The sunlight was blazing overhead, and Tang San's mood was just as fiery.
His heart burned with joy as though a flame had ignited it, and that blaze seemed bright enough to chase away the endless desert itself. With a spring in his step, he strode along the paved road leading to the grand palace. His small face couldn't hide the excitement of finally seeing his teacher again.
But just as the enthusiasm bubbled to its peak, it was abruptly extinguished.
In front of the towering gates of the Shenyan Hall, two armored female guards suddenly crossed their halberds before him, the weapons' gleaming tips stopping just a few inches away from his chest. Their voices rang out sharply, with a mix of authority and impatience.
"The doors of the Shenyan Hall are closed today! Outsiders are not allowed to enter!"
"Outsider…?" Tang San blinked, caught off guard. "No, no, you misunderstood! I'm not an outsider! I'm—uh—well, I'm the disciple of the one inside. That makes me family!"
The two guards looked him up and down, free disdain lacing their eyes. One of them let out a short, cold laugh.
"Disciple? Your teacher has nothing to do with us. Who's to say you are what you claim? Hmph, lying brat. Get out of here before I skewer you and toss you into the street!"
The halberd flashed coldly as she thrust it forward until the sharp metal point was only a hair's breadth from Tang San's chest, forcing the boy to take a panicked step backward.
If someone else—say, a high-ranking elder—had seen this, they might have cried out, "How dare you! Do not insult the disciple of the Lord of Shenyan Hall!" But in truth, these female generals were merely doing their duty. Strict, professional, and incorruptible, they had no reason to trust random children who came boldly declaring connections to their master.
After all, countless opportunists had attempted to worm their way close to Lord Subei. Pretended cousins. Fake siblings. Shameless women claiming to be his betrothed. Even absurd pregnant women insisting that the lord was their child's missing father. By now, the guards had seen it all.
And here came another—this time a boy claiming to be the Lord's disciple.
Sure enough, Tang San froze up, realization catching him. Right… they really don't know who I am… They don't know Teacher at all, and of course they don't know me either.
He tried again nevertheless, desperation painting his tone. "Didn't Teacher… didn't he ever mention me? Like… if you see a boy with the Blue Silver Grass martial spirit, treat him kindly? Or if you see a child around seven or eight with a certain look, give leniency because he might be Teacher's disciple?"
His small voice trembled. He looked up at the guards with wide, hopeful eyes. "My teacher… his name is Subei. He's the master of this palace."
The guards blinked, then exchanged bemused looks. One tilted her head toward the other.
"Have you ever heard of the master having an apprentice?"
"No." Her comrade shook her head firmly. "Never once. Honestly, this one's probably just a liar. Fork him out before he slips in and disturbs the master."
Tang San's face fell. His little chest tightened painfully, full of a childish but earnest longing. They really haven't heard of me…? Could it be that Teacher never once mentioned my name? Not even once?
Yet when the name "Tang San" slipped from his own lips, one of the guards suddenly paused.
"Hm? That name… where did I hear it before?"
Tang San's eyes lit like a sky full of fireworks. "You did?! You've heard of me?! I knew it! Teacher has never forgotten me! Teacher loves me!"
But the next words were like a blade plunged into his chest.
"When we were cleaning up some Blue Silver Grass outside the temple, I overheard Young Miss Zhu Zhuqing muttering. She said she hated the Blue Silver Grass because it made her think of someone named Tang San. Said she hated him just as much as that useless weed."
"…Can't be you, right?"
The knife twisted and twisted again inside Tang San's chest. His fervent anticipation collapsed into sorrow. His eyes went hollow.
No. It couldn't be that Teacher hated him. Impossible. Teacher must have his reasons. Yes… Subei must be afraid. Afraid that remembering Tang San meant remembering Tang Hao—the rough, violent man who had left scars in Teacher's heart. Teacher avoided the subject because of him.
That had to be it.
He comforted himself with that rationalization again and again as the guards finally, brusquely, escorted him inside.
Within the Palace
Inside the ornate chamber, Dugu Bo sat cross-legged with his eyes half-shut. The old poison douluo spoke gravely.
"Yan'er's Jade Phosphor Snake venom—without Your Highness's intervention, it cannot be suppressed. From now on, her life and safety rest in your hands."
He turned, presented a jade vial, and gave a forced smile. "This antidote—may I take one for research?"
Subei smiled faintly. "Of course."
The casual generosity caught the old man off guard. Other than Yan'er, he had never trusted anyone. He was an old egoist—he hardly believed anyone could be so kind without plotting to steal treasures. Yet when he gazed into the childlike purity of Subei's eyes, unmarred by greed, his cynical mind faltered. Could such an innocent child really harbor dark motives? He felt ashamed for even doubting him.
Sliding the antidote into his medicine pouch, Dugu Bo muttered inwardly, Believe in him, Dugu Bo. What possible ill-intentions could such a pure and beautiful child hold?
At Subei's nod, Dugu Yan also swallowed her antidote. Warmth coursed through her veins, her frigid blood thawing. Relief flooded her expression as she realized the poison's icy grip had weakened.
The rush of joy emboldened her.
Without warning, the girl leaned forward—her rosy lips pressing not against his cheek, but directly upon his own.
The kiss landed. Gentle. Trembling. Sweet.
Flowers in nearby vases stirred, petals unfolding as though celebrating the moment. Even the lingering poison vines outside stretched toward the light.
Subei's face burned red. What the—?! She kissed me?!
His mind reeled. He was Subei, a transmigrated soul with a system in hand! He wasn't supposed to be fazed so easily! Yet this kiss made his thoughts soar into chaos.
At that exact moment, Xiao Ai's crisp voice echoed within his mind.
"Please don't be nervous. As a male god, being kissed secretly, forcefully pinned, or assaulted against a wall is perfectly normal. The system detects accelerated heartbeat and lip neural stimulation… Please calm down."
Then playful chimes followed.
"Task Complete: Kiss at the World's Edge! Rewards granted—
① Host obtains the S-rank 'Poison King's Constitution,' granting absolute immunity to toxins. From now on, even the deathliest poisons in Douluo cannot harm you.
② Host's dragon pet obtains poison resistance bonus—jungle thorns, venomous snakes, poisonous insects, all irrelevant!
③ Overall physical quality improved by 10%."
Subei froze. He had just acquired a legendary physique… from a single kiss?
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan shyly pulled back, eyes downcast, face burning crimson. Their teeth had even clumsily collided mid-kiss, leaving Subei's lips with a slight bruise.
"I… apologize," she whispered nervously. "Yan'er clumsily offered this… my first kiss. It may have hurt Your Highness. I promise I will improve for next time!"
Next time?!
Dugu Bo almost vomited blood in frustration. His granddaughter—once the untouchable goddess of Tiandou City—had just given her lips to a boy she'd known for less than a single hour. Meanwhile, the outstanding young men of the empire, those who had courted her tirelessly, had never even held her hand! Even Yu Tianheng, her most persistent suitor, was left helpless outside her walls.
Now she had thrown herself willingly into Subei's arms.
Dugu Bo sighed, shaking his head bitterly. Yan'er, Yan'er… your grandfather failed you. Your resolve is still too soft.
Tang San's Entrance
And just then, hurried footsteps clattered outside. A maid nearly stumbled over her own skirts as she ran in.
"Master, there is a boy at the gate claiming to be your disciple. He calls himself Tang San."
The moment the words left her mouth, Tang San himself appeared at the doorway.
His small face lit up the instant his eyes found Subei. Tears of joy gushed uncontrollably as though a dam had burst.
Teacher… still as radiant! Still so handsome, so untouchably pure! I finally found you again!
Tang San rushed forward, words breaking through his ragged sobs. "Teacher! Xiao San missed you so much!"
Subei blinked, startled. "Xiao San? I thought you had left with your father. I didn't expect you back so soon."
At the mention of Tang Hao, Tang San's face hardened with grief and fury. He wiped his tears angrily. "Don't ever bring up that man in front of me again! From this day forward, I have cast him aside. He is no longer my father, and I am no longer his son. Our ties are severed. As long as Teacher is here… that's all that matters."
Subei's eyes twitched. Wait, what? Father and son breaking up? When did I become the bad guy here? Am I indirectly responsible for shattering their family bonds? WC, this is way too much responsibility for me…
He sighed, intending to comfort the boy. "There's no need to be so absolute. Whether you stay here or follow your father, your path will still be bright. I will neither bind nor reject you, Xiao San."
But those calm words only destroyed Tang San's composure further. His knees buckled, and he collapsed before Subei, clinging desperately. "Please, Teacher! Don't cast away Xiao San! He's recognized you as his master for life. A disciple serves his teacher as he would his own father. One day a teacher, a father for life!"
Dugu Yan frowned at this dramatic display, gently tugging Subei's sleeve. "Is he really your disciple? He seems pitiful, though ordinary-looking. Did he make mistakes?"
"…Not exactly mistakes. Just…" Subei rubbed his temples helplessly, too tired to explain the absurdity. With a faint push of soul power, he lifted Tang San from the floor.
"Enough crying. What do you want? You've been gone for months only to stumble back here confused and in tears? Hmph. A true man sheds blood, not tears. If you keep crying, I'll punish you with mucking out Da Bai and Xiao Bai's stables for a month."
Instantly the boy brightened, wiping his wet face. "A month? Teacher, I would sweep horse dung for Da Bai and Xiao Bai my entire life if it means I can stay by your side!"
Subei: "…This kid, really."
Cheeks flushing, Tang San reached into his robes and carefully presented a small black box. "Teacher, since I've officially returned, there should be a ceremony. This is the gift I prepared over these months—a unique hidden weapon of my own creation. I call it the 'Soul-Chasing Yama Needle.' Paired with the secret technique I discovered in the Que Mountains, it can unleash unmatched poison, an instant killer!"
Both Subei and Dugu Bo perked at the name.
Soul-Chasing Yama Needle?!
That was no ordinary toy. It was one of the fabled deadliest weapons in the Tang Clan's arsenal. If what Tang San claimed was true, then the potential of this weapon was immeasurable.
Dugu Bo snorted, unwilling to believe so easily. "Unparalleled poison? Ridiculous! I, Dugu Bo, am the foremost poison expert of Douluo, known as the Poison Douluo. And you—merely a child with a box—dare to boast you can surpass me?"
Tang San only nodded slightly, stepping closer to Subei. "This secret technique is Tang San's private inheritance. It wouldn't be right to reveal it before outsiders. May I consult Teacher alone on this?" He bowed respectfully.
Of course, Dugu Bo's hearing was too sharp to be fooled. His eyes flared wide, indignant. "What am I to you, a petty thief? Do you think I would steal a junior's secrets?!"
But before Tang San could answer, Subei had already reached out, his hand steady as he opened the lid of the black box without hesitation. His voice was calm, unshakable.
"There's no need for this, Xiao San. Do you know why?"
"Why, Teacher?"
"…Because I already stand untouchable above poison."
And as the box clicked open, the air in the hall grew suddenly tense.
--
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