The campfires had burned low, their smoke curling faintly into the midnight sky. Most disciples lay sprawled in exhausted sleep, weapons at their sides. Only the forest kept vigil, its silence broken now and then by distant howls.
Zhou Ren moved like a shadow among the tents. His grin gleamed faintly in the moonlight as he crouched beside the supply crates.
From his sleeve, he drew a thin vial of powder, its contents shimmering faintly with qi. "A beast's toxin. Harmless in drops, lethal when it builds," he whispered to himself.
He sprinkled it over the dried rations and water skins, careful to leave no trace. Then he rose, dusting his hands, and whispered, "Let's see how your pets march when their guts burn from the inside, Lin Xuan."
His lackeys snickered from the shadows, watching with cruel anticipation.
Dawn broke. Disciples stirred, shouldering packs, swallowing rations hastily. Wu Ming wolfed down dried meat, mumbling through full cheeks. "Senior Brother… say what you want about missions, but the food's not bad. Little salty, though."
Lin Xuan's eyes flicked toward him, then to Zhou Ren's smirk in the distance. Something stirred faintly in his chest — instinct. But the moment passed.
The march resumed. At first, the disciples walked in steady rhythm. But as the sun climbed, cracks appeared.
Chen Yu stumbled, his breath ragged. Li Mei's face paled, sweat streaking her brow though the air was cool. Even Wu Ming, usually full of complaints, was quiet, clutching his stomach with a groan.
"Senior Brother… I think… my soul is trying to crawl out."
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. Poison.
Disciples from other groups began faltering too. Some collapsed outright, their faces gray, lips trembling. Panic rippled through the columns.
"Poison!" someone cried."It's in the rations!""Who—who did this?"
Zhou Ren feigned outrage, voice loud above the chaos. "Beasts must have fouled the water! Only a fool wouldn't check!" His eyes slid toward Lin Xuan's circle, grin hidden beneath the mask of anger.
Wu Ming groaned louder, clutching his belly. "Senior Brother, I can see the ancestors waiting! They're not welcoming!"
Li Mei staggered, but forced herself upright. Chen Yu bit back curses, sweat dripping.
Lin Xuan's gaze swept the chaos once, then sharpened. He dropped to a knee, pressing his hand against the earth.
[System Notice: Material analysis initiated.][Result: Beast venom detected. Slow-acting. Neutralization possible with nearby flora.]
Lin Xuan rose. "Stay here. I'll return."
He slipped into the undergrowth, spear in hand, moving silent as shadow. His eyes scanned every leaf, every vine, guided by the System's subtle glow.
There — a cluster of blue-veined grass, faintly shimmering with qi.
[Antidotal property: compatible. Combine with heat for maximum effect.]
Lin Xuan cut it swiftly, returning to the road. He set up a quick fire, crushing the herbs into boiling water. The smell was sharp, bitter.
He handed the steaming cups to his companions first. "Drink."
Li Mei obeyed without hesitation. Chen Yu grimaced but swallowed. Wu Ming sniffed suspiciously. "This smells worse than poison…"
Lin Xuan's gaze cut to him, calm but edged. Wu Ming gulped it down instantly.
As his circle's color began to return, other disciples stumbled toward him, desperate.
"Lin Xuan, help us!""What did you brew?!""Please, we can't—"
Lin Xuan's gaze swept across them, calm. "Gather the herbs I tell you. Do it quickly. Or don't — and die."
Some scrambled at once. Others hesitated, pride warring with fear. But the sight of his companions already steady on their feet broke their resistance. Soon, the camp was filled with the bitter scent of boiled antidote.
Whispers rose even through the pain:"Lin Xuan saved them.""He knew the cure.""Even poisoned, his circle stands."
From the sidelines, Zhou Ren's hands clenched into fists. His poison had not broken them — it had made Lin Xuan shine brighter.
"Damn him," he muttered. "Even poison becomes his stage."
His lackeys shifted nervously. "Senior Zhou, perhaps… we should wait for the beasts to finish him."
Zhou Ren's smile returned, cold and sharp. "Oh, I will wait. And when the beasts come, I'll make sure Lin Xuan stands where their claws fall first."
As the camp settled, Lin Xuan sat quietly, his spear across his knees. The System hummed.
[Hidden Quest Complete: Neutralize sabotage.][Reward: Fusion Expansion unlocked.][New Function: Merge compatible martial techniques into combined sequences.]
Lin Xuan's eyes deepened. So the storm bears fruit. Even poison becomes a stepping stone.
The march resumed, slower but steadier. The trees loomed darker, the forest thicker, and roars echoed closer than ever.
Wu Ming whispered hoarsely, "Senior Brother… if wolves were the appetizer… what's the main course?"
Lin Xuan's spear shifted slightly on his back. His voice was calm, but edged with steel. "We'll know soon enough."
And from the shadows ahead, glowing eyes opened one by one.