This Favor Has Long Been Repaid

"That was many years ago."

Dugu Bo sat across from him at the stone table, his eyes carrying a rare trace of reminiscence.

"At the time, this old man had not yet figured out how to suppress the Martial Soul Backlash. Something went wrong during one seclusion, and the toxins in my body spiraled out of control. Several old enemies caught wind of my whereabouts."

"I retreated all the way into the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's hunting grounds, where I met Xue Xing."

Qian Renyuan did not interrupt, merely pouring himself another cup of tea.

Dugu Bo continued, "Xue Xing saw that something was wrong with me, yet he did not order the Soul Masters at his side to attack. He sealed off the hunting grounds and helped me hold off those pursuing me, allowing me to remain there for three days."

Three days later, Dugu Bo had suppressed the backlash—and remembered the favor.

Later, when Xue Xing ran into trouble, Dugu Bo stepped in several times. Whenever the Prince's Estate could not handle something, most opponents would voluntarily back down as soon as Dugu Bo appeared. The title Poison Douluo gradually became Xue Xing's most useful calling card.

"At first, whenever he asked this old man to act, he would come personally."

A flicker of coldness passed through Dugu Bo's eyes.

"Later, all he needed to do was send someone with a message, as though it was only right that this old man worked for him."

"This old man could not be bothered with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's struggles. As long as the matter was not excessive, handling it for him in passing was no trouble. Later still, even when this old man did not show himself, he dared to use my name outside."

Xiao Wu had been sitting nearby, sorting through the clothes a maid had just delivered. Hearing this, she could not help looking up.

"He helped you once, and you helped him so many times. How could he still dare to use that to demand things from you?"

Dugu Bo glanced at her.

"Because this old man never stopped him to his face."

In the past, he truly had not cared what Xue Xing did with his name.

Given Dugu Bo's status, as long as Xue Xing did not truly infringe upon his interests, a little borrowed prestige was not worth making a special trip to the Prince's Estate over. Yet in Xue Xing's eyes, that silence had become an expectation.

Qian Renyuan lifted his teacup and slowly took a sip.

"You never reacted, so naturally, he grew more and more accustomed to borrowing it."

"That is why, after you suddenly disappeared, he sent people to the manor three times in a row."

Dugu Bo's brows furrowed slightly.

Qian Renyuan set down his cup.

"Xue Xing sent Xue Beng to the Royal Academy not because he truly wanted to protect Dugu Yan. He was forcing you to show yourself."

Killing intent surfaced in Dugu Bo's eyes once more. His right hand pressed against the edge of the stone table, and a layer of dark green quickly spread beneath his fingertips.

Unable to find him, Xue Xing had turned his hand toward Dugu Yan.

As long as Dugu Bo was alive, he could not possibly remain indifferent. And once Dugu Bo returned to Heaven Dou, Xue Xing could continue making an issue of it, leading everyone to believe that Poison Douluo still stood with the Prince's Estate.

"A fine scheme."

Dugu Bo's voice turned cold.

"He had better not have harmed Yanyan. Otherwise, this old man will make him regret ever being born into this world."

"Killing Xue Xing now would indeed not be difficult."

Qian Renyuan watched the poison marks continuously spreading along the stone table's edge.

"But he has borrowed your reputation for so many years. Killing him alone would be letting him off too easily."

Dugu Bo raised his head. "What does my lord intend to do?"

"Doesn't Xue Xing want you to show yourself? Since he enjoys using Poison Douluo's name to win over the nobles, then let him despair completely."

Qian Renyuan's tone remained calm.

"This subordinate understands."

Dugu Bo rose to his feet and clasped his fists.

"Once we reach the Royal Academy, this subordinate will let everyone know that there is no longer the slightest connection between this old man and Xue Xing."

"Then get some rest early."

Qian Renyuan reminded him, "We still have to travel tomorrow morning. If you are truly worried about Dugu Yan, do not poison the horses pulling the carriage to death on the road first."

Dugu Bo lowered his head and glanced at the stone table's edge, which had already turned dark green. A rare hint of awkwardness appeared on his face.

Xiao Wu could not hold it in and let out a soft laugh.

Dugu Bo turned to look at her. She immediately lowered her head and continued sorting her clothes, as though nothing had happened.

"This subordinate takes his leave."

Dugu Bo withdrew the lingering poison aura and turned to leave the courtyard.

Only after his footsteps faded did Xiao Wu raise her head again. "Do Titled Douluo owe people favors too?"

"Titled Douluo are people too."

Qian Renyuan rose and headed toward the room.

"But a favor cannot be something others use against you for a lifetime."

At dawn the next morning, the Holy Son's carriage departed Spirit City.

Jiang Mo sat at the front of the carriage, the Coiling Dragon Staff laid across his knees. Dugu Bo followed along the carriage's right side, never straying too far throughout the journey.

Xiao Wu had changed into a light red outfit suitable for travel. The little bundle that had originally been no bigger than a palm had also been replaced by a fully packed travel bag by the servants.

Qian Renyuan glanced at the things beside her. "Now you finally look like you're going on a long journey."

"It's not like I wanted to bring any of this."

Hugging the travel bag, Xiao Wu said irritably, "You're the one who had people stuff it all in there."

Xiao Wu lifted the carriage curtain and looked at Spirit City's walls steadily receding behind them.

Since coming to Spirit City, this was the first time she had left.

The fingers clutching the curtain slowly tightened as she instinctively memorized every fork in the road they passed.

"If you want to remember them, then remember them. There's no need to sneak glances." Qian Renyuan's voice came from behind her.

Xiao Wu's body stiffened. She turned back and glared at him. "I was just looking outside."

"I never said you were planning to run away."

Qian Renyuan leaned against the cushions, looking quite relaxed.

"The outside is always more interesting than Spirit City. Once we reach Heaven Dou, as long as you don't run around, I won't keep you locked up all the time."

The wariness in Xiao Wu's eyes eased slightly, though she merely turned back to look out the window.

The carriage traveled northward. Other than necessary horse changes, they barely stopped in any towns along the way.

By the evening of the fourth day, the rolling shadows of mountains outside Heaven Dou City were already visible in the distance.

A Spirit Hall scout rode toward them and dismounted before the carriage.

"Reporting to Your Highness, urgent news from Heaven Dou City!"

Jiang Mo pulled the reins, and the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Dugu Bo had already appeared before the scout ahead of time.

"What happened at the Royal Academy?"

Feeling his aura, cold sweat instantly beaded across the scout's forehead. Still, he forced himself to answer, "Early this morning, the steward of Prince Xue Xing's residence entered the Royal Academy with the prince's writ, demanding that the three education board members send Dugu Yan to stay temporarily at the prince's residence."

"The academy's education board members did not agree for the time being. They only said that Dugu Yan had previously fought someone, that her condition had yet to stabilize, and that she needed to remain at the academy for observation."

"The prince's people did not leave. They have already surrounded the courtyard where Dugu Yan is staying."

Boom!

Dark green poisonous mist burst outward from beneath Dugu Bo's feet, and the wild grass by the roadside instantly withered.

"They're courting death!"

Qian Renyuan lifted the carriage curtain and looked toward the fork ahead.

"How far are we from the academy?"

The scout immediately replied, "If we travel at full speed, we can arrive before nightfall."

"Then we won't enter the city."

Qian Renyuan lowered the curtain.

"Change course for the Royal Academy."

Jiang Mo turned the reins, and the carriage headed directly onto the mountain road to the right.

Just as Dugu Bo prepared to continue following beside the carriage, Qian Renyuan's voice came from inside once more.

"Dugu Bo."

"Sit outside the carriage."

Dugu Bo paused, quickly understanding his meaning. Then he leaped onto the front of the carriage and sat shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Mo.

Jiang Mo held the reins while Dugu Bo sat on the other side. Both had restrained their auras, yet the scout still did not dare raise his head. Only after the carriage had traveled far away did he slowly let out a breath.

On the mountain road, Qian Renyuan asked one final question.

"When we reach the Royal Academy, if Xue Xing's people ask why you returned, how do you plan to answer?"

Dugu Bo sat outside the carriage, his dark green hair blown up by the oncoming mountain wind.

"This subordinate came with my lord."

The wheels rolled over the mountain road, racing straight toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy.