Chapter 33: What!? Poisoned?

"What about the symptoms late at night?" Ning Xi pressed.

Dugu Yan nodded. "There are some symptoms late at night, but they aren't as severe as you described. There is a needle-like stinging pain, but the spasms don't last long—only about ten minutes or so."

She was somewhat surprised that Ning Xi knew about this reaction, but she didn't dwell on it, assuming it was simply due to exhaustion.

However, Ning Xi’s next words were startling. With a grave expression, she said, "Sister Yan, I suspect you might be poisoned."

Dugu Yan was stunned by this statement. She found it hard to believe, and besides, Ning Xi’s martial soul was only the Seven-Kill Sword; how could she possibly know she was poisoned?

"Poisoned? How could I be poisoned? Don't let your imagination run wild. This is probably just from over-training. My martial soul is the Jade Phosphorus Serpent Venom; it's impossible for me to be poisoned."

Dugu Yan didn't take the words to heart at all, laughing it off. How could she not know if she were poisoned? This girl was just prone to worrying, but it was precisely because of this concern that she was willing to accept Ning Xi as a friend.

Dugu Yan patted Ning Xi on the head and laughed, "You, I know you're worried about me, but it's probably just from over-training. Don't worry so much."

Ning Xi fell silent for a moment, then returned a smile. "Alright, maybe I'm overthinking it. Let’s end the training here for today."

Dugu Yan nodded, took her hand, and they left the spot.

After they parted ways, Ning Xi’s face darkened, and her brows furrowed. She was right; Dugu Yan was indeed poisoned.

In her past life, she had known many people who suffered from poisoning due to their martial souls, and they had developed several potential solutions.

The first method was to find a spirit bone and compress the serpent venom within it, which could reduce the residue of toxins in the body. However, this was not a long-term solution, as compressing the toxin did not mean eliminating it; it would eventually erupt, remaining a hidden danger.

The second method involved using a specific medicinal herb that could suppress and eradicate the serpent venom at its root, potentially even eliminating the defect in the martial soul. Unfortunately, this herb was fundamentally unsuitable for women to consume because its potency was too violent, easily damaging bodily fluids, and the risks of forced consumption were extremely high.

As for the third method, it was a blood transfusion. Using some medium as a transfusion tube to completely replace the poisoned blood. But this method carried extreme risks and required highly refined soul power and medical skill, something most people could not achieve.

There was also the fact that she remembered a titled Douluo of the support type who had developed an antidote, but the herbs required were incredibly rare.

Furthermore, in later eras, various healing and detoxification martial souls appeared, making this no longer an issue, but at this current stage, there seemed to be few options.

Ning Xi sighed. While she was deep in thought, a hand patted her shoulder.

Turning around, she saw Jun Han had arrived.

He offered a smile. "What's wrong? Why the long face?"

Ning Xi sighed again and explained her reasoning regarding Dugu Yan’s condition. Dugu Yan was her friend; how could she just stand by and do nothing?

She would need to find herbs to resolve the poison—that is, to craft an antidote. But these herbs would have to be sought out slowly.

Jun Han nodded. "So that’s how it is. Don't worry, let’s think of other ways."

Ning Xi had no choice but to let it go for now. "Let’s go, let's get something to eat first."

...

The sun was setting, and the clouds on the horizon were dyed a golden yellow.

Dugu Yan had already returned home. She didn't live at the academy; after all, her grandfather was a titled Douluo, and since it wasn't far from the academy, living on campus was unnecessary.

"Grandpa, I'm home!"

As soon as Dugu Yan entered the door, she shouted, her face glowing with a brilliant smile. She only felt this relaxed and happy when she was with her grandfather.

Dugu Bo was about to head out when he heard Dugu Yan’s voice, a loving smile appearing on his face.

"Yan'er, you're back. How was it at the academy today?" Dugu Bo put down the scissors in his hand and walked over to Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan set down her bag, took Dugu Bo’s hand, and said excitedly, "Grandpa, let me tell you, I met a friend a few months ago named Ning Xi. She's the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and her martial soul is the Seven-Kill Sword. She reached level 18 soul power at just seven years old!"

Dugu Bo listened with great interest, feeling a bit surprised. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? So it was her. Even though little information was leaked, it wasn't difficult for him to gather news. He hadn't expected his granddaughter to be involved with someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan; that was quite good.

Dugu Bo couldn't help but show a gratified smile as Dugu Yan continued to recount everything from the past few months, including Ning Xi’s sparring matches.

But the next second, what Dugu Yan said made his expression change in horror.

"And another thing, Ning Xi even said I was poisoned..." Dugu Yan suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but laugh. "Haha, she actually said I was poisoned. It's so funny. How could I possibly be poisoned? My martial soul is the Jade Phosphorus Serpent Venom; I have a very strong resistance to toxins."

Dugu Bo, who had just raised his teacup to savor his tea, suddenly widened his eyes. He gripped the cup with such force that it shattered into pieces, and the tea spilled all over the floor.

"Yan'er, what did you say!?" Dugu Bo’s voice was low and urgent, laced with a hint of unbelievable shock.

Dugu Yan had clearly never seen her grandfather look like this. She swallowed hard, her voice becoming much quieter: "Poi... poisoned, Ning Xi said I was poisoned."

"Yan'er, describe the situation in detail!" Dugu Bo’s tone carried an unquestionable authority, his eyes filled with gravity and urgency.

Dugu Yan dared not hide anything and immediately recounted the entire conversation with Ning Xi. To ensure accuracy, she even mimicked Ning Xi’s expressions and tone with vivid detail.

"So, based on all of that, she said I was poisoned," Dugu Yan concluded cautiously, a trace of unease in her eyes.

After hearing Dugu Yan’s description, Dugu Bo felt both joy and shock.

He was shocked that the poisoning situation—something he had hidden as a family secret—had been seen through by Ning Xi. He had always thought he had hidden it well, and never expected it to be discovered.

He was joyful because Ning Xi’s ability to see that Dugu Yan was poisoned showed that her knowledge of toxins and herbs far exceeded that of ordinary people. Perhaps she really had a way to help Dugu Yan detoxify.

Dugu Bo sat in his chair, lost in thought. He recalled his youth, when he had risked practicing poison arts in pursuit of immense power, only to have toxins accumulate in his body, unable to be completely purged.

"Could it be that I must watch Yan'er repeat my mistakes?" Dugu Bo thought silently to himself. "No, I absolutely cannot let that happen."

He knew deeply that he was poisoned to the core; although he had temporarily suppressed the toxins with his powerful soul energy, it was not a long-term solution. As for Dugu Yan, his granddaughter, he could never let her fall into such a predicament.

Dugu Bo felt surprise and admiration for Ning Xi’s ability. He knew that if Ning Xi could discern the poisoning, her understanding of toxic substances and medicinal herbs must be profound.

"Ning Xi, this little girl is not simple," Dugu Bo evaluated silently. "Not only did she see that Yan'er was poisoned, but she could also formulate an antidote. Perhaps she really has a way to help us."

He decided to meet Ning Xi personally to understand her detoxification plan and seek her help.

Dugu Bo took a deep breath, trying his best to calm down. He knew the most important thing now was to find Ning Xi and request her assistance.