The Map Unfurls, the Dagger Revealed

"So..."

"Is it really true, Grandfather?"

"Do we truly have a lethal poison inside us that I knew nothing about?"

Dugu Yan looked at Dugu Bo, questioning him aloud.

Dugu Bo's expression was grave.

The pressure Snow Emperor exerted upon him was simply too immense.

It was like an immovable mountain.

Ever since he had stepped into the realm of Title Douluo, rarely had anyone been able to give Dugu Bo such a feeling.

The woman in the white dress before him, with a face as cold as ice, was terrifyingly strong!

For a moment, Dugu Bo's heart sank.

He did not know what purpose such a powerhouse had in seeking out the two of them, nor why she would choose to reveal this matter to Dugu Yan.

"Grandfather, speak to me!"

Seeing Dugu Bo remain silent and offer no answer, Dugu Yan could not help but urge him.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo knew that this matter could no longer be hidden.

After a soft sigh, he nodded and admitted:

"That is correct; it is indeed the truth."

"This is the fate of our Jade Scale Family."

"You are still young, and I had not intended to tell you of this so soon, lest it cause you undue stress."

"But things do not always go as one wishes..."

Upon receiving Dugu Bo's confirmation, Dugu Yan's face turned pale.

Suddenly, she thought of something else.

Her voice trembled:

"So, Grandfather..."

"My parents did not actually die in an accident, but rather..."

"Yes!"

Dugu Bo's expression was gloomy, and he nodded with a weight like a lead ball.

Dugu Yan's question had touched upon the memory he least wanted to confront.

"Your parents..."

"Died precisely because of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison."

This was the sorrow that Dugu Bo had never been able to erase from his life.

He gave a bitter smile, a smile so tragic and desolate.

"The world calls me Poison Douluo, claiming my mastery of poison is peerless across the continent."

"But who could know?"

"That the dignified Poison Douluo cannot even resolve his own poison, and that his own son and daughter-in-law had to die miserably under it!"

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison, how tyrannical it is!"

As Dugu Bo spoke, his voice carried a hint of hysteria.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison, which he had used to dominate the continent and of which he was so proud, was simultaneously a curse he was helpless to break.

Dugu Yan's face grew paler as the information gradually sank in.

"It really is like this..."

"Is our family cursed..."

After all, she was still just a young girl.

Upon learning that she was afflicted with the same lethal poison that had claimed her parents, it was only natural that she could not keep her composure.

Watching Dugu Yan's expression, Dugu Bo felt an extraordinary ache in his heart.

This was the reason he had never intended to tell Dugu Yan about this matter.

She was still too young.

As her grandfather, Dugu Bo did not want her to be shrouded in the shadow of the fatal threat posed by the serpent poison so early.

It was enough for him to bear the pressure alone.

Even if he could not resolve the Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison in the end, he could at least allow Dugu Yan to spend a beautiful, stress-free period of time.

Withdrawing his gaze, he suppressed the words of comfort that had reached his lips.

Dugu Bo looked back at Yu Shuangbai and Snow Emperor.

His gaze was grave.

Because of the intimidation brought by the aura emanating from Snow Emperor, he was finally able to calm himself down enough to ask:

"So, you two, who exactly are you?"

"Why do you know about the virulent poison that Dugu Yan and I are suffering from?"

"Senior Dugu, who we are is not important."

Yu Shuangbai stepped forward with a faint smile, his expression calm.

Even when facing the infamously fierce Poison Douluo, he did not show the slightest hint of fear.

Having Snow Emperor by his side provided an immense sense of security.

If he did not have the absolute strength of Snow Emperor as a bargaining chip, Yu Shuangbai would never have been able to approach Dugu Bo to negotiate so easily.

After all, the man before him was no saint.

Dugu Bo's fearsome reputation was built upon a mountain of bloody deeds.

However, with the guarantee of Snow Emperor's absolute combat power, he could naturally avoid a great deal of trouble.

In a way, the heartlessness of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had actually served to forge Yu Shuangbai.

After all, if he hadn't been denied assistance in hunting for his soul ring, Yu Shuangbai would never have dragged his eight-year-old body alone to the Far North to seek one.

He would never have collapsed on the Far North Ice Plains, completing the transformation of his martial soul amidst the extreme cold.

Nor would he have been taken away by Snow Emperor, leading to his acquaintance with her and Ice Empress.

Having such a Titled Douluo-level guarantee was a massive advantage.

"What is important is that I have a way to resolve the threat of the snake venom within you and Dugu Yan."

These words landed like a ten-thousand-pound hammer, striking hard at Dugu Bo's heart.

His pupils constricted sharply.

Almost instinctively, he spoke in a hurried voice:

"Is this true?"

Dugu Bo's breathing grew rapid.

It was not that his temperament lacked composure.

Having spent over a hundred years in the soul master world, how could Dugu Bo's state of mind be easily shaken?

It was simply that this matter was far too important to him.

Resolving the threat of the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison.

This short sentence represented the efforts of half of Dugu Bo's life.

This poisonous threat, which had taken away all his relatives and left him with only his granddaughter Dugu Yan, had always been an indelible shadow over his heart.

Even after spending half a lifetime, he had never found a solution.

Yet, at this moment, Yu Shuangbai claimed he could resolve the snake venom threat within them.

How could Dugu Bo possibly keep his heart calm?

He did not care much about himself.

After all, he had lived for over a hundred years; he had lived a full life.

But his granddaughter Dugu Yan had not.

Dugu Yan's talent was not as great as his, and there was a high probability she would not be able to suppress the snake venom with sheer cultivation for as many years as he had.

It was highly likely she would follow in the footsteps of his son and daughter-in-law.

As a man who doted on his granddaughter, Dugu Bo naturally could not accept his only remaining kin being taken away by the snake venom right before his eyes once again.

Of course, he would not lose his composure entirely because of this.

If just anyone had said such a thing, Dugu Bo's first reaction would have been to dismiss it with disdain.

But...

Yu Shuangbai was clearly no ordinary person.

He could not discern the full extent of the strength of the Snow Emperor beside him, but he was certain it was absolutely above his own.

Dugu Bo had an inexplicable intuition.

If he were to face Snow Emperor, he would certainly not last ten rounds.

Although it was only an intuition, at their level, intuition was often exceptionally accurate.

A person of this caliber would have no need to beat around the bush or deceive them if they intended to do them harm.

Therefore...

Dugu Bo did not question him.

Instead, hope surged within him abruptly.

"Naturally, I have no reason to deceive you, do I?"

Yu Shuangbai smiled faintly.

The dagger was revealed at the end of the map.

He stated his true purpose.

"I have come this time simply to make a deal with Senior Dugu."

"As long as Senior Dugu provides me with what I need,"

"I can take action to resolve the threat of the snake venom on both you and Miss Dugu."

"I wonder what Senior Dugu thinks..."

"Of this deal?"