C9 The Oldfashioned Five Poisons

Liang Mu swiftly erected three magical barriers in front of himself, having previously cast one without anticipating the little snake's formidable strength, which shattered the magical wall with ease.

As the little snake prepared to charge once more, Liang Mu pointed his wand at the creature and rapidly incanted, "Halt the curse, bind it swiftly!" Twin beams of purple light burst from the wand's tip, striking the black snake and causing it to freeze midair before dropping to the ground like a statue.

Relieved, Liang Mu exhaled deeply and shook his head to clear the dizziness; he had expended a significant amount of Psychic Force in quick succession. Checking his panel, Liang Mu noted that aside from his Psychic Force being at five points, his status remained unchanged.

But something was amiss!

His body didn't feel right—his legs were numb! Liang Mu reopened his status bar to find:

Status: Chronic Poisoning (Losing 50 health points daily, unable to recover), Mental Disorientation

"Tsk," Liang Mu clicked his tongue in annoyance. He hadn't expected the lack of a warning to indicate an oversight on his part. Suddenly, darkness enveloped his vision, and Liang Mu collapsed onto the ground.

In his slumber, Liang Mu dreamt of a tiny figure dancing joyously atop him, accompanied by the occasional tinkling of metal. Who dares to interrupt my dreams? Annoyed, Liang Mu awoke, determined to confront the dream disturber.

Upon seeing Liang Mu's eyes open, Duobao quickly approached and handed him a Golden Galleon. The sight of those innocent, large eyes melted away most of Liang Mu's irritation. After all, it was just a child who knew no better.

Taking the Golden Galleon, Liang Mu opened the bedside box and nonchalantly placed a gemstone into Niffler's pocket. "Off you go, play," he said, patting Niffler's head before swinging his legs out of bed to discover night had fallen.

The door creaked open, and the Old Steward entered, bowing respectfully. "Young Master, your dinner is ready," he announced.

Observing the steward's composed demeanor, it seemed that being poisoned by the Poison Secrets was not a cause for concern.

Liang Mu let out a sigh and nodded in acknowledgment.

Once the Old Steward had departed, Liang Mu activated his panel. His health points had dwindled to 450, signaling he had four days left to neutralize the poison.

As he scrolled down, a temporary mission materialized:

Temporary Mission: Secrets of Poison

Mission Level: 1

Mission Content: Heed the whispers and strive to forge a path to survival.

Mission Duration: Four days

Mission Penalty: Account deletion

Mission Reward: Potions proficiency increase, +1 to Strength and Intelligence

If he failed this mission, death was the inevitable outcome.

As Liang Mu reached to knock on the table, a sharp pain shot through his right arm, as if something was burrowing beneath his skin. Rolling up his sleeve, he examined his arm in the light. A green, thick, one-inch-long swelling pulsated ominously on his skin, resembling a centipede. In the harsh light, it looked particularly sinister.

Stripping down, Liang Mu stood before the mirror and inspected himself. Each limb bore a similar swelling: a black snake, a gecko, a spider, and a centipede. And on his chest, a larger bulge shaped like a toad. This was a tactic he had never intended to employ.

Liang Mu clicked his tongue, unfazed by the new additions to his body. He had encountered far stranger phenomena in the past, even dabbled in them himself.

After his meal, Liang Mu handed the Duobao over to the Old Steward and retreated to the Magic Medicine Room, a space specially arranged for him to study Potions. The advantages of a large home were not lost on him.

He tossed aside the box of the Secrets of Hundred Poisons; it had served its purpose in sealing and preserving the five poisons. The true value lay within those five poisons themselves.

The solution to his predicament became clear to Liang Mu the moment he opened his eyes.

With his eyes closed, Liang Mu began to regulate his breathing, slowing it down. The room fell silent, and faint sounds grew more distinct, resembling the rustling of insects or the murmurs of a distant voice.

Beneath Liang Mu's skin, the five poisons stirred, causing a growing pain that seemed designed to distract him from focusing on listening.

After a moment, Liang Mu opened his eyes and began to write with the pen and paper he had prepared earlier.

He reviewed the list of ingredients on the paper, which were primarily potent supplements or highly toxic substances. There were numerous potential combinations, indicating that the recipe was incomplete. Liang Mu was reluctant to test each one, especially since even the shape of the ingredients could alter the effects of the Magic Medicine. He simply didn't have the necessary conditions or time.

Tapping on the table, Liang Mu sank back into contemplation, realizing he had missed something crucial.

Could it be that he needed to add water?

Liang Mu recalled the part in the Goblet of Fire where Harry Porter found the answer to the golden egg in the Praepostor's bathroom.

Suddenly, a sharp pain jolted Liang Mu's heart, shattering his concentration, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

The toad in his chest seemed to be jumping too fiercely, causing the poisons in his limbs to become restless and move in a pattern.

Biting down hard, Liang Mu endured the intense pain silently.

Regrettably, the Five Poisons appeared to be challenging him, squirming even more vigorously.

"It's like they're dancing," Liang Mu muttered to himself. He pressed his fingers together, resisting the urge to press his acupoints, which would numb his limbs and ease the pain.

There was a rhythm to it!

Liang Mu glanced at the paper on the table, realizing what was missing was the method of preparation.

Releasing his hands from the acupoints, Liang Mu closed his eyes and focused on regulating his breathing, attuning to the movement of the Five Poisons beneath his skin to discern their pattern.

Minutes later, the Five Poisons calmed down, and Liang Mu opened his eyes, tumbling out of his chair to kneel on the ground and retch violently.

This was a side effect of the Five Poisons' activity; his nerves continued to quiver uncontrollably.

Having expelled his dinner completely, Liang Mu lay on the ground, gasping for air, his long hair plastered to his sweat-drenched forehead, his skin pallid and defeated.

It wasn't that he couldn't bear it; rather, his body was exhibiting a physiological response.

Gazing at the crystal chandelier above, Liang Mu's eyes sparkled with a golden glow as a smile crept across his face. He had deciphered the formula, and it was surprisingly simple.

After some time, Liang Mu picked himself up off the floor and tugged at a nearby cord.

*Ring!*

The crisp sound of a bell reached the Old Steward's ears.

Shortly thereafter, the steward entered the room. He observed Liang Mu, looking drained, and the vomit on the floor, yet he showed no sign of revulsion.

Liang Mu weakly gestured towards the formula on the table and managed to say,

"Medicinal bath, dinner."

"Understood."

With a nonchalant flick of his wand, the Old Steward made the vomit vanish. Liang Mu felt a refreshing coolness as his clothes instantly dried.

The steward's silent spellcasting, even if it was just a minor charm, demonstrated his considerable magical expertise.

Soon after, Liang Mu made his way to the bathroom.

He eyed the dark liquid in the wooden tub, about waist-high, noticing various insects floating within. Dead though they were, it was clear to anyone that this concoction was a vat of poison.

Standing a meter away from the tub, Liang Mu held the box containing the Secrets of Poison and skillfully tossed it into the liquid without causing a single ripple.

Upon the box's entry, bubbling sounds emerged from the tub. Massive bubbles surfaced and burst, releasing tendrils of black mist that dissolved into the air.

Liang Mu covered his nose and mouth, placed the pre-prepared magical air purifier on the floor, and then stepped out of the room.