Douluo Dalu: The Abandoned Child

The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blood and earth. Dugu Bo exhaled, his breath misting in the chill as he stepped through the dense underbrush of the Sunset Forest. His emerald-green robes shimmered faintly in the moonlight, a testament to the poison essence that radiated from his very being.

The past few months had been grueling, a relentless search for the perfect soul beast to take his power to the next level. Now, with his eighth spirit ring freshly absorbed, his rank had risen to 82. He felt the surge of new strength coursing through him, but his mind was far from at ease.

Finally, he thought, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. It's done. He glanced at the sky, the stars above obscured by the thick canopy. His plan had been to leave the forest swiftly—rest, recuperate, and consolidate his gains. But as he walked, something made him pause.

A low growl.

Dugu Bo's keen senses immediately went on alert. His eyes narrowed as he turned toward the source of the sound. It came from a small clearing ahead, the faint rustle of leaves indicating movement. Quietly, he stepped closer, his poison energy coiling around him like a venomous snake ready to strike.

What he saw made him stop in his tracks.

A small pack of wolves surrounded a hollow at the base of a tree. The beasts, while not particularly powerful, were cunning hunters. Their sleek silver fur gleamed in the moonlight, their eyes glowing with predatory intent. But it wasn't the wolves that caught Dugu Bo's attention—it was what they were hunting.

A baby.

Dugu Bo's sharp eyes took in the scene with disbelief. The child, no older than six months, was huddled inside the hollow, clutching a coarse blanket. His tiny body trembled, but his wide, tear-streaked eyes shone with something that made Dugu Bo's heart skip a beat. It wasn't just fear; there was a spark of defiance, a will to survive that seemed far too intense for a child of his age.

What in the name of the heavens is a baby doing here? Dugu Bo thought, his mind racing. He scanned the area, searching for any signs of adults, but the forest was silent save for the growls of the wolves. No one else was here.

The leader of the pack, a slightly larger wolf with a jagged scar across its snout, took a cautious step forward, its growl deepening. The child flinched but didn't look away. Dugu Bo felt a flicker of anger ignite within him.

"Tch," he muttered, stepping into the clearing. His voice was low but carried an authority that immediately drew the wolves' attention. "Well, well. What do we have here?"

The pack froze, their glowing eyes shifting to the intruder. The scarred wolf snarled, baring its fangs, but Dugu Bo didn't flinch. With a wave of his hand, a poisonous green mist began to seep from his body, curling through the air like a living thing. The wolves recoiled, whimpering as the toxic aura grew stronger.

"Leave," Dugu Bo commanded, his voice cold. The wolves hesitated for only a moment before turning tail and fleeing into the shadows, their snarls replaced by the sound of retreating paws.

Silence fell over the clearing once more. Dugu Bo stepped closer to the hollow, his eyes fixed on the child. The baby stared back at him, tears glistening on his cheeks. For a moment, neither moved.

"Who left you here?" Dugu Bo murmured, more to himself than to the child. He knelt down, his gaze softening as he examined the boy. The blanket was thin and ragged, offering little protection against the cold. The child's face was pale, his body frail, but his eyes… Those eyes held a depth that unnerved Dugu Bo.

"You've seen too much for someone so young," he muttered, reaching out to lift the baby from the hollow. The child didn't resist, though he flinched slightly at the touch. Dugu Bo's frown deepened.

Whoever abandoned him didn't care whether he lived or died. Leaving a child in the Sunset Forest… That's no accident. That's murder.

Anger bubbled within him, his poison aura flaring briefly before he reined it in. He cradled the baby in his arms, his sharp gaze scanning the forest once more. "Cowards," he hissed. "To leave a defenseless child like this…"

The baby made a small sound, drawing Dugu Bo's attention. He looked down, meeting those intense eyes once more. A small, trembling hand reached up, clutching weakly at his robe.

Dugu Bo's expression softened. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that." He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. From now on, you're with me."

He straightened, the baby secure in his arms. The forest around them seemed less menacing now, the shadows retreating before his presence. "I'll call you… Dugu Bei," he said after a moment's thought. "You'll be my grandson. And I'll make sure no one ever abandons you again."

As he turned to leave the clearing, his mind was already racing with plans. Whoever had left this child here might come looking, but they'd find nothing but regret if they crossed Dugu Bo.

For now, though, his priority was the boy in his arm, a child abandoned to the wolves but saved by a poisonous serpent.