"Alright, Young Wang Zhong's Soul Battle has ended. I'll go play with that old poison master."
In the private room on the third floor, Yue Guan said with a bright smile.
However, his smile quickly turned into surprise. As he watched, Wang Zhong, who had just stepped off the arena and reached its edge, was suddenly pounced on and hugged by a little girl.
The little face, which Yue Guan found tender and cute, was flushed and looked extremely excited.
"Dugu Yan, isn't that the granddaughter of that old poison master?"
"Why is she so close to Young Wang Zhong!"
Yue Guan stopped in his tracks, his face filled with disbelief and surprise.
"Wang Zhong went out for half a day today," Ghostly Charm said, watching Wang Zhong and Dugu Yan, then said with a strange expression.
"Meaning, in half a day, Young Wang Zhong managed to lure away the old poison master's granddaughter?"
"This kid... truly capable."
Yue Guan looked utterly amused and exasperated, unsure of how to react to this turn of events.
"Wow, you're so amazing, so powerful!"
Dugu Yan bent her legs and hung on Wang Zhong, her two green eyes sparkling with excitement, like two flashing gems.
"Hehe, not bad!"
Wang Zhong reached out to embrace the soft body in his arms, placing her on the ground. He asked with curiosity in his eyes, "How did you know it was me?"
Dugu Yan smiled proudly and replied, "Smell!"
Saying this, she stuck her head out and sniffed Wang Zhong, "You're covered in my scent now."
"A snake's sense of smell is different from humans. My Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul can easily detect that scent of mine on you."
With a smile and innocence on her face, the reason she gave Wang Zhong the fang of the Saliva-dripping Snake as a gift was not just a present. More importantly, it was so she could detect and find him the moment he appeared near her in the future.
Having no friends, she truly cared for and cherished Wang Zhong, her first friend.
Wang Zhong blinked, seeming to understand what kind of scent it was. It must be a scent on the fang the other party had given him, a scent only snakes could perceive.
"Saliva-dripping Snake."
He thought of the name silently, but Wang Zhong did not show any aversion or anger about this matter, nor was he displeased about being followed or upset that she hadn't told him about this almost like surveillance.
Instead, he felt a faint tenderness in his heart. What kind of loneliness would lead this person to give him a fang from a Saliva-dripping Snake? Were the venomous snakes attracted by the Saliva-dripping Snake also considered friends to Dugu Yan?
"Is that so?"
"It seems I need to take a good bath when I get back. It's not good to have someone else's scent on me."
He reached out to take her small hand, holding it in his palm. Wang Zhong tilted his head and said with a chuckle.
"Hmph, what's wrong with having my scent on you?"
"My scent is fragrant."
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at Wang Zhong, her tone full of pride.
"Yes, yes, yes, you are fragrant."
Holding Dugu Yan's small hand, they walked away side by side under the gaze of countless spectators.
Many people began to form new speculations about this.
"Brother, that little girl seems to be someone close to Senior Poison Douluo."
"Woody, do you think she might be from his family?" Huo Fei whispered to Huo Yuan beside him, voicing his guess.
"That's unlikely. Poison Douluo's Martial Soul is the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, while Woody's Martial Soul is a tree. They are completely unrelated," Huo Bao preempted Huo Yuan, offering his insight.
"Martial Souls are inherited through bloodlines, and it's hard to say if they come from the mother or father. Sometimes they even mutate. Judging solely by Martial Souls is too foolish."
"Did you notice? Woody, that little girl, and Poison Douluo, all three of them have the same eye color."
Huo Yuan glanced at Dugu Bo, who was frowning in thought in the distance, and also spoke in a hushed tone.
Eye color mutations are very rare occurrences. Generally, they are inherited. The most typical example is the Dai family of the Star Luo Empire, whose 'evil eye' is almost a family trait.
"Brother, do you also think Woody might be a descendant of Poison Douluo's family?" Huo Bao exclaimed in surprise. A descendant of a Title Douluo's family represents an incredibly powerful background.
They were not the only ones with this thought. The people from the Wind Sword Sect felt the same way.
The last move Wang Zhong displayed on the arena had indeed filled them with a murderous intent to kill him, no matter what. The method of turning Wind Sword Soul Skills into his own power was a nemesis to the Wind Sword Sect!
The existence of such a person in this world was a disaster for their sect.
However, now, Wang Zhong, represented by Woody, was linked to Dugu Bo, and was even potentially his descendant. This truly plunged them into despair.
They dared not confront Dugu Bo to kill Wang Zhong, but if they didn't kill Wang Zhong, the Wind Sword Sect would forever be trampled underfoot!
Dugu Bo, being worldly-wise, had clearly noticed this as well, but he offered no explanation.
What a joke! As the dignified Poison Douluo, did he need to consider everyone's feelings about what he wanted to do or not do?
He was frowning now because someone had sent him a Soul Power transmission, inviting him upstairs, and this person was an old rival.
It was Ju Hua Guan!
"What, old poison master, are you scared!"
The Soul Power voice in his ear made Dugu Bo's brows twitch. He also transmitted back, "Ju Hua Guan, do you think I would be afraid of you!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Dugu Bo, with his hands behind his back, strode towards the third floor.
If he sensed the slightest thing amiss, he swore he would make everyone in Spirit City pay for it.
Pushing open a private room on the third floor, Yue Guan was sitting alone, a smile on his face as he brewed tea. The tea was a deep red.
"Dragon Blood Jade Tea!"
"Ju Hua Guan, I didn't expect you to have such taste! I truly underestimated you in the past."
Walking to Yue Guan's opposite with his hands behind his back, Dugu Bo sat down steadily and picked up a teacup from the table, taking a sip with an intoxicated expression.
"Good tea, truly good tea!"
"Dragon Blood Jade Tea, the leaves are emerald green, like jade, but the brewed tea is blood-red. It lingers on the tongue and lingers in the throat, a treasure among teas, excellent tea!"
Holding the teacup, Dugu Bo praised it repeatedly.
"As expected of an expert in poison. There's no plant in the world you old poison master doesn't understand."
Yue Guan touched his chin with his index finger, a bright smile on his face, and complimented him.
"Ju Hua Guan, you didn't find me just to have a cup of tea, did you!"
Putting down the teacup, Dugu Bo sneered.
"Of course not."
"Old poison master, that little girl is your granddaughter Dugu Yan, and the last heir of your Jade Phosphor Serpent lineage, correct!"
Yue Guan's smile now held a deep meaning.