Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 132 - 131: Deadly Poison

"In the past, when I traveled with my master, I once encountered a very sinister witch doctor medicine known as Wind Ginseng.

The original form of this Wind Ginseng resembles extremely dry and weak ginseng, with many fibrous roots. It looks ordinary and unassuming even when growing in the soil, and even after several years, it remains the same."

As Yan Daoxin spoke of this thing, a strange expression appeared on his face, as if he had seen something terrifying: "However, if someone irrigates it with human blood, it will rapidly grow and enlarge, its root lumps fatten, and the original fibrous roots will thicken and lengthen, eventually being unearthed looking like a baby.

This thing not only looks like a baby dug up from the ground but also, when cut open, will ooze blood-red sap. The smell is bitter with a faint hint of bloodiness, as if it has been marinated in blood."

Such a creepy thing, Zhu Yu had never heard of before, and upon hearing this, she couldn’t help but shiver.

"What effects does this have?" Lu Qing asked.

"If you squeeze out the juice of the Wind Ginseng and feed it to someone, they will become like walking corpses, not feeling pain, as if their mind has stopped functioning, appearing foolish and muddled, unable to understand what people around them are saying, not even recognizing their closest people," Yan Daoxin said. "Locals use this to punish recalcitrant slaves who repeatedly try to escape or prisoners who have broken out of jail, believing this will prevent future trouble."

Zhu Yu pondered for a moment.

"Later, when I went to Jie Country in search of a rare herb, I inadvertently learned of another herb from the locals, because it looks like a round piece of black jade, they named it Black Jade Button. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

This Black Jade Button is smooth and beautiful, with a hard shell, growing specifically in arid areas, in the cracks of stones, and is rare.

If you remove the outer hard shell, dry the inside, and grind it into powder, it becomes the Divine Descent Medicine once highly praised in Jie Country."

"What is Divine Descent Medicine?" Zhu Yu had never heard of this term before, and even though she was worried, she couldn’t help but feel curious.

"It means whoever consumes Black Jade Button will feel as if helped by divine power, becoming incredibly strong, with endless energy, unable to feel any fatigue," Yan Daoxin’s face grew graver, a complete contrast to his previous casual demeanor, "But that’s just an illusion. In reality, those who consume Black Jade Button must not overexert themselves.

Otherwise, a seemingly energetic person, appearing vigorous, is already exhausted inside without knowing it, eventually collapsing suddenly from exhaustion, dying from overwork.

Earlier, during Jie Country’s military campaigns, someone enthusiastically promoted this Divine Descent Medicine in the military, urging soldiers to consume it and fight.

Initially, it worked miracles; those Jie Country soldiers, once entering the battlefield, seemed unstoppable, mercilessly slaughtering Jin Country soldiers, causing heavy casualties in Jin Country’s army.

The result seemed like a victory, but before they could celebrate, those fierce Jie warriors suddenly collapsed dead, in a heap!

In the end, Jie Country killed ten thousand enemies but lost eight thousand, seemingly victorious yet heavily damaged by Divine Descent Medicine.

Upon learning this, Jie King was livid, ordering a ban on Black Jade Button and deeming Divine Descent Medicine a forbidden drug.

By the time I went there, Black Jade Button had long been banned, and I only heard about it, seeing a drawing of it in local witch doctor texts, never seeing the actual appearance.

I didn’t know how Black Jade Button facilitates sudden bursts of energy and lack of fatigue..."

Yan Daoxin’s mind flashed back to Zhu Yu’s post-mortem examination, his stomach churning with discomfort as he swallowed hard: "After seeing how his liver and spleen were alarmingly enlarged today, with far more blood in his body than ordinary people, I can roughly guess."

After saying this, the three fell into silence.

Black Jade Button can make a person feel no fatigue, bursting forth with extraordinary strength.

Wind Ginseng turns one into a walking corpse, muddled, unrecognizable by acquaintances, unable to understand surrounding speech.

Lai Jiao causes hallucinations, normal things becoming bizarre, people becoming ghosts, and in the final stages of poisoning, one feels the pain of burning, covered with dense blisters.

These coming together exactly form Pang Centurion’s "undergoing evil" condition.

"What a sinister mind!" Yan Daoxin clicked his tongue in disgust, "These three things are all evil substances, any of them could take a life, yet someone combined them to create such a damned cursed medicine!"

"That’s where you’re wrong." Lu Qing smirked slightly, his face showing a cold sneer, "Among these three things, one is truly unnecessary, making its presence here not just a redundancy but somewhat extraneous."

"It’s Lai Jiao," Zhu Yu interjected, "Without it, the poisoned person would still become a walking corpse unrecognizing six kin, become immensely strong, feeling no fatigue or pain.

Even with Black Jade Button’s effects, the ultimate cause of death remains similar.

Lai Jiao itself can’t quickly kill someone; if abnormalities are discovered, there’s still a great chance of rescue.

Its key role in this poison is that it’s sourced from Shuo Country."

Lu Qing glanced at Zhu Yu, nodding.

Yan Daoxin was surprised, glancing between Zhu Yu and Lu Qing: "Is she the fastest person I know who could grasp your meaning?"

Lu Qing ignored his irrelevant question, his smirk deepening yet eyes growing colder: "This matter grows more interesting.

Two months ago, the Old Capital Commander in Li State suddenly died, and prior to that, in the imperial guard camp, some officials mysteriously died, but never with such a sensation as today’s Pang Centurion.

Since Situ Jing’s assignment here two months ago, despite four unusual deaths, today is also unprecedented for him."

Saying this, he looked towards Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu understood: "You mean, after Holy Emperor arranged a marriage for you with me, Prince Shuo’s daughter, someone modified the original poison formula to implicate Shuo Country?"