremely dangerous. A single misstep, and he could get trapped in it himself.

However, no matter how dangerous Bibi Dong was, her intentions were out in the open, unlike Ning Fengzhi, who hid a knife behind his smile.

As long as he went along with Bibi Dong's wishes, she naturally wouldn't act against him.

Of course, Qin Yuan had been making his way in the world for many years and had some ability of his own. He wasn't some brainless fool.

One of Bibi Dong's Commissioned Tasks was especially important. If he handled it well, not only would he face no danger in the future, he would also gain more benefits within Spirit Hall's system.

For a while afterward, Qin Yuan received no commissions. He was glad of the free time and spent his days studying Movement Techniques and Blade Technique.

With the Blade Technique granted by the system as a foundation, Qin Yuan began working out a completely new style of his own.

That afternoon, Ning Tie of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect came to the Golden Saber Shop.

Ning Tie hadn't appeared again since handing the shop over to Qin Yuan. Now that he had shown up, he was certainly there on Ning Fengzhi's behalf.

Qin Yuan's earlier decision hadn't changed. Ning Fengzhi was a menace, and for the time being, he wouldn't entertain any of his commissions.

Of course, he still had to keep up appearances.

Ning Tie cupped his hands in greeting but didn't enter the shop. "Mr. Qin, I'm only here on the sect master's orders to make a routine inquiry."

"Elder Ning Bao said that he told you about the Black Market, and that you went there. Do you know what happened to the experts from our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who were there?"

According to the intelligence sent back by the team, Qin Yuan hadn't acted alongside them, so the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect didn't suspect him of having killed those experts.

Still, since Qin Yuan had been at the Black Market, he should have known something.

Qin Yuan thought, Those idiots were killed by Bibi Dong.

He had accepted the commission at the time, and according to his own rules, he wouldn't betray any information about a client.

"I ran into them, but we didn't talk much. They were still at the Black Market when I left, so I don't know what happened after that. What's wrong? Did something happen to them?"

Ning Tie cursed inwardly.

Those Spirit Saint experts were less reliable than Qin Yuan. He had no idea why the sect had sent them to handle the matter.

Now that they were missing, the sect had put the pressure on him and told him to find them. Where was he supposed to look?

Ning Tie forced a smile and cupped his hands. "Thank you for telling me, Mr. Qin. I'll take my leave."

The major factions all had spies in one another's ranks. Qin Yuan didn't know whether Ning Tie had been sent by Bibi Dong to sound him out. Either way, his principles were clear, and he wouldn't let anything slip.

He put the matter aside and sat down on the reclining chair by the entrance.

He had barely rested when hurried footsteps sounded. Without turning around, Qin Yuan asked casually, "What happened?"

It was Ye Lingling. She looked panicked, her steps were unsteady, and she was gasping for breath. "Teacher Qin, please hurry and save Sister Yanzi!"

Qin Yuan sat up and stretched. "What's wrong?"

He had assumed Dugu Yan had gotten into trouble while out and about. She was strong-willed, after all, and it wouldn't have been surprising for her to get into an argument.

But it wasn't what he'd thought.

Ye Lingling said anxiously, "Sister Yanzi's been poisoned! We don't know when someone poisoned her, but her symptoms are severe..."

On the way over, Ye Lingling had thought about it a lot.

Ever since entering Heaven Dou Royal Academy, she and Dugu Yan had spent a long time together and even shared a dorm room.

If Dugu Yan had come into contact with poison and been poisoned, why was she fine? More importantly, Dugu Yan was a poison-attribute Soul Master, and her resistance to poison was far greater than Ye Lingling's.

Yet now Dugu Yan had been the one to collapse from poisoning, leaving Ye Lingling completely baffled.

She didn't know where Dugu Bo was, and she didn't know anyone in Heaven Dou City. Besides, given Dugu Yan's special status, she didn't dare raise an alarm. She could only come to Qin Yuan.

Fortunately, Qin Yuan had returned from his mission. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known what to do.

Qin Yuan didn't immediately agree. Instead, he asked, "What symptoms does Dugu Yan have?"

Although it was quite possible that her Martial Soul Poison had flared up, he couldn't rule out the possibility that someone else had poisoned her.

After receiving the system's Method of Detoxification, he had gained a deep understanding of poisons. But he didn't have any medicinal ingredients on him, so he would need to buy the right ones for her symptoms.

This was also the closest he had ever come to Dugu Bo. As long as he could save Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo would surely come looking for him on his own.

After all, Ye Lingling was a healing-type Soul Master. When her healing light entered Dugu Yan's body, she could sense the latter's condition.

Once he had confirmed the symptoms, Qin Yuan knew what to do.

Still, they had to follow the proper procedure. "I can treat her, but you need to issue a formal commission."

There was no reason to turn down a system reward. If he managed to get something good for free, he'd be making a killing.

Ye Lingling took more than ten Gold Soul Coins from her clothes. Her eyes dimmed slightly, and she looked afraid that he might refuse.

"Teacher Qin, this is all I have."

[Three Star Commissioned Tasks detected: Accept Ye Lingling's commission and detoxify Dugu Yan. Mission completion reward: Increase Spirit Ring age by five hundred years.]

A Spirit Ring's age was fixed once it had been obtained.

Many commoner Soul Masters absorbed a Ten-Year Soul Ring as their first ring. As they learned more about cultivation over time, they had no end of regrets.

But what good did regret do? A Soul Master couldn't remove a Spirit Ring. To increase its age, one had to pass a divine trial.

Five hundred years wasn't much, but as the age of Qin Yuan's Spirit Ring increased, his strength would rise accordingly.

Qin Yuan's First Soul Ring was four hundred years old. Even with an additional five hundred years, it would still be yellow, so no one would notice anything unusual in the short term.

Of course, since the system had classified this as a three-star mission, the detoxification process was bound to involve risks.

From an all-knowing perspective, Dugu Yan would appear again later, which proved she wouldn't die today.

But if Qin Yuan came into contact with the deadly poison on Dugu Yan's body while treating her, it could be fatal to him as well!

Qin Yuan took ten Gold Soul Coins from Ye Lingling and returned the rest.

He acted quickly, going to a nearby apothecary for the medicine. Ye Lingling's ten Gold Soul Coins were just enough to cover the cost.

Ye Lingling had settled Dugu Yan in a nearby inn. When Qin Yuan pushed open the door, a foul, fishy stench filled the room.

Dugu Yan lay on the bed, convulsing all over. At times, emerald-green venom seeped from her skin.

Qin Yuan covered his nose. "Lingling, go find one of the academy's teachers as soon as possible and have them take Dugu Yan back. Also, ask the shop assistant to boil the medicine we just bought for half an hour. Hurry!"

Ye Lingling didn't dare waste a second, afraid that something might happen to Dugu Yan.

Qin Yuan took a set of silver needles out of his Soul Tool.

He had found them in the Black Tiger Stronghold's treasury. The needles were clearly quite old, and their origins seemed extraordinary.