Chapter 581: So Vicious

Duan Rong sat in the small kitchen, eating while lost in deep thought. He did not notice that at the entrance of the large kitchen diagonally opposite, a pair of eyes was staring at him viciously.

Wang Long bit into the steamed corn bun in his hand. Watching the large white steamed bun in Duan Rong's hand, his resentment remained unabated; he knew that in the bowl Duan Rong was holding, there were still quite a few strips of fatty meat. And these things, just yesterday, were what he had been enjoying!

Duan Rong did not notice the gaze of Wang Long, who was squatting among the crowd, at all. After finishing his meal, he returned to the small kitchen, washed the bowls and chopsticks, and began preparing the various meat and vegetable ingredients for dinner.

Although he had entered the God-Demon Illusion Realm and lost all his cultivation, the martial arts experience in his head remained. With Duan Rong's original martial arts level, even this thin, weak body of a seven or eight-year-old child could exert considerable power. Dealing with Martial Artists like Meng Zongqiu and his ilk who were in the Inner Breath Realm might be a bit difficult, but chopping bones and cutting vegetables was a piece of cake.

What's more, Duan Rong had devoured the Spirit Tool of the knives here, so his knife skills were already superb.

Combining strength and knife skills, the work He Laotou had assigned him was finished in less than an hour.

Duan Rong wiped his hands, untied the apron hanging around his neck, and paced out of the small kitchen.

As he walked out of the small kitchen, Guo Tian and the others were still busy in the courtyard. Guo Tian, Lu Chu, and three children Duan Rong did not recognize were gathered together, peeling potatoes, and beside them were already two large wooden basins piled with potatoes... The food for over three hundred people was no joke! Just the potatoes alone were enough to keep them peeling!

The moment Duan Rong walked out of the small kitchen, Guo Tian looked up and stared at him, and Duan Rong also turned his head to look at Guo Tian. But neither of them had any intention of speaking. Duan Rong walked straight toward the outside of the courtyard.

Lu Chu said, "Duan Rong, he went out?"

"Mm." Guo Tian only gave a hum and then stopped talking, continuing to peel his potatoes. Guo Tian still admired Duan Rong quite a bit; after all, Duan Rong had managed to get into the small kitchen on his very first day.

In this way, at the very least, the information they grasped would be broader. In fact, for most of the day, although Guo Tian and the others had been working, they had not stopped asking those children about matters in the stronghold.

Those working here were all seven or eight-year-old children with no ulterior motives. As long as Guo Tian and the others threw out a topic, they would start chatting, and Guo Tian would deliberately lead the conversation in the direction he wanted to know.

As for why Duan Rong had suddenly left the courtyard at this moment, Guo Tian felt that Duan Rong must have his own reasons for acting.

The goal of the eight of them was the same, which was to find a way to kill Meng Zongqiu and the others. If Duan Rong had a way to do it, Guo Tian and the others would also do their best to cooperate with him.

Duan Rong walked out of the courtyard and slowly paced along another direction.

He held a tree branch in his hand, and whenever he saw a patch of grass, he would hit it with the branch, then go in to identify it to see if there were any poisonous plants.

He used the branch to hit it because he was afraid there were snakes in the grass. He didn't want to end up being bitten by a venomous snake before he had poisoned anyone else.

In this horse bandit stronghold, the lives of these children were not worth anything at all; if bitten by a venomous snake, one could only wait for death.

In fact, this was also the reason why Guo Tian and the others were unwilling to accept Jiang Hanyan's plan. They themselves were truly too weak. If they had to endure in this God-Demon Illusion Realm until their cultivation was successful, they might accidentally die before even becoming Martial Artists in the Inner Breath Realm.

In this chaotic stronghold, the death of one or two child laborers, to tell the truth, was no different from the death of a dog.

Duan Rong suddenly discovered a rather large patch of weeds in front of a courtyard, so he walked over slowly, patted it with the branch, and walked in.

The weeds were dense, and he used the branch to push them aside, lest he miss any poisonous plants.

At this moment, a small leader suddenly rode by with a few horse bandits.

The small leader sat on his horse, squinted at Duan Rong, and asked in a deep voice, "Little brat, what are you doing there?"

"I'm taking a dump!" Duan Rong replied, then unzipped his pants and squatted down. The weeds, which grew to his ankles, covered his buttocks.

Duan Rong squatted in the weeds and, seeing that the few horse bandits had gone far away, pulled up his pants and stood up.

He felt an itch on his buttocks, so he carefully examined the place where he had just squatted and found three stalks of Cat Eye Grass there.

Duan Rong couldn't help but shake his head. "This thing is poisonous, but to poison someone to death, you'd need at least a big bundle."

The toxicity of Cat Eye Grass was too weak, and it was troublesome to process. It couldn't be used here at all.

Duan Rong then searched around some more, but found nothing, and he left the place feeling somewhat dejected.

In such a large patch of weeds, there were only three stalks of Cat Eye Grass; he was becoming less and less confident about finding poisonous substances in the stronghold.

Duan Rong walked along one direction to the edge of the stronghold. The high log fence was a full two zhang high, and there was an Arrow Tower every certain distance.

The Arrow Tower also served as a watchtower; if there were enemies outside the stronghold, they could see them from far away.

Of course, in the daytime, if Duan Rong and the others wanted to escape the stronghold, they would be shot dead on the spot by the people in the Arrow Tower!

Duan Rong stood there, looking at the lush mountains and fields outside the fence, and couldn't help but feel a sense of despair.

In those mountains and fields, poisonous plants were everywhere, and since he was well-versed in the hundred herbs, finding odorless and tasteless poisons, or even poisonous smoke-type poisons, was not a problem at all.

It was just that, though it was close at hand, that layer of fence imprisoned him.

Duan Rong suddenly realized that on an Arrow Tower in the southeast direction, a pair of eyes was already fixed on him. He immediately turned around and walked back the way he came; if he were shot dead, he would have nowhere to reason with.

Duan Rong walked back to the kitchen courtyard; it was almost time to prepare dinner. After nearly two hours of busy work in the afternoon, he had only found three stalks of Cat Eye Grass, which made him very discouraged.

Duan Rong walked into the small kitchen, and He Laotou was already standing there, tying his apron.

Seeing him enter, He Laotou glared at him and said, "Where did you go? Have all the things that needed to be prepared been prepared?"

Duan Rong said, "They are all prepared!"

He Laotou pulled a long face, pulled open the black curtain, and went in to check. He found that all the items were neat and tidy; except for some that needed to be cut on the spot, everything else was processed and arranged neatly.

"Good work!" He Laotou praised, then turned his head to look at Duan Rong and said, "Alright! I'll handle the rest! You go light the fire!"

Duan Rong brought firewood, ignited it with a flint, and squatted in front of the stove, starting the fire...

He Laotou's craftsmanship was impeccable; if it weren't for the murder case on his hands, he wouldn't have hidden in this horse bandit stronghold.

He spent nearly an hour on the dinner for the three chiefs.

He Laotou wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, placed a plate of steamed pork ribs into a food box, and looked up at Duan Rong, saying, "The Third Chief's dishes are ready, you take them over. Carry a lantern, watch your feet on the road, and if you spill the dishes, watch your skin."

Duan Rong agreed, inserted a lantern diagonally into the handle of the food box, and carried the food box out of the small kitchen.

At this time, the sky was already pitch black, and there were dots of light in the stronghold, but the Endless Great Mountains all around were dark and heavy, like crouching giant beasts.

Duan Rong walked while looking at the darkness in the distance, his eyes flickering.

In fact, he possessed the Bone Shrinking Technique; although he had never practiced it, this body was already thin and small, and combined with some techniques for joint movement in the Bone Shrinking Technique, crawling out through the gaps in the fence was not a difficult task for him.

Although there were Arrow Towers, the night was dark, so Duan Rong could actually escape the stronghold.

But the night was dark, and even if the mountains were full of poisonous plants, he could not identify them. Moreover, most of the fierce beasts in the mountains hunted at night, and running around in the mountains at night made it very easy to die in the mountains.

Duan Rong carried the food box and, following the path he had walked during the day, soon arrived at the courtyard where the Third Chief Li Tang lived.

The Guard, seeing Duan Rong bring the food box over, only opened the lid and glanced at it before letting him in.

Inside the room, the candlelight was bright, and mottled light shone out from the open door.

Duan Rong stood in that cluster of light, took down the lantern and placed it by his feet, and only then called out, "Third Master, the little one has brought dinner!"

Inside the room, it was quiet for a few seconds before a clear voice called out, "Come in."

Duan Rong then picked up the food box and walked into the room.

Once inside the room, he saw Li Tang sitting before a candle, wiping a blade that glinted with a cold light, while the mistress he had newly abducted sat before a Copper Mirror, applying rouge to her face.

Li Tang pinched a piece of white cotton cloth and slid it slowly over the blade; seeing Duan Rong walk in with the food box, he said, "Put the dishes on the table."

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong obediently said "Yes," then opened the food box, took out the dishes one plate and one bowl at a time, and set them on the table.

Once he finished, he bowed and said, "Third Chief, the dishes are all set. This one will take his leave!"

Li Tang did not acknowledge him, so Duan Rong prepared to retreat.

At this moment, Duan Rong heard Li Tang say to the woman, "Where did you put the Silver Needle used at noon?"

Hearing this, Duan Rong's heart stirred.

This Li Tang actually used a Silver Needle to test for poison before eating!

It seemed that these bandit leaders, who spent their lives licking blood off the edge of a blade, had long since developed a cautious way of doing things. However, Duan Rong had never thought about poisoning the dishes; if he did that, even if he poisoned Li Tang to death, he himself would not be able to escape!

Even so, Duan Rong slowed his pace, wanting to see Li Tang's method of testing for poison with a Silver Needle.

Upon hearing this, the woman picked up an Iron Box from the corner of the vanity and said, "Master, the Silver Needle is here!"

"Bring it over! I'm hungry!" Li Tang said, and with a *shlick*, he sheathed his blade.

The woman gave a coquettish smile, then brought the Iron Box to the dining table; she opened the box, pulled out the Silver Needle, and tested the dishes one by one.

Li Tang watched her movements from the side. Suddenly, he lunged, arrived behind the woman, grabbed her waist, and began to gnaw on her face, which was flushed with excitement.

He gnawed with a loud, wet sound!

The woman's hand holding the Silver Needle was twisted behind her back by Li Tang, causing her sharp pain; she dared not scold him, only knitting her brows and enduring it silently...

Duan Rong, carrying the empty food box, walked to the doorway and cast a sidelong glance, happening to see this scene.

He had wanted to see the method of testing for poison with a Silver Needle, but he hadn't expected to see a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey.

Duan Rong did not stop his pace; he picked up his lantern and walked out of the Third Chief's courtyard.

The moment he stepped out of the courtyard, Duan Rong thought of a brilliant method for poisoning, but though he had a poisonous scheme, he had no usable poison in his hands!

With just those three stalks of Cat Eye Grass, he could at most poison a few ants to death.

Duan Rong pondered countermeasures the whole way; when he walked back to the small kitchen, he knew He Laotou had already returned, as the empty food boxes of the First Chief and Second Chief were already placed in the corner.

Duan Rong placed the food box in his hand there too, then came to the stove and lifted the lid; a fragrant aroma wafted toward him.

His mouth immediately began to water!

To tell the truth, he had been busy enough this day; his feet had almost never stopped.

Duan Rong wolfed down his dinner, let out a satisfied burp, and walked out of the small kitchen.

After Guo Tian and the others finished dinner, they still had to wash the bowls and chopsticks, and only after washing them could they sleep!

Duan Rong only glanced at them before heading straight to the shed where he slept; the children in the courtyard all looked at him with envious eyes.

After entering the shed, Duan Rong lay down on the large communal bed in the spot where he had lain the night before.

He was exhausted; as he lay down and kicked off his shoes, he felt a sharp pain in the soles of his feet. He sat up to look and discovered that, at some point, two blisters had worn onto his soles.

There was no helping it! The straw sandals chafed his feet, and he had been running all day!

And he had to run again tomorrow! He had to find poison within this mountain stronghold! He possessed Proficiency in identifying all herbs, but if he couldn't find any poison, wouldn't this ability to use poison be wasted?

Thinking this, Duan Rong drifted off into a hazy sleep.

By the time Guo Tian and the others returned to the shed, Duan Rong was already snoring softly. During the day, Guo Tian had thought about returning at night to discuss countermeasures with Duan, but not only was Duan Rong asleep, he himself had been busy all day and felt his physical strength was overdrawn, leaving him dizzy and muddled. His brain couldn't turn at all right now, so what was there to discuss?

As soon as Guo Tian and the others touched the bed boards, they instantly fell into a deep sleep.

Duan Rong was sleeping in a daze when he suddenly felt a pain in his waist, as if he had been struck by something.

He immediately woke up, only to see a long, narrow black shadow like a club heading straight for his head!

Although Duan Rong's body was frail, he possessed Proficiency in the martial arts of many schools; he rolled over and dodged it, and the long, narrow black shadow slammed into the communal bed with a *bang*.

Only then did Duan Rong see a figure standing not far away. He immediately leaped up and stomped his foot onto the face of the black shadow.

The two of them fell to the ground together, wrestling into a ball.

Then, in the darkness, a sharp cry rang out!

"Duan Rong! Let go!..."

That was Wang Long's cry! But the cry was changing, as if he were being choked by something, gradually growing weaker!

The children in the shed were all awakened, and someone used a Fire Folder to light an oil lamp!

They saw that on the ground beside the communal bed, Wang Long's hands were twisted behind his back, his head was being strangled by Duan Rong's legs, and Duan Rong's whole body was coiled like a twist of dough, tightening more and more around Wang Long's neck!

Wang Long was already covered in sweat, his face pale, the veins on his forehead bulging; he made a muffled "ah" sound in his throat, but he could no longer speak.

If Duan Rong kept strangling him like this, Wang Long would likely be strangled to death in a few more breaths!

"Duan Rong, what are you doing? Let Wang Long go!" Several children from the same village as Wang Long gathered around, but they were immediately blocked by Guo Tian and the others.

At this moment, seeing that Wang Long was about to expire, Duan Rong finally loosened his grip slightly; Wang Long's throat suddenly began to pull in air like a bellows, making a sound similar to a donkey's bray.

Duan Rong said, "If there is a next time, I will strangle you to death!"

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he jumped up, picked up the rolling pin that had fallen onto the communal bed, and smashed it against Wang Long's body.

It was clearly this rolling pin that Wang Long had used to hit Duan Rong just moments ago.

Wang Long sat on the ground, gasping for breath; he seemed not to even feel the rolling pin smashing against him.

Duan Rong looked at Guo Tian and said, "Guo Tian, let's sleep!"

The eight of them then lay down on the communal bed.

"Wang Long, are you alright?" The children from the same village looked at Wang Long and asked with concern. When they walked closer, they discovered that the ground beneath Wang Long was wet.

Wang Long had actually been scared into wetting himself! And Wang Long sat in that puddle of urine, his eyes filled with terror!

He was only a seven or eight-year-old child, but at that moment, he had truly felt the sensation of impending death! He even felt that Duan Rong really intended to kill him!

It took a long while for Wang Long to recover; he turned his head and looked with fear at Duan Rong, who was sleeping on the communal bed! At this moment, there was not a shred of resentment in his heart, only being swallowed by infinite terror.

He had not expected that the seemingly dull and reticent Duan Rong would be so ferocious! Just like a wolf cub!

(End of chapter)