Poison Douluo: Dugu Bo!

The old man who emerged like the wind had ink-green hair and beard. The green hair atop his head was somewhat disheveled, yet it did not make him seem unkempt. Beneath it was a slightly stiff-looking face, his cheeks sunken, his eyes gleaming like emeralds.

The moment Cheng Xiao saw that distinctive green hair, his gaze sharpened.

Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo!

There could not possibly be a second person with such unnaturally green hair, beard, and eyes!

Yet when Cheng Xiao saw Dugu Bo, what came to mind was not the Jade Phosphor Snake Poison that could wipe out a city, but another name—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!

Within it lay countless heavenly treasures capable of remaking one's body from the ground up. Those immortal herbs were what had truly allowed the Shrek Seven Devils to stand out.

At the thought of immortal herbs, Cheng Xiao's heart could not help but pound.

"Hahaha, after receiving your letter, I counted the days. I figured it should be around now, so I waited for you here at the estate." Dugu Bo's smile made his slightly stiff face look rather unpleasant, but anyone could sense his delight.

"As for me, I don't even live here anymore. If you hadn't sent me a letter, you probably wouldn't have found me even if you came here. How was it? Was the journey smooth?"

"Nothing went wrong. Someone escorted us," Ye Renxin replied. He had saved many people, and many owed him favors. Wherever there were people on this continent, someone would volunteer to escort him.

"This must be Lingling, right?" Dugu Bo's gaze fell upon Ye Lingling.

"Hello, Grandpa Dugu." Ye Lingling greeted him obediently, gentle and graceful in manner, every bit the proper young lady.

"Hahaha, good, very good. She's much better than that girl of mine." Dugu Bo praised her. "My girl, she..."

"Grandpa!"

A tall figure emerged from the house into the courtyard. Like Dugu Bo, the young girl had dark green eyes. She was tall and slender, with short dark-purple hair, and looked exceptionally valiant. The nails at the ends of her delicate fingers had been painted jade green. She was not breathtakingly beautiful, but she possessed an uncanny charm.

"Yanyan, come over quickly. This is your Grandpa Ye!" Dugu Bo hurriedly waved the tall girl over. "This is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan. She should be a little older than Lingling."

"Hello, Grandpa Ye!"

After both sides exchanged greetings and chatted for a while, Dugu Bo was about to invite everyone inside to sit when he finally noticed Cheng Xiao, who had been silently standing to one side.

A flicker of confusion passed through Dugu Bo's eyes as he looked at Ye Renxin. "And this young man is?"

"Mm, a young friend. I brought him specifically to see you," Ye Renxin said, stroking his beard as he chose his words.

"Oh?"

Dugu Bo gave Cheng Xiao an odd look and examined him carefully.

This old friend knew his temperament well. He did not like outsiders disturbing him, yet he had specifically brought this boy here to meet him?

Could the kid have something special about him?

"This junior, Cheng Xiao, pays respects to Your Excellency Dugu!"

Cheng Xiao bowed beneath Dugu Bo's scrutinizing gaze.

Your Excellency? Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes. Since the boy addressed him as Your Excellency rather than "Grandpa," it meant he was not a relative or close friend of Ye Renxin's.

In that case, there was no need to take him too seriously. Still, since he had been brought by an old friend, it would not be appropriate to slight him and embarrass that friend.

Dugu Bo considered this for a moment, then lightly waved his hand. "No need for such courtesy. Come in together."

Once everyone was seated inside, Dugu Bo had the servants prepare food and wine. He and Ye Renxin spoke of their experiences over the years, then reminisced about the past, sighing with emotion.

"Enough idle talk. Let's discuss something serious," Ye Renxin said after their brief reminiscence. "How is your health?"

"Hahaha, don't you know my health? I'm perfectly healthy!" Dugu Bo's gaze landed on Dugu Yan as he found an excuse to send the younger generation away. "Yanyan, take Lingling and Cheng Xiao around the estate. See whether she is satisfied with the room we arranged for her. If she isn't, have the servants tidy up another room early so it won't delay her rest."

Dugu Yan immediately understood. She knew the two old men had important matters to discuss that were unsuitable for juniors like them to hear. Nodding, she rose and led Cheng Xiao and Ye Lingling toward the stairs.

"Cheng Xiao, stay behind," Ye Renxin suddenly called out.

Both Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo were startled. Dugu Yan's uncanny eyes swept back and forth over Cheng Xiao, trying to find something special about him.

"Sister Yanyan?" Ye Lingling blinked. Simple-minded as she was, she did not know why Dugu Yan had stopped.

"Come with me."

Dugu Yan withdrew her gaze and smiled as she led Ye Lingling upstairs, even more puzzled. There's nothing special about him...

After the two girls left, Ye Renxin said to Cheng Xiao beneath Dugu Bo's probing gaze, "Young friend, why don't you feel His Excellency Dugu's pulse?"

Cheng Xiao was grateful. Old Mister Ye truly was a good man, handing such a wonderful opportunity right to him.

He had been worrying about how to strike up a conversation with Dugu Bo!

According to the original story, this Old Poison had an eccentric temperament. Cheng Xiao could not think of a way to establish a connection with him, much less make plans for the immortal herbs. He was afraid that he might accidentally offend the man, making it difficult to recover afterward.

But now, just as he was getting sleepy, someone had brought him a pillow!

Cheng Xiao cupped his hands, his manner quite humble, though his words were the complete opposite. "There is probably no need to feel Your Excellency Dugu's pulse. I can tell just by looking. Your Excellency Dugu..."

He paused.

"Has been poisoned!"

His tone was utterly decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"Kid, do you know my title?" Dugu Bo's half-narrowed eyes suddenly flew open. His dry, stiff face darkened as though water might drip from it. An overwhelming aura roared toward Cheng Xiao.

In an instant, Cheng Xiao felt as though an immovable mountain had descended upon his shoulders, crushing the breath from him as his joints gave faint cracking sounds.

Cheng Xiao gritted his teeth. "Naturally. Title: Poison."

Seeing that Cheng Xiao could still speak clearly, Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with surprise. He secretly increased the pressure and asked, "A Poison Douluo poisoned? Do you think that's possible?"

As the pressure grew greater and greater, Cheng Xiao felt the strain intensify, but his expression remained calm.

He quietly held down his left hand, afraid he would be unable to resist activating his External Soul Bone.

He remembered exactly what Dugu Bo had thought the first time he saw Tang San's External Soul Bone!

He did not dare gamble that Dugu Bo would suddenly grow a conscience and treat him differently!

In the end, he was only borrowing Ye Renxin's influence. But how much longer could Ye Renxin live? Once Ye Renxin died, Cheng Xiao could hardly guarantee that Dugu Bo would remember old ties and refrain from harming him.

His Soul Power quietly circulated, flowing continuously along the pathways of Tai Chi. A soft, pliant force immediately dispelled the pressure, rendering it completely harmless to him.

Cheng Xiao's expression relaxed, and he seemed even more composed than before. "Naturally, it would be difficult for Your Excellency Dugu to fall victim to another person's poison. But what if it were your own?"

Dugu Bo's expression changed slightly. It was not merely because Cheng Xiao had withstood his increasing pressure, but because the boy had exposed the secret of his body in a single sentence!

He was a mighty Titled Douluo, yet before a child, he had not only lost face but had also had the secret of his poisoning discovered. If it reached the ears of Chrysanthemum Douluo, that sworn enemy of his...

The consequences would be unthinkable.

"Enough! A little testing is enough. I didn't invite him here today for you to bully him. He's here to treat you."

As Dugu Bo's thoughts raced, Ye Renxin waved his hand. A surge of Soul Power brimming with the aura of life blocked Dugu Bo's pressure.

Cheng Xiao immediately felt relieved and let out a long breath.

"Treat me? Old Ye, are you joking? How old is he?" Dugu Bo asked in astonishment.

"He may be young, but didn't you just lose face to him?" Ye Renxin teased.

Dugu Bo's mouth twitched at those words, and for a moment, he had no retort.

Ye Renxin shook his head and ignored him. Looking at Cheng Xiao, he said, "Young friend, I invited you here because I have an idea that may require your cooperation."

"Please, go ahead, sir."

"According to what you said, there are many Acupoints on the body. If used properly, they can produce remarkable effects. I did not believe it at first, but what you said in the teahouse today truly opened my eyes. It gave me a vague idea..."

As he silently listened to Ye Renxin's explanation, Cheng Xiao's eyes grew brighter and brighter. He looked eagerly at Dugu Bo, exactly like the first time he had used a lab rat for a drug experiment in his previous life.

So you pressured me just now. Now that you've fallen into my hands...

Too late. Too late.

Sorry!