Bibi Dong nodded slightly.
"That disciple of yours is very good. It seems leaving him in Heaven Dou City was absolutely the right decision. If this succeeds, Elder Chrysanthemum, both you and your disciple will have rendered great service. I will not forget your contribution."
"Thank you, Your Holiness." Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately gave a formal bow.
Bibi Dong inclined her head. "If there is nothing else, you may withdraw."
"Yes." Both Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo bowed and turned to leave.
Walking out of the hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo kept his face calm but gave Ghost Douluo a subtle look.
Ghost Douluo instantly understood, silently following him back to his residence.
Soon, once inside, Chrysanthemum Douluo shut the door with a snap, sneaky as ever. "Old Ghost, come, let me show you something good."
He strode quickly toward the inner room. Ghost Douluo suppressed his curiosity and followed.
Inside, Chrysanthemum Douluo turned, extending his right hand. A strange purple-black plant appeared in his palm.
"This is the Resentment Bell Grass."
He quickly explained the situation.
"To think Dugu Bo would have such a collection." Ghost Douluo was inwardly surprised, though his face remained calm and expressionless.
"Doesn't matter if he did or not. It's ours now." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded slightly.
As he spoke, he flipped his left hand, producing a stack of booklets. "From Xiao Hai. Take a look, Old Ghost."
Ghost Douluo accepted, flipping through them quickly. His expression grew grave, and he raised his head. "Old Guan, you want me to keep this secret for now?"
Not presenting it to the Pope immediately was enough to show Chrysanthemum Douluo's stance.
"Old Ghost, Xiao Hai treats me, his teacher, so well. I need to think of his future." Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice was solemn.
"The Spirit Hall may value us, but in the end, we are just functionaries. Outsiders will always remain outsiders." He added, "And the rewards for the next Continental Advanced Spirit Master Tournament—we both know who they're meant for."
By now, both of them had served the Spirit Hall under two Popes, loyal and diligent for decades.
And yet, they had never received even a single soul bone as reward.
Ghost Douluo fell silent, then nodded. "I understand."
After decades as partners, the two no longer needed many words.
"Old Ghost, hurry and absorb the immortal herb here." Chrysanthemum Douluo urged, acting like his intelligence had dropped by half in front of his old partner.
Ghost Douluo shook his head. "No rush. You just broke through not long ago. If I also have a breakthrough now, it could draw the Pope's, or even the Grand Worship's, suspicion—and they might connect it to Xiao Hai. It's safer to wait a while."
Though the probability was low, he believed it was better to be cautious.
"Fine, better to stay steady." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded, putting the Resentment Bell Grass away into his soul tool.
"Also, there's something else, depending on whether you think it's necessary." Ghost Douluo said, "Old Guan, do you think Dugu Bo, despite being grateful for saving his life, would really risk offending the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan just to protect Xiao Hai?"
"What do you mean?" Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned.
"If I'm not wrong, Dugu Bo likely wants Xiao Hai as his granddaughter's husband." Ghost Douluo said calmly.
"With his temperament, he might even resort to using drugs."
Chrysanthemum Douluo was stunned. "That old bastard, so shameless?"
"No background, but with talent and strength far beyond his peers. With Dugu Bo's experience, there's no way he hasn't seen that Xiao Hai has the potential to become a Titled Douluo. And after taking those treasures, his blood has detoxifying properties. For the Dugu family, that's priceless." Ghost Douluo explained. "No background, limitless potential, plus the power to detoxify—he's the perfect choice for a grandson-in-law."
"If a child were born, Dugu Bo could even push for one of them to take the Dugu name, continuing the family line. That alone is something Yu Tianheng could never match. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would never agree to let a child abandon their family name."
"If Dugu Yan married into that clan, it would mean the end of the Dugu bloodline."
"So I suspect Dugu Bo following them this time was partly to keep an eye on Yu Tianheng. First, to prevent Dugu Yan from doing anything overly intimate with him in front of Xiao Hai and giving a bad impression. Second, to gather Yu Tianheng's flaws and whisper them in his granddaughter's ear, pushing the two apart."
"And protecting Xiao Hai? That's just the perfect excuse."
'I'm only protecting my savior. It's just a coincidence I caught Yu Tianheng doing something bad.' Perfectly reasonable.
"That scheming old fox!" Chrysanthemum Douluo cursed, turning immediately. "I'll warn Xiao Hai at once."
If Dugu Bo really succeeded, then his own disciple would end up calling that old poison 'Grandpa.'
Wouldn't that make him lower in seniority?
"Honestly, Old Guan, I don't recommend it." Ghost Douluo said flatly.
"Because he's a Titled Douluo?" Chrysanthemum Douluo stopped and turned back.
"That's one reason. Marriage is the most direct form of binding. If Dugu Yan marries Xiao Hai, it ties Dugu Bo completely to our cause. With your support and mine, that would be three Titled Douluo. Even the Grand Worship couldn't ignore that."
"In that case, our positions in Spirit Hall would grow even stronger, and Xiao Hai's path forward would be smoother."
'The Grand Worship…' Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately understood his partner's meaning. This was a game of power.
"Secondly, if the marriage succeeds, Xiao Hai is already a member of Spirit Hall. Even if Dugu Bo sees through it all, he'll have no choice but to accept. He may not join Spirit Hall, but his loyalty will be tilted. Do you think what I can see, the Pope cannot?" Ghost Douluo continued.
"So if you interfere and the Pope finds out, what do you think she'll make of it?"
"Without doubt, both our standings with her would drop. That would affect Xiao Hai as well."
"…" Chrysanthemum Douluo fell silent.
"So, if you're thinking of Xiao Hai's future, I don't recommend interfering. But if Dugu Bo succeeds, it could hurt Zhu Zhuqing's feelings."
"Of course, Xiao Hai may handle it himself. From what we've seen, he's a smart boy."
"All things considered, I advise against it." Ghost Douluo concluded.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's face twisted in hesitation. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and declared, "Fine, I don't care anymore! Not my problem to shoulder!"
"Besides, if you think it works, I can take Zhu Zhuqing as my disciple in the future." Ghost Douluo added. "I may not have a beast-type martial soul, but I'm still an agility-type. I can guide her in some ways. It would also repay Xiao Hai's gift of those treasures. Who wouldn't want such a fine junior?"
"Now that's a good idea!" Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes lit up. "That way, we'll both have an excuse to meddle with that old poison Dugu Bo."
Ghost Douluo nodded slightly.
'Perfect. I was thinking the same thing.'
(End of Chapter)
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