Chapter 454: Chapter 454: Not a Paralyzing Agent
"So, you handed over the task to him, and what he extracted was a neurotoxic element, is that what you mean?"
"Yes, that should be it. I took a quick look just now, and it seems to be essentially the same as what he described. During this period, I’ve been busy with village committee affairs and haven’t had time to research this matter, including the fact that it’s ultimately a major hidden danger. Therefore, since you’re here, I would like to thoroughly investigate and see how we should handle the following matters."
"Alright, put aside the other things. Where is that object? Bring it here, and I will take a closer look."
After speaking, Liu Zheng then turned around and gave Liu Yang a look. Liu Yang turned and went back into the room, finally bringing out a small leaf.
The elder simply took the leaf in his hand, then immediately knitted his brows before placing the leaf under his nose and gently sniffing it.
Then he carefully examined the leaves in the sunlight, scrutinizing its shape and veins, as well as its condition and color.
Actually, Liu Zheng had seen these things more than once, including acknowledging to himself that his sense of smell was quite remarkable, something that most people couldn’t match.
But since it was in the seedling phase, its characteristics were not fully expressed. Therefore, no matter how good Liu Zheng’s sense of smell was, he was utterly unable to discern what type of plant it was.
"I heard from Liu Yang that you can identify various herbs just by smell, but to be honest, after so many years of gathering medicinal herbs, I haven’t reached that level. I usually rely on eyes, nose, hands, and the plant’s vein patterns for categorization, then make a comprehensive judgement from there."
"Yes, I generally just use my nose. After so many years exposed to these herbs, I somehow still have a certain sense of them. Usually, there’s not much of a difference, and basically, if you can judge correctly once... Elder, based on its appearance, can you determine what it is now?"
After he asked this question, the elder didn’t speak but simply shook his head lightly and then looked up at Liu Yang.
"Are you saying that based on its shape, including the pattern of its veins, you deduced that it must be a kind of neuro-paralyzing medicine, also known as ’Paralysis Powder’ that I mentioned to you before?"
"Yes, grandfather, I remember when I was with you, you once told me about it. No matter how I look at it, it seems like that substance. And, I think it should be correct. Besides, only drugs of this kind wouldn’t be easily visible to people, which is why they are locked inside the greenhouse, so they won’t be seen by others, right?"
"Do you know what the most significant characteristic of the neurotoxin is?"
"Oh, the most significant characteristic, what do you mean?"
"What it fears most is the dropping dew."
"Dew? What do you mean by dew?"
"What do I mean by dew, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten even this? Besides, I’m asking you, if it’s inside a greenhouse, then enough sunlight can certainly be ensured. But have you considered the fact that when outdoor temperatures are too high, sunlight striking the top of the greenhouse will cause condensation, which we call dew? And when this dew gradually falls onto the leaves, what will happen to them if they contain a neurotoxin?"
At this point, Liu Yang suddenly realized something crucial that he had overlooked. All other traits matched, but this one point did not seem to align.
So, when Liu Yang heard this, he became more cautious. He had thought his judgement was correct, especially since he had assured Liu Zheng previously that he hadn’t been mistaken. But now, his grandfather’s words had thoroughly awakened him.
"I understand now. When that substance comes into contact with dew, then by the next day or at the latest, its surface will start to decay, making it impossible to grow. That means, this judgement is wrong, it’s not a neuro-paralyzing drug at all."
Upon hearing this, the elder simply nodded in satisfaction. Although his earlier judgement was somewhat mistaken, at least with his guidance, Liu Yang was able to promptly realize the error, which was quite commendable for him.
"What? Elder, do you mean to say that it isn’t a neuro-paralyzing drug at all? Then what should it be?"
"To be honest, when I first saw this drug, it indeed shocked me quite a bit, and this type of drug has been completely extinct for decades. Even with my extensive experience in gathering herbs, I had never discovered it."
From his tone, it was evident that the substance must be incredibly remarkable and possessed a hidden power. However, to this point, Liu Zheng still didn’t understand where this hidden power originated from.
"So, what is it exactly? Is it dangerous?"
"It can devour a person’s nerve cells, and continuously corrode one’s nervous system. In other words, it is even more terrifying than the so-called neuro-paralyzing system. It should be considered a new generation drug."
"What do you mean? I don’t quite understand, devouring human nerve cells? What does that mean?"
"Have you heard of cancer cells?"
"Cancer cells, of course I’ve heard of them. Aren’t cancer cells just a kind of mutated human cell? And under normal conditions, cancer cells are part of the human body."
"Right, so you can think of this drug as a type of invasive cancer cell that kills off all the good cells in your body, leaving only the bad ones behind. Therefore, after consuming this drug, it accelerates human death. But there’s a strange aspect to it: all of its devouring actions are carried out silently. Thus, often this drug is used for a kind of assisted suicide on the neurological level."
