Can Dugu Yan Be Taken Too?

It was noon, and the sun hung directly overhead, its brilliant light washing over the world.

Dugu Manor,

Dugu Bo sat in a corner of the courtyard, his face shrouded in shadows untouched even by the sunlight.

Though he sat as if basking in the sun, he seemed to fear it instead.

Just then,

a voice came from outside the courtyard.

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

"He's here? Bring him in, then."

Dugu Bo's tone was calm, but his displeasure was still apparent. He was, after all, a Title Douluo. How could just anyone see him whenever they wished? If he had not been unable to gauge Fengming Restaurant's background, why would he have accepted that improper calling card?

The servant quietly acknowledged the order. A moment later, he led several people into the rear courtyard.

A handsome figure approached first, followed by two beautiful women, one older and one younger. Dugu Bo felt that he had seen the older one somewhere before, but the impression was faint, and he could not recall it for the moment.

However, Dugu Bo's attention quickly settled on the dazzlingly handsome youth. He had to admit that some people were born to stand at the center of the stage. The gods must have used their finest materials when crafting him. This boy was actually just a tiny bit more handsome than Dugu Bo had been in his youth.

The handsome youth in white stopped and gave Dugu Bo, who sat in a rocking chair, a slight nod.

"Shang An greets Mr. Dugu."

Dugu Bo could not help frowning at those words, and his interest in the boy grew.

"You know who I am?"

"Of course. How could I not know the renowned Poison Douluo, whose poison dominates the world?" Although he called him renowned, Shang An spoke as if he were referring to some insignificant nobody, utterly unconcerned.

"Didn't your elders tell you that you should show respect when you encounter a Title Douluo?"

Dugu Bo shed his previous lazy demeanor. He rose to his feet, straight as a flagpole, his imposing aura fully unleashed. Two yellow, two purple, and five black Spirit Rings appeared, and his Soul Power pressed fiercely toward Shang An.

Shang An's expression did not change. That oppressive force felt no different to him than a spring breeze brushing his face.

Dugu Bo became intrigued. Even an ordinary Spirit King would not have been able to withstand that pressure. Just what was this boy's strength? As he considered it, he prepared to intensify the pressure of his Soul Power.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort rang out, followed by an even more powerful Soul Power pressure sweeping toward him.

It was the same configuration of two yellow, two purple, and five black Spirit Rings, yet its Soul Power pressure far surpassed Dugu Bo's.

Dugu Bo gave a muffled grunt and staggered back a step, astonishment on his face.

"You... you're a Title Douluo."

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

It was not that he had been careless. Shang An simply shone too brightly. Anyone standing beside him seemed to become mere decoration. Besides, who would believe that a dignified Title Douluo would stand behind a youth as a mere foil?

"Wait, you're Bishop Ni Huang."

Dugu Bo suddenly remembered. When he had become a Title Douluo and gone to Spirit City for his Coronation Ceremony, he had met Ni Huang once. If so much time had not passed, he would not have taken this long to recall her.

"That's right. It is I."

Ni Huang did not conceal anything and openly acknowledged her identity.

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

Dugu Bo spoke with some emotion. When he had been crowned a Title Douluo, Ni Huang had merely been one among Spirit Hall's many bishops, her cultivation only just entering the Spirit Douluo rank. Now, he himself had remained stagnant, while Ni Huang's cultivation had already surpassed his.

After sighing over it for a moment, Dugu Bo returned to being the gloomy Poison Douluo, though his tone had become much better.

"Speak. What does Spirit Hall want with me?"

Spirit Hall had once hunted Dugu Bo down, so he had no favorable impression of it. Though he was shocked by Ni Huang's strength, there was no way he would show them a gentle expression.

"I'm the one 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 Your Excellency Poison Douluo."

Though Shang An's words were humble, his tone carried no particular respect. He did not move in the slightest. Dugu Bo's status was not higher than his, and his strength was not enough to make Shang An fear him, so Shang An naturally had no reason to lower himself.

"Hehe, then what does His Holiness the Holy Son want with me? If it's something like asking me to join Spirit Hall, there's no need to mention it again."

Dugu Bo spoke with a smile that did not reach his eyes. He had no desire to involve himself with Spirit Hall.

"I came this time to save you."

Shang An shook his head, then stared straight at Dugu Bo and made a startling declaration.

As though he had heard some enormous joke, Dugu Bo said in a strange, mocking tone, "Save me? Ridiculous. I, Dugu Bo, am a Title Douluo. What danger could I possibly be in? Could it be that Spirit Hall intends to make a move against me?"

"Mr. Dugu, your poisoning has already become severe, hasn't it?"

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

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted slightly before quickly returning to normal.

"His Holiness the Holy Son must be joking. My title is Poison. What poison in this world could possibly poison me?"

Shang An examined Dugu Bo from head to toe. Dugu Bo was tall and thin, standing like a spear. His hair and beard were both dark green, while his eyes gleamed like emeralds. His entire being gave off an illusory feeling, as though he were a phantom.

His facial expression was completely stiff, his cheeks deeply sunken, and the green hair atop his head a tangled mess. Anyone who saw him would think he looked deeply poisoned and close to death. It was only because people overlooked the obvious that they could not believe the mighty Poison Douluo had poisoned himself.

"How pitiful. A dignified Poison Douluo cannot even resolve the poison of his own Martial Soul. You truly have an undeserved reputation."

Shang An wore a mournful expression, but his words made Dugu Bo's fury erupt.

Dugu Bo had played with poison all his life. In the field of poison, he had never encountered an opponent. It was what he was most proud of, and what he could least tolerate others questioning. If Ni Huang, who was stronger than him, had not been standing beside Shang An, he would have taught this brat a lesson long ago.

"Still refusing to admit it? Do you want your granddaughter to end up like her parents?"

Shang An paid no heed to Dugu Bo's ugly expression and continued.

His granddaughter, Dugu Yan, was Dugu Bo's only weakness now. It could be said that if Dugu Yan died, Dugu Bo would truly have nothing left to fear. He might even dare to confront Qian Daoliu head-on.

Thus, at the mention of his granddaughter, Dugu Bo's expression softened helplessly. He could disregard his own life and death, but his granddaughter was still young. He did not want her to follow his old path.

"Then what insight does His Holiness the Holy Son have?"

Ni Huang and Xiao Wu were both somewhat shocked. Dugu Bo saying this was tantamount to indirectly admitting it. It was not that they did not believe Shang An; like everyone else, they had simply overlooked the obvious and never imagined that a Title Douluo famous for poison could actually poison himself.

Shang An did not answer directly. Instead, he first pointed out Dugu Bo's symptoms. "Whenever the weather turns gloomy or rainy, Mr. Dugu, you feel numbness and itching along both sides of your ribs. It gradually worsens and lasts for more than two hours. It strikes once at noon and once at midnight.

Every night, around the third watch, you feel needle-like stabbing pain at the crown of your head and the soles of your feet. Your entire body spasms for at least an hour.

Mr. Dugu, am I wrong?"

"N-no. His Holiness the Holy Son got every word right."

Dugu Bo was both shocked and delighted. He was shocked by Shang An's insight and knowledge of medicine and poison, that he could see through his condition at a glance.

He was delighted because, since this Holy Son could identify his symptoms at a glance, perhaps he truly had some ability. There might be hope of resolving the deadly poison that had plagued the Dugu Clan.

"Please save my Dugu Clan, Holy Son."

After his delight subsided, Dugu Bo bowed deeply to Shang An.

He did not use Nine-Section Jade to test Shang An's abilities as he had in the original story. Because their statuses, strengths, and needs were different, Dugu Bo was the weaker party between himself and Shang An. He was now the one begging Shang An, so he naturally had to lower his stance.

Shang An did not agree immediately.

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

"Yes, yes, look at this old brain of mine."

With that, Dugu Bo took the lead out of the courtyard and brought them to the guest room. At the doorway, he made a bowing gesture. Only after all three of Shang An's group had entered did he go inside himself, personally pouring tea for them.

He had received them in the courtyard earlier because he had not thought much of the young proprietor of Fengming Restaurant. Even if the force behind him was powerful, he was ultimately only a child.

But now that he needed something from them, Dugu Bo knew how to adjust his attitude.

"Does His Holiness the Holy Son have a good remedy?"

Once he had returned to his chair, Dugu Bo spoke somewhat impatiently. He desperately wanted to know whether this Holy Son truly had a solution. He had searched for so many years for a way to resolve the Dugu Clan's Martial Soul flaw, yet found nothing. Hope was often followed by disappointment, even despair. He truly did not want to be happy for nothing again.

Shang An unhurriedly took a sip of tea. Only when Dugu Bo was nearly unable to sit still did he slowly speak.

"Mr. Dugu, Spirit Hall has researched Martial Souls for many years, so naturally we have a solution to the flaw in your Martial Souls. However, Spirit Hall is not a charity."

Shang An stopped there. Dugu Bo understood what he meant. A method capable of resolving a Martial Soul flaw had to be among the most confidential of secrets. Obtaining it would likely be difficult. But since Shang An had said this much, there was still room for negotiation.

Thus, Dugu Bo said, "His Holiness the Holy Son, feel free to name your terms. As long as this old man possesses it, His Holiness the Holy Son may take anything he desires."

At that moment, Shang An really wanted to ask, Could Dugu Yan be taken too? But he did not dare court death. He raised two fingers.

(Brothers, Chapter 39 is under review and hasn't been released yet. Once it passes review, I'll make up for it with another chapter.)