Dugu Bo's sharp green eyes narrowed as he studied the small boy standing before him, his long, moss-colored beard shifting slightly as he stroked it in thought.
"This little brat wants to see my medicinal garden?" he mused.
His wariness had not faded entirely, but his curiosity was piqued. He had never encountered a child quite like this—one who not only possessed an uncanny ability to neutralize poison but also seemed inexplicably drawn to his precious herbs. Song Qing had mentioned that his spirit was plant-type, which logically explained his interest in flora, but there was something more to it. Something deeper.
"Does his spirit gain something from these plants?"
Dugu Bo knew better than anyone that the herbs cultivated within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's influence were no ordinary plants. Some were highly toxic, capable of melting a person's insides within seconds, while others possessed healing properties so potent they could regenerate limbs or extend one's lifespan. The balance of these two extreme forces—the cold yin and blazing yang—created an environment unparalleled anywhere else in the world.
His eyes flickered to his son and granddaughter.
Dugu Xin remained silent, his expression unreadable, but there was a distinct wariness in his gaze as he studied the young boy. Dugu Yan, on the other hand, was openly delighted. She found Song Qing's innocent enthusiasm refreshing, and she had long since abandoned suspicion in favor of admiration.
"Hmph." Dugu Bo crossed his arms. "The herbs in my garden are not to be trifled with, brat. Some of them are deadlier than a hundred thousand-year-old spirit beast. If you so much as touch the wrong one, you might not even have time to scream before you're turned into a pile of ash."
Song Qing's wide, golden eyes sparkled with unfiltered excitement. Instead of being intimidated, he nodded rapidly. "Oh, I understand, Senior Dugu Bo! I promise I won't touch anything without your permission! My spirit just… feels a connection to them! Like meeting old friends!"
His small hands clasped together, his face brimming with childlike wonder.
Dugu Bo's expression twitched.
"What kind of description is that? 'Meeting old friends'?"
Dugu Yan giggled at his reaction. "Grandfather, let him see! He helped us so much already. Isn't it the least we can do?" She turned to him with an imploring look, her emerald green eyes full of expectation.
Dugu Bo let out an exaggerated sigh, as if he were being forced into an unreasonable decision. "Hmph. Fine. But you will follow my every instruction, boy. If I say don't touch, you don't touch. If I say stop, you stop. And if I say run, you better run."
"Yes, Senior Dugu Bo! Thank you!" Song Qing beamed, turning to Dugu Yan with an even brighter smile. "Thank you too, Sister Yan!"
Dugu Yan felt an odd warmth in her chest. Song Qing's innocent gratitude was strangely infectious. "You're welcome, Little Qing!" she replied cheerfully.
Dugu Bo shook his head at the interaction and led the way toward a secluded section of the valley.
As they stepped into the garden, the air itself seemed to hum with life. The intoxicating scent of various herbs lingered—some sweet and floral, others sharp and acrid, and a few indescribable. The plants thrived in the unique environment, their colors impossibly vivid, their forms exotic and strange. Some pulsed with a gentle glow, others had thorned vines that coiled and writhed as if sentient.
Song Qing's entire being lit up with fascination. The moment he entered, his Primordial Life Tree Spirit stirred within him, instinctively reaching out to the surrounding plant life. It wasn't just admiration—he could feel them. It was as though they were whispering to him, revealing their secrets in a language only he could understand.
"Amazing..."
His golden eyes darted around, and his mind flooded with knowledge. The passive ability of his spirit allowed him to instantly recognize and understand each herb—its name, its properties, its uses, and even its history.
'That's the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Herb… And beside it, the Blazing Apricot Jiao…!'
Each discovery sent a thrill down his spine. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well truly held some of the rarest, most mythical plants in existence.
Dugu Bo watched him carefully, noting how the boy's gaze flitted from plant to plant with the kind of reverence one would give to priceless treasures.
"Hmph. Recognize anything, brat?" he asked gruffly, though he was genuinely curious.
Song Qing nodded eagerly. "Yes, Senior! That one is looks like a cool ice crass, and that over there is the pretty red lower! And… oh! Is that the pretty blue crystal plant?!" His excitement was evident as he pointed at a crystal-like plant that radiated a chilling aura.
Dugu Bo's eyebrows twitched. "You know your herbs."
Song Qing grinned. "I love plants!"
Dugu Bo's suspicion lessened slightly. The boy's knowledge seemed more like an overenthusiastic child than someone with hidden motives.
As they continued through the garden, Song Qing took a deep breath and reached out with his spirit, allowing the unseen roots of his Primordial Life Tree to extend beneath the soil. Carefully, he wove them through the roots of the various herbs, absorbing only the tiniest fragments of their essence. He didn't take enough to damage the plants—just enough to understand them.
"Just a little bit..."
A gentle hum resonated in his core as the energy of the plants mixed with his own. The immortal herbs contained powerful life forces, and even absorbing a sliver of their essence was enough to enhance his spirit's potential.
"With this, I can grow them myself!"
The thought filled him with excitement. To cultivate these legendary herbs in his own space—what a priceless treasure that would be!
As he basked in the sensation, Dugu Yan suddenly pointed at a particularly vibrant flower. "What about this one, Little Qing? Do you know what it is?"
Song Qing blinked, feigning ignorance. "Hmm, I'm not sure, Sister Yan. It looks very pretty purple flower though!" He made sure not to reveal his knowledge, wanting to keep the extent of his spirit's abilities a secret for now.
Dugu Bo, meanwhile, was observing Song Qing's reactions, but he didn't notice the subtle tendrils of energy that were being exchanged beneath the soil. He was too focused on the boy's outward behavior.
After a thorough tour of the garden, Song Qing turned to Dugu Bo, his eyes shining with genuine gratitude. "Thank you so much for letting me see your garden, Senior! It was truly amazing! My spirit feels… very happy."
Dugu Bo grunted. "Hmph. Just don't go telling anyone about what you saw here, brat. This garden is my most prized possession."
"Of course not, Senior! I wouldn't dream of it!" Song Qing replied earnestly.
As they started to head back towards the dwelling, Song Qing felt a sense of quiet triumph. His secret mission within the herbal garden had been a success.
He now held the potential to cultivate some of the rarest herbs in the continent, a treasure that would undoubtedly prove invaluable in the future.
The encounter with the Dugu family had already yielded unexpected benefits, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism about what the future held.
He had managed to forge a connection with a powerful Titled Douluo and his family, and he had taken the first steps towards building his own personal wealth of rare and potent herbs.
"Well, Senior Dugu Bo, Sister Yan, and Senior Dugu Xin," Song Qing said, tilting his head with an innocent smile, "I should probably be heading back now. It was really nice meeting all of you, and I'm so glad my spirit could help!" He clasped his hands together, looking every bit the adorable six-year-old.
Dugu Yan's face fell slightly. "Aww, are you leaving already, Little Qing? I was hoping we could play some more!" She genuinely enjoyed his company and was fascinated by his unique abilities.
Song Qing giggled. "I wish I could, Sister Yan! But I told my… my guardians that I would be returning to the Star Luo Empire soon. They must be worried about me!" He made sure to sound a little bit forlorn, hoping to sell his story.
Dugu Bo grunted, but there was a hint of something akin to approval in his eyes. "The Star Luo Empire, eh? You've traveled quite a distance for such a young one." He was still trying to piece together the puzzle of this mysterious child.
"Mhm!" Song Qing nodded enthusiastically. "I'm heading back to the Imperial Capital. Maybe we'll see each other there someday!" He made it sound like a casual possibility, not a deliberate plan.
'Now that their poison is under control and Yan'er is perfectly fine,' Song Qing thought, a mental checklist forming in his mind, 'Dugu Bo will likely take her to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy sooner than in the original timeline. It's a slight deviation, but nothing too drastic.' He considered this a positive development, potentially putting Dugu Yan on a different path.
Dugu Bo, despite his lingering suspicion, felt a sense of obligation towards the boy. He had, after all, alleviated their family's suffering. "I'll see you to the edge of the forest, brat," he said gruffly. "It's the least I can do."
Song Qing's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "Really, Senior Dugu Bo? Oh, thank you!" He looked genuinely touched by the offer.
Dugu Xin nodded in agreement with his father's decision, still observing Song Qing with a keen eye. Dugu Yan, however, was simply happy for a little more time with her new friend.
Dugu Bo, with Song Qing walking beside him, and Dugu Xin and Dugu Yan following closely, made their way through the dense foliage of the Sunset Forest.
'He seems to be heading south-west,' Dugu Bo thought, his green eyes scanning the terrain. 'That aligns with the direction of the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Capital.' He had no reason to doubt the child's words, especially given his seemingly innocent demeanor.
When they reached the edge of the Sunset Forest, near a small, unassuming village, Dugu Bo stopped. "Alright, brat. This is as far as I go. Be careful on your journey." His tone was still gruff, but there was a hint of genuine concern in his voice.
"Thank you so much for everything, Senior Dugu Bo, Senior Dugu Xin, and Sister Yan!" Song Qing said, offering them a polite bow. He waved cheerfully as he turned towards the village. "I'll see you all again someday!"
As Song Qing walked towards the village, Dugu Bo watched him go, a thoughtful expression on his face. He had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time they crossed paths with this peculiar child.
Once Song Qing reached the village and was out of sight of the Dugu family, his innocent facade dropped slightly, replaced by a look of quiet determination. 'Time for the real journey,' he thought. He quickly located a carriage heading towards the direction of Martial Soul City.
The carriage ride took a couple of days, uneventful but allowing Song Qing to rest and further refine his plans. He spent the time meditating and absorbing the residual energy from the poisons he had encountered in the Sunset Forest, feeling his Primordial Life Tree Spirit grow stronger with each passing hour.
Finally, after a little over two weeks since he had left the Spirit Hall, the familiar towering walls of Martial Soul City came into view. Song Qing felt a sense of homecoming as the carriage passed through the city gates.