Once someone is poisoned with 'Binding Fragrance Silk,' the poison spreads through the bloodstream, gradually affecting the entire body.
For ordinary people, the poison may not pose an immediate threat, but for martial artists, it becomes a deadly danger. If the victim dares to use their internal energy during the first stages of poisoning, it will accelerate the poison's spread, causing the blood to reverse course and creating excruciating pain.
As time passes and the poison permeates deeper into the body, it becomes more difficult to handle. Though the victim may regain control over their internal energy, they will need to consume antidotes daily to keep the poison at bay. If not, their bones will gradually start to deform, and eventually, the body will shrink and wither, leaving them immobile, like a lifeless lump of mud.
What is even more terrifying is that once the poison reaches the bone marrow, it cannot be completely removed. The only option is to take antidotes regularly to suppress the effects, but the poison will forever remain in the body, entwining itself like an unbreakable thread, an inescapable burden that follows the person for life.
The materials used to concoct this poison are varied, and many of them can be substituted. While the consequences are always the same, the specific nature of the poison can vary depending on the recipe, making it unpredictable and difficult to deal with. Antidotes are equally unique, and only the one who created the poison knows how to craft the antidote. Even if someone else learns the recipe for 'Binding Fragrance Silk,' they will not know how to neutralize it effectively.
As a result, the victim's life is entirely in the hands of the one who poisoned them. They have no choice but to submit and obey, unable to resist.
Mo Dafu sifted through his memories of 'Binding Fragrance Silk,' and he quickly understood why Han Li seemed so confident. Han Li was aware that Mo Dafu was completely under his control now.
Mo Dafu's lips curled into a cold smile, but his face remained neutral. He said indifferently, "So, this is your final move? Boy, if you don't have anything else up your sleeve, just surrender."
Han Li's heart sank when he saw Mo Dafu's expression remain unchanged. The older man seemed utterly unconcerned about the poison, and that made Han Li realize that something was wrong. Mo Dafu had already made his move. Han Li could sense that the older man was entirely confident, as if he had already won.
Han Li fell silent, his expression darkening. Mo Dafu sneered and let out a low laugh before shouting, "Iron Slave, take him down!"
The moment Mo Dafu uttered those words, Han Li's mind flashed back to someone he had completely forgotten. He had been so focused on the battle that he hadn't considered an important detail. Without a second thought, he quickly hooked his foot around the nearby weapon, and the iron dart flew into his hand.
Before Han Li could make another move, a massive shadow charged at him from the corner of the room, faster than he could react. The speed was so overwhelming that he had no time to evade. Desperately, he aimed the iron dart at the shadow's abdomen, hoping to delay the inevitable and create an opportunity to escape.
But using a small dart to attack such a large opponent in the abdomen was hardly effective. Han Li felt like he had collided with a giant beast. His wrist was struck with such force that it was dislocated, and his body was sent stumbling backward several steps. His iron dart was knocked away as though it had hit solid stone, disappearing from sight.
Han Li's heart sank with anger and frustration. As he struggled to regain his balance, he felt the shadow loom larger in front of him, and then came an overwhelming sensation of pressure on his shoulders. Massive hands gripped him tightly, pulling him off his feet. The weight was crushing, and he felt like he was being squeezed into the ground.
With no other option, Han Li desperately lifted his knee and struck at the giant figure's vulnerable spot between its legs.
"Ouch!" Han Li gasped in pain as cold sweat broke out across his face. His knee hit something as hard as iron. It felt like his kneecap had collided with a boulder, and it sent searing pain shooting up his leg.
However, the giant seemed more angered than hurt. The grip on his shoulders tightened with brutal force, causing Han Li to nearly lose consciousness from the pain. His body slumped, feeling completely helpless.
"Ease up, Iron Slave. I still have use for him," came Mo Dafu's voice, cutting through the tension.
Immediately, Han Li felt the pressure ease up, and the sharp pain in his shoulders subsided. For the first time, he felt some relief, and he couldn't help but think that Mo Dafu's voice sounded strangely pleasant at that moment. Despite the brief reprieve, though, his mind was still full of questions, his suspicions growing.
From the beginning, Han Li had noticed that, for some reason, Mo Dafu had always been careful not to injure him severely. At every critical moment, he would hold back, unwilling to take things too far. Han Li didn't believe it was out of kindness—there had to be something else, something hidden that Mo Dafu was afraid of revealing. This hesitation was what had allowed Han Li to drag this confrontation on for so long, and Han Li intended to use this to his advantage.
Mo Dafu approached Han Li, as if he could see the confusion in the younger man's mind. A sly smile flashed across his face, but it was gone before Han Li could fully register it. Mo Dafu began by feeling around Han Li's chest, and from there, he retrieved a small heart-shaped mirror.
Han Li was momentarily stunned. The mirror was designed to block pressure points, but it was a lowly item. Mo Dafu had clearly been trying to prevent him from using certain techniques. Mo Dafu seemed mildly amused by the situation, shaking his head without speaking further.
Then, Mo Dafu took out a small rectangular yellow wooden box from his robes. The box was exquisitely crafted, carved with dragons and phoenixes, a luxury beyond the means of ordinary people. He opened the box carefully, revealing several identical silver blades inside. These blades were curved in strange ways—like swords, but also resembling knives or daggers. They were incredibly thin, almost like paper, gleaming with an ominous, deadly light.
As Mo Dafu carefully retrieved one of the silver blades, Han Li noticed something even more unsettling. The blade was incredibly thin, almost translucent, and it glistened with a chilling aura, as if it could slice through flesh and bone with ease. Even more unsettling was the handle, which had a grotesque carved face at the end— a twisted, demon-like face with sharp teeth and eyes glaring in eternal fury.
Mo Dafu took the blade and, with a sideways glance at Han Li, held it up, making eye contact. The look in his eyes sent a shiver down Han Li's spine. He realized that the old man wasn't just threatening him with this blade—he was preparing to use it. The implications were clear: this wasn't just a game anymore.