The Deal, Step by Step

"So that place is called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

After hearing Mo An describe the details of his treasured grounds, Dugu Bo believed that Mo An knew the names and effects of those Immortal Herbs. He was at least ninety percent convinced.

Once he began to believe him, a new question arose in Dugu Bo's mind. "So you came to me for those Immortal Herbs?"

"That's right. I want to obtain ownership of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well from you, Senior Dugu."

Mo An stood opposite Dugu Bo and stated his purpose. His plan was entirely out in the open, so he had no need to hide what he wanted.

That drew an angry laugh from Dugu Bo. Emerald-green poisonous mist coiled around his palm as his snake-like eyes fixed on Mo An. "Hahahaha! Bold boy. Go on, then. I'd like to see how you plan to take ownership of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well from me."

Without the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he would not have lived this long.

Without the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, his poison arts would never have reached their current heights.

This place was the greatest opportunity of his life. He could never give it up, nor did he have any reason to.

Mo An was unconcerned by Dugu Bo's attitude. Sword Douluo was here, for one thing, and for another, he was absolutely certain he could persuade Dugu Bo.

"Senior Dugu, I have a way to take your poison arts to the next level. I can also cure the Jade Scale Snake Poison afflicting you."

Mo An laid his bargaining chips on the table. Everyone knew that teasing a venomous snake was dangerous; one careless move could cost him his life. He valued his life far too much to gamble with it.

"Hm?"

That single sentence brought Dugu Bo's thoughts to a screeching halt. What did Mo An mean by taking his poison arts to the next level? And what did he mean by curing the Jade Scale Snake Poison afflicting him?

Wait!

Realizing that this boy knew he was afflicted with Jade Scale Snake Poison, Dugu Bo abruptly turned grave. His pupils narrowed into vertical slits, and a dangerous aura radiated from him.

"Don't be hasty, Senior Dugu. I can do one of those things first to show my sincerity."

After inwardly remarking, He really is a dangerous, suspicious snake, Mo An took a slip of paper from the Azure Jade Ring and held it up for Dugu Bo to see.

Snowy Swan Kiss was not poisonous itself. But with the slightest contact, any toxin present where it touched would multiply a thousandfold. A poison made with Snowy Swan Kiss as a catalyst could kill a Titled Douluo outright.

With all the Jade Scale Snake Poison in Dugu Bo's body, if he dared touch Snowy Swan Kiss before being cured, its heaven-defying ability to amplify toxins would certainly kill him.

That was why Mo An dared to show him the paper.

So this Immortal Herb amplifies toxins. No wonder...

Seeing what the herb could do, Dugu Bo immediately recalled the miserable experience of nearly dying when he had approached that seemingly harmless plant.

By now, Dugu Bo fully believed that Mo An knew what lay inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—and that he knew about the Jade Scale Snake Poison in his body.

So can he really cure my Jade Scale Snake Poison?

Dugu Bo's state of mind was like that of a homebody author who flatly denied having a kidney deficiency when a doctor diagnosed him, then dropped to his knees begging for a prescription upon learning it could be treated.

"Brother Mo An, can you... can you really cure my Jade Scale Snake Poison?"

"If you can cure me, I'll give you the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."

It was the first time in his life Dugu Bo had ever begged anyone for help, and his voice trembled. He knew his family's suffering better than anyone: his son and daughter-in-law had died from Jade Scale Snake Poison, his granddaughter had been born with it, and he himself could only cling to life by hiding in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

If there truly was a way to cure both him and his granddaughter, then the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was a small price. It would pain him to part with it, but he could do so.

"Of course. I..."

Sensing Dugu Bo's change in attitude, Mo An held nothing back. He explained his—or rather, Tang San's—plan to suppress Jade Scale Snake Poison and transfer it into a Soul Bone.

Suppressing the poison was simple enough. He only had to consume Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, use those two highly poisonous Immortal Herbs to make himself immune to all poisons, then mix his own blood into a pill. That would suppress the Jade Scale Snake Poison.

After all, that was exactly what Tang San had done.

"Suppress the Jade Scale Snake Poison, then transfer it into a Soul Bone for storage... What a brilliant idea."

After hearing Mo An's plan, Dugu Bo repeated it to himself several times and carefully worked through it in his mind. To his surprise, he found it highly feasible, with safety accounted for as well.

His thoughts turned to his granddaughter, Dugu Yan. Her poisoning was not yet severe. If he found two reasonably good Soul Bones and had her transfer the Jade Scale Snake Poison into them, she could escape death by poisoning.

As long as he passed this method down, his descendants would no longer be plagued by Jade Scale Snake Poison.

This...

This...

This was wonderful.

Overcome with emotion, Dugu Bo took several deep breaths to steady himself. Then he looked at Mo An and solemnly promised, "Brother Mo An, if you can do everything you've said, I'll hand the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well over to you. And if you ever need anything in the future, you can come to me at any time."

"Senior Dugu, your Jade Scale Snake Poison is no ordinary poison. I'll need the Immortal Herbs inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to suppress it."

With Dugu Bo's agreement secured, Mo An asked to enter the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"No problem. I can take you there right now."

Dugu Bo eagerly reached out, ready to fly Mo An to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and finally deal with the Jade Scale Snake Poison that had plagued him for so many years.

"Wait, Senior Dugu. I need to let Uncle Ning and Grandpa Jian know first."

Seeing that Dugu Bo was about to grab him and take off, Mo An hurriedly reminded him that Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo were still standing nearby.

Dugu Bo slapped his forehead. He had nearly forgotten that someone he could not afford to offend was over there, keeping watch on him.

Mo An went to where Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo stood. He briefly told Ning Fengzhi that his talk with Senior Dugu had gone well and that the two of them had struck a deal he could not discuss. He needed a week or two to see it through and hoped Ning Fengzhi could wait in Soul Hunting Town.

Ning Fengzhi frowned, plainly aware that this had gone far beyond what he had expected. He looked at Mo An, who seemed to have everything under control, then at Dugu Bo, whose attitude had transformed into one of open friendliness. In the end, he nodded his agreement.

Just as Mo An had remarked before, what could Ning Fengzhi do if he refused? The two of them had already settled it.