First Meeting with Dugu Bo, Bringing Him Under His Wing

A tall, thin old man slowly emerged.

His hair and beard were both dark green, and his eyes gleamed like emeralds.

The timing, the location, the appearance.

It was obvious: this was none other than Douluo Continent's true angel investor—the one who gave without expecting anything in return—Dugu Bo.

"This junior, Dugu Bo, pays his respects to Senior." (In the original, Dugu Bo seems to have been awarded his title by Golden Crocodile. For this scene, I'll write him as not recognizing him.)

"This junior was only searching for medicinal herbs in Sunset Forest. I absolutely wasn't following either of you."

Dugu Bo felt the terrifying pressure emanating from Qian Daoliu.

He was too strong. If they fought, Dugu Bo wouldn't have the slightest chance to fight back.

Dugu Bo wished he could slap himself a few times. Why had he been so curious and nosy?

This was bad. He'd heard something he shouldn't have. Whether he could even make it home alive was now a question.

Qian Daoliu kept releasing his pressure, forcing Dugu Bo to summon his Martial Soul to ease the strain.

Dugu Bo?

Wasn't he the greatest enemy in his granddaughter's struggle to seize power?

"You should have heard the effects of my disciple's Soul Skill, right?"

Dugu Bo broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly spoke.

"I did indeed hear about the remarkable talent of Senior's disciple."

"But please rest assured, Senior. I can swear that I absolutely won't tell anyone anything I heard or saw today."

"I beg you to spare me, for the sake of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Thinking of his granddaughter, Qian Daoliu wore an odd expression.

He wondered whether he should simply kill Dugu Bo right here.

"Oh?"

"You're from the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Dugu Bo looked at Qian Daoliu's strange expression and rubbed his hands together, feeling rather apprehensive.

"This junior was indeed invited to become a retainer of the Heaven Dou Empire some time ago."

"If Senior thinks that's unsuitable, this junior can take on another identity."

Lin Huai felt that his teacher might be about to make a move.

Hearing Dugu Bo's flexible response, he immediately cut into the conversation.

"Senior Dugu, you are, after all, a Titled Douluo."

"We certainly wouldn't kill you just to keep you quiet, but..."

Seeing his disciple speak up, Qian Daoliu let him take the lead,

curious to see what he planned to do.

Dugu Bo breathed a sigh of relief.

He might have to pay dearly, but at least he'd survive.

Otherwise, without him looking after his adorable granddaughter,

who knew which sorts of demons and monsters might bully her?

"Young master, go ahead and name your price. As long as I'm capable of meeting it..."

"Name any condition you like!"

Lin Huai pretended to think for a moment.

"I won't pull the wool over your eyes. We're from Spirit Hall, and specifically, the Worship Hall."

"My teacher here is the current Grand Elder, Qian Daoliu, a level-ninety-nine peerless powerhouse known as the 'Invincible of the Sky'!"

Being praised to his face by his own disciple

left even the old man's composure wavering after living for over a hundred years.

Dugu Bo was even more astonished inside.

This was a terrifying figure from the previous era!

"So you're Angel Douluo, Lord Qian Daoliu."

"When I first began traveling the continent, stories about you were as familiar as thunder in my ears!"

"But I haven't heard anything about you in recent years. People on the continent all say you've already..."

Lin Huai looked at Qian Daoliu helplessly.

He really couldn't understand some of Spirit Hall's behavior. They could simply have said, "I don't eat beef,"

yet instead they insisted on putting up with provocations from a bunch of clowns.

"Teacher, look. You've been quiet for too long, and everyone's forgotten you."

"If the seniors of the Worship Hall made a move now and then, how would the continent's powers dare challenge the dignity of Spirit Hall?"

Dugu Bo, standing nearby, felt that this kid was trying to poison Qian Daoliu against him.

"How could that be? Who on the continent doesn't fear Spirit Hall's might?"

Lin Huai gave him a look that said, Do you think you can fool a child?

After thinking it over carefully, he said:

"Let's set that aside for now. Senior Poison Douluo, why don't you join Spirit Hall?"

"But you can keep your post as a Heaven Dou retainer for the time being. Just think of yourself as a spy we've planted in the Heaven Dou Empire."

Dugu Bo looked troubled.

Was Spirit Hall really this terrifying?

He was a dignified Titled Douluo, and they wanted him to be a spy?

He looked at Qian Daoliu, hoping the two of them would come up with a different condition.

"Joining Spirit Hall isn't really a problem, but having me act as a spy..."

"I may be praising myself, but I'm still a Titled Douluo. Isn't that a bit of a waste of talent?"

Qian Daoliu's eyes lit up, as if he'd thought of something.

"No, you'll be perfect for the job.

I'll arrange for someone to coordinate with you. From then on, you'll follow that person's orders in all matters."

Dugu Bo's heart jolted when he heard that.

He hadn't expected Spirit Hall to target the Heaven Dou Empire so soon.

It seemed the person they'd planted there held a pretty high position.

"Teacher, we already have people in Heaven Dou?"

"Mm. We had a plan targeting the Heaven Dou Empire before, but it's not convenient to explain right now."

As Qian Daoliu said this, his expression was impossible to read.

"But, Little Huai."

"How are we going to keep Dugu Bo under control?"

Lin Huai's expression turned strange as he spoke.

"Sir, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your family..."

The moment he heard the word "family,"

Dugu Bo hurriedly swore:

"I swear on my Martial Soul that I will never betray you. Otherwise, may my Martial Soul shatter, my Soul Power scatter, and may I wish I were dead!"

Lin Huai was slightly surprised. He hadn't even finished his "little Japanese" line, and Dugu Bo had already gone all in.

After all, swearing on one's Martial Soul had real effect on Douluo Continent.

It seems Dugu Yan hasn't become Yu Tianheng's girlfriend yet. Otherwise, this old man wouldn't be so nervous.

He immediately put on a righteous expression and began to reassure Dugu Bo.

"Senior, you didn't have to swear. I would have believed you anyway. After all, I've heard a little about you."

"Although people have plenty of criticisms of you, and think you're moody and unpredictable,"

"I know that you're actually a man of your word, Senior."

Dugu Bo grumbled inwardly, I'll be damned if I believe you.

If he hadn't made that oath, he'd definitely be dying here.

Lin Huai then asked, sounding puzzled:

"But from what I know, Senior Dugu was once a carefree man. You must have received some kindness from the Heaven Dou Empire to become its retainer."

"As someone who values loyalty and keeps his word, how do you plan to repay that kindness?"

Thinking of why he had become a Heaven Dou retainer,

Dugu Bo made a face like he was constipated.

"Young master, you may not know this, but the current Pope once tried to recruit me."

"I refused at the time, and then Chrysanthemum Douluo hunted me down. By chance, Prince Xue Xing rescued me, and that's how I became a retainer of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Then, with a serious expression, he said, "As long as Spirit Hall spares Xue Xing, I don't care what happens to anyone else."

"That shouldn't be a problem."

Lin Huai agreed casually, then looked at Dugu Bo's head of green hair.

"Since you've sincerely joined Spirit Hall, let's discuss the problem you have."

Dugu Bo felt awkward under Lin Huai's gaze as he replied.

"Ha ha... Young master, you're joking. I'm a Titled Douluo. What problem could I have?"

"Oh... You're sure?"

"If you don't tell me now, it'll be hard to ask for my help later."

Dugu Bo looked troubled.

After much hesitation, he finally explained how his family had been affected by the Jade Phosphor Snake's poison.

Qian Daoliu was surprised.

"Little Huai, how did you know Dugu Bo was being poisoned from within? Does your Martial Soul have that ability?"

Lin Huai scratched his head.

"That's not it. My Martial Soul only sensed the terrifying poison inside Senior Poison Douluo's body.

But it's normal for a poison-attribute Soul Master to have poison in his body."

"I read an autobiography written by a Jade Phosphor Snake Soul Master. Then I made a deduction based on books written by other poison-attribute Soul Masters."

Dugu Bo's voice carried admiration.

"Young master, it's impressive that you could deduce that from the lines between the words. At least, no one else has known about our family's flaw until now."