Chapter 269: The Confrontation Between Dugu Shuo and Dugu Bo
Dugu Bo walked into the ancestral hall and immediately saw Dugu Shuo sitting cross-legged, cultivating.
Dugu Shuo sat in the smoky center of the hall, seemingly unmoved by Dugu Bo's arrival.
Dugu Bo frowned and looked at the ancestral tablets.
There was one for his neglectful father, Dugu Hai.
Another for his elder brother, Dugu Hao, and below that, one for his son, Dugu Xin.
"Second uncle, your heart is troubled!" Dugu Shuo said without turning.
Seeing the tablet of his son made Dugu Bo uneasy.
Looking at Dugu Shuo's calm expression made him angry.
"Dugu Shuo, you can really sit there quietly while the Xue Ye Emperor is about to die. What are you planning?"
Dugu Bo shouted.
"Second uncle, I told you your heart is troubled!
The succession of the Heaven Dou Empire's throne is a great matter. How could the real power rest with the Dugu family?
Watching and waiting is the best strategy!"
Dugu Shuo remained calm.
Dugu Bo circled him in disbelief. "Last time, you told me you would act before the Emperor's life was in danger. Seems now you're letting the Emperor be poisoned to death!"
Dugu Bo's voice was cold and stern.
He admitted he had overestimated his nephew's ruthlessness and found him even more cruel than imagined.
And he felt no guilt about deceiving him.
Dugu Shuo leisurely stood and looked at his outraged second uncle coldly:
"Second uncle, as a poison Douluo, you have a narrow mind and are good at eradicating threats.
Would you feel pity if the Xue Ye Emperor were poisoned?
The continent is a volcano about to erupt.
Heaven Dou needs a young and capable emperor.
Even cured, the Emperor would be a sickly man.
Many want him dead.
Would you sacrifice yourself for him?"
Dugu Bo grew angrier.
"Xue Qinghe is the prime suspect for poisoning the second and third princes, and the poisoner was Yang Wushuang of Martial Soul Hall.
Maybe Xue Qinghe is backed by Martial Soul Hall; such a man cannot be emperor!"
He wanted to slap Dugu Shuo to death.
But Dugu Bo knew he couldn't cure the Emperor's poison; only this nephew could.
"Second uncle, do you really want to treat the Emperor?" Dugu Shuo asked surprised.
Without hesitation, Dugu Bo said:
"Prince Xue Xing saved my life; the Heaven Dou royal family treated me well.
I am a man of honor and won't watch the innocent Emperor die!"
His tone held disdain, clearly looking down on Dugu Shuo's avoidance.
The Heaven Dou royal family trusted the Dugu clan, and Dugu Shuo was their expert in poison defense.
Yet this expert was disloyal.
Dugu Bo believed his nephew was the truly cold-blooded poison Douluo here.
"Second uncle, the poison in Xue Ye Emperor is called Seven-colored Splendor, a secret poison of the Po clan, placed by Yang Wushuang.
If you want to save the Emperor, ask Prince Xue Xing to find Yang Wudi!
Yang Wudi is in Heaven Dou City; the Strength Clan is merging the Four Single-Attribute Clans!
Behind them is Haotian Sect, and the poisoner is from Martial Soul Hall.
You can do as you please, but if you slip up, tragedy may follow.
I'll take good care of Yanyan—rest assured, second uncle!"
Dugu Shuo's long reply chilled Dugu Bo to his core.
He felt cursed.
His face shifted uncertainly, but coaxing the poison's source out of Dugu Shuo was the limit.
His nephew was determined not to intervene.
A sly fox!
"Second uncle, you might think I'm ruthless, but blame lies with the Po clan for the poison, so only they can cure it!
Besides, Feng'er and the Crown Prince are close and eagerly await the Crown Prince's grand rule!"
Dugu Shuo finished.
Dugu Bo lost all momentum.
What he said made sense.
However, before arriving, Dugu Bo had calculated all relations thoroughly; he was not so easily fooled.
"Dugu Shuo, you avoid action out of fear of Martial Soul Hall.
Aren't you afraid the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Haotian Sect will think you side with Martial Soul Hall?
The forces in Heaven Dou are uniting; how could they see you well then?
If I were you, I'd reveal the Emperor's poisoning, then ally with Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Haotian Sect to treat him at the palace.
The Dugu clan would win great respect!"
Dugu Bo mocked.
Unfazed, Dugu Shuo smiled calmly.
"I can assure you the Crown Prince has no relation with Martial Soul Hall.
Your suspicions about Martial Soul Hall supporting the Crown Prince are just that—your guesses.
The Dugu clan always supports Heaven Dou Empire's future.
The Crown Prince's actions show he is capable of unifying the continent. We might as well help him ascend.
Only a strong Heaven Dou Empire can oppose Martial Soul Hall.
If we rely solely on families' strength, we'll never match Martial Soul Hall.
Arm and strengthen the empire to keep families safe.
Second uncle, your vision of the world is still too naive!"
Dugu Shuo would never admit it; he had set for low-key development with Dugu Feng.
There was no chance to be the first to act.
The poison was obviously Martial Soul Hall's doing.
Dugu Shuo also wondered about Xue Qinghe's relationship with Martial Soul Hall and whether they intended to spark imperial strife.
But what did it matter to the Dugu clan?
Even if the sky fell, the strongest powers—Haotian Sect and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—would hold it up.
Why should Dugu clan worry?
They clearly knew the deepest details, hidden in obscurity.
Haotian Sect wanted their genius Tang San to grow.
Martial Soul Hall's church leader Bibi Dong was rising to be the continent's strongest.
The Dugu clan also waited for their prodigy, Dugu Feng, to mature.
All must make way for their son's growth.
The Dugu clan must keep low profile to avoid becoming Martial Soul Hall's target.
Dugu Shuo only wanted to lead the Dugu clan as temporary followers of Haotian Sect and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Take the pressure for now.
Let my son focus on his development!"
(END CHAPTER)
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