Most of the herbs collected today were placed in the pharmacy. Nan Shiying only brought back one item: the Rakshasa Mandara.
The azure snake's tail was coiled around Nan Shiying’s fair wrist, its head held high, still flicking its tongue menacingly at the toxic creatures filling the room. In biological terms, its message was clear: This is my territory, get out!
However, it was still a young snake, not yet a fully grown Azure King Snake, and its threats to these venomous beings were virtually nonexistent.
The Rakshasa Mandara, growing in bloody, damp places.
An herbaceous plant.
A close relative of the Datura from the nightshade family, but with more potent toxicity. Its petals and roots were as black as ink, while the center of the flower and its stem were a lighter shade. Despite its overall blackness, it was a black that shimmered with myriad colors. The most toxic part of the Rakshasa Mandara was its petals, followed by its roots. The darker its hue, the stronger its poison.
Logically, poisonous creatures should not be attracted to the Rakshasa Mandara, unless... Nan Shiying suddenly smiled. She leaped up, landing steadily on the cabinet, and watched with a cold gaze as the venomous creatures crawled toward the bedside cabinet.
"Clang!"
The dense swarm of venomous creatures crashed headlong, overturning the stool and knocking over the vase. The stool struck a snake and several centipedes and toads. The toads let out prolonged croaks. Even without understanding the meaning of their croaks, one could guess they were likely screaming in agony and cursing.
The night was deep, the rustling sounds, coupled with the toads' screams and the howling of the rising cold wind outside, created an eerie and sinister atmosphere. If a few flickering green and red lanterns were to appear outside now, it would be a grand spectacle of the underworld.
Qing Yuan hugged her quilt tightly, burying her head beneath it, not a single strand of hair exposed.
The wind today was truly strange, whipping through the treetops and making the branches whistle. Branches near the house struck the doorframe, emitting "creak, creak" sounds like ghostly claws scratching at the door.
Accompanied by the wind, she could always hear some frog croaks.
Where would frogs come from in the middle of winter!
Qing Yuan sniffled. Second Peak was good in every way, except for the sparse population, making it terrifyingly worse during fierce winds at night.
Wuwu, I should have gone back with Qing Ning!!
Qing Yuan regretted it so much her intestines turned green.
"Creak~"
The sound of the door being pushed open was hidden within these creaking sounds. A ball rolled into the room through the gap.
Strange, why was there a scent of Shui Yan Cao?
Qing Yuan blinked. Could it be that while washing her quilt she accidentally… As soon as she thought this, Qing Yuan closed her eyes, tilted her head, and suddenly fell asleep.
Old Du sorted his sleeves and walked towards Nan Shiying's room.
The back mountain of Medicine King Valley was already teeming with snakes, insects, rats, and ants. However, the inside and outside of the houses had been sprinkled with medicine, and every inch of land in Medicine King Valley had been permeated with the scents of various herbs over the years. Therefore, logically, this should be a place snakes and insects would not dare to tread, let alone come in such swarms.
Old Du kicked open the door, scanned the surroundings, and finally his gaze fell upon the figure in the upper right corner of his vision, whose scalp was almost touching the ceiling.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Upon seeing Old Du, Nan Shiying grinned at him.
Old Du: "..."
Old Du took a step back, reached out to close the door, turned, and retreated. All his movements were fluid, as if he had rehearsed them thousands of times. Before he had been visible for a second, he vanished again into the night.
Nan Shiying tutted.
This old man!
Nan Shiying paid him no mind. She adjusted her sitting posture, propped her chin with her hand, and calmly watched the five poisons climb onto the bed, reach the bedside table, open the cabinet, overturn the drawers, and then unleash their fury upon the glazed bottle.
The scorpion used its tail; the toad used its tongue; the centipede attempted to deliver a thousand-legged strike with its legs, but before the glazed bottle could be opened, a few unlucky ones were tragically killed by their allies.
Nan Shiying hadn't seen such a comical scene in a long time. The last time she had a similar sensation was in that dark shop in Jinmen City.
After a great deal of effort, the glazed bottle was finally opened.
The first toad to come into contact with the Rakshasa Mandara petals took a bite, but within seconds, it dissolved into a pool of blood.
One by one, the five poisons rushed forward, quickly turning into pools of blood.
Soon, the glazed bottle was filled with blood.
Nan Shiying showed no surprise or shock. She simply leaped onto the table, grabbed the cauldron, and jumped out of the window.
"Why did you come out?"
Old Du hadn't gone far, remaining under the eaves. He had thought his unlucky disciple would watch inside for a whole night or perhaps take action to kill those venomous creatures. He never expected her to be forced out in the end.
He had been smiling all along, but as he approached and saw her dressed so lightly and barefoot, his face fell. He turned back into his room to retrieve a coat and shoes, then grumpily threw them at her feet. "Put them on quickly!"
Nan Shiying wasn't actually cold, but she obediently put on the ill-fitting shoes, socks, and coat.
"What exactly happened?"
Seeing her comply, Old Du continued his inquiry.
"Blood Moon!"
Nan Shiying spoke slowly.
Blood Moon was not a reference to a blood-colored moon, but the name of a poison.
The Rakshasa Mandara was the main ingredient in the creation of this poison. The refining method was simple: throw the flower into the cauldron, then add the five poisons. Once the five poisons had completely melted, add the powder of dried and ground Ming Xu grass to the liquid, followed by the powders of Jue Ling Zi, Jade Golden Flower, and Self-Heal. Mix evenly, then expose to sunlight and grind.
This poison caused instant death upon contact with blood. Even if a celestial being descended, it would be of no avail.
Furthermore, merely smelling this poison was enough to cause poisoning.
"What is… that?"
Old Du parted his lips, looked up at the moon hanging high in the sky, then down at the ground.
Nan Shiying was silent for two seconds before looking at Old Du. "So, has the method for refining Blood Moon been lost?"
Old Du: "..."
Although he did not receive a definitive answer, Old Du understood. Blood Moon was the name of a pill or poison!
However, judging by the name and her reaction, it was likely a poison.
Old Du coughed. The awkwardness of his disciple knowing something he didn't was not well displayed on Old Du. He didn't feel it was a big deal. After all, the sea of knowledge was boundless, and in the realm of poisons, his disciple was truly surpassing the master. She was, after all, a formidable individual who could only poison and not heal at the start.
He was more curious about what kind of poison Blood Moon was, and why she had mentioned it after jumping out of the house. What was the connection between Blood Moon and the current situation?
Nan Shiying did not immediately answer Old Du's questions. She stood in place, surveying the surroundings, and after a long while, she withdrew her gaze.
Although the room contained only the glazed bottle filled with blood, and although Blood Moon was merely a semi-finished product, the toxic gas permeating the room was enough to kill an adult male lion.
Was this a murder, a warning, or a gift?