"If I, Dugu Bo, ever break my oath, may thunder strike me five times, and may I never advance another step for all eternity!"
Every word Dugu Bo spoke was weighty and resolute.
Everyone present was deeply moved.
Sea Witch whispered, "Little Nan Nan, why don't we help him? He seems pretty pitiful."
Poseinan looked satisfied with what he saw and patted Dugu Bo on the shoulder. "All right, stop kneeling. Get up. I'll help you."
To him, someone born in the Divine Realm, lifting Dugu Bo's poison was no difficult task.
It was a simple favor. Why not agree?
Besides, he could win a Titled Douluo's loyalty in the bargain.
After all, he had seen countless ways to lift Dugu Bo's poison back in the Divine Realm.
Hearing Poseinan agree, Dugu Bo rose to his feet, his eyes brimming with excitement. "Yes, Young Master. I'm deeply grateful!"
Poseinan waved him on. "Lead the way. We'll go now."
Overwhelmed by this immense joy, Dugu Bo froze for a few seconds before nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes! This way, Young Master."
He had thought he would have to prove his worth before Poseinan would agree to help him.
Who would have guessed that Poseinan would agree at once?
The Young Master really was an honest and kindhearted man!
Remembering how he'd nearly attacked the Young Master when they first met, Dugu Bo wanted to stab himself.
Damn it, I'm the worst!
The Young Master was such a decent man, and I'd actually wanted to hurt him?
Walking behind Dugu Bo, Poseinan had no idea what was going through his mind.
Still, even if he had known, he probably would have just smiled.
Dugu Manor.
After they arrived, Dugu Bo excused himself and went into the room ahead of them. He wanted to tell Dugu Xin they were coming and tidy up first, so he wouldn't frighten the Young Master.
After all, when Dugu Xin's poison flared up, his face turned purple and his whole body convulsed. It was truly a terrifying sight.
While Poseinan and Sea Witch waited, a crisp voice suddenly sounded behind them. "Huh? Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
Poseinan turned around.
A little girl with purple hair hanging to her shoulders and lively eyes stood there.
She wore a fluffy dress and had a neat, short purple bob. Her big, round eyes were clear yet wary as she tilted her head and sized them up.
With her delicate features and sweet, innocent charm, she looked like a little bundle of joy anyone would want to cherish.
Wow, what an adorable little girl!
Would she cry for a long time if I punched her?
Poseinan felt a mischievous urge stir in his heart. He couldn't resist teasing her, and a sly smile tugged at his lips. "I'm your new big brother. Your daddy doesn't want you anymore."
"You're lying!"
Dugu Yan puffed out her cheeks and retorted angrily, her little face flushing. "Daddy loves Yan Yan most. He'd never stop wanting me!"
Poseinan feigned seriousness again and gestured toward Sea Witch. "But it's true. Look at this pretty big sister. She's going to be your new mommy. Isn't she beautiful?"
Sea Witch smiled helplessly. She played along with his joke, her eyes curving as she gently chuckled in agreement.
Dugu Yan clenched her little hands into fists and rose onto her tiptoes, glaring at Poseinan. "You're talking nonsense! I don't have a new mommy! Daddy only has eyes for Yan Yan. He wouldn't just go find someone else!"
She turned angrily toward Sea Witch, who was smiling gently. Though there was still a hint of curiosity in her eyes, she forced herself to look fierce. "Pretty big sister, you're not allowed to lie for bad people either!"
"Or... or I'll get Grandpa to stab you with Poison Vine!"
Sea Witch was so amused by the little girl's adorably fierce look that she nearly doubled over. She crouched to meet her gaze. "Oh, so you're very protective of your daddy? I'm not a bad person, and I won't steal him from you, all right?"
"R-really?"
Dugu Yan wavered at once. She tilted her little head, and all her earlier bravado melted away.
Poseinan found the scene amusing and was just about to tease her again when the door gently opened.
Dugu Bo hurried out and happened to see what was going on. He quickly stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Yan Yan, don't be rude! Come greet the Young Master and this senior!"
"The Young Master? The senior?"
Dugu Yan blinked her big eyes, confused. But seeing how serious her grandfather looked,
she immediately stopped pouting, pressed her lips together obediently, and nervously tugged at the hem of her fluffy dress. In a small voice, she apologized, "I-I'm sorry... Yan Yan shouldn't have been mean."
Her sweet, obedient manner was a complete contrast to her earlier fierceness.
Poseinan waved a hand, smiling calmly. "It's all right. Children are innocent and straightforward. That's what makes them adorable."
Then his tone changed, and his expression grew serious. "Old Monster, how is he doing?"
"Reporting to the Young Master, Xin'er has steadied himself and is ready."
Dugu Bo looked solemn and earnest as he stepped aside to show them the way. "Please come to the inner room, Young Master. I beg you to save him."
They entered the room.
On the bed,
Dugu Xin's face was a murky purplish blue, his lips gray-black, and his breathing faint. The pain still lingered between his brows.
Anyone could see that years of exposure to the deadly poison had ravaged his body.
Even though she'd been prepared, Sea Witch couldn't help but feel a jolt of shock when she saw him.
This poison was truly vicious. It had drained him to the point of utter exhaustion.
Poseinan took one look at Dugu Xin and summed it up in a single sentence:
"The poison in your Dugu Family has cycled through the generations, passed from father to son. With each new generation, it grows more potent."
Dugu Bo shuddered and bowed repeatedly. "Yes! The Young Master sees right through it! It has tormented our family for generations, and we've never found a way to break its hold!"
"Does the Young Master know how to cure it?"
Dugu Bo gazed at Poseinan with desperate hope. He had placed all his hopes in the Young Master.
If even the Young Master couldn't help,
then the Dugu Family was truly doomed!
"Simple. It won't be hard to remove."
Poseinan spoke lightly, then walked toward the bed.
He raised a finger, and a strand of clear, pure water element began to swirl around its tip.
"You need to be prepared. His poison has reached the point of no return. I'll have to use a drastic remedy, and the price may be..."
Dugu Bo's heart trembled. He gritted his teeth. "Go ahead, Young Master. I can bear any price."
Poseinan explained plainly, "I'll use Pure Water to cleanse the poison from his body. But in the process, his poison cultivation will certainly be wiped out. Can you accept that?"
Pure Water was a unique ability he possessed as the Son of Sea God.
It was the purest water in the world, capable of purifying any poison or evil in existence.
Hearing this, Dugu Bo let out a long breath. He'd thought the price would be something far worse.
Wasn't it just losing his poison cultivation?
Dugu Xin wasn't particularly powerful anyway. After losing his poison cultivation, rebuilding it wouldn't be difficult.
He clasped his hands again and pleaded earnestly. "Please go ahead, Young Master!"
"All right."
Poseinan gently pressed the water element at his fingertip to Dugu Xin's brow.
The warm, Pure Water slowly seeped through his brow and into his meridians.
Dugu Xin's body trembled faintly on the bed.
Then his tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and the bone-deep pain throughout his body receded swiftly, like the tide.
His murky purplish skin gradually regained the healthy warmth of a normal person. Even his faint breathing grew steady and strong.
Beside him, Dugu Bo clenched his fists, his eyes red. He hardly dared to breathe, afraid he might disturb the treatment.
Dugu Yan leaned over the edge of the bed, staring at Dugu Xin's face without blinking. Her little hands clenched nervously into fists.
"Grandpa... Daddy won't be in pain anymore, will he?"