Thousand-Grass Poison Pearl

The night was bleak and cold.

It was April, yet a chill still lingered in the evening air.

Under the dim, yellow light of an old streetlamp, Xue Ming looked down at the fallen Xue Ruirui, a cold, indifferent smirk curling his lips.

Having been force-fed poison, Xue Ruirui lay curled up on the ground, shivering as if she were trapped in an ice cave. Her hands and feet were terrifyingly cold.

"Why don't you just kill me!" Xue Ruirui asked, her voice hoarse.

Her pretty face was pale and drained of all color, looking as though she was hanging by a thread, on the verge of death.

"Killing you would be effortless, but where is the fun in that?"

Xue Ming smiled, but the look in his eyes was terrifying and macabre. "Junior Sister, want to make a bet? Will your man die for you?"

Over a thousand types of poisonous herbs had been refined to create this poison, forming the Thousand Herb Poison Bead!

It could be said that apart from him, no one in this world could provide the cure.

"You animal!"

Xue Ruirui gritted her teeth, tears slowly spilling from the corners of her eyes.

She knew clearly that Xue Ming's true target was Zhang Fan!

"Just last year, that kid was merely an unremarkable intern doctor. To achieve what he has today in just one short year... the secret behind it is truly tempting," Xue Ming said indifferently.

His current strength was the result of decades of bitter cultivation, enduring the torture of various poisonous insects and herbs day after day.

Why should these guys be able to so easily obtain the power that remained out of his reach?

Xue Ruirui quietly pulled out a dagger and aimed it at her own throat.

Rather than being used as a hostage to threaten Zhang Fan, she would rather end her own life.

The moment she thrust the dagger downward, Xue Ming flicked his finger, shooting out a burst of energy that struck Xue Ruirui's wrist with precision.

The dagger slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground, where he immediately stepped on it.

"Want to die? It's not that easy. Your mission isn't finished yet!"

Xue Ming looked at her with a sinister gaze.

Just then, a cold glint appeared behind him.

A sharp dagger stabbed toward Xue Ming.

Clang!

Xue Ming spun around, holding a short blade horizontally to block the dagger's attack.

"Not bad!"

Xue Ming stared faintly at Zhang Fan and spoke slowly, "You finally came!"

Ghost Vine was very strong, but for some reason, Xue Ming had felt that Ghost Vine was not Zhang Fan's match.

It seemed his guess was correct.

"Ah Fan!"

The moment Xue Ruirui saw Zhang Fan, all her toughness collapsed in an instant, and tears overflowed.

Zhang Fan's heart ached. "I'm late."

His eyes stared coldly at Xue Ming. "Hand over the antidote!"

Xue Ming sneered. "Come and take it if you have the skill!"

Biting spiritual energy began to swirl around them.

A jade-green spiritual light emerged from Zhang Fan's body, and his form actually began to dissolve into a faint mist.

Then, his dagger thrust toward Xue Ming at a bizarre angle!

Xue Ming's eyes turned cold; this guy's weirdness exceeded his expectations!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The short blade and the dagger collided madly!

Dazzling sparks flew in all directions as their figures moved through the night like ghosts.

After dozens of rounds, neither had gained the upper hand.

"Poison is useless against me!"

Xue Ming gripped his short blade and took a step back, looking at the poison mist swirling around them with a strange smile.

Zhang Fan's gaze was icy, a touch of jade-green light winding around his fingertips!

Suddenly, the sky-filling poison mist exploded. The green light surged, and Xue Ming, trapped within it, could not dodge and took the attack head-on.

"Argh!"

A shrill scream rang out.

Zhang Fan's agile figure, like a sharp blade, cut through the poison mist and stabbed toward Xue Ming!

Rip!

The dagger's edge sliced through, and blood sprayed.

A shocking wound was carved across Xue Ming's chest.

"Hand over the antidote!"

Zhang Fan's eyes were covered in red veins as he spoke with chilling killing intent, slowly closing in.

At this moment, he looked like a crazed, trapped beast!

Xue Ming grinned, revealing a ferocious smile. "Impressive. As expected of the Poison Doctor Zhang Fan. With such clean and efficient skills, it's a pity you aren't an assassin."

Zhang Fan attacked again!

Xue Ming's expression turned cold, and he flung the short blade in his hand, turning it into a streak of light.

His target was Xue Ruirui!

At such a short distance, interception was impossible.

Xue Ruirui watched helplessly as the dagger drew closer, instinctively closing her eyes.

Drip!

Blood dripped onto the ground.

Zhang Fan's mist-like figure appeared in front of Xue Ruirui, hugging her and blocking the short blade with his back.

The blade pierced through his chest, blood flowing down the edge.

"Don't be afraid," Zhang Fan said softly, stroking her head.

"Idiot, do you want to die?!"

Xue Ruirui bit her lower lip, crying.

"Strange indeed!"

Xue Ming also clutched his wound and slowly climbed up, speaking mockingly, "Xue Ruirui has three days left to live. In three days, bring me the answer I want. Otherwise, you can collect your woman's corpse."

Zhang Fan stared coldly at Xue Ming.

He absolutely could not let this guy get away!

Clang!

Xue Ming seemed to have predicted Zhang Fan's attack, waving his blade to block it steadily.

The mist dispersed, revealing Zhang Fan's figure.

Both were heavily injured. If they continued to fight, it was uncertain who would die!

"Three days later, same place!"

Xue Ming swung his blade to force Zhang Fan back.

Zhang Fan stood unsteadily, blood spilling from his chest.

In terms of injuries, his were clearly more severe!

Xue Ming mocked, "Don't attempt to treat her. Of course, if you believe your medical skills are superior, feel free to try."

As he spoke, a swirling black vortex slowly appeared behind Xue Ming.

He leaped backward and was swallowed by the black hole.

At that moment, Zhang Fan's dagger slashed through the air, hitting nothing. He stumbled a few steps before coming to a stop.

"Ruirui..."

Zhang Fan walked back with difficulty.

Xue Ruirui had already fallen into a coma and collapsed on the ground.

...

Jiangbei City, inside a luxurious villa.

"Muxuan, help me bring the bowls over."

In the kitchen, Qin Yao stirred with a ladle as she spoke to Shen Muxuan.

Shen Muxuan picked up a large stack of bowls and walked over unsteadily. "Coming, coming."

Qin Yao quickly took them from her. "Be careful."

Shen Muxuan watched Qin Yao's skilled knife work with envy. "Yao Yao, you're really amazing."

Qin Yao chuckled softly. "This is nothing. Cooking is easy to learn. With such a well-equipped kitchen, it would be a waste not to use it."

In school, Qin Yao was known as the all-around campus queen. She won scholarships every year for her studies, held national awards for piano, played on the varsity volleyball team, and possessed computer skills that rivaled hackers. She was the quintessential perfect child every parent wished for.

In her view, cooking was also a simple task.

"Do you need any help?"

An Yi looked into the kitchen and asked curiously.

Seeing these two girls together gave him a strange feeling of maladjustment, as if they were plotting something bad.

However, seeing two graceful and curvaceous figures wearing aprons and busy in the kitchen was quite pleasing to the eye.

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow. "What can you make?"

Shen Muxuan smiled beamingly. "An Yi can cook instant noodles."

An Yi chuckled and added, "I can also make cup noodles."

Qin Yao: "..."

"Forget it, just go rest. Leave the cooking to the women."

Qin Yao laughed lightly and lifted the pot lid. Inside was a mass of pitch-black, indistinguishable stuff.

A gloom settled over An Yi's heart, and he felt a faint, ominous premonition.