384: Chapter 384 A Cup of Poison

After standing on the east side for about a quarter of an hour, the Cultivator in plain-colored robes picked up a new wine vessel, circled around from a less conspicuous angle, and approached the stone table.

His footsteps were light, and he chose to approach from the side where Zhao Tian was sitting. Passing by Zhao Tian, he stopped about five steps away from Su Changge, bent over, and made a gesture of pouring wine.

"This Senior, I am surnamed Liu. It is an honor to share a table with you, Senior. I have come specifically to offer you a cup; I hope you will kindly accept it."

When he spoke, his tone was low, his etiquette was impeccable, and his expression was bland, making him appear like an ordinary attendant.

However, as he drew closer to Su Changge, his gaze swept over Su Changge's entire body. That sweep was not a casual glance but a purposeful investigation.

Every angle he scanned was accompanied by a light touch of Divine Sense, as delicate as a dragonfly skimming the water, hoping to catch a glimpse of substantial information in the gap when Su Changge was not paying attention.

Tu Lie was sitting opposite, holding a wine cup, his head lowered as he slowly rotated the cup, not looking in this direction.

Zhao Tian's gaze fell upon the Cultivator in plain-colored robes, and he perceived that subtle probing of Divine Sense. His lips moved, and he leaned half a step closer to Su Changge, wanting to speak.

Su Changge did not move. He sized up the Cultivator holding the wine vessel, from the vessel in his hand to his stance, then to the direction of his toes and where his eyes were fixed.

He strung these details together, but he did not speak or reach out, just looked at him like that.

[Liu Can's confidant, coming to offer a toast in person.]

[There is a high probability that this cup of wine contains something. Ye Qingyao said he came to gather intelligence, but gathering intelligence doesn't require personally delivering wine; delivering wine is a different matter.]

[Liu Can's signature method is the Withered Meridian Poison Pill, specifically designed to destroy Spiritual Veins. It is colorless and odorless. Once it enters the Meridians, the Spiritual Veins are damaged, and one's cultivation level is directly greatly diminished.]

[But as for destroying Spiritual Veins... do I even have Spiritual Veins?]

He thought about this question in his heart for a second.

He was a high school student who had undergone Transmigration. His body was that of a Mortal, and his cultivation was stuck at the Qi Refining First Layer.

He was not a Cultivator in the true sense; his Meridians lacked the Foundation tempered by Spiritual Qi. His Spiritual Veins, measured by the standards of a Cultivator, were effectively non-existent.

To destroy a Spiritual Vein that is effectively non-existent.

What would be destroyed?

Su Changge turned this logic over in his mind, then shifted his gaze away from the Cultivator in plain-colored robes and landed it in the direction of Ye Qingyao.

Ye Qingyao was sitting on his left side, not looking at him, holding a teacup. Her expression was calm, but the moment she put the teacup down, her knuckles lightly tapped the edge of the table.

Two breaths later, Ye Qingyao's voice transmission landed in his mind, consisting of only two words.

"Drink it."

Su Changge caught those two words and paused for a moment.

[She wants me to drink?]

[She knows what is in this cup of wine. Her Divine Sense has been scanning this open space the whole time. The Cultivator entering, approaching, the Divine Sense probing—she perceived all of these.]

[If she wants me to drink, it means she has her own judgment.]

He pushed Ye Qingyao's logic half a step forward and then realized: Ye Qingyao knows he has the Physique of a Mortal.

[She knows I have no Spiritual Veins to destroy. She knows this poisoned wine has no substantial effect on me.]

[She wants me to drink it because, once this wine is consumed, in the eyes of outsiders, it will lead to another conclusion: "That person drank Liu Can's Withered Meridian Poison, and nothing happened to him." This signal is more persuasive than any words.]

Su Changge sorted out this logic in his heart, refocused his gaze on the Cultivator in plain-colored robes, reached out, and took the wine cup.

With the wine cup in his hand, he lowered his head and took a look at the color of the wine. It was clear and translucent, no different from ordinary wine.

He brought his nose closer and sniffed it; there was no unusual scent either. It was colorless and odorless; the concealment of this method was done very thoroughly.

The Cultivator in plain-colored robes stood by, waiting. His gaze fell on the cup of wine in Su Changge's hand. He did not rush him, holding his breath for half a beat at this moment.

Zhao Tian's eyes were also fixed on that cup of wine. He vaguely perceived something and shifted his foot half a step forward.

Su Changge raised the cup of wine, tilted his head back, and drank it.

After drinking the wine in the cup dry, he placed the empty cup back on the table, emitting a slight clink.

He raised his head, glanced at the Cultivator in plain-colored robes, and spoke. His tone held no judgment, nor any sign of discomfort; it was a simple statement.

"The wine is not bad."

He paused for a breath, then added half a sentence.

"It's just that the water quality is a bit poor, which affects the taste."

The Cultivator in plain-colored robes stood there, receiving these words. He paused for two breaths, bowed, performed a salute, and retreated.

Zhao Tian sat on the side, watching this scene unfold with his own eyes. He suppressed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, closed his mouth, placed both hands on his knees, and did not move.

The hand with which Tu Lie was holding his wine cup paused the moment Su Changge said, "The wine is not bad." It stopped for about half a breath before moving again.

Ye Qingyao picked up her teacup, took a sip, and put it down. Her expression was calm, and something was churning in her eyes, but it did not show on her face at all.