Gui Mei indicated that he felt offended.
But Dugu Bo clearly did not notice Gui Mei's expression. His gaze merely swept lightly over that subtle distance between Yue Guan and Gui Mei before moving away.
Yue Guan wasted no words on Dugu Bo either, saying calmly, "I might have a way to treat the poison in your body. Would you like to try?"
Dugu Bo frowned. "Why should I trust you? Are you really that kindhearted?"
"Besides, you don't even know what poison I've been afflicted with."
Yue Guan chuckled. "Poison from your Martial Soul's backlash."
"That's probably why your Dugu Family has so few members, isn't it?"
After his brief conversation with Gui Yuan, he had thought it over carefully and concluded that this was probably the reason Dugu Bo was poisoned.
Besides, his grandfather, son, and daughter-in-law all seemed to have died very young.
This was actually also the result of the hints and guidance woven into Gui Yuan's words.
Dugu Bo's pupils contracted slightly, and Yue Guan caught every change in his expression.
The corners of Yue Guan's mouth lifted slightly. He knew he had guessed correctly.
Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "What do you want?"
He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Chrysanthemum Guan had to be after something.
Then he recalled what Yue Guan had said while he was suppressing the poison.
"You want me to join Spirit Hall?"
Dugu Bo was actually hesitating, torn inside.
If Yue Guan really could cure the poison from his Martial Soul's backlash, would he really have to join Spirit Hall?
After all, he currently stood on Prince Xue Xing's side-or rather, he was helping the fourth prince, Xue Beng.
And the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's relationship with Spirit Hall could be described as antagonistic.
Given his personality, he ought to refuse.
But the problem was that, although he was old enough not to fear death himself, he still had a granddaughter.
Yanyan was only in her teens.
Even though he had deliberately made Dugu Yan slow her cultivation, if things continued like this, the snake venom in her body would erupt sooner or later.
The person he had let down most in his life was this granddaughter.
Yet Yue Guan's answer came as a surprise.
"No. I know you don't want to join Spirit Hall, so I won't force you."
Yue Guan said calmly, "But I want to take some of the herbs in this medicinal garden of yours."
"Of course, treating your Martial Soul's backlash will also require some of the herbs here."
Dugu Bo froze for a moment.
That was his only condition?
How was that any different from having no conditions at all?
"All right," Dugu Bo said. "As long as you can cure my Dugu Family's Martial Soul backlash, use whatever you like here."
"But I have to warn you, there are herbs here that even I can't identify, and they may contain deadly poison."
"If you touch them carelessly, watch out..."
Yue Guan chuckled. "Old Poison, my knowledge of herbs is no worse than yours. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said I was confident I could treat your poison."
Looking at Dugu Bo's expression, he could barely resist telling him that all these herbs here were treasures.
But on second thought, he decided against it. What if Dugu Bo changed his mind after hearing that?
At most, he could add a few more herbs beneficial to Dugu Bo when making his antidote pills.
Yue Guan did not consider himself to be losing out.
The more benefits he gave Dugu Bo, and the more he refrained from asking him to join Spirit Hall, the more Dugu Bo would feel indebted to him.
It was only because Xiao Yuan was still too young that he had taken this debt of gratitude for himself. They could discuss it when the time was right.
Once they finished discussing this, Dugu Bo's gaze suddenly fell on Gui Yuan.
"So this little fellow really is your adopted son? How come you never mentioned him before?"
Yue Guan chuckled. "What? Is it so strange for the two of us to have an adopted son?"
"After all, neither of us plans to find a woman and get married."
The corners of Dugu Bo's mouth twitched.
He had always felt that Yue Guan and Gui Mei were more or less brimming with bromance.
But this was their "family business," so it was hardly his place to say more.
"All right, make yourselves at home."
Dugu Bo stood up, took one last look at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then leaped up to the mouth of the valley and vanished into the poisonous mist.
Yue Guan had told him that once he finished refining the antidote pills, he would deliver them within six months.
Although they were sworn enemies, Dugu Bo still had that much trust in Yue Guan.
After Dugu Bo left, Gui Mei said mildly, "That Old Poison is a little too carefree."
Gui Yuan smiled. "Second Dad, that shows Eldest Dad usually gets along pretty well with him."
"This Dugu Bo seems to have decent character, too."
Yue Guan nodded. "All right, enough about him."
"Let's harvest all the immortal medicinal herbs here that can be picked, leaving their roots behind, then put them with you."
"We'll also pick some medicinal herbs to refine antidote pills using your blood."
After all, they had already agreed with Dugu Bo beforehand: they would cure his poison and take some herbs with them.
So, apart from herbs that had to be consumed shortly after picking, they harvested everything of higher quality or of use to them.
Yue Guan worked quickly and skillfully, leaving roots, stems, and enough leaves on every plant for it to regrow.
Gui Yuan helped sort and store them on the side, packing them into a Soul Tool.
After working for most of the day, the three had swept through the valuable herbs around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Then they left the valley and resumed searching for a Soul Beast suitable for Gui Yuan.
After they emerged from the poisonous miasma, Yue Guan said as they walked, "Now that you've undergone ice and fire body tempering, your physique is far stronger than before. For your second Soul Ring, you can at least absorb one around five thousand years old."
"Plant-type Soul Beasts of that age are actually rather rare."
Gui Yuan nodded, well aware.
Five-thousand-year Plant-type Soul Beasts were harder to find than animal-type ones.
They roamed Sunset Forest for another three days.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, they arrived at a secluded mountain hollow.
Lush vegetation filled the hollow, with vines twining everywhere and an enormous ancient tree stretching across its center.
Right at the ancient tree's roots, a jade-green vine was spreading its branches and leaves.
The vine was thick and sturdy, its leaves fleshy, and its fine, dense fuzz glimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Yue Guan halted and lowered his voice. "Rejuvenation Vine, between four and six thousand years old. Just the right age."
Gui Yuan was about to step forward when Yue Guan stopped him with an outstretched arm.
"Wait."
On the other side of the ancient tree, an enormous figure slowly came into view.
It was a herbivorous Soul Beast, grayish-brown all over, with a solid bulk like a small mountain.
Its mouth was chewing vigorously on the Rejuvenation Vine's branches and leaves, making crunching sounds.
The Rejuvenation Vine's tendrils had been gnawed into a sprawling mess. Green sap kept seeping from the broken ends, but it lacked the strength to regenerate.
Yue Guan's expression changed. "Not good!"
The next instant, he raised his right hand, and his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul bloomed in his palm.
The moment nine Soul Rings rose, his sixth Soul Ring blazed with light.
"Golden Stamens Radiate Flowing Rosy Clouds!"
Countless golden stamens transformed into streaks of light, raining down on that Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast like a meteor shower.
Golden light struck the Soul Beast in a dense barrage of explosive cracks. In pain, the Soul Beast let out a low roar.
P.S. Please give me votes, and please keep reading~~