Chapter 46: The Thousand-Mile Bewildering Powder

Qin Lang opened his eyes groggily, his gaze clouded with confusion as he looked at Liu Man beside him. “Brother Liu, what on earth happened? Why are we all lying unconscious on the ground?”

“We were drugged,” Liu Man replied coldly.

“Drugged? Brother Liu, how could we have been drugged?” Qin Lang feigned ignorance, though he knew well enough what had transpired. For the sake of the act—and to avoid any suspicion falling upon himself—he played the fool, wearing a bewildered expression. Otherwise, he would never have put on such a display.

Liu Man nodded slightly. “Yes.”

“Brother Liu, what was the drug? How could its effects be so strong that we collapsed at a mere whiff, even more potent than wine?” Qin Lang marveled inwardly.

“The most deadly soul-confounding drug in the world—Thousand-Mile Soul Scatter. Its properties are enough to subdue any cultivator,” Liu Man’s face remained cold, murderous intent flickering between his brows.

Thousand-Mile Soul Scatter—the name alone suggested a powder, yet it was actually granular in form. In its unused state, it was a pellet; to deploy it, one would crush the pill into powder and disperse it into the air, letting the wind carry it. Its potency was such that it could spread for miles, and its strength was unrivaled—anyone who inhaled it would fall instantly, hence its name.

But this was a forbidden drug, banned from sale and prohibited in all alchemical circles. How could it suddenly appear here?

Qin Lang shook his head lightly, still baffled. “Brother Liu, who would use such a drug against us? What purpose could they have for knocking us out?”

Liu Man rubbed his own head to ease the pain, equally bewildered. “I don’t know, but one thing’s certain—we were ambushed. The question is, who did it, and why did they not harm us? That’s what puzzles me most.”

None of their belongings were missing, nor had they suffered any injuries. It made no sense—the assailant’s motives were unclear.

This strange maneuver left them unsettled, an uneasy fear sifting through their hearts. The person lurking in the shadows had struck with such precision and silence that they had been rendered utterly powerless. The thought alone was chilling.

Floral Tower’s expression darkened as he rubbed his head. “Whatever those bastards are after, we must be careful now. We can’t fall into their hands a second time.”

“That’s not the key issue,” Prince Mo shook his head, rising slowly from the ground. “We need to understand the purpose behind this. Why did they choose to incapacitate us without causing harm?”

The enemy’s enigmatic actions only heightened his unease, stirring a sense of foreboding.

If they couldn’t unravel these mysteries, the road ahead would be fraught with peril.

Especially the lurking dangers they could not yet see.

Su Momo, deeply anxious, hurriedly checked herself, confirming she had not been violated or molested. She exhaled in relief.

“Could we have been robbed?” Qin Lang suddenly interjected.

He began to check his belongings in a flurry—though this too was part of his act, he played it so convincingly that no one doubted him.

The others turned to watch as he meticulously inventoried his possessions, as if afraid everything might have been stolen.

Whew!

Finding nothing missing, Qin Lang patted his chest and sighed. “At least it wasn’t a robbery. Otherwise, my valuables would be gone for sure. Next time I travel, I must bring less, or I’ll lose everything.”

Liu Man: “...”

Floral Tower: “...”

Prince Mo: “...”

Su Momo: “...”

Liu Qingyao: “...”

Everyone stared at him in disbelief, their faces twitching and foreheads shadowed with lines of exasperation.

While the others worried for their lives, he was concerned only for his belongings.

He always feared being cleaned out. Though they knew Qin Lang was lecherous, they had not expected him to be so greedy as well.

Qin Lang turned toward Liu Man, his doubts growing. “Brother Liu, since the person who drugged us didn’t steal anything, could they have poisoned us instead, to control us?”

At his words, everyone’s faces fell, their eyes fixed anxiously on Qin Lang, making him tense.

His suggestion struck them like thunder, bringing sudden clarity. They all hurriedly checked their bodies.

If, as Qin Lang proposed, there was poison in their systems, it could be used to threaten them.

After a thorough check, Floral Tower shook his head. “There’s no poison in me. I don’t think we’ve been poisoned.”

Su Momo: “I’m clean as well.”

Liu Man: “Me too.”

Liu Qingyao, not far away, examined herself for traces of poison, but found nothing. She was safe.

Yet just as relief mingled with doubt, Prince Mo’s expression suddenly turned cold. “There is poison in me.”

“What?” The others turned to him, perplexed and anxious.

What was going on? Why did Prince Mo have poison in his body?

Liu Man looked at Prince Mo, baffled. “Mo, what’s happening? How can you be poisoned?”

Prince Mo said nothing, but came over and grasped Liu Man’s right hand, checking him as well.

Though the gesture was somewhat awkward, Liu Man did not resist. Prince Mo had his reasons.

After a moment’s examination, Prince Mo’s face remained cold. “Brother Liu, you’re poisoned too.”

“What?”

“Mo, are you sure I’m poisoned?” Liu Man was completely at a loss.

He was poisoned? Impossible. He had checked himself thoroughly, and found no trace of toxins. How could he be poisoned?

“I am absolutely certain,” Prince Mo replied, expressionless, his gaze sweeping over the group. “Not just Brother Liu and myself—I'm afraid all of you are poisoned.”

“Mo, what’s going on? How could we all be poisoned? And if we are, why didn’t we detect it?” Floral Tower asked, puzzled.

Su Momo looked at Prince Mo, baffled. “Wang Qianqian, what kind of poison is it? Why is it that only you can sense it?”

“The poison is Peacock Qilin Nine-Leaf Grass,” Prince Mo said calmly.