Knock, knock, knock…
The faint knocking at the door continued, drifting in the cold wind.
"Second Uncle, it's me, Shuo'er. I've brought Feng'er to see Brother Xin one last time."
"Second Uncle…"
Dugu Feng held an old jar of wine in his arms. He watched his father keep knocking and thought: With Second Granduncle Dugu Bo's strength as a Title Douluo, he must have heard clearly. He just doesn't want to open the door!
When Dugu Feng had crossed over into the body of his four-year-old namesake last night, he had been excited. After all, if his second granduncle was Dugu Bo, then in the future wouldn't he be surrounded by immortal herbs and soul bones?
But once he absorbed his predecessor's memories, his heart turned cold.
This body was only four years old, yet its memories were already plentiful—enough for him to quickly piece together the cause and effect.
His grandfather, Dugu Hao, and Dugu Bo were twin brothers. Dugu Hao the elder, Dugu Bo the younger.
For some reason, their relationship had soured over time.
Eventually, before both broke through to Soul Saint, they agreed to fight a decisive battle. Although Dugu Feng's inherited memories contained no description of that duel, the outcome was clear: Dugu Bo broke through consecutively, while his grandfather could never advance.
The result spoke for itself.
Some twenty years ago, unable to endure the poison of the Jade Phosphor Serpent any longer, his grandfather died—and Dugu Bo never even came to look upon him once.
What kind of hatred is that?
Dugu Feng's curiosity only deepened.
Today was a fateful day: the day Dugu Bo ascended as a Title Douluo, shaking the Heaven Dou Empire with his fame—yet it was also the very day his only son, Dugu Xin, perished.
His father, Dugu Shuo, had brought him here.
The thin figure of Dugu Shuo, knocking again and again at the door, looked frail and sorrowful.
Creaaak.
The door finally opened.
A young girl in mourning white revealed her face. She was around eight or nine, with short deep-violet hair and green eyes. Her face was pale, clearly from recent crying.
"Yanyan…" Dugu Shuo's voice faltered, as if tinged with shame.
The girl's eyes brimmed with tears, but her tone was icy: "Leave. Grandfather doesn't want to see you. Father doesn't need your farewell!"
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
"…Feng'er, give me the wine."
As if he had expected this, Dugu Shuo took the jar from his son's hands.
He poured it slowly onto the ground.
"Feng'er, kowtow to your First Uncle. Let this be our farewell."
He pulled Dugu Feng to his knees.
Bang, bang, bang! Three resounding kowtows.
Afterward, the father and son rose, hand in hand, and slowly walked away down the street.
Dugu Feng turned back for a last look at the six-meter-tall gate of that mansion. Above it hung a plaque with two large characters—Bi Lin (Jade Phosphor). He seemed determined to remember it well.
Inside, the great hall had been arranged as a mourning chamber.
A tall, spear-like old man leaned on the coffin, his eyes filled with regret and grief.
He had just broken through to Title Douluo—yet his son had died of poison.
Caught between elation and devastation, Dugu Bo himself did not know how he had endured this day.
Footsteps sounded. Dugu Yan returned to the hall.
"Grandfather, I drove them away."
"Hmph. They won't live long anyway, and now they dare seek my help? Xin'er is dead—why haven't they died yet? What right do they have to live?
Elder Brother, you went too far back then. Did you ever foresee today? I'll watch your branch, the Serpent Lineage, perish one by one!"
Cold thoughts churned in Dugu Bo's heart.
His nephew, Dugu Shuo, with his green hair and sunken eyes, was clearly suffering the torment of poison daily—he wouldn't last much longer.
His grandnephew, Dugu Feng, already had streaks of green among his black hair, born poisoned in the womb. He too was doomed to die.
Let them all die. Let them all vanish. Dugu Bo muttered to himself.
His gaze returned to the coffin. Xin'er, you used to be closest to Dugu Shuo as a child. Rest assured, he'll be joining you soon.
Collecting his thoughts, Dugu Bo softened his expression. He turned back, embraced Dugu Yan, and said gently: "Good child, Yanyan is strong. From now on, stay with Grandfather. Grandfather will care for you."
Comforted, the girl could no longer hold back. She buried herself in his arms and wept bitterly.
Outside the Dugu Mansion, the street was deserted.
The Dugu family's reputation was known throughout Heaven Dou. When it came to poison, most people avoided them entirely, too fearful to come near.
Along the entire street stood only two mansions—one east, one west.
Both belonged to the Dugu family, though they were now two separate branches.
Dugu Shuo gripped his son's hand tightly, as if afraid Dugu Feng might stumble into danger.
Soon, they returned to their own mansion.
To Dugu Feng, it felt like a labyrinth. Without the complete memories of his predecessor, he would have gotten lost. Even so, many colorful courtyards here were forbidden places, off-limits even to the former Dugu Feng.
The huge residence was eerily quiet, with scarcely any servants—strangely desolate, almost sinister.
Glancing at his father, Dugu Feng was surprised.
At his Second Granduncle's mansion, Dugu Shuo had seemed awkward, almost ashamed before Dugu Yan. But now, his eyes were dark, at times flashing coldly—completely unlike before.
A chill gripped Dugu Feng.
It wasn't his own fear, but the instinct of his predecessor. Memories surfaced—of being forced from the moment he learned to read, constantly drilled and punished, day and night.
His father was harsher than the strictest "tiger parents" he had ever heard of.
Every moment not spent resting was devoted to study—soul beasts, herbs, soul power, combat techniques… The slightest distraction meant immediate punishment.
Dugu Feng shivered. He had only crossed over last night, then was taken this morning to Dugu Bo's gates. He hadn't yet sorted through all the memories.
Now, recalling them, he felt an icy dread.
Creaaak.
The screech of an opening door jolted him from his thoughts.
He quickly stepped over the threshold.
Memorial tablets? This is the ancestral hall! Dugu Feng's heart skipped.
On the central altar stood rows of tablets—sparse, three at most per row. Clearly, each Dugu generation had few descendants.
Incense smoke curled upward, filling the room with a heavy haze.
"Kneel." Dugu Shuo's cold voice cut through the air.
As if by muscle memory, Dugu Feng dropped to his knees.
"Feng'er, I knew it— you would not die so easily.
I buried eight women. Four died with child.
Only at thirty-six, with the eighth, did our bloodline finally continue—did you come into this world. But even at your birth, you killed your mother.
You carry a hard, cruel fate.
I never expected your poison to flare at just four years old. According to the family records, in the Serpent Lineage poison manifests only after reaching Soul King.
Even for our Poison Lineage, it should not surface until Soul Elder.
Yet you—poisoned before awakening your martial soul.
This proves how terrifyingly strong the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison within you is. Your talent surpasses mine!
Your grandfather was defeated by the Serpent Lineage. But I… I have lived longer than Xin'er. I won.
And you—your talent is greater still. You must fulfill your grandfather's dying wish. Surpass your Second Granduncle!
Do you hear me?"
Dugu Shuo's voice was cold and harsh. Surrounded by smoke and ancestral tablets, the atmosphere was chillingly oppressive.