Chapter Thirteen: Acting

Birdsong filled the air, the scent of flowers lingered, and even the little rabbits hopped out from the thicket. Emerging from the forest, Wu Luohua was in high spirits, for today promised a feast. “Brother Mo, that Four Venoms Wanderer said we could eat and drink without worry. Is that trustworthy?”

Mo Bai laughed heartily, “Just as he said, though he’s not a man of upright reputation, he’s still someone of note. If he gives his word, he won’t go back on it.”

Wu Luohua sprang to his feet, “Today we’ll pass through Fang Village. I’ve heard the fish there are truly delicious.”

Mo Bai shook his head, “It seems Sixth Master didn’t tell you what matters most. How many in the world can rival his skill with fish?”

Wu Luohua was taken aback, “Brother Mo, you’re right, but my sixth uncle wouldn’t deceive me about this, would he?”

Mo Bai smiled, “Of course not. You haven’t seen the fish stew of Fang Village yet. Once you do, you’ll know what’s really important.”

Wu Luohua was impatient with anticipation, while Shun Qing remained bewildered. By noon, the three arrived at Fang Village. The iron tray was piled high with delicacies. Mo Bai said, “Well, Little Flower, do you know what you should eat now?”

Wu Luohua’s face lit up with excitement. “I know, I know!” He eagerly wielded his chopsticks, reaching for the soft white tofu and slippery noodles. It turned out the secret to Fang Village’s fish stew was that the tofu and noodles absorbed the fish’s freshness, and these were the true treasures of the dish.

Watching Wu Luohua devour his meal with gusto, Mo Bai turned to Shun Qing. “You should eat something too, or you may never get to enjoy such delights again.” Shun Qing’s expression remained blank.

“So full, so refreshed, so fragrant!” Wu Luohua exclaimed, repeating “so” three times, clearly enjoying himself.

Mo Bai laughed, “You’ve still got grains of rice on your face. Now I’m actually a little afraid.”

Wu Luohua quickly brushed the rice off his face. “Is it poisoned?”

Mo Bai shook his head, “I’m afraid that if your grandfather sees you mixing with me, a young master from a prestigious family behaving so, he might take my life.”

Wu Luohua quietly moved closer to Mo Bai. “Brother Mo, if my grandfather didn’t like it, why would he let my sixth uncle indulge so?”

Mo Bai suddenly realized, “Now I understand why Sixth Master left in such a hurry that day. He was worried the Four Lakes Fresh Fish wouldn’t be fresh, eager to return to the Wu family.”

Wu Luohua nodded, “Brother, you’re truly clever. Ah, my stomach, my stomach hurts!” Wu Luohua suddenly clutched his stomach and collapsed to the ground.

At the same time, Mo Bai’s brows furrowed. He stared ahead, eyes fixed on a sharp-faced man—the last person he wanted to see at this moment. Who could be happy after a delicious meal only to discover it had been poisoned?

The Four Venoms Wanderer regarded Mo Bai with a mocking gaze. “Young Mo, your spiritual power is impressive. Even after ingesting such a heavy poison, you’re still alive—remarkable. But your spiritual power will never rise again. You managed to defend against three poisons, but you’re still poisoned.”

Mo Bai spoke slowly, word by word, “Only now do I understand why you’re called the Four Venoms Wanderer, and what your fourth poison truly is.”

The Four Venoms Wanderer laughed, “What is it? Tell me, let’s see if you’re clever enough.”

Mo Bai smiled bitterly, “The fourth poison isn’t fatal, but it’s the deadliest of all—lies.”

The Four Venoms Wanderer’s eyes glinted with murderous intent. He spoke slowly, “Though you know, it’s already too late. You have no chance to fight back. Once you’re dead, what will become of Shun Qing?” The question seemed a mockery.

“I don’t understand. Why couldn’t I sense any poison in the fish stew?” Mo Bai’s eyes were almost closed, using the last of his strength to ask.

The Four Venoms Wanderer laughed loudly. “Of course—if you only ate the stew, you’d be fine. But yesterday’s breeze, from left to right, was the key. You thought yourself clever, thought it was just a test, but it was crucial.”

Mo Bai said bitterly, “So you planned all this in advance. Everything yesterday was part of your plot.”

The Four Venoms Wanderer boasted, “I feared someone who mastered Jade Conch Technique of the Cloud Immortal, the horse-riding skills of the Divine Marquis, and could summon the Four-Phase Golden Bell of the Cold Monk. You’re astonishing, so I had to play tricks.”

Mo Bai collapsed with a thud. The Four Venoms Wanderer said, “No matter how skilled you are, nothing surpasses the power of lies. For all your talent, you still fell victim to deception.”

“Is that so? If you were so confident, you wouldn’t have shown yourself, nor spoken so much nonsense. Little Flower, you can stop acting now. Stand up.” A voice rang out suddenly.

The Four Venoms Wanderer was startled, instinctively trying to flee, but he could no longer move. Mo Bai, who had fallen, was somehow beneath him, and all his spiritual acupoints were sealed. The Four Venoms Wanderer cried out, “Why aren’t you dead? Why can’t I move?”

Little Flower stood up, dusted off his clothes, and said, “Brother Mo, I just wanted to nap after eating, but I couldn’t.” He turned to the Four Venoms Wanderer, mocking, “Since you know Brother Mo can use the Four-Phase Golden Bell, you should know who the Cold Monk’s best friend is. You fool, acting so smug, I really despise you.”

Little Flower’s words jolted the Four Venoms Wanderer. He muttered, “So the Mistress of Acupoints is your teacher, Mo Bai. No wonder I can’t move after my acupoints were sealed under my legs.”

Mo Bai laughed, “The Mistress of Acupoints did teach me a few things, but she isn’t my master.”

The Four Venoms Wanderer was even more astonished—not only him, but Wu Luohua was baffled as well. He’d heard the Mistress of Acupoints was an odd one, to befriend a monk as her closest companion. Her acupoint technique was said to be unrivaled, passed only to her direct disciples. Yet Mo Bai was not her disciple and still mastered this skill—truly incredible. If Mo Bai had learned the Cold Monk’s skills, there might be a chance, but to master the Mistress’s art, he must have experienced something extraordinary.

The Four Venoms Wanderer was dazed. He asked, “How did you avoid being poisoned?” That was the key!

Mo Bai pressed two fingers to the Four Venoms Wanderer’s shoulder. The Wanderer sagged like a rag doll, and his spiritual energy leaked away—he died on the spot.

Wu Luohua was startled, confused. “Brother Mo, why did you kill him so quickly? He was already under our control. Why not tell him how he failed—to spite him a little?”

Mo Bai spoke softly, “Some people can be told the reason, but others need not know.”

Wu Luohua was even more puzzled. “Why?”

Mo Bai explained, “Because people like the Four Venoms Wanderer could kill us at any moment. Poison is one thing I can’t fully control. His poison was too formidable. If not for your Ice Rain elixir, we couldn’t have subdued him so easily.”

Wu Luohua understood Mo Bai’s concern. “Brother Mo, you’re right. Ice Rain can save us once, but not forever. Even the holy antidote isn’t omnipotent.”

Mo Bai said, “That’s why I must thank you for your precious gift.”

Wu Luohua laughed, “But it’s your clever plan that made it work.”

As soon as Mo Bai recognized the Four Venoms Wanderer, Wu Luohua confided that he had a rare treasure—the antidote known as Ice Rain. Made by soaking millennium-old ice in heavenly rain and refined by special methods, the Wu family certainly wouldn’t let their eldest grandson go without it.

Mo Bai also knew the Wanderer’s peculiar habit: though he wielded countless poisons, he loved most to watch others eat his poisoned food, finding delight in their downfall. Thus, from the beginning, they were acting, waiting until they ate the fish stew at Fang Village and lured out the careless Four Venoms Wanderer, completing their scheme.