poisoning

When Xiao Lin saw the sword tassel, his eyes suddenly widened.

"For me?"

He asked, but reached out and picked it up without waiting for an answer. After all, he was asking even though he knew the answer.

He held the sword tassel up to his eyes and examined it carefully, looking at it again and again, feeling extremely satisfied.

Su Manyan saw that Xiao Lin's joy was genuine and that the gift had finally been given away. She breathed a sigh of relief and her shoulders, which had been stiff all morning, relaxed.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission [Return Gift], scoring 90 points for plot interpretation, and receiving the reward of the clue 'Withered Flourish Powder'."

"Ding! The male protagonist's dark value has dropped to 79%. Host, please continue to work hard."

Su Manyan hadn't expected this simple gift to make Xiao Lin so happy, even reducing his Darkness Level by 1%. So, if she gave him 79 more gifts, she could return to the real world.

"This is the first gift A Yan gave me. I will keep it well."

Xiao Lin's fingers stroked the black tassels, and the red blood-flowers seemed to come alive. At first, they were just red threads, but they wrapped around his fingertips with repeated teasing, which was quite charming.

Xiao Lin hung the sword tassel on the hilt in front of Su Manyan. He really didn't expect Su Manyan to take his so-called "return gift" to heart and put so much thought into it. He couldn't help but feel moved.

But, was the sword tassel too ambiguous? He was still debating whether to accept it, but he had already asked, "Are you really giving it to me?" before he accepted it.

Whatever, they were both men, so what could he not accept? How could he let Ah Yan down?

Never mind, the Hu Kingdom's Mobei King Xiao Lin has his own logic.

The servants today always felt that Xiao Lin was in an especially good mood. He also carried the sword in the house, and there was a new decoration on the sword -

A simple sword tassel.

On the other side, after completing her mission, Su Manyan waited for clues from 625. She found the dressing box hidden under the bed, and the bottle of poison was inside.

The blue light at 625 stabilized. "Ancient texts state that this poison requires the nectar of the 'March-born' flower as a lure, supplemented with the poisoner's own heart blood. Ingested warm during the first rays of sunlight at the hour of Chen, the toxicity will be reversed. It regenerates the withered and replenishes the eroded. It was originally created by ancient physicians to strengthen the body's constitution, but the method of refining it was lost, and it became a deadly poison that harms humans."

Su Manyan's eyes flashed with a hint of light, but then they darkened again: "But only a few people know about this method. How can the prince believe it?"

"It seems real precisely because few people know about it." The light of 625 flickered.

"The host only needs to reveal the news that 'Xiao Lin, after accidentally ingesting the Withering and Flourishing Powder, went into seclusion for several days. Upon emerging, he was not only unharmed, but also in good spirits.' Then, have the Crown Prince's men 'accidentally' see Xiao Lin practicing swordplay early in the morning, his face rosy. The Crown Prince is already wary of Xiao Lin. Hearing that he was poisoned but found a blessing in disguise, he'll undoubtedly suspect there's something fishy about the poison, and even suspect Xiao Lin of hiding a secret to reversing the toxicity."

She suddenly remembered that Xiao Lin had indeed been up all night handling border affairs recently, and his eyes were slightly dark blue. If he was given a couple of days' rest, and then stood in the morning sun, his "radiant" appearance would really be like some miraculous medicine.

"The Crown Prince is suspicious and has always been envious of strange and mysterious arts," Su Manyan curled his lips slowly, tapping his fingertips on the dressing table. "He will definitely send people to investigate the details of the Withering and Flourishing Powder. If he finds out about the 'Withering and Flourishing Transformation' rumor, even if he only believes it a little, he will be even more wary of Xiao Lin."

"How could a proton imprisoned in the cold palace actually find the rare 'March Born'?

"An opponent who has been poisoned but has grown stronger is more disturbing to him than a mortal."

She reopened her dressing table and took out the bottle of Kurong Powder. This time, the coldness her fingertips felt no longer caused her heart to palpitate, but instead gave her a sense of confidence as she planned and planned.

"I'm not saying anything, but you're really too smart. How come you know so many things? It's like you're from this dynasty."

"Hehe, host, you're joking." 625 only replied with one sentence before turning off the blue light and disappearing, retreating back into the space station.

That night, Su Manyan went to the kitchen to get Xiao Lin's medicine. The medicine was a bowl of black, bitter medicine that hit his nose and was really uncomfortable.

This was the poison carrier originally designated by the prince, black and bitter.

No wonder, no matter what was added in, Xiao Lin would not be able to see or taste it.

This prince is such a black-hearted person!

Su Manyan felt that compared to the ruthless prince, Xiao Lin was simply a simple little white flower.

She smelled the medicine and it was too bitter. Since she couldn't give it poison, she just added two spoonfuls of honey since she was already there.

She is the ancient Lei Feng, no need to thank me.

Su Manyan felt that the red scarf on his chest was even brighter.

Xiao Lin drank it in one gulp, but after taking a sip, he paused for a moment, his Adam's apple hanging in mid-air, not sliding up and down as smoothly as before. He slowed down before finishing the rest.

Xiao Lin put down the bowl, wiped the water stains from the corners of his mouth with a small handkerchief, and said hesitantly: "Today's medicine..."

Su Manyan's eyes lit up and he was ready to accept the compliment.

"Extremely disgusting."

Su Manyan:?

Dare not say a word.

After Xiao Lin finished his medicine, he felt the taste was strange. Normally, it was bitter, but he was used to it. But today, it felt indescribably greasy. Even he, who could endure hardships, felt like vomiting.

He met Su Manyan's guilty gaze.

It seems like everything has an explanation...

Xiao Lin said carefully: "A Yan, what happened to the medicine today?"

"Your Highness, I only added... two spoonfuls of honey."

Xiao Lin: “…”

After a long pause, he added, "I remember honey isn't a medicinal herb."

The voice was particularly hoarse because it was choked by the sweetness.

Su Manyan knew that he had done something wrong and could only nod like a chicken pecking at rice.

On the third night, Shadow Owl returned as expected. Su Manyan patted his chest and righteously assured him that he had already put poison in Xiao Lin's medicine and had even watched him drink it.

Shadow Owl's eagle eyes scanned Su Manyan, their sharp gaze making her legs weaken. After confirming that she didn't have the guts to lie, he rewarded her with a small bag of silver.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that as long as you work hard, you will definitely benefit."

After saying that, he disappeared into the night like a ghost.

The problem here has been resolved, but there is still one thing that makes Su Manyan uneasy. The deadline of the side quest [Detoxification] is getting closer and closer.

The mission completion rate was stuck at 33%, with no new progress in several days. This place was so vast, and with so many poison sources to search for, she was like a headless fly, completely lost.

"625, what should I do if the mission fails?"

Su Manyan had her head on the table, fuming all day. She hadn't slept well in the past few days, and her eyes were bruised and her lips were chapped.

"Don't worry, host, don't be afraid, everything will work out in the end." 625 was not worried at all.

Su Manyan suddenly sat up, his eyes darting around. Seeing that no one was around, he lowered his voice and approached 625, asking, "Is it really not possible to cheat?"

625 was horrified: "Host, please don't talk nonsense. How could you do such a thing?"

"Can't I even talk about it?"

"no!"

Su Manyan was discouraged and started wandering around again, dragging his tired body.

The poison incident a few days ago had no impact on Xiao Lin; his life hadn't been disturbed in the slightest. The poison wouldn't take effect for ten days. If the Crown Prince discovered Xiao Lin still alive and well after ten days, he would definitely hold her accountable. He wondered if she would lose her life.

Because of the sword tassel he gave him last time, Xiao Lin invited Su Manyan to watch him practice sword in the morning today.

Xiao Lin was dressed in his sword-practicing attire, having taken off his usual loose robe and tied a belt around his waist, revealing his lean waist, broad back, and long legs.

The sword flowers are flying and the leaves are falling, which has its own charm.

Blood-flakes were falling all around, and since there was no snow today, Su Manyan mistakenly thought it was spring.

It is also like this, with apricot blossoms flying everywhere, and it is also like this, with that man holding a sword across the world.

Strange, why would she say that?

Su Manyan watched Xiao Lin's smooth swordsmanship through the branches and leaves, and could almost imagine the spirited King of Mobei galloping on his horse and fighting with his sword in the vast wilderness, like a handsome young general.

pity……

The black sword tassel drew different circles in the air as the sword techniques changed, and the marks left behind seemed to be the remaining tracks of sword energy in the air.

Su Manyan couldn't help but applaud.

An incense stick later, Xiao Lin finally stopped training and neatly sheathed his sword. Although it was deep winter, he was already sweating profusely. He sheathed his sword and asked, "A Yan, how is my swordsmanship?"

The two of them were still separated by most of the courtyard. Su Manyan was watching from the corner of the corridor outside the pavilion, but Xiao Lin couldn't help but ask loudly.

"Looks good! Looks good!" Su Manyan trotted over and wiped the sweat off Xiao Lin's face with a clean handkerchief.

Xiao Lin sheathed his sword and placed it at his side. The black tassel hung naturally, occasionally colliding with the white jade ring with pine and crane patterns he always wore, swaying unsteadily with his movements, sometimes touching, sometimes separating.

He was panting, his eyes sparkling, his fingers gesturing excitedly, and mumbling sword techniques that Su Manyan couldn't understand. She just listened, smiling, nodding from time to time. It was rare to see Xiao Lin in such a good mood.

"Ayan, you know what? This is my first sword practice after I put on the sword tassel you gave me. I specially invited you to come and watch."

He raised his tone, as if seeking credit.

"Really? It's really an honor for A Yan."

Su Manyan was flattered.

"I feel that after wearing this sword tassel, my swordsmanship has improved and become much more comfortable."

Xiao Lin curled his lips and smiled, his affectionate peach blossom eyes staring at Su Manyan without blinking, and his sweet words were particularly touching.

Even Su Manyan, who is obsessed with looks, couldn't resist the temptation of such a handsome man.

Stop, stop!

Xiao Lin was still talking non-stop with an irresponsible and frivolous look, but suddenly he felt that Su Manyan's voice was getting lower and lower, and he stopped looking at him.

Turning around, I saw that person with his head down, his long and thick eyelashes drooping, casting a small shadow under his eyes, and the tips of his ears hidden under his black hair were red.

He looked at the eye-catching red and suddenly remembered what he had just said.

The words "I will feel comfortable wearing the sword tassel" and "I specially invite you to come and see" originally seemed to be intended to be close, but now thinking about it, they were like hooks wrapped in honey, which made people feel warm inside.

Then he stopped talking.

The two walked side by side, letting the silence spread through the long corridor bit by bit with their footsteps.

Su Manyan was disturbed by the silence. He scratched his face and tried to find something to say: "Your Highness, let's go back and take a bath first..."

Before she could finish her words, the person next to her suddenly fell down.

Without any warning, he lost consciousness.