A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 577 Stirring Up a Stagnant Pool

After Guo Tian finished speaking, Duan Rong also told Guo Tian about some of his discoveries over the past few days.

After exchanging information in that dark and secluded place, the two carefully walked along the shadows by the roadside and returned to the courtyard.

As soon as they lay back down on the bed, Lu Chu leaned over and whispered in Guo Tian's ear, "Where did you go with Duan Rong?"

Guo Tian didn't want to say more, so he simply said, "I need to pee!" and then wrapped himself in a blanket and went to sleep.

Lu Chu scoffed in the darkness, then wrapped himself in the blanket and fell asleep.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Duan Rong arrived early at the small kitchen. Before Old Man He arrived, he took a small black porcelain bowl and a small dish of dipping sauce.

He took the porcelain bowl and small plate, squatted down in front of the stove, and carefully took out a folded piece of cloth from his pocket. He unfolded the cloth, and in the dim light, he could vaguely make out that it was a small flower.

Duan Rong pinched the petals and placed the dove-shaped flower at the bottom of the black porcelain bowl, then covered it with a small dish. After doing this, Duan Rong got up again, twisted a small piece of dough from the dough bowl, and used the dough to stick the small dish to the bottom of the black porcelain bowl. Finally, he buried the bowl in the ashes of the stove.

At this moment, Duan Rong dusted off his hands, scooped some water into the large iron pot, and started a fire.

Only when the flames in the stove burned his face and steam began to rise from the large iron pot did Old Man He slowly walk in...

As usual, Duan Rong spent his days tending to the small kitchen and wandering around the mountain stronghold.

Old Man He didn't pay much attention to him, because he did his work very well, and even though Old Man He was quite picky, he couldn't find any fault with it. As for the rest of the time, Old Man He let him do whatever he wanted. Wasn't it normal for a seven or eight-year-old child to run around and play?

Duan Rong had already searched every nook and cranny of the mountain stronghold, and there wasn't a single usable poisonous plant left.

The only dove-shaped flower was found on the roof, so Duan Rong decided to spend another day carefully examining all the rooftops in the mountain stronghold to see if he could find anything else.

As night deepened, Duan Rong carried an empty food box and slowly walked into the courtyard. Guo Tian and the others were already squatting in the corner eating.

Duan Rong walked over silently and went straight into the small kitchen. As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, he glanced at the stove, where the fire had already gone out.

That dove-shaped flower has been roasted since morning, three times over a high flame; its toxicity should have been completely forced out.

However, Duan Rong was not in a hurry to rummage inside. He put the food box away and started eating his dinner first.

These past few days, he's been running around non-stop. If it weren't for the good food, which is rich in oil and fat, he really wouldn't be able to keep up with his physical exertion.

After Duan Rong finished his meal, he let out a satisfied burp. Across from him, the people in the kitchen started getting busy again. He watched them for a while from the doorway, then placed his bowl and chopsticks on the ground and slowly walked to the stove.

Holding a piece of firewood, he brushed aside the ashes and lifted up the black porcelain bowl.

The black porcelain bowl was still very hot to the touch. Duan Rong pulled it aside, wiped the ash inside clean with a rag, and then, holding the small plate with one hand, carefully peeled off the dry paste around the plate with the other.

After wiping away the dry batter, Duan Rong held his breath and then gently lifted the small white plate.

At the bottom of the porcelain bowl, there were a few dried flower petals.

Duan Rong held his breath and pinched off the few dried petals, revealing a few small specks of pink on the bottom of the black porcelain bowl. That was the powder made from the stamens of the dove-shaped flower.

That is, the poison powder that Duan Rong wanted!
At this moment, the poison powder would be blown away as soon as he moved his breath slightly.

Duan Rong took out a piece of yellow paper that he had prepared beforehand, put the poison powder on the paper, and wrapped it up. Then he stuffed the yellow paper into the gap between the adobe bricks in the corner of the wall.

At this moment, Duan Rong smashed the black porcelain bowl and small dish with a brick, throwing the shards into the pile of garbage outside. This bowl had been contaminated with pollen from the dove-shaped flower; if anyone used it, even if they didn't die, they'd get diarrhea for days!

This substance is highly poisonous!

After Duan Rong had done all this and tidied up the things that needed to be packed, he returned to his hut and lay down.

He lay on the large communal bed, his eyes darting around at the low, simple roof covered in cobwebs.

He had already swept all the rooftops of the mountain stronghold during the day. Unlike weeds, rooftops are not swept away slowly. As long as he walked slowly and looked around, he could clearly see whether there were any poisonous plants.

Now, Duan Rong was certain that the only poisonous plant found in the entire mountain stronghold was the Dove-shaped Flower. The poison powder made from roasting the Dove-shaped Flower's stamens was only enough to kill one person.

If he could only kill one person, Duan Rong would most like to kill the leader, Meng Zongqiu. If the leader were to die, the entire stronghold would be in chaos, and they might take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble and find another opportunity to kill the second leader, Wu Mingfu, and the third leader, Li Tang.

They are not without their advantages. Although they are all seven or eight-year-old children, they all have quite sophisticated martial arts skills in their minds. If the eight of them were to suddenly attack, their destructive power would be considerable!
But it was clearly impossible to poison Meng Zongqiu, because he simply didn't have the opportunity to do so! He couldn't even get into the bunker!

He was most familiar with the place, having delivered meals to the third-in-command, Li Tang, every day. Most importantly, he had developed a very sophisticated poisoning technique with Li Tang! Not only could it be done without anyone noticing, but it also left no trace!
Since there were no other poisonous herbs in the stronghold, Duan Rong decided to target Li Tang first!

If he doesn't take action, this mountain stronghold will remain stagnant forever. Now that he's found a dove-shaped flower, he'll use it to stir up this stagnant pool! Only by stirring it up can he look for opportunities later!

If we don't take action, are we really going to spend five or six years in this Divine Demon Illusionary Realm trying to reach the first level of the Inner Breath Realm?

Having made up his mind, Duan Rong closed his eyes and drifted into a dream.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he woke up from his sleep, turned over, and in the darkness, he could feel Guo Tian's breath on his face. Guo Tian had been sleeping next to him ever since they went out together last night.

Duan Rong suddenly shoved Guo Tian, ​​then sat up, cursing, "I drank too much water tonight, and I'm so full of pee."

As he spoke, he got off the large communal bed, slipped on his shoes, and walked outside.

Guo Tian also got off the large communal bed and followed Duan Rong out.

Lu Chu also wanted to get up, but after thinking about it, he didn't move. It would be too conspicuous for the three of them to go out.

Duan Rong and Guo Tian arrived at the urination area in the courtyard, where several filthy chamber pots were lying.

As the two urinated, Duan Rong lowered his voice and said, "Guo Tian, ​​I'm about to make my move!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Tian hummed in agreement and asked, "Do you need our help?" Guo Tian knew that Duan Rong had found a poisonous herb. As for how he would use it and how he would deal with the consequences, Guo Tian believed that Duan Rong had already thought it through and there was no need to ask further.

Duan Rong said, "Not for now. However, there might be some repercussions later, but it should be fine. Just keep an eye on them and don't make any rash moves. Just observe how things develop."

Guo Tiandao: "I understand. Do you need this?"

"what?!"

Duan Rong didn't know what Guo Tian was talking about. He only saw Guo Tian flip his hand and hold a black iron nail that was more than three inches long in his hand. The tip of the nail was sharpened very much and had two edges!
Guo Tian said, "I sharpened it on the whetstone in the yard during the day while I was working! You can carry it with you; it might be useful for self-defense!" Duan Rong glanced at the nail and saw that the grip area was wrapped with thin hemp rope, clearly indicating that Guo Tian had put a lot of thought into it.

"I don't need it right now! You can keep it for now, and I'll come to you when I need it!"

He wanted to poison the third leader, Li Tang, which might cause some trouble later. If he carried the murder weapon with him, wouldn't that give others a handle to use against him?
"it is good!"

Guo Tian put the sharp nail away again.

The two only whispered a few words while urinating before going back to sleep.

The next day, Duan Rong was busy in the small kitchen as usual, and then he delivered food to the third leader, Li Tang!

But two days passed, and he still hadn't gotten a chance to make a move!

Every time Duan Rong walked by, Guo Tian would look at him, as if asking when he was going to make his move, but Duan Rong would always walk past expressionlessly, as if he hadn't seen him at all.

That night, the mountain stronghold was already pitch black. Duan Rong carried a food box and a lantern into Li Tang's courtyard.

The guards were already quite familiar with him, so they stopped checking him and waved him in.

After Duan Rong introduced himself in the courtyard, he heard a response from inside the room. He then carried the food box into the room and saw Li Tang and the woman sitting at the table. The woman's hair was a little messy and her collar was turned up.

Duan Rong stood there and glanced lightly at the dressing table. He saw that the rouge box was open, with the lid leaning against the side of the box.

Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat; he knew the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

He had been waiting for the moment the rouge box would be opened!
"What are you all standing there for? Bring all the food up! I'm exhausted after a long day and I'm starving!" Li Tang suddenly cursed.

"Yes, Third Master!" Duan Rong obediently replied, then opened the food box and placed the dishes and bowls on the table.

The woman had already begun examining the vegetables with a silver needle.

After she pricked him with two needles, Li Tang saw that the silver needles did not change color, so he started eating the steamed pork ribs.

After Duan Rong finished serving the dishes, he bowed and said, "Third Master, all the dishes have been served! I'll take my leave!"

Li Tang focused only on eating, completely ignoring Duan Rong. Usually, Duan Rong would have simply left by this time.

Duan Rong turned around, picked up the lid of the food box that was placed there, and was about to close the food box as usual, but suddenly his hand loosened.

The lid of the food box fell to the ground with a clatter, then rolled to the leg of the dressing table and came to a stop.

Duan Rong immediately turned around, bowed, and said, "I made a mistake, I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

Li Tang spat the bone out of his mouth onto the table, a look of disgust flashing across his face. He cursed, "Alright! Take that lid and get the hell out of here! Don't get in my way!"

"Yes, Third Master!"

Duan Rong immediately feigned panic and rushed over, bending down to pick up the lid of the food box. But the moment he stood up, his sleeve flicked, and a small clump of red powder was sprinkled onto the surface of the rouge box. The bright red rouge and the deep red poison powder looked exactly the same, indistinguishable to the naked eye!
Duan Rong walked back to where the food box was, closed the lid, picked up the empty food box, and left the room.

The woman glanced at Duan Rong's retreating figure and said, "That child is so clumsy!"

The woman had barely finished speaking when Li Tang grabbed her waist and began kissing her face with his greasy lips...

The moment Duan Rong stepped out of the room, he let out a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, picked up his lantern, and walked out of the courtyard.

Just as Duan Rong left, a guard suddenly appeared at the door, cupped his fists, and said, "Master, the Second Master's men have arrived!"

Li Tang was gripping the woman's waist when he suddenly heard the guard's voice. He released his grip, suppressing his rising lust, and said, "Let him in!"

The man who came in was a guard of Wu Mingfu, the second-in-command. As soon as he entered, he bowed and said with a smile, "Third Master, our master has acquired a few jars of fine wine, which is quite rare. He sent me to invite you to drink with him!"

Li Tang suddenly burst into laughter and said, "My second brother dotes on me the most. He'll never forget me when he has good wine! Let's go!"

As Li Tang spoke, he stood up, put his arm around the guard's shoulder, and walked out.

For the past few days, the woman had been raped and humiliated by Li Tang every day. Her body was covered in bruises, and she had long wanted to die. As soon as Li Tang left, she suddenly began to seriously consider the matter.

"To end it all at once..."

A resolute look flashed in the woman's almond-shaped eyes. She turned her head and glanced at the roof beam. She had stared at that beam countless times, imagining herself hanging herself there.

She tried to stand up, but her legs went weak. She slumped onto the table, staring blankly at the plate of steamed pork ribs in front of her, and couldn't help but swallow.

Old Man He's cooking skills are indeed excellent; they are comparable to those of the chefs at the grand restaurants in the capital.

She had eaten this steamed pork ribs a couple of days ago, and the taste was so delicious that she had never eaten anything so good since she was born. She couldn't help but pick up another piece of steamed pork ribs and put it in her mouth.

After finishing the steamed pork ribs, she stood up, tied several of Li Tang's belts together in the wardrobe, tied one end to a soft pillow, threw it forcefully, and climbed down from the roof beam.

She moved a chair over, stood on it, took off the pillow, and tied the two ends of the belt together. As she tied it, she suddenly burst into tears because she was standing there and saw her own face reflected in the bronze mirror.

That face, so young! She really didn't want to die!

She thought she was determined to die, but she never expected that her resolve would crumble completely in an instant!
She got off the chair, threw herself onto the bed and started crying. She cried herself to sleep.

When she woke up again, it was already late at night. She stood up, her mind much calmer.

Dying is not an easy thing!

She looked at the belt hanging from the rafters, walked over, stood on a chair, took the belt off, untied it, and put it back in the wardrobe.

At this moment, she walked to the dressing table and suddenly saw herself in the bronze mirror, her face covered in grime from crying. If Li Tang came back and saw her crying like this, he would definitely interrogate her.

She sat down at the dressing table and began to touch up her makeup. Just as she was applying rouge to her face, Li Tang, reeking of alcohol, staggered in from outside.

(End of this chapter)