Dugu Bo’s last words really weren’t empty. He had always been petty, and dealt with matters according to his own preferences, but he really did somewhat admire how Grandmaster’s trio calmly faced death.
Flender looked at Dugu Bo’s calm expression, suddenly not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Again looking at Dugu Bo’s amiable attitude towards Tang San, in a moment he no longer knew what to believe.
Tang San said:
“Teachers, you go back first. Senior Dugu’s knowledge of poison is wide and deep, and since my Blue Silver Grass also possesses poisonous qualities I would like to learn from senior Dugu a while, is that alright?”
Grandmaster looked doubtfully at Tang San. Of course he knew Dugu Bo’s status among poison Spirit Masters, and if he truly wanted to instruct Tang San, then it would naturally be of enormous benefit for Tang San. But he all along felt somewhat strange. This Dugu Bo’s change was too great.
However, people were all afraid to die, and right now they didn’t have a good reason to doubt Dugu Bo’s own explanation.
Dugu Bo calmly smiled, saying: “What? You’re worried about leaving little San here with me? Or afraid I’ll snatch your disciple? Don’t worry, I’ve already made sure you’re qualified to be his teachers, I wouldn’t fight with you over it again. This kid’s talent has amazed me greatly. In six months to a year you’ll get your disciple back in one piece. Even if I haven’t known him long, I’m still quite fond of this kid.”
Flender gave Grandmaster a meaningful glance, slightly saluting Dugu Bo:
“Poison Douluo’s words have always carried enormous weight, since you say this, then we’ll take everything just now as a misunderstanding. Let me apologize to you on behalf of us three. Little San being able to study with you for a time is his good fortune. Only, this child has been with us for several years and is just like our own child, I don’t know whether we can come visit him while he studies with you?”
Dugu Bo calmly said:
“Of course you can, but not too often.”
Hearing this, the Golden Iron Triangle trio’s hearts were relieved. Grandmaster nodded to Dugu Bo, saying:
“Since it’s like this, I’ll trouble senior.”
Dugu Bo glanced at Tang San at his side, indifferently saying:
“It’s no trouble, not a bit of trouble.”
Making a throwing motion, three pills fell into the hands of the Golden Iron Triangle trio,
“Suck on these drugs while leaving and you won’t be influenced by the poison formation. This medicine can be used repeatedly. Don’t forget them when you come again later.”
Flender said with a smile:
“Very well, then us three juniors will take our leave. We will come visit senior officially some other day.”
Dugu Bo nodded and didn’t stop them, letting the trio depart. Before leaving Grandmaster looked closely at Tang San, but still didn’t say anything, going down the mountain with Flender’s help. Even though the three of them had spent a lot of spirit power, as long as they were a bit careful, leaving this Sunset Forest wouldn’t be a problem.
Watching the departing trio, Dugu Bo withdrew his hand from Tang San’s head, coldly saying:
“Kid, why did you cover for me? What are you after?”
Tang San turned his head to look at Dugu Bo,
“This was our deal. You promised me three things, don’t tell me you forgot?”
Dugu Bo snorted,
“That’s only if you can cure me and Yan-yan. However, I’m more and more doubtful, are you really only thirteen? You really are a little freak. It’s almost time, if you can’t pass my test, you’ll die.”
Tang San suddenly laughed,
“Old freak, didn’t you say you always kept your promises? Just now it seemed to me that you told my teachers you would return me to them intact.”
Dugu Bo looked across at him,
“I did say that, however, a corpse is still an intact body.”
“You……”
As Tang San looked at him with amazement, Dugu Bo already turned to walk up the mountain.
Actually, when Dugu Bo’s killing intent vanished he had already decided to let the Golden Iron Triangle and Tang San live. When he kidnapped Tang San he hadn’t expected there to be so many and troublesome powers behind them. Really killing Tang San wouldn’t bring him any advantages, only a large amount of trouble. Even though he did as he liked, he wasn’t a lunatic without apprehension.
Therefore Dugu Bo had already decided not to kill Tang San even if he didn’t pass his test and couldn’t cure him and his granddaughter. He hadn’t lied before when he said he liked Tang San. Everything Tang San had showed in their short time together had caused a bit of affection in Dugu Bo’s heart.
Grandmaster’s trio below the mountain weren’t in any hurry to leave. This place was protected by Dugu Bo’s poison, so the trio stayed there to rest a bit instead of heading out into an ocean of spirit beasts after consuming so much spirit power.
Flender lowered his voice and said to Grandmaster:
“Xiao Gang, would you say that Dugu Bo really wants to teach little San?”
The feeling of a new lease on life was still pretty good. As long as they could live, nobody wanted to die. But after calming down, he clearly felt that this whole matter was somewhat problematic.
Grandmaster shook his head, lowering his voice:
“There’s definitely a problem here, but with Dugu Bo’s status, he wouldn’t be so close to little San without some special reason. Moreover he seemed a bit apprehensive about what little San said.”
Flender nodded:
“However, no matter what is said, little San shouldn’t be in danger for the moment, otherwise Dugu Bo wouldn’t let us off. Especially when he already knows little San’s background, if he acts against little San, he’ll be out of luck. Able to become a Title Douluo, he’s naturally an astute person, he wouldn’t easily pull down that kind of trouble on himself.”
Grandmaster sighed lightly, saying:
“Right now we can only live in hope. We mustn’t tell everyone about this once we’re back, we’ll just say we’ve arranged for some secret training for Tang San. We mustn’t influence the other childrens’ cultivation. Additionally, we’ll also have to keep this matter confidential for the moment, we can’t rush out blindly again unless we first find Tang San’s father. A Title Douluo level power really isn’t something we can handle.”
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
A cold light flickered in Liu Erlong’s eyes,
“It’s a pity. If we were a bit more powerful, using our spirit fusion ability after reaching the Spirit Douluo realm, maybe we could’ve killed that old freak just now.”
Grandmaster shook his head:
“It wouldn’t be that easy, don’t tell me you didn’t notice that Dugu Bo seemed somewhat worried when fighting us just now and didn’t use his full strength, otherwise I’m afraid we couldn’t have lasted that long.”
Flender nodded,
“After getting back we’ll immediately send some people out to find Tang San’s father, as long as we can find him, it doesn’t matter what Dugu Bo’s goals are.”
By now the three had recovered their strength somewhat, and holding the pills Dugu Bo gave them in their mouths, they set out to leave the Sunset Forest.
Dugu bo once again reached the side of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and Tang San relying on Eight Spider Lances didn’t fall behind. Right now the sky was already brightening, and after a restless night, Dugu Bo’s aged face seemed somewhat tired.
Even though his strength far surpassed Grandmaster’s trio, the Golden Iron Triangle had arrived just after he had endured the hour when death would have been better than living. The battle against the Golden Iron Triangle afterward brought him considerable pressure, and even though he still had plenty of spirit power, his physical strength was a bit depleted.
After all, his bones were old.
Dugu Bo shot a glanc
e at Tang San, looking at the changed Eight Spider Lances on his back, saying:
“Kid, didn’t you eat something? Don’t blame me for not warning you that the medicinal plants here are much more potent than ordinary herbs. Even a tonic might be fatal.”
Tang san smiled calmly,
“Old freak, when did you become so caring? Weren’t you looking forward to seeing me die?”
Dugu Bo’s face chilled,
“That’s right, if you can’t pass my test you will still die. It’s time, are you ready?”
Tang San wandered aimlessly three steps along the edge of the spring, standing straight, calmly saying:
“Come at me.”
Dugu Bo somewhat doubting looked at him,
“Are you really ready?”
Tang San nodded once again, making an inviting gesture.
Dugu Bo snorted coldly, lightly flicking the fingers of his right hand towards Tang San, mildly green fumes quietly appeared. Dugu Bo was indeed worthy of being called the great scholar of a generation among poison Spirit Masters, a seemingly simple poisoning, that green mist dispersed in an instant, just enough to envelop Tang San within.
Tang San stood there, looking at him without moving,
“Old freak, this was your first test. Hurry up with the second. Your Jade Phosphor Serpent poison is so trivial, useless.”
Dugu Bo looked distracted a moment, this scene clearly falling short of his research in poisons. Tang San basically hadn’t taken any antidote, only stood there as if nothing had happened, his body not changing at all as the green mist scattered, not seeming the slightest bit poisoned.
The green mist Dugu Bo released was only a probing attack that could be easily cured, but he hadn’t expected Tang San to dissolve it so easily. Even if he had already decided to kill Tang San, he had always had extremely high self esteem when it came to ‘poison’.
Right now he couldn’t keep his competitive spirit from rousing. A jade light flickered in his eyes, turning over his hand, a jade green little snake appeared in his palm.
“For the second test, let it bite you.”
Speaking, he already threw the little snake at Tang San.
The reason Tang San was able to easily block Dugu Bo’s first poison mist was actually quite simple. Those steps he had taken before starting had been just enough to bring him into the protective range of the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure. Let lone not using his full strength, even if Dugu Bo brought out his most potent poisonous attack, he still might not harm Tang San.
From Dugu Bo vacantly not understanding the circumstances, Tang San could see that this Poison Douluo wasn’t completely familiar with the plants here.
However, Dugu Bo’s second stage test wasn’t so easily resisted. The Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure could only protect against external poisons, and wouldn’t have any effect if the poison entered the bloodstream.
Tang San flicked his wrist and that jade green snake fell into his palm. That little snake seemed practically transparent, only five cun[ 5寸 = 16.7cm] long, dense green light roaming within, a pair of scarlet little eyes, appearing exceptionally cute. On its body was altogether nine bamboo joint like stripes. As it fell into Tang San’s hand it moved about softly, unreservedly yawning to bite.
Hissing, the little green snake twisted, closing its mouth, unexpectedly not biting. Even if it was a poisonous creature, Tang San’s Mysterious Jade Hand was especially resistant to poison, and its incomparable toughness clearly wasn’t something the snake’s teeth could match up to.
Tang San used two fingers to catch the little jade snake’s seventh cun, lifting it up, saying with a frown:
“Old freak, you can be poisonous enough. This is the best among bamboo vipers[ (竹叶青) Trimeresurus stejnegeri, bamboo viper, or Chinese tree viper.], Nine Segment Jade[ (九节翡翠)], infected with its poison, in three quarters of an hour one would die issuing pus water. Even though it seems small, it’s still one of the most poisonous snakes. Moreover it’s body is strong as steel, even a sharp blade couldn’t injure it easily.”
As Dugu Bo looked at Tang San unexpectedly easily describing his Nine Segment Jade, he couldn’t help secretly be astonished. The Nine Segment Jade was strangely fast, but it was still exceptionally aggressive. Falling into a stranger’s hand there was basically no reason it wouldn’t attack, but how didn’t anything happen to this kid?
Actually, having entered the range of the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure, as a poisonous creature it suffered the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure’s suppression, and as a result its speed was limited, and adding Tang San’s Mysterious Jade Hand it naturally didn’t try anything.
“This is my second test for you, let it bite you, I want to see blood. Don’t you dare?”
To other people there might be no solution to the Nine Segment Jade’s poison, but to Dugu Bo it was a different matter. He had cultivated his Jade Phosphor Serpent Spirit to the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor realm, and could be said to be the ancestor of all other snakes. Neutralizing this Nine Segment Jade’s poison was a simple matter to him.
Tang San calmly smiled, saying:
“Letting it bite me is no problem, only, senior Dugu, let’s talk it over? If it bites me and doesn’t have any effect on me, will you give this Nine Segment Jade to me as a gift? How about it?”
“Ah?”
Dugu Bo was really somewhat speechless. There had never been anyone who hadn’t been scared when confronting his poison. But this kid wasn’t just fearless, he even made demands.
“You’re not calling me ‘old freak’? Why switch to ‘senior’?”
Tang San smiled:
“Isn’t this a request to you? What?”
Dugu Bo snapped:
“You really are a little freak. Fine, let it bite you, if nothing happens, how about I give it to you?”
How could he believe that this teenaged child confronting him could endure the Nine Segment Jade’s poison.
This Nine Segment Jade was an extremely precious creature, and he had complete confidence in it. Secretly he thought that as long as long as this kid was poisoned, he would detoxify him and this Nine Segment Jade would naturally return to its rightful owner.
Tang San showed a somewhat cautious expression, drawing a deep breath, quietly circulating Mysterious Heaven Skill within his body, slowly gathering the Nine Segment Jade at his underarm.
The Nine Segment Jade had bitten Tang San’s Mysterious Jade Hand several times without success, on the contrary its teeth bounced back. Being presented with soft flesh like a prepared meal, it bit at once.
The Nine Segment Jade’s bite didn’t feel the slightest bit sore, only a slight numbness, and a little tingle. But that tingle spread with astonishing speed, and in practically just an eyeblink, Tang San’s whole arm had already become jade green.
Watching this, Dugu Bo couldn’t help but show a smiling expression,
“Kid, since you know about the Nine Segment Jade, don’t tell me you don’t know about its poison? You……”
He prepared to step forward to detoxify Tang San, but before he had even finished speaking, Tang San’s jade green arm unexpectedly equally quickly returned to normal.
With a glimpse of red and white on the skin, the whole arm seemed like a precious jade treasure.
What Dugu Bo could understand the least was that the Nine Segment Jade that bit Tang San actually rolled on its belly, directly losing consciousness in Tang San’s hand, motionless.
Dugu Bo’s present actions as a Title Douluo made Tang San smile somewhat. Raising both hands, he rubbed his eyes.
Tang San kindly reminded him:
“Senior Dugu, you didn’t make a mistake. Haven’t I passed your second test? Also, this Nine Segment Jade belongs to me.”
“This…… Kid, how did you do it?”
Dugu Bo looked dumbstruck at Tang San. He had played with poison for a lifetime, but this was still the first time he had seen something like thi
s.
Tang San still smiled, affectionately caressing the unconscious Nine Segment Jade in his hand, saying:
“Senior Dugu, give me your third test first.”
Dugu Bo’s expression gradually became serious. Right now his heart was already faintly convinced that this youngster indeed had the ability to detoxify him and his granddaughter. But even so, deep in his heart he was unwilling to admit he was inferior to someone in poison.
The light of spirit rings rose from below, nine spirit rings revolving around his body, moving up and down. But this time there wasn’t any pressure.
Looking at those dazzlingly beautiful nine rings of light, Tang San couldn’t help inwardly gasp in admiration. Indeed worthy of being a Title Douluo, he could even control his imposing aura.
A fingernail on Dugu Bo’s hand slowly lengthened, in a moment already three cun[ 3寸 = 10cm.] long, sharp like an awl, a jade green light giving it a colorful glow.
Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)
“Tang San, you must understand that even I can’t fully control my next poison. Right now there is still time to regret it. I still won’t kill you, and I’ll let you try to cure my poison side effects.”
Tang San looked at Dugu Bo’s hand, his expression also becoming serious. He put away the Nine Segment Jade by his chest, he knew that what Dugu Bo used this time would be his own toxin, the poison of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. With his cultivation, such a poison would indeed be very difficult to ward off in his present condition.
But what Dugu Bo said also aroused Tang San’s own pride. Being of Tang Sect, confronting the threat of the opponent’s poison, how could he shrink back? As a Tang Sect disciple, if he was someone unable to conquer poison, he wouldn’t be worthy of the Tang name.
After thinking a moment, Tang San touch the flower of the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Treasure with his right hand, then walked over in front of Dugu Bo, raising his left arm,
“Come on.”
Dugu Bo’s brows furrowed,
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 119