After resolving the matter with Ning Fengzhi, Xiao Lin was in a great mood.
But soon, he realized that the situation on Tang San and Dugu Bo's side wasn't looking good.
He saw Xiao Wu and Tang Ni standing by Tang San's side, both glaring angrily at Dugu Bo, who had an evil grin on his face—completely looking the part of a dark soul master.
Xiao Wu: "Screw you, you damn Title Douluo. Can't even cure your own poison and now you're threatening my Third Brother?!"
Tang Ni: "Trash Title Douluo!"
Tang Ni wasn't great at insults, but from the bottom of her heart, she looked down on Dugu Bo. A poison-type soul master who poisoned himself? She'd never heard of such a thing. Even the most poisonous soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest hadn't managed to kill themselves with their own poison.
And now Dugu Bo was even threatening Tang San? That made her look down on him even more.
My little brother is not someone you get to threaten.
Tang San was someone who could shape the fate of soul beasts in the future. She had to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't go astray.
In her mind, Tang Ni was already picturing herself becoming a Title Douluo and beating the hell out of Dugu Bo.
"Heh... You can glare at me all you like. It's useless. If Master Xiao Yan doesn't come to save Tang San, then he's going to spend the rest of his life with me."
Dugu Bo wasn't interested in playing Ning Fengzhi's kind of game.
He wasn't as rich as Ning Fengzhi either. Now that he'd spotted someone who seemed to have inherited Master Xiao Yan's pharmacological knowledge—Tang San—he wasn't going to let him go.
He was planning to abduct Tang San and make him help research poison until the poison in Dugu Yan was cured. Only then would he let Tang San go.
By the time Xiao Lin arrived, he more or less figured out the situation from everyone's conversations.
It was nothing more than Dugu Bo trying to get information about Xiao Yan from Tang San.
But what could Tang San say? He obviously couldn't tell Dugu Bo that Xiao Yan was actually Xiao Lin!
So Tang San just denied knowing anything about Xiao Yan.
But Dugu Bo didn't buy it at all. Judging from Tang San's cultivation level and his soul ring choices, he was convinced Tang San must have met Xiao Yan.
And his logic was:
Master Xiao Yan published his first paper six years ago, around the same time Tang San awakened his martial spirit.
Yet, within such a short time, someone had picked a perfect soul ring for Tang San that compensated for Blue Silver Grass's innate deficiencies?
Dugu Bo flat-out didn't believe there wasn't some trick involved.
If there were such a capable person out there, Yu Xiaogang (Grandmaster) wouldn't still be considered a master.
His reasoning left everyone speechless.
And truthfully, it made sense. Other than sects or major powers that had inherited knowledge, most people chose soul rings based on trial and error passed down over generations.
But who else had picked rings like Tang San—perfectly chosen to enhance and cover the flaws of a weak spirit like Blue Silver Grass?
Dugu Bo even threatened to expose a huge secret about Tang San if he didn't cooperate.
That secret? Tang San's second martial spirit.
This was something Dugu Bo had only told Tang San privately, out of respect for Master Xiao Yan.
And that's what kept Tang San hesitant.
He knew well the hatred his family had for the Spirit Hall. The revenge for his father couldn't be forgotten.
How could he expose his Clear Sky Hammer now?
Not to mention risking Xiao Lin, Xiao Wu, and the others getting dragged in.
At this moment, Xiao Lin stepped forward:
"Aiya, Tang San doesn't know anything. He just learned a bit of pharmacology. He's talking nonsense."
Hearing this, everyone's attention shifted to Xiao Lin.
Both Xiao Lin and Xiao Yan had the surname Xiao. Could it be…
Xiao Lin is Xiao Yan's son or grandson?
Dugu Bo sneered, "Oh? So you're saying you understand poison?"
Even if Xiao Lin did know poison, so what? Could he cure both his and Dugu Yan's poison?
But now Dugu Bo had a new target.
If he could abduct Xiao Lin too, then Xiao Yan would have to appear.
A cold light flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes as he had that thought.
But at that moment, Sword Douluo Chen Xin clearly sensed something off. With a cold snort—
A sharp sword intent swept out, instantly making Dugu Bo break into a cold sweat.
The gap between their strength was still too wide.
"I may not understand poison," Xiao Lin said confidently, "but I do understand martial spirits and soul power!"
Facing Dugu Bo's pressure, Xiao Lin showed no fear. In a risk-free mission with big rewards, how could he not step up?
Dugu Bo was momentarily stunned. A mere Soul Elder (Rank 30+) had this kind of courage? Even if it was due to Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan backing…
He wasn't sure what to do anymore.
Tang San, on the other hand, was finally reassured.
Without immortal herbs, he really didn't have the confidence to detoxify Dugu Yan.
They couldn't just keep taking ineffective medicine. If Dugu Yan became resistant, that would be the end.
At this moment, Tang San was deeply moved.
Brother Lin~
His eyes even welled up a little.
God knew how much love-starved Tang San had longed for this. His dad had given him a "big sister" but hadn't come to see him himself. Now, someone like Xiao Lin stood up for him—he was smitten.
Just as Tang San was getting emotional, Xiao Lin spoke again, this time with disdain:
"Poisoned by your own soul ring? Dugu Bo, that's truly impressive. Even Dugu Yan is poisoned because of you. What a failure of a life."
Dugu Bo couldn't hold it in anymore. His green pupils snapped open as he glared at Xiao Lin.
"Then tell me your solution!"
"Why should I share it with someone like you? You threaten us and expect a free handout?"
"Fine! Then let's make a martial soul oath. If you cure both me and Yan Yan, all my wealth will be yours. Hell, I'll even be your errand boy if you want."
"But if you fail, you'll have to bring out your teacher, Xiao Yan, to detoxify us."
Dugu Bo stared like a venomous snake. If Xiao Lin refused, he'd just abduct him and escape into the Sunset Forest.
He wasn't afraid of losing face—this was justified, even if it looked ugly.
If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan tried to detain Dugu Yan in return, what could they even do? Could they dare poison an entire city or noble clan?
"Deal. I agree. But I need Xiao San's help—I don't know poison myself."
"Then swear it!"
And so, under everyone's shocked gaze, Xiao Lin and Dugu Bo swore their martial spirits.
Anyone who violated the oath would suffer soul backlash, severely damaging their cultivation.
Now, Xiao Lin had his eyes firmly set on the immortal herbs.
"Since we've made our oaths, let's go. I don't know poison well, so I'm bringing Xiao San. Also, prepare all the herbs you have—we might need them."
"Hmph, don't worry. My herb garden won't lack anything you need."
Dugu Bo coldly snorted, but internally he felt more at ease.
If the detox involved using soul force and martial spirits, it'd be a huge project, taking a lot of time.
But with herbal help, it could be done much faster.
(Chapter End)