At Daggers Drawn

At Daggers Drawn

After returning to his hotel room, he quickly took a bath, lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

It was already late morning. Sunlight shone across Liu Yanyang's face as he slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the sun outside the window.

After stretching his limbs a little, he got up, washed up, changed back into his black robe, took several deep breaths, and headed out toward Dugu Bo's residence.

At the gates of the residence, the gatekeeper announced his arrival. Liu Yanyang then entered alone and followed yesterday's route to the Dugu family's reception hall once more.

At that moment, Dugu Bo sat in the seat of honor, watching Liu Yanyang with amusement. His dark green pupils radiated an eerie gleam.

Liu Yanyang cupped his hands slightly. "This junior has come to visit again. I wonder whether Your Excellency welcomes me?"

Having said that, he sat down directly in the chair opposite Dugu Bo and casually picked up the tea on the table to drink.

Dugu Bo was not annoyed. He merely watched Liu Yanyang silently, like a venomous snake lying in wait for its prey.

"I wonder if Your Excellency had a pleasant day yesterday? Did you sleep well?" Liu Yanyang asked blandly.

Seeing Liu Yanyang's calm expression and unhurried manner, Dugu Bo found him increasingly interesting and immediately replied.

"Originally, I wasn't in a good mood. Yesterday, I wanted to eat fish. A big fish finally delivered itself to my door, but it was too slippery and escaped."

"Oh? Is that so? Then Your Excellency must be in a good mood now."

"Of course. Who would have thought that the big fish would be foolish enough to deliver itself to my door a second time?"

"Then what about now?" The corners of Liu Yanyang's lips lifted slightly as he deactivated Cheng Ying's Soul Ring color-changing function. The purple glow around Cheng Ying faded away as well.

Dugu Bo had just been about to speak when he suddenly discovered that his Spiritual Power could now accurately detect Liu Yanyang.

His face filled with shock, and his voice trembled slightly.

"Twelve years old, level thirty-eight at the peak!"

"What? Is Your Excellency surprised? It seems I've finally made Your Excellency take this big fish somewhat seriously," Liu Yanyang said calmly.

Dugu Bo came back to his senses and coughed lightly.

"I have to admit that your talent is something I have never seen in my life. It can be called unparalleled beneath the heavens."

His gaze suddenly sharpened.

"But so what? Before me, how are you any different from an ant? You should know that I have no regard whatsoever for dead geniuses!"

"Yes, Your Excellency is right."

"But has Your Excellency never heard that all under heaven bustle for profit, and all under heaven scramble for gain?" Liu Yanyang stared at Dugu Bo as he spoke.

"Oh? You have something that could move me?" Dugu Bo looked at Liu Yanyang with interest.

"A method to remove poison."

Bang! Liu Yanyang's chair exploded into pieces. The powerful Soul Power pressure surrounding him forced his knees to bend slightly. His hands braced against his knees, and he could not even raise his head.

Dugu Bo's Soul Power erupted. It surged around him and enveloped Liu Yanyang as he said coldly, "Do you really think that because I've chatted with you for a few moments, I would not dare kill you?"

The Soul Power pressure grew stronger and stronger. Liu Yanyang had no choice but to summon his Martial Soul to resist. One yellow and two purple Soul Rings lit up at once.

Dugu Bo froze. "Absorbing Soul Rings beyond your level..."

Seizing this opening, Liu Yanyang endured the overwhelming pressure and walked toward Dugu Bo step by step.

When he reached him, he looked down at Dugu Bo from above. His gaze was firm, and every word he spoke rang out with force.

"Does Your Excellency truly not know whether you would kill me?"

"Now, the only one who can save Your Excellency's family is me. The only one Your Excellency can rely on is also me!"

His voice thundered through the room, throwing Dugu Bo into a panic. Dugu Bo looked up at Liu Yanyang and had just been about to say something when Liu Yanyang cut him off.

"Surely Senior doesn't think Yu Tianheng is someone reliable?"

"If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan learned that their future young Clan Leader's wife was afflicted by deadly poison, what does Your Excellency think would happen?"

"If one day Your Excellency were unfortunate enough to pass away, and Miss Dugu Yan had no one to rely on in this world, then tell me—what choice would Yu Tianheng make for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's future and continuation?"

"Your Excellency, relying on others is inferior to relying on yourself!"

"...Sigh." Dugu Bo came back to his senses, sighed, stood up, and walked to the door. He looked up at the sky, his back somewhat lonely and stooped.

"What do you want from me?"

"This junior wishes to be friends with Senior," Liu Yanyang replied calmly.

Dugu Bo snorted and shook his head without saying anything further.

Fine. He was being naive. The adult world only spoke of benefits, not feelings—especially for someone as naturally solitary as Dugu Bo.

For now, he would maintain their relationship through mutual benefit. Later, he could win Dugu Bo over with sincerity.

"I have heard that Your Excellency possesses a medicinal garden containing many rare herbs. This junior will take half of them," Liu Yanyang said.

Dugu Bo turned and stared at Liu Yanyang, curious as to how he knew of his medicinal garden. But considering Liu Yanyang's capabilities, Dugu Bo assumed that everything about him had already been thoroughly investigated.

He spoke calmly. "All right, but how confident are you that you can cure my granddaughter and me?"

"If this junior claimed to be absolutely certain, Your Excellency would probably kill me on the spot."

"To be frank with Your Excellency, I have complete confidence in curing Miss Dugu Yan. As for you, Your Excellency, you have been poisoned for far too long. The poison has seeped into your bones and taken deep root. This junior cannot guarantee a full cure, but removing most of the snake venom will not be a problem," Liu Yanyang said unhurriedly.

"As long as Yanyan can be cured, that is enough!" Dugu Bo said flatly. As for himself, he knew his own condition well and had no intention of forcing the issue.

"Then please take this junior to your herb garden, Your Excellency. The treatment will require some precious medicinal herbs!"

Dugu Bo nodded and walked into the courtyard, with Liu Yanyang following close behind.

Once inside the courtyard, Liu Yanyang wondered why Dugu Bo had stopped here. Had they not agreed to go to the herb garden?

A large hand suddenly seized the back of his collar. Before Liu Yanyang could react, his entire body shot skyward and soared into the air.

Dugu Bo's Soul Power erupted as he carried Liu Yanyang and flew swiftly toward Sunset Forest.

Sunset Forest...

Heaven Dou City was very close to Sunset Forest. It could be said that Sunset Forest was where Soul Masters from most of the cities surrounding Heaven Dou City came to hunt Soul Beasts.

In less than two hours, Dugu Bo had already reached the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

Dangling from his grip, Liu Yanyang said gloomily, "Your Excellency, couldn't you hold me in a more comfortable position?"

Dugu Bo snorted. The aura around him erupted, revealing the crushing pressure of a Titled Douluo.

He charged straight into the depths of Sunset Forest. The ten-year and hundred-year Soul Beasts on the outskirts fled in panic, while the thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts deeper inside merely let out several unwilling growls upon sensing such a powerful presence.

Nothing could stand in his way. Before long, Dugu Bo stopped atop a hill.