“What the hell are you talking about?! Do you think your measly poisons can deal with a Cultivator? That’s a joke! If you want to die, don’t drag the whole village down with you!”
Niu Hu roared, scolding Niu Er.
“Heh heh, so what if he’s a Cultivator? Don’t they die too?! If poison doesn’t work, we naturally have other methods. If he wasn’t severely injured, we wouldn’t dare show the slightest disrespect even if we had the guts of a leopard, but now, it seems we have to risk our lives!”
Niu Er took a big gulp of wine and continued, “Damn it, you saw all that gold he took out today, didn’t you? That gold is enough to feed and clothe our village for several years! Besides, we’re not just after the gold! If we find a Cultivation Technique from him, then we’ll really be rich, that’s the real treasure! By then, everyone in our village could be an Immortal. Think about your sons and grandsons, doesn’t that tempt you?”
It must be said that Niu Er’s words were very alluring, and at first listen, they made some sense. Niu Hu was also somewhat tempted.
As for Niu San and Niu Dashan, their breathing visibly quickened, and their eyes were filled with fanaticism, likely already dreaming of flying, escaping the earth, and achieving immortality.
For a time, no one in the room spoke, and the atmosphere was heavy.
It wasn’t until Niu Hu had drunk three large bowls of wine that Niu San, unable to hold back, spoke up, “Village Chief, you can drink this wine later, it’s not too late. Just give us a straight answer, are you doing this or not?”
Only then did Niu Hu put down his bowl and raise his head. His once cloudy eyes were now bloodshot, clearly having undergone an intense internal struggle.
Coupled with his white hair and grizzled beard, he looked somewhat terrifying under the dim oil lamp.
“Sigh, you go. I’ll pretend nothing happened. I’m old and useless, I won’t get involved in your affairs,” Niu Hu said with a heavy sigh.
Niu Er tried to persuade him further, but he was pulled away by Niu Er and Niu Dashan, who looked displeased.
Watching the three leave, Niu Hu, somewhat unsteady, returned to the inner room and collapsed onto his bed. His old wife didn't know what they were discussing, only that Niu Hu seemed to have aged a great deal in that short time.
It wasn't that Niu Hu was a coward; he had personally witnessed Huang Yuanya’s methods.
With just a raise of his hand, he unleashed a fireball, and a large tree that two people couldn't encircle was reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye! This was not a power Mortals could contend with.
Most importantly, he knew Niu Er and the other two’s character all too well; he didn’t trust them.
Niu Hu believed that if they really succeeded, they would absolutely flee far away at the first opportunity, and might even silence him to keep the secret. He would gain no benefit, only take on such a huge risk for nothing.
After the three of them, Niu Er, left the Village Chief’s house, Niu Dashan was still muttering about how they shouldn’t have gone to that old geezer, and how he should have just cut him down with a knife earlier, and other such nonsense.
“Second Brother, the old man won’t help, what should we do next?” Niu Laosan asked. Among them, Niu Er was the smartest and had the most ideas.
“Let’s go back first. If he doesn’t agree, we’ll just think of another way.”
Soon, the three returned home. Niu Da was currently discussing with Sui Ping about returning to the pharmacy tomorrow.
“Oh! You’re all still awake? Perfect, I have something to discuss with Miracle Doctor Sui.” Niu Er said to Sui Ping, still looking like a loafer.
“You guys went out drinking again? You can’t drink these days while helping the Immortal. If something goes wrong and you anger the Immortal, you could lose your head.” Niu Da, seeing their alcoholic smell, earnestly advised them.
“Got it, you’re so naggy!” Niu Er said, displeased. His eldest brother was good in every way, but his personality was a bit too soft, and he liked to nag. If he knew what they were planning, he’d be scared out of his wits.
“Miracle Doctor Sui, I specifically came to buy something from Your Excellency,” Niu Er said.
Sui Ping slightly raised his head, his gaze calm as water: “Oh? What does Your Excellency wish to buy? Please speak freely.”
At this moment, Niu Laosan, who was standing by, suddenly stepped forward and eagerly interjected, “Poison! We want the most potent kind of poison! And it must be colorless and odorless!” After speaking, he glared fiercely at Miracle Doctor Sui.
Upon hearing this, Miracle Doctor Sui’s expression remained as calm as ever, and he responded indifferently, “This old man does not have such a thing.”
Niu Laosan immediately became agitated, his face full of suspicion as he questioned, “You don’t? Old man, aren’t you just messing with us? Who doesn’t know that your medical skills, Miracle Doctor Sui, are so superb that you can even cure an Immortal’s illness? How could you not even have a little poison? Hmph! Stop playing dumb! As long as you sell us the poison, we will absolutely not shortchange you on the price!”
Although Niu Laosan’s words were impolite, even somewhat aggressive, Sui Ping did not get angry. He merely smiled slightly and continued to patiently explain, “Your Excellency is unaware, but most potent poisons have a bitter taste, and truly colorless and odorless potent poisons are extremely rare. To concoct such a poison would not only require exceptionally profound and exquisite poison-making techniques but also consume many precious and rare Materials. The cost would be simply unimaginable. Therefore, this old man truly does not have such a thing.”
After hearing this, Niu Laosan and Niu Dashan both looked at Niu Er, waiting to hear what he would say.
Niu Er narrowed his eyes and said, “Miracle Doctor Sui, my younger brother is crude and unreasonable, please don’t take it to heart. If you have that item, please sell some to us. We will also take good care of your grandson.”
Upon hearing this, Sui Ping’s expression finally lost its calm. “What does Your Excellency mean? How do you intend to take care of my grandson?”
“He’s just a child, you know. There are many poisonous insects, snakes, and ants on the mountain, and it wouldn’t be good if he got lost again. Don’t you agree, Miracle Doctor Sui?” Although Niu Er’s tone was calm, his eyes were full of icy coldness.
Sui Ping pulled a thumb-sized small porcelain bottle from his bosom and placed it on the table, staring intently at Niu Er as he spoke, “This is Zhendu poison, colorless and odorless. It loses its toxicity half an hour after being mixed in water, and causes instant death upon ingestion, with no antidote!”
He paused, then continued, “If anything untoward happens to my grandson, you won’t have an easy time either. Although this old man’s skill at healing people is sparse, his methods for harming people are quite passable!”
With that, he flicked his sleeves and left. Niu Da, seeing this, also quickly followed Sui Ping out.
Niu Er grabbed the porcelain bottle and laughed heartily at Niu Dashan, his face full of triumph.
The three of them whispered and discussed for a good while longer in the house before dispersing.
The night was deep. Sui An was fiddling with his crossbow in the tent. If those few wanted to make a move, tonight would be the best time.
He meticulously organized all the things he might need, glanced at Huang Yuanya’s tent twenty paces away, and quietly waited for any potential changes that might occur, his palms sweating from tension.
Unseen by Sui An, Niu Er and Niu San were also waiting at the foot of the mountain.
Both were armed with sharp blades and carried hunting bows on their backs.
“Second Brother, the agreed time is almost here. That fellow won’t back out, will he?”
“What’s the rush? I don’t believe he can resist such a great temptation!” Niu Er said confidently.
“After it’s done, are we really going to split the treasure with him?”
“Split? He’s not worthy! What are you thinking, silly brother? Don’t worry, I have my own plan,” Niu Er said with a sinister smile.
Just as Niu Laosan was about to say something else, Niu Er stopped him. “Stop talking, he’s here.”
Niu Laosan turned his head and saw a person approaching in the distance. It was indeed Niu Dashan.
Niu Er didn't know if Niu Dashan had heard what he said just now, so he laughed heartily and said, “Brother Dashan, you’re a bit late. We thought you wouldn’t dare to come.”
Niu Laosan also chimed in, “If you didn’t come, we would have had to go back. Without you, we brothers couldn’t pull off this deal.”
“Stop with that act. You want this incredible fortune, and I used to want it too.” Niu Dashan also had a long saber at his waist, a hunting bow on his back, and was holding a steaming pot in his hands.
“However, I think the previous distribution plan needs to be slightly modified,” Niu Dashan said gruffly.
“What does Brother Dashan mean? How do you want to change it?” Niu Laosan asked unhappily.
“Although you got the poison, and Niu Er came up with the idea, I’m doing the most dangerous work. I’m not an ungrateful person. You two brothers get forty percent, and I want thirty percent.”
Niu Laosan immediately wanted to jump up and curse, his hand already on the hilt of his saber, ready to fight if there was any disagreement.
However, Niu Er held him back. Niu Er pondered for a moment and said, “Brother Dashan has a point. We brothers agree. An Immortal’s things are enough for us to share.”
Only then did Niu Dashan nod in satisfaction, put down his weapons, and, as agreed, carried the pot up the mountain.
Although the journey was not long, Niu Dashan, who was usually very brave, felt increasingly nervous with each step, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his back.
Soon he reached a spot several dozen paces in front of Huang Yuanya’s tent. Niu Dashan stopped and called out, “Immortal Master, my family has two century-old ginseng roots. My mother stewed them into soup and asked me to bring it to you.”
Niu Da tried hard to make his voice sound normal, so as not to reveal any clues.
Of course, there were no century-old ginseng roots, but these two were several decades old. They had really gone all out this time.
“Leave it outside. Go back and tell the others that if they disturb this Immortal again while Cultivating, they will be killed without mercy!” After a while, Huang Yuanya’s voice came from inside.
Niu Dashan could only bravely place the pot gently outside the tent, then turned and went down the mountain.
He cursed inwardly, 'Damn it, leaving it outside? What kind of thing is that? He doesn’t even give a straight answer about whether he’ll drink it or not. Just you wait, I’ll make you pay!'.
