Dugu Bo Arrives, Lin Ya's Transaction

Night, Biyou Village

Prince Xue Xing had already left. He was quite at ease with Lin Ya now.

Even Soul Kings were no match for him; he was already invincible within Notting City. Prince Xue Xing had kept the information tightly sealed. Aside from the three great consecrates of Heaven Dou Academy and his trusted confidants, only the four Titled Douluo knew of Lin Ya's existence. And those four Titled Douluo were all on his side, so things were safe as could be.

Yet just after nightfall, a figure quietly arrived—it was Dugu Bo, who had returned after leaving.

Lin Ya's residence was the most luxurious building in all of Biyou Village, so Dugu Bo naturally found it with ease.

However, the moment he stepped into the main hall, a somewhat lazy voice sounded beside his ear.

"You came."

Dugu Bo froze. He had actually been discovered? This kid truly was no ordinary person. But he was Dugu Bo—what did he have to fear? So he said proudly, "Yes, I came."

"You shouldn't have."

"But I'm already here!"

Bzzz! Bzzz!

Suddenly, the entire hall blazed with light. Before Dugu Bo, an ancient-looking massive pill furnace nearly five meters tall appeared.

And in front of the furnace stood Lin Ya, watching him with a smile.

Seeing how prepared Lin Ya had been, Dugu Bo could not help sneering.

"You knew I would come."

"Of course. The poison has seeped into your bones. Every night at the third watch, your head and the soles of your feet ache as though pierced by needles, making life worse than death. Am I right?"

Dugu Bo stared at the boy before him in shock and asked incredulously, "How did you know?!"

Lin Ya could not help rolling his eyes inwardly.

How did I know? Because I've read Douluo Continent! The novel, manga, and anime versions!

In an instant, with his greatest secret exposed, Dugu Bo erupted. Violent soul power pressed directly toward Lin Ya.

Yet Lin Ya remained unmoved. He merely said helplessly, "No, why are you getting so worked up? Didn't you come here to have me treat you? If I couldn't even see what was wrong with you, how would I treat you?"

Huh?

Dugu Bo's imposing aura halted.

That... actually made sense.

He had come seeking treatment, not a fight. So what if the other party had seen through him? Didn't that just prove his medical skills were impressive?

Lin Ya was different from Tang San back then. Lin Ya had never provoked Dugu Yan, and he and Dugu Bo were inherently on the same side, so Dugu Bo's attitude was naturally different.

Dugu Bo might not have been a good person, but he was definitely a man of genuine temperament. He would not develop hostility toward Lin Ya for no reason.

"Cough, cough." Dugu Bo coughed awkwardly twice before saying, "Well... since you've already seen through it, then... can you cure the poison in my body?"

"Of course. Didn't I tell you during the day? I wouldn't joke about something like this. And you—you could've come in broad daylight, but you had to come at night instead, making me stay up this late." Lin Ya yawned, unable to understand what was wrong with Dugu Bo.

The moment Prince Xue Xing left, he had sat here waiting. He waited and waited, but Dugu Bo never came, so he simply began handcrafting the Self-Cultivation Furnace.

Of course, it was only a shell for now. There was still nothing inside.

"Hahaha! This old man had some personal business to take care of during the day. Yes, personal business." Dugu Bo blushed slightly.

Why had he not come during the day? Wasn't it because he was afraid people would find out and he would lose face?

He was the number one poison master of Douluo Continent, yet he was about to be poisoned to death. How was he supposed to show his face afterward?

"Fine, then let's begin the treatment. As long as you can cure me, this old man will grant you three favors! Three things that do not cross my bottom line. How about it?"

"Huh? You have a bottom line?"

"Hey! What are you saying, brat?! I may be called the Old Poison, but go ask around! Just what kind of reputation does this old man have!"

It seemed... decent?

Lin Ya thought about it. Dugu Bo's reputation actually seemed pretty good.

He kept his word, cherished his family, feared no power, and dared to fight...

His only flaw was that he was somewhat petty. Back when Tang San defeated Dugu Yan, this old man had dragged him out in the middle of the night and given him a beating.

"Fine, three favors it is. It's a deal."

"Good! But how will you prove to this old man that you can save me?" Dugu Bo suddenly stared fixedly at Lin Ya.

He understood his own poison too well. Even he could only barely suppress it. What gave Lin Ya, a nine-year-old brat, the confidence to claim that he could treat him?

Lin Ya said nothing. He merely raised his wrist, glanced at the mechanical watch he had just made using Divine Machine Hundred Refinements, then said calmly, "The time is about right."

"What?" Dugu Bo had just been about to ask when he felt a chill sweep over the top of his head!

An icy, bone-piercing pain descended from above, making Dugu Bo's entire body tremble violently.

Yet Dugu Bo still gritted his teeth and endured, unwilling to let Lin Ya see that something was wrong.

Every night at midnight, poison seeped into the marrow!

"You're already this old—why be so concerned about saving face?" Lin Ya sighed, then extended his hand toward Dugu Bo.

Red and blue light bloomed together as Lin Ya's voice sounded beside Dugu Bo's ear. "Don't resist."

Lin Ya was only level 32. Trying to use Twin Hands to influence Dugu Bo by force was nothing but a fool's dream. But if Dugu Bo did not resist, he could still work something out.

Dugu Bo did not resist, but his mind remained firmly guarded within his sea of consciousness.

He was not someone who trusted easily. At the very least, he could not trust someone he had only met once.

Yet something that shocked him happened.

As Lin Ya's hands passed over Dugu Bo's body, the Jade Phosphor Poison emitted by Dugu Bo's martial soul actually began to stagnate.

Not only did it stagnate, but Dugu Bo could also feel the deadly poison seeping out through every pore of his body. Before long, that bone-piercing cold pain vanished, leaving behind only a refreshing sensation of renewal.

"This! It worked! I'm cured!" Dugu Bo opened his eyes and stared at Lin Ya in excitement.

After what had just happened, he no longer had the slightest doubt about Lin Ya's medical skill! This was a true miracle doctor!

However, Lin Ya merely rolled his eyes at him. "How could it be that easy? The poison has seeped into your bones and marrow, and I'm only level 32. How could I possibly cure an old toxic freak like you, soaked through with poison, in one go? Completely healing you won't happen overnight."

"What? Then how long will it take?!"

"Two and a half years? More or less. You won't die anytime soon anyway. How about waiting a few years until I go to Heaven Dou Academy, then I'll treat you?" Lin Ya said.

"No! I can't even wait a year!" Dugu Bo hurriedly shook his head.

Back when there had been no solution, he could endure the suffering.

But now that he could be treated, if he still endured it, wouldn't that make him an idiot?

Two and a half years, then. Biyou Village looked like a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters. Living here should be quite comfortable.

Hearing Dugu Bo say that, Lin Ya revealed a smile.

With this old toxic freak by his side, his Biyou Village should be as secure as an impregnable fortress.