Your Life Is Worth an Herb Garden

"Me?"

Dugu Bo looked as though he had heard a joke.

"I'm alive and well. Since when did I need you to save me?"

Qian Renyuan looked at him. "You're in far worse condition than Dugu Yan."

The sneer on Dugu Bo's face stiffened slightly.

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison has long seeped into your meridians and flesh. Without the special environment of Sunset Forest suppressing it, would you still be standing here?"

A cold glint flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.

"You know about that Herb Garden?"

"That's why I came."

Qian Renyuan answered frankly.

Supporting Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo's expression gradually darkened.

The Herb Garden was his greatest secret.

Over the years, he had relied on its unique environment to suppress the deadly poison within his body, while also cultivating countless precious herbs there.

Only a handful of people knew that the Herb Garden existed.

Qian Renyuan not only knew of the Herb Garden, but also knew it could suppress the poison in his body. Dugu Bo had no choice but to suspect that Spirit Hall had long set its sights on this place.

"So you saved Yanyan only for that Herb Garden?"

"You could say that."

Qian Renyuan did not deny it.

"However, regardless of why I acted, I was the one who saved her life."

Dugu Bo lowered his head and looked at his granddaughter in his arms.

The green poison markings on Dugu Yan's arm had vanished, and her once-erratic breathing had gradually steadied.

The facts were right before him.

If Qian Renyuan had not acted just now, it was hard to say whether Dugu Yan could have held on until he returned.

Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment.

"Since you can draw the poison out of Yanyan's body, why can't you remove all the poison from her at once?"

"Because poison is what she cultivates."

Qian Renyuan said indifferently, "The Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison has fused with her Soul Power. If I forcibly extract all of it, the cultivation she has built up over the years will be ruined as well."

Dugu Bo did not refute him. When he had examined Dugu Yan just now, he had already discovered that the Black Lotus had only extracted the poison that had run rampant, without touching the parts fused with her Soul Power.

That level of control was far more terrifying than simply devouring poison.

"The same goes for you."

Qian Renyuan continued, "You have cultivated the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison for decades. Your poison and Soul Power have long become inseparable."

"I can directly draw the poison out."

"The price would be severe damage to your cultivation, perhaps even falling below the realm of a Titled Douluo."

Dugu Bo's hand around Dugu Yan tightened slightly.

For a Titled Douluo, losing one's cultivation was not much different from losing one's life.

What was more, he had many enemies.

Once he fell from the realm of a Titled Douluo, those whose friends and family he had poisoned to death would never spare him or Dugu Yan.

"Since you can't extract it directly, how do you intend to save us?"

"By changing your Martial Souls."

Dugu Bo frowned.

"Martial Souls are innate. How can they be changed so easily?"

"Ordinary herbs naturally cannot accomplish that."

Qian Renyuan looked into the depths of the forest.

"But the Herb Garden you guard contains Immortal Herbs capable of improving a soul master's foundation."

"Used correctly, they can not only resolve the Martial Soul Backlash, but also allow Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent to complete its evolution."

A clear change finally appeared in Dugu Bo's eyes.

He had guarded that Herb Garden for many years and knew that many precious herbs grew within it.

Yet even he could not fully identify the origins or effects of many of those herbs.

He only knew that the Herb Garden's special aura could suppress deadly poison. He had never imagined that its herbs could evolve a Martial Soul.

"What makes you so certain those herbs have such effects?"

"Because I recognize them."

Qian Renyuan looked at Dugu Bo.

"You don't."

Dugu Bo's expression turned somewhat ugly.

The words were utterly blunt, yet they happened to strike at the truth.

He was proficient in poison techniques, and his knowledge of poisonous herbs far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters. Yet there were many plants in the Herb Garden that even he did not dare touch carelessly.

Over the years, he could only conduct experiment after experiment, barely figuring out the effects of some of the herbs.

"Words alone prove nothing."

Dugu Bo said coldly, "Why should I believe you?"

Qian Renyuan lifted his chin toward Dugu Yan.

"She's still alive. That is proof."

Dugu Bo was momentarily speechless.

"Grandfather."

Having recovered some strength, Dugu Yan barely managed to steady herself with his support.

"He really did draw the poison out of my body just now."

She looked at Qian Renyuan's palm, where the Black Lotus had already disappeared, her gaze still complicated.

Dugu Yan disliked Qian Renyuan's attitude, as though everything were under his control. She disliked even more being lectured from above by a six-year-old child.

But she could not deny that she owed Qian Renyuan her life.

And that Black Lotus truly could restrain the Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison.

"If he really can resolve the Martial Soul Backlash..."

Dugu Yan did not finish her sentence.

But Dugu Bo understood what she meant.

No one wanted to endure poison backlash for a lifetime, much less face death at any moment.

Dugu Bo slowly let out a breath.

"Speak. What are your conditions?"

A faint smile rose on Qian Renyuan's lips.

This was exactly what he had been waiting for.

"First, take me into the Herb Garden."

"Second, I choose the herbs in the Herb Garden."

Dugu Bo's gaze darkened.

"You want to empty my Herb Garden?"

"The things truly worth having would only go to waste in your hands."

"You!"

Just as Dugu Bo was about to flare up, Jiangmo Douluo tightened his grip on the Coiling Dragon Staff and cast a cold glance his way.

Dugu Bo suppressed his anger.

"Go on."

"One final condition."

Qian Renyuan stared directly at him.

"If I can completely cure Dugu Yan's Martial Soul Backlash and allow her Jade Phosphorous Serpent to complete its evolution."

"You will serve me."

Dugu Bo did not answer immediately.

He had lived alone and unrestrained all his life, unwilling to be bound by any faction.

Both the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall had once tried to recruit him, yet neither had ever truly won his allegiance.

Now, a six-year-old child was demanding his loyalty to his face.

"The Holy Son's appetite is rather large."

"A level ninety-one Titled Douluo is not worth so much effort from me."

Qian Renyuan's tone was calm.

"What I value is your control over poison, along with Dugu Yan's future potential."

The corner of Dugu Bo's mouth twitched.

As the esteemed Poison Douluo, he was actually valued less than his granddaughter, who had not even matured yet.

Yet with Jiangmo Douluo standing behind Qian Renyuan, he could not even lay a hand on the child to teach him a lesson.

"What if I refuse?"

"Then I'll leave right now."

Qian Renyuan turned around.

"The next time Dugu Yan's poison acts up, figure it out yourself."

Dugu Bo looked at his back, his expression shifting constantly.

He could reject Spirit Hall's recruitment, and he could even discard his own life.

But he could not gamble with Dugu Yan's future.

"Wait."

Qian Renyuan stopped.

Dugu Bo lowered his head and glanced at Dugu Yan, finally making up his mind.

"If you can truly cure Yanyan's Martial Soul Backlash and allow her Martial Soul to complete its evolution, I will serve you."

"But until you accomplish it, I will not bow to anyone."

"Fine."

Qian Renyuan turned back around.

"What about me?"

Dugu Bo asked, "You said just now that you could save me."

"Once Dugu Yan has recovered, you will naturally see whether I have that ability."

Qian Renyuan glanced at Dugu Yan.

"She has only just suppressed the poison. She must not use Soul Power for three days."

Dugu Bo nodded, then summoned the servants waiting outside and had them escort Dugu Yan back to her room to rest.

After taking a few steps, Dugu Yan turned back to look at Qian Renyuan once more.

Even now, she did not know where her grandfather's decision would ultimately lead the Dugu Clan.

But she knew that from the moment Qian Renyuan stepped into the estate, many things could never return to how they had been.

After Dugu Yan left, Dugu Bo looked at Qian Renyuan again.

"I hope you truly possess the abilities you claim."

"Lead the way."

Qian Renyuan offered no explanation.

Dugu Bo snorted coldly and turned toward the estate's rear mountain.

"Follow me."