Chapter 12: Detoxification, Giant Sausages
Run!
Run faster!
Controlling the Golden Flame Eagle, Su Ye dashed into the depths of the Star Dou Forest at full speed.
He didn't dare look back.
At this moment, all he could do was pray that Zhu Zhuyun didn't have a flying soul master with her.
"Why…"
"Why did he save me?"
Leaning against the boy's arm, Zhu Zhuqing had blood at the corners of her lips. Her despairing eyes stared blankly at his anxious expression.
She… couldn't understand.
Everyone she trusted had betrayed her, and yet this scoundrel she had just met had risked his life to save her.
Suddenly, a stabbing pain shot through her abdomen.
Realizing something, Zhu Zhuqing spoke in a bleak tone, "Don't bother with me. Just run."
"I've been poisoned. There's no way I'm going to make it."
Huh? Poisoned?
Su Ye's gaze darted to the bloody claw mark on her stomach, and his scalp tingled.
Damn it, that woman Zhu Zhuyun was vicious—she even coated her nails with poison!
"Hey… hey… stay with me, don't pass out!"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing lose consciousness, Su Ye cursed inwardly and quickly descended into the forest.
He gently laid her on the grass.
Detoxify?
Looks like… I don't know how to do that!
His hands froze mid-motion.
All his herbs were in his backpack. How could he possibly bring them while fleeing for his life?
Su Ye scratched his head in frustration, leaning in to check her breathing.
Thankfully, she was still breathing!
And her body was still warm!
"Wait a sec!"
As if grabbing a lifeline, Su Ye excitedly raised his left hand.
It was the kitten's storage ring!
He could only hope there was some healing medicine inside. At this point, looking for herbs to concoct something would be completely pointless.
Swoosh!
Out came bedding—and a pile of the girl's intimate clothing. Su Ye couldn't care less.
He tossed them aside without hesitation.
Finally, he found two bottles that looked like medicine.
"Detox Pill": A mix of herbs, provides decent detoxification effects.
"Clarity Dew": Helps maintain a clear mind and resist mental manipulation, very effective against mind-altering drugs and aphrodisiacs.
"What the hell?! Only one pill?!"
Peeking into the bottle, Su Ye gritted his teeth. If this was truly effective, that little cat girl would've taken it already.
One pill?
What was he supposed to use to synthesize a stronger detox pill?
"Forget it, desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Whether or not you survive the next few minutes depends on how tough your life is."
He shoved the pill into Zhu Zhuqing's mouth and forced her to swallow it.
"Forgive me for this!"
Staring at the poisoned blood on her abdomen, Su Ye braced himself and ripped open her leather clothing with both hands.
Slurp—
Ptooey—
Slurp—
Ptooey—
...
After a few rounds of sucking and spitting out the poison, Su Ye felt a bit dizzy.
This poison… the taste was oddly intoxicating…
He shook his head to clear his mind, refusing to let his thoughts wander, and continued extracting the poison with big mouthfuls.
"Ugh—"
Zhu Zhuqing's tightly shut eyes twitched, and her furrowed brow revealed her pain.
But her pale face began to show a strange blush.
After working for a while and feeling like he couldn't keep going much longer, Su Ye wrapped her in blankets and found a cave to shelter her.
Then, leaning against the rocky wall, he stumbled away, barely keeping himself upright.
In the blink of an eye, night had fallen.
Inside the cave, the bonfire roared.
Shadows danced gracefully along the dark rock walls.
Zhu Zhuqing lay on the side. The pain on her face had gradually faded, though her cheeks remained a bit pale.
Nearby, Su Ye was roasting two bird legs, each as thick as a grown man's thigh, preparing his first proper meal after surviving the ordeal.
Thanks to his efforts, Zhu Zhuqing's life was saved. However, residual toxins still lingered in her body—she needed proper care and recovery.
As for Su Ye, he was fine. The toxins he absorbed were mild, and after finding a few detoxifying herbs in the forest and combining them, he managed to recover.
"No more reckless stunts like that again."
Staring at the fire, Su Ye clicked his tongue, feeling a chill at the thought.
If the poison had been a bit stronger, and a soul beast had shown up, he might've died right there in the Star Dou Forest.
But as a martial artist, it was his duty to stand up for what's right. Turning a blind eye to someone dying in front of him? He just wasn't that kind of person.
Grrr~~ (ーー゛)
Huff huff~
Blowing on the bird legs, Su Ye started nibbling and chewing slowly.
"Sigh, I wonder if that woman Zhu Zhuyun has left yet…"
All his belongings were still by the lakeside. The food didn't taste so good with that on his mind.
His backpack had a Grade-9 Clear Spirit Herb in it. While not very effective for him, it was still a rare treasure. He planned to give it to Lotus Girl. His precious sword was also left behind...
Of course, those things were secondary—he could replace them.
What mattered most was the bow and arrows Old Tom gave him. That was irreplaceable.
"Can't walk into a trap. Better wait a few days before going back. No way that woman Zhu Zhuyun is still guarding the place."
After eating his fill, Su Ye added a few large dry branches to the bonfire and then lay down on the dry grass to rest.
In the quiet of the night, a faint trembling sound echoed, like a ghost knocking on glass.
Su Ye shivered, quickly sitting up, all traces of sleep fading away.
He focused and looked.
Zhu Zhuqing had woken up at some point. She was wrapped in a blanket, sitting by the fire with her knees drawn up to her chest.
It seemed that upon sensing Su Ye wake up, Zhu Zhuqing moved her arm, and the trembling sound stopped.
Seeing this, Su Ye sighed softly. He knew exactly what that eerie sound was.
When his mother passed away, late at night, he would curl up under the blankets, trying to hide his vulnerability and become stronger.
But the sadness tugged at his muscles, causing his teeth to uncontrollably chatter.
"Were you crying?" Su Ye walked over to the fire, adding some dry wood to the almost dying flames.
"No."
Like a sensitive Mimosa plant, Zhu Zhuqing quickly turned her body, wiping away a tear, trying to act like nothing had happened.
Su Ye sat cross-legged beside her, tilted his head slightly, and sneaked a glance at the girl's face. Her eyes were red, clearly showing she had been crying.
After the surprise attack, Zhu Zhuqing revealed red, swollen eyes. Her tear-filled gaze was so intense it seemed like she could kill someone.
Su Ye wasn't bothered. He chuckled and shrugged.
"Ha, so what if you cried? There's no need to be embarrassed. Who hasn't gone through something and felt like crying their heart out?"
"Crying isn't about weakness. It's about bidding farewell to the past and making yourself stronger."
"You have to face reality. No one will laugh at you for crying, but people will look down on you when you're knocked down by difficulties—that's the truth."
Zhu Zhuqing was momentarily stunned.
Her fierce expression slowly softened, and she silently rested her head on her knees, her expression complex and hard to read.
That's right.
No matter what, she couldn't give up.
Giving up meant death.
It wasn't worth crying over friends and family who had betrayed her or didn't care for her.
One day, she would grow strong and take control of her own destiny.
The flickering flames consumed the last of the tears in her eyes. After a while, Zhu Zhuqing's expression finally returned to normal.
"Thank you." Zhu Zhuqing's lips moved, and even in the silent night, her voice was barely a whisper.
If Su Ye hadn't been so close, he would have never heard it.
"It's nothing. I didn't lose anything."
Su Ye grinned, and his two large sausages caught her attention.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't respond. She pressed her lips tightly together, seeming to feel the heat from the fire, her delicate face slightly flushed from the warmth.
(End of Chapter)