Yu Tianheng's Backstab? Calamity Poison Qi! Someone from Martial Soul Hall Fishing in Troubled Waters?

Dugu Ce looked toward Yu Yin.

Yu Yin nodded gently:

"I recognize these people; they have indeed been bullied by the main branch quite often in their daily lives.

Ce'er, if you wish to use them, then do so."

"Rise and speak," Dugu Ce said.

The middle-aged man stood up tremblingly, his waist hunched, not daring to lift his head.

"What is your name?" Dugu Ce asked.

"Reporting to Young Master, this lowly one is called Yu Chengsi. My Martial Soul is a Thunder Python, a degraded form from a side branch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and I am a level 58 Spirit King."

"Level 58?"

Dugu Ce raised an eyebrow.

"That is considered quite decent among the side branches."

Yu Chengsi gave a bitter smile:

"No matter how decent, we are still a side branch. Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't even spare us a glance.

If Young Master is willing to take us in, we will swear our lives to your loyalty."

Dugu Ce pondered for a moment:

"The Dragon-Serpent Sect has just been established, and it is a time when we are in need of people.

Since you are willing to come, I will give you a chance.

But there is one condition:

Once you enter the Dragon-Serpent Sect, you must follow the rules of the Dragon-Serpent Sect.

Those who betray us from within will be executed without mercy."

Yu Chengsi kowtowed repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, yes! This lowly one understands!"

"Follow my mother first and act as her guards."

Dugu Ce pointed at Yu Yin.

"If she loses even a single hair, all of you will be buried with her."

"Rest assured, Young Master!

We will surely protect the Madam with our lives!"

Yu Chengsi patted his chest in guarantee.

Dugu Ce said no more, taking Yu Yin and Dugu Yan toward the direction of True Dragon Mountain.

Behind them, Yu Chengsi and his group followed respectfully from a distance, not daring to approach even a single step.

On the way, Yu Yin asked softly:

"Ce'er, you have established a sect, and Mother cannot be of much help.

But there is one thing I wish to ask of you."

"Please speak, Mother."

"You carry the blood of both the Dugu family and the Yu family.

Now that you have destroyed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Mother does not blame you.

But many of those side branch disciples are innocent."

Yu Yin held Dugu Ce's hand.

"If you can avoid killing them, then please don't."

Dugu Ce was silent for a moment, then nodded:

"Very well. I promise you."

Yu Yin smiled and said nothing more.

When they returned to True Dragon Mountain, it was already noon.

Dugu Xuan and Dugu Bo were both absent, leaving only Dugu Yan to accompany Yu Yin to the back mountain to get settled.

Dugu Ce stood alone on the mountain peak, watching the scattered spirit masters gathering toward the foot of True Dragon Mountain, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Footsteps came from behind him.

Dugu Ce did not turn around:

"Yu Tianheng, you aren't staying properly in your stone room, so why have you run out?"

Yu Tianheng stood three steps behind him, his face pale, the red marks left by the spirit power chains still lingering on his wrists.

He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse:

"I came to tell you that among the collateral branches of the Yu family, there are a few who cannot be kept alive."

Dugu Ce turned around, watching him with keen interest:

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"Yu Chengsi."

Yu Tianheng gritted his teeth.

"This man appears honest and kind, but he is actually ruthless and vicious. Back when your father was humiliated on True Dragon Mountain, he was the one who led the jeering and incited Yu Yuanzhen to strike with such cruelty."

Dugu Ce's eyes turned cold:

"Continue."

"And Yu Chengsi's two younger brothers, Yu Cheng'en and Yu Chengde, are both his lackeys."

Yu Tianheng clenched his fists.

"Their hands are stained with the blood of your Dugu family. If you harbor them, they will bite back sooner or later."

Dugu Ce stared at Yu Tianheng for a long time, then suddenly laughed:

"You are quite ruthless yourself. Betraying your own kin without even blinking an eye."

"Kin?"

Yu Tianheng gave a bitter laugh.

"When they forced your father to his death back then, they didn't treat me like kin. I was only five years old, and I watched with my own eyes as Yu Chengsi spat in your father's face. This grudge, I remember it."

Dugu Ce was silent for a moment, then turned to look at the figures approaching from the foot of the mountain:

"I understand. Go back for now; when I have need of you, I will naturally call for you."

Although he said this, Dugu Ce would not truly let Yu Tianheng go.

Dugu Ce had already taken advantage of Yu Tianheng's distraction to plant a strand of Calamity Poison Qi within his body.

If Yu Tianheng tried to run, he would drop dead within a few days.

Yu Tianheng gave him a deep look, then turned and left.

Dugu Ce stood with his hands behind his back as the mountain wind whistled past.

He whispered to himself:

"Yu Chengsi... It seems the waters of the Dragon-Serpent Sect are deeper than I thought."

In the distance, Dugu Bo was darting rapidly toward the mountain peak.

Dugu Bo swooped down from the sky and landed steadily on the summit. He glanced at the departing Yu Tianheng and raised an eyebrow:

"Why did that brat come out?"

"He came out on his own," Dugu Ce said indifferently. "He came to lodge a complaint, saying that Yu Chengsi was the one who incited Yu Yuanzhen to harm my father back then."

Dugu Bo's eyes turned cold:

"Yu Chengsi? Is that the one at the foot of the mountain who led the others in kneeling to you?"

"Correct."

"Then why are you still keeping him?" A flash of green light emanated from Dugu Bo. "I shall go down and dissolve him into a puddle of sludge right now."

"No rush," Dugu Ce stopped him. "If I kill someone I just recruited, who would dare to defect to the Dragon-Serpent Sect in the future?"

Dugu Bo let out a cold snort:

"Then we are just going to let it go?"

"Let it go?"

The corners of Dugu Ce's mouth curled up.

"Grand-uncle, once the Myriad Poison Array is set up, I will need someone to 'test the array.' Since Yu Chengsi is so eager, he might as well be the one to test it."

Dugu Bo was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter:

"Good idea! Let him die in the array; outsiders will only assume he was blind enough to wander into a forbidden zone, and no one can blame anyone else. Ce'er, your heart is even darker than mine."

"We are one and the same." Dugu Ce looked toward the foot of the mountain. "Grand-uncle, how long until the array can be activated?"

"The core area will be ready in three days."

Dugu Bo lowered his voice.

"But if we want to ensure outsiders see no flaws, it is best to wait another two days.

By then, this old man will release word that the core region of True Dragon Mountain is filled with toxic miasma, and those who trespass will die.

If Yu Chengsi were to 'accidentally' break in... that would be him seeking his own death."

"Let it be done that way." Dugu Ce nodded. "Additionally, regarding the absorption of the branch families, is there any news from Grandfather?"

Dugu Bo shook his head:

"Brother Xuan has yet to send word back.

However, given his methods, there will certainly be a result within three to five days.

There is one thing, however, that this old man must tell you first."

"What is it?"

"While patrolling the mountain, I discovered a troop from Martial Soul Hall thirty miles east of True Dragon Mountain."

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes.

"The leader is a Cardinal, accompanied by over twenty Spirit Masters, skulking about outside the mountain."

Dugu Ce's gaze sharpened:

"Martial Soul Hall?

They arrived just after Teacher left?"

"It does not look like the Second Worship's men."

Dugu Bo shook his head.

"That Cardinal is acting furtively, not even flying their banners.

This old man suspects that someone within Martial Soul Hall intends to fish in troubled waters."

"Have you investigated clearly?"

"I did not alert the enemy." Dugu Bo sneered. "This old man only took a look from afar before circling back. Ce'er, what do you intend to do?"

Dugu Ce pondered for a moment:

"No need to act in haste.

Wait for Grandfather to return so we can ascertain their background first.

If it truly is Martial Soul Hall trying to stir up trouble... then do not blame me for not giving Teacher any face."