Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well (Two-in-One Super Chapter)

It was already evening by the time he returned to the Karma Pavilion.

Xiao Wu was on the first floor, organizing the commission records received throughout the day. Seeing Gu Han push the door open, she immediately walked over.

"You're back? Are you alright?" Her gaze swept over him quickly, and only after confirming there were no signs of injury did she let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm fine."

Gu Han walked to the table and sat down, and Xiao Wu handed him a cup of warm water. "I encountered some unexpected situations, but it could be considered a good thing."

He briefly recounted what he had seen in the Withered Bone Forest and his meeting with Dugu Bo, omitting the perilous details of the combat and focusing instead on the agreement he had made.

Xiao Wu's eyes widened as she listened. "The Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo? That Title Douluo who is so formidable with toxins?"

"Yes. The backlash from his own poison arts has begun to affect his bloodline." Gu Han sipped his water, his eyes thoughtful. "If we can resolve this problem, it will be a significant asset for us."

"But... do you really have a way?" Xiao Wu asked, worried. She knew Gu Han held many secrets, but Dugu Bo's poison was a problem that had plagued the Title Douluo for decades; even the healing-type Spirit Masters of Spirit Hall were helpless against it.

Gu Han smiled slightly, not answering directly, and instead asked, "How was the Pavilion today?"

"There were three commissions." Xiao Wu opened the record book. "One was from Granny Wang on East Street. Her cat went missing, and she wanted us to help find it—I classified this as a 'weak karma' case as you instructed, charged ten copper soul coins, and accepted it. I'll go take a look tomorrow."

"Another was from a steward of a Spirit Master family in the inner city. They want us to authenticate an ancestral soul tool, and we have an appointment for the day after tomorrow."

"And there was one more..." Xiao Wu paused. "A person in a cloak. They didn't show their face and said they wanted to see you personally. I told them you weren't in, so they left, saying they would come back tomorrow."

Gu Han nodded. "Well done. The missing cat is easy to solve with [Karma Sight], and the soul tool authentication isn't difficult either. As for that mysterious person... I'll handle it tomorrow."

He stood up and headed toward the stairs. "I'm going up to rest. You should get some sleep early, too."

"Wait." Xiao Wu called out to him. "Are you... really going to help Dugu Bo detoxify? Won't there be danger?"

Gu Han turned, looking at Xiao Wu's worried eyes, his tone gentle yet firm. "Some things must be done. Don't worry, I have it under control."

Over the next two days, Gu Han balanced handling the daily commissions of the Karma Pavilion with mentally rehearsing the transaction with Dugu Bo.

He knew what Dugu Bo cared about most—not his own life or death, but the future of his granddaughter, Dugu Yan. That girl, who had inherited the Jade Phosphorus Snake poison spirit, was likely only six or seven years old, but the seeds of the toxin had already been sown within her.

In the original story, it was precisely because Dugu Bo could not cure the poison in Dugu Yan that he remained depressed for years, his personality becoming increasingly isolated and eccentric. It was only later, when Tang San appeared and used the medicinal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to solve the problem, that the Poison Douluo became a willing ally.

Now, all Gu Han had to do was walk through this plot point ahead of schedule.

However, he couldn't simply say, "I know where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is, and there are medicinal herbs there that can cure the poison"—that would be far too suspicious. He needed a logical explanation, a reason that the paranoid Dugu Bo would believe.

On the morning of the third day, Gu Han rose early.

He sat in meditation in the quiet room on the third floor for an hour, adjusting his state to its peak, before taking a jade box from his storage soul tool. Inside were the essences of several medicinal herbs he had specially prepared over the last two days, mixed with a trace of the Sky Frost Sword's Ultimate Ice aura. While it couldn't eradicate the potent poison, it was enough to temporarily suppress the backlash as a preliminary proof.

"I'm heading out," Gu Han told Xiao Wu before setting off toward the west city gate once more.

Outside the Withered Bone Forest, the morning mist had not yet fully dispersed.

When Gu Han arrived at the meeting spot, Dugu Bo was already waiting.

Today, Dugu Bo had changed into a dark green robe, standing with his hands behind his back beneath a withered tree. His frame remained gaunt, yet he stood straight as a spear tempered in poison. Seeing Gu Han appear, his emerald-green eyes swept over him sharply, as if trying to see through him inside and out.

"You are punctual," Dugu Bo said. His voice remained raspy, but it lacked three parts of its previous hostility and held seven parts of scrutiny.

"One must keep time for an agreed-upon matter," Gu Han replied calmly, stopping ten paces in front of Dugu Bo.

The two stared at each other for a moment, the air thick with silent probing.

In the end, it was Dugu Bo who spoke first. "You said you could cure the poison in me. Where is the proof?"

Gu Han did not answer immediately, instead activating [Karma Sight] to carefully observe the deep black line of karma on Dugu Bo. Two days had passed, and the cracks in that line seemed to have deepened, especially near the heart, where black mist coiled, showing faint signs of eroding his life force.

"The poison in you, Senior, is not external; it originates from your very Spirit," Gu Han said slowly. "The Jade Phosphorus Snake Emperor is a top-tier beast spirit, but its toxicity is too overbearing. During the cultivation process, the toxins gradually seep into the Spirit Master's internal organs, bone marrow, and blood. When the toxins accumulate to a certain degree, they begin to backfire on the host."

Dugu Bo's eyes flickered, but his expression remained unmoved. "Anyone with even a basic understanding of poison knows these common facts."

"But does Senior know why this poison is passed down to descendants?" Gu Han continued. "It is because the poison has already penetrated the bloodline, altering the very source of the Spirit Master's life. Your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, should already be showing early symptoms of poisoning, shouldn't she? Occasional chest tightness and shortness of breath at night, and a faint, stinging pain in her meridians when circulating her spirit power."

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted sharply.

He had never told anyone about Dugu Yan's symptoms! Even the healing-type Spirit Masters of Spirit Hall only knew that he himself was poisoned; they were unaware that his granddaughter had also been affected.

"Have you been investigating me?" Dugu Bo's voice turned cold, and dark green mist began to faintly manifest around his body.

"No investigation was needed," Gu Han shook his head. "This is what [Karma Sight] sees. The poison line connected to your bloodline is tied at the other end to your granddaughter."

He raised his hand, pointing toward Dugu Bo's heart. "The poison is most concentrated here. Whenever it rains or the moon is full, it flares up like ten thousand ants gnawing at your heart, causing agony beyond description. The only reason you are still alive is that you are forcibly suppressing it with your spirit power, but this method is no different from drinking poison to quench thirst—every time you suppress it, the backlash becomes a fraction more violent."

Dugu Bo fell silent.

Every word Gu Han spoke struck precisely at his deepest pain. The suffering he endured alone in the dead of night, the despair that welled up in his heart when he looked at his granddaughter's innocent smile, the exhaustion of searching the world for famous doctors only to return disappointed time and time again...

"You said you could cure it," Dugu Bo's voice was dry. "How?"

Gu Han took the jade box from his robes and opened it. Inside was an ice-blue paste, emitting a cool aura and mixed with the faint fragrance of several medicinal herbs.

"This is the 'Ice Heart Paste' I prepared, made from the essences of six cold-attribute medicinal herbs mixed with my own Ultimate Ice spirit power," Gu Han said, holding the box forward. "It cannot eradicate the poison, but it can temporarily suppress the backlash and alleviate the pain. You may try it, Senior."

Dugu Bo did not reach for it immediately.

He carefully probed the paste with his spirit power, confirming there were no hidden toxins or traps, before reaching out to take it. The Jade Phosphorus Snake poison made him immune to most toxins, but it also made him instinctively wary of anything foreign.

"I should consume it directly?" Dugu Bo asked.

"Apply this to your chest and catalyze it with your soul power," Gu Han said. "The process will be somewhat cold and stinging, but after half a quarter of an hour, you will feel the pressure on your heart begin to ease."

Dugu Bo stared at Gu Han for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed, a hint of self-mockery in his smile. "I have lived for over seventy years, yet I never expected that today I would have to entrust my life to a young man to see if he can save me."

However, he did not hesitate. He unfastened his robes, applied the Ice Heart Paste evenly over his chest, and began to circulate his soul power.

A bone-chilling cold instantly seeped through his skin, piercing straight into his heart. That icy sensation clashed violently with the scorching poison within his body, forcing a muffled groan from Dugu Bo as fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Yet, he could feel the burning pain that had plagued his heart for years being suppressed bit by bit by the cold.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the chill gradually faded, replaced by a long-lost sense of relief. The pressure on his heart had indeed lessened, and even his breathing had become much smoother.

Dugu Bo slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and retied his robes. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Gu Han had changed completely.

"This is only a temporary suppression," Gu Han said at the right moment. "To eradicate it completely, we need to find two things: first, a supreme fire-attribute treasure capable of neutralizing the Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison; second, a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth capable of reshaping the life essence eroded by the poison."

"Do you know where such things can be found?" Dugu Bo asked.

Gu Han did not answer directly, instead asking, "Has Senior ever heard of the 'Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well'?"

Dugu Bo's body jolted.

Of course he had heard of it! It was one of the three legendary treasure basins, a miraculous place formed by the convergence of the world's most extreme cold and heat, nurturing countless immortal-grade herbs. He had been searching for clues to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in secret for years, but had always come up empty-handed.

"You know where the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is?" Dugu Bo's voice carried irrepressible excitement.

"I do not know the exact location," Gu Han shook his head. Before Dugu Bo could show disappointment, he changed the subject. "But my [Karma Sight] can see that the source of the poison line on your body points faintly toward the northwest, about three hundred miles from here. There is an extremely dense aura of life and fluctuations of dual-pole energy there—it is very likely the location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

This was the excuse he had prepared long ago. He could neither spoil the plot directly nor fail to provide reasonable guidance.

Dugu Bo closed his eyes and sensed carefully. A moment later, he opened them, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "Three hundred miles to the northwest... the depths of the Sunset Forest!"

He had indeed discovered a strange place in the Sunset Forest in his early years, where two extreme energies of cold and heat existed, but because his strength was insufficient at the time and the place was occupied by powerful soul beasts, he had not explored it deeply. After becoming a Title Douluo, he had returned to search for it, but could never find the entrance again.

Now, hearing Gu Han say this, all the clues connected instantly.

"If it truly is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, there must be immortal herbs within that can cure my poison." Dugu Bo looked at Gu Han. "But why help me? What do you want?"

Finally, the question reached the crux of the matter.

Gu Han said calmly, "Three things."

"First, if we find the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, I must have priority in choosing three of the herbs found there."

"Second, after the poison is cured, Senior must act for me three times within your capabilities—provided it does not violate your principles."

"Third..." Gu Han paused, "I hope Senior can become a guest elder of the Karma Pavilion. You need not stay there permanently; you only need to hold the title and occasionally sit in to oversee the place."

Dugu Bo listened without immediately agreeing, carefully weighing these three conditions.

The first condition was reasonable; without Gu Han's guidance, he might never find the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The second condition was subtle, but the limitation of "not violating your principles" gave him enough autonomy. As for the third condition...

"A guest elder?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow. "You want to borrow my reputation?"

"The Karma Pavilion deals with matters of karma, and it is inevitable that we will touch upon the interests of others," Gu Han said frankly. "Having a Title Douluo overseeing the place will save us a lot of trouble. Of course, I will not bother you with trivial matters; you will only need to act when we encounter enemies of the Title Douluo level—which is already included in the 'three actions' of the second condition."

Dugu Bo pondered for a long time.

The conditions Gu Han offered were quite sincere. He had not taken advantage of his plight; instead, he had shown him sufficient respect and autonomy. Moreover, if he could truly cure the poison and save his own life and his granddaughter's, the favor itself could not be measured by conditions.

"Fine," Dugu Bo finally nodded. "I agree. But the premise is that you must truly lead me to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and the immortal herbs there must indeed be able to cure the poison."

"Naturally," Gu Han smiled. "There is no time to lose. When does Senior intend to depart?"

"Now." Dugu Bo had always been decisive. "I will return to my residence to give instructions, and we shall meet outside the North City Gate in one hour."

"Agreed," Gu Han nodded. "I also need to return to the city to make some preparations."

The two parted ways.

On the way back to the city, Gu Han's mood was quite complex. He knew that this trip to the Sunset Forest would completely change his relationship with Dugu Bo and would also allow him early access to the massive treasure that was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

But opportunity often comes with risk. In the original story, the area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was guarded by powerful soul beasts, and it was Dugu Bo's territory—though the current Dugu Bo had not yet discovered it, his sensitivity to poisonous things meant he might have already set up some defensive measures there.

More importantly, what excuse would he use to explain his knowledge of these immortal herbs?

"It seems I must do some homework in advance," Gu Han muttered to himself, quickening his pace.

One hour later, outside the North City Gate.

Gu Han was already waiting there, carrying a simple pack with the Sky Frost Sword hanging at his waist.

Before long, a flash of green light appeared, and Dugu Bo stood before him. Dugu Bo had changed into a tight-fitting outfit suitable for movement and carried a medicine basket on his back, clearly prepared for a long exploration.

"Let's go." Dugu Bo did not waste words, soaring into the air and flying toward the northwest.

Gu Han channeled his soul power and followed closely behind.

The figures of the two soon vanished into the distant horizon.

Sunset Forest, Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.