After two days.
Baiyu's condition worsened significantly.
Physicians dispatched from Villiduo had hurried to the Earl's Mansion in Mountain City and diagnosed Baiyu's illness.
It was indeed the poison of the Black Pen Bird's feather.
Ordinary medicine cannot cure it, unless the body of the Black Pen Bird from which the feather was taken is found; otherwise, it's difficult to detoxify.
The Black Pen Bird is a special rare Exotic Beast.
Only the feather on its head contains a potent poison that even a Martial Arts Grandmaster cannot withstand.
To detoxify,
you need to obtain the Black Pen Bird that had this feather when it was alive and cook its meat into an antidote to neutralize the poison.
The news of Baiyu's serious illness had gradually spread.
Many people even speculated,
whether Baiyu was so ill that he could barely hold on; otherwise, how could he not appear at such a critical time?
The head of the Security Bureau hasn't appeared for several consecutive days.
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't matter.
But now, during wartime, his absence could destabilize public morale as he's one of the leaders of the Three Departments.
Logically and emotionally,
he should not disappear from public view for so long.
So people speculated whether Baiyu was already incapacitated and at death's door.
This speculation was gaining momentum.
However,
Baiyu still lay in bed, leisurely resting, having not taken a break like this for a long time, and finding it quite effective now and then.
On the evening of the third day,
after the lineup of Extraordinary physicians from Villiduo declared themselves helpless, they hurriedly withdrew.
This poison was simulated by the Book of True Wisdom's ability.
Baiyu was not concerned, since as long as it was the book's ability, it could eventually be undone by the book itself.
If negotiations with the hidden foe truly fell through,
Baiyu could also recover anytime without any threat to his life.
On the evening of the third day,
as Baiyu slept, the dream reappeared, and the man in black began a new round of persuasion.
Baiyu naturally displayed the hysteria of a dying man.
Very quickly,
they reached a mutual agreement.
The man in black, using the promise of the antidote as leverage, invited Baiyu to defect and formally join the ranks of the spies for the Demon Race and Shell People Race.
After some hesitation, Baiyu agreed willingly.
At this stage of the plan, everything was proceeding as Qiu Yun and Baiyu had anticipated.
But soon,
the man in black made a request completely unexpected by the two of them.
"Meet you outside the city?"
Hesitation and surprise flashed in Baiyu's eyes, but inwardly, he was almost chuckling with delight.
This fool.
He was just trying to find their whereabouts, and now they were practically delivering themselves to his doorstep.
"Yes, to get the antidote, you must meet us outside the city. I know with your position and authority, no one would suspect you even if you moved in and out of Mountain City. Once you're outside, our people will naturally receive you."
The man in black spoke coldly.
Baiyu hesitated, "If I leave the city like this, wouldn't my life and death be at your mercy?"
"No, no.
It's better if you give me the antidote inside the city. You can choose any way of transaction."
"Hm, we're only meeting outside the city. If you don't come, then wait to die slowly.
Director Bai.
Do you still want to get the antidote for nothing?
Inside the city, you're surrounded by your spies. Once we give you the antidote, you could easily turn on us, making it hard for us to survive at that point.
Moreover,
you don't think.
We're just giving you the antidote for free, do you? Of course, we must apply some measures to ensure our cooperation, to prevent you from going back on your word afterward."
You're absolutely right, my brother.
Baiyu's heart was bursting with joy, but he kept calm on the surface: "Fine, I'll come out tonight to meet. I hope you can provide the antidote timely to relieve my excruciating pain."
"As long as Director Bai cooperates and follows orders, we will naturally give it to you."
The man in black laughed triumphantly, then transformed into smoke and vanished into the air.
The rustling sound...
In the room, Baiyu opened his eyes.
Upon waking up from the dream, he immediately dressed. Since the man in black required him not to bring many people, Baiyu only took Qiong Xue.
Of course,
Qiao Wan naturally hid in the shadows, accompanying him in his actions.
Baiyu endeavored to mimic a severely ill appearance, boarded the Steam Armored Vehicle, and drove out of the city.
All this was under the discreet surveillance of Qiu Yun.
The two had long agreed that if anything happened, Qiu Yun would take immediate action discreetly.
Now,
Baiyu officially sent out this signal, and Qiu Yun became instantly thrilled.
Everything in the plan was going so smoothly it was hard to believe.
However,
Baiyu contemplated in the vehicle for a moment, feeling that the man in black wasn't wrong either; in Baiyu's current situation, certainly, nobody believed Baiyu had any other intentions.
After all, life is most important.
Besides, he's still so young.
Anyone in Baiyu's position would cherish life dearly, and for survival, they would potentially do anything.
Therefore, no one suspected anything.
As long as they accepted the fact that Baiyu was poisoned, everything else made perfect sense.
Of course,
from the perspectives of Baiyu and Qiu Yun,
the man in black seemed quite foolish.
Baiyu wasn't poisoned, so the previous assumptions didn't hold.
The vehicle exited through a side gate of Mountain City, driving into the Heavy Fog Forest.
Following the address given by the man in black,
the duo arrived at a valley in the Heavy Fog Forest.
Qiong Xue pushed a simple wheelchair, allowing Baiyu to sit while they strolled step by step into the valley.
After a short while of walking,
Baiyu, sitting in the wheelchair, was stopped by two people dressing in black.
Their bodies were tall and robust as if mountains themselves.
In the exposed areas of their bodies, Baiyu could see their violet skin.
This deep purple,
he had only seen it on members of the Demon Race.
"Baiyu, you finally came."
A moment passed,
one of the Demon Race members rasped with a smile.
Baiyu nodded, his face pale, "The antidote? Once you give me the antidote, everything is negotiable."
The two Demon Race members grinned, "No rush, no rush, there are other matters we need to discuss first."
"Discuss what?"
Baiyu asked with a hostile tone.
One of the Demon Race members said, "Of course, we need to discuss the price for giving you the antidote."
Baiyu's face turned cold.
The implication was clear; they intended to use some means to control him before providing the antidote.
This was a common tactic used by the non-human races.
However,
Baiyu couldn't play along with their game.
"If there's anything to discuss, your leader should talk to me. Do you have the stature to negotiate with me?
Furthermore,
how do I know you even have the antidote?
I was poisoned because of Guang Yuanba, is he one of your people?
Additionally,
aren't you worried Mountain City will find out about this meeting spot here? Heavy Fog Forest is the natural barrier outside Mountain City, with countless outposts. If we're discovered, we won't be able to escape even with wings."
The two Demon Race members were momentarily stumped by these questions, unable to answer.
One of them said, "Why do you ask so much when it's you who needs the antidote from us now!"
