Dugu Bo

Chrysanthemum Douluo stood behind him, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding vegetation. The expression on his heavily powdered face shifted from calm to surprise, then from surprise to shock.

"Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Aromatic Silk Beauty..." He rattled off seven or eight names in one breath, his voice wavering. "Young Master Gu, this place is practically a treasure trove."

His gaze fell on a golden chrysanthemum, and his pupils contracted slightly.

It was an Immortal Herb of the same origin as his Martial Soul: the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

If he could consume this Immortal Herb, the quality of his Martial Soul would improve by at least one grade.

Chrysanthemum Douluo drew a deep breath and forced himself to look away.

He turned to Gu Qingshan and saw the six-year-old standing by the pool, hands in his pockets, chewing on a Blue Silver Leaf. His expression was impossibly calm, as though everything before him had been expected.

Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed inwardly.

Just how many secrets did this child know?

Just then, a green figure hurtled down from the mountaintop.

He moved with incredible speed, like a green bolt of lightning streaking along the cliff face. After a few leaps, he reached the valley floor.

The newcomer was an elderly man, tall and lean, dressed in a gray robe. Long, dark green hair fell over his shoulders, and his eyes, the same color, were cold and keen.

He was none other than Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

"Ju Huaguan, what are you doing here?" His voice was low and hoarse.

Chrysanthemum Douluo took a step forward, discreetly shielding Gu Qingshan behind him.

"Old Poison, so this is where you've been hiding." Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice was high and composed, with the faintest hint of a smile. "Long time no see."

"Hmph." Dugu Bo snorted, a flash of murderous intent passing through his green eyes. "Ju Huaguan, answer me. What are you doing here?"

His gaze warily fixed on Chrysanthemum Douluo, but soon shifted away.

He had noticed the child behind Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Dugu Bo's eyelid twitched.

Had Ju Huaguan come to hunt him down? It didn't seem likely. He wouldn't bring a child along to kill someone.

Then what had brought him here?

Chrysanthemum Douluo saw Dugu Bo's confusion and spoke first. "There's no need to be on edge, Old Poison. I haven't come looking for trouble today. I'm here to discuss a deal."

"A deal? What could you and I possibly have to trade?" Dugu Bo's brow furrowed further, suspicion filling his green eyes.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was about to speak when Gu Qingshan stepped out from behind him.

"Elder Chrysanthemum, allow me to explain."

He stood by the pool, facing Dugu Bo across the water. His eyes were calm, utterly without fear.

"Senior Dugu, I know there are many medicinal herbs here. We came for those herbs."

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply.

He instinctively glanced at the Immortal Herbs surrounding the pool, then looked back at Gu Qingshan, his gaze turning sharp as a blade.

"Hmph. A little brat thinks he can negotiate with me, Dugu Bo?"

"Old Poison, this is His Holiness the Pope's personal disciple. With him here, he can speak for Spirit Hall." Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice rang out at just the right moment.

Dugu Bo's expression changed.

Bibi Dong's disciple.

He gave Gu Qingshan another look. Some of the contempt left his gaze, but his wariness remained undiminished.

Gu Qingshan didn't rush to speak.

He waited a moment, giving Dugu Bo time to absorb the news that he was Bibi Dong's disciple, then continued.

"Senior Dugu, whenever it rains, do your ribs grow numb and painful, while your head throbs and spasms? And have these symptoms been getting worse?"

Dugu Bo froze, shock filling his green eyes.

"H-How do you know?"

Apart from himself, no one knew about these symptoms. He had never told anyone.

Behind Gu Qingshan, Chrysanthemum Douluo's lips curled slightly.

He had noticed something wrong with Dugu Bo's aura long ago. His poisonous energy was far too intense—so intense that it had already exceeded what his body could bear.

A Titled Douluo's aura should be steady and deep, but Dugu Bo's felt like a volcano on the verge of eruption, placid on the surface but churning beneath.

It was a sign that the poison had seeped into his bones.

Chrysanthemum Douluo picked up the thread, his high voice carrying a hint of schadenfreude. "Old Poison, you've cultivated poison arts for years, and your Martial Soul has turned on you. The poison has seeped into your bones. If I'm not mistaken, you haven't long to live."

Dugu Bo's face turned pale, then green.

He didn't deny it, because Ju Huaguan had spoken the truth.

His health had been deteriorating, and he could feel his life draining away day by day.

At this rate, he could last three to five years at most—perhaps less.

"But..." Chrysanthemum Douluo changed course.

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes.

"But what?"

Gu Qingshan stepped forward and stood by the pool, looking up at Dugu Bo.

"We can completely resolve the poisoning afflicting you and your granddaughter, but we have two conditions."

Dugu Bo fell silent.

He looked at the six-year-old, his gaze complicated.

Could a six-year-old's words be trusted?

But what if he was telling the truth? What if Yan Yan's poison really could be cured?

In the end, all he did was snort. "Let's hear them. What are your conditions?"

Gu Qingshan held up two fingers.

"First, Senior Dugu joins Spirit Hall."

Dugu Bo's expression didn't change, but his hand clenched tighter.

"Second, we take whichever herbs we want from here."

At last, Dugu Bo's expression changed.

"Take whichever you want? Do you know how many years I've spent gathering these herbs? And you expect to take them all with a single word?"

"Not all of them," Gu Qingshan corrected him. "We'll choose carefully. There are many herbs here, Senior Dugu, but most of them won't directly help you or Dugu Yan recover from the poison. We only need two. Besides those, we'll also pick about ten more to take with us."

"Two?" Dugu Bo's brow furrowed.

"Yes. First, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, for your granddaughter. She's still young and hasn't been poisoned too deeply. The Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid can not only completely purge the toxins from her body, but also strengthen her constitution and improve her cultivation talent."

"Second, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, for you. The Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma can neutralize the poison that's built up in your body over the years, but you'll need to follow Elder Chrysanthemum's prescription for six months to eliminate it completely."

Dugu Bo fell silent.

His gaze moved back and forth between Gu Qingshan and Chrysanthemum Douluo. The terms sounded too good to be true.

"If you really can completely resolve the poisoning afflicting Yan Yan and me, I might agree."

Gu Qingshan smiled.

"Senior Dugu, we have no reason to deceive you."

Dugu Bo stared at him for a long while. At last, a trace of doubt softened in his green eyes.

"But if I find out you've deceived me, I'll destroy every herb here, even if it costs me my life. You won't get a single one." His voice regained the authority and coldness of a Titled Douluo. ""

"Deal."

Chrysanthemum Douluo stood to the side, watching the scene unfold, the curve of his lips rising a little higher.

He thought to himself, Young Master Gu is only six, and he's already struck a deal with a Titled Douluo.

Ten years from now, will there be anything in the Soul Master World he can't handle?

Gu Qingshan turned to look at the Immortal Herbs around the pool, his eyes shining.

He'd have to choose these Immortal Herbs carefully.

The Aromatic Silk Beauty for Ye Lingling, the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma for Dugu Bo, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid for Dugu Yan, and...

Gu Qingshan glanced at Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was staring at the golden Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, longing written all over his face.

Gu Qingshan smiled.

This trip had been worth it.