Human Clan Defender
Chapter 77 This medicinal soup is poisonous!

Chapter 77: Chapter 77 This medicinal soup is poisonous!

The drizzling night rain made the already dim sky even darker. On the rain-soaked mountain trail, a solitary courtyard stood, brightly lit.

KNOCK, KNOCK!

The courtyard gate was knocked upon.

A few moments later, the tightly closed gate opened. A man dressed as a scholar stood there, quietly observing the visitor.

"I am Mo Zijin. May I know how to address you?"

"Yang Gong of the Eternal Alliance, at your service, Mr. Mo!"

Yang Gong, polite and bowing, maintained a calm demeanor, yet his eyes betrayed his nervousness.

He was acutely aware of exactly what kind of entity stood before him.

Even though he was a member of the Eternal Alliance, he dared not underestimate a young Heavenly Calamity.

Hearing the words "Eternal Alliance," Mo Zijin’s expression remained mostly unchanged.

"It’s raining outside, Brother Yang. Why don’t you come in and sit for a while?"

Having said that, he turned and walked inside.

Standing outside the courtyard, Yang Gong hesitated.

He was well aware that this Heavenly Calamity’s domain was confined to the courtyard.As long as he did not step inside, the Heavenly Calamity could not harm him.But by the same token, if he entered, it could spell significant trouble.Yang Gong did not wish to place himself in danger.Yet, remembering the orders from the higher-ups in the Eternal Alliance, he had no option to refuse.Having turned his back on the Human Clan to side with the Demon Evil, he had already burned all his bridges. If the Eternal Alliance abandoned him now, neither the Human Clan nor the Demon Evil would offer him refuge.At that point, it would truly be a dead end.

With this thought in mind, Yang Gong hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped inside.

Heavenly Calamities are dangerous, but this is only a young one, he thought. If a real fight breaks out, it might not have the upper hand. Besides, as long as I don’t provoke it unduly, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

Having made his decision, he felt slightly more at ease.

As Yang Gong entered the courtyard, the open gate closed automatically behind him.

The thunderous SLAM of the closing gate made his heart skip a beat.

Stepping into the main hall, Yang Gong was immediately assailed by a strong ink fragrance mixed with the pungent scent of herbs, making his brow unconsciously furrow. The interior seemed no different from that of an ordinary household.

"Brother Yang, please have a seat."

Mo Zijin’s face bore a gentle smile.

Yang Gong could only sit down. He then eagerly began, "I have come here to discuss a matter with Mr. Mo."

"Discuss with me?"

Mo Zijin looked surprised, a hint of puzzlement on his face.

"I’ve never met you before, Brother Yang. I wonder what it is you wish to discuss with me?"

"Have you ever heard of the Eternal Alliance, Mr. Mo?"

"I would like to hear more."

"The Eternal Alliance is a power founded by the Demon Evil Clan," Yang Gong said formally. "Its influence covers the world, not just the Great Qin. My primary purpose in coming here is to invite you, Mr. Mo, to join our Eternal Alliance."

To outsiders, the term ’Demon Evil’ might be considered derogatory, but that was not truly the case. The words ’Demon Evil’ had not originally come from the Human Clan but were spread by the Eternal Alliance itself. Therefore, when Yang Gong mentioned the Demon Evil, his expression remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, the gentle smile on Mo Zijin’s face seemed to stiffen slightly. He neither agreed nor disagreed, as if he hadn’t heard the proposal.

"The night rain brings a chill," he said. "Let me fetch something to warm you up, Brother Yang."

Having said this, Mo Zijin turned and left.

Yang Gong opened his mouth, wanting to call him back, but it was already too late.

Sitting alone in the main hall, he looked around. The candlelight, disturbed by the moving air, flickered unsteadily, casting shadows that made him uneasy. He took a few deep breaths and steadied his restless heart.

This mission is indeed not as simple as it seemed, Yang Gong sighed inwardly. While the mission isn’t simple, if I can succeed, the benefits will be substantial.Not to mention, the rewards from the Eternal Alliance would be numerous.At that time, I might even break through directly to a level comparable to a Grandmaster. That’s not impossible.

Thinking of this, Yang Gong’s spirits lifted slightly.

There are many powerhouses in the Eternal Alliance. As a Demonfolk close to the Innate Realm, I don’t exactly blend into the background, but my status isn’t particularly high either.But if I could make another breakthrough...Then I would be considered one of the strong in the Eternal Alliance.

Just then, Mo Zijin walked back in, carrying a porcelain bowl.

"Brother Yang, this is a medicinal soup I’ve spent many years perfecting. It’s particularly nourishing. Please, drink it while it’s hot."

Yang Gong looked at the dark medicinal soup before him. Its offensive, stench-filled odor nearly made him gag.

This soup is definitely trouble; I’d stake my life on it.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense, a silent standoff.

After a while, the forced smile on Mo Zijin’s face receded, his expression turning somewhat somber.

"What’s the matter, Brother Yang? Don’t you trust me?"

"Mr. Mo, you’ve misunderstood."

Yang Gong reached out and took the porcelain bowl. The repugnant smell became even more concentrated, making his throat involuntarily constrict.

Since joining the Eternal Alliance, strictly speaking, I’m no longer a normal member of the Human Clan.Even if this bowl contains poison, it shouldn’t have too great an effect on me.After all, no matter how toxic, poison is unlikely to harm a Demon Evil.Over the years, I’ve never heard of a Demon Evil being poisoned to death.So, I’m not afraid of poison in the bowl; it’s just that the smell is truly unbearable.I really don’t want to drink it.

But under Mo Zijin’s watchful gaze, Yang Gong knew he couldn’t refuse.

If I refuse, the plan to recruit him into the Eternal Alliance might fall apart.For the sake of the greater cause, even if this is disgusting, I have to drink it.

With this thought, Yang Gong steeled his heart, opened his mouth, and gulped down the contents of the bowl.

The dark medicinal soup, instead of the anticipated foul odor, carried a delicate fragrance. The stark contrast made him involuntarily smack his lips.

"Delicious!"

Pleased with the compliment, Mo Zijin’s smile brightened as he reached out to take back the porcelain bowl.

"Brother Yang truly has good taste."

"Of course—BLEARGH!"

Yang Gong initially smiled, about to say something more, when the potion that had just entered his stomach exploded like dynamite. His face instantly contorted, and he bent over in his seat, vomiting. Blackish blood mixed with unidentifiable substances spewed out, and a putrid stench spread through the air.

"This... this potion... it’s poisoned—"

Yang Gong slid from the chair and crumpled to the ground, his face turning a sickly green and contorting in pain.

Poison! The potion was indeed poisoned!What I hadn’t anticipated was that its toxicity would be so strong it could actually bring me down!

Meanwhile, Mo Zijin’s face had become furious.

"This is a medicinal formula I’ve devoted years to researching! How could it be poisoned? You dare insult me like this! You truly deserve to die!"

As he spoke, his own face began to contort.

In an instant, the candlelight in the hall flickered violently. The originally bright hall grew much dimmer.

Then, Yang Gong saw Mo Zijin’s eyeballs fall out. Black blood oozed from the empty sockets, and his mouth split open to the base of his ears, blood continuously dripping from the wound. At this moment, he bore no trace of a scholar’s elegance.

"You dare slander me! I’ll eat you!"

Seeing Mo Zijin loom over him, fear flashed in Yang Gong’s eyes.

I want to resist! But the severe poison coursing through his body left him immobile. He could only watch helplessly as the creature leaned down, inching closer and closer.

RIIIIP—

The tearing of his arm provoked a piercing scream from Yang Gong.

"AHHH!"

Stuffing the bloody arm into its mouth, Mo Zijin devoured it swiftly, then turned its dark, hollow eyes towards Yang Gong’s remaining limbs.

Suddenly, the candles in the hall extinguished.

In the night sky, lightning flashed, followed by a downpour.

Scream after scream echoed within the hall. The shrill cries turned into hushed moans, and finally, complete silence.

After a long while, the candles in the hall were relit. The sound of someone reading aloud filled the air, accompanied by the falling night rain, as if nothing had ever happened.

「 」

In a secret chamber, brightly lit as if by day, rows of oil lamps burned. Among the many lit lamps, one suddenly extinguished.

The instant the oil lamp extinguished, an old crone leaning on a cane entered. She looked at the extinguished lamp and the name etched below it, her expression shifting. She then left the secret chamber and went elsewhere.

Outside the chamber was what appeared to be the courtyard of a wealthy estate, complete with rock gardens, flowing water, and elegant pavilions. Maids and Servants bustled about. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that the expressions on everyone’s faces were somewhat unnatural.

The crone crossed the courtyard and arrived at a large hall.

In the hall, a person sat before a table laden with cuts of unidentifiable raw flesh. Some pieces still twitched faintly, and a thick scent of blood filled the air.

Upon the crone’s entry, the person eating the flesh paused.

"Why have you come?"

As he spoke, he did not put down the piece of flesh in his hand. He continued chewing, and crimson blood trickled down his chin.

Seeing this, the crone’s expression remained unchanged. She stated evenly, "Yang Gong’s Life Flame has extinguished."

"Yang Gong?"

The man paused, then seemed to recall something.

"I remember he was ordered to find that young Heavenly Calamity, wasn’t he?"

"Correct. But now that Yang Gong’s Life Flame has extinguished, he either encountered someone from the Demon-Subduing Division or died at the hands of that Heavenly Calamity."

The crone’s face remained calm.

"If he died at the hands of the Heavenly Calamity, it’s still manageable. But if he died at the hands of the Demon-Subduing Division, I fear our stronghold here will be exposed."

"I understand."