"I know my body," Dugu Bo snapped, his breathing ragged but eyes sharp. "That sword of yours might be strange, might be dangerous, but it's not enough to kill me. Not yet. And besides… I never asked you to pierce my Heavenly Spirit Cover."
"Old Poison, are you absolutely sure?" Lucien pressed. "If you're not confident, then don't push yourself. I'll help find another way."
"Grandpa, Lucien's right," Dugu Yan added anxiously. "We can go to the Heaven Dou royal family. They must have a solution!"
Dugu Bo gave a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Those words are already enough. Remember this: a Titled Douluo isn't nearly as fragile as you children think."
With a grim look, he stretched out his wrist.
…
Lucien unsheathed the chilling black blade strapped across his back. With one swift motion, the long sword pierced Dugu Bo's wrist.
A surge of poisoned, ink-black blood burst out, spattering across the blade. At once, the sword trembled violently. The blackened ichor hissed as it touched the weapon, turning into vapor that streamed into the air like toxic mist.
Lucien could feel it—the sword was awakening. It greedily drew the venom, sucking it from Dugu Bo's body in torrents.
Guided by the blade's pull, more and more venom surged from him.
And slowly, the ghastly black-purple tint faded from Dugu Bo's lips and eyelids.
His hunch had been correct. Lucien's strange sword didn't merely suppress his Jade Phosphorus Snake Emperor poison—it actively extracted it, drawing out toxins buried within for decades.
"Boy, stop!" Dugu Bo barked as his vision blurred. His body wavered dangerously.
Another second and I'll lose more than poison… my blood, my cultivation itself is draining away.
The words climbed to his lips, but his arrogance strangled them back. To beg for help—how shameful for a Titled Douluo!
"Old Poison, I get it," Lucien cut in lightly, sheathing his sword. "You just want me to stick around for a while, don't you? Don't worry—I'll stay."
The blade was part of his very martial soul, and thus Lucien understood what it could and could not do better than anyone. Removing all of Dugu Bo's poison wasn't something that could be done in one day. That would take time—steady, careful time.
"I'll head to your medicine garden," Lucien added, turning on his heel. "Call me if anything comes up. I'm off!"
Dugu Bo: "…"
For a moment, he'd been touched. Then, as Lucien ran off with Hu Liena still slung over his shoulder, Dugu Bo's face darkened.
You brat… after I bare my life to you, all you care about is my garden full of herbs?!
Lucien jogged toward the Eye of Ice and Fire, carrying Hu Liena over his shoulder like a sack.
Now that Dugu Bo's poisoning was stabilized, he had time to deal with the little fox who had jumped out in front of him earlier.
Smack! Smack!
His palm landed twice, sharply, on her backside.
"Still acting defiant, are you?" he taunted. "What's the matter—no complaints now?"
He smacked again. Smack, smack.
"Mmmphhh—mmmnnn!" Hu Liena's muffled cries grew harsher, her eyes blazing with cold fury and humiliation.
"Wait a second…" Lucien muttered, then realization struck.
Right. Her mouth had been sealed with his spirit power earlier. No wonder she hadn't said a word!
Removing the seal, he watched as Hu Liena's face turned crimson with rage.
"You bastard!" she spat, silver teeth clenched. "Let me go this instant!" Her chest heaved, fury burning so high it nearly seemed to spill over.
Block her mouth so she can't speak, and then spank her for not saying anything? If that wasn't shameless exploitation, what was?
Her heart hammered as Lucien grinned, stepping closer. His eyes gleamed with mischief, sending shivers creeping down her spine.
"What do you want…?" she murmured, genuinely unsettled.
No… no way, right? I only came here to challenge him. Why is it turning into something else entirely?!
Panic washed over her.
"Little fox, you're my prisoner now," Lucien declared, rubbing his hands together like a villain. "Prepare yourself—for relentless torture!"
Hu Liena's eyelashes fluttered as his face drew close, their lashes brushing together.
"T-Torture? Without even asking questions?!" she gasped.
He wasn't interrogating. He was just tormenting her for fun.
For the first time, Hu Liena truly felt powerless. This boy was a demon!
Under Lucien's so-called "cruel torture methods," Hu Liena eventually spilled everything.
"Yes, I'm from the Martial Soul Hall!" she confessed through gritted teeth. "Yes, I'm the Pope's disciple, Bibi Dong's personal student. There! I've told you everything I should and even the things I shouldn't!"
Her anger wilted into exhausted despair. "So now… let me go."
Lucien raised his jar of wine, taking a hearty gulp before chuckling. "Let you go? Not happening. I may be reckless, but not stupid."
Hu Liena froze.
If she returned to Martial Soul City, word would spread. The Pope would know. Spirit Hall would come. And with them, the Eye of Ice and Fire—this precious medicine garden—would be exposed.
Lucien knew it too. After the battle in Xingluo, Spirit Hall was already hostile to Dugu Bo. If news of this place leaked, their armies would descend to raze it to the ground.
"What… what do you intend to do with me?" Hu Liena asked bitterly.
"Relax, little fox. For now, stay here. Drink with me, fight with me—simple enough, right?"
Hu Liena's stomach twisted. Drink? Never! Who knows what he'll do if I get drunk. And fight? Forget it—I already know the difference between us.
She clenched her fists. The only thing she wanted now was to escape back to Spirit Hall before Teacher noticed her absence.
But Lucien was already leaning toward her, resting against her soft shoulder with a tipsy grin.
"Tell me, little fox—your Pope." His tone was oddly serious. "Does she… like me?"
Hu Liena blinked. "What?"
"You heard me." Lucien chuckled. "It's fine if she does, but she doesn't have to steal me away. If she wants, she can just come right to me."
Hu Liena's jaw dropped. "You… you dare to slander Teacher?!" she burst out, furious. "She's the Pope under whose crown even the continent bows! You dare suggest she—"
Lucien waved the protest away, taking another drink. "If she wants me, she can have me. But I won't throw myself at her feet. Not yet."
"Boring!" Hu Liena snapped, struggling to get away.
But Lucien's relaxed voice rang in her ear, refusing to let her escape.
"Isn't it nice here? Stay for a while. You can drink wine, or spar with me if you're bored."
She swallowed bitterly. Drink? Fight? Not a single option works for me…
Her eyes drifted at last, taking in the strange, glowing garden surrounding the two-colored hot spring.
"What is this place?" she asked softly, trying to distract him.
"It's a medicine garden," Lucien replied casually. "Full of immortal herbs. Eat one, and your spirit power will soar."
As he spoke, he unsheathed his eerie black longsword again and strode toward a cluster of radiant herbs glittering in the springlight. His gaze was hot, greedy.
Hu Liena's lips curled into disbelief. "You're bluffing. No such plants exist. Nothing like that—nothing that could raise a soul master's rank instantly."
Even if treasures like that did exist, surely the price would be unbearable—a fleeting boost in strength in exchange for one's future.
Yet here, before her, the impossible might not be impossible after all.
And she suddenly realized: maybe being trapped here with Lucien… was far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.
--
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