A Deal with Dugu Bo: The Core Bead and the Soul Core

"Greetings, Your Excellency Dugu."

Tang Shan and Xue Qinghe went to the manor gates to welcome Dugu Bo, who had come alone.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Dugu Bo nodded slightly. With Xue Qinghe leading the way, the three entered a side hall reserved for guests.

Maids filed in carrying plates of pastries.

Xue Qinghe brought over a purple-clay tea set. She pinched off a piece of compressed tea and gently crushed it between her fingertips, letting the fragments fall into a white porcelain gaiwan. As the water came to its first boil and steam rose, she lifted the kettle high and poured. Hot water spiraled down the bowl's inner wall, and the leaves unfurled and drifted, taking on a tender green sheen.

Every movement flowed into the next. The scent of tea slowly filled the side hall.

Once the tea and pastries were ready, the maids withdrew without a sound, leaving only Tang Shan, Xue Qinghe, and Dugu Bo.

After a brief silence, Dugu Bo spoke first. His cold gaze swept over Tang Shan and Xue Qinghe. "May I ask if either of you knows Grandmaster?"

His gaze settled on Tang Shan. "What is your relationship with Grandmaster, young friend? You have a Body Martial Soul, and your First and Second Soul Rings are both thousand-year rings. I can't believe you have no connection to him."

Xue Qinghe frowned. She disliked the veiled demand in Dugu Bo's tone. If she had truly been nothing more than Heaven Dou's First Prince, she might have let it pass. Poison Douluo's reputation carried weight, after all. But she was not.

She was about to speak when Tang Shan quietly pressed a hand against her thigh, signaling that she needn't confront him.

Xue Qinghe went rigid. The warmth of Tang Shan's large hand emptied her