Chapter 414: The Other Shore Flower

Chapter 414: The Flower of the Other Shore

Actually, it wasn’t hard to guess.

If one were to ask who in the Southern Sea martial world would be the most unwilling to see an alliance between the Southern Sea Alliance and the Dragon King Hall,

the answer would obviously be Guixu Island.

Originally, the three powers coexisted peacefully, each minding their own business—everyone was happy.

But suddenly, the other two formed an alliance.

With only three major factions in total, why would they ally?

Isn’t it plain as day?

Guixu Island undoubtedly schemed heavily behind the scenes.

Who’s to say they didn’t meddle in the affair between the Poison Lord and the young miss of the Southern Sea Alliance?

The battle on the Black Island was far more complicated than ordinary martial artists realized.

The Poison Lord couldn’t help but shoot Su Mo a sideways glance:

“Kid, nothing gets past you…

“You’re right. The people from Guixu Island didn’t come to kill me—they were there to weaken the Dragon King Hall and the Southern Sea Alliance.

“I won’t go into detail about what happened on the island—it’d take too long.

“In short, after that battle, the three powers once again called a truce.

“As for me, I faked my death to disappear from the world. With Guixu Island’s help, I managed to pull off a clean escape.

“In the end, I took my wife and went into hiding.”

At this point, he took a fierce bite of his chicken leg:

“The world, the martial world, power, glory, conquest—

“Hah! What’s that to an old man like me?

“In one lifetime, finding one person to spend the rest of my days with—isn’t that enough?”

Su Mo nodded: “Senior, you’ve got a point.

“But if that’s the case, why have you come back to the martial world now?”

“...”

Hearing this, the Poison Lord went quiet.

He shook his head lightly: “Boy, you didn’t come here to dig into an old man’s private business, did you?

“What were you after just now?”

“The antidotes for the Bone Broth and the Good Thought Pill,” Su Mo said. “Senior, could you help me out?”

"......You want to save people?"

The Poison Lord blinked: "Are you serious?"

"Why would you say that, Senior?"

Su Mo shot the Poison Lord a baffled glance:

"Longmu Island’s lord schemes with ill intent. Everyone who set foot on the island is now caught in his web."

"One wrong move, and they’re dead."

"If I’d stayed away, turning a blind eye might’ve been fine. But now that I’m here, how could I just sit back?"

"Let Longmu Island’s lord wreak havoc unchecked?"

The Poison Lord eyed Su Mo skeptically, curling his lips in disbelief:

"You’re too slick to waste effort on a lost cause."

"You’re after something, aren’t you?"

"Besides, those who came to Longmu Island did so of their own volition."

"The martial world is a knife’s-edge life."

"You play, you pay."

"Step onto the life-and-death path, and you forfeit control."

"If they’re out of their depth, they should’ve stuck to farming."

"But they dove headfirst into this mess. Even if you save them now, they’ll still die tomorrow."

"You can’t babysit them forever."

Su Mo barked a laugh:

"Good point. Now—antidote. Where is it?"

"...What exactly are you planning?"

The Poison Lord eyed Su Mo, unconvinced, sensing that despite his noble words, he was not one for pointless charity.

"I’ve got my reasons."

Su Mo smiled. "Do share, Senior."

"Whatever."

Seeing this, the Poison Lord decided not to press further and pointed to a nearby cabinet:

"See that cabinet? There’s a hidden panel—bottomless and cryptic—who knows what’s inside?"

"I didn’t risk poking around—could be booby-trapped."

"But stashing it this deep in the medicine room, whatever’s in there’s gotta be special."

"Go ahead and open it."

Su Mo gave a slight nod upon hearing this and moved closer as the Poison Lord directed. He first tapped lightly on the wall, then listened carefully.

After a moment, deep in thought, he suddenly pressed his hand against the wall with a gentle pat.

A soft *click* came from inside the wall.

Then Su Mo opened the secret compartment.

Nothing happened.

The Poison Lord blinked in surprise. "You're skilled in mechanisms?"

"If I were that good, I wouldn’t have fallen into a trap in this very pharmacy yesterday."

Su Mo glanced at the spot where the Vine Repellent was stored.

"Fell into a trap..."

The Poison Lord chuckled. "Yet here you are, in one piece?"

Su Mo then pulled out a box from the secret compartment.

The Poison Lord rushed closer, only to hear Su Mo ask offhand:

"Speaking of which, Senior, have the last ten-plus years been peaceful for you?

"Since Guixu Island helped you escape, they must’ve kept tabs on you.

"The Hall Master of the Dragon King Hall has a bone to pick with you over stealing his wife.

"And among major factions, enemies don’t stay enemies forever.

"Today’s life-and-death struggle can turn into drinking buddies the next day—that’s the norm.

"He never came for you?"

"As if he’d dare!"

The Poison Lord sneered. "With his level of martial arts, how could he challenge me?"

His bravado rang hollow.

After all, the Hall Master of the Dragon King Hall was no lightweight—not only in terms of his own martial arts but also the formidable power he commanded.

If truly enraged, even if it meant drowning him in bodies, the Poison Lord would meet a shallow grave.

But Su Mo let it slide, just smiled and said:

"If he didn’t dare, what about the previous Hall Master of the Dragon King Hall? What about him—did he stay out of it?"

"..."

The Poison Lord scowled.

"Now that you mention it, I find it quite strange.

"That old Hall Master vanished after handing over the title."

"Oh?"

Su Mo's hand froze mid-motion.

"Hah, why are you asking about this?"

Poison Lord shook his head. "You know how these major factions are—the infighting is brutal, and the methods they employ are not only treacherous but downright vicious."

"How that wet-behind-the-ears kid managed to become Hall Master of the Dragon King Hall is still up for debate."

"What's more important... he himself suddenly handed over the position to another person shortly after—the current Hall Master of the Dragon King Hall."

"Because of the poison you administered?"

Su Mo looked at Poison Lord.

But Poison Lord shook his head. "There are very few rumors about this in the *jianghu*. Occasionally, you might catch wind of rumors, and indeed, some speculate it was due to poison."

"But in reality, that wasn't the case."

"Though I’m reluctant to admit it, that kid was a once-in-a-generation talent."

"With the aid of the Dragon King Mirror, a sacred artifact of the Dragon King Hall, few in the entire Southern Sea could rival him in actual combat."

"My poison kept him subdued for two years—that was pushing it."

"Three years... was out of the question."

"He... most likely vanished."

"Oh?"

Su Mo quickly asked, "How so?"

"Kid, are you going to open that box or not?"

Poison Lord was so anxious he sucked his teeth. The box was right in front of them, yet Su Mo kept beating around the bush without opening it.

Was he trying to hog it all?

"Perhaps Senior should do it?"

Su Mo pushed the box toward Poison Lord.

Poison Lord was struck dumb. He hadn’t even dared to open the secret compartment—how could he dare open this box?

After an awkward chuckle, he finally said:

"I don’t have your knack for mechanisms, so of course, it’s up to you."

"As for why I say he vanished... hah, you know, even though I’ve been retired from the *jianghu* for over a decade..."

"I’ve never stopped watching regarding the Dragon King Hall."

"His sudden stepping down was already fishy, so naturally, I kept close tabs."

"And I discovered something..."

He let the words hang, making sure he had Su Mo hooked before continuing.

"The Dragon King Mirror—it's gone!"

"The Dragon King Mirror!"

Su Mo’s face darkened: "What is that?"

"..."

The Poison Lord was tempted to bash Su Mo’s head in with the chicken leg in his hand.

He had been so serious, thinking Su Mo knew about it. He’d assumed Su Mo knew—how wrong he was.

Yet, it turned out Su Mo didn’t even know what the Dragon King Mirror was...

He shook his head. Earlier, he had wondered if Su Mo’s persistent focus on the Dragon King Hall meant he had a grudge against them.

But now, it seemed like pure overthinking.

How could someone who didn’t even know what the Dragon King Mirror was possibly hold a grudge against the Dragon King Hall?

With a sigh, he could only explain:

"The Dragon King Mirror? It’s a mirror, plain and simple.

"It’s said to contain the most profound martial arts of the Dragon King Hall.

"But it’s also a damn weapon!"

"...Come on, Senior, you’re pulling my leg. How can a mirror be a weapon?"

Su Mo spoke casually while drumming his fingers on the box.

This time, though, it was all an act—there were no mechanisms inside.

Yin Xiaoyu’s years of documenting Dragon King Hall secrets hadn't revealed as much as the Poison Lord had in this short conversation. Su Mo wasn’t about to waste this chance.

Clueless about Su Mo’s game, the Poison Lord let out a derisive snort when he saw his disbelief:

"Young man, just because you possess extraordinary skills and think yourself clever, you think you’re hot stuff, don’t you?

"Remember this—open your eyes to the bigger picture.

"The martial world is way more than you can fathom!

"The Dragon King Mirror is indeed a weapon.

"When wielded with the Hall Master’s inner strength, it unleashes power to shake the heavens.

"Do you think the Dragon King Hall became one of the three great powers of the Southern Sea on a fluke?

"The Southern Sea Alliance’s Blazing Sun Saber, the Guixu Island’s Boundless Universe, and the Dragon King Hall’s Ironclad Mirror—

"These are what made the three great powers untouchable.

"Back in their prime, who in the Southern Sea dared cross them?

"Over the years, upstarts have risen, and gossips can’t help but pit them against the three great powers. But let’s see if they measure up."

"But even now...

"Who could become the fourth major power in the South Sea?

"None—not a single one!"

"You're very knowledgeable, Senior."

Su Mo nodded eagerly: "But if that's the case, with the Dragon King Mirror lost, wouldn't the Dragon King Hall be in a very precarious situation?"

"That's exactly why I'm not worried," the Poison Lord gave another chuckle. "Their current situation is indeed perilous. However, whether it's the South Sea Alliance or Guixu Island, they're just testing the waters secretly. They haven't confirmed that the Dragon King Mirror is truly lost.

"So, things still look stable for now.

"And this newly appointed Hall Master of the Dragon King Hall is no pushover either.

"Over the years, this secret has never leaked out."

"Then why not tell the whole martial world, Senior?" Su Mo gave a faint smirk.

"Don't play dumb," the Poison Lord snorted. "The harder those three fight each other, the safer I will be.

"If Guixu Island and the South Sea Alliance truly push the Dragon King Hall into a corner...

"Who knows what they'd do then?"

"You've thought of everything, Senior."

As he spoke, they heard a sharp *click*.

The box had opened.

Seeing this, the Poison Lord finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He craned his neck eagerly to see what was inside.

His eyes fell on rows of bottles and jars.

They were color-coded, but their specific effects were unclear.

The Poison Lord ignored this, casually picking up one bottle and sniffing it before frowning:

"Worthless..."

He grabbed another: "Wrong again."

Meanwhile, Su Mo noticed a flower inside the box.

Normally, a picked flower would wilt.

But this one was strangely fresh and vivid.

Some petals appeared missing, with sap still leaking from the stems, giving off a strange scent.

Su Mo took out the flower and gave it a quick once-over when suddenly the Poison Lord peered over:

"What is this?"

"A flower."

"...Duh."

The Poison Lord frowned deeply. "An old man like me has spent a lifetime among plants, yet why have I never seen such a flower before?"

He took it in his hand, casually plucked a petal, and popped it in his mouth.

"Not worried it might be poison?"

Su Mo asked.

The Poison Lord glared daggers at Su Mo, couldn't be bothered to answer. After chewing the petal, he frowned slightly:

"This petal..."

He had barely uttered three words when his expression twisted in alarm:

"Shit—it's actually poison!!"

With that, the elderly man crumpled like a sack of potatoes. His eyes rolled back, and he was dead before he hit the ground.

"..."

For a moment, even Su Mo, worldly as he was, was stunned.

The Poison Lord was a master of both healing and poisoning, his skills extraordinary.

Su Mo’s earlier warning had been just casual banter—after all, someone like him could usually discern toxicity at a glance.

Who could have imagined that a single misjudgment would be the death of him?

Not only had he failed to recognize the flower’s toxicity, but he also hadn’t realized just how lethal it was.

A renowned Poison Lord of his stature bought the farm so easily!

Su Mo found the whole affair pretty damn weird. He checked the Poison Lord’s pulse and heartbeat—indeed, he was stone cold dead.

With a sigh, he muttered, "Shame about these drumsticks."

He retrieved the chicken legs, rewrapped them, and stashed them in his inner pocket.

Then, after some hesitation, he carefully wrapped the flower as well and concealed it in his sleeve pocket.

He was about to take the Poison Lord’s body with him, but right at that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Moving fast, Su Mo scooped up all the vials and flasks from the box.

First, he returned the box to its secret compartment, then snapped the trapdoor shut, before making his escape.

With a light tap of his foot, he vaulted onto the overhead beam.

As he peered down, two Dragonwood Island disciples hurriedly entered the medicine room.

Just as they were about to search for something, they spotted the Poison Lord's body and were instantly shocked:

"He's dead?"

"How did he die here?"

His companion jumped just as hard.

A shared look passed between them, then they quickly called in the islanders guarding outside to question them.

Only after confirming no outsiders had entered did they relax.

The two looked at each other, then hastily began tearing through the storage. As they searched, one muttered:

"How did this puppet wound up here?"

"He's supposed to be catatonic, awaiting orders."

"Should we report this?"

"We must report it, but the Island Master's in bad shape now. This isn’t the time—we’ll have to wait until he wakes up."

"I heard from those above us that the trials must be accelerated."

"Everything must be concluded within three days. Once the next Island Master is chosen, they'll need to changeover fast."

"Enough talk. You take the items and leave first. We’ll divide the work—I’ll deal with the body..."

He hesitated before continuing: "Should we toss it directly to the Abomination, or wait...?"

"Wait for now. We don't know the protocol yet."

"Let’s store it in the Medical Crate first and decide after reporting."

By then, they had nearly found most of their gear. One approached the hidden panel Su Mo had opened earlier and asked:

"Were we told to take the red spider lily [Chinese: bǐ àn huā]?"

"No."

"Then we won’t take it. I'm not risking my neck for acting without orders."

With that, they packed the items into a small bundle, and one carried it away.

The other hefted the Poison Lord’s body and left the medicine room.

As soon as they'd gone, Su Mo descended from the beam and studied his cuff:

"Red spider lily?"

He had encountered this term often in fantasy novels.

Back when he'd researched it, though surrounded by legends, no hard evidence ever surfaced.

Certainly nothing about it being an instant-death poison.

As thoughts raced through his mind, he swiftly leaped out.

He stealthily tailed the person carrying the Poison Lord.

As for the Island Master...

Tonight, he'd scout the Island Master’s courtyard.

Time was tight—no room for back-and-forth delays.

The Dragonwood Island disciples were clearly rushing too.

Sprinting through the cavern’s stone forest, they soon arrived at another location.

Su Mo couldn’t help but marvel—the cavern was massive.

Past the cave entrance, he found a series of caverns inside.

Each cavern had an iron door.

Behind the doors, broken martial artists—some curled up, others clutching the bars, and some long dead, their corpses decayed and crawling with maggots.

The numbers stunned even Su Mo.

Not only that, within these ‘Medicine Person Boxes’, there were not only Dragonwood Island disciples standing guard but also a foul mix of rot and medicine hung thick.

Above, shadows twisted with unseen movement.

*Abominations!*

The disciple, in a hurry, dumped the Poison Lord into an empty cavern, slammed the iron door shut, and hurried away.

After he left, Su Mo held his position, unseen.

The Abominations clung to the shadows, oblivious of his intrusion.

He seized the chance to scout carefully.

With the Wind God Leg technique, he blurred forward, streaking past like a gust as his eyes scanned the caverns on either side.

Moments later, his gaze halted, and with a swift turn, he slipped through the gaps of an iron door’s bars.

*Bone Shrinking Skill!*

This essential martial art, a must-have for thieves and spies, Su Mo had picked up from Wei Ziyi.

The person inside the cavern, who had been curled up in a ball, suddenly seemed to sense something and shot upright, eyes wide with joy—

"Chief Escort Su!"

Duan Renjie himself!