Can Dugu Yan also be taken away?

It was exactly midday, the sun hanging directly overhead, its brilliant rays washing over the world.

Dugu Mansion.

Dugu Bo was sitting in a corner of the courtyard, his face cast in a shadow that even the sunlight could not reach.

Though he sat in a posture meant for sunbathing, he seemed to be cowering from the sun itself.

At this moment, a voice drifted in from outside the courtyard.

"Master, the young proprietor of Fengming Restaurant has come to pay a visit."

"He's here? Then bring him over."

Dugu Bo's tone was calm, yet a hint of displeasure remained. He was, after all, a Title Douluo; he was not someone just anyone could see. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't fathom the background of Fengming Restaurant, he never would have accepted such an irregular request for an audience.

The servant murmured his assent, and a moment later, he led several people into the backyard.

Seeing a handsome figure walking in the lead, followed by two beautiful women—one older and one younger—Dugu Bo felt he had seen the older one somewhere before, but the impression was faint, and he couldn't place her for the moment.

However, Dugu Bo's attention was quickly drawn to the handsome, eye-catching youth. He had to admit that some people were born to stand at the center of the stage; the gods must have used the finest materials when crafting him. This person was actually a fraction more handsome than he had been in his youth.

The handsome youth in white stopped in his tracks and gave a slight nod to Dugu Bo, who was sitting in a rocking chair.

"Shang An greets Mr. Dugu."

Dugu Bo frowned upon hearing this, finding himself somewhat interested in this lad.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Of course. How could I not know the famous Poison Douluo, whose poison dominates the world?" Although he spoke of fame, Shang An's tone was as if he were speaking of a nobody, completely indifferent.

"Then did your elders never tell you to show respect when meeting a Title Douluo!"

Dugu Bo shed his lazy demeanor, standing up as straight as a flagpole. His aura erupted, and nine Spirit Rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—appeared, his spirit power pressing down fiercely toward Shang An.

The expression on Shang An's face remained unchanged; to him, that pressure felt like a gentle spring breeze.

Dugu Bo became intrigued. Even an ordinary Spirit King would not be able to withstand the pressure he had just exerted. Just what kind of strength did this kid have? He thought to himself as he prepared to increase the pressure of his spirit power.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort rang out, and an even more powerful wave of spirit power surged toward him.

It was the same configuration of two yellow, two purple, and five black Spirit Rings, but the spirit power pressure far exceeded that of Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo let out a muffled groan and took a step back, his face filled with astonishment.

"You... you are a Title Douluo."

Dugu Bo pointed at Ni Huang behind Shang An, his face full of disbelief.

It wasn't that he was careless; it was simply that Shang An was so dazzling that anyone standing next to him seemed to become a mere foil. Besides, who would believe that a dignified Title Douluo would actually stand behind a youth as a subordinate?

"Wait, you are Bishop Ni Huang."

Dugu Bo suddenly remembered. When he had become a Title Douluo and traveled to Spirit City for his coronation ceremony, he had met Ni Huang once. If it hadn't been so long ago, he wouldn't have taken this long to recall her.

"That is correct, it is I."

Ni Huang did not hide it, openly and generously acknowledging her identity.

"You... I never expected that you would also become a Title Douluo."

Dugu Bo said with a sigh. When he was crowned as a Title Douluo, Ni Huang was still just one of the many bishops of Spirit Hall, her cultivation having only just stepped into the Spirit Douluo realm. Now, he was still treading water, while Ni Huang's cultivation had already surpassed his own.

After a moment of reflection, Dugu Bo returned to being the gloomy Poison Douluo, though his tone was much improved.

"Speak, what business does Spirit Hall have with me?"

Dugu Bo had been hunted by Spirit Hall in the past and held no fondness for them. Although he was shocked by Ni Huang's strength, it was impossible for him to offer a warm expression.

"It is I who am looking for you." Shang An stepped forward.

Only then did Dugu Bo turn his gaze back to Shang An.

"You? And who might you be?"

"Shang An, the current Holy Son of Spirit Hall, greets the Poison Douluo."

Although Shang An's words were humble, his tone lacked any real respect, and his body remained motionless. Dugu Bo's status was not higher than his, nor was his strength enough to make him fearful; naturally, Shang An would not lower his posture.

"Heh, then I wonder what business His Holiness the Holy Son has with me? If it is about joining Spirit Hall or something of that nature, then there is no need to bring it up."

Dugu Bo said with a mocking smile; he did not want to get involved with Spirit Hall.

"I have come this time to save you."

Shang An shook his head, then stared directly at Dugu Bo, dropping a bombshell.

Dugu Bo acted as if he had heard some grand joke, saying with a sarcastic tone: "Save me? Ridiculous. I, Dugu Bo, am at least a Title Douluo. Where is the danger? Could it be that your Spirit Hall wants to make a move against me?"

"Mr. Dugu, your poison has already gone deep, hasn't it?"

Shang An ignored the mockery in Dugu Bo's words and continued.

Dugu Bo's pupils constricted slightly, then returned to normal.

"His Holiness the Holy Son jokes. My title is Poison; what poison in this world could possibly poison me?"

Shang An looked Dugu Bo up and down. Dugu Bo was tall and thin, looking like a javelin. His hair and beard were all ink-green, and his eyes shone like emeralds. His entire person gave off an illusory feeling, as if he were a phantom.

The expression on his face was completely stiff, his cheeks sunken, and his green hair disheveled. Anyone who saw him would think he looked like someone deeply poisoned with little time left, but others were blinded by the familiar, never suspecting that the dignified Poison Douluo could be poisoned himself.

"How pathetic. A dignified Poison Douluo who cannot even resolve the poison of his own martial soul; it is truly a hollow reputation."

Shang An wore a look of lament, but his words made Dugu Bo's temper flare.

Dugu Bo had played with poison his entire life. In the field of poison, he had never met an opponent. This was his greatest pride, and he could not stand others questioning his mastery of it. If not for the fact that there was a stronger Ni Huang beside Shang An, he would have already taught this brat a lesson.

"Still not admitting it? Do you want your granddaughter to end up like her parents?"

Ignoring Dugu Bo's ugly expression, Shang An continued.

His granddaughter Dugu Yan was currently Dugu Bo's only weakness. It could be said that if Dugu Yan died, Dugu Bo would truly have no more concerns, and might even dare to go head-to-head with Qian Daoliu.

So, when his granddaughter was mentioned, Dugu Bo's expression softened helplessly. He could be indifferent to his own life, but his granddaughter was still young; he did not want her to follow in his footsteps.

"Then I wonder what insight His Holiness the Holy Son has."

Ni Huang and Xiao Wu were both somewhat shocked. For Dugu Bo to say this was tantamount to a tacit admission. It wasn't that they didn't trust Shang An, but like everyone else, they were blinded by the familiar and didn't believe that a Title Douluo famous for poison could be poisoned himself.

Shang An did not answer directly, instead pointing out Dugu Bo's symptoms: "Every time it is cloudy or rainy, Mr. Dugu, you feel a numbness and itchiness in your ribs, which gradually intensifies and lasts for more than an hour, occurring once at noon and once at midnight.

Every night, around the third watch, you experience needle-like stabs in the top of your head and the soles of your feet, followed by full-body spasms for at least half an hour.

Mr. Dugu, have I said anything wrong?"

"No, no, His Holiness the Holy Son has said it all correctly."

Dugu Bo was both surprised and delighted. He was surprised by Shang An's keen eye and medical knowledge, as he had identified his condition at a single glance.

He was delighted because since this Holy Son could identify his symptoms so easily, perhaps he truly had some ability and there was hope to resolve the deadly poison that had been haunting the Dugu family.

"I beg the Holy Son to save my Dugu family."

After his surprise and joy, Dugu Bo bowed deeply to Shang An.

He did not use the Nine-Section Jade to test Shang An's level as he did in the original story. Because of the differences in status, strength, and needs, he, Dugu Bo, was the weaker party between him and Shang An. Now that he was the one begging, he naturally had to lower his posture.

Shang An did not agree immediately.

"Mr. Dugu, why don't we go to the guest room to discuss this in detail."

"Yes, yes, look at my brain."

Having said that, Dugu Bo stepped out of the courtyard first, leading them to the guest room. He then bowed at the door, and only after all three of them had entered did he walk in himself, personally pouring tea.

He had received them in the courtyard earlier because he hadn't taken the young master of Fengming Restaurant too seriously; even with a powerful force behind him, he was ultimately just a child.

But now that he was asking for help, Dugu Bo knew how to adjust his attitude.

"I wonder if His Holiness the Holy Son has any good remedies."

Sitting back in his chair, Dugu Bo said impatiently. He was desperate to know if this Holy Son truly had a method. To resolve the defects of the Dugu family's martial soul, he had searched for so many years to no avail. After hope often came disappointment or even despair; he really didn't want to have his hopes raised for nothing again.

Shang An sipped his tea unhurriedly, and only when Dugu Bo could barely sit still did he speak slowly.

"Mr. Dugu, my Spirit Hall has been researching martial souls for many years, so we naturally have a way to solve your martial soul defects. However, my Spirit Hall is not a charity."

Shang An stopped there. Dugu Bo understood what he meant. This method of resolving martial soul defects was absolutely a top-tier secret, and it would likely be very difficult to obtain. But since Shang An had said as much, it meant there was still room for negotiation.

Therefore, Dugu Bo said: "His Holiness the Holy Son, please speak. As long as I have it, you may take whatever you fancy."

Shang An really wanted to ask if he could take Dugu Yan as well, but he didn't commit suicide by words. He held up two fingers.

(Brothers, chapter thirty-nine is under review and hasn't come out yet. I will add another chapter after the review is finished.)