Chapter 6: Even Without Poison, One Must Forge Poison Regardless
That was the poison she had carefully selected, Father!
Jiang Lingyi’s heart shattered like dumpling filling, nearly bringing tears of grief and indignation to her eyes. Yet, surrounded by the praise of her seniors...
As a junior, she feared meeting the deep gazes of her elders. Their compliments were the most coveted treasure of her life orz.
Jiang Lingyi could only force a stiff smile, nodding tearfully with insincere words, “You flatter me, it’s only right for juniors to ease the burdens of their seniors, that’s all, haha.”
It’s alright, it’s alright, there’s still the rat poison, she comforted herself inwardly.
This mountain had been overrun by insect demons; no matter where they dug, a swarm would surely emerge. It was truly unsuitable for a burial.
After discussion, they decided to go farther to Yunlu Peak. Jiang Lingyi hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back repeatedly.
The journey to Yunlu Peak would take three times as long, leaving no time to return to the Xie household for lunch, nor would she be able to get the bottle of rat poison from the kitchen.
It’s alright, it’s alright, they would eat lunch on the way anyway, and she could find another way to gather poison, Jiang Lingyi reassured herself again.
Yet, on the way to Yunlu Peak, the heavens turned against them and a fine rain began to fall, as if staging the somber atmosphere of a funeral scene from a literature comprehension passage: “During Qingming the rains fall in drizzles, on the road the travelers seem heartbroken.”
The rain delayed them, leaving no time to eat lunch on the road. Moreover, cultivators often fast for days, so no one objected—only Jiang Lingyi’s already shattered heart broke even more.
It’s alright, it’s alright, even without lunch there’s still dinner, there’s still hope, right? Right... right? qwq Jiang Lingyi comforted herself once more.
Yunlu Peak was just an ordinary mountain. Though the spiritual energy was thin, Xie Lin never really expected Xie Xuan’s spirit to watch over him.
Everyone rolled up their sleeves and began to work hard. Jiang Lingyi squatted beneath a tree, casting Xie Lin a gaze full of deep resentment.
Judging by their efforts, it seemed they didn’t even plan to eat dinner.
She sighed heavily inwardly and fired off a rapid series of questions: “Is it really necessary to poison the food? Are those two words ‘food and dishes’ that important? Can’t I just poison him directly?”
[Please share your thoughts.]
“Look, he’s been caught in the rain. I’ll give him a medicinal soup to prevent a cold. That’s perfectly reasonable! He certainly won’t refuse that!”
[Host, your line should be: ‘Take a look at yourself before you speak,’ not: ‘Darling, drink your medicine.’]
Jiang Lingyi: ...
[Medicinal soup doesn’t count as food and dishes, and given your current image in the male lead’s mind, he probably wouldn’t drink your medicine anyway.]
Jiang Lingyi: ...
Is this really a beginner’s task?
Shouldn’t beginner tasks just require some effort?
Her gaze on Xie Lin grew even more resentful.
---
Perhaps because of the bond between father and daughter, Jiang Yuanshan, who was digging a hole with great focus, looked back and noticed Jiang Lingyi staring like a lovesick stone statue.
“Huh?”
Following her gaze, he saw Xie Lin standing there.
Jiang Yuanshan curled his lips in disdain. That kid really had a handsome face. Among the group, he was the most eye-catching, stealing the attention of Qin Qin, no less. How infuriating!
He dropped his hoe and crouched beside Jiang Lingyi, asking softly, “What are you thinking about? You look so unhappy.”
Jiang Lingyi hesitated, “Dinner.”
“Oh!” Jiang Yuanshan slapped his forehead, eyes filled with both pity and regret.
Look at his mind! Qin Qin, being weak, hadn’t fasted and hadn’t eaten lunch. She must be hungry now!
Poor child, she looked dazed and vacant-eyed from hunger!
Jiang Yuanshan reached into his pack to grab some dry rations, but Jiang Lingyi added shyly, “I want to have dinner with Xie Lin.”
Jiang Yuanshan: ...
He froze for a moment, then silently put his pack away.
So it wasn’t the food she craved, but Xie Lin. His unnecessary gesture brought tears to his eyes.
Jiang Yuanshan said bitterly, “Alright, I’ll find Xie Lin later and have him eat dinner with you.”
Jiang Lingyi’s eyes lit up.
She had forgotten that Jiang Yuanshan was now Xie Lin’s master. That meant she could have him do anything for her.
“I’ll make dinner for him myself!”
Jiang Yuanshan: !!!
Look at that! Qin Qin’s delicate fingers had never touched a kitchen utensil before, and now she wanted to make dinner for that boy! Even he, her father, never received such treatment!
Jiang Yuanshan nearly fumed with frustration, but seeing Jiang Lingyi’s hopeful face, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“...Alright, alright, whatever Qin Qin wants.”
Jiang Lingyi thought with her father’s divine support, the task was surely in the bag.
She cheerfully followed the group down the mountain, eager to show her skills at the Xie household’s kitchen, rubbing her hands in anticipation. Unexpectedly, Jiang Yuanshan and Xie Lin stopped at a farmhouse at the foot of the mountain and refused to move.
Jiang Yuanshan smiled kindly as he approached.
“It’s still over an hour’s walk back. You’re hungry, aren’t you? Let’s just have dinner here.”
---
“This farmhouse often hosts travelers nearby. They have all sorts of ingredients ready!”
“In a little while, I’ll arrange for you to sit with Xie Lin! Happy? Excited? Thrilled?”
Jiang Lingyi: ...
She watched the group flood into the farmhouse, then looked around the empty mountain foot with no pharmacy in sight. Her anxious heart finally sank.
She had been overly optimistic.
Now she bitterly regretted not learning poison-making alongside swordsmanship in the Medicine Sect.
Dinner was her last chance.
Poisoning Xie Lin alone was too difficult. She decided to abandon conscience and morality, fully embracing the role of a truly vicious supporting female character—
She would poison everyone’s dishes directly.
Jiang Lingyi rolled up her sleeves and marched into the kitchen with determination. The ingredients were abundant and varied, the dishes fresh.
There wasn’t a single trace of leftover spoiled food, nor any rotten ingredients. The tidy kitchen showed no sign of mice or cockroaches, let alone any rat poison or insecticide.
Such an honest establishment, so conscientious, Jiang Lingyi was moved to tears, feeling her life ticking down.
No poison? Then she’d have to make poison with poison!
Jiang Lingyi, with this resolve, would succeed in whatever she did!
“If I cook with inherently toxic ingredients, like poisonous mushrooms, does that count as poisoning the food?”
The system searched in the background and confirmed positively.
[Yes, host. Red cap, white stem. Eat, and you’ll all be lying down together. Poisonous mushrooms are good, but don’t be greedy with the amount.]
Good, good. Though the door was closed, at least a window remained.
She scanned the baskets of vegetables and meat on the table. Though she didn’t spot her old friend, the green bean, she found a new ally—
Green beans!
Truly a kinship of country folk, tears welled in her eyes!
Who said these green beans were old? They were perfect!