Beside a thicket in the distance.
Dugu Bo stood rooted to the spot, swallowing hard.
The mighty Poison Douluo was now breathing with the utmost care.
That was the overlord of the Star Dou Great Forest's outer region—a Hundred-Thousand-Year Titan Giant Ape.
If he had gone all out himself, he probably wouldn't even have scratched the beast. In the end, he would have had to flee in a sorry state.
Yet this young man, who looked barely over twenty, had cut the Ferocious Beast's head off with a single sword strike.
And the process of absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone had brought not the slightest sign of rejection.
Such talent and strength were simply unheard of!
Dugu Bo immediately dropped his usual air of superiority and hurried over to Gu Qing.
His face was wreathed in a warm smile. He clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
"This old man is Dugu Bo, a guest elder of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family."
"Thank you, young brother, for stepping in to save my granddaughter."
"If not for you, Yanyan would have been eaten by a beast today."
Gu Qing glanced over at him, his expression perfectly calm.
"It was nothing."
"Even if I hadn't stepped in, that beast was after me."
Hearing those courteous words, Dugu Bo was even more impressed by the young man's bearing.
He hurriedly turned and glared at his granddaughter, who was hiding behind a boulder.
"Yanyan, what are you waiting for?"
"Come over and thank your benefactor!"
Dugu Yan had already changed into a clean set of clothes.
Her hair was still damp, but the fearful pallor had faded from her face.
She reluctantly emerged from behind the boulder, her steps stiff.
She edged up to Gu Qing, biting her lower lip, feeling utterly conflicted.
This man had seen her naked and then hung her upside down from a tree with vines and given her a sound whipping.
And now she had to bow and thank him?
How could anyone be treated so unfairly?
But at the thought of that terrifying sight—the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast beheaded with a single sword—the fear in her heart instantly crushed her resentment.
Dugu Yan bent deeply at the waist, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"Thank you for saving my life, young master."
Gu Qing gave a casual nod, paying no mind to the earlier farce.
Dugu Bo's eyes darted around. He quickly seized the opportunity.
"May I ask your name, young brother?"
"The Star Dou Great Forest is full of dangers. Where are you headed next?"
"My name is Gu Qing."
"I'm going to Heaven Dou City."
At the mention of Heaven Dou City, Dugu Bo's eyes lit up. He stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"Well, what a coincidence!"
"My granddaughter and I are heading back to Heaven Dou City, so we're going the same way."
"If you don't mind, Brother Gu Qing, why not travel with us?"
"This old man has some influence in Heaven Dou City. I can save you plenty of trouble."
Gu Qing thought it over briefly, then agreed.
Having someone who knew the lay of the land in Heaven Dou City would save him a lot of time asking around for information.
After tidying up a little, the three of them left the wrecked hot spring area and headed for the edge of the forest.
Night fell.
The three of them lit a bonfire on the outskirts of the forest.
Gu Qing sat alone beneath a tree, resting with his eyes closed as he sorted through the Soul Power that had just surged within him.
Using the excuse of gathering firewood nearby, Dugu Bo led Dugu Yan far away, behind a clump of trees.
The old man lowered his voice, his tone extremely serious.
"Yanyan, listen carefully."
"Gu Qing is an unparalleled genius, the likes of whom appear only once in ten thousand years!"
"Even I can't tell how strong he is. Of all the Titled Douluo I've seen, not one could unleash the power of that casual sword strike."
"You've always had such high standards. You've never taken a fancy to any of those noble young men."
"Now a natural-born dragon and phoenix stands right in front of you. If you have any thoughts about him, you'd better act fast!"
Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed red, and she couldn't help stamping her foot.
"Grandpa, what are you talking about?"
"He just—"
She broke off and hurriedly swallowed the rest of her words.
There was no way she could tell her grandfather that the man had seen her completely naked in the pool.
Dugu Bo jabbed his granddaughter's forehead, exasperated.
"I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice."
"If we can bring a heaven-blessed talent like him into the Dugu Family, who on the whole continent will dare mess with us?"
"If you let him slip through your fingers, you'll regret it!"
After saying this, Dugu Bo carried an armful of firewood back to camp.
Dugu Yan stood alone in the night breeze, twisting the hem of her clothes in her hands.
The scene by the pool earlier that day surfaced in her mind unbidden.
The wild, unstoppable Dark Vine. The swift, decisive sword strike.
And...
And the whip that had landed squarely on her pert rear.
At the memory, Dugu Yan's cheeks suddenly burned.
A strange feeling she had never known before quietly rose in her heart.
Ever since she was little, every man around her had been at her beck and call, showering her with flattery.
Even her grandfather had treated her like a treasure, afraid she might get hurt.
But Gu Qing's gaze had been utterly unmoved when he looked at her. If anything, it had held a trace of disdain.
When he whipped her, he hadn't hesitated for a moment. It had really hurt.
Remembering that burning pain, she found she didn't feel much hatred at all.
Instead, she felt a little thrilled.
She even felt a faint longing for that stern man to use that Blue Silver Grass to whip her hard a couple more times.
Dugu Yan was startled by her own mad thought.
She quickly patted her burning cheeks, took a deep breath, and headed back to camp.
Over the next few days of travel,
Dugu Yan's attitude toward Gu Qing did a complete 180.
She no longer hid behind Dugu Bo as she had on the first day. Instead, she took the initiative to stay by Gu Qing's side.
Whenever the group stopped to rest, she would serve him tea and water, fussing over him eagerly.
"Gu Qing, where are you from?"
"What is that black sword of yours, exactly? What kind of Martial Soul is it? How is it so powerful?"
"What do you usually like to eat? When we get to Heaven Dou City, I'll take you to the best restaurant in the whole city."
Gu Qing glanced at the chattering Green Peacock in front of him, one eyebrow lifting.
A woman's mind really changed faster than the pages of a book.
Just two days ago, she had been threatening to kill him and gouge out his eyes. Now she was like a tail he couldn't shake.
Still, the journey had been rather dull, so Gu Qing casually answered a few of her questions.
When Dugu Yan heard Gu Qing reply, an excited glint flashed in her eyes.
She bit her lip and dared to edge a little closer to him.
A faint, delicate fragrance drifted into Gu Qing's nostrils.
"Gu Qing, you're so handsome, and you're so strong."
"You must have lots of girls chasing after you, right?"
"Do you... have a girlfriend?"
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