Chapter 229: 248. Dugu Bo Was Late
Dai Mubai nudged Tang San with his elbow and whispered, "Ah San, with how much Yu Xiaogang, Teacher Erlong, and the others have changed this time… what if things don't unfold the same way as in the last life?"
Dai Mubai's words voiced the same concern the rest of the reborn trio shared. Hearing this, Tang San felt uneasy. There were simply too many changes this time around. But thinking of his identity, he replied, "No matter how the timeline shifts, nothing can change that I am the chosen one of destiny—the boy chosen by the Asura God."
At those words, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun all let out a sigh of relief. After all, if the altered timeline meant that following Tang San wouldn't lead to godhood, they would have had to reconsider their choices.
The first time, Gangzi suffered humiliation in his clan and ran away. He ran for decades and never returned.
The second time, after the Golden Holy Dragon Fusion Skill collapsed, he sabotaged Flender and Liu Erlong's love to etch a lasting image of himself in her heart, making them waste their lives tied to his shadow—then he ran again, for over twenty years.
And now, for the third time, after discovering that his best friend and his fiancée had secretly cuckolded him for over two decades—without him even realizing—he ran yet again.
But this time, he came back.
Yu Xiaogang returned, his face frozen stiff like a corpse, looking at Flender, Liu Erlong, and Flong. The atmosphere turned awkward.
The reason Yu Xiaogang came back despite the metaphorical bright green hat on his head was simple—Tang San was still here.
Tang San was his last hope in life. If he could train Tang San into someone who would shake the continent, then Yu Xiaogang's own name would follow in fame.
Tang San needed a team, and the Shrek Seven Devils were already formed. Now, they only needed to focus on training. Two years later, at the Continental Soul Master Tournament, Tang San's group would surely win glory—and that would be Yu Xiaogang's stepping stone to fame.
Everything he had was staked on this. Even if he had to endure the humiliation of that glaring green "hat," Yu Xiaogang had no choice but to swallow his pride and return.
"So, you're back." Liu Erlong gave him a cold glare. "Why not run off again for another ten or twenty years this time?"
Forcing himself to stay composed, Yu Xiaogang said righteously, "I am Tang San's mentor. I have achieved nothing in life, and in my heart, he's like my own child. How could a father abandon his child?"
Tang San's fists clenched tight the moment he heard that. If it weren't for the others present, he would've taught Yu Xiaogang a painful lesson right there. Be his father? Look at yourself—you're not worthy!
Liu Erlong and Flender didn't make things difficult for him, and Yu Xiaogang rejoined the group.
That night, while cultivating, Tang San remained alert. According to his past memory, tonight was the night Dugu Bo would abduct him and take him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
To describe Dugu Bo kidnapping Tang San, one might say: it was as absurd as a bandit kidnapping a dog, then locking it inside a warehouse full of meat buns.
But no matter how long he waited, Dugu Bo never appeared.
"Did I get the date wrong?" Tang San wondered, puzzled.
He didn't sleep that night, nor could he focus on cultivation. The next morning, Tang San showed up with dark circles under his eyes.
Seeing him, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar all asked in surprise, "Ah San, you didn't get captured by Dugu Bo?"
"I think… I probably misremembered the timing," Tang San replied.
The second day came. Dugu Bo didn't show up again.
Facing his companions' doubts, Tang San could only say, "He must have been delayed by something."
Then came the third day.
The fourth day.
The fifth day.
By now, even Tang San started doubting himself. Maybe Dugu Bo wasn't coming at all.
His friends exchanged skeptical glances. Tang San tried to reason aloud, "There's one possibility. Maybe after our match with the Emperor Team, Dugu Yan didn't go to her grandfather to complain."
"What should we do then?" Ma Hongjun asked nervously. "Ah San, I'm counting on that Scarlet Phoenix Chrysanthemum to save me! Even though Xiao Wu's help keeps my evil fire under control, I still really need that immortal herb! If I take it, I'll lose weight and become handsome—finally stop being a fat loser. Then I might win Xiao Wu's heart. And when I become a Fire God later, I can backstab you and steal her away more easily."
Of course, all that hinged on actually getting the flower first.
Tang San said calmly, "If Dugu Bo doesn't come to me, then I'll just go to him."
Not long after, Dugu Yan was walking through the bustling streets of Heaven Dou City when Tang San suddenly stepped in her path.
She immediately recognized him—it was that annoying boy who had cured her snake venom with realgar liquor and insulted her poison as "trash."
Frowning, she asked, "What do you want?"
Putting on an act, Tang San said, "I've heard that your grandfather is the renowned Poison Douluo, Senior Dugu Bo. I came to ask if you could introduce me."
"Where did you learn that?" A flash of sadness crossed her eyes as she questioned him.
"The name of Poison Douluo is known across the continent. How could I not know?" Tang San replied.
Dugu Yan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And why should I introduce you to him?"
"Good question." Tang San smiled proudly. "Because in this entire continent, I am the only one capable of curing the poison that plagues the Dugu family. Dugu Yan, you're poisoned—and deeply so."
At his words, Dugu Yan fell silent for once.
"Tell me," Tang San continued, "whenever it rains or the sky turns cloudy…" And then he began to recite the coded description of her symptoms—the "herb password."
As Tang San spoke, Dugu Yan's expression shifted from indifference to shock, then from hope to despair. By the time he finished, she was trembling, tears welling up. "You… you know how to cure the poison that afflicts my family?"
"I do." Tang San ignored her emotions and continued, "That's why I'd like you to introduce me to Senior Poison Douluo."
"You want to meet my grandfather?" Dugu Yan gave a humorless laugh. "Fine, I can take you to him. Just don't be disappointed."
Don't be disappointed? Tang San was puzzled, but he didn't think much of it. "Then please, lead the way."
And so, Dugu Yan led Tang San out of Heaven Dou City.
(END CHAPTER)
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