Chapter 97: A Perfectly Concluded Journey
"Right, brat, I still don't know where you come from. Which family could raise such a monstrous talent?"
"Spirit Hall. Lin Beiya."
Even though he knew Dugu Bo held grudges against Spirit Hall, Lin Beiya had no intention of lying about his identity. This wasn't something that could be hidden forever, and it might cause even bigger trouble later on.
"Hm?"
The instant those words fell, Dugu Bo's gaze sharpened, muscles tensing as if he were ready to strike at any moment.
In Dugu Bo's mind, since Lin Beiya could cleanse the poison in his granddaughter repeatedly, having Yan Yan follow him would be the best outcome.
Not only could her poison be purified, but he might even gain a perfect grandson-in-law: killing two birds with one stone.
But if this boy were from Spirit Hall, then none of that could even be considered.
The hatred between him and Chrysanthemum Douluo was irreconcilable. Even the debt he owed Prince Xue Xing stemmed from that same conflict.
The moment killing intent flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes, the fingers Lin Beiya held behind his back lit with a faint green glow—he was ready to retreat into the Yomotsu Hirasaka at any time.
"Senior Dugu, does your grudge lie with Spirit Hall?"
"Heh. That's a long story. But I'll say this—bold of you, boy. A Spirit Hall member daring to appear before me."
"Senior, that's not entirely fair. Even within Spirit Hall, factions are distinct. If your hatred is only with certain individuals, it doesn't necessarily affect our personal relationship."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo's eyes flickered with hesitation. Judging by their several confrontations at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, even if he fought, he wasn't confident he could keep Lin Beiya here.
Yet the boy, being a Spirit Hall member, rubbed him the wrong way—especially since his granddaughter's life was involved. He couldn't afford to act rashly.
After a long silence, concern for his granddaughter finally outweighed the hatred in his heart. Dugu Bo sighed.
"You're not wrong. Spirit Hall is vast, and its people can't all be painted with the same brush."
"The grudge between me and that damn Chrysanthemum shouldn't fall onto you."
Although he wasn't planning to harm Lin Beiya anymore, letting his granddaughter follow someone from Spirit Hall was completely impossible. That would be equivalent to placing his family into the hands of his enemy.
"Senior Dugu is wise. Regardless, I'll make sure to visit Heaven Dou City regularly to cleanse Yan Zi's poison."
"Mm. Good. Your character is one this old man can trust."
Dugu Bo nodded with satisfaction. He truly believed Lin Beiya's promise. If the boy were the treacherous sort, why would he have left the Land Dragon Golden Melon and Snow Swan Kiss for him and his granddaughter—and even explained their uses?
"But now that I think of it, the name Lin Beiya matches with Spirit Hall… it sounds familiar."
"I must've heard it somewhere…"
Seeing the thoughtful look in Dugu Bo's eyes, Lin Beiya instantly understood.
Bibi Dong had publicly announced her intention to take him as her disciple. His name would already be known across many major factions. It wasn't surprising that Dugu Bo had heard of him.
"My teacher is the current Pope, Bibi Dong."
"What? You're that Lin Invincible—reputed to suppress all soul masters of your generation?"
Hearing the title of Lin Invincible come from a Titled Douluo's mouth made Lin Beiya feel a bit embarrassed. It's getting more exaggerated every time…
Originally, he had merely crushed the junior students in Spirit Hall Academy, yet now he had somehow become the unrivaled genius of his entire generation.
"Hahahaha! They say there are no wrong nicknames—only wrongly named people. Looks like it's true."
"To make even this old man helpless, you've earned that title."
"A fluke, Senior. You flatter me."
Having decided to befriend Lin Beiya for the sake of his granddaughter's safety, Dugu Bo's killing intent finally faded completely. The two began chatting about medicinal herbs.
With the immortal herb catalogue in hand, Lin Beiya's knowledge of high-grade herbs was no less extensive than Dugu Bo's—at least when it came to the immortal herbs from the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.
Three days passed quickly. Dugu Yan had only recently begun cultivating, and her poisoning wasn't deep. With the power of the Cancer Gold Cloth, she soon cleansed all the excess toxins in her body.
When the little girl opened her eyes again, the faint jade tint in her pupils had vanished completely. For the near future, she and her grandfather no longer had to worry about this issue.
"Brat Beiya, how often must Yan Yan have her poison cleansed?"
Dugu Yan, unable to fully enjoy the happiness of recovery, tensed up the moment she heard the question. She stared nervously at Lin Beiya—her future depended on his answer.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Beiya replied:
"This is hard to say. Yan Zi's cultivation is low right now, so the accumulated poison isn't much."
"But as she grows stronger, the poison will accumulate faster, and the intervals between detoxifications will shorten. My estimate is that her next cleansing should be in about two years."
"I also suggest Senior Dugu find her a set of limb soul bones as insurance."
Dugu Bo nodded deeply. Even if Lin Beiya hadn't suggested it, he already planned to do so. One shouldn't put all their eggs in a single basket.
"And when will you next be in Heaven Dou City? You know I can't take Yan Yan to Spirit City—my relationship with Spirit Hall makes that impossible."
"No need to worry, Senior. In a year and a half, the Continental Soul Master Tournament will be held in Heaven Dou City. I'll be the captain of the Spirit Hall team."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo finally exhaled a long breath.
With the next detox appointment settled, he now had plenty of time to prepare a suitable soul bone for his granddaughter. Worst case, he could shamelessly beg Prince Xue Xing for one.
"In that case, Senior Dugu, my work here is done. I should return. With my identity, I can't remain away from Spirit City for too long."
"Mm. Go. We'll meet again in Heaven Dou City in a year and a half."
"Agreed."
Lin Beiya understood that Dugu Bo's words held both a reminder and a veiled warning. But he wasn't bothered—after all, lending out the Gold Cloth for a few days cost him nothing.
He waved goodbye to the little girl. Dugu Yan, who now adored the big brother who solved her greatest fear, gave him a sweet smile in return.
Leaving the Dugu residence, Lin Beiya headed toward Heaven Dou City.
He had already been away for more than half a month. He needed to deliver the Aries Gold Cloth to Qian Renxue and return to Spirit City as soon as possible.
After a day of travel, he arrived at the Prince's Mansion.
Seeing her beloved return safely, Qian Renxue finally relaxed.
Taking the Aries and Cancer Gold Cards into her hands, the little angel's eyes were filled with reluctance.
"Try to master the Praesepe Underworld Waves soon… then we'll be able to meet in the Underworld anytime."
"All right. I'll do my best."
Taking advantage of the farewell atmosphere, Lin Beiya swiftly stole a kiss from Qian Renxue, making her yelp in surprise. Before she recovered, he used telekinesis to slip out of the mansion.
Once she came to her senses, Qian Renxue stomped her foot angrily at the empty room.
"Hmph! Scoundrel! Always sneaking kisses from me! Once I figure out how to enter the Underworld, I'll definitely settle this debt with you!"
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End of Chapter