Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character Chapter 340: The Poison Master, Dugu Qi

Feeling the sinister aura emanating from the white-haired elder before him, Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed to pinpoints as a familiar sensation struck him. The aura was identical to the evil energy of the demonic fiend he'd encountered in the ancient battlefield, dark and malevolent, devouring the life around it.

"Could it be that this elder was wounded by a powerful demonic fiend?" Lin Langtian wondered, alard by the possibility.

Now he understood why such a powerful individual, likely on par with the heads of the Eight Supre Sects, would choose to hide away and why he was limited to Life Profound Realm strength. It seed the root of his condition was indeed linked to a demonic fiend. As Lin Langtian pondered this, he saw that the elder's body began to emit lines of dark, twisting black patterns, as if infused with life.

These black lines, which appeared to pulse with intelligence, seed to be remnants of the demonic energy the elder was trying to suppress, though it continued to attempt to invade his body. The old man trembled violently as if the black marks had co to life, relentlessly burrowing into his skin.

Lin Langtian could feel the oppressive darkness spreading, radiating malevolent, emotionless energy. So of the black gas even drifted toward him. Startled, Lin Langtian quickly retreated.

"Hmph!" Lin Langtian snorted, releasing a stream of dark-gold energy that surged from within him, forming an impenetrable barrier that forced the black mist away.

"Heh heh… heh…" In the faint echoes of the dispersing black mist, a chilling, high-pitched laughter seed to seep into Lin Langtian's mind.

The elder looked up at Lin Langtian with a mixture of surprise and hope as he witnessed the young man repel the evil energy. The arrogant deanor vanished from his expression, replaced by a desperate plea.

"Please… help …" For the first ti, the old man's voice trembled with a hint of vulnerability, his eyes now filled with a sliver of hope.

"Oh? You want my help?" Lin Langtian paused, surprised, feeling the powerful force receding from within as Aunt Ling gradually withdrew her power, leaving him both exhausted and relieved.

Taking a mont to catch his breath, Lin Langtian studied the elder, watching him struggle against the creeping dark marks on his skin. His expression grew thoughtful as he asked, "May I know the elder's na?"

Despite the elder's weakened state, Lin Langtian still felt hesitant to trust him entirely. He knew the stories of those who, like the farr and the viper, t their end by helping the wrong person. Still, Lin Langtian held no intention of betraying the elder's vulnerability. He admired the man's courage in fighting against the demonic forces, though he remained wary of any betrayal.

After a mont of silence, the elder t Lin Langtian's gaze. "It seems you understand my strength once allowed to rival the heads of the Eight Supre Sects?"

Lin Langtian nodded slightly.

"Then you must have heard of my title, though I doubt you'd know my true na."

Lin Langtian shook his head.

The elder sighed before a faint smirk of pride crossed his face. "I am Dugu Qi, though most know by another na… Poison Master."

The title hit Lin Langtian like a thunderclap, his expression betraying shock as he took a closer look at the frail elder. He had learned about the top powerhouses since joining Yuan Gate, and the Poison Master was among the most notorious. The man was a formidable figure from the Western Mystical Realm, a reclusive expert of unparalleled venom mastery. His infamy was marked by tales of his wrath, like the ti he had wiped out an entire city. Known for his lone-wolf nature, he'd once even bested one of Yuan Gate's three headmasters during a power duel, shaking all the realms.

After that fad duel, the Poison Master had vanished, and rumors circulated that he had perished. Lin Langtian never imagined that this unassuming elder before him was the sa legendary figure.

"Good to know my reputation hasn't entirely faded with ti," the elder said, visibly pleased by Lin Langtian's stunned reaction.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Langtian nodded slowly. "To find that the legendary Poison Master of the East and West Mystical Realms is here in Bloodhorn Region, selling maps—this is truly beyond my expectations."

"What brought you to this state?" Lin Langtian asked quietly. "Your power seed to be only that of Life Profound Realm. Is it because of that demonic energy?"

"Demonic energy… you're familiar with these demonic fiends?" Dugu Qi looked surprised.

"Sowhat," Lin Langtian replied vaguely.

Dugu Qi scrutinized Lin Langtian for a mont before a glimr of hope returned to his face. "If you know of them, then you may indeed be able to rid of this cursed power."

As Dugu Qi looked back on past events, a bitter expression crossed his face. He sighed, saying, "After attending the Power Summit between the Western and Eastern Mystical Realms, I ca to Bloodhorn Region. There, by chance, I obtained that fragnt of a map. However, that map brought nothing but trouble. A group of mysterious figures began hunting down shortly after, their techniques strange and aura dark and cold. Even I could not withstand their attacks and was ultimately defeated.

"Though I managed to escape in the chaos that followed, I was left with a black-seal curse from one of those powerful figures. Since then, I have been suffering from its corrosive influence. My strength, once at its peak, is now suppressed to the lesser level of Life Profound Realm, and even that slips away if I exert too much force. Just now, when I tapped into my higher strength to fight you, the black curse saw its opportunity to deepen its hold on ."

Dugu Qi sighed heavily. "For all these years, I have hidden away here, studying that map fragnt, hoping to discover a way to counteract the black curse. But that map is only a small piece of a larger whole, and without the complete picture, there's nothing I can do to break it."

"So you think I can help you lift this curse?" Lin Langtian asked, eyes narrowed slightly.

Dugu Qi nodded.

"Oh, Elder Dugu must think highly of ," Lin Langtian said, shaking his head. "But I don't have that kind of skill."

Hearing this refusal, Dugu Qi's face fell, desperation flashing in his eyes. In a hurried voice, he added, "I'm willing to give you the map fragnt."

Lin Langtian smiled and replied calmly, "Elder, do you think, given your current condition, you could stop from taking the fragnt by force?"

Dugu Qi paused, and a look of gravity settled on his face as he realized the truth of this. Lin Langtian was already showing rcy by not taking advantage of his weakened state. If he tried to make the map a bargaining chip, he knew he would lack leverage.

"What, then, would be the price of your help, young friend?" Dugu Qi asked through gritted teeth, reluctantly aware that he would have to accept Lin Langtian's terms if he wanted freedom from the curse.

"Oh?" Lin Langtian replied, eyes brightening slightly, "Is Elder Dugu truly willing to keep his word?"

"Humph! I, Dugu Qi, am no deceiver. If you don't believe , go to the Western Mystical Realm and inquire about my na. I never renege on my word. Even when I poisoned and destroyed Xingluo Imperial City, I first gave the citizens a chance to evacuate before carrying out the deed." Dugu Qi's tone was full of pride as he explained.

"Really? I always assud that poison-wielders were ruthless and had no regard for fair play…" Lin Langtian murmured, thoughtfully sizing up the elder with fresh curiosity. It surprised him that, despite his use of poison, Dugu Qi was an honorable figure who adhered to principles and refrained from unnecessary killing.

"Your view is rather narrow-minded," Dugu Qi replied sharply. "Poison is just a weapon like any other. Why judge it as good or bad? Is killing with a sword more noble than killing with poison?"

Lin Langtian was taken aback by Dugu Qi's words, unable to offer a counter-argunt. With a wry smile, he nodded. "You're right, Elder Dugu. I see your point."

On the Heavenly Xuan Continent, there was no strict division of good and evil; power alone commanded respect. It seed the Poison Master's status among the top ten strongest in the Western Mystical Realm was indeed well-earned. The conversation left Lin Langtian with a strange admiration for the old man, whose gruff exterior hid an unusual integrity.

"Elder Dugu, I can attempt to help you rid yourself of this curse," Lin Langtian said after a mont, eting the elder's hopeful gaze. "But I can't guarantee that it will succeed."

Dugu Qi let out a long breath, finally relaxing. "I understand. I know better than anyone how insidious this curse is. If you can't remove it, I won't hold it against you."

"Good to hear, Elder Dugu," Lin Langtian said, nodding. "As for my price—how about ten years of service as my protector?"

"What? Ten years as your bodyguard?" Dugu Qi's face twitched in disbelief. As one of the ten strongest in the Western Mystical Realm and a man who had bested Yuan Gate's Human Sovereign, the notion of serving as a bodyguard to a youngster struck him as utterly humiliating.

Lin Langtian simply smiled, waiting for Dugu Qi to decide.

Dugu Qi clenched his fists, his frustration clear. A supre expert reduced to a re bodyguard was certainly not a role that filled him with honor.

"Elder Dugu, you should know that without my help or so extraordinary luck, the curse will only continue to eat away at you, possibly leading to your demise. But if you agree to serve as my protector for a while, I'll help you eliminate the curse. After that, you'd be free once more. I think you'll find that this arrangent is quite fair." Lin Langtian's words were soft but relentless, pressing on Dugu Qi's wavering resolve.

The tension in the shop grew thick and silent. Dugu Qi's face was strained as he struggled with himself. Lin Langtian remained quiet, allowing him to make his decision.

For a long mont, silence reigned in the shop. Finally, Dugu Qi let out a pained grunt, his face ashen from suppressing the curse's influence, which was aggressively advancing within him once again. Breathing heavily, he finally looked up at Lin Langtian.

"Fine. I'll agree to be your bodyguard for ten years. But if we encounter enemies beyond my power, don't expect to sacrifice myself in your place. And if you fail to remove this curse, I will take you down with , no matter the cost!"

"Deal!" Lin Langtian replied without hesitation, smiling brightly.

A protector of Dugu Qi's caliber, a powerhouse of Wheel-Turning Realm strength, was not an opportunity he could pass up. With such an ally, Lin Langtian knew he'd be far safer, especially if the day ca when he had to sever ties with the monstrous Yuan Gate.

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