"No buts, this is an order. Whatever problem arises, I’ll take responsibility," Liu Dabao barked yet again, exerting the military command inherent to a soldier.
"Commander, my dicine can temporarily calm the snakes, but it’s only effective for half an hour, and now we only have fifteen minutes left." Shangguan You’s words made not only Liu Dabao stagger, but everyone present. Was she trying to get back at Liu Dabao?
Just when everyone had breathed a sigh of relief, feeling reassured and ready to rest, she dropped this bombshell. Even if she cured the poison in these people, the snakes would simply bite them again, creating new wounds. It was a futile effort.
"Is there no way to deal with these snakes?" Liu Dabao asked through gritted teeth, his voice strained. Now that the fog had cleared, he could distinctly see the countless snakes surrounding them. Not only was Shangguan You shocked, but even Liu Dabao, a seasoned soldier, felt a chill run down his spine in hindsight. Thankfully, Shangguan You had temporarily subdued the snakes; otherwise, none of them would have escaped.
"There is," Shangguan You’s light and breezy words made Liu Dabao’s spirits sink even further.
"Since there’s a way, then hurry up and deal with these snakes first, then rescue the injured! Or clear a path so we can leave first. The troops can send reinforcents later to clean up everything at once!" Liu Dabao shouted, losing control. The previously quiet swarm of snakes, especially a few larger ones, flicked their red tongues and began to slither within a small area with a soft SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, though they neither approached the people nor launched any attacks.
Liu Dabao roared again, his body growing even more agitated, which only accelerated the snake venom coursing through his system. His lips were turning a distinct shade of purple. If Vice Commander Qian hadn’t been by his side supporting him, he might have fainted from sheer fury.
"Reporting, Commander. Should we prioritize saving the people, dealing with the snakes, or clearing a path out first?" Shangguan You raised an eyebrow, her voice indifferent, her calm and steady tone a stark contrast to Liu Dabao’s frantic desperation.
Snakes were everywhere they looked. Their group of fifty or sixty people was now tightly encircled by the serpentine mass. It was no wonder that even soone like Liu Dabao was losing his temper and struggling to control his anger.
"Shangguan You!" Liu Dabao bellowed, his eyes glaring fiercely at Shangguan You’s nonchalant deanor. At this point, even the slow-witted Liu Dabao understood: Shangguan You was rely asserting her dominance over him, seeking revenge.
"Commander." Shangguan You’s deep eyes swept over Liu Dabao’s infuriated state, an inexplicable sense of satisfaction blooming within her. See? You wouldn’t let eat, so I’ll simply anger you until you faint. This is called retribution; what goes around, cos around.
"Youyou, let’s leave this place first. We can discuss other matters once we’re safe," Shangguan Qing said, standing up at the opportune mont. Seeing Shangguan You facing off with Liu Dabao, he couldn’t help but interject to diate. After taking Youyou’s dicine, he and everyone else were gradually regaining their strength.
"That’s right, we should leave first and then save the others," Gui Yongjun chid in, interrupting their exchange. With one of them enraged and the other completely unruffled, who knew how long it would take for them to reach an agreent? And how much longer could they afford to stand among the snakes? It was an inherently dangerous situation, even if the snakes were currently immobilized; it was still incredibly risky.
"Youyou, if these snakes can be dealt with all at once, then let’s do it. This is the army’s mountain. If we can resolve such a major crisis once and for all, it would be doing , your Second Uncle, a big favor—why wouldn’t we? Besides, if so many snakes escape, they’ll cause endless trouble later. This is my army unit’s jurisdiction, after all," Shangguan Qing said lightly.
"Yes, Brother Qing is right." Shangguan You nodded, taking out three bottles of Antidote Pills and so antiseptic dicine from her clothes and handing them to Gui Yongjun.
"Uncle Gui, have everyone take two Antidote Pills imdiately. For those who are injured, clean their wounds and then sprinkle this dicinal powder on them. Leave the snakes to ."
"Alright! I never expected the Shangguan Family to produce a traditional Chinese dicine practitioner. The Chief must be smiling even in his sleep," Gui Yongjun comnted. He then instructed his n to distribute the dicine, and soon everyone was busily administering it and treating wounds.
"My father doesn’t need to smile in his sleep; he laughs just the sa when he’s awake," Shangguan You said with a light laugh. She pulled out so specially formulated yellow poison powder from her bosom and scattered it into the air. Wherever the poison powder drifted, the snakes’ bodies slowly stiffened.
In a re mont, all the snakes beca as rigid as sculptures, frozen in place—transford into stiffened serpents. This was a new type of poison Shangguan You had recently developed. Its lethality was extraordinary; nothing caught in the path of the poison powder could escape its effects.
"What is this dicine?" Liu Dabao exclaid, feeling his body suddenly go rigid and then slowly stiffen completely. Shock and disbelief contorted his face. He hadn’t taken an Antidote Pill; the others had received theirs, and his was supposed to be among the last.
"Rigidity Powder. Commander, it seems you didn’t take the antidote," Shangguan You said, adopting an expression of dawning, innocent realization as she watched Liu Dabao’s body gradually stiffen. "Actually, this poison of mine leaves people alive, just immobilized—as if they’ve been anesthetized and can’t move their whole body. So, those snakes that can’t move? They’re still alive too, you see."
"Hurry, bring the antidote!"
"It’s the Antidote Pills. I had Uncle Gui give two to everyone to swallow, which naturally counteracts this poison. Commander, did you not take them? So now you’re not just suffering from snake venom, but also afflicted by the Rigidity Powder? If that’s the case, this is indeed troubleso," Shangguan You mildly retorted as two dicinal Pills flew swiftly into Liu Dabao’s mouth.
"Liu Dabao!" Gui Yongjun cried out as Liu Dabao, his eyes rolling back, fainted from sheer rage. He and Vice Commander Qian quickly supported Liu Dabao, one on each side.
"Uncle Gui, the Commander is alright. He’s just suffering from a fit of extre anger," Shangguan You reassured everyone, but her next sentence made them all feel a fresh wave of inner turmoil.
"When the Commander beca enraged, it accelerated the spread of the two toxins within his body. The toxins rged, creating a new kind of poison. It seems that neutralizing it completely all at once is going to be quite difficult," Shangguan You’s light, airy voice remarked, making everyone feel faint. A firm resolve solidified in their hearts: one must never, ever offend Shangguan You.
Gui Yongjun frowned, looking at the stiff, immobilized Liu Dabao. Getting Shangguan You to save him now might be too complicated, he mused. It’s probably best to carry him down the mountain for treatnt first.
"You, you, you, and you!" Gui Yongjun ordered, pointing with both hands. Four soldiers imdiately stepped forward.
"Yes, sir!" they responded in unison.
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