Oscar had no idea about the sorrowful atmosphere at Shrek Academy.
When Du Gu Bo went to Shrek, Oscar was still personally guiding Du Gu Yan in poison refinement!
The poisons Oscar produced might not compare to Tang San's masterpieces like the Hell's Post, but when it came to dealing with spirit masters of the same level, they were more than enough—especially since the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was filled with toxic herbs.
A ten-thousand-year-old poisonous herb was already at the level of a true spiritual medicine, and its toxicity was far beyond that of ordinary plants.
On the seventh day, Oscar was in the stone hut, teaching Du Gu Yan how to prepare medicine and concoct poison. At that very moment, Du Gu Bo and Gai Yue had quietly arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The reason Du Gu Bo managed to bring Gai Yue back in only four days was that, on his way back, he had chosen to travel by the main road. There, he happened to run into Gai Yue and Shao Xin.
When Du Gu Bo told Gai Yue the news about Oscar, Gai Yue froze, staring in disbelief:
"Senior… Little Ao was right under your eyes. With your strength, how could you not protect him?"
Du Gu Bo knew it was hard for Gai Yue to believe, but he could only answer helplessly. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was a terrifying spring even he could not linger near. Since Oscar had fallen in, Du Gu Bo saw no second possibility.
He explained his discovery and guesswork in detail. No matter how much Gai Yue resisted the thought, he could not bring himself to doubt further.
After all, what need would a Title Douluo have to lie about something like this?
Gai Yue sat by the spring, gazing at the two streams of water—half ice, half fire. After a long silence, he sighed:
"Little Ao… we've been together for over two years. I had already started treating you as my son, planning to nurture you properly. You even bragged to me that you'd join me in avenging our grudges one day…"
He muttered to himself by the well for a while, then stood up, intending to leave. He couldn't stay long; the extreme heat and cold of the spring could harm even him.
Though blame lingered in his heart, he couldn't truly fault Du Gu Bo. The man was a Title Douluo, after all. He had already done all he could.
What weighed on Gai Yue instead was guilt: If I had chosen to stay with him, then… would the outcome have been different?
Du Gu Bo himself felt responsible. As such, he made a solemn promise to Gai Yue: as long as the request did not go against morality, he would accomplish it—even if it meant climbing mountains of blades or diving into seas of fire.
For a moment, Gai Yue considered asking Du Gu Bo to help him with revenge. At level 85, facing the Wind Sword Sect, now one of the Lower Four Clans, was like facing a colossal beast.
But in the end, he shook his head. How could he use the name of a disciple—whom he had wanted to raise as his own son—to push his own matters forward?
No, even though he yearned for vengeance, he wanted to achieve it with his own hands, not rely on outsiders.
So Gai Yue declined the offer. Instead, he asked only to stay here, to accompany Oscar for his seven-day mourning rites. With no body left, the boy could only be honored with a cenotaph.
Du Gu Bo agreed readily. Even if Gai Yue had refused his promise, Du Gu Bo would not retract it. Whenever the man needed it in the future, he would fulfill it. That was his credibility—his foundation in life.
For a cenotaph, one needed the deceased's belongings. Gai Yue had only a few sets of Oscar's clothes and some sausages, far too few. He wanted to retrieve Oscar's two spirit tools. Even if Gai Yue hadn't mentioned it, Du Gu Bo would have taken the initiative.
Thus, Du Gu Bo led Gai Yue away from the spring, straight to the stone hut. Though he had been gone seven days, Du Gu Yan was still there—and the two spirit tool rings were in her possession.
But neither man could have predicted what awaited them.
As they stepped into the hut, they heard Du Gu Yan's bell-like laughter, mingled with a familiar male voice.
Du Gu Bo frowned. Gai Yue's eyelid twitched. Both men froze—the voice was unmistakably Oscar's. But how could that be possible?
When they entered and saw the scene, the CPUs of these two powerhouse spirit masters nearly short-circuited.
Oscar stood behind Du Gu Yan, his hands wrapped around hers as they worked together with herbs, grinding them into powders and liquids.
Noticing a faint sound, Oscar turned his head—locking eyes with Du Gu Bo and Gai Yue.
"Damn it!" Oscar froze, then quickly released Du Gu Yan's hands and slid sideways to her side.
Caught off guard, Du Gu Yan nearly dropped the herbs she was holding. Just as she turned to ask what was wrong, she too saw the expressions on Du Gu Bo and Gai Yue's faces—like they had just seen a ghost.
She too froze, then her face flushed scarlet. Even when Oscar had been teaching her hand-to-hand these past days, she hadn't blushed—she had already grown used to it.
But now, being caught by her grandfather and Gai Yue, embarrassment and shyness surged all at once. After a moment's daze, she stammered softly:
"G-Grandfather… you're back?"
Her words snapped the two men back to reality. Instantly, their spiritual power locked onto Oscar. Confirming his aura, they exchanged glances of sheer disbelief.
In Gai Yue's eyes, joy and excitement burst forth. Du Gu Bo, on the other hand, was both relieved and furious.
So the brat's alive?! And you only show up after I leave? What the hell were you just doing—holding my granddaughter's hands?
A moment later, Du Gu Bo blurred into a phantom, flashing straight toward Oscar.
Oscar had predicted this, quickly sliding sideways again to hide behind Du Gu Yan.
"Your Excellency, please let me explain! It's all a misunderstanding!" he shouted, clutching Du Gu Yan's shoulders and using her as a shield.
Du Gu Yan, flustered but determined, spread her arms to block her grandfather:
Grandfather, it's true! Please, listen to us explain…