Dugu Bo's Old Acquaintances

Three days later, Dugu Bo left the Marquis Mansion alone and headed for a secluded valley outside Heaven Dou City.

The Nine-Heart Begonia lineage had lived in seclusion here for generations, staying out of worldly affairs.

The valley entrance was filled with begonia flowers. Though it was late autumn, they bloomed in full splendor, white petals drifting on the wind like snowflakes.

Dugu Bo landed at the valley entrance. Rather than forcing his way in, he called out loudly, "Dugu Bo has come to visit an old acquaintance of the Ye Family."

A moment later, an aged voice answered from within the valley. "Come in."

Deep within the valley stood a simple courtyard.

Beneath a begonia tree in the courtyard, the White-Haired Old Woman sat on a stone stool, leaning on a cane.

Her face was aged, but her eyes were exceptionally clear.

Her aura was not particularly powerful, only at the Soul Douluo level. Yet her composed bearing made others wary of underestimating her.

Only one person in each generation of the Nine-Heart Begonia lineage could inherit the Martial Soul.

The inheritor was not necessarily the strongest Soul Master in the family, but they would certainly be the one most capable of bringing out the Nine-Heart Begonia's healing abilities.

The inheritor of this generation was Ye Lingling.

The old woman was merely the previous generation's guardian, responsible for raising Ye Lingling until she could stand on her own.

"Dugu Bo?" The old woman looked up at him calmly. "What brings Poison Douluo here?"

Dugu Bo did not beat around the bush. "I want the Ye Family to leave seclusion."

The old woman raised her brows slightly. "Leave seclusion? The Ye Family has lived in seclusion for generations and stayed out of worldly affairs. Poison Douluo should know that."

"I know." Dugu Bo nodded.

"But times have changed. Spirit Hall is growing powerful, and Clear Sky Sect has sealed itself away. Before long, there will be no peaceful land left on this continent."

"Can you truly remain safe forever by hiding here?"

The old woman fell silent. A Soul Douluo would have no chance to fight back against Spirit Hall.

Dugu Bo continued, "I don't need the Ye Family to do anything. I only need Ye Lingling to stay by my junior's side."

"That child is named Gu Ci. Your Ye Family's girl should have met him."

"Gu Ci?" Surprise flashed through the old woman's eyes. "That boy from Thunder Tiger Marquis Manor?"

Dugu Bo nodded. "That child is extraordinary. His future achievements will not fall short of anyone's."

"Ye Lingling will be safer at his side than she is here."

The old woman remained silent for a long time.

"I need to think about it," she finally said.

Dugu Bo nodded and did not press her. "No rush. I'll return in a few days."

He turned and left. After taking several steps, he stopped again. "Oh, right. The begonia flowers of your Ye Family are blooming quite beautifully."

The old woman watched his departing figure, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly in an almost-smile.

Over the following days, Dugu Bo began traveling far and wide.

He first went to Green Peak Mountain outside Heaven Dou City, where an old friend from his younger days, Zhao Tieshan, lived. An eight-ring Soul Douluo, his Martial Soul was the Ironback Grey Wolf.

The two had once ventured through the Spirit Beast Forest together. Later, Zhao Tieshan grew weary of fighting and killing, retired into the mountains, and made a living as a blacksmith.

"Old Poison?"

When Zhao Tieshan saw him, the hammer in his hand nearly struck his foot. "Why are you here?"

Dugu Bo looked at his old friend, whose hair had turned gray, and felt a surge of emotion.

The Ironback Grey Wolf of old had grown old as well.

"Old Zhao, come out. Stop smithing and work with me."

Zhao Tieshan's eyes widened. "Work with you? Doing what? Poisoning people?"

Dugu Bo: "..."

Was his reputation really that terrible?

He took a deep breath and explained the situation.

Zhao Tieshan was silent for a long time. He set down his hammer and sighed. "I knew these peaceful days wouldn't last long."

He glanced back at his smithy, packed a few belongings, and left with Dugu Bo.

Next was Blue Wave Lake outside Skywater City. There, Dugu Bo found his second old friend, Shen Biyao, an eight-ring Soul Douluo whose Martial Soul was the Jade Water Mystic Snake.

They had once shared a close bond. Later, due to upheaval in her family, she retired to the lakeside and made a living by fishing.

"Poison Douluo?" A complicated look flashed through Shen Biyao's eyes when she saw him. "I thought you had forgotten me."

Dugu Bo shook his head. "I haven't. I've remembered all these years."

Shen Biyao was silent for a moment before putting away her fishing rod. "Let's go. I'm tired of fishing alone anyway."

Then, at Grey Wolf Mountain on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, Dugu Bo found the third Soul Douluo, Cang Lang. He was an eight-ring Soul Douluo, and his Martial Soul was the Grey Wolf King.

His Martial Soul was of roughly the same rank as the Ironback Grey Wolf, though his level was slightly lower.

He had been one of Dugu Bo's most trusted brothers in his younger days. Later, after suffering severe injuries, he had remained in the mountains to recover.

When Cang Lang saw Dugu Bo, he said nothing. He merely rose silently and slung his weapon over his back.

"Let's go." His voice was hoarse. "This life of mine was yours to begin with."

All three Soul Douluos had assembled.

Next, Dugu Bo began searching for his old friends at the Soul Saint level.

He first went to Iron Eagle Ridge north of Heaven Dou City and found Liu Tieying, a seven-ring Soul Saint whose Martial Soul was the Ironfeather Eagle.

Back then, Liu Tieying had been hunted by enemies, and Dugu Bo had saved his life.

Over the years, he had operated a small escort agency on Iron Eagle Ridge and lived a fairly peaceful life.

"Poison Douluo?"

The moment Liu Tieying saw him, he dissolved the escort agency without another word. "You saved my life back then. This life of mine is yours."

Then came Li Guishou in Sunset City, a seven-ring Soul Saint whose Martial Soul was the Shadow Monkey. He excelled at disguise and assassination.

He was one of the finest assassins on the continent and had owed Dugu Bo his life back then.

"Hehe, Old Poison, you finally remembered me?"

Li Guishou grinned. "Perfect. My hands have been itching lately."

Next was Granny Sun outside Jialing Pass, a seven-ring Soul Saint whose Martial Soul was the Canary. She excelled at speed and reconnaissance.

Her husband had died at the jaws of a spirit beast, and Dugu Bo had saved her life. She had lived alone in a village outside the pass ever since.

"Poison Douluo?" Granny Sun's eyes reddened when she saw him. "I thought you had forgotten me."

Dugu Bo shook his head. "I haven't."

Granny Sun turned and went into her house to pack, then left with him.

The fourth Soul Saint was Qian Sihai, a master blacksmith from Gengxin City. A seven-ring Soul Saint, his Martial Soul was the Red Bronze Cauldron.

Though he was not a combat-type Soul Master, his forging skills were unmatched beneath heaven. He was Divine Artisan Lou Gao's most favored and valued disciple.

"Old Poison, are we making trouble?" Qian Sihai rubbed his hands together. "Sure. I, Old Qian, may not be good at much else, but I'm decent enough at smithing."

The fifth Soul Saint was Old Ghost, an elderly hunter living in seclusion in the Sky Ripple Mountains. A seven-ring Soul Saint, his Martial Soul was the Shadow Rat, and he excelled at tracking and concealment.

He was one of the finest scouts on the continent. Back when Dugu Bo had been hunted by enemies, Old Ghost had helped him escape disaster.

After hearing Dugu Bo out, Old Ghost grinned. "Old Poison, you've finally come to your senses? I told you back then, you couldn't do it alone. Let's go."

Half a month later, Dugu Bo returned to the Marquis Mansion with three Soul Douluos and five Soul Saints behind him.

Zhao Tieshan carried a hammer over his shoulder, Shen Biyao held a basket of fish, Cang Lang bore a long saber on his back, and two eagles followed behind Liu Tieying.

Li Guishou looked around with a mischievous grin. Though Granny Sun leaned on a cane, her steps were vigorous. Qian Sihai carried a large chest on his back, while Old Ghost followed silently at the very rear like a shadow.

The Main Hall of the Marquis Mansion was crowded with people for a time.