Douluo Continent: The creation of Jixia Academy made Bibi Dong drool with envy.

Chapter 64 The Poison Douluo's Troubles, Butterfly Dream Asks Xianzhuang
Jixia Academy, Medicine Garden.

Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was leisurely lying on a rocking chair, squinting his eyes and basking in the warm afternoon sun, humming a tuneless little tune.

Since his granddaughter Dugu Yan entered Jixia Academy and showed amazing talent and progress, Dugu Bo has finally settled down at Jixia Academy.

Here, there is no threat from the Spirit Hall, and no worldly disturbances.

Only the rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and... those rare and exotic flowers and herbs that dazzled his eyes and made him drool.

More importantly, the mysterious Dean Yan did not seem to dislike his poison skills. In fact, he had given him pointers several times, which helped him improve his understanding of poison.

He's living a very comfortable life now.

He spends his free time tending to herbs, refining poisons, looking after his granddaughter, and occasionally even sneaking a peek at some high-quality pills from the alchemy room…

It's exactly what he's been dreaming of... a peaceful retirement life.

"Ah!"

Just as Dugu Bo was enjoying this rare moment of leisure, and even began to consider whether to refine the Jade Phosphorous Bone-Corroding Powder or the Seven Deadly Soul-Severing Pill that night, a sneeze suddenly broke out without warning.

"Hmm? Which little bastard is talking about me behind my back?"

Dugu Bo rubbed his nose and muttered something unpleasantly.

Before the thought of sneezing had even settled in his mind, a student from Jixia Academy in charge of external liaison respectfully delivered a… encrypted letter in a special way.

"Senior Dugu, this was sent by Prince Xuexing, who specifically requested that it be delivered to you."

Prince Snowstar?!
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo frowned slightly.

What kind of trouble is this old guy up to now?

He took the secret letter, opened it, and his expression immediately became somewhat... strange.

The letter was quite simple. It started with some pleasantries and reminisced about past kindnesses.

Then she subtly inquired about the true attitude of the Jixia Academy, especially whether the Jixia Academy would intervene in the struggle for the throne of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Hmph, that old fox!"

Dugu Bo snorted coldly, crumpled the letter into a ball, and a hint of impatience and... annoyance flashed in his emerald green eyes!
Prince Xuexing had indeed been kind to him.

Back then, he offended the Spirit Hall and was hunted down by several powerful figures. He had nowhere to go and was almost about to die.

It was Prince Xuexing who intervened at the crucial moment, secretly bringing him into Tiandou City and providing him with protection, thus saving him from disaster.

Dugu Bo always kept this kindness in his heart.

That's why, over the years, he has helped Prince Xuexing deal with many shady and troublesome matters, as a way of repaying some of the debt of gratitude.

Originally, he thought that as time went by, this debt of gratitude would eventually be repaid.

But now it seems... this Prince Xuexing intends to take full advantage of this favor!
In the past, he, Dugu Bo, was all alone and had no life of his own. It didn't matter to him if he did some things for Prince Xuexing.

But now it’s different!

His only concern was his granddaughter, Dugu Yan.

More importantly, he is now a member of the Jixia Academy.

He knew better than anyone the power and mystery of the Jixia Academy.

The methods employed by Dean Yan sent chills down his spine whenever he thought about them.

Should we send him to find out Jixia Academy's true intentions?

And they want to get involved in the mess that is the Heavenly Dou Empire?
Isn't this pushing him into a fire pit?!

"Damn, this is such a hassle."

Dugu Bo scratched his hair in frustration, feeling as if he were entangled in an invisible net, unable to move.

reject?

Although Dugu Bo is both righteous and wicked, he would never do something as ungrateful as repaying kindness with enmity.

promise?

Wouldn't that be tantamount to betraying Jixia Academy and betraying Dean Yan, who had treated him fairly well?
How can this be good?

Just as Dugu Bo was caught in a dilemma and frowned, a sudden inspiration flashed in his mind.

He thought of someone.

Someone who might be able to guide him through his confusion.

Besides the unfathomable Dean Yan, and those two incredibly intelligent individuals, Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi, there was another… true philosophical master at Jixia Academy.

—Zhuang Zhou!
Although Dugu Bo was usually puzzled by Zhuang Zhou's eccentric and lazy demeanor, which often made him doze off, he had to admit that this seemingly harmless guy, who always carried a Kun (a mythical fish), was quite something.

He does indeed exude an indescribable wisdom and nonchalance.

Perhaps... he can give me some useful advice?

With that thought in mind, Dugu Bo no longer hesitated and immediately got up and walked towards the bamboo forest where Zhuang Zhou usually liked to stay, which was full of strange dream-eating flowers.

...

Deep in the bamboo forest, it is serene and elegant.

As usual, Zhuang Zhou lay on his side on a smooth bluestone, cradling his plump Kun in his arms, fast asleep, a trace of satisfied drool still clinging to his lips. "Ahem, Mr. Zhuang Zhou!"

Dugu Bo's lips twitched slightly at the sight, but he still patiently coughed twice.

"Um…?"

Zhuang Zhou seemed to have been woken up. He groggily opened his sleepy eyes, yawned widely, and looked at Dugu Bo with a blank expression.

"Oh...it's the old poisoner...looking for me...what's up? Butterfly...still asleep..."

"..."

Dugu Bo resisted the urge to slap him awake and briefly recounted Prince Xuexing's secret letter and his own troubles.

"Oh... so you're bothered by something so trivial..."

After listening, Zhuang Zhou seemed a little sleepy again. He rubbed his eyes and said lazily.

"Gratitude... is like a butterfly in a dream; you may catch it, but it may not be yours."
"If you put it down, it might... fly back on its own..."

"Please speak like a human being!"

The veins on Dugu Bo's forehead bulged.

"hehe…"

Zhuang Zhou chuckled softly, finally sitting up straight. A glint of all-knowing wisdom flashed in his usually sleepy eyes.

"In your opinion, which is more important, the 'favor' Prince Xuexing showed you, or the 'tolerance' Jixia Academy showed you?"

"Which do you think is more worth cherishing: an old relationship that could drag you into eternal damnation, or a present that can provide for you and your granddaughter, and even take things further?"

"Often, troubles don't come from the choices themselves, but from... our unwillingness to let go of dreams that no longer belong to us."

Zhuang Zhou's voice, soft and ethereal, struck Dugu Bo's heart like a morning bell and evening drum.

Immediately afterwards, Zhuang Zhou smiled and extended an invitation to Dugu Bo:
"How about... coming with me to that real dream world and having a wonderful time?"
Perhaps you can find...the answer you're looking for there.

Dugu Bo looked into Zhuang Zhou's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and nodded as if possessed.

……

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when Dugu Bo woke up from that bizarre and mysterious dream world, he felt refreshed and all his previous worries and troubles had vanished.

He seemed to have undergone a spiritual baptism, and saw many things he couldn't understand before.

He got it.

He will repay Prince Xuexing's kindness.

But it would never be at the cost of sacrificing his own and his granddaughter's future, or betraying the Jixia Academy.

He picked up his pen and wrote a reply to Prince Xuexing.

In the letter, he did not directly answer any of Prince Xuexing's questions, nor did he reveal any internal information about the Jixia Academy.

He simply stated his understanding of...the philosophy of the Jixia Academy in an objective and neutral tone.

"Jixia is like a star in the sky, with its own trajectory, unmoved by the mortal world and undisturbed by worldly disturbances."

Its radiance shines not for one person or one country, but for all those who seek the truth in the world.

Let things take their natural course, and all will be well; but if we forcibly interfere, we risk bringing disaster upon ourselves.

After writing it, he sent someone to deliver the letter to Prince Xuexing.

...

Inside Prince Xuexing's residence.

When Prince Xuexing received Dugu Bo's seemingly mysterious but actually warning reply, he trembled with rage.

"How can this not make sense? How can it not make sense!!!"

He slammed the letter on the table, his face ashen, his eyes filled with anger and... a barely perceptible hint of disappointment.

"You, Dugu Bo, you've really grown wings now."

Now that you've found a powerful backer in Jixia Academy, have you forgotten the life-saving grace I bestowed upon you back then?"

"What utter nonsense about being unmoved by worldly affairs."

I can tell he's clearly trying to shirk responsibility and doesn't want to serve me anymore.

Prince Xuexing grew angrier the more he thought about it, without reflecting on his actions at all.

Over the years, how had he repeatedly used the nearly exhausted kindness to force Dugu Bo to do things against his will?

He only felt that Dugu Bo... had betrayed him.

It seems we can't count on this favor...

And the line connecting to Jixia Academy seems to have been severed.

A flicker of uncertain light flashed in Prince Xuexing's eyes.

It seems... they want to support Xue Beng to ascend to the throne and overthrow Crown Prince Xue Qinghe...

He needs to find another way!
Sorry, I've been quite busy lately. The next update will be delayed until 8 PM tonight. Thank you so much!
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(End of this chapter)