"You have a plan?" Chen Junting blinked, intrigued.
"Explain it," he urged.
"Poison their grain supplies."
Dugu Xin's face remained impassive as he echoed Chen Junting's own strategy—leaving everyone dumbfounded.
"Snakey, are you messing with us?" Wu Feng slammed the table, exasperated. "That's identical to Swordy's plan! I thought you had something clever, not just a repeat!"
The others stayed silent, but their stares mirrored Wu Feng's disbelief.
"It's different," Dugu Xin insisted, chuckling softly.
But his smile sent chills down their spines—it felt like facing an evil soul master.
"Ugh! Can you stop grinning like a demon?" Wu Feng shuddered, though curiosity flickered in her eyes. "How's your method different?"
"The poison differs."
Chen Junting's plan was straightforward: taint Mingdu's granaries—the empire's largest official grain depot, holding half the nation's reserves. "An army marches on its stomach"—poisoning it would cripple Sun Moon's war efforts. His toxin would be undetectable, rendering grain unusable without killing anyone.
But Dugu Xin's proposal?
"I have two approaches," he said calmly. "First, I'll use a colorless, tasteless toxin. Once consumed, it kills silently. If successful, we ruin their supplies and eliminate soldiers, soul engineers, and officials."
He paused, pulling out a porcelain vial. Liquid sloshed inside.
"This is my second toxin. Alone, neither poison is lethal—they lie dormant. But combined?" His eyes gleamed. "They become a contagious killer. I'll dump this into reservoirs—easier to access than granaries. Ten vials suffice; this 'trigger' needs only a trace. Mingdu and its legions will collapse within days."
Dugu Xin spoke with clinical precision.
Wu Feng: "???"
Chen Junting/Ning Tian: "…."
Huo Yuhao/Gu Tianchen: "!!!"
Holy crap—you're a demon!
This scheme was vile beyond words—a legacy of infamy was guaranteed.
Chen Junting's expression shifted. He'd considered similar tactics (Stage One only) but dismissed them as too cruel. Yet here Dugu Xin was, proposing an upgraded version.
"Unacceptable," Ning Tian cut in before Chen Junting could speak.
"Why?" Dugu Xin pressed. "It's efficient! With luck, we could decimate the Sun Moon Empire's next generation—with zero downsides!"
Zero downsides? Ning Tian rubbed her temples. "Xin, we're the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—we have a reputation to uphold! This isn't just immoral—it's evil soul master-level wickedness!" She hesitated. "War permits ruthlessness, but… some humanity must remain."
Besides, one slip-up, and their sect was finished.
"No one will know it's us," Dugu Xin countered, glancing at Chen Junting. "We'll frame the evil soul masters." After all, Chen Junting had already revealed their undead pawns—perfect scapegoats.
Ning Tian remained unmoved. Innocent civilians would suffer. She wouldn't allow it—her conscience couldn't bear it.
Dugu Xin sighed. "Sigh… So what if it harms heaven and humanity? As long as our sect stays safe, who cares?"
Chen Junting's stern look confirmed his disapproval.
Defeated, Dugu Xin unveiled Plan B. But Wu Feng's trio stared at him like he'd grown fangs—still reeling from Plan A.
"Should I even explain?" he asked dryly.
Chen Junting exchanged a glance with Ning Tian. "Is it… as vicious as the first?"
"Not at all."
"Then share it."
"Fine. Similar execution—two toxins, 'primary' and 'trigger.' But this one causes… diarrhea."
"Huh?!" Wu Feng gaped. "Wait—that's a huge downgrade! Just diarrhea—"
Gu Tianchen snorted. The absurdity of "diarrhea" delivered with deadly seriousness was too much.
"Are you underestimating diarrhea?" Dugu Xin arched a brow.
"Pfft! Diarrhea? I've conquered—"
"Severe diarrhea," Dugu Xin interrupted. "Untreated, it's fatal."
Fatal? Wu Feng pictured someone dying mid-bathroom break—then shuddered. "That's the worst way to go!"
"Enough," Chen Junting cut in. "Xiao Feng, never mock diarrhea." He turned to Dugu Xin. "I see your angle: poison the granary's grain with Toxin A, then unleash Toxin B mid-battle as a trigger. Crippling cramps—total chaos."
"Exactly." Dugu Xin produced a second vial—powder, not liquid. "Airborne, undetectable. Even Title Douluos can't suppress it indefinitely. Soul Saints and below? Three breaths to crippling pain, five to… explosive evacuation."
Chen Junting's eyes lit up. "Imagine armies fighting… then suddenly—"
No need to finish. The image hit them like a bucket of ice water. Collective shivers ran through the room.
Good grief… that's evil!
Sun Moon's troops would be too busy emptying bowels to fight.
"Disgusting!" Wu Feng recoiled as if Dugu Xin were toxic sludge—then abruptly gave him a thumbs-up. "But damn, I'm onboard!"
Mercifully, he's on our side, she thought, frantically reviewing her history with Dugu Xin. Did I ever offend him? …Nope! Definitely not!
Chen Junting weighed the plan. Immoral? Yes. Effective? Undeniably.
"Brother Junting, should we?" Ning Tian asked.
"Use it! Why not?" Chen Junting decided. It's war.
(As long as it's not too heavenly-offending.)
He shot Dugu Xin a sheepish look. "Proceed as planned."
"Got it!" ×5
------------------------------------------------------
Join my Patreon to read a completed exclusive novel (250+ Chapters) + get up to 40 Chapters ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)