Once poisoned by the “Entangling Fragrance Silk,” its venom spreads gradually through the blood vessels, permeating the entire body.
If the victim is an ordinary person, the short-term effects are relatively mild and not particularly dangerous. However, for martial artists, the poison poses a lethal threat. During this period, the poisoned individual must not recklessly circulate their inner energy, as doing so would accelerate the venom’s effects, causing blood to flow backward throughout the body and resulting in excruciating pain.
If the poison remains in the body for an extended period, it becomes even more troublesome. Although the victim may regain control over their inner energy, they must take an antidote daily to suppress the venom. Otherwise, their bones will slowly undergo abnormal changes, causing the body to gradually wither until it shrinks into a motionless, mud-like heap on the ground.
What is even more terrifying is that once the venom penetrates deep into the marrow, it becomes impossible to eradicate completely. The victim must rely on long-term medication to keep the poison dormant, much like an ever-present entanglement, forever bound to them for life.
The ingredients used to concoct this poison are diverse and often substitutable. Although the outcome remains the same, the specific effects of the venom vary depending on the maker, making it unpredictable and enigmatic. Consequently, the antidotes also differ, and only the creator of the poison can prescribe the correct remedy to suppress its effects. Even if others know the formula for “Entangling Fragrance Silk,” they would be unable to concoct an effective antidote.
Thus, the life of the poisoned individual falls entirely into the hands of the poisoner, leaving them with no choice but to obey without resistance.
After reviewing his memories of the “Entangling Fragrance Silk,” Physician Mo understood why Han Li appeared so confident.
He sneered inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged. Calmly, he said, “Is this your final move? If you have no other tricks, you might as well surrender quietly.”
Han Li’s heart sank. Seeing Physician Mo’s unperturbed demeanor, as if the threat meant nothing to him, he realized he must have overlooked something.
It was clear that Physician Mo genuinely did not fear the poison. Despite being infected with the “Entangling Fragrance Silk,” he showed no concern, as if it hadn’t affected him in the slightest.
Because of this, Han Li knew he was at an absolute disadvantage. It seemed Physician Mo was highly confident in capturing him.
Noticing Han Li’s silence, Physician Mo chuckled darkly, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes. He then shouted, “Iron Slave, seize him for me!”
Upon hearing this, Han Li suddenly remembered a crucial figure he had completely forgotten since entering the room. Without a second thought, he hooked the weapon at his feet with his toe, and the iron awl leaped into his hand.
In that instant, a massive black shadow charged from the corner of the room with a gust of fierce wind, appearing before him so swiftly that Han Li had no time to dodge.
Left with no other option, he thrust the awl toward the shadow’s abdomen, hoping to buy himself a moment to retreat and catch his breath.
Using a short awl to target the abdomen was far from ideal, but Han Li had no choice. The opponent was too tall, and his weapon was only a few inches long, making it the only reachable spot.
Suddenly, Han Li felt as if he had collided with a non-human monster. His outstretched wrist was struck as if by a massive log, dislocating instantly. The impact sent him stumbling backward several steps, and the iron awl, as if hitting stone, was knocked away and lost.
Shocked and furious, Han Li barely managed to steady himself when the massive figure loomed before him again. A searing pain shot through his shoulders as two enormous hands clamped down on his shoulder blades, making him feel as if he were being crushed.
He struggled desperately, but his body felt pinned under a mountain, utterly immobile.
In his desperation, he raised his knee and slammed it hard into the shadow’s vulnerable spot between the legs.
“Augh!” Han Li gasped in pain, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. The critical area was as hard as stone, and he felt as if his kneecap had shattered like an egg hitting rock.
His action, however, seemed to enrage the opponent. The giant hands on his shoulders exerted even more force, and the pain nearly made Han Li pass out. He collapsed to the ground, weakened.
“Easy, Iron Slave. I still have great use for this person,” Physician Mo’s reprimand came at this critical moment.
As soon as the words were spoken, Han Li felt the pressure on his shoulders lessen, and the pain subsided significantly. He breathed a sigh of relief, finding Physician Mo’s voice oddly comforting for the first time. Yet, even as he felt relieved, his long-standing doubts grew stronger.
From the beginning, Han Li had noticed that Physician Mo, for some reason, always held back at critical moments, seemingly afraid of harming him. He knew better than to assume it was out of kindness. There had to be some hidden reason, something unspeakable, that made Physician Mo hesitate to attack freely. Otherwise, their confrontation would not have dragged on for so long.
He made up his mind to exploit this weakness to negotiate and find a way to escape Physician Mo’s clutches.
Physician Mo walked up to him, seemingly reading his thoughts. A mocking smile flickered across his face. He first felt around Han Li’s chest and retrieved a protective mirror, momentarily speechless upon realizing it had blocked his pressure point attack.
Shaking his head slightly without a word, he then took out a rectangular yellow wooden box from his robe. The box was exquisitely crafted, adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes, clearly a rare item seldom seen by ordinary people.
In front of Han Li, Physician Mo solemnly opened the box. Inside lay several identical silver blades. Their shape was peculiar—neither quite a knife nor a sword, with curved, crescent-shaped blades resembling daggers in size. They were truly unusual.
When Physician Mo took one out, Han Li noticed how incredibly thin the blade was, almost like paper. A cold gleam shimmered along its edge, suggesting it could slice through flesh as easily as cutting cloth. Even stranger, the handle of the blade was adorned with a carved devil’s head, its eyes tightly shut, with blue skin, fangs, and two horns—a truly ferocious sight.
Holding the strange blade, Physician Mo glanced meaningfully at Han Li out of the corner of his eye.
The gesture sent a chill down Han Li’s spine. Could it be that his earlier ominous guess was correct? Was Physician Mo planning to use this blade to dissect him?
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