"What?"
Ye Feng shot up in shock. His hand instinctively reached out, grabbing Zhao Wuji's collar as he shouted, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Ye Feng, calm down." Zhao Wuji tried to steady him.
Ye Feng realized his outburst, released Zhao Wuji, and immediately followed Zhao Wuji toward Tiandou City.
On the way, Zhao Wuji explained everything.
Apparently, Dugu Bo had suddenly left Tiandou City a few days ago.
Whenever his poison flared up, he'd disappear for a day or two, heading to the Yin-Yang Eyes of Ice and Fire to relieve the pain. But this time, four days had passed with no sign of him.
Dugu Yan started panicking, searching the entire city for him.
Seeing her distress, Prince Xuexing personally ordered a search, demanding that his men bring Dugu Bo back—dead or alive.
And this morning, they found him. His body was discovered in a small forest near Sunset Forest.
When Ye Feng arrived at the Prince's Mansion in Tiandou City, he didn't see Dugu Yan.
Curious, he asked around and learned that Dugu Yan had fainted from the shock and was now unconscious. Prince Xuexing had placed her in a room, where her boyfriend, Yu Tianheng, was taking care of her.
Ye Feng's gaze shifted to the corpse lying on the ground, covered with a cloth. He stepped forward, hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted the white cloth.
Underneath was a corroded, unrecognizable corpse. The head was missing, and the body was mutilated beyond recognition.
Despite the gruesome sight, Ye Feng recognized the dark green ring on the corpse's finger.
It belonged to Dugu Bo.
Ye Feng stood up, turned to Prince Xuexing, and asked, "How did the old poison die?"
"We've investigated the matter." Prince Xuexing sighed. "The old poison was heading into Sunset Forest as usual, but he was ambushed along the way. The attackers included seven Spirit Kings, three Spirit Emperors, and two Spirit Saints."
Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. "How the hell could a bunch of Spirit Kings and Saints kill a Titled Douluo?"
Prince Xuexing exhaled deeply. "They used poison."
"Poison?"
"Yes, a colorless, tasteless poison—undetectable. Senior Dugu unknowingly consumed it, and the toxin intensified the poison already in his body. With his strength weakened, they seized the chance to strike and finished him off."
"Who were they?"
"They died alongside Senior Dugu. After investigating, we found that they held a grudge against him from more than ten years ago."
"Ten years ago?" Ye Feng frowned, locking eyes with Prince Xuexing.
"Yes." Prince Xuexing nodded slightly.
But Ye Feng caught it.
For just a brief moment, guilt flickered in Prince Xuexing's eyes.
What was he hiding?
A thought flashed through Ye Feng's mind.
Before he could dwell on it, a voice interrupted them.
"Your Highness."
A young man stepped out of a nearby room—Yu Tianheng.
He walked straight to Prince Xuexing and said, "I want to take Yanyan back."
Ye Feng's gaze landed on Yu Tianheng, and suddenly, everything clicked.
Without a word, he followed Yu Tianheng into the room where Dugu Yan lay unconscious.
After checking on her, Ye Feng turned to Yu Tianheng. "Take good care of her. If you need help with Dugu Bo's funeral, just let me know."
With that, he left the Prince's Mansion.
On the way back to Shrek Academy, Ye Feng dismissed Zhao Wuji and stepped into a dark, secluded alley.
Leaning against a wall, he spoke into the empty street.
"You sneaky bastard. I almost thought you were really dead."
A voice chuckled in response.
"You figured it out."
On the rooftop above him, space rippled, and a black-robed figure emerged from the shadows.
Dugu Bo.
"Of course, I did. My spiritual power is on the verge of breaking into the mustard seed realm. You've been tailing me since I left the Prince's Mansion. Now tell me, did Prince Xuexing tell the truth?"
"Mostly," Dugu Bo admitted. "But it wasn't them who wanted me dead—I faked my death. I needed the right opportunity, so I deliberately let them track me. I even gave them the poison they used, indirectly. They died without ever realizing that I was the one who fed them the information."
"And all this just to test Yu Tianheng's loyalty to Dugu Yan?"
"Exactly."
"Does Prince Xuexing know?"
Dugu Bo smirked. "Of course. Didn't you tell me yourself? For this plan to work, Yanyan had to lose all her external support. The prince had to be in on it."
"I told you to disappear, not to fake your goddamn death!" Ye Feng cursed. "I told you to put on an act, and you went off and turned it into a whole damn drama!"
"Heh, what can I say? The student surpasses the master." Dugu Bo laughed smugly, standing up. "Anyway, I'm leaving. I just hope that brat Tianheng truly loves Yanyan. If he ever dares to abandon her, I won't forgive him."
"Old Poison, don't go overboard. He's a direct disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"I know. But I'm a poison master. If I can't kill him, I can at least cripple him."
With a wave of his hand, the space around him rippled, and Dugu Bo vanished.
When Ye Feng returned to Shrek Academy, he immediately noticed an unfamiliar figure standing beside Xiao Wu.
A girl.
"Xiao Wu, who's she?"
"This is Xiao Mi."
"Xiao Mi?"
"Yeah. She's a transformed spirit beast like me, but she wasn't as lucky. After she transformed, she fought against humans, got captured, had her spirit power sealed, and was put up for auction at the Tiandou City auction house."
"An auction?"
Ye Feng's eyes landed on the cat-girl standing behind Xiao Wu.
Xiao Mi's pale skin looked almost like polished jade, and her short, light green hair made her stand out. Her eyes were mismatched—one blue, one green—and a white feline tail extended from her hips.
She glanced at Ye Feng warily, then turned to Xiao Wu. "Sister Xiao Wu, why did you tell him my true identity?" she asked nervously.
Xiao Wu smiled. "Don't worry, he's not a bad guy. Besides, he already knows my identity."
"Really?" Xiao Mi hesitated.
"Yeah." Xiao Wu nodded confidently.
Ye Feng raised an eyebrow. "Wait—how did she end up with you?"
Xiao Wu grinned. "Uncle Ning gave her to me."
"Uncle Ning?"
"Yeah. I think he sent her to me because she's a transformed spirit beast. Since I'm one too, he figured she'd be safest with me."
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