This thing called paranoia exists more or less in everyone, but those who are said to never turn back until they hit a wall cannot be truly called paranoid. To put it bluntly, they are just stubborn, a one-track mind.

When this paranoia develops to a certain extent, it turns into extremism.

Right now, in Xiao Feng's eyes, Shao Wenxing is precisely such an extreme person.

On one hand, he raises bats, preparing to drag the entire village down with him, yet on the other, he is very respectful to his master, at least in terms of attitude.

"Old Xiao, what if the poison doesn't work?" Zhao Guo'an asked anxiously.

He was fully aware of his own limitations. If those bats attacked, Xiao Feng and the others might be fine, but he would be in serious trouble.

Xiao Feng frowned in thought. Given the massive number currently, setting a fire might work a bit, but the problem was, how to eliminate all the bats at once?

That was the most difficult part.

If the bats couldn't be completely eradicated and some escaped, they would always be a potential threat, bringing immeasurable chain reactions later.

"The one who tied the bell should untie it."

Xiao Feng replied calmly. To be precise, these words were intended for Sun Shijie to hear.

Sun Shijie obviously understood the meaning behind Xiao Feng's words. After some hesitation, he looked at Shao Wenxing, "If you have any solutions, just say it."

"There's naturally a way, as long as Master you nod in agreement." Shao Wenxing lay on the ground, took out a dark red pill from his pocket, "I eat it, and then the bats suck my blood, and the problem will be solved."

The whole room fell into a deathly silence.

Because when Shao Wenxing said these words, he seemed so casual, like eating or drinking water, as if doing this came at no cost, or rather, he knew what price he was paying but simply didn't care.

Perhaps just as Shao Wenxing had previously said to Xiao Feng, death, for the vast majority, is a very terrifying thing, as it means losing everything one has, but for Shao Wenxing, it's a kind of release.

"Is Shao Wenxing holding poison?" Lu Yao asked with a frown.

Zhao Guo'an nodded, "It should be, and it's highly toxic, even more potent than what we developed before."

"Really?" The little girl tilted her head suspiciously, "Why do I feel like it looks just like a hawthorn pill?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Shijie quickly snatched the dark red pill from Shao Wenxing's hand, a speed not at all like an old man's.

Lin Zhiyan's pupils contracted as she quietly gripped the whip at her waist. Her sister depended on this heir to the Medicine King for treatment, she definitely couldn't let him die first.

"Young friend, in my life, Sun Shijie, I have never broken a promise made to someone, but this time, I guess I will have to make an exception." Sun Shijie said to Xiao Feng, "In the mountains behind the village, halfway up there's a cave, with some herbs I planted inside. Selling them could fetch a good price, consider it a token of my atonement."

Xiao Feng remained calm, not worried at all about Sun Shijie taking the poison for his apprentice. He had clearly seen before that when Shao Wenxing's pill was taken away, the look on his face was of one expecting it, meaning he had long anticipated Sun Shijie would seize his pill.

Thinking this way, the answer was obvious, nine out of ten the pill in Sun Shijie's hand was fake.

"The trouble caused by an apprentice, both emotionally and rationally, should be borne by the master." Sun Shijie looked deeply at Shao Wenxing, "Live well."

After saying that, he suddenly threw the pill into his mouth and began to chew.

Lin Zhiyan clenched her fists; she had thought Xiao Feng would intervene, but didn't expect him to remain indifferent, and just in that moment of distraction, everything was too late to stop.

Feeling the same was Fujiwara Keiaki, who was also monitoring Sun Shijie's every move, but was stopped by Su Yuzhuo just as he was about to act.

"How does it taste?" Xiao Feng smiled complicatedly.

Sun Shijie's chewing gradually slowed, his face dark and cloudy, "Hawthorn pill?"

The little girl gloated, "Hmph, see, I told you it was a hawthorn pill!"

"..."

Everyone was left speechless; damn, it really was a hawthorn pill?

"Where's the real thing?" Sun Shijie swiftly approached Shao Wenxing, furious, but everyone could see he wasn't angry because he was deceived.

"In a place Master can't find." Shao Wenxing responded calmly, showing no sign of panic.

As they spoke, a large number of bats gathered in the air, forming a dense mass that covered the sky overhead like dark clouds looming.

"There isn't much time left, Master, make a decision quickly."

Having said that, Shao Wenxing closed his eyes, showing a determination unfazed by Sun Shijie's persuasion.

For a moment, everyone's faces became exceedingly grim, and the most frantic, naturally, was Zhao Guo'an, who had the least ability to defend himself.

"Mr. Zhao, if you're really scared, you can come over to my side," Su Yuzhuo took the opportunity to offer.

Zhao Guo'an gave a grateful look but hesitated seeing Fujiwara Keiaki behind Su Yuzhuo, though after weighing it over, he decided that staying alive was more important. Besides, in front of so many, with the enemy approaching, that old fellow likely wouldn't do anything too outrageous.

With this mindset, Zhao Guo'an moved over, choosing to accept Fujiwara Keiaki's protection.

"Mr. Zhao, while I do admire you, my priority is still to protect my young lady. If there's any inadequacy in care, please forgive me," Fujiwara Keiaki said solemnly.

Zhao Guo'an nodded, though internally feeling uneasy, what the hell do you admire about me, I'll change, alright?

"Clap clap clap clap..."

The unsettling sound emerged as the black mass of bats rushed down from the sky, and even at this moment, Sun Shijie still hadn't made a decision, only looking at Xiao Feng with a hesitant expression.

"We can fend for ourselves, but if the bats scatter and escape, no one can stop them," Xiao Feng was the first to speak, clearly stating his bottom line.

And others, to some degree, felt dissatisfaction with Sun Shijie.

Your apprentice is desperately seeking death, and you're still hesitating, isn't that just being ridiculous?

Then there's Shao Wenxing, who is also a lunatic. If you want to die, just do it alone, but why must you seek Sun Shijie's approval, what kind of nonsense is all this?

At this moment, the bats were already dangerously close to everyone, Xiao Feng and others were all ready, poised to act and defend.

But before any action could be taken, Sun Shijie sighed sorrowfully, "Take the medicine then..."

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