Time flew by.
Ye Han and the others had arrived at Sunset Forest.
They headed toward the heart of Sunset Forest.
It was sunset, and the sun was sinking in the west.
The lingering sunset clouds spread across the heavens as though stained with blood.
Tall and alluring, Ling Yuan walked at the front.
She held Ye Han with one hand and Xiao Wu with the other.
The difference was that she held the former by the hand, while she held the latter by the Soul Power chain fastened around her neck.
This time, to prevent Xiao Wu from escaping, she had bound not only her neck but all four limbs as well.
Along the way, Xiao Wu kept casting aggrieved, pleading, flirtatious glances at Ye Han, as though saying:
"Master, these Soul Power chains are so uncomfortable~ Please help me undo them~"
At the sight, Ling Yuan finally lost her patience. She yanked the chain in her hand hard and said displeasedly:
"If you dare act like a slut again, I'll kill you right now and stew your head into rabbit-head soup!"
"Ah... sob..."
Xiao Wu howled in pain, ran over to hug Ye Han's arm, and said pitifully:
"Boohoo... Master, Xiao Wu is scared..."
Ye Han paid her no heed. He shook his arm and tossed her off.
Thinking her master did not want to expose his identity, Xiao Wu dared not speak again.
Ling Yuan was very satisfied with this and then said:
"My dear husband, didn't you say Dugu Bo would be waiting for us in Sunset Forest?"
"How come we're almost at the heart of Sunset Forest, but there's still no sign of him?"
The question made Ye Han scratch his head. He did not know whether Dugu Bo was there at the moment either.
According to the original story, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was located in the heart of Sunset Forest.
The central region was also guarded by the poisonous mist released by the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flowers.
Once they approached that poisonous mist, they should not be far from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
If Dugu Bo was at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he should surely be able to sense them.
"Stop! Something's up ahead!"
While Ye Han was pondering, Ling Yuan suddenly cried out urgently.
Ye Han and Xiao Wu turned their gazes forward and saw a vast expanse of green poisonous mist.
"This is the poisonous mist produced and released by the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flowers."
Ye Han immediately took on the role of commentator, astonishing Xiao Wu and Ling Yuan.
"My dear husband, could the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well you mentioned be inside?!"
Ling Yuan exclaimed in surprise. She had seen records of how terrifying this poison was in ancient books at Spirit Hall.
Unless one specialized in poison, even a Titled Douluo would have to give it a wide berth!
"Ah, Master, Xiao Wu is scared! Xiao Wu doesn't want to go in!"
Xiao Wu had heard her mother mention it before. Frightened, she hugged Ye Han's arm again, squeezing it tightly.
This sight instantly enraged Ling Yuan, and she intended to teach this wretched Rogue Rabbit a lesson.
"Whoosh-!"
Just then, however, a dark green figure burst out of the mist ahead.
He soon appeared before Ye Han and the others. It was none other than Dugu Bo.
He exuded a Titled Douluo's presence that made people tremble with dread.
"Senior Dugu Bo."
At the sight, Ye Han and Ling Yuan addressed him as senior out of courtesy.
"Ah! A Titled Douluo!"
Xiao Wu was instantly terrified and burrowed straight into Ye Han's arms with her enticing, delicate body.
Seeing this, Ye Han and Ling Yuan both wanted to tell her to get lost, but Dugu Bo suddenly laughed heartily:
"Haha, Your Holiness, I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. Elder Ling Yuan is still accompanying you, too."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo also looked at Xiao Wu in Ye Han's arms and laughed boisterously:
"Oh? Who is this little girl? Did I frighten her?"
"Hahaha, don't be afraid... no! This is... a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form!"
Dugu Bo stared fixedly at Xiao Wu, his voice even trembling slightly.
"Hehe~"
Ye Han naturally understood the value of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast all too well. Worried that Dugu Bo might harbor ill intentions, he stroked Xiao Wu's head in his arms and said with a smile:
"She's a pet beast I recently subdued. She won't pose any danger. Also, keep this secret!"
Xiao Wu hid tightly in Ye Han's embrace, her delicate body trembling, not daring to raise her head.
Dugu Bo nodded at these words, but the shock in his eyes had yet to fade.
His admiration for Ye Han deepened further, and his resolve to befriend him grew even stronger.
"Ahem!"
Seeing Ye Han and Xiao Wu like this, Ling Yuan immediately felt displeased and jealous.
But she would not make Ye Han lose face in front of an outsider, so she feigned a couple of light coughs to remind him.
"Ah..."
Ye Han froze, hurriedly pushed Xiao Wu away, and said solemnly:
"All right, Senior Dugu Bo, I came today to fulfill my promise to cure your poison."
"Take us into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well now. I want to see the immortal herbs first, and then I'll give you the method to cure your poison."
Firmly believing Ye Han would not deceive him, Dugu Bo nodded repeatedly in agreement:
"Yes, yes, of course!"
Immediately afterward, he condensed a protective barrier of poison Qi and Soul Power.
He led Ye Han and the others into the poisonous mist ahead.
The poison Qi and Soul Power counteracted the poisonous mist of the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flowers, leaving their path completely unobstructed.
After they passed through the poisonous mist, the view suddenly opened up, and a wondrous sight greeted their eyes.
Before them lay an enormous valley, with a pool of spring water at its very center.
The spring water was extremely peculiar: one side was scorching flame, while the other was freezing frost.
The two actually coexisted wondrously in one place, forming a yin-yang taiji pattern and exuding the presence of the two extremes of ice and fire.
Various rare immortal herbs grew in the soil beside that spring, giving off enchanting light and scents.
"Wow!"
Xiao Wu was stunned, her mouth hanging open as she marveled endlessly.
Even the knowledgeable and well-traveled Ling Yuan was rooted to the spot in astonishment.
Ye Han, however, did not react much. After all, he had already learned about it in his previous life.
What he needed to do next was pack up all these immortal herbs and take them away!
"Hehe, Your Holiness, this is the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The immortal herbs are all down below."
Dugu Bo spoke with a proud expression on his face.
Although it pained him, it was nothing compared with his life and establishing a good relationship with this young fellow.
Ye Han nodded in satisfaction at his words, then dispensed with the niceties and got straight to the point:
"Senior Dugu Bo, as your Soul Power increases through cultivation, your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul continuously produces toxins."
"If these toxins aren't dealt with, they'll keep accumulating inside your body. That's why you suffer from the backlash of deadly poison."
Having the problem pointed out so directly, Dugu Bo said with excitement and respect:
"Yes, yes! Exactly! That is precisely my current condition. Your Holiness, I implore you to tell me the solution!"
Ye Han smiled faintly, took two Soul Bones from his Soul Tool, and handed them over:
"You only need to find a suitable vessel to hold these toxins. Soul Bones are the best choice."
"Force the toxins in your body into a Soul Bone and let it hold them. That will prevent the toxins from continuing to harm your body through their backlash."
"However, since the toxins in your body have accumulated day after day, this process must continue for at least several years."
"I prepared these two Soul Bones specifically for you and your granddaughter, Dugu Yan, to hold your toxins."
Hearing such a simple solution, a trace of doubt flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.
But then he recalled Ye Han's various miraculous displays earlier, and he was filled with firm belief again.
At the same time, he was even more touched that Ye Han bore no grudge against his granddaughter and had even considered her as well.
"Good! I'll try it right now!"
Following Ye Han's instructions, Dugu Bo sat cross-legged.
He began circulating his Soul Power, slowly forcing the toxins in his body into the Soul Bone.
As time passed, Dugu Bo's complexion gradually grew rosy, and his breathing became much steadier.
Finally, when the last trace of toxin was forced into the Soul Bone, Dugu Bo abruptly opened his eyes, and a sharp gleam flashed through them.
(End of chapter)