Chapter 9, yet another large ditch

Pei Qian seemed disdainful of engaging in a war of words with him, and with a faint smile, he took from Liu Yunsha the unparalleled poison "A Dream Laughs at Life and Death," which Fei Dexing had spent over twenty years of effort to develop, and brought it close to his nose to sniff.

Amidst the varied exclamations of the crowd, Pei Qian cast a cold glance at Liu Yunsha and strode out of the octagonal pavilion

Pei Qian folded the snow-white handkerchief, a look of pity and helplessness on his face as he walked to the ailing Fei Dexing, gently patting his shoulder and saying: "Why must it be this way? Why force me into a duel with you and even set a life-and-death agreement? Lord Fei, may you have a smooth journey ahead"

The flowing clouds and sands smile gently, as if not at all deceived by Pei Qian's inner turmoil or guilt.

He thinks that he is also someone who is afraid of the strong and bullies the weak. However, there is no need for self-deprecation, as everyone is like this. The key lies in your ability to secretly mold the hard into the soft, and then to trample it underfoot a few times, which will naturally eliminate your fear. ... Now he is no longer interested in squeezing soft persimmons like Tang Chao Sheng, but is quietly waiting for the call of Liu Yun Sha, waiting for the call of the hard persimmons ...

Pei Qian, on the other hand, is completely unprepared and is even less familiar with every blade of grass, every tree, every bird, and every insect here

He did not tell Fedexing this principle, nor did he inform the other party: the most venomous person in the world is still no match for the most venomous heart in the world

Pei Qian, however, did not let her go. After sitting down with a thud, he took out a stack of banknotes from his pocket and waved them in front of Hua Lingyao, boasting, "By the way, I also won a large sum of money from the old goat in a bet!"

Fedexing could not help but slightly change his expression, looking towards the flowing clouds and sand, as if he were suspecting that there was some trickery involved in this matter

Fei Dexing's body trembled violently, and he looked up at Pei Qian in disbelief, his throat making gasping sounds, yet he could not utter a single word.

Pei Qian asked, "According to the agreement, it must be materials from this hundred herb garden. Does my own body count as well?"

The two individuals faced each other, initially employing their seasoned skills to examine the components of the poison in each other's concoctions. They then took a small amount and held it in their mouths for a moment. Subsequently, Fei Dexing took out a collection of assorted bottles, tinkered with them for a while, and after a couple of gulps, swallowed the poison that Pei Qian had prepared for him.

The two individuals acted in unison. The time limit for the first round was three incense sticks. Fei Dexing was clearly well-prepared, with various tools for drug production and refinement filling one corner of the octagonal pavilion. This was his territory, so he quickly found the necessary materials without much effort and began the intense process of refinement.

Pei Qian was taken aback and murmured, "Since when have we been able to use the word 'trust' between us?"

He found himself once again in a ditch, and this ditch was unfathomably deep, sufficient to submerge him completely

Pei Qian remained as usual, ignoring what Fei Dexing was gathering, and wandered around aimlessly. Then, as if keeping to a rhythm, he casually picked a few poisonous plants and collected some pollen to suit the occasion

Liu Yunsha, half-smiling and half-serious, said: "Oh, is that so? It seems that my good intentions in acting as an arbitrator have instead brought trouble upon myself"

Pei Qianwei angrily said: "He knows my background, yet I don't even know who he is. How can that be acceptable?"

Pei Qian smiled, a strange smile lingering on his face for quite some time, and then said: "Then let's get started!"

He walked out of the gate of the Baicao Garden, and the people on both sides cast looks of awe. Just a moment ago, they had thought that the young man who entered would be carried out. Yet now, not only did he walk out on his own, but he also managed to poison Fei Dexing, who was reputed to be one of the top ten poison experts in Yunlu, to death in the octagonal pavilion

Pei Qian suddenly turned his head and smiled at him, picked up the small knife on the table, and cut his fingertip, letting the blood drip into the bowl. He exaggeratedly bared his teeth and said: "Lord Fei, weren't you looking for poison? Here it is!"

He felt a shiver run down his spine. After today's duel, Pei Qian undoubtedly gained a deeper understanding of the terrifying nature of Liu Yunsha and others. Fortunately, he had been tempered into steel under the hands of the old ghost; had it been someone else, they would either have been toyed with to death or driven to madness.

This astonishment has turned into a sensation, as more people rush to the old goat to seize the last opportunity to buy Pei Qian.

Qi Wuting was at a loss for words, turning to Liuyun Sha and saying: "My lord, the outcome has been determined, please announce the end of the duel at once"

Pei Qian observed quietly, smiling inwardly. He was not at all concerned that the other party could decipher this carefully concocted poison; rather, he worried that this fellow's thick skin was no less than his own, and that he might abandon the bowl of medicine and concede without a care.

Pei Qian replied nonchalantly, "I am unworthy of the expectations of the esteemed head of the institution."

He stared blankly at the drifting clouds and sand that had receded to the side, yet he could not glean any desired information from the other person's smile

I am the true number one poison in the world! Your pathetic poison is so inferior that I wouldn't even consider it candy. Pei Qian's voice was icy, I am immune to all poisons, do you want to play with me? I will play you to death! Fool—

Liu Yunsha scoffed and said, "This is what I want to say to you as well—Qi Jiangshu, do not put on airs here. Why not reveal your true abilities and let this old man broaden his horizons?"

Liu Yunsha furrowed her brows without saying anything and handed the bowl of clear green poison, prepared by Fei Dexing, to Pei Qian

However, he still stayed quietly in his residence for two days, carefully considering the myriad complexities of the situation

The flowing clouds and the sound of sand remain unchanged, as if it had long been anticipated that it would be this way. Calmly, it said: "Then let us begin the next round."

Qiu Huosheng chuckled, not taking offense, thinking to himself that if this kid didn't explode in anger, it would truly indicate he had something to hide

In order to provide some comfort to the other party in their final moments, Pei Qian, after much deliberation, reluctantly took out a blood-activating pill from the pouch, and with great reluctance, placed it in their mouth, chewed it into pieces, and slowly swallowed it

Fei Dexing spat out blood, how could he still have the energy to argue with her? In a moment of desperation, Qi Wuting shouted angrily: "Duan Min, what despicable means did you use to plot against Master Fei? Hand over the antidote now!"

Pei Qian bowed to Qiu Huosheng and said, "Then I shall take my leave first." He turned back three times as he left the forest, heading towards Baode Villa. After walking a considerable distance, he still saw Qiu Huosheng standing in place, gazing at him with a smile.

The rules are quite simple and can be summarized in a few sentences: Within a limited time of three segments, the two participants may use any materials available in the herb garden to concoct three doses of poison on-site, which they must then have the other party consume in a hasty manner within the duration of a single incense stick. Whoever remains standing is deemed the winner. The one who falls, however, will have a death warrant issued, and no one is permitted to seek revenge afterward.

Hua Lingyao said: "Do not attempt to find him. But you can believe in him as you believe in me"

Those friends and relatives supporting Fedex were all astonished, wanting to reach out to help but fearing the contamination of the deadly poison, they could only watch helplessly as he desperately poured the antidote into his mouth

At the foot of the hillside outside the Hundred Herb Garden, there stands a man who has been waiting there for a long time. He should have been sitting in the Tianyang Cave or at the Octagonal Pavilion, eagerly watching the outcome of this duel. Yet, he chose to stand alone at the foot of the hillside, waiting for the person who would stride out from the Hundred Herb Garden.

Liu Yunsha bitterly smiled and said: "The duel has already concluded, but since Lord Fei has signed the death warrant, I cannot force Lord Duan to hand over the antidote. If this were to spread, who would dare to take the responsibility for tarnishing Lord Fei's reputation by acting out of personal interest?"

Pei Qianxin was secretly taken aback; this was the first time he had heard the term "Tianyang Cave Plan." Realizing that he was gradually approaching Tianyang Cave, he grumbled, "I don't care about any plans or whatever. Director Qiu, you will receive my resignation tomorrow morning. This position... should be the deputy academic attendant, right? I can't do it and don't want to do it either"

He was indifferent to Pei Qian, as he was thoroughly enjoying counting the 1,300 taels of winnings he had won from the old goat, casually pocketing them and returning home fully loaded

What is going on? A chill ran down Pei Qian's spine as he suddenly realized that perhaps Liu Yunsha and the others did not truly want to kill Fedel, but rather him!

Pei Qian finally managed to extract a bit of the old man Qiu's true thoughts, and it was time to stop while ahead—this truly was a broken-down vehicle. Tang Yinbo and Fei Dexing had spared themselves, but the lady of the house would not let him off easily

Pei Qian fixed his gaze on Hua Lingyao and said: "So it is indeed true that one of your people is lurking in this villa, and this person's status is not low, sufficient to bring you in through the old goat without anyone noticing, correct?"

In the past two days, a representative from the Liuyun Shayan Institute personally reached out to express condolences, offering a sincere and effective apology to the unfortunate student Tang Chaosheng, along with a compensation of one hundred taels for medical expenses and five hundred taels as慰问金.

The results were strikingly similar; Fedexing resorted to both medication and exercises to expel the poison, while Pei Qian needed nothing at all, merely strolling in the octagonal pavilion, as if the toxins within him naturally dissipated.

He still does not believe that the other party has trusted him unreservedly, nor does he believe that these people have gone to great lengths to test him, solely for the so-called "Tianyang Cave Project." Perhaps the "Tianyang Cave Project" does exist, but it is certainly not merely for the purpose of creating improved cloud thunder. But if not for this, then what is the reason?

As if responding to a voice, Fedexing suddenly let out a loud roar, breaking free from Qi Wuting's embrace and collapsing to the ground. Dark green poisonous blood slowly spread out from beneath him, causing everyone to retreat hastily for fear of getting even a slight touch of it

It is evident that Liu Yunsha played a trick on himself. He had no intention of resorting to any underhanded tactics in this duel

Everyone held their breath, and they also saw Pei Qian calmly swallow the bowl of "A Dream of Laughter and Life and Death"

Fortunately, Fedexing did not do so; he consumed more than ten kinds of homemade antidotes before gradually bringing the bowl of poison to his lips

Over there, Pei Qian seemed oblivious, smiling as he set down the bowl in his hand and said: "Lord Fei, your 'Green Mountains and Clear Waters', 'Homes in the Clouds', and finally this dish 'A Dream of Laughter and Life and Death' are indeed exquisite, and I humbly accept them. It is a pity that after playing with poison for most of your life, you still do not understand one principle—"

Pei Qian was uncertain as he walked, lost in thought. When he caught sight of his residence from a distance, a thought suddenly sprang to mind, causing the goosebumps that had just subsided to rise again with intensity.

Pei Qian shook his head and said, "Qi Jiangshu, your statement is incorrect. What despicable means have I employed? Please elaborate."

The second duel was limited to the duration of two incense sticks, and the detoxification time was also reduced by twenty percent. Fei Dexing moved around the entire venue, employing a series of dazzling and eye-opening poison-making techniques, and before the time ran out, he presented a small cluster of white powder.

Fei Dexing finally realized that he had encountered a formidable opponent. Although Pei Qian had prepared the first two poisons in a very simple and ordinary manner, he no longer dared to be negligent. This is because true masters of poison often excel in the art of "hidden poison." The so-called "hidden poison" refers to the practice of first having the opponent consume a few seemingly ordinary and even harmless medicines, and then, through a certain catalyst, unleashing all the medicinal properties to create a terrifying poison that erodes the intestines and bones, which cannot be neutralized, aiming for a single fatal strike.

Thus, after a few days of feeling down, classmate Tang Chaosheng returned to school the next day with his still-swollen head, proudly spreading the news everywhere. Upon learning that classmate Tang Chaosheng had regained hope in life and returned to his lively way of living, Pei Qian merely smiled faintly and said nothing

Qiu Huosheng smiled and said, "Brother Duan, I knew it had to be you who walked out alive from the Baicao Garden."

Even though Pei Qian was audacious, he could not help but gasp in shock at this thought, and he pushed open the gate of his residence.

Hua Lingyao then said: "You should always maintain a degree of vigilance towards the old goat; he is not one of us"

Fedexing felt a jolt in his heart, yet he disdainfully snorted through his nose, saying: "Creating an air of mystery!"

The sandalwood was reduced to a small stub. Fei Dexing's body suddenly trembled lightly as he raised his head to look at Pei Qian, his face filled with horror and confusion. In a hoarse and reluctant voice, he asked, "What exactly is in this...?" His complexion instantly turned green, with numerous shocking purple spots appearing, which soon spread across his entire skin. A deep green froth began to ooze from the corners of his mouth.

Pei Qiandao: "If the old goat is not one of your people, how could you have entered the villa through his connections"

Qi Wuting was taken aback, thinking that Liu Yunsha was mocking her for her promiscuous skills in bed. Her delicate features suddenly twisted into a grimace, and without fearing the deadly poison, she picked up Fei Dexing's corpse and wordlessly rushed out of the octagonal pavilion

Hua Lingyao paused her task and said, "Indeed, we do have our own people within Baode Mountain Villa. However, I hope you will not attempt to inquire or verify this, as it would pose a danger to you, me, and that person."

As the time limit of the three incense sticks was about to expire, Pei Qian leisurely picked a bellflower and obtained a bit of the venom from a jade toad, returning to the octagonal pavilion. With a few swift movements, he mixed these two items together and handed them to Liu Yunsha, who was acting as the arbitrator.

He grasped Pei Qian's arm and said: "What does being a deputy lecturer count for? All core members of the 'Tianyang Cave Project' are officials of the fourth rank or above, as recorded and approved by the Ministry of War. Although it cannot be publicly announced for the time being, it has long been documented in the archives of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel."

As for what to do next, how will Federer react upon hearing the news? Pei Qian is currently unwilling to think about it—if a person thinks too much, they will dare not do anything, ultimately leading to a life of mediocrity, forever trampled underfoot by others

In contrast, Pei Qian remained unperturbed, showing no signs of distress as he paced back and forth around the octagonal pavilion, exhibiting not a trace of poisoning from within to without

However, given the circumstances, Fedexing could not back down at this critical moment. Hundreds of eyes were watching him and Pei Qian; at this moment, anyone who gave up would no longer be able to make a living in the Cloud Military Academy.

The crowd could not help but be greatly astonished. Although experts in poison like Duan Min and Fei Dexing, who have long been in close contact with toxic substances, naturally develop antibodies over time that can resist ordinary toxins, it is simply unheard of for someone like Pei Qian to drink a large bowl of poison without needing any antidotes and still stroll about leisurely. Unless what he drank was not poison, but rather Bi Luo Chun.

Qi Wuting half-embraced Fei Dexing and hissed, "Liu Yunsha, Duan Min, if Master Fei dies, you will not have good days either"

Eighteen out of twenty times, they intend to use themselves to poison someone who is even harder to kill than Fei De Xing. The life and death of this person will involve the factional struggles and the very face of the nation.

For these individuals, the eradication of the Red Flag Army is certainly important. However, what is even more crucial is their power and interests

The announcement of all the rules by Liu Yunsha was completed swiftly, yet Pei Qian's hands and feet became icy cold

He did not immediately run to Hengyuexuan to host a grand banquet in a hurry, but quietly stayed at home

At present, Qiu Huosheng patted Pei Qian on the shoulder and said: "Alright, you should take a few days to rest before anything else. The other matters will be handled by me and Brother Liuyun, so you can rest assured and focus on your recovery. Once you have rested enough, Brother Liuyun will come to find you"

Pei Qian no longer probed into the matter, yet felt it was indeed necessary to secretly meet Old Ghost once in violation of the prohibition

Qi Wuting fell to the ground, realizing that with Fedexing's death, she was left isolated and powerless. Continuing to fight would bring no benefit. She glared resentfully at Liu Yunsha and said: "Lord Liu Yun, if you want to keep something from others, you must first refrain from doing it yourself. What you think cannot deceive me"

However, all remedial measures have proven futile. This is a duel with a predetermined outcome. Although the process was entirely unexpected for Pei Qian, the conclusion appeared remarkably perfect. Only Qi Wuting still had some sense of loyalty, rushing forward and calling out: "Master Fei, you must hold on, do not fall!"

Pei Qian did not use any antidote; instead, he directly poured a bowl of poison into his mouth. Wiping his lips, he fixed his gaze on Fei Dexing

"Why do you harbor such resentment towards me and Brother Liuyun?" Qiu Huosheng said in a calm manner, affectionately placing the large hand that had caused countless lives to suffer due to the Thunder in the Clouds on Pei Qian's shoulder, and continued, "I can understand your feelings at this moment. However, Brother Liuyun's actions are also driven by his own difficulties."

There was not the slightest hint of fraud, nor any favoritism; as he himself stated—this is a fair and just battle, one that must leave the opponent speechless and embarrassed. Now, Pei Qian has achieved what he sought. He indeed has nothing to say, but it is not necessarily the case that Fedexing is left embarrassed.

Pei Qian was taken aback for a moment, then put away the banknote and asked, "If they are not your people, then whose people are they?"

Although this is a ban issued by the old ghost, Pei Qian believes that even the old ghost himself does not believe this ban is effective against him. In Pei Qian's eyes, all these nonsensical bans are meant to be broken; otherwise, what is their purpose?

Fedexing stared nervously at Pei Qian's every move, trying to find clues from the other party's actions

I am not sure," Hua Lingyao said, "I am afraid that if you get too close to him, it will reveal our identities.

Many people have begun to reassess Pei Qian's abilities and background, after all, no one wants to be poisoned without understanding the reasons behind it

He stepped into the small hall, his face beaming with the satisfaction of a triumphant return, and exclaimed: "I am back!"

Hua Lingyao ignored him—Pei Qian entered the door with a beaming expression, which already indicated the outcome of the duel

When Fedexing handed over the poison he had prepared to Liuyunsha, he noticed that his hands were slightly trembling. Recalling that Pei Qian had actually borrowed Liuyunsha's carriage to stay overnight at a brothel in Yunchong Town last night, his previously unwavering confidence began to waver uncontrollably.

Pei Qian calmly spread a handful of assorted flowers and herbs he had picked on the table, skillfully cutting and selecting them with a small knife that both parties had already verified to be non-toxic, ultimately leaving only a fraction in the copper bowl.

He then began to crush the herbs, tossing a semi-finished product of which he himself was unaware into the empty bowl beside him

In the third round, the time limit is only one incense stick, and the time for detoxification is reduced to half an incense stick.

Thus, Hua Lingyao had long predicted: this group of scoundrels must have grand ambitions

Pei Qian seemed to be moved, and his footsteps unconsciously slowed down significantly. Qiu Huosheng seized the opportunity to say: "Once the plan is successfully implemented, in my estimation, you, Brother Duan, will certainly not be able to escape from the grasp of a third-rank official's attire. At that time, you can personally lead the troops to follow General Tang in clearing out the bandits in the mountains, and achieving merit and success will be a matter of course"

Fei Dexing is truly the pitiable one—he is merely a test subject, a victim used to assess his own toxic skills. However, Tang Yinbo, and even the general Tang behind him, as well as the Yuqing Sect hidden further back, could not possibly mobilize such forces solely for Yun Zhonglei.

What we need is a top-notch poison expert to accomplish the significant mission assigned by the 'Tianyang Cave Project.' Qiu Huosheng led Pei Qian into the forest and said slowly: "Thus, my brother Liushasheng and I set up this scheme at hetushu.com to see if you could defeat Fei Dexing and retreat unscathed in a situation where you were completely unprepared. Indeed, you did not disappoint us. Brother Duan, do you know that from the moment you stepped out of the Baicao Garden, you have already been implicitly recognized as one of the core figures of the 'Tianyang Cave Project'?"

In less than a moment, Fedexing's body reacted; first, a layer of light purple began to seep from his skin, followed by wisps of fine smoke rising from the top of his head, as he was using his internal energy to expel the residual toxins within. Approximately when half of the sandalwood had burned away, he returned to normal, completely neutralizing the dual toxicity of the bellflower and the saliva of the jade toad within his body.

Fei Dexing was half-leaning on the table, staring intently at Pei Qian. Pei Qian said leisurely, "The most poisonous in this world is not these flowers or grasses, but people. Don't think I'm joking..." He took out a handkerchief to wipe the medicine-stained lips, and a very faint voice entered Fei Dexing's ear.

Pei Qianshen took a deep breath and asked, "Lord Liusha, may I ask a question before we begin?"

He pretended to hesitate and said, "Lord Qiu, I would like to rest for a few days first, may I?"

Upon seeing him, Pei Qian had no choice but to stop and hurriedly clasp his fists in salute, saying: "Director Qiu!"

Thus, he observed carefully the herbs that Pei Qian was picking. Regrettably, no matter how many times he searched through all the knowledge about poisons in his mind, he still could not discern what kind of medicine Pei Qian was selling in his gourd

Hua Lingyao said softly, "There are certainly other ways."

Many people hurriedly rushed to the old goat's gambling table, each changing their bets to place additional stakes on Pei Qian.

Pei Qianyi, behaving unusually, hurriedly ran through the Baicao Garden, picking flowers and herbs as he walked. He seemed to pay no attention at all, simply grabbing whatever he could and tossing it into the basket as if it were for a mixed vegetable dish

Hua Lingyao was also taken aback, silently stepping out to wash the cloth, her silhouette particularly beautiful

Qi Wuting suddenly soared into the air, her left hand splayed with fingers outstretched, aiming at Pei Qian's back, saying: "Duansheng, come and take your life!"

Strangely enough, when the busy figure of Hua Lingyao came into view, Pei Qian's turbulent heart suddenly calmed down significantly. One cannot help but wonder what kind of power this young girl possesses that allows one to let go of fear

Liu Yunsha's figure moved slightly, reaching out to grasp Qi Wuting's ankle, forcibly pulling her down from the air. In a cold voice, he said: "Qi Jiangshu, have you forgotten my words? This is a duel with a life-and-death contract; no one is allowed to seek revenge afterwards"

Liu Yunsha expressed with some regret: "Indeed, Deputy Scholar Shi has been feeling unwell these past few days and is unable to visit in person to apologize, so I can only entrust myself to convey his apologies on his behalf"

Qiu Huosheng knew that Pei Qian had already agreed, but he needed a few days to save face. That said, if this guy were to throw aside the previous boycott without a second thought and joyfully bounce into Tianyang Cave, Qiu Huosheng would actually start to have doubts.

For Pei Qian, such a duel is almost like child's play. A true master of poison would never confront you face-to-face with open blades and guns. All the steps would be carried out in secrecy, and the only moment one would realize the existence of a poison expert is at the instant of succumbing to the poison.

He strolled slowly in the Hundred Herb Garden with his hands behind his back, his gaze wandering and elusive, unaware of what thoughts occupied his mind

Fei Dexing was also fully focused on preparing the antidote; although his movements were swift, a hint of hesitation had already emerged.

As for Tang Yinbo's remarks last night, they can now be understood as a poisoned reassurance, to prevent him from fleeing at the critical moment. Otherwise, after his son endured a beating, what reason would the father have to travel such a long distance just to seek justice, yet instead speak kindly of the assailant Pei Qian? This is simply unreasonable

Liu Yunsha was taken aback, looking at the coldly smiling and silent Fei Dexing. Fei Dexing shook his head and said, "If you want to cut a piece of your own flesh to serve as a drink for me, I would not refuse."