Battle and Bargain

Dugu Bo clearly had not expected to run into an acquaintance here.

He froze for a moment, his tone openly wary. "So it's you, Serpent Spear Douluo."

"Dugu Bo!" She Long was equally surprised. "Why aren't you staying properly in Heaven Dou City? What are you doing deep in Sunset Forest?"

Dugu Bo snorted. "That's what I should be asking you, isn't it? Serpent Spear, why aren't you staying in Spirit City? What are you doing in my Sunset Forest?"

"Since when did Sunset Forest become your territory, Dugu Bo?" She Long's tone held not a trace of courtesy, only disdain. "Enough nonsense. I'll be direct. Spirit Hall has taken a liking to this place. If you know what's good for you, leave now. I won't make things difficult for you."

She Long was being far too overbearing. Dugu Bo was furious.

Others might not have known what this place meant to Dugu Bo, but Zhang Fei knew very well.

It was Dugu Bo's only means of suppressing the toxins within his body. Without the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he would have long since been melted into a puddle of blood by his own poison, inside and out.

This precious land was his lifeline. There was no way he would give it up—not even if it killed him.

Sure enough, Dugu Bo's voice sank. "Serpent Spear, you truly don't take me, Dugu Bo, seriously. Spirit Hall may be powerful, but I, Dugu Bo, am no pushover either. You want to seize my territory? Not a chance!"

Before his words had even faded, Dugu Bo moved first.

He stomped the ground fiercely, and nine soul rings rose with a thunderous boom—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—the standard configuration of a Titled Douluo.

Soul power surged as the massive phantom of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor emerged behind him.

"Jade Phosphor Snake Venom!"

Thick, dark-green venom erupted forth, transforming into a sky full of poisonous arrows that shot straight at She Long.

She Long snorted coldly. Rather than retreat, he advanced. The blue-violet Serpent Spear in his hand trembled sharply, and the arcs of electricity coursing along its shaft suddenly flared with crackling bursts.

He swept the Serpent Spear sideways. A blue-violet arc of lightning carved a semicircle through the air and slammed viciously into the barrage of venom arrows.

With a string of explosive crackles, the instant lightning collided with venom, the venom was vaporized by the scorching electrical arcs into clusters of blue-gray smoke that drifted apart in every direction.

Immediately afterward, She Long flicked his wrist and charged forward. The Serpent Spear became a streak of blue-violet light, thrusting directly at Dugu Bo's face.

Clang!

She Long's Serpent Spear struck the scales of the serpent body with a deafening metallic crash, spraying sparks everywhere.

Though the two of them were both considered bottom-tier among Titled Douluo, bottom-tier Titled Douluo were still Titled Douluo. The shockwaves from their battle were still terrifyingly powerful.

The airwaves raised by their clashing soul power rolled outward layer after layer, catching Zhang Fei in their wake. He was nearly blown from the tree.

He hurriedly clamped his legs tighter around the branch and gripped the bark with both hands, but his eyes never once left the battlefield.

Blue-violet lightning and dark-green venom arrows flashed amid the dim forest. Sparks from the collisions between the Serpent Spear and the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor flickered endlessly among the trees.

She Long's fighting style was fierce and sharp. Every spear strike carried the force of thunder, sweeping up arcs of lightning.

Dugu Bo, on the other hand, was sinister and unpredictable. From time to time, the phantom of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor would spit venom spikes from tricky angles or lash out with a poisonous tail.

The battle looked earth-shattering, yet neither of them had gone for the kill.

They were both testing each other. Neither wanted to truly fight to the death.

Even so, a clash at the level of Titled Douluo was enough to make Zhang Fei's heart pound.

Every collision sent shockwaves whipping his robes about violently. The air was thick with the burnt smell of lightning and the fishy sweetness of poisonous mist, forcing him to cover his nose and mouth.

A quarter of an hour later, another thunderous crash rang out ahead.

She Long's Serpent Spear smashed heavily into Dugu Bo's serpent body, and both men were knocked several zhang away by the recoil.

She Long flipped through the air and landed steadily, shaking the hand that had been numbed by the impact.

Dugu Bo also landed on the other side, his chest rising and falling slightly. Several new charred holes had appeared in his gray-green robe.

They stared at each other across the wreckage littering the ground, neither daring to attack rashly again.

Zhang Fei's palms were slick with sweat. This could not drag on any longer.

If they kept fighting and truly lost control in a fit of rage, the situation would become difficult to resolve.

Even if his grandfather barely won, he would likely be seriously injured.

Zhang Fei scrambled down from the branch and, the instant he landed, pulled something from his storage ring.

It was the black mask he had prepared long ago. It had only two slits for the eyes—the perfect essential for murder, robbery, home living, and travel.

Taking advantage of the brief standoff while the two men caught their breath, Zhang Fei rushed behind She Long in one go. "Stop! Stop fighting!"

She Long turned his head and glanced at him, his brows knitting together. But seeing the black mask on Zhang Fei's face, he ultimately said nothing.

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes as well, suspiciously studying the masked child who had suddenly appeared.

Zhang Fei cleared his throat and tried to make his voice sound steadier as he addressed Dugu Bo. "Senior Poison Douluo, let's make a deal."

Dugu Bo gave a derisive snort, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "A deal? You're just a little brat who hasn't even grown all his hair yet. What makes you think you're qualified to make a deal with me?"

"Senior, don't be so quick to refuse." Zhang Fei paused, then said directly, "I can help you resolve the backlash from the poison in your body."

The forest fell silent for a moment.

Although Dugu Bo's heart churned like a stormy sea at those words, his expression remained composed. He sneered. "What a joke. I am the great Poison Douluo, the person who understands poison best on the entire continent. How could I possibly be poisoned without knowing it myself? If a little brat like you dares spout nonsense here, don't blame this old man for being rude."

Zhang Fei did not waste words. He directly revealed the "immortal herb password."

In any case, it was just that this place hurt, that place hurt—everything hurt.

"Am I right?"

At his words, Dugu Bo's expression shifted from mockery to astonishment, from astonishment to shock, and finally into an undisguisable disbelief.

Seeing that expression, Zhang Fei felt even more certain.

She Long was extremely surprised when he saw Dugu Bo's face alternating between green and white. Could Dugu Bo really be poisoned?

He lowered his head and asked softly, "How did you know that, brat?"

Zhang Fei tilted his head slightly and lowered his voice as well. "I read it in a book."

She Long rolled his eyes and clenched his back teeth, cursing inwardly. Who are you trying to fool? Every time, it's something you read in a book.

But this was not the time to press him, so he held it in and merely let out a heavy snort.

Across from them, Dugu Bo fell silent for a while before finally speaking in a low voice. "Who exactly are you?"

"That isn't important." Zhang Fei was secretly delighted, but he continued in a calm tone. "What matters is that I've already shown my sincerity. Think about it, Senior. If we truly intended to harm you, we could simply come back when your poison acts up. At that point, you would not even be able to stand steadily. Whatever we wanted to do, you would have no way to stop us."

Dugu Bo took a deep breath. "Fine!"

She Long's eyes widened sharply. That settled it already? Dugu Bo just agreed?

Dugu Bo stared at Zhang Fei, his voice hoarse. "How do you want to make this deal? Tell me the details."

Zhang Fei had already considered it. "First, this precious land belongs to me. If you wish to enter, you must have my permission. Second, you must agree to do three things for me. I haven't decided what those three things will be yet, but don't worry—I will not ask you to do anything that violates your principles."