Chapter 29: A Heart of a Wolf and a Liver of a Dog

It must be said that Shi Qianshan's intuition was indeed very accurate. His current miserable state was entirely caused by Chu Yang.

During this period, Chu Yang's care for Shi Qianshan was "meticulous"; he came in every day to report.

"Big Brother, how are you? I've already broken through to the Fifth Rank of Martial Disciple today."

"Big Brother, I broke through to the Sixth Rank today."

"I'm at the Seventh Rank now..."

Each of these "good news" reports was like a thousand arrows piercing Shi Qianshan's heart. In his extreme depression, his injuries recovered even more slowly. In his extremely bad mood, there were even signs of his injuries worsening.

But what Shi Qianshan should not have done was to hate Chu Yang so much that he also hated Meng Chao Ran and Tan Tan. He hated them to the bone! Why could Chu Yang advance so quickly? It must be because Meng Chao Ran was biased. The master must have some magical elixir to quickly enhance one's cultivation! He never gave it to me all these years, but he gave it to Chu Yang!

Thinking this way, Shi Qianshan's jealousy burned like oil in a pan. By the time it reached its peak, it was almost a hatred that could not be reconciled!

After that day, although Meng Chao Ran's attitude was somewhat cold, he still took good care of Shi Qianshan, even expending his own energy to reconnect his meridians and heal his injuries to reduce his pain, and went to great lengths to find medicinal herbs to help him recover...

But under the influence of his hatred, Shi Qianshan even hated his master, who had treated him with great kindness. He hated him so much that he gnashed his teeth.

So Shi Qianshan wanted to take revenge!

Outside Shi Qianshan's room was a small pond, only half the size of a room, about ten feet deep. The mountain spring from the top of the Purple Bamboo Garden flowed through here, filled the pond, and then continued to flow down, winding through the mountains to form a small stream.

Therefore, the water in this pond was always clear to the bottom, and it was fresh water.

The water that Chu Yang and the others drank every day came from here.

Now, Shi Qianshan was lying on the bed, struggling to support his body, and quietly took out a paper package from under the bed. Inside was the Five Cock Crowing Soul-Dispersing Powder. It was a mixture of five strange poisons, colorless and odorless, and it was said to be incurable! When put into food, it would even seem like a delicious seasoning, further stimulating one's appetite.

Shi Qianshan's lips trembled, and his fingers shook. But he still firmly pulled over the candle by the bedside and slowly broke off a piece from the bottom with his right hand...

His face alternated between red and pale, as if there was a fierce internal conflict. But his fingers did not stop, and he carefully wrapped the entire packet of Five Cock Crowing Soul-Dispersing Powder in a wax pill.

Then he hid the wax pill under the quilt.

Since I am already ruined, how can I let you have it easy! Anyway, I am seriously injured. No matter what, even if everyone here dies, they won't suspect me!

If only I am left in the Purple Bamboo Garden, the sect leader will certainly remember some old feelings and treat me well. That way, I still have a chance. I don't need you, Meng Chao Ran, I can still rise!

Die, all of you, die!

At this moment, Shi Qianshan's mind was already on the verge of madness.

The sun slowly rose and hung diagonally overhead. Shi Qianshan listened with his ear, then gritted his teeth and flicked his finger, and the wax pill flew out of his hand.

He heard a light "thud" outside, and the wax pill clearly fell into the pond.

Shi Qianshan let out a long breath, fell back onto the bed, and a look of guilt and shame flashed in his eyes, but what followed was unspeakable cruelty and madness. He gritted his teeth, and his right hand tightly grabbed the thin quilt, using so much force that it almost tore a hole in it.

But he finally relaxed his body, and a hint of satisfaction appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The water was fresh water, and if the poison was put in too early, it would be diluted. If it was put in too late, it would not have time to spread.

According to the usual lunchtime, this was the right time.

He timed it, and after nearly a quarter of an hour, he heard Tan Tan's creaking sound as he carried the wooden bucket to fetch water, and quickly crawled back into the quilt, closed his eyes, and groaned loudly a couple of times...

After a while, the sound of clinking and clanging rang out, and Tan Tan's strange voice hummed a song, followed by the smell of food, which was very strong.

Shi Qianshan smiled silently and cruelly.

Meng Chao Ran, Tan Tan, and Chu Yang sat around the table, looking at the food on the table that emitted a tempting aroma. Tan Tan's eyes, which seemed to be looking at different places, looked at his master with longing, feeling even hungrier, waiting for Meng Chao Ran to start eating so he could immediately wolf down the food.

But Meng Chao Ran frowned at the food. The color of the food was no different from usual, and the smell was very strong. But it seemed... too fragrant.

Something was strange.

He immediately sensed something was wrong.

Meng Chao Ran thought for a moment, picked up his chopsticks, but then slowly put them down. He turned his head to look at Chu Yang, and his heart stirred: Chu Yang was also tilting his head, looking at the food, with a thoughtful expression.

Meng Chao Ran was surprised. He could sense it because of his decades of experience in the world and his cautious nature, honed through countless life-and-death situations. How could an ordinary person notice the abnormal smell of the food? They would probably find it even more appetizing the more fragrant it was.

But how did Chu Yang notice it? He was only sixteen years old and had never been out before. How could he have such observational skills?

"Tan Tan, did you make the food?" Chu Yang asked with a calm smile.

"Yes, come on, eat quickly, it's so fragrant... I can't wait anymore," Tan Tan pleaded pitifully.

Chu Yang looked thoughtfully at the rippling pond outside. He flipped his wrist, and a black crystal jade needle appeared in his hand, which he dipped into the soup.

The tip of the jade needle suddenly changed color, turning a terrifying blue. Tan Tan's face changed, and he was about to exclaim in shock. Chu Yang, without turning his head, as if he had anticipated his reaction, immediately covered his mouth. His eyes, however, remained fixed on the food, and he said solemnly, "Tan Tan couldn't have poisoned it, so it must be the water!"

Meng Chao Ran's heart was shaken again because he had just thought of the same thing. Tan Tan couldn't have poisoned the food. He had watched Tan Tan grow up, and he had never even come into contact with poison. How could he have poisoned it?

Meng Chao Ran took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling, and suddenly his face was full of anger. He turned his head sharply and looked in the direction of Shi Qianshan's room.

"I'll go," Chu Yang said calmly.

"You? What do you plan to do?" Meng Chao Ran said with a grim expression.

"Make him satisfied," Chu Yang said indifferently.

Meng Chao Ran quietly lowered his eyes and smiled lightly, "Then you go." He paused and said, "Don't go too far. Give him a chance to explain, perhaps it's not... who knows." His voice was light, but it was filled with bitterness and fatigue.

Shi Qianshan, no matter how unworthy, was still his disciple for seven or eight years! Chu Yang's offer to handle it was a full consideration of Meng Chao Ran's feelings.

Meng Chao Ran felt angry for Shi Qianshan but also comforted by Chu Yang's understanding.

Chu Yang nodded, picked up the food he had prepared for Shi Qianshan, and walked out. He entered Shi Qianshan's room and said with a half-smile, "Big Brother, it's time to eat."

"Isn't it always Tan Tan who brings the food? Why are you doing it today?" Shi Qianshan looked at him suspiciously.

"That guy is too tired to get up today," Chu Yang said with a kind smile. "We are brothers, so isn't it the same whether I or Tan Tan brings it? Big Brother, you've taken care of us for so long with such deep affection, so I should repay you."

Shi Qianshan snorted and said, "I'm not hungry today, I don't want to eat. Just put it aside." How could he eat it? He knew it was poisoned, and he had put the poison in himself.

On the other side, Meng Chao Ran, who had been listening with his gathered energy, couldn't help but snort. He still found it hard to believe: his disciple of seven or eight years was trying to poison him? So even though he knew it was impossible, he still gave Chu Yang the chance to let Shi Qianshan explain.

He still held out a glimmer of hope.

Now, hearing Shi Qianshan's words, he was completely disheartened.

Chu Yang smiled and said, "How can you not eat? A man is iron, and food is steel. Besides, you are injured and need to replenish your strength. Come on, eat quickly, and everything will be fine after you eat."

Shi Qianshan frowned and said with disgust, "I said I don't want to eat, so I won't eat. Get out quickly."

"Why won't you eat... Is there poison in it?" Chu Yang said sincerely. "Big Brother, we've been brothers for so many years. Would I poison you? Come on, eat."