The air suddenly went deathly silent. Jiang Chen took in the scene before him—a massive, dark green serpent and two men facing it who appeared to be Soul Masters.
During his years of wandering, Jiang Chen had seen far too many battles between Soul Masters; he knew the perils of hunting soul beasts and the cold-blooded nature of Soul Masters killing one another.
Dugu Bo, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei all froze, their gazes snapping simultaneously toward Jiang Chen. No one had ever dared to speak to them that way; as Titled Douluos, their dignity was not to be trampled upon.
"Boy, you seek death."
The habitually taciturn Gui Mei fired off a streak of black light.
Jiang Chen's eyes went wide. Having survived several brushes with death since transmigrating, he couldn't believe his 'game over' was happening here!
He instinctively stepped back, but his foot caught on a rounded piece of wood. As his body tumbled backward, he inadvertently dodged Gui Mei's attack.
Gui Mei felt a flash of astonishment. A casual strike from a Titled Douluo was terrifying; even an ordinary Soul Master shouldn't have been able to dodge it. How did this boy, who looked barely five or six years old, manage to evade it so unexpectedly?
In truth, it was pure dumb luck. The rounded wood Jiang Chen stepped on saved his life. Otherwise, a single hit from the Ghost Douluo would have meant certain death.
Jiang Chen rubbed his aching backside and scrambled up from the ground.
At that moment, Dugu Bo suddenly stepped in front of Jiang Chen. "Kid, nice moves. Dodging even a casual strike from Old Ghost shows you've got potential. Have you considered following me from now on?"
Jiang Chen felt curious. 'Follow you?'
The man looked to be about eighty years old with dark green hair; upon closer inspection, even his eyes were green.
'Those who know you might recognize you, but those who don't would think you've been cuckolded.'
Looking at the man's messy hair, Jiang Chen decisively shook his head. "Old man, you can barely take care of yourself right now, and you want me to follow you? Give it a rest."
"Anyway, I'm leaving. To you heroes and legends—may we never meet again."
Just as he turned to leave, Dugu Bo hoisted Jiang Chen up by the collar. "Kid, stay put. We're grasshoppers on the same string now. If this old man dies, do you really think you'll live?"
Seeing the murderous intent erupting in the eyes of the two opponents, Jiang Chen's back was instantly drenched in sweat. As Dugu Bo said, if this old man died, he might as well prepare his own 'lunch box.'
Dugu Bo set him back on the ground, and Jiang Chen whispered. "I say, old man, how did you provoke them? They've chased you all this way and even disturbed my sleep. It's the middle of the day—the perfect time for a nap."
Dugu Bo's face darkened with annoyance. "You're at the prime age for cultivation, yet all you want to do is drift through life waiting for death. My granddaughter was a genius at your age."
"Your granddaughter is your granddaughter, and I am me. I haven't even awakened a Martial Soul yet, so how do you expect me to cultivate?"
"What do you mean... How old are you? You should be six by now. Usually, by six, a child's Martial Soul has awakened. What's your situation? Did the Spirit Hall somehow miss you?" Dugu Bo scrutinized Jiang Chen. His clothes were tattered, but his small face was quite clean. His looks were decent enough—the type that looked easy to raise.
Jiang Chen pushed Dugu Bo away, fanning the air to clear the pungent smell. Covering his nose, he asked. "Did you eat garlic? Your breath is overpowering."
Whack!
Dugu Bo irritably slapped the back of Jiang Chen's head. Jiang Chen rubbed his head in pain.
Then, Dugu Bo turned his gaze back to Yue Guan and Gui Mei. "Yue Guan, it seems you are determined to see me dead today."
Yue Guan's gaze was sharp, murderous intent shimmering in his eyes. "Old Poison, the offer still stands. As long as you join the Spirit Hall, we won't kill you. Otherwise, this day next year will be the anniversary of your death."
"And that boy behind you—hand him over too. You heard him loud and clear just now when he insulted us."
Dugu Bo glanced back at Jiang Chen. The more he looked, the more he liked the kid; it was as if he were looking at his own grandson. He cleared his throat. "Yue Guan, I've taken a liking to this boy. I'm thinking of taking him as my grandson. As for handing him over to you, don't even dream about it."
'Take me as a grandson?'
Jiang Chen was stunned. This eighty-year-old man wanted him to be his grandson? Where did that come from?
'Wait a second?'
'Yue Guan? Old Poison? Spirit Hall!!!'
'Was that green serpent earlier a Martial Soul Avatar? And this old man is called Old Poison?' Jiang Chen swallowed hard and asked tentatively. "Old man, by any chance, is your name Dugu Bo?"
Dugu Bo paused for a second, then slapped Jiang Chen's shoulder hard, laughing. "Hahaha! I didn't expect my name to resonate across the continent! That's right, I am Dugu Bo, Title: Poison. Also, stop calling me 'old man' every other word. I like the look of you; from now on, you are my grandson."
"I—"
"Good, it's settled then." Dugu Bo was blunt, completely ignoring Jiang Chen's feelings. Inwardly, a thousand 'alpaca' were stampeding through Jiang Chen's mind.
He had planned to join the Spirit Hall to reach the peak of his life, but Dugu Bo had intercepted him halfway. What kind of luck was this? The man was penniless; aside from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he had nothing else of value.
'Wait? The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?' That was the continent's greatest treasure basin. The Shrek Seven Devils had only won the tournament because of those Immortal Herbs.
Jiang Chen's mind raced. He decided to accept this 'cheap' grandfather for now. Once he secured the good stuff from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he could head to the Spirit Hall.
As a 21st-century transmigrator, Jiang Chen's superb acting skills immediately shocked the three people present.
"Grandpa! I finally have a family! You have no idea how miserable my life has been all these years... Waaaah!"
Dugu Bo patted Jiang Chen's head and comforted him. "There, there. What is a grown man doing crying? From now on, you are Dugu Bo's grandson. This old man was lonely with only a granddaughter for company, but now I have a grandson too. Yue Guan, Old Ghost—today, I will break through your perimeter no matter what."
The Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo sneered. How could a newly ascended Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo talk so big in front of two Rank 95 Titled Douluos? If it were Sword Douluo Chen Xin, perhaps, but Dugu Bo was far from that level.
Just as the two were about to strike, the sound of armor clanking and hoofbeats echoed from nearby. A large troop of knights, clad in white-gold armor and clutching steel spears, moved to shield Dugu Bo and Jiang Chen.
Behind them, a man riding a white horse slowly approached.
He was an elder dressed in magnificent robes. His bright yellow gown was enough to show his extraordinary status. His neat, white hair was combed back, and he looked dignified, though his eyes were a bit small. Still, he appeared quite spirited.
(End of Chapter)
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