Chapter 38: Dugu Bo

"Ghostly Claws." Zhu Zhuqing's eyes brightened at the sight, and her speed surged instantly.

Just as the attack was about to strike Dugu Yan, Li Xun suddenly appeared between them. Startled, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly dissipated her skill to avoid accidentally harming him.

Li Xun’s interference was a last resort. For the past year, he had been waiting for Dugu Yan to show symptoms of poisoning. Perhaps due to her young age and low soul power level, she had always appeared perfectly healthy. Now that the symptoms had finally manifested during their sparring, if she were to be struck and injured by Zhu Zhuqing’s skill, there was no telling how Dugu Bo might react, given his temper.

Li Xun opened his arms and caught the rapidly approaching Zhu Zhuqing in a full embrace. The impact force generated by her speed was considerable; to dissipate the momentum, Li Xun had to spin around several times while holding her before he could steady himself.

"Zhuqing, Yan-jie is not in a good state. Stop for now."

After saying this, Li Xun set Zhu Zhuqing down and walked toward Dugu Yan.

"Oh..." Zhu Zhuqing’s cheeks flushed, and she whispered a soft reply before hurriedly taking small steps to follow him. With so many people watching, having been swept into Li Xun’s arms and spun around, her mind was still in a daze.

"Brother... what happened?" Ning Rongrong ran over from the distance, looking flustered. Because of her martial soul, she had been idle and could see everything happening on the field. When she saw Li Xun suddenly appear and catch Zhu Zhuqing in his arms, her mind had gone blank. It was only when she saw him walking toward Dugu Yan that she snapped back to reality and rushed over to ask about the situation.

The others present also noticed the situation and quickly ceased their combat.

Li Xun checked Dugu Yan’s pulse. "Yan-jie is poisoned, and it’s not an ordinary toxin."

"Poisoned?"

"Yan-jie is a master of poisons herself. How could she be poisoned?" Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong asked in shock.

"It is precisely because she is a master of poisons that she has fallen victim to it," Li Xun mused. "We should notify Senior Dugu first and see if he has a solution."

Hearing this, the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo ran toward the edge of the field. Perhaps because it was the first violent outbreak of the toxin, Dugu Yan had already fallen unconscious. No matter how they called her, there was no response. The group had no choice but to carefully carry her back to the dormitory.

***

Before long, Dugu Bo arrived, his face etched with anxiety. When he saw Dugu Yan lying unconscious, even with his strength as a Title Douluo, his footing nearly faltered.

"Yan-yan, you must hold on..."

Dugu Bo’s brow was furrowed, his face full of grief as he gently held Dugu Yan’s hand. His son had already perished due to the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison. If his granddaughter were to follow in his footsteps, he truly did not know where he would find the courage to go on living. Was it heaven’s will that he must endure the pain of losing his closest kin over and over again?

Li Xun watched from the side in silence. Dugu Bo’s heart was in turmoil; to disturb him rashly might lead to a confrontation. He needed to speak with Dugu Bo once he had calmed down.

Perhaps because it was the first eruption, Dugu Yan’s recovery was slow.

"You all go back to rest first. I will keep watch here, and I’ll call you when Yan-jie wakes up."

After sending the others away, Li Xun returned to the room and was met by Dugu Bo emerging from the bedroom.

"Senior Dugu, have Yan-jie’s symptoms subsided?" Li Xun asked in a deep voice. He and Dugu Bo had discussed the medicinal arts more than once, so there was no need for reticence. This was the persona he had cultivated for Dugu Bo all along.

"A little..." Dugu Bo sighed. "Kid, you must have figured it out by now, haven't you?"

Over the past few years, he and Li Xun had interacted frequently and often discussed matters regarding poisons. He didn't know the exact extent of the boy's expertise, but occasionally, Li Xun would reveal perspectives and knowledge that even made him take notice. It was only Li Xun’s young age that prevented him from treating the boy as an equal.

"Jade Phosphor Serpent poison. If I couldn't even tell that much, then all these years of studying the medicinal arts would have been in vain." Li Xun walked to the table, picked up the teapot, poured two cups, and pushed one toward him.

Dugu Bo sat down and drained the tea in one gulp. "The Jade Phosphor Serpent martial soul is incredibly domineering. It doesn't just harm enemies; it harms the host as well."

"Only by reaching the rank of Title Douluo can one suppress the toxicity. Otherwise, there is a constant risk of death."

Li Xun refilled his cup. "Only a Title Douluo can suppress it? Doesn't that mean Yan-jie is in constant danger?"

Dugu Bo fell silent for a long moment before taking a sip from his cup. "Yan-yan’s father passed away because of the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison... and although I am a Title Douluo, I, too, suffer greatly from this venom."

He had lost his father in his youth, his wife in middle age, and his son in his later years. Now eighty years old and having suffered for decades, he had long since viewed his own life with indifference. The only things he could not let go of were his blood ties.

***

"Would you be willing to let me check your pulse, Senior?"

Li Xun furrowed his brow and mused, "Think of it as a deathbed struggle, if you will."

"Heh, you brat. Very well, let’s see how you plan to make me 'struggle'." Dugu Bo was amused by Li Xun’s words. He and Yan-yan were not yet at death’s door; he feared this boy was cursing his grandfather and granddaughter. Dugu Bo extended his arm toward Li Xun. "Check it well. If you can’t tell me a thing or two, I’ll swat you even in front of Ning Fengzhi."

"Forgive me, Senior, I spoke out of turn." Li Xun chuckled.

Li Xun slowly placed his fingers on Dugu Bo’s wrist. His facial expression shifted periodically—at times pained, at times furrowed, at times sighing.

Watching him, Dugu Bo’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. "Kid, even if you are checking my pulse, can you keep your expression in check? Anyone who didn't know better would think I was about to kick the bucket."

Li Xun ignored him. "Senior Dugu, if I told you that I could cure the poison in both you and Yan-jie, would you believe me?"

Dugu Bo was stunned, somewhat skeptical. "Kid, you aren't joking with me, are you?"

"I have studied the art of poisons for decades and haven't found a way. Do you really think you can surpass me after studying for only a few years?"

Li Xun laughed. "Senior, it is precisely because you have studied the art of poisons for decades that you have found no solution. A physician cannot heal himself, after all! Furthermore, I have heard of divine physicians, but never of a 'Poison God Physician.'"

It was true. If he relied solely on what he had learned in these few years, he could not resolve the serpent venom in Dugu Bo and his granddaughter. But before he began studying the medicinal arts, he had read a certain book. That book had provided the solution directly; what else could Li Xun do but accept it?

"There is indeed some truth to that. Tell me, what do you have in mind?" Dugu Bo nodded, seemingly acknowledging Li Xun’s point, his tone softening considerably.

"There are two methods."

"The first is to find a spirit bone—ideally one from the same martial soul or from a poison-attribute spirit beast."

"You would force the toxins into the spirit bone."

Li Xun slowly extended a finger. "Of course, this method is only suitable for Yan-jie. Senior Dugu, you are too deeply poisoned, and the toxins in your body are too complex. Using this method would only treat the symptoms."

"Unless, of course, you can find a legendary external spirit bone—in which case, ignore what I just said."