Dugu Yan

Outside Dugu Manor, a notice for a poison-curing challenge had been hanging for years. Anyone capable of neutralizing the poisons concocted by Dugu Bo would receive a handsome reward.

Ye Guchen arrived before Dugu Manor, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the notice.

I was just fretting over how to find a reason to approach Dugu Bo; isn't this the perfect opportunity?

Although Ye Guchen didn't know much about detoxifying, the Dou II timeline had detox pills.

Ye Guchen happened to have a box of "Hundred Poison Clear" pills on him. While they couldn't neutralize every toxin in existence, they could handle most of the poisons on the market. He figured Dugu Bo would be quite interested in this medicine from ten thousand years in the future.

It wasn't the medicine itself that would interest him, but rather the person capable of creating it.

The guards at Dugu Manor saw someone else coming to attempt the challenge. Even though the person looked far too young—likely just another hopeful amateur—the guards didn't slack off in the slightest and hurried forward, speaking politely.

"Little master, are you also here to challenge the poisons set by Old Master Dugu?"

Seeing the guards so courteous and showing no signs of looking down on him, Ye Guchen understood.

It seems Dugu Bo has tried every possible method to find a cure for his martial soul's backlash.

Ye Guchen didn't rush to state his intentions, lest it seem too deliberate. Instead, he pointed at the notice and asked the guards.

"How long has this notice been posted?"

"We don't know. It was already here when we arrived; it's been at least ten years!"

The guards answered truthfully.

Ye Guchen pretended to ponder for a moment before acting as if he had made up his mind.

"Then, may I give it a try?"

"Of course, anyone can try!"

The two guards were long since accustomed to this. They led Ye Guchen into a room.

The guards skillfully brought out various bottles and jars, along with some caged mice.

"These are the poisons left behind by His Excellency Dugu. As long as you can cure the mice that have ingested them, you will receive the reward. Of course, you must hand over your method of detoxification."

Ye Guchen nodded slightly upon hearing this. This appeared to be Dugu Bo showing off his toxic arts, but in reality, he was out of options and forced to use this method to find a master of detoxification.

Seeing that Ye Guchen was ready, one guard fed the mice food dipped in poison, with each mouse receiving a different type.

Within moments, the mice's breathing began to weaken.

"Little brother, if you cannot cure them within half an hour, these mice will die. That is to say, you only have half an hour to prepare."

After speaking, the guards stepped aside, giving Ye Guchen plenty of space to study the poisons.

Ye Guchen didn't show the panic the guards expected. Instead, he unhurriedly took out a pill and slowly ground it into powder.

Under their puzzled gazes, Ye Guchen mixed the powder with water and fed it to all the mice in turn.

"This?"

The two exchanged glances, their faces full of confusion, not understanding what Ye Guchen was doing.

However, according to Dugu Bo's rules, they had to wait until the mice died or the challenger was poisoned before they could intervene. Otherwise, no matter what happened, they were forbidden from interfering.

They had no choice but to watch from the sidelines. Just as they were about to dismiss him as another fraud, they noticed the state of all the mice beginning to recover at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Most incredibly, even the mouse that had ingested the Jade Scale Snake Poison was slowly recovering.

The two guards looked at each other, unable to hide the excitement in their eyes. If they found the method to cure the Jade Scale Snake Poison, they would also receive a generous reward.

"Might I ask, young master, if you could leave behind your method of detoxification and your address?"

The guard put on a fawning expression, rubbing his hands together. Afraid that Ye Guchen might misunderstand, he quickly added.

"No other meaning, it's just that His Excellency Dugu specifically instructed that if someone capable of curing the Jade Scale Snake Poison appears, we must keep them and bring them to him. But His Excellency hasn't been at Dugu Manor for over ten days, and we don't know when he'll return. Leaving an address would make it easier to find you later."

Seeing their cautious demeanor, Ye Guchen didn't make things difficult. He took out a jade-green pill and handed it to the guards, then produced a business card.

"My address is on here."

The two took the card, glanced at it, and immediately frowned.

"Hundred Treasures Pavilion? This?"

"It's a shop I just opened. It's normal that you haven't heard of it."

Upon hearing this, the two understood. One hurried into the room and brought out a Gold Soul Coin card.

"This is your reward for completing the challenge: a total of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Please keep it safe."

"One hundred thousand? Fine, even a mosquito's leg is still meat."

After accepting the Gold Soul Coin card, Ye Guchen prepared to leave.

But just as he stepped out the door, he collided head-on with a girl with green hair who was rushing inside.

"Who is it! So blind!"

Dugu Yan pulled herself away from Ye Guchen's embrace, rubbing her head and cursing. She looked up and caught sight of Ye Guchen's sharp, chiseled facial features.

He's actually quite handsome; I suppose it wasn't a total loss.

A thought flashed quickly through Dugu Yan's mind, but on the surface, she maintained her angry expression.

"I'm asking you a question!"

"My name is Ye Guchen, and who might you be?"

He certainly knew she was Dugu Yan, but if he acted like he recognized her now, it would seem a bit too deliberate.

"Listen well, my name is Dugu Yan! My grandfather is the Poison Douluo Dugu Bo! Well, are you scared yet?"

Unexpectedly, Ye Guchen showed not a hint of shock, merely responding calmly.

"Oh."

"Just... 'oh'?"

Dugu Yan was somewhat exasperated, unable to help but mutter to herself, Shouldn't you be feeling shocked? Or at least give me some kind of reaction.

Just then, the two guards who had heard the commotion hurried over, approaching Dugu Yan to explain the sequence of events.

"Oh... so you came to challenge the detoxification."

Dugu Yan still wore a face full of pride; she considered herself to be at the forefront of her peers when it came to the art of poison.

But upon hearing that Ye Guchen had neutralized the Jade Scale Snake Poison, her expression stiffened, filled with disbelief.

"How is that possible?"

Hearing this, Ye Guchen spread his hands.

"I did indeed neutralize the Jade Scale Snake Poison."

Yet the calmer Ye Guchen remained, the more interested Dugu Yan became, and she immediately summoned her three spirit rings.

"I don't believe it! My martial soul is the Jade Scale Poison Snake; unless you can defeat me!"

Ye Guchen glanced downward and noticed that Dugu Yan was still carrying a box of pastries without any intention of putting it down, which was clearly a sign of her confidence in her own strength.

But what does defeating you have to do with detoxification? Shouldn't you be asking me to neutralize it again? Ye Guchen didn't have time to dwell on it, however, and immediately agreed.

"Fine by me!"

Ye Guchen was amused, and promptly began to release his spirit rings.

Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black!

The moment the second spirit ring appeared, Dugu Yan's expression began to turn grave, and by the time the fourth, ten-thousand-year spirit ring emerged, she was frozen in place.

The instant the fifth spirit ring appeared, the pastries she had been holding fell to the ground.

"A Spirit King! How... how is this possible!"