He looked at his granddaughter behind him, then at the overly composed youth before him. Suddenly gritting his teeth, he spat out a round, emerald-green bead.
The moment the bead appeared, the air throughout the secret chamber seemed to sizzle as it was corroded. It was the essence of Dugu Bo's lifelong cultivation—the Jade Phosphor Snake Emperor Pill.
"This is my life-bound poison pellet."
Dugu Bo held the bead out before Gu En, a fierce glint in his eyes.
"My entire poison arts are contained within it. Since you lack research material, young friend Gu En, I will entrust this pill to you!"
"Study it as you please. If you succeed, this old man's life will be yours. If you fail..."
At last, he gave a bleak smile.
"Then it will simply mean that I, Dugu Bo, was fated to die here."
Gu En looked at the poison pellet radiating terrifying fluctuations before him, and his heart was faintly shaken.
He had not expected Dugu Bo to possess such resolve, directly placing his fatal weakness in his hands.
"Since Senior trusts me so greatly, this junior will certainly give it his all."
Gu En accepted the poison pellet. It felt smooth and delicate in his hand, making him unable to resist turning it over a few more times.
Then he looked toward the stunned Dugu Yan beside them, his tone becoming gentler.
"May I call you Sister Yan for now?"
"Next, I will first use a neutralizing method to ease your pain. As for your grandfather's poison sac plan, that may require some time."
"For now, the two of you may stay in the sect."
Dugu Bo let out a long breath, then gave Gu En a deep bow.
"We shall follow your arrangements, young friend."
After leaving the secret chamber, Gu En lowered his head to look at the Jade Phosphor Snake Emperor Pill in his hand, the corners of his lips lifting in an imperceptible curve.
Gu En had barely stepped out of the secret chamber, without even taking a breath of fresh air, when a clear, anxious cry came from afar.
"Brother Gu En!"
Accompanied by a fragrant breeze, a small, exquisitely lovely figure darted into Gu En's arms like a light young swallow.
Ning Rongrong tightly hugged Gu En around the waist, rubbing her little head against his chest again and again, her voice filled with unconcealed grievance.
"You left for an entire month, and when you came back, you didn't come see me first. Instead, you went straight into the secret chamber and stayed there for two whole hours!"
Gu En helplessly patted Rong Rong on the back of her head, just about to explain, when a teasing chuckle sounded behind him.
"Oh? So this is the little princess everyone in the sect has been talking about? She is indeed quite pretty. Little Brother Gu En, who do you think is more beautiful, her or me?"
Dugu Yan stood with her arms crossed, leaning against a stone pillar at the entrance to the secret chamber.
Though her complexion was still somewhat pale, her eyes had regained their usual liveliness, and there was even a mischievous smile on her lips.
Hearing the voice, Ning Rongrong abruptly raised her head and stared at Dugu Yan warily.
When she saw Dugu Yan's distinctive green hair and mature, commanding aura, she instinctively sensed a threat.
"Who are you? Why are you calling him little brother?"
Like a cat with its fur standing on end, Ning Rongrong shielded Gu En behind her.
Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow and deliberately stepped closer. She lightly blew into Gu En's ear, then gave Ning Rongrong a provocative smile.
"Who I am isn't important. What's important is that, just now in the secret chamber, Gu En personally helped me solve a problem with my body."
Seeing Ning Rongrong's little face turn pale, Dugu Yan still felt the fire was not burning hot enough, so she added more fuel.
"That feeling... tsk, tsk, it truly was unforgettable. Our relationship isn't shallow now, you know."
Although she was referring to the detoxification process, to Ning Rongrong, whose mind was currently filled with wild thoughts, the meaning became completely twisted.
"You! You have no shame!"
Ning Rongrong's little face flushed crimson with anger, and her eyes instantly reddened.
She turned around and stared fixedly at Gu En, her voice trembling. "Brother Gu En, is what she said true? Did you really... do that kind of thing in there?"
Seeing Dugu Yan's expression that plainly said everything had gone according to plan, Gu En felt a headache coming on.
Sure enough, no one in the Dugu family was easy to deal with.
"Rong Rong, don't listen to her nonsense. She is Senior Dugu's granddaughter, and the deadly poison in her body had already endangered her life. I was only helping her suppress the toxins."
Gu En hurriedly took Ning Rongrong's hand and explained earnestly.
"But... but she said it like that!"
Tears swirled in Ning Rongrong's eyes. Once her spoiled temper flared up, no one could stop her.
"Do you think I'm too young? Do you think she's prettier than me? Do you think I only know how to cause you trouble?"
Seeing that the little princess was about to burst into tears, Gu En knew that if he did not use his trump card now, he would never get through this today.
"Rong Rong, look at me."
Gu En's voice suddenly became gentle and magnetic. He took a long box, carved entirely from warm jade, from his robes.
As the box slowly opened, an invigorating and incomparably rich fragrance instantly spread throughout the entire back garden.
The flowers around them, which had already begun to wither, miraculously bloomed anew after being suffused by the fragrance.
Within the box lay a gorgeous tulip in silence.
Every petal looked as though it had been carved from the finest amethyst, while a faint golden radiance flowed around its stamens. It appeared noble without losing its elegance.
"This immortal herb is called Aromatic Silk Beauty."
Gu En gazed deeply at Ning Rongrong and spoke softly.
"When I went to Sunset Forest this time, risking my life to enter the forbidden grounds, my greatest purpose was not to hunt soul rings, nor was it to detoxify someone else."
"It was to find this rare treasure capable of bringing a qualitative transformation to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
Ning Rongrong froze. She blankly looked at the breathtaking tulip, then looked at Gu En.
"Rong Rong, this is a token of love I prepared for you. It represents my feelings, and it also represents the hope of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future."
Gu En took Ning Rongrong's hand and gently placed the jade box in her palm.
"With it, your martial soul will no longer have any flaws. Are you willing to believe me?"
The jealousy in Ning Rongrong's mind had long since flown beyond the clouds.
Looking at the immortal herb in her hands and listening to Gu En's nearly confessional words, she felt her entire heart fill with immense happiness.
"Brother Gu En... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you."
Ning Rongrong smiled through her tears, her little face flushed as she carefully held the jade box.
"Is this really for me?"
"Of course. In all the world, only you are worthy of it."
Gu En smiled and pinched her cheek.
Watching this scene from the side, Dugu Yan felt a little sour inside, yet she could not help being moved.
She gave a soft snort and muttered under her breath.
"Hmph. Learning to deceive girls at such a young age—who knows how many people he'll ruin in the future."
However, the curiosity and scrutiny in her gaze toward Gu En only grew stronger.
Before you continue