Poison Douluo Comes Knocking

Dugu Bo's hand froze in midair, his face darkening.

"Dugu Yan, who filled your head with such nonsense?!"

Seeing her grandfather's abnormal reaction, Dugu Yan's heart sank.

Such a loss of composure could only prove one thing.

Gu Feng had been telling the truth.

Dugu Yan edged half a step forward, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes.

"Grandfather, it's true, isn't it?"

Dugu Bo's lips moved as he tried to find an excuse to hide it.

But when he met his granddaughter's stubborn face, every lie he had prepared lodged in his throat, impossible to speak.

Only the rustle of wind passing through the leaves remained in the courtyard.

Dugu Bo slumped back into his grand chair, seeming to age considerably in an instant.

"Fine. Since you've already noticed, there's no point in Grandfather hiding it any longer."

Dugu Bo rubbed his temples, his voice carrying an unprecedented weariness.

"Our Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul is the most poisonous in the world."

"Outsiders only see our clan using poison to kill without a trace, enjoying limitless glory."

"But how could they understand that before the poison harms our enemies, it has already been relentlessly corroding our own flesh and meridians day and night?"

Dugu Yan stood there blankly.

"Grandfather, then my father and mother..."

"They did not suffer a cultivation deviation."

Dugu Bo closed his eyes, his hands pressing down on his knees.

"When your father was thirty, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison in his body completely lost control. The poison corroded and rotted all his meridians, and he was tortured to death in bed."

"Your mother could not bear the blow. Coupled with the backlash from their shared Martial Soul bloodline, she followed him not long after."

Two streams of tears slid down Dugu Yan's cheeks.

Ever since she was young, she had been told that her parents had died in an accident. She had never imagined the truth would be so cruel.

The top-tier Martial Soul she had always been proud of was actually a blade that would claim her life.

Dugu Yan raised a hand to wipe away her tears, then hurried forward and grabbed Dugu Bo's sleeve.

"Grandfather, what about you?"

"You deal with snake venom every day. Could it be that you too..."

Dugu Bo patted the back of his granddaughter's hand and forced a comforting smile.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking?"

"Your grandfather is a mighty Titled Douluo. My Soul Power reaches the heavens and the earth; this little poison cannot do anything to me."

"As long as one's strength can suppress it, the poison cannot stir up any trouble."

"Your talent is far better than your father's. You've become a Soul Elder at such a young age. Once you step into the ranks of Soul Douluo or Titled Douluo in the future, you will naturally be fine."

Dugu Bo glossed over his own physical condition as if it were nothing.

He did not mention a word about the agonizing pain that pierced through his bones whenever the weather turned cloudy or rainy, nor how the poison had long since seeped into his organs.

Hearing her grandfather say this, the weight in Dugu Yan's heart eased considerably.

She let out a breath and wiped the tears from her face.

Dugu Bo's expression turned serious as he asked in a deep voice, "Dugu Yan, who exactly saw that you were poisoned?"

"Those Education Committee members at Heaven Dou Royal Academy don't have that kind of discernment, and that boy Qin Ming knows even less about poison."

Dugu Yan answered honestly.

"It was Gu Feng."

"Gu Feng?"

Dugu Bo raised his brows. "The boy who was exceptionally admitted into the Imperial Fighting Team with Ning Rongrong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a few days ago?"

"Yes," Dugu Yan replied.

Dugu Bo frowned. This was going to be troublesome.

If it had been anyone else who exposed the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's secret, he would certainly have gone to teach them a lesson.

But this person was connected to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Ning Fengzhi valued him greatly.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had two Titled Douluo.

If he touched someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and provoked Chen Xin and Gu Rong into joining forces, he would surely be in trouble. He was not afraid of death himself, but what would happen to Dugu Yan?

Dugu Bo stroked the beard on his chin and suppressed the anger in his heart.

"Dugu Yan, take me to the academy tomorrow morning."

"They helped you. As your grandfather, I should personally go and offer my thanks."

Dugu Yan obediently nodded at that.

The next morning, on the shaded path beside the main spirit fighting arena of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The rising sun spilled over the bluestone path, bringing waves of warmth.

Dressed in neat training clothes, Gu Feng jogged leisurely along the lakeside path.

At his side, Ning Rongrong wore a light pink short training skirt and followed him while panting heavily.

"Brother Feng... I can't run anymore. I really can't!"

Ning Rongrong stopped outright, bracing both hands on her knees, her forehead covered in beads of sweat.

Gu Feng jogged backward for two steps before stopping in front of her.

"We've only done five laps. You ate two pieces of Thousand-Year Whale Rubber last night, and all that medicinal power is piled up in your blood and vitality. How will you absorb it if you don't get your meridians moving?"

Ning Rongrong raised her head and stomped her little leather boot indignantly.

"That Whale Rubber made my whole body burn up after I ate it. I didn't sleep well at all last night!"

"It's all your fault. You insisted on making me eat something so awful."

Gu Feng walked over and lightly flicked her smooth forehead.

"After absorbing the Whale Rubber, your meridians have become stronger, and your Soul Power has increased quite a bit too."

"Others would kill for something like this, yet you're complaining after getting such a bargain."

Ning Rongrong covered her forehead and grumbled softly, "Then help me massage my legs. My calves are sore to death."

Gu Feng shook his head with an amused smile. A gentle current of wind-blade energy gathered at his fingertips as he prepared to loosen her calf muscles.

From the corner of a nearby corridor came a burst of hurried footsteps.

Dugu Yan strode ahead, followed by Dugu Bo, who was thin and gaunt, with green hair and beard.

"Gu Feng! Rongrong!"

Dugu Yan greeted them from far away.

Ning Rongrong immediately straightened up, adjusted her skirt, and regained the poised bearing of the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Gu Feng withdrew the wind-attributed Soul Power from his hand and turned to look at the newcomers.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Dugu Bo's dark green robe swayed slightly as he walked. An oppressive, gloomy aura that kept strangers at bay naturally surrounded him.

Although he deliberately restrained the pressure of a Titled Douluo, the peculiar aura born of long exposure to deadly poison still made the surrounding flowers and grass wilt slightly.

Ning Rongrong recognized Dugu Bo and gave a slight bow.

"Greetings, Senior Dugu."

Dugu Bo stopped and nodded faintly at Ning Rongrong. "No need for such formalities, girl Ning. Give my regards to your father."

After speaking, Dugu Bo turned and looked Gu Feng up and down.

Gu Feng clasped his fists in salute without being either servile or overbearing. "This junior is Gu Feng. Greetings, Senior Poison Douluo."

Dugu Bo slowly spoke.

"A Level 36 Battle Soul Elder at twelve years old, and from a commoner background."

"Ning Fengzhi truly picked up an extraordinary treasure."

"Dugu Yan returned yesterday and told this old man everything that happened in the spirit fighting arena."

Gu Feng's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was calm. "It was merely a small effort. Dugu Yan is the team's vice-captain. As a teammate, it is only right that I look out for her."

Dugu Bo looked at the composed Gu Feng and suddenly found himself interested in him. He said,

"Gu Feng, this old man has a personal matter he wishes to ask your advice about. What do you say?"