Dugu Bo's Misgivings: A Gamble?

"Isn't it rather rude to barge into my Medicine Garden?"

An old, raspy voice rang out, and an elderly man with dark green hair and beard stepped into view. His face was somewhat stiff.

His eyes were dark green too, and filled with caution.

Clearly, he had sensed that Ling Yuan Douluo was stronger than he was.

He had also chosen his position and distance carefully. If Ling Yuan Douluo attacked, he could flee in several directions.

Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was a very cautious man.

"Your Medicine Garden?"

Ling Yuan Douluo gave a cold laugh. "Dugu Bo, I don't see your name written anywhere. What makes this place yours?"

"Rare treasures and blessed lands have always belonged to whoever is capable of holding them, haven't they?"

Dugu Bo's expression soured, but he had no answer.

Ling Yuan Douluo was right.

"May I ask your title?"

Dugu Bo did not know who Ling Yuan Douluo was.

For one thing, Ling Yuan Douluo rarely showed herself. She spent most of her time in Spirit Hall's Elder Hall, venturing out only for major affairs—and even then, in secret.

For another, outsiders knew little about Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo. Many knew only a handful of titles and scattered details; some had never even seen one in person.

"You don't need to know."

Ling Yuan Douluo's reply was flat.

She was not sure whether Dugu Bo had heard of "Ling Yuan," so she kept her identity hidden to be safe.

To Dugu Bo, however, her refusal could only mean she looked down on him.

Anger smoldered inside him, but he could not let it out.

Should I attack and test her?

The thought surfaced, then Dugu Bo quickly dismissed it.

He knew only that Ling Yuan Douluo was stronger than he was, not by how much. If he provoked someone he could not afford to cross, the consequences were unpredictable.

One thing puzzled him, though. Ling Yuan Douluo seemed to be standing guard here.

Is someone else in the valley?

Dugu Bo's eyes flickered, and he instinctively swept the area with his Spiritual Power.

As expected, he detected another person's presence. He could not determine their cultivation, but they were probably not strong.

After all, there were marks where someone had climbed the valley wall.

If that person were powerful, why would they need to climb?

"Since you're standing guard here, I take it someone else is inside, coveting this old man's herbs..."

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes. Soul Power surged through him, ready to flee at any moment.

Ling Yuan Douluo did not attack. She merely looked at him coldly. "You don't need to know anything more."

"Heh."

Dugu Bo chuckled meaningfully. "My Medicine Garden holds more than medicinal herbs. It also holds many poisons even I don't fully understand."

"Aren't you afraid your companion might accidentally be poisoned to death?"

"That's none of your concern." Ling Yuan Douluo's gaze turned icy. She wanted to unleash her power and teach Dugu Bo a lesson, but she held back.

If a clash between Titled Douluo disrupted Qin Yu's cultivation, it would do more harm than good.

For now, the best outcome for Qin Yu was either for Dugu Bo to leave on his own or for the two of them to remain locked in a standoff.

She's clearly stronger than I am, yet she's willing to waste so many words on me. She must have reservations. Is it because of her companion?

The person inside must be someone important to have a Titled Douluo protecting them. If I capture them, perhaps I can use them as leverage.

Her aura is about on par with Chrysanthemum Pass's. She probably isn't a peak Douluo...

Should I take the gamble?

Dugu Bo weighed his options in silence. Cautious as he was, he wanted to take a risk for once.

His life depended on this Medicine Garden. If he simply handed it over, he would have no way to suppress the backlash from the poison in his body.

At the thought, his gaze grew colder. Soul Power surged, and Poison Gas spread outward, instantly dissolving the vegetation within several meters.

That old bastard wants a fight.

A cold glint flashed in Ling Yuan Douluo's eyes, and a fiery aura spread around her.

The air grew unbearably tense.

Both were poised to fight, ready to unleash Martial Soul Possession at any moment.

Splash!

Just then, the sound of someone breaking through the water came from inside the valley.

A voice followed, cutting through the tension between Ling Yuan Douluo and Dugu Bo.

"Let him in."

Dugu Bo froze at the sound of Qin Yu's voice. He's even younger than I expected. Who exactly is he?

Someone so young, with a Titled Douluo secretly protecting him, was no ordinary figure.

The person in the valley had a formidable background!

Run!

Dugu Bo made up his mind to leave.

But Qin Yu, who had just finished dressing in the valley, spoke again. "Surely the mighty Poison Douluo isn't this timid?"

"Even if you won't think of yourself, you should think of your granddaughter... A poison expert who poisoned his own family. How ironic."

Those words struck home.

Dugu Bo, who had been about to flee, shuddered. His legs felt filled with lead, too heavy to lift.

How does he know? Dugu Bo was shaken to the core.

Hm? Ling Yuan Douluo caught the flicker in Dugu Bo's expression and was surprised herself. Did this old poisoner really poison his whole family?

"Hmph. Nonsense. This old man has no idea what you're talking about!" Dugu Bo snorted.

"You might fool others with that, but don't fool yourself." Qin Yu spoke calmly as he walked out of the valley.

Then, using the Heaven Dragon Halberd, he easily reached the top of the valley and spotted Dugu Bo in the distance.

He's handsome, and he looks about Yanyan's age. But... why can't I gauge his cultivation? Dugu Bo frowned in puzzlement.

Qin Yu had developed early, so he looked more like a young man. In truth, he was much younger than his appearance suggested.

"Who are you?"

Dugu Bo asked.

"That's not what matters. What matters is..." Qin Yu paused, then smiled. "I can cure the poison afflicting you and your granddaughter."

"Rubbish! This old man is known as Poison Douluo. How could I be poisoned?" Dugu Bo still tried to hide the truth.

Qin Yu could not be bothered to argue.

He glanced at Ling Yuan Douluo beside him and smiled. "We've taken everything we came for. Let's go. We have other business to attend to."

After Ice and Fire Tempering, his body had grown stronger, and his Soul Power Level had risen by one. He was now a level thirty-six Soul Elder.

"Yes."

Ling Yuan Douluo acknowledged him. Keeping a wary eye on Dugu Bo, she gripped Qin Yu's shoulder and rose into the air, ready to leave.

Dugu Bo watched them.

A strange look flashed across his eyes.

As Ling Yuan Douluo was about to carry Qin Yu away, he could not help calling out, "Wait!"

"What is it?"

Qin Yu looked down at Dugu Bo with an innocent smile. "Did you have something to say, Poison Douluo?"

That brat's smile is infuriating!

Dugu Bo's face darkened. Still, he took a deep breath and asked through clenched teeth, "Boy, was what you said just now true?"

"What did I say?"

Qin Yu played dumb.

"You said you could cure the poison in me and my granddaughter. Is that true?" Dugu Bo ground out each word.