Chapter 2: Dugu Bo, I Won't Beat You Up This Time
The feud between Dugu Bo and Yue Guan had been festering for years.
They had crossed paths and clashed many times—each time ending with Dugu Bo fleeing in humiliation.
Defeated time and again, yet still daring to fight again—his persistence was almost admirable.
And now, as enemies met once more, sparks of fury ignited the moment their eyes locked.
Dugu Bo immediately became alert. He knew Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo never came with good intentions, and it seemed to him that they were here to cause trouble yet again.
But Ghost Douluo only smiled faintly.
"Old Poison, don't get worked up. We didn't come here to cause you trouble this time."
Dugu Bo was taken aback, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes.
By logic, Titled Douluo like these two shouldn't need soul rings anymore.
And yet, they had come all the way to a soul beast forest—clearly, they were after something.
"Then what are you here for?" Dugu Bo asked cautiously.
He was worried they might discover his secret garden hidden nearby. He didn't want them venturing any further.
Ghost Douluo knew exactly what lay beyond the poisonous mist—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
No matter what, those immortal herbs had to be his.
Before him lay two choices:
Either kill Dugu Bo and claim everything for himself— Or cooperate with him, end their hostility, and help cure his poison.
Killing Dugu Bo wouldn't be easy. The old man was infamous for his speed and cunning; he had escaped Yue Guan's grasp many times before.
If forced into a corner, Dugu Bo might very well destroy the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and its treasures just to spite them.
Cooperation, then, was the smarter option.
After all, the grudge between Yue Guan and Dugu Bo wasn't one of deep hatred.
Years ago, Spirit Hall had tried to recruit Dugu Bo, but he refused. So they sent Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo to eliminate him.
During their confrontation, Dugu Bo mocked Yue Guan—calling him a "genderless freak" and "Spirit Hall's obedient dog."
Yue Guan, furious beyond reason, retaliated by threatening Dugu Bo's son, Dugu Xin.
Later, Dugu Xin succumbed to poison and died. In his grief, Dugu Bo swore never to join any faction again.
Only then did Spirit Hall leave him alone.
But from that moment on, the enmity between him and Yue Guan was set in stone.
Now, however, Ghost Douluo sought to cut ties with Spirit Hall. If he could subdue Dugu Bo, it would be a great advantage.
After all, Dugu Bo—the Poison Douluo—was a living weapon. A single man who could annihilate an entire city.
Cruel though his methods were, he was also a man who never forgot kindness.
If he could help remove the poison from both him and his granddaughter Dugu Yan, then enmity could turn into alliance—and the precious immortal herbs could be preserved intact.
"We're just here to find something," Ghost Douluo said calmly.
"Find what?" Dugu Bo's tone sharpened.
"There's no need for you to know," Yue Guan replied impatiently.
Dugu Bo's wariness deepened.
"The area ahead is where I cultivate. I've set up a Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom Array there. There's nothing you're looking for inside!"
Ghost Douluo's expression darkened.
"Old Poison, you've spent your whole life dealing with toxins, becoming the most poisonous soul master alive—and yet, you're now being devoured by your own poison. Reaching the rank of Titled Douluo is no easy feat, but your body is rotting from within. You don't have long to live."
Dugu Bo's face immediately turned grim.
"Nonsense! How could I possibly be poisoned?!"
The Ghost Douluo smiled faintly.
"Then answer me this—whenever it's cloudy or rainy, do you not feel a tingling itch around your ribs that grows worse over time?"
"You… how do you know that?"
Ghost Douluo didn't answer. His tone only deepened.
"At noon and midnight, the pain flares up twice a day, each lasting more than an hour. Around the third watch of the night, you feel a stabbing pain at the top of your head and near your heart, followed by full-body spasms lasting another half hour. Tell me, am I wrong?"
Dugu Bo's eyes widened in shock.
He couldn't believe it—Ghost Douluo had described every one of his symptoms with perfect accuracy.
"Old poison, your toxins have already seeped deep into your bones. Even with your powerful soul power, you can barely suppress it. Still, it's not entirely incurable."
"Old ghost, what do you mean? Don't tell me… Can you cure my poison?"
"I don't have that kind of ability," Ghost Douluo replied with a faint smile.
"But Chrysanthemum Douluo might."
Yue Guan blinked in confusion, staring at his old partner. He couldn't figure out what kind of medicine this old ghost was selling in his gourd.
From his understanding of Ghost Douluo, he could tell that the man didn't intend to fight Dugu Bo this time.
"Old poison," Yue Guan said lightly, "if there are suitable medicinal herbs, I can try to concoct an antidote."
Dugu Bo was completely puzzled.
"A weasel paying respects to a chicken—what are you two really planning?"
Ghost Douluo replied calmly,
"To be honest, we're all the same kind now. Chrysanthemum Douluo and I plan to leave Spirit Hall. Back then, we only attacked you because of the orders we carried. Perhaps soon… We'll be walking the same road you once did."
"?!"
Dugu Bo was stunned.
"You're giving up your hard-earned status and wealth? Why?!"
"Nothing much," Ghost Douluo said flatly.
"We're just tired of being someone's dogs. This time, we want to live for ourselves."
Dugu Bo was half-skeptical.
He could sense that Ghost Douluo bore no hostility toward him, but he still couldn't understand his true motive.
Ghost Douluo continued,
"I had a long dream—a dream where both Chrysanthemum Douluo and I met tragic ends. I also dreamed that deep within this Sunset Forest, there grew countless rare herbs. So I brought Chrysanthemum Douluo here to take a look. If my dream is real, then we'll cut ties with Spirit Hall for good. And if I'm not mistaken, you should already know of this place. The herbs that can cure you and your granddaughter's poison might be there."
Dugu Bo was completely dumbfounded.
If that really was Ghost Douluo's dream, then it meant he had a destined connection with that herb garden.
Although Dugu Bo didn't want the flower-obsessed Yue Guan anywhere near that place, he also knew he couldn't stop the two of them.
Rather than make enemies of them, perhaps cooperation wasn't such a bad idea.
After all, most of the herbs in that garden were ones he couldn't even identify, while Yue Guan's knowledge of flowers far surpassed his own.
"Old poison," Ghost Douluo said softly, "you may not believe me, but can't you at least think of your granddaughter?"
He knew Dugu Bo's nature—suspicious of everyone, trusting no one. His only weakness was his granddaughter, Dugu Yan.
"…Fine. I'll believe you once."
Dugu Bo's expression softened slightly.
"But my poison formation here isn't simple. Even you two will be affected if you enter recklessly. If you trust me, swallow this antidote first."
He flicked two pills toward them.
Without hesitation, Ghost Douluo caught one and swallowed it right away.
Seeing that, Dugu Bo's vigilance eased slightly.
"I'll take you to my herb garden," he warned coldly, "but let me make this clear—if you're here to deceive me or steal my herbs, I'll hunt you down no matter the cost."
"Old poison," Ghost Douluo chuckled, "we didn't attack you, and we've been honest about our intentions. Don't worry. Yue Guan treasures flowers more than his own life—he would never ruin your precious herbs."
"Fine. Follow me."
The two followed Dugu Bo to the peak of a mountain.
The scene before them left Yue Guan utterly speechless.
Before them was an inverted cone-shaped valley, surrounded by cliffs so deep one couldn't see the bottom.
A warm, humid mist slowly rose from the valley below.
"The smell of sulfur… there's a hot spring beneath this?"
"That's right," Dugu Bo nodded.
"My herb garden is down there."
Without another word, he leapt off the cliff.
Ghost Douluo leaned close to Yue Guan's ear and whispered,
"There are many immortal-grade herbs down there—the kind you've dreamed of your entire life. But remember, when you see them, stay calm. Don't let old poison lose his temper."
"Immortal-grade herbs?!" Yue Guan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Old ghost, I've changed my mind," he grinned.
"I hope your dream really is true."
With that, the two of them jumped, diving straight into the valley below.
—
End of Chapter