Dugu Fu

After the scout had tended to Hu Liena's wounds, he went into the cave to deal with the Ghost Moth's corpse as Qian Yun had instructed. Qian Yun didn't linger at the cave entrance. He continued carrying Hu Liena away; the medicine they needed was at their camp, where they'd stayed on the way in.

As they walked through the dense forest, Hu Liena felt more relaxed than ever. She said nothing, simply resting quietly against Qian Yun's shoulder as she gazed at the scenery of Sunset Forest.

Qian Yun kept his head lowered, picking out the flattest paths between the trees.

Suddenly, an indescribable feeling settled over him. The Green Bamboo Treasure Bead in his arms seemed to sense something and slowly began to heat up.

Qian Yun stopped and warily surveyed his surroundings. Everything around him seemed as peaceful as ever, but he knew something had changed.

Hu Liena raised her sleepy eyes. Seeing Qian Yun's tense expression, she realized something was wrong and warily looked around.

"Qian Yun, is there something nearby?" Hu Liena whispered in his ear.

Qian Yun nodded, his gaze still wary. In just those few breaths, the bead in his arms had grown even hotter. "There's probably poison approaching us."

"Poison?!" Hu Liena clenched her small hands. She had heard how dangerous the Poison Mist in Sunset Forest was.

But hadn't they stayed outside the inner ring? How could the poisonous gas have spread to the outskirts?

"Then we should hurry and leave!" Hu Liena looked around. Everything still seemed calm, with nothing out of the ordinary, but that only made her more anxious.

"Mm." Qian Yun had also begun to consider retreating. He had just started to lift his leg when he immediately stopped.

Warned by the bead, he sensed the poison around them become much more dangerous in an instant.

It seemed someone didn't want to let them leave so easily...

"Since Your Excellency truly wishes to keep us here, why not come out and meet us?" Qian Yun called toward the trees ahead.

As he spoke, Qian Yun was the first to complete Martial Soul Possession. Three Spirit Rings glimmered beneath his feet, and Hu Liena summoned her Martial Soul as well.

After his words fell, the forest remained as silent as before. Then, at a certain moment, a hearty laugh rang out.

"Heh heh heh! What keen perception, young man!"

As he laughed, two figures appeared out of thin air before Qian Yun. He finally saw the mysterious powerhouse in person: a man and a woman, one old and one young.

At their appearance, Qian Yun's pupils contracted, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

He recognized the purple-haired girl beside the old man at a glance. She was none other than Dugu Yan, a member of the Imperial Fighting Team whom he had fought more than a year ago!

Since she was Dugu Yan, the green-haired old man standing beside her in midair could only be... a Titled Douluo, Dugu Fu!

Qian Yun's heart sank to the bottom. He had never imagined he would run into Poison Douluo on the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

In the air, Dugu Fu looked down at the two of them, who stood rigid below. He glanced at their Spirit Rings with disdain.

He took a step forward, and a Yellow Soul Ring appeared beneath him to support his foot. He took another step, and another Yellow Soul Ring appeared just beneath his sole, catching his next step.

Dugu Fu descended one Spirit Ring at a time, as if walking down a divine staircase.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black... black!

As the ninth, pitch-black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring appeared, Dugu Fu's aura surged. His vast, ocean-like pressure swept outward, forcing the startled birds from the sky. The entire Sunset Forest fell utterly silent.

Hu Liena felt as if her heart were about to leap out of her chest. She had no idea who the man before them was, but even a fool knew what it meant for someone to possess nine Spirit Rings. A Titled Douluo! They had actually run into a Titled Douluo here?!

She hurriedly recalled her Martial Soul and tapped Qian Yun's shoulder, signaling for him to put her down. Qian Yun recalled his Martial Soul too and gently set Hu Liena down. His Golden Eyes stayed fixed on Dugu Yan as his thoughts churned.

He was watching Dugu Yan, and Dugu Yan was sizing him up as well.

Dugu Yan narrowed her eyes. The young man before her looked familiar. The instant Qian Yun's Crown disappeared, she finally remembered. Wasn't he the guy who had beaten up their entire Imperial Fighting Team by himself, bringing them the humiliation of being defeated one after another?

"It's you!" Dugu Yan recognized Qian Yun and cried out in surprise, covering her mouth.

The moment she called out, Qian Yun knew this wouldn't end simply.

"Oh? Yan Yan, you know him?" Dugu Fu asked with interest, looking down at the startled Dugu Yan.

"I do! Grandpa, this is the despicable guy I told you about, the one who beat all seven of us." Dugu Yan gritted her teeth and pointed angrily at Qian Yun. He wasn't wearing his mask, but she would remember that Crown even if it turned to ash.

For more than a year, she had trained herself with fierce determination. Whenever training became painful, she would think of that hateful Fox Mask and the humiliation he had brought her, and it was as if she gained endless strength.

Now, looking at Qian Yun without his mask, she gritted her teeth, but couldn't help adding silently, He's pretty handsome, though.

Hearing his precious granddaughter's words, Dugu Fu narrowed his eyes and studied Qian Yun. He had already heard of the young man who had pushed the usually arrogant Dugu Yan to train so furiously.

"You're Amiga?" Dugu Fu stroked his beard and recalled his Spirit Rings.

Qian Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Dugu Fu's aura hadn't fallen on them just now, but the oppressive feeling had still been deeply unpleasant.

"This junior's real name is Qian Yun. Greetings, Your Excellency, Titled Douluo." Qian Yun bowed to Dugu Fu, then added, "I used an alias before. Amiga was just a false name."

Hu Liena recovered and bowed as well. "This junior, Hu Liena, greets Your Excellency, Titled Douluo."

She also glanced at Dugu Yan, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity.

"Mm." Dugu Fu nodded. The two youngsters at least knew how to behave.

Dugu Yan's mouth twitched. So the guy she'd hated for more than a year didn't even know her name.

"Qian Yun... yes, you're quite impressive for someone so young. Not many can detect my poisonous gas in advance. So, what are you doing trespassing in my Sunset Forest?" Dugu Fu's dark green eyes turned to Qian Yun. He praised him first, then asked coldly.

Soul Hunting Forests belonged to no one. Even Spirit Hall wouldn't claim ownership of a single one. Dugu Fu had declared Sunset Forest his own right off the bat. He was as domineering as the rumors said.

Qian Yun answered honestly, "We came on orders to hunt for a Spirit Ring."

"Spirit Ring hunting? Hmph. Whose orders?" Dugu Fu stood with his hands behind his back, his face grim beneath his green hair.

Qian Yun frowned and silently took out a token. "An order from Pope Hall."

"Pope Hall!" Dugu Yan's eyes widened, and she instinctively looked up at her grandfather.

If it really was a Pope Order, things would get complicated.

Seeing the Pope Order was like seeing the Pope. Anyone who rashly attacked its bearer would be making an enemy of all Spirit Hall. If things really came to that, even Dugu Fu, a Titled Douluo, could face ruin.

"Heh." Dugu Fu scoffed. "Boy, do you really think I give a damn about that so-called Pope? Do you think that little scrap of a token lets you lord it over me?!"

"Grandpa..." Dugu Yan anxiously tugged at Dugu Fu's sleeve.

Qian Yun put away the token and bowed again. "Your Excellency, you misunderstand. I showed you the Pope Order not to challenge your authority, but only to prove that we mean no harm. If it bothers you, we'll leave immediately and won't linger."

Dugu Fu fell silent. He had thought they were just a couple of young brats and had planned to release some Poison Mist to teach them a lesson.

But he hadn't expected the two youngsters to have such powerful backing and to be from Pope Hall. Even someone as domineering as him couldn't simply ignore that place.

"Silver-tongued brat." Dugu Fu shook his head, vexed. "Get out of here. Don't hold up our Spirit Ring hunt."

A Spirit Ring hunt? Qian Yun looked at Dugu Yan, an idea coming to him. "May I ask what kind of Spirit Beast you're looking to hunt, Your Excellency?"

Dugu Yan crossed her arms and snorted. "What's it to you? And this isn't the time to fish for information."

Dugu Fu stroked his beard and glanced at his granddaughter. To everyone's surprise, he answered, "A thousand-year agility-type Spirit Beast."

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan cried in astonishment. She couldn't understand why Dugu Fu had just given away her plans. If Qian Yun found out what kind of Spirit Ring she wanted, how was she supposed to beat him later?

Qian Yun understood. Dugu Yan was probably wary of his ability to scout, so she wanted an agility-type Spirit Ring to counter him.

"Thousand-year agility-type Spirit Beasts aren't easy to find in Sunset Forest," Qian Yun said with a frown. He was actually beginning to consider what Spirit Ring would suit Dugu Yan.

After a pause, Qian Yun tentatively said, "How about I recommend one?"

"Oh? You're an odd one, boy. Who goes out of their way to help an opponent? Well, what Spirit Beast do you recommend?" Dugu Fu narrowed his eyes and sneered. He could tell the boy wasn't bluffing; he genuinely knew what he was talking about.

"The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!"

Dugu Fu fell silent. As the overlord of serpent-type Martial Souls, he had naturally heard of that kind of Spirit Beast. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was an excellent choice, but there were none in Sunset Forest. To hunt one, they would have to go to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Seeing Dugu Fu's reaction, Qian Yun hurried to press his advantage. "Besides storing poison in the crest on its head, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is best known for its gliding ability. If she obtained its Spirit Ring, she might gain a thousand-year flying-type Spirit Skill. And since it's also a serpent Spirit Beast, it would be even more beneficial for Student Dugu."

The ability to fly...!

Now it wasn't just Dugu Fu thinking it over. Dugu Yan was considering it too.

If she really gained a flying-type Spirit Skill, her mobility would be greatly enhanced. And her Poison Mist would no longer spread only across the ground—it could cover her enemies from above!

Seeing that Dugu Fu was still considering it, Dugu Yan, already tempted by the idea, quietly gave him a meaningful look.

Dugu Fu saw it and immediately stopped hesitating. But out of a powerful person's pride, he kept his tone casual. "You make a fair point. Even if it isn't the best choice, I'll consider it. Yan Yan is only level twenty-seven right now, but there's no harm in preparing early."

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes. Her grandfather was always so stubbornly proud.

He looked at Qian Yun and Hu Liena, then rested a hand on Dugu Yan's shoulder. "Since you meant well, I'll let you off for trespassing this time. But only this once."

Dugu Yan sneered too. "Amiga... Oh, no, Qian Yun. Next time we meet, I'll settle the score for you even lying to me about your name. Just you wait!"

Qian Yun and Hu Liena looked up together as the grandfather and granddaughter disappeared from sight. Only when the bead in his arms finally stopped heating up did Qian Yun let out a sigh of relief.

Hu Liena finally relaxed after remaining tense the whole time.

She patted her chest and said, still shaken, "It's finally over. That man really looked like he'd killed countless people. I was afraid he'd get annoyed and send the two of us straight to our graves."

Qian Yun shook his head and crouched down in front of her again. It was true that Dugu Fu had killed countless people, but with the Pope Order in their possession, they weren't in danger of losing their lives.

Once Hu Liena had relaxed, her thoughts began to wander again. She leaned against Qian Yun's shoulder and asked, "By the way, was that beautiful girl an old acquaintance of yours? I noticed she kept staring at you."

Qian Yun laughed. "What are you talking about? She already has someone. I fought her a year ago. After running into her again today, she probably wanted to tear me apart."

Hu Liena looked puzzled. "Then why did you recommend a Spirit Ring for her?"

"It was a way to get out of trouble." Qian Yun replied and quickened his pace. He didn't want to stay in that dangerous place any longer.

At last, they returned to camp. Qian Yun found the medicine and piled up the bedding so Hu Liena could lean back comfortably.

They sat facing each other. Qian Yun reached out and removed the boots from Hu Liena's feet. After all that exercise, her white cotton socks were soaked with sweat and clung tightly to her feet, almost like a second skin. Freed from the stuffy boots, her delicate feet, smooth as warm jade, gave off wisps of hot air with a faint sour smell.

Hu Liena curled her toes, her pretty face flushed with embarrassment. She knew her feet probably didn't smell very good.

But she didn't know why. Looking at her steaming feet so close to Qian Yun's handsome face, his inviting lips just inches away, she suddenly felt an urge to put her feet on his face, cover his features, block his breathing, and let the hot air he exhaled ripple across the soles of her feet.