Eldritch Horror Theatre

So what exactly are you getting so excited about? We’re completely even.

Seeing Yuan Shan’s eyes light up, Fu Qian couldn’t understand her sudden burst of enthusiasm.

Sure, they hadn’t known each other for long, and during his battle with Classmate Xiao Ai, he had hit her with a Black Tiger Steals Heart.

But later on, under the guise of stimulating his inner potential, he had been whipped bloody by the Meria Flower Ball. Logically speaking, she shouldn’t be holding a grudge.

Besides, with his current frail body, taking another whip strike wouldn’t just be a matter of stimulating inner potential.

Being practical was a virtue. Although he was very interested in the transcendent item bearing Meria’s name, Fu Qian knew perfectly well that now wasn’t the time to test it.

Fortunately, as he watched her closely, Yuan Shan didn’t pull out that Bladed Flower Ball. Instead, she produced a black orb.

Perhaps to disguise her identity?

Fu Qian watched helplessly as Chief Yuan raised her palm. A small orb, roughly the size of the Meria Flower Ball and gleaming with a faint luster, materialized out of thin air. It was the first time he had seen this form; previously, it had always manifested as various bands and strips.

Speaking of which, Chief Yuan’s ability was quite rare. She was even a student of Old Man Henry.He wondered if there was something special corresponding to the power behind it.

Of course, that was a matter for later. The most pressing issue now was how to survive this black sesame pill.

”Do you want to take this internally or apply it externally?”

Fortunately, Chief Yuan seemed quite accommodating, leaning in to softly offer him a choice.

However, judging by how she raised the black orb right up to his mouth, she was clearly encouraging internal use.

Even though the thing was larger than Fu Qian’s entire mouth.

”Let’s do an internal application. Though, who is this tiny amount supposed to feed?”

Fu Qian was never one to shy away from medical treatment, so he readily accepted her suggestion.

Not only that, he specifically pointed at the gaping hole in his stomach, showing his offense at Yuan Shan underestimating him.

”Crank the dosage to the max, then stuff it straight in through here.”

...

An internal application indeed...

Smooth but jagged, the torn opening in his stomach still looked quite gruesome at first glance.

But in all fairness, calling it a large mouth wasn’t too far off.

For a moment, everyone stared at the pale, pinkish stomach, seemingly understanding the strict accuracy of his phrasing.

Considering there were no breaches on the stomach wall itself, if they actually tossed it in there, would it count as internal use or external application?

”Are you sure? It won’t kill you, but it’s not going to feel good, you know?”

Yuan Shan hadn’t expected Fu Qian to be so fond of her handiwork. Showing a hint of pleased recognition, she made sure to give him a warning.

”It’s fine, I’ve seen and eaten worse... Also, be careful not to press on my stomach.”

Fu Qian waved his hand dismissively, gesturing to the side with the extra reminder.

”Hmm...”

Yuan Shan froze for a moment before realizing he was telling her not to lean against the table, rather than telling her to avoid his stomach during the internal application. Respecting his wishes, she shifted her body back slightly.

At the same time, the black orb in her palm swelled by about forty percent, taking dead aim at the hole in his belly.

”Then let’s begin—”

But just as she thrust her hand forward, Yuan Shan’s movement was abruptly halted.

”Wait.”

Someone had even grabbed her wrist.

...

’Heh... finally showing your true colors?’

This was originally a game of patience. In theory, the ideal outcome was that under continuous torment, the mole Professor Fu had planted would lose their composure and expose themselves.

And someone was already making a move during the second round? That only proved everyone was performing exceptionally well.

Regardless of who called for the stop, they were almost certainly compromised. But this voice...

For the group of tense individuals who had undoubtedly run through countless scenarios in their heads, this sudden interruption felt exactly like a lottery reveal.

But a second later, when they realized who the voice belonged to, the air in the room seemed to stop flowing.

The hand intercepting the torturer’s wrist bore a glittering bracelet.

’Why is it you?’

Countless eyes fell upon Wen Li’s face, struggling to comprehend this turn of events.

You were the one worried someone was scheming to take captives, you were the one determined to control the situation, and you even accepted the suggestion to replicate the method... and now you’re the one stepping out of line?

What was going on?

Indeed, the person who intervened was this young hunter.

Even under everyone’s scrutinizing gazes, she nodded with unwavering conviction.

”There’s a problem.”

...

’What problem?’

Despite her youth, it was obvious no one would underestimate Wen Li’s strength.

Their brief earlier clash had already made everyone realize she possessed an experienced ruthlessness that belied her appearance.

If she had said this a bit earlier, it would have been highly persuasive.

But speaking up this late made things feel a bit off.

Wasn’t she just making excuses?

Even if they couldn’t immediately figure out the motive behind her convoluted actions, she was the one who physically stopped the punishment. That was an undeniable fact.

Any reason or information she shared right now would inevitably be cast under a shadow of doubt, making people suspect it was just a ploy to clear her name.

Especially since, at first glance, they couldn’t see a problem anywhere.

”Something is wrong with this place. A very unique type of corruption is spreading—or more accurately, a poison.”

Fortunately, Wen Li didn’t beat around the bush and quickly elaborated.

Poison? It couldn’t be the alcohol from earlier, could it?

A few people were bewildered, their eyes unconsciously drifting to the nearby wine glasses.

The problem was, she hadn’t drunk any of it. Could it be airborne?

It sounded somewhat absurd. For a moment, no one voiced their agreement, and no one even questioned her.

”Cough, cough...”

But right in the middle of that highly expressive silence, Wen Li clamped a hand over her mouth and began to cough.

It started off mild, then grew violent. Finally, red blood began seeping through her pale, slender fingers—wait, that wasn’t blood!

Many situations easily triggered habitual thinking, but someone with more jianghu experience quickly spotted the anomaly.

The color might have been similar, but it smelled like wine...

The fluid the young hunter agonizingly coughed up appeared to be the exact same substance that was in the wine glasses earlier.

But the issue was that she hadn’t drunk any of it! Could this stuff transfer targets?

”What’s going on here?”

Being one of the quick reactors, Yuan Shan looked toward Fu Qian the very next second, her face filled with disbelief.

The orb in her hand had silently dissipated, the medication process forcibly aborted.

”Hard to say, but I think you should trust her judgment.”

Fu Qian simply shook his head, looking down at the wine already dripping from Wen Li’s fingertips onto the table.

”Also, I think she just threw up on me.”