Few days had slipped by since Bibi Dong began her discreet probe into Dugu Bo's background, her movements as silent as a shadow in the night. Using her perfected concealment technique, she infiltrated records in Spirit Hall's archives, cross-referencing old reports on rogue Titled Douluos and their affiliations.
Whispers from informants in Heaven Dou City painted a picture of a reclusive man, his family shrouded in secrecy. One evening, she snuck into his estate under the cover of dusk, her form invisible as she navigated the guarded grounds.
Peering through a window, she witnessed Dugu Xin, his son, writhing in bed, his skin pallid and veined with unnatural green hues, gasping for breath. The air reeked of suppressed toxins, a desperate attempt to contain the affliction.
Hereditary, she concluded, her mind racing. Amused at first by the irony of a poison master felled by his own legacy, sympathy soon followed—a rare emotion for her, born from a mother's perspective on familial suffering.
This desperation... it's a chain he can't break alone, she thought, slipping away undetected. Enemies could exploit this weakness, and Dugu Bo's guarded nature confirmed it—he hid it well, but she saw the cracks.
I'll turn this to my advantage, she decided, planning a direct negotiation in his hidden sanctuary. His loyalty could bolster her position, a Titled Douluo under her banner a force to reckon with. But first, she needed leverage—the cure Tang San had used in her future, now hers to wield.
The next day, Bibi Dong ventured back to Sunset Forest, her clone ensuring the twins remained safe during her absence. The forest's dense foliage parted for her, but as she neared the waterfall, the poison barrier greeted her—a translucent veil, its deadly essence woven like invisible threads. Her Death Spider Emperor soul resonated with it, allowing her to pass unharmed, the toxins parting like water.
My martial souls shield me where others would fall, she noted, stepping through. Beyond the roaring cascade, the cave revealed itself, its mouth concealed by illusionary vines she dispelled with a flick of her vine.
Inside, the air grew thick, and she sensed Dugu Bo's presence before seeing him—meditating beside a strange fountain, its waters split into blue and red halves, yin and yang in perfect opposition, emitting a hum of raw elemental power.
The fountain's aura repelled her approach, her intuition screaming danger. A natural treasure, balancing extremes—ice and fire in harmony, she marveled, recognizing its potential for alchemy or cultivation. But she halted, respecting the risk.
Dugu Bo's eyes snapped open, his figure blurring as he appeared before her, jade-green soul power coiling like serpents. "Who dares intrude?" he snarled, his Bi Phosphor Serpent Emperor spirit manifesting, fangs dripping venom.
Bibi Dong released her aura in response, a wave of oppressive soul power pinning him back, his knees buckling slightly. Surprise etched his face—few could suppress him so effortlessly.
She raised a hand calmly. "I'm not here to harm you, Dugu Bo. Let's negotiate." His eyes narrowed, suspicion burning.
"Who are you? How did you breach my barrier?" Bibi Dong met his gaze steadily. "I am Bibi Dong, Saintess of Spirit Hall." Dugu Bo's breath caught, but he steadied himself, his voice laced with caution.
"Saintess? Forgive my rudeness, but what brings you to my hidden retreat? If it's a hunt for treasures, the fountain is mine alone."
Bibi Dong's lips curved slightly. "I know your deepest secret, Poison Douluo—the affliction plaguing you and your family." Dugu Bo's face paled, his soul power flaring defensively.
"What nonsense is this? Speak plainly, or leave before I force you." She held his stare. "Your body is poisoned, a hereditary curse eating away at you. You won't live long without a cure, and your son Dugu Xin fares no better." His eyes widened in disbelief, then fury. "How do you know this? Have you spied on me? If word spreads, I'll hunt you down myself!"
Bibi Dong remained unmoved. "The how doesn't matter. I have the cure—for you and your son. In exchange, pledge your loyalty to me and share this sanctuary's resources." Dugu Bo laughed bitterly. "The cure? I, the Poison Douluo, have searched for years and found nothing. You claim to have it? Prove it!" She nodded.
"Your poison is self-inflicted, a backlash from your Bi Phosphor Serpent Emperor. It builds slowly, weakening organs, causing agony. Your son inherited it, his condition worsening faster due to youth."
Dugu Bo staggered, his guard crumbling. "Impossible... no one knows this. Not even my closest allies." Bibi Dong's voice softened slightly. "I offer a solution: transfer the poison to soul bones, purifying your bodies. It's risky, but effective. Swear allegiance, and I'll guide you through it." He weighed her words, his mind racing.
The fountain behind him bubbled, its dual energies a mirror to his turmoil. If she speaks truth, my family survives, he thought, but suspicion lingered. "And if you deceive me? This sanctuary is my lifeline—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well heals my symptoms. I won't surrender it lightly."
Bibi Dong glanced at the fountain, its blue and red halves swirling in harmony, a rare natural formation balancing opposing forces.
This well could amplify my martial souls, she noted, but kept her interest hidden. "I don't seek to claim it fully—just access for my needs. Your loyalty ensures Spirit Hall's protection for you and your family. Refuse, and your secret remains safe with me... for now." Dugu Bo's fists clenched. "You bargain like a viper. But if you cure us, I'll serve. Fail, and you'll taste my poison firsthand."
She agreed, detailing the process: "Gather soul bones—high-quality ones. The poison will migrate, leaving your body cleansed. It'll take precision, but I'll oversee it." Dugu Bo listened, hope flickering amid doubt.
This Saintess... she's no ordinary intruder, he thought, his quick temper yielding to pragmatism. "Fine. We'll test it on my son first. If it works, you have my word."
Bibi Dong nodded, sealing the pact. "Prepare. I'll return soon." As she departed, the waterfall's roar masked her steps, her mind already mapping Dugu Bo's integration into her forces—a loyal Titled Douluo to counter Xunji's allies.
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