A Mobile Healing Spring Joins the Team

Dugu Bo pulled Dugu Yan somewhere deserted before he spoke.

"Yanyan, there's something Grandpa has kept from you for a long time.

"In the Dugu Family, everyone who awakens the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul suffers a backlash from its poison. Your father was slowly consumed by the Jade Phosphorous Poison his own Martial Soul produced. In the end, it took his life."

Dugu Bo paused, his gaze settling on Dugu Yan.

"I have accumulated deadly poison in my body too. And you won't escape this fate either."

Dugu Yan froze. Her face slowly paled, and she couldn't keep the tremor from her voice.

"So... you brought me here to tell me I'll be poisoned to death sooner or later?"

Dugu Bo shook his head, a rare note of happiness entering his voice.

"Quite the opposite. I've found an expert who can fix this fatal flaw in our family's Martial Soul!"

He patted his chest, showing her how he looked now.

"Look at me. The poison in my body is under control now. Even my hair has grown much darker."

"Then hurry and take me to him, Grandpa!"

Dugu Yan seized Dugu Bo and started dragging him away. But after only two steps, she stopped short, as though she had suddenly remembered something important.

"Grandpa, can that expert fix flaws in other Martial Souls too?"

Dugu Bo blinked. "He should be able to. Why do you ask?"

"Wait here for me!"

With that, Dugu Yan turned and hurried toward the Training Ground.

"Lingling!"

Dugu Yan spotted Ye Lingling from a distance and called out to her.

Ye Lingling, who was practicing team coordination, stopped and turned toward her in confusion.

"Yanzi? What is it?"

Without another word, Dugu Yan caught Ye Lingling by the wrist and pulled her away.

"Forget practice for now. I found an expert who might be able to fix the flaw in your Martial Soul."

Ye Lingling's eyes widened, and excitement entered her voice. "Really?!"

"Yes! My grandpa has already proved it works!"

Dugu Yan nodded firmly, her expression utterly serious.

Ye Lingling trembled. Tears welled in her eyes as she gripped Dugu Yan's hand, her voice catching.

"Thank you, Yanzi. I don't know how to repay you... I..."

Dugu Yan smiled and patted the back of her hand.

"We don't need to talk about repayment. Come on, let's find Grandpa."

The two of them came before Dugu Bo.

Only then did he understand why his granddaughter had asked.

The Nine-Hearted Begonia. Only one heir could inherit it in each generation. That family had a hard fate too.

Ye Lingling hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Senior Dugu."

Dugu Bo nodded slightly, then spoke with a solemn expression.

"Girl, I'll make this clear first. That person may be able to solve your Martial Soul problem, but the price you pay could be steep. You may have to give him the rest of your life."

Ye Lingling did not hesitate. Her gaze was resolute.

"Senior Dugu, the fate of the Nine-Hearted Begonia was my mother's lifelong regret, and a burden our family has carried for generations.

"If this flaw in our Martial Soul can be fixed for good, I'm willing to pay any price."

Beside her, Dugu Yan caught something troubling in his words. She turned at once and stared at Dugu Bo suspiciously.

"Grandpa, what did you pay that expert to fix our Martial Soul problem?"

Dugu Bo coughed twice. Unwilling to discuss it, he brushed her off.

"Ahem... it was nothing much. Let's get going. We shouldn't keep that expert waiting so long that he loses patience."

But the more he evaded her question, the more suspicious Dugu Yan became.

Especially when she remembered what he had said about Lingling giving up the rest of her life.

Wait... Grandpa didn't sell himself to that man, did he?!

Before long, Dugu Bo brought Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling straight to the Guest Room in the Crown Prince's Residence.

The room was clean and elegant, its furnishings simple and orderly.

Lu Chuan sat inside. As the three entered, his gaze fell on the two young women, and he calmly looked them over.

Purple hair, emerald-green eyes, and all ten fingernails gray. She's clearly been poisoned for quite some time. That must be Dugu Yan.

The other one has short silver hair and an elegant, cool manner. She's close to Dugu Yan, too, so she must be Ye Lingling.

Their appearances, figures, and bearing were much as Lu Chuan remembered from the anime.

"My young friend, this is my granddaughter. What do you think...?"

Lu Chuan nodded slightly. Without wasting words, he tossed a Poison-Locking Pill to Dugu Yan.

"Take it. I'll help guide the poison in your body in a moment."

Dugu Yan glanced instinctively at her grandfather. When he nodded, she swallowed the pill without further hesitation.

Lu Chuan stepped forward and took her wrist. Soul Power flowed from his fingertips into Dugu Yan's body, and he slowly began guiding and untangling the Jade Phosphorous Toxin that had built up over the years.

"Mmm~"

A moan of relief escaped Dugu Yan. Realizing what she had done, she clapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushing scarlet.

Fortunately, she was still young and had not accumulated much poison. Before long, the Poison Pill took shape.

In the process, her short purple hair gradually darkened to black, and her fingernails returned to normal.

Lu Chuan released her wrist. "There. It's done."

Dugu Yan let out a long breath, her face bright with delight.

"Thank you! I really do feel lighter all over."

Seeing the change in her friend, Ye Lingling felt a surge of envy. Her hopes rising, she stepped forward.

"Senior, may I ask whether the curse of the Nine-Hearted Begonia can be broken? And if it can, what price would I have to pay?"

She clasped her hands tightly together, a faint tension in her voice.

Lu Chuan did not answer at once. He rubbed his chin and circled Ye Lingling, studying her.

That only made her more nervous. She stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move.

Dugu Yan held her breath too, waiting quietly for his verdict.

Lu Chuan thought for a while.

Fixing the Nine-Hearted Begonia's problem shouldn't be too difficult. One of the Immortal Herbs is bound to help.

Its Martial Soul has outstanding healing power to begin with. Once its innate flaw is removed, it'll grow even stronger.

And the healing effect of her Spirit Skills depends on how much Soul Power she puts into them and the ages of her Spirit Rings. Once her Soul Power rises, she'll be able to save even someone gravely wounded and on the brink of death.

And if her Soul Power were replaced with Dou Qi...

Good grief. She'd really become a mobile healing spring.

Then I could sell goods on the side and offer rapid healing services too.

Lu Chuan's eyes lit up. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"I can fix your Martial Soul, but you'll have to join me and work under me."

Ye Lingling answered decisively, with almost no hesitation. "I agree."

"Straight to the point~ Sign this contract."

A golden contract gradually materialized before Ye Lingling. She signed it without hesitation.