Chapter 57

However, from another perspective, if Gu Xuan could deduce her poisoning merely from his everyday understanding and the few scraps he heard from her, then that would also serve as proof and affirmation of his ability.

However, Du Gu Yan still wanted to know the truth—whether Gu Xuan had learned this from others or figured it out himself.

Although it was unlikely that Gu Xuan learned this secret from others, after all Dugu Bo would not allow anyone who knew his secret to live; still, nothing is absolute, so Du Gu Yan needed to confirm.

Suppressing the indescribable emotion in her heart, Du Gu Yan lifted her head and locked eyes with Gu Xuan, asking word by word: "How did you find out about this?"

Gu Xuan naturally could not answer that he was a transmigrator with foreknowledge; he had already prepared his excuse, lightly brushed Du Gu Yan's jade nose, and said softly: "Of course I figured it out. You think I usually touch your body just to take advantage of you? Don't you remember when I read your palm for you?"

"I guess at that moment you were wondering whether I deliberately touched your hand on purpose, right?"

Hearing Gu Xuan's words, Du Gu Yan's pretty face blushed slightly; she seemed to recall the original scene, then realized that perhaps Gu Xuan had gotten close to her to check her physical condition. Thinking this, her heart filled with emotion—she had initially thought Gu Xuan was just taking advantage of her, never expecting such depth.

In fact, Gu Xuan was just taking advantage; these were merely excuses. Not only could they let Du Gu Yan indulge in self‑moved sentiment, they could also reasonably explain his previous behavior and why he knew she was poisoned.

Gu Xuan continued: "I have studied alchemy and pharmaceutics under a master since childhood; although I cannot yet match his profundity, I have grasped his true teachings and can even extrapolate from one example to many."

Gu Xuan was not boasting—he had mastered all of Yang Wudi's true teachings, and with knowledge from two lifetimes he could extrapolate many things, even surpassing Yang Wudi.

If one must point out a flaw, it is, as Gu Xuan himself said, possibly lacking Yang Wendi's experience and profundity.

"After over a month of getting along, I could tell something was wrong with your body, and it is related to your martial soul, possibly even inherited from your parents—or even from your Dugu ancestors." Gu Xuan put his arm around her waist, saying with a hint of heartache.

She seemed to sense Gu Xuan's feeling and believed his words, and she also leaned against his shoulder, feeling somewhat sorrowful.

"I won't hide it from you anyway—you already know—my body is indeed poisoned, and the poison is that of the Emerald Scale Snake." Leaning on Gu Xuan's shoulder, Du Gu Yan began to reveal the secret she had long kept hidden.

She now trusts Gu Xuan absolutely—not only because of their feelings, but also because of his promise: "Your poison, I can cure."

Since Gu Xuan could judge her poisoning from their everyday interaction, his saying that naturally was not baseless.

Du Gu Yan continued: "Success also comes from the Emerald Scale Snake, failure also from it. My grandfather's breakthrough to Titled Douluo in this life was fortunate, yet also unfortunate, for after he reached a higher realm, the inherited Emerald Scale Snake poison grew stronger, and my parents died prematurely because the treatment came too late."

Hearing these words, Gu Xuan gently patted Du Gu Yan's back, giving her silent comfort.

Then Gu Xuan spoke slowly: "Yanzi, rest assured—now that I'm here, I already have a way to resolve your Emerald Scale Snake poison; even if I must go through countless trials, I will not let this happen again."

Hearing this, Du Gu Yan tightly embraced Gu Xuan's waist and back, as if wanting to fuse him into her body; a wordless sense of trust surged within her, and she firmly believed Gu Xuan would not deceive her.

She lifted her head to look at Gu Xuan and asked: "Then what is the bad news you mentioned?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Xuan's face grew somewhat guilty as he spoke slowly: "The bad news is that I currently cannot find the herbs needed to help you detoxify." "You surely know how terrifying the Emerald Scale Snake poison is; although I have a way to detoxify you, those medicinal ingredients are hard to come by—even within the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, few can be found."

Having said that, Gu Xuan looked firmly at Du Gu Yan and said softly: "But rest assured, I will use the sect's resources to the fullest extent to search for the herbs for you."

"The reason I tell you now that I can detoxify you is also because I fear you might lose hope."

Hearing these words, Du Gu Yan's heart was already overwhelmed with emotion; her eyes reddened as she looked at Gu Xuan: "Xiao Xuan… I… I really don't know how to repay you… I…"

Gu Xuan covered her little mouth and said gently: "You are the person I like—what's there to talk about repaying or not repaying?"

Hearing this, Du Gu Yan also felt she owed Gu Xuan something—indeed, more than a little—since from the start he had paid close attention to her and silently given his all.

Now thinking back, I have known Yu Tianheng for so long—where could there be someone as considerate and gentle as Gu Xuan? Where could anyone match his meticulous care?

They had known each other for less than a month, yet Gu Xuan had already done this for her.

Mobilizing sect resources? That sounds impressive, and hearing it makes one feel only joy—but Du Gu Yan knows the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect is not solely Gu Xuan's, even though his grandfather is one of its two great guardians.

But Gu Xuan actually willing to use sect resources for her sake? What kind of feeling could drive him to such an extent?

Now she feels Gu Xuan has a saying that is quite right: "Wanting to buy osmanthus and share wine, yet it is not like a youth's wandering; ten thousand years is too long—if you love, seize this summer."

Gu Xuan can give so much for her—what about her? Does she still need to hesitate?

At this moment, Gu Xuan let out a soft sigh and continued: "What a pity—if we could find any one of the three great treasure basins, that would be enough to solve the herb problem for your detoxification, and perhaps even allow us to try a cure for your Dugu ancestor's poison."

Hearing this, Du Gu Yan blinked in surprise, then her face lit with joy: "Really? Does such a place really exist in this world?"

Gu Xuan nodded firmly and replied: "Of course such places exist, but those blessed lands are formed by nature, taking a thousand years to shape and ten thousand years to become a treasure; at least I have searched the recent few hundred years of history and found none, showing how rare they are."

Hearing this, Du Gu Yan's delighted expression gradually faded, for since Gu Xuan said so, the chance of finding such a place is indeed slim.

Still, it's not all bad—at least she has gained a hint of hope; her poison is not beyond remedy, and her grandfather's poison is not incurable either.

ps: Typos will be corrected later.

(End of chapter)