"Ordinarily, if an explosion occurs during the final stages of the brewing process, it's a definitive sign of catastrophic failure." Baishe explained, his voice still tinged with disbelief. "But in your case, something entirely different has happened."
He reached into the cooling cauldron and carefully retrieved the results. His eyes widened. Usually, a single set of ingredients yielded only one pill, but sitting in his palm were several perfectly formed spheres. He picked up one to inspect it closer, and for the second time in minutes, he was genuinely floored.
The purity and effectiveness of the pill were a staggering 100%. In this world, even master alchemists struggled to reach such a perfect concentration. Most high-quality pills hovered around 80% or 90%.
"So, it's a total success then, right?" Bai Xifeng asked, her eyes sparkling with hope.
"Yes... it is a success." Baishe replied slowly.
He chose not to mention how unnaturally perfect the results were. 'Perhaps it was just a fluke of luck this time.' He mused to himself, trying to remain logical.
"I only need to take one of these to clear the first layer of poison, right?" Bai Xifeng asked, already reaching for the medicine.
"Correct." Baishe nodded.
"I see. In that case, we can sell the surplus and make a nice profit." Bai Xifeng began humming a happy tune, her mind already calculating the gold she could make. "Should I swallow the pill right now, or should I wait until tomorrow morning?"
"That is entirely up to you. However, you must remember the warning I gave you. Once you consume the antidote, your body will undergo a violent purge. You will experience significant pain." Baishe advised solemnly.
"Hmm... and just how long is this 'significant pain' going to last?" Xifeng asked, her smile faltering.
"It depends on your physical constitution, but based on my experience, the process typically takes anywhere from four to six hours." Baishe said.
"Then it's definitely better to do it right now. I'd rather deal with the agony tonight so I can be functional by tomorrow morning." Bai Xifeng concluded, steeling her nerves.
She took one of the amber-colored pills and swallowed it in a single gulp. She walked over to her bed and lay down, waiting for the reaction. Five minutes later, it began. A searing heat bloomed in her stomach before spreading like liquid fire through her veins. The pain was so intense that she had to grit her teeth until her jaw ached, fighting back the urge to scream. Sweat began to pour off her brow, soaking her hair and silk pillows.
Baishe could only stand by and watch her suffer in silence. He couldn't intervene; this was a trial she had to endure. To rebuild her foundation, she had to withstand this level of agony every time a layer of poison was removed.
Meanwhile, in a much more comfortable wing of the mansion, a different kind of conversation was taking place.
"Young Miss, should we make our move on the Third Young Miss's courtyard tonight?" Min Young, Bai Chunhua's head maid, asked with a conspiratorial whisper.
Bai Chunhua offered a thin, graceful smile as she brushed her long hair. "No, Min Young. We cannot act tonight. We must be patient."
"But why, Young Miss? The gold is just sitting there." Min Young asked, confused by the delay.
"If the money vanishes the very same day she receives it, the timing would be far too suspicious. She might actually have the backbone to complain to the elders." Bai Chunhua explained coolly. "We need to wait for the excitement to die down so her claims will fall on deaf ears."
They had already finalized their plan. They were going to steal every last copper of the twelve-year allowance Bai Xifeng had just collected.
"What if she's already spent a portion of the money?" Min Young asked suddenly.
"Spend it? Where could she possibly spend it?" Bai Chunhua chuckled, the sound cold and mocking. "She's a social pariah who is too embarrassed to even step foot outside the mansion gates because of her lack of cultivation. The money is safe in her room, waiting for us to take it."
"Oh, of course! I completely forgot how pathetic she is." Min Young laughed along with her mistress, neither of them realizing that the "useless" sister they were mocking was currently surviving a process that would change her fate forever.
***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. It breaks my heart when someone steals my hard work. Can you consider reading it on the original website for those who read my novel on another website besides w e b n o v e l .c o m, as your support to me? Thank you, from, your shameless author, ZerahNeko***
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