Martial Soul Backlash, Two Solutions

Ning Chen turned and walked into the distance, with Dugu Bo close behind.

Watching their backs grow farther and farther away, Dugu Yan could not help muttering under her breath.

"Pfft, what is this? So mysterious that even I am not allowed to hear it."

As Dugu Yan tugged at the Blue Silver Grass on the ground, she complained wildly in her heart.

Meanwhile, Ning Chen and Dugu Bo walked some distance away, stopping only after they were sure Dugu Yan could no longer hear them.

Dugu Bo stopped, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked at Ning Chen.

"Brat, this is far enough. What private matter did you want to tell me?"

Ning Chen stopped, turned to face Dugu Bo, and got straight to the point.

"Senior Dugu, I assume you already know about Dugu Yan's recent symptoms. Her body had begun itching for no apparent reason, and she felt tightness in her chest and could barely catch her breath." Ning Chen spoke calmly.

Dugu Bo's face instantly darkened at those words.

He sighed, his voice full of self-reproach.

"That's right. Yan Yan told me about it just now. This is all my fault. As her grandfather, I did not pay enough attention and forgot about her condition."

"If I had not been so careless, Yan Yan would not have come to Sunset Forest alone, nor would she have nearly lost her life."

As Dugu Bo spoke, his fists clenched with crackling sounds.

At that moment, he was deeply afraid. If Ning Chen had not happened to pass by today, he would never have seen his only granddaughter again.

Seeing Dugu Bo like this, Ning Chen sneered inwardly.

Old man, now you know how to feel sorry for her? What I'm about to say will make you question your entire life even more.

Ning Chen folded his arms across his chest, looked at Dugu Bo, and spoke unhurriedly.

"Senior, I have done some research into poison as well. Whenever I had nothing to do, I liked reading obscure ancient texts."

"I would venture a guess that you, like your granddaughter Dugu Yan, are also suffering from poison backlash."

At those words, Dugu Bo abruptly raised his head, his dark green eyes fixed fiercely on Ning Chen.

Ning Chen did not pause and continued.

"Whenever the sky turns overcast and it rains, do your ribs begin to feel numb and itchy? Does that sensation gradually intensify and last for more than two hours?"

"Not only that, but every night at midnight and noon, your scalp and the soles of your feet feel as though they are being pierced by needles. Your entire body convulses, and the pain is worse than death."

"That suffering lasts at least an hour, doesn't it?"

After Ning Chen finished speaking, Dugu Bo froze in place and could not utter a word for a long while.

Dugu Bo was utterly horrified.

This brat knew his physical condition in such detail!

Even the timing, the affected areas, and the sensation of the pain were described without the slightest error! How was that possible?!

He had been tormented by this poison for decades. Other than himself, there was absolutely no second person in the world who knew about it.

Not even Yan Yan had ever been told.

How old was this brat? Fourteen or fifteen at most. Even if he had started studying medicine from the womb, there was no way he could see through a Titled Douluo's condition at a glance!

This brat's attainments in poison were definitely not low! They might even far surpass his own!

Dugu Bo took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart.

The way he looked at Ning Chen had completely changed. Before, he had merely regarded Ning Chen as a talented junior who had saved his granddaughter.

But now, he realized that he could not see through the youth before him at all.

This brat was practically crushing him from another dimension.

"Brat..."

Dugu Bo swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty.

"I have to admit it. Every word you said was correct. I do indeed have those symptoms, and they have tormented me for decades."

Dugu Bo set aside the airs of a Titled Douluo, his tone becoming extremely sincere.

"Since you can see my symptoms, do you know how to solve this problem? I have spent half my life studying poisons and searched through every medical text in the world, yet I found no answer."

"My poor son was ultimately poisoned to death by this Martial Soul Backlash."

At the mention of his son, Dugu Bo's eyes reddened slightly. It was a pain that would remain in his heart forever.

Ning Chen looked at Dugu Bo, feeling both sad and pleased—sad because he sympathized with him, pleased because he now had Dugu Bo completely in his grasp.

This information-gap exploit felt unbelievably good.

As long as he held Dugu Bo's weakness, this old man would become his most loyal enforcer from now on.

Ning Chen smiled and comforted him casually.

"Senior, what a coincidence. I really do know how to solve this problem."

"And I have two methods that might work."

"Two methods?" Dugu Bo cried out in shock.

I spent my whole life unable to find even one method, yet this brat casually says he has two? Does he think he is buying cabbages at a market?!

Ning Chen nodded and continued.

"That's right, two methods. But even the cleverest woman cannot cook without rice."

"I need to visit your Medicine Garden first and see whether it has the medicinal herbs I need."

Dugu Bo was now caught in intense conflict and disbelief.

This was absurd. Even he, a level ninety-one Poison Douluo, could not solve this deadly poison. Could a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old brat really do it? This brat is not just making empty promises, is he?

But on second thought, this brat had described his symptoms perfectly. It could not possibly have been a random guess.

What if he truly had a solution? Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he had to try.

For Yan Yan's sake, so that she would not have to suffer this pain in the future, what did it matter if he had to throw away his old pride?

Besides, letting him take a look at the Medicine Garden would not cost him anything.

With that thought, Dugu Bo gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

He then stepped forward, stared intently at Ning Chen, and spoke with utmost solemnity.

"Brat, listen carefully. If you can truly remove the poison from Yan Yan's body and cure the Dugu Clan's terminal Martial Soul Backlash..."

"I, Dugu Bo, swear to the heavens that from this day forward, I will follow your lead and obey your every command! Even if you order me to kill the Pope of Spirit Hall, I will not so much as furrow my brow!"

Dugu Bo spoke with absolute conviction and without the slightest hesitation.

For his granddaughter, he was willing to do anything.

Ning Chen nearly laughed out loud inside.

Kill Bibi Dong? She's my teacher. Would I tell you to throw your life away? Still, this old poisoner's attitude is quite proper. Having a Titled Douluo as a subordinate is a deal I can only profit from.

Ning Chen waved his hand.

"You overstate it, Senior. I do not need you to kill any Pope. Just help me handle some matters in the future. Since you agree, let us not waste any more time. We should head to the Medicine Garden immediately."

Just then, Dugu Yan limped over from the distance.

She truly could not suppress her curiosity any longer and had insisted on coming over to see what the two of them were plotting.

"Grandpa, Ning Chen, what exactly are you two talking about? You have been whispering behind my back forever."

"Yan Yan wants to hear too. Are you hiding something from me?"

Dugu Yan walked up to them, pouted, and looked at them with an unhappy expression.