The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 281 - 172: The Sorrow of Flowing Water

She is the poison-maker and poison-tester in the team; everyone trusts her judgment. Upon hearing her, everyone stopped, except the man surnamed Qian, who was the most impatient, having already gulped down a mouthful of water. His full name is Qian Lu, only in his twenties this year. Of course, he was also the most terrified at this moment and kept asking, "What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the water?"

She held the water up to her nose again, even dipping a little into her mouth to taste before speaking solemnly, "It’s Red Cloud Fruit! Someone has boiled the fruit to extract and purify its juice and sprinkled it into the stream upstream so that it flows down with the water!"

Wang Yue also knew a bit about Alchemy Dao and frowned upon hearing this, "The Red Cloud Fruit is incredibly fiery in nature. Isn’t it a substance that not only greatly nourishes but also boosts virility?" Many men are familiar with this kind of fruit, for reasons, well, please understand for yourself. This thing is not cheap in medicine shops either; one fruit costs four taels of silver. Anyone who uses it to extract its juice has certainly spared no expense.

But then, "Hao San" ordered Qian Lu to quickly spit out the water. After half a moment of effort, nearly retching his bile out as well, "Hao San" finally pulled out a Jade Bottle and poured out elixir pills for Qian Lu to take, while explaining, "Indeed, this fruit is highly nourishing, but when it comes into contact with realgar, it becomes highly toxic! It takes effect within two quarters of an hour, starting with severe abdominal pain like twisting, followed by convulsions throughout the body. Even after taking a Detoxification Pill, it will take two hours to neutralize."

Realgar! Several people’s faces changed color. After entering the secret realm, they all had to take medicines to repel insects and snakes, with realgar being a key ingredient. The person who poisoned the water was very cunning. They dropped the juice of the Red Cloud Fruit into the stream. This substance itself is not Poison, and no poison-testing method would detect it. But those who scoop the water to drink will absolutely be poisoned. Two quarters of an hour later, the person who poisoned the water just has to come out and take advantage of the situation.

Qian Lu was even more worried. "Hao San" shook her head at him, "Don’t worry, my medicine can cure your poison."

Just then, Pang Hai at the back made a "shush" sound with pursed lips, indicating that someone was approaching!

They were not foolish enough to stand together and be wiped out in one swoop, and so the five quickly dispersed throughout the small area, with Ning Xiaoxian positioned farthest to the rear. Sure enough, just as they settled into position, a group of people emerged from the forest ahead.

"Boss Pang, long time no see!" The leading man’s tense face immediately relaxed upon seeing Pang Hai.

However, Pang Hai was taken aback for a second, then he said sternly, "Ling Rongnan, it’s you!" His words carried anger as he drew a weapon from his waist. Seeing their leader ready to fight, the others also assumed defensive stances.

Ling Rongnan was startled and asked peculiarly, "What’s this for? We haven’t seen each other for many years, and the moment we meet, you serve this up?"

Pang Hai said sharply, "Quit pretending, was it you who poisoned the water?"

Ling Rongnan’s expression finally changed: "You know there’s poison in the water? Has anyone in your team drunk it?"

"No more nonsense! Are you stalling for time waiting for our poison to take effect?" Pang Hai couldn’t care less about talking anymore, and after flourishing his sword, he prepared to go forward, only to see the other man waving his hands frantically, "Don’t fight, don’t fight, don’t be hasty! Let me show you someone, and you will understand!"

Ling Rongnan had four people with him, and now a companion supported someone out. This person had a dark purple face, shaking all over, drooling white froth from his mouth, completely unconscious—clearly, he was poisoned!

Pang Hai made eye contact with "Hao San," who stepped forward a few paces, examined the man’s face, and then said, "He is indeed poisoned!"

There were also victims in the other team. Pang Hai and his people finally relaxed a bit, and Ling Rongnan urgently said, "We were traveling from the west to the east just now; this is our Scout, who came back to report there was a stream ahead and then collapsed. He probably drank some water from the stream earlier. Oddly, we tested the stream water and found no poison."

"Do you know who is responsible?"

"I have sent people upstream to check; they should be back soon." He glanced at Pang Hai’s team, "None of you drank the water, right?"

Pang Hai had a thought and denied it, "We did not!"

"That is good." Ling Rongnan seemed to heave a sigh of relief, then spoke earnestly, "We fed him medicine pills, but they haven’t worked so far. It seems this poison isn’t easy to cure!"

Pang Hai said, "The one who administered the drug put the juice of the Red Cloud Fruit into the stream. Upon coming into contact with realgar, the substance turns into a deadly poison."

"Is there a cure?"

Pang Hai glanced at Ning Xiaoxian. She knew the leader meant for her to detoxify, secretly sighing in her heart. If this were within the Cloud Tiger Trading Team, Deng Hao would definitely shoulder this responsibility alone and would never let her take the front. Such a hastily formed small team, after all, still focused on self-preservation. Today, she had already saved two lives for her team in the secret realm, yet Pang Hai still did not remember her kindness. It’s clear that he is not a virtuous type.