Chapter 94: Hidden Hand

Cheng Feng widened his eyes, staring intently at the Bone-Eroding Powder in Langu's hand, thinking to himself: "Could this bottle of Bone-Eroding Powder really be enough to poison that cunning Alchemist, Nie Yuan?" A trace of doubt appeared on his face.

Langu couldn't help but laugh at Cheng Feng's naivety; she shook her head gently, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "Young man, who said that having Bone-Eroding Powder makes it easy to poison an Alchemist? Have you forgotten the origin of this Bone-Eroding Powder?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Feng suddenly realized the truth. That's right! This Bone-Eroding Powder originally belonged to Nie Yuan; this matter required careful consideration.

He scratched his head and asked with a face full of curiosity: "In that case, since you are seeking my cooperation with this Bone-Eroding Powder, how exactly do you want to cooperate?"

Langu was silent for a moment, as if thinking about how to answer. Finally, she took a deep breath and said slowly: "Actually, I have been afflicted with a deadly poison administered by Nie Yuan, and the Bone-Eroding Powder is the key to neutralizing it."

"So that's how it is..." Cheng Feng muttered to himself, "So you mean this is what they call 'fighting poison with poison'?"

Langu nodded slightly, indicating her agreement: "Exactly, that is a quite fitting way to put it. Using the toxicity of the Bone-Eroding Powder to counteract the poison Nie Yuan used might be the only way to detoxify." Her eyes revealed firmness and resolve.

Cheng Feng stared at Langu with wide eyes and asked in a low voice: "Langu, could you reveal what kind of strength you possess?" His tone carried a hint of curiosity and awe.

Langu smiled as she watched Cheng Feng and answered frankly: "Actually, there is not much that needs to be hidden. I am a Martial Artist at Blood Refining Perfection. However, in terms of pharmacology, I truly cannot compare to that old fellow Nie Yuan. It is precisely because of this that I am held in check and forced to refine some poisons for them. These poisons, however, are used to help Nie Hu break through to the Blood Refining Realm."

Hearing this, Cheng Feng couldn't help but exclaim in shock: "There is actually such a method to break through to the Blood Refining Realm? Aren't you worried about being poisoned to death?" His face was full of astonishment and doubt.

Seeing this, the corners of Langu's mouth rose slightly, and she seemed to be in a quite pleasant mood. She explained patiently: "The path of pharmacology has no distinction between righteous and evil; the key lies in how the person using it wields it. If used properly and skillfully, poison can also cure many difficult and miscellaneous illnesses. It is just a pity that most people in the world are vulgar and ignorant, unable to accurately grasp the properties of medicine, leading to many unbearable outcomes." Having said this, she shook her head gently, revealing a sense of regret.

Cheng Feng was noncommittal toward Langu, who had a young face but carried the aura of a Medical Skill expert; at least he now knew the other party's current strength. He was also at Blood Refining, and the gap in strength made Cheng Feng understand his position very clearly.

Seeing Cheng Feng looking hopeful and fearing that he might do something foolish, Langu added: "Sometimes, those Proficient in pharmacology are no less powerful than Righteous Path Martial Artists. Take Nie Yuan, for example; as far as I know, he once used poison to kill a Bone Refining Late Stage expert, and I, at most, have killed one at the Bone Refining Initial Stage."

Langu's cold water left Cheng Feng feeling chilled from head to toe.

Bone Refining? Initial Stage? Late Stage???

Is that for real?

But since Langu said so, Cheng Feng naturally would not disbelieve her.

"Then how about we start with Nie Hu?" Cheng Feng suggested.

"If I start with pharmacology, Nie Yuan will definitely be able to tell afterward. I don't want to take that risk. Nie Yuan promised me that once Nie Hu successfully breaks through, I will be allowed to leave," Langu said calmly.

Watching Langu be so calm, Cheng Feng realized that he seemed to have played the role of an errand boy. Langu might not even let him realize his wish for revenge; at most, she just let him understand more about Nie Yuan's strength.

"Then what did you mean by the cooperation you mentioned earlier?" Cheng Feng understood, but he was still unwilling to give up.

"Once my poison is cleared, I will contact you when I find an opportunity. It will not take more than three months. Use the lantern outside the door as a signal."

Seeing Langu's tone becoming increasingly impatient, Cheng Feng understood, bid her farewell, and left.

Watching the boy who had delivered himself to her door be guided into taking the Bone-Eroding Powder, Langu felt that her escape was in sight.

As for revenge, forget it. Others might not know Nie Yuan's strength, but how could Langu not know?

She was just tricking that silly boy, hoping he wouldn't be reckless and throw his life away for nothing.

Cheng Feng was left feeling agitated by the contrast in Langu's behavior.

Even the dullest person would realize they had been deceived.

But fortunately, Cheng Feng had not revealed his face throughout the encounter.

This experience taught Cheng Feng a good lesson.

Do not make deals with powerful people; if you must, you need to have leverage to hold them in check.

As for the current Cheng Feng, his strength was inferior, his pharmacology was inferior, and he could only be considered to have simply clarified some of Nie Yuan's background and strength.

Fortunately, from this trip, Cheng Feng had gained a little something in that cave; otherwise, he really would have been treated as nothing more than a pointless errand boy.

Cheng Feng sat alone in Room One; the teacup in his hand had long since gone cold, but his thoughts were churning like boiling water.

He recalled the deal with Langu—everything seemed simple yet was full of calculation, making him realize that in this world, the coexistence of strength and wisdom was the foundation of standing one's ground.

Cheng Feng sighed softly; he knew there was still much he needed to learn and improve upon.

Being deceived this time not only nearly landed him in a dangerous situation but also made him see his own shortcomings. He knew clearly that to survive in this world, one must have sufficient strength and wisdom to deal with various challenges.

The sun was just rising, and even though Cheng Feng hadn't slept for three days, he felt no sleepiness. He got up and walked to the window, an inexplicable determination welling up in his heart.

He understood that to change his destiny, he had to work hard continuously and constantly improve his strength and wisdom.

In the days that followed, Cheng Feng began to work even harder to improve his skills.

The women in the household also sensed that Cheng Feng had something on his mind and took turns trying various ways to make him happy.

With Xiao Chengping around, Cheng Feng naturally returned to normal after two or three days.

The matters regarding Langu, Nie Yuan, Nie Hu, and others were just being carefully watched by Cheng Feng from the shadows.

Fortunately, there was still Babai; he could record everything relevant and then summarize the events to report to Cheng Feng.

Cheng Feng had Babai act as an observer in the corner, recording every person, event, and object related to the Hutou Gang one by one.

Just like a surveillance camera; fortunately, Babai didn't need to eat, and could even recharge with just sunlight.

Cheng Feng was also reflecting on his own conduct in his heart.

If Langu had any malicious intentions, he might have really been finished on the spot.

Cheng Feng could not confirm whether poisoning someone in the Bone Refining Realm was true.

But in private, Cheng Feng was also diligently studying that Ghost Doctor Book.

As a book related to Medical Skill, many things were indeed obscure and difficult to understand, but Cheng Feng only thought about whether he could memorize it and form a skill on his Panmian.

Medical Skill did not require any issues regarding Martial Dao aptitude.

This was also a direction for Cheng Feng to improve himself.

Nie Yuan and Langu were both people Proficient in pharmacology; if an unrelated person got close, they could really be taken down directly.