Dugu Bo suddenly made a move, reaching for Jiang Siming's arm.
Jiang Siming dodged with a quick sidestep.
"Senior, are you going to break your word?" Jiang Siming asked, ready to fight back.
"So what if I break my word, brat? Let me draw a little blood, and I'll see what's so special about your body. Don't worry, I won't kill you," Dugu Bo said viciously.
Jiang Siming couldn't possibly agree to that. The other man was a Titled Douluo, after all, and it would be easy for him to pull something. Besides, how could Jiang Siming let anyone take his body away to study?
Jiang Siming released his Martial Soul, gripping the Immortal Extinction Sword and the Immortal Slaying Sword in his hands.
"I hope you'll keep your promise, Senior," Jiang Siming said again.
"Brat, you have two choices: kneel and live, or stand and die," Dugu Bo said.
"Then I'll choose to stand and live." With that, Jiang Siming swung both swords, forming a circular field of sword energy. Its sharp blades swept wildly around Dugu Bo, carrying a corrosive, murderous force.
Dugu Bo retreated two steps and swept his sleeve, using Soul Power to defend himself. Even so, a streak of sword energy cut his arm. He glared at Jiang Siming as the murderous force ravaged the wound, trying to invade his body. Dugu Bo attempted to stop it with his Soul Power, but couldn't completely dispel the strange force. By then, Jiang Siming was already dozens of yards away.
"Brat, I didn't expect someone so young to be this strong. I'll give you another choice: become my disciple. I won't kill you, and I'll even let you marry my granddaughter," Dugu Bo offered.
"I appreciate your kindness, Senior, but I already have ten wives. I'm afraid I'll have to turn you down," Jiang Siming said with a straight face.
"Brat, you're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit." Dugu Bo released his Martial Soul. His third Soul Ring lit up, releasing a shower of pale green specks.
But the specks had no effect on Jiang Siming whatsoever.
"I almost forgot—you swallowed the Aromatic Silk Beauty, so you're immune to all poisons. But with the Soul Power of a Titled Douluo, you're no match for me," Dugu Bo said.
Dugu Bo put away his Martial Soul and unleashed his immense Soul Power, charging at Jiang Siming.
Jiang Siming smiled. Dugu Bo was a master of poison, but since Jiang Siming had swallowed the Aromatic Silk Beauty, he was now immune to all poisons. That made Dugu Bo far less of a threat.
"Wait, Senior. You've spent your whole life using poison, but in the end, you'll die from your own poison. Wouldn't that be a shame?" Jiang Siming said.
"Is that your last request, brat?" Dugu Bo didn't admit it, but he had stopped attacking.
"Senior, you're already gravely ill. You must know that," Jiang Siming said slowly.
"Hmph. Even if what you say is true, I, Dugu Bo, have lived a long and eventful life. I've had more than my fill of it! I don't need some youngster threatening me," Dugu Bo retorted.
"Then forget I said anything. It's just a shame about your granddaughter. She might die in the prime of her youth," Jiang Siming said, still calmly.
Dugu Bo's expression grew conflicted. He guarded a treasure as vast as the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He could cure any poison, except the poison inherent to his Martial Soul. He had lived long enough, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing his granddaughter. At last, he sighed. "Brat, if you really can cure the poison of my Bilin Snake Emperor, I'll let you go."
"Sorry, Senior. I can't cure poison."
"You're messing with me!" Dugu Bo said viciously.
"Don't get angry, Senior. I can't, but my companion can. One of my companions is just as skilled with poison as you are—maybe even better." Jiang Siming silently thought, Tang San, don't blame me for selling you out, buddy. This is an emergency. You'll understand.
"Why should I believe you?" Dugu Bo wavered.
"You don't have to believe me, Senior. But if even you can't cure your poison, there probably aren't many people in the world who could guarantee they can. Why not give it a try?" Jiang Siming continued to tempt him.
This brat can tell I'm poisoned, so he must have some ability. And he pretended not to recognize the Aromatic Silk Beauty earlier. What a pain. If Jiang Siming had known what Dugu Bo was thinking, he could only have smiled wryly. There was nothing he could do; he really hadn't recognized it. He'd only known because he'd seen it coming.
"Fine. I believe you." As he spoke, Dugu Bo spat out a bead and tossed it to Jiang Siming.
"Swallow it," Dugu Bo said.
Jiang Siming knew exactly what the bead was. Without hesitation, he swallowed it.
"Not bad, brat. You've got guts. Do you know how powerful that bead's explosion is? I know you're immune to poison, but I can still detonate it. You'd be blown to dust all the same."
"Then wouldn't you be in trouble too, Senior?" Jiang Siming said, completely unconcerned.
"Good. You've got guts." Dugu Bo looked at him with admiration.
Jiang Siming walked slowly toward Dugu Bo, sword in hand.
"What are you doing, brat?" Dugu Bo asked, puzzled.
"The murderous force in your wound will keep spreading unless I clear it. You'll have to cut that piece of flesh off otherwise." As he spoke, Jiang Siming withdrew the murderous force.
Then he sat casually on a rock, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag.
"What's that, brat? Why is smoke coming out of your mouth?" Dugu Bo asked, full of curiosity.
Jiang Siming didn't explain. He handed Dugu Bo a Xuanhemen cigarette and lit it for him.
"Draw it into your lungs, then breathe it out. It feels damn good."
Dugu Bo copied him, taking a drag and breathing it back out.
"Brat, my name is Dugu Bo. I still don't know what you're called," Dugu Bo said cheerfully. Dugu Bo did as he pleased, following only his likes and dislikes. Since he'd decided not to kill Jiang Siming, there was no reason to keep being hostile.
"Senior, my name is Jiang Siming. Jiang as in river, Si as in judicial, and Ming as in bright moon," Jiang Siming said.
The moonlight rose. Two people sat on a rock beside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, smoking.
As he smoked, Jiang Siming thought about how reckless his decision had been. He shouldn't have come to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Because of the original story, he hadn't considered Dugu Bo an enemy from the start. Even when Dugu Bo made him eat the Aromatic Silk Beauty, he hadn't seen him as an enemy. It wasn't until Dugu Bo wanted to study his body that he realized how foolish he'd been. This was a real world. Jiang Siming knew Dugu Bo, but Dugu Bo didn't know him.
"Let's call it a lesson learned." Jiang Siming exhaled a puff of smoke and spoke softly.