“Bing Zhi! Bing Zhi! Bing Zhi…” Xiao Jian rushed ahead of Yun Qi, arriving at the door first, not caring who was sitting inside, directly throwing himself beside Bing Zhi, tightly holding her hand, calling her name repeatedly, each time with a heart-wrenching pain.
Yun Qi, seeing Xiao Jian like this, did not stop him but instead hid behind the door, leaning against the cold wall, comforting himself: Everything will pass, everything will start anew. In his and Bing Zhi’s world, there will eventually be no place for Xiao Jian.
“Did you give her something?” Xiao Jian, seeing Bing Zhi’s discomfort, quickly took her pulse and asked loudly. Though he was not deeply versed in toxicology, he had heard about the strange characteristics of this poison.
Yun Qi, hearing Xiao Jian’s question, adjusted his emotions and walked into the room, “A healing spirit medicine. I’ve taken it before. What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“You bastard! Don’t you know that for someone poisoned by Heart-Separating Confusion Powder, taking anything other than the antidote is like hastening death!”
It may seem like an improvement on the surface, but it actually accelerates the spread of the toxin!” Xiao Jian roared, releasing all his unease and anger.
Yun Qi was not to be outdone and cursed back: “Aren’t you the bastard? She’s like this because of you! You only show up when something goes wrong. Where were you before? Why didn’t you take care of your fiancée?” Yet in his heart, Yun Qi was panicking – could he have sealed Bing Zhi’s fate?
When Xiao Jian turned, Xun Luo Xia finally recognized him as the White Xia Sword Master! He had specifically come for Bing Zhi and was reacting extremely, which surprised her.
“Master, Rain and Electric are here!” They heard Wind’s shout from far away.
“Heart-Separating Confusion Powder, do you two have a solution?” Xiao Jian tried to speak calmly to Rain and Electric, though they were nominally his subordinates, he had never spoken to them as a master would.
Rain and Electric were stunned, as this poison had disappeared for many years.
Rain did not speak immediately but went to Bing Zhi’s side and took her pulse.
Electric stood in place and spoke: “Heart-Separating Confusion Powder is made by grinding the tender shoots of the hallucination grass into powder.”
Initially, the poisoned person shows no obvious symptoms, but after a while, mild hallucinations begin to appear. Later, the person starts to fall into a coma, progressively worsening until dying within the coma.
“This poison can enter the bloodstream through even the tiniest wound. The most common method of poisoning is to hide the powder under the fingernails, which then enters the blood when the skin is scratched. Thus, people usually don’t suspect a small wound could be fatal.” Electric briefly explained the poison, his voice steady, “The antidote requires thousand-year ginseng and the root of the hallucination grass. I always carry thousand-year ginseng, but the hallucination grass root is hard to obtain.”
“Does the poisoner typically carry the antidote?” Xiao Jian, after the initial panic, returned to his usual calm and sharp state.
Electric nodded, “Usually, and they keep it on their person.”
“Rain, I leave her to you! I want her to be alive until I bring back the antidote!” Xiao Jian commanded, “Electric, come with me.”
Without waiting for everyone’s reaction, Xiao Jian left silently with Electric.
“Princess Xuan Liu, I won’t say much else, give me the antidote!” Xiao Jin arrived at Princess Xuan Liu’s temporary residence of the Tuzu tribe and spoke directly.
Princess Xuan Liu did not respond to Xiao Jin’s words and said, “Xiao Jin, can you stop adding ‘Princess’ after my name every time? It sounds so distant!”
Xiao Jin’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his gaze sharp, “Do not test my patience, hand it over quickly!” If it weren’t for the special instructions not to take it by force, the incomplete root of the hallucination grass would lose its medicinal effect.
“I just scratched the face of your beloved, where’s the antidote? Don’t joke around. Shall we talk about something else?” Xuan Liu said carelessly, trying to lean closer to Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin’s figure flashed, and he appeared behind Xuan Liu.
“Princess Xuan Liu, I am still treating you with courtesy, do not overstep.” Xiao Jin said coldly. He originally did not want to expose her, but Bing was still in a coma, so he had no choice.
Xuan Liu’s smile stiffened, apparently not knowing what to say or how to respond.
“We’re almost there, let’s hurry up!” Xiao Jin put away the prepared pill and said to Dian. He was afraid they would be too late.
Dian laughed, “Master, don’t treat me like the wind. Even the wind probably couldn’t keep up with the speed you want right now. Anyway, there’s still rain there to look after things.”
I know you’re anxious, so you should go ahead first. I’ll catch up soon.” Unlike Wind and Thunder, Dian was known for his poison skills. He was called the Poison Guard.
“I overlooked that. Okay, come quickly,” Xiao Jin said casually after hearing Dian’s words, then leaped forcefully and disappeared.
Dian still had a faint smile, watching Xiao Jin leave his line of sight. He didn’t chase after him, but instead turned back.
…
“Where did you suddenly come from? Don’t tell me you’ve been here all along!” Xuan Liu was startled by Dian’s sudden appearance.
Dian smiled confidently, “Xuan Liu, right? I think there’s something you forgot to give me.”
“Then tell me what it is?” Xuan Liu was curious about Dian, not even calling herself a princess.
Dian explained to Xuan Liu, “Even with an antidote, someone poisoned by the Heart-Separating Confusion Powder will have difficulty recovering completely. After taking the antidote, the poisoned person will experience alternating hot and cold symptoms for two full days. Those with strong constitutions naturally won’t worry and will recover. But for those with weaker bodies, it might be fatal. You clearly saw her weak constitution but deliberately withheld the Warming Pill.”
“Xiao Jin only gave me a verbal promise.
How can I trust him completely? I need to keep moderate leverage for insurance. I don’t want empty promises,” Xuan Liu’s expression became serious. Her life experience told her never to trust anyone blindly, or she would only harm herself.
Yun Qi looked at Xiao Jin, thinking that this person must be the princess, and absolutely must not let her get close to Bing Zhi! Thinking this, Yun Qi also stood up, surrounding Xuan Liu with Xiao Jin.
“Don’t be nervous! I’m not here to harm anyone! It was that smart Electric who urged me to deliver it. Here! This is the Warming Pill!” Xuan Liu always spoke and acted half-true and half-false, making it hard for people to believe her.
“How can I trust you? What if this is poison?” Yun Qi refused to believe her and questioned.
Xuan Liu became angry, “Believe it or not! If she can’t bear the alternating cold and heat later, don’t blame me for not warning you!” Although she had never had a pleasant life since childhood, she would never let herself be wronged!
Mom, hiding this from you and Dad was my fault. I just didn’t want you to worry about me. In my letter, I only told you part of Bing Zhi’s background, deliberately omitting the rest. Before meeting me, she and Xiao Jin were already in love.
However, Bing Zhi’s identity is complicated, and Xiao Jin is the crown prince who may one day rule the empire. Additionally, Bing Zhi’s adoptive mother made her swear never to be with anyone from the royal family. So Bing Zhi decided to leave Xiao Jin and marry me.
Yun Qi spoke flatly, unwilling to inject any emotion. “So, even now, she doesn’t have you in her heart?” Xun Luo Xia carefully asked, sensing Yun Qi’s unstable emotions.
