Ning Rongrong grew even more puzzled when she heard that.
"Then why did your grandpa have that expression?"
Dugu Yan shook her head. In truth, she did not quite understand why either. Somehow, the conversation had turned to toxins, and then, just as inexplicably, to detoxification.
In any case, it was very strange. They had not even understood it.
"Anyway, as long as we know there aren't any. Rongrong, do you want to come out and play with us tomorrow?"
At the word "play," Ning Rongrong immediately nodded.
"Yes, yes! Then I have to go back and tell my dad now."
"Okay!"
After returning to the crown prince's residence, Yu Tianlong told Qian Renxue everything about his affairs.
Qian Renxue's brows furrowed slightly after hearing what Yu Tianlong said, but soon relaxed.
"There's no problem with going, but can you really cure Dugu Bo's poison?"
Yu Tianlong smiled at Qian Renxue's question.
"Of course. I wouldn't gamble with my own life, would I?"
Qian Renxue thought it over carefully. That did indeed seem to make sense.
"All right, then. Do you need me to send someone to protect you?"
After considering it for a moment, Yu Tianlong nodded.
After all, compared with the immortal herbs being discovered, Yu Tianlong cared more about his own safety. If someone could protect him, nothing could be better.
Besides, Qian Renxue had saved his life, after all. If possible, he would not mind leaving a few immortal herbs for her.
"Sorry for the trouble, big sister."
"And thank you for what happened yesterday."
Qian Renxue was very pleased by Yu Tianlong's words. At least they proved he was no ungrateful wolf.
"All right, all right. You're my only little brother. With your talent and strength, perhaps you'll be the only one still by my side in the end..."
As Qian Renxue reached this point, her spirits sank. Sensing the girl's loneliness, Yu Tianlong stepped forward and took her hand of his own accord.
"Big sister, as long as nothing unexpected happens, I'll always stay with you."
Looking at the little boy comforting her, Qian Renxue felt much better.
"Mm, all right. That's our promise, then. Don't forget."
"Okay!"
Early the next morning, Dugu Bo arrived at the crown prince's residence.
Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan accompanied him.
Looking at the two girls beside him, Dugu Bo felt helpless, but there was nothing he could do.
One was his granddaughter, and he had promised Yu Tianlong about the other.
So he could only bring them along. He hoped they would not disturb Yu Tianlong's experiments!
Knock, knock, knock-
Less than a minute after Dugu Yan knocked, Yu Tianlong and Qian Renxue came out.
Upon seeing Dugu Bo, they greeted him together:
"Senior Dugu! Grandpa Dugu!"
Dugu Bo nodded, then said directly:
"Your Highness, Xiaolong should have told you about this, right? I'll be taking him away for a while."
Qian Renxue smiled and nodded.
"It's my little brother's honor to be held in such esteem by Senior Dugu."
Although Dugu Bo harbored some suspicions about the crown prince before him, he was still very satisfied with those words.
"Mm, then we'll be off!"
Dugu Bo was impatient by nature. After exchanging a few words, he left straight away with Yu Tianlong and the others.
Sunset Forest
It was located in the center of the Heaven Dou Empire. Although it was not quite in a frigid zone, its temperature was much lower than that of the Star Dou Great Forest, which meant more of its plants were temperate species unique to the north.
Tropical vegetation felt denser and damper.
Temperate vegetation felt somewhat fresher, but was not as dense as tropical vegetation.
Thus, traveling through Sunset Forest was much easier than traveling through the Star Dou Great Forest.
Of course, powerful Soul Beasts generally preferred tropical rainforests like the Star Dou Great Forest.
Consequently, although Sunset Forest had quite a few Soul Beasts, not many had reached over ten thousand years of cultivation. Most remained between a thousand and ten thousand years.
Coupled with the unrestrained hunting by Soul Masters, this had led to a general decline in the quality of the Soul Beasts.
Thus, hunting a Soul Beast suited to oneself required not only strength, but patience as well.
Sunset Forest was still some distance from Heaven Dou City. With Dugu Bo bringing the three little ones along, he could not travel too fast, either. They stopped and started along the way, reaching the forest after dark.
They were now on a hill about five hundred meters high within the forest.
Since it was nighttime, they could not see much of the surrounding scenery.
With the three little ones in tow, Dugu Bo climbed the mountain path as though walking on level ground. He seemed to move slowly, yet every step carried him more than ten meters.
Moreover, the distance of each step was extremely even. As he climbed, his whole body seemed to rise vertically.
Soon, under Dugu Bo's guidance, they reached the summit.
Once there, Ning Rongrong and Yu Tianlong could not help being startled by the terrain before them.
Before them lay a hollow shaped like an inverted cone. The summit where they stood was at its edge. Thick steam rose from the hollow, heavy with moisture and carrying a faint trace of sulfur's distinctive smell.
After smelling it, Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"Is there a hot spring here?"
Dugu Yan nodded.
"Yes! There's a really pretty hot spring in my grandpa's secret base. It's just a shame we can't soak in it!"
As Dugu Yan said this, a hint of disappointment showed in her eyes.
Beside her, the corners of Dugu Bo's and Yu Tianlong's mouths twitched unnaturally several times upon hearing her words.
Was this something you could just soak in?
Afraid that his granddaughter would act recklessly, and that Ning Rongrong and Yu Tianlong would mess around as well, Dugu Bo offered a warning.
"Once we get down there, remember that you absolutely must not touch the hot spring below. And unless you know what the flowers and plants around it do, you'd best not touch those either. They're deadly poisonous!"
Naturally, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan took a Titled Douluo's warning to heart. They were no fools.
"Okay, okay!"
For some reason, watching this scene, Yu Tianlong kept feeling that Dugu Bo resembled a kindergarten teacher.
Only after seeing all three nod did Dugu Bo feel a little more at ease.
Gathering the three of them up, he sprang straight off the pitch-black mountainside before them, whose bottom was hidden from sight.
Because of the thick mist, the darkness of night, and the sheer cliff face,
their figures disappeared into the mist in the blink of an eye.
Watching the rock wall flash constantly past his eyes, Yu Tianlong could not help marveling.
An ordinary person really wouldn't be able to find a place like this!
Just like the place where Tang Hao hid Ah Yin.
No wonder Dugu Bo had managed to hold on to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for so long.
Just before they landed, Dugu Bo used Soul Power to slow their descent.
Only after setting all three down did he say slowly:
"We're here. This is my medicinal garden!"
(Les Misérables, banknotes and I were never meant to be. Someone's been feasting on buns soaked in my blood-bawling.JPG)