"You just didn't recognize the value before,"
Qin Xiao looked at the enraged Du Gu Bo but instead laughed.
After all, Du Gu Bo wasn't wrong; he did intend to freeload.
"Du Gu Bo, what you hold in your hand is no ordinary item—it's called Fragrant Silk-Brocade, reputed to be the nemesis of all poisons. You and your granddaughter each take half, then force the remaining toxins in your bodies into a soul bone, and the Green Kirin Snake Poison will be considered neutralized,"
Qin Xiao said indifferently.
Of course, using the Fragrant Silk-Brocade this way meant that neither Du Gu Bo nor Dugu Yan could obtain an immunity to all poisons.
But.
It was no problem to eliminate the threat of the Green Kirin Snake Poison.
Besides, Qin Xiao had not agreed to help them attain immunity to all poisons. Moreover, half an Immortal Herb would already be of significant benefit to both of them. Compared with Tang San from the original story, Qin Xiao felt he was being generous enough.
After hearing Qin Xiao's words, Du Gu Bo furrowed his brow, "Is it really that simple?"
"What else?"
"Could it be more difficult?"
Qin Xiao said, shrugging his shoulders.
"I always feel like you're looking down on me when you say that,"
asserted Du Gu Bo irritably.
To know that he had been diligently studying how to neutralize the Green Kirin Snake Poison for several decades without any results, to the point that if he continued on for a few more years, he would be poisoned to death himself. Only to be brushed off by Qin Xiao with a few nonchalant words.
"Grandpa, I think it might work,"
Dugu Yan tugged at Du Gu Bo's sleeve from the side.
"Why do you say that?"
Startled, Du Gu Bo asked.
Dugu Yan whispered, "Such a young Titled Douluo must have secrets that no one knows about."
Deliberating for a moment, Du Gu Bo slowly nodded, "Qin Xiao, I'll give it a try right now. If it works, my residence will take the Qin surname from now on."
Qin Xiao nodded subtly, "Whatever."
Saying this, Qin Xiao turned and walked to a distance, idly wandering around the Icefire Polarized Eyes.
Without hesitation, Du Gu Bo also sat down cross-legged on the spot. Then he broke off half of the Immortal Grade Fragrant Qi Luo and stuffed it into his mouth.
Dugu Yan watched Du Gu Bo anxiously.
As time ticked by, each second felt like an eternity to Dugu Yan.
Suddenly.
The next moment, a powerful Soul Power erupted from Du Gu Bo that Dugu Yan could not withstand, and she was flung away.
Seeing this, Qin Xiao frowned because Dugu Yan was careening in his direction.
The next moment, he moved.
He took a step back.
With a splash, Dugu Yan fell in front of him.
Looking up from the ground, Dugu Yan asked, "Why didn't you catch me?"
Qin Xiao was perplexed, "Why should I catch you?"
Dugu Yan was rendered speechless.
"Hahaha, it worked, I never thought it would really work,"
at that moment, the laughter of Du Gu Bo rang out.
Qin Xiao looked over and saw Du Gu Bo with nine Soul Rings pulsing around him, his face radiant with ecstasy.
"Grandpa, why do you look different?"
"Your hair is black, your eyes are black, and your face has color again."
Ignoring the dirt on herself, Dugu Yan hurriedly approached Du Gu Bo, scrutinizing him closely.
The more she observed, the more shocked she became, her eyes spontaneously reddening, "Grandpa, are you... are you not experiencing a brief recovery before death, right?"
Uh.
The smile on Du Gu Bo's face instantly stiffened.
He raised his hand and gave Dugu Yan a big thump on the head, "What are you talking about? I'm doing extremely well now. I could live for several more decades without a problem.
Qin Xiao didn't deceive me, the Green Kirin Snake Poison can no longer harm me. Moreover, thanks to the powerful medicinal effects of the Immortal Grade Fragrant Qi Luo, my Soul Power has risen a level just in the short time we've been talking."
Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan was first shocked, then leapt up with joy, "Hooray!"
"Qin Xiao, I misunderstood you before."
Du Gu Bo sincerely said to Qin Xiao, "From now on, this mansion is yours."
He paused, then added, "Besides, not only have you cured my poison, but you've also significantly increased my Cultivation Level. Even this half-plant has been of even greater benefit to Yanyan...
I, Du Gu Bo, am clear about debts of gratitude and grievances. In this matter, I owe you a favor. If there's ever anything you need in the future, just say the word."
Indeed.
A true villain is much better than a false saint, after all.
Qin Xiao smiled and nodded, not declining the good intentions of Du Gu Bo.
After all, Du Gu Bo is a Titled Douluo, a powerhouse. Who knows, this favor might come in handy someday.
"Yanyan, let's go. After we get back to the academy, I'll help you detox from the Azure Bull Python poison," Du Gu Bo said to Dugu Yan.
"Mhm," Dugu Yan nodded slightly.
However, every step Du Gu Bo took to leave was difficult.
Every two steps, he would look back, his eyes filled with pain and reluctance.
After all, each plant in this basin was the fruit of his labor.
"Hold on."
Suddenly, Qin Xiao called out to him.
"What else do you need?" Du Gu Bo was taken aback, looking at Qin Xiao somewhat puzzled.
Qin Xiao smiled slightly, "I was wondering if you might be interested in becoming a security guard."
"What do you mean by 'security guard'?" Du Gu Bo was puzzled.
"You can think of it as a guardian," Qin Xiao said with an even brighter smile.
All the Immortal Herbs had been picked clean, and he had no use for the remaining medicinal plants.
It'd be a waste to let them go untouched. Plus, he had other things to do and no time to tend to them. It would be better to leave them to Du Gu Bo to maintain. This was also an opportunity to fleece some more benefits.
What?
After hearing Qin Xiao's words, Du Gu Bo's pupils shrank, and he said irritably, "What a joke. I, a Titled Douluo, serve you as a guardian? You should know that even Emperor Xue Ye treats me with respect when he sees me, and Prince Xue Xing regards me as an esteemed guest... "
To this, Qin Xiao seemed indifferent. He slowly extended two fingers, waggling them in front of Du Gu Bo, "If you agree to my terms, you can pick any two plants per month from here."
"That's impossible," Du Gu Bo immediately shook his head, "Even if the Spiritual Medicine here is rare in the outside world, it can't sway my heart. You said that I could buy these medicines."
"But what if I don't sell them?"
"You... you're simply being unreasonable."
Seeing Du Gu Bo's exasperated expression, Qin Xiao chuckled, "That's my second condition. If you agree, all the Spiritual Medicine will be available to you, and any Spiritual Medicine you buy will be at half price..."
"Half price?"
This time, Du Gu Bo was truly tempted. Although his Green Kirin Snake Poison had been cured, it didn't diminish his passion for poison. The demand for various medicinal ingredients was great, and converting that into golden soul coins was a huge figure.
Once, he never needed to concern himself with this issue, but now he had to consider it. After all, the mansion was now someone else's property.
No more.
He couldn't think about it any longer; Du Gu Bo felt like he would suffocate from heartache if he dwelled on it.
"Alright, I agree to your terms," Du Gu Bo bit the bullet and replied, "But I have one condition, I want to cultivate a small medicinal plot of my own here."
Buying medicine was not a sustainable solution. Only by cultivating his own medicinal ingredients could he ensure a steady supply.
"True to your name, Poison Douluo, you're really good at making calculations," Qin Xiao praised, then extended his hand, "I can agree to your medicinal field, but it won't be a gift. For five million golden soul coins, I'll rent you a piece of land for fifty years."
"What? Five million?" Du Gu Bo was shocked, almost laughing in anger, "Qin Xiao, you could just rob me, why bother doing business with me?"