I Ran Away with the Scumbag's White Moonlight Chapter 65

The purchase ratio was not met. As Shi Jingxian and Lan Luohai descended from the top floor of the castle, they encountered guards looking for Shi Jingxian in the first-floor hall. Seeing Lan Luohai there, the guards were surprised but kept their mouths shut. They reported to Lan Luohai, saying that due to the Split Tooth Fruit Riot, the Core Country decided to have the extermination team set off early, which was why they came to notify them at this time.

Lan Luohai nodded and planned to prepare for departure with Shi Jingxian. Everything was already stored in the storage ring, so Shi Jingxian only needed to organize the newly completed potions from the past two days. Before leaving, he called Lan Luohai to a secluded spot and handed him a batch of antidotes.

"This is a high-level antidote I developed with Teacher Fendelin at his research institute. However, time was tight, and we didn't have the chance to test it repeatedly, so it's not a finished product yet," Shi Jingxian explained. "But the potion's ingredients include the Split Tooth Fruit trunk from the previous extermination in Country A. If anything unexpected happens during this extermination, you can use it directly to ensure your safety."

Lan Luohai nodded and carefully put away the antidote. The two left the castle together and soon encountered the large troop preparing to set out. Lan Luohai joined his subordinates to prepare for battle, and he didn't plan to let Shi Jingxian return to the Country A team, instructing him to stay with his people instead.

However, their joint appearance had already attracted a lot of attention. Just as Shi Jingxian finished putting on the protective robe Lan Luohai had prepared for him, he heard a commotion not far away. A tall horse emerged from the soldiers, and Yuan Xiao, sitting on its back, looked down at Shi Jingxian expressionlessly.

"Xuanran, where have you been these past few days?" Yuan Xiao's address hadn't changed, but his tone carried a distinct air of superiority. Many people around were paying attention, and Shi Jingxian glanced at Yuan Xiao before lowering his head.

"Marshal, I've been preparing the potions needed for the extermination," he said before Yuan Xiao could speak. "But I didn't make many, so I took the opportunity to rest and adjust. Otherwise, like last time, I'd be too exhausted from making potions to help on-site before the Marshal's expedition."

Before Yuan Xiao's previous extermination of the Split Tooth Fruit in Country A, he had Shi Jingxian work overnight to produce a large number of potions, which severely exhausted Shi Jingxian, causing him to faint beside the lab table. Most of the people present were from the Core Country, and upon hearing this, they frowned.

A pharmacist isn't a factory assembly line; overexerting oneself to make potions can lead to very dangerous consequences. Naturally, Yuan Xiao wasn't pleased to hear this and impatiently asked, "Then why have you been away from the team for so long, and why are you with His Highness Lan?"

He had indeed noticed Lan Luohai and Shi Jingxian arriving together. However, just as Yuan Xiao finished his question, a cold voice interrupted.

"The two have already dissolved their marriage, Mr. Yuan, isn't your inquiry a bit excessive?" Lan Luohai, dressed in a military uniform, stepped forward. The tailored uniform accentuated his perfect physique, and even in the dim light, his presence was dazzling.

Seeing him step forward, Yuan Xiao's expression softened slightly, though he still said, "Xuanran is from Country A. He left the team without permission; I can't just ignore that..."

Before Yuan Xiao could finish, a voice from not far away interrupted him. It was the remaining ability users arriving together. The Core Country had made thorough preparations for this extermination of the Split Tooth Fruit. They had been holding back until recently, waiting for the opportunity when the Split Tooth Fruit was weakened to eradicate it completely.

Thus, not only were the Core Country's military and Yuan Xiao's Country A team involved, but also ability users from Countries B and C, drawn by the summons. However, since these two countries also lacked experience dealing with high-level plants, the Core Country didn't issue official invitations, only recruiting some individuals with outstanding abilities.

Since Yuan Xiao had recently exterminated the Split Tooth Fruit, he was the only one on the continent with experience in facing high-level plants, making him the leader of the team. With time pressing, once the team was assembled, they set off without delay.

The group traversed mountains and ridges, and after about two hours, they finally reached the area invaded by the Split Tooth Fruit, not far from the Imperial City. The place was desolate, with the previous inhabitants having evacuated. The closer they got to the destination, the more evident the signs of destruction became, with ruins constantly appearing, reminding the team to stay vigilant.

Before arriving, Yuan Xiao had already arranged the formation. The Core Country's military, as the main force, was positioned centrally. As the highest-ranking officer of the Core Country's military, Lan Luohai was also kept by Yuan Xiao's side.

When they reached the pre-planned safe location and needed someone to scout further, Yuan Xiao didn't send the Core Country's people. "The Country A team has experience in direct combat with the Split Tooth Fruit, so they'll go scout this time." Others, seeing someone willing to take on the risky task, naturally didn't object.

However, not all of Country A's people went scouting. With Lan Luohai's opposition, besides the stationed Yuan Xiao, Shi Jingxian wasn't sent out either. Surprisingly, Yuan Xiao was unexpectedly agreeable this time, not causing trouble and quickly agreeing to Shi Jingxian staying behind.

About half an hour later, the Country A team successfully returned, having located the core trunk of the Split Tooth Fruit. Although some were injured, there were no life-threatening injuries. Yuan Xiao immediately ordered the march, and the large group set off. However, the injured from Country A needed treatment, and Shi Jingxian, who had no experience dealing with the Split Tooth Fruit, was left behind.

There was no real safe zone here, so Yuan Xiao didn't leave anyone to guard. Only a few injured and Shi Jingxian were left, and after treating the wounds, they had to catch up with the main force. Among the three injured, two had minor injuries, and only one was truly bitten by the Split Tooth Fruit and poisoned. Shi Jingxian treated the first two before taking out a healing potion from the storage ring. He wasn't planning to reveal the half-finished antidote to others yet.

However, when Shi Jingxian approached the third injured person, he vaguely sensed something was off. Intelligent plants have strong attack power, and being bitten by a high-level plant, with unbearable pain and toxic decay, is normal. But the person in front of Shi Jingxian had a strange expression. As time passed, his face turned pale, sweat poured down like rain, and he trembled uncontrollably, shaking like a sieve.

Looking at him, it didn't seem like he was in pain from the wound; it seemed more like he was... afraid of something. Shi Jingxian tightened his grip on the crystal bottle and crouched down in front of the person. He slowly reached for the wound on the person's abdomen, his gaze seemingly focused but actually vigilant.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the wound's clothing, Shi Jingxian suddenly noticed the person's clothes move on their own. The next second, a brown, curved vine suddenly shot out, lunging straight at Shi Jingxian!

Shi Jingxian had anticipated this but barely managed to dodge. The Split Tooth Fruit, having missed, quickly and nimbly changed direction, charging at Shi Jingxian again. The injured person was conscious and could move independently, but he had a live Split Tooth Fruit vine hidden in his clothes—clearly, he wasn't injured at all. He was terrified because the Split Tooth Fruit had been lurking close to him.

Shi Jingxian had seen Yuan Xiao's method of "exterminating" high-level plants in the plot supplement pack, so he knew this was definitely part of Yuan Xiao's plan. Sure enough, the two previously treated injured individuals pulled up the now limp injured person and quickly retreated, leaving Shi Jingxian alone to face the menacing Split Tooth Fruit.

The ambushing Split Tooth Fruit vine had already grown a ball-shaped fruit full of fangs at its tip, but the fruit didn't hinder its agile movements. Moreover, it quickly summoned many companions, with the curved, flexible branches resembling countless water snakes, lunging directly at Shi Jingxian.

The situation quickly became tricky. Shi Jingxian had no weapons and could only use some attack potions specifically for plants for defense. Fortunately, pharmacists aren't physically weak, and Shi Jingxian had practiced martial arts in previous missions. With his prior precautions, the Split Tooth Fruit couldn't truly harm him.

For the time being, Shi Jingxian managed to hold his ground, but he hesitated about whether to let the Split Tooth Fruit bite him. According to previous research, awakening an ability requires a certain level of stimulation...

Shi Jingxian's mind was racing with thoughts, but to outsiders, his situation seemed extremely perilous. Surrounded by so many Split Tooth Fruit vines, a slight misstep could result in being torn apart.

At the critical moment, several silver lights appeared out of nowhere, slicing through the entangling Split Tooth Fruit branches around Shi Jingxian. Shi Jingxian looked up in surprise. "...Your Highness?"

It was Lan Luohai, who was supposed to have left with the team. He didn't say much, forming water blades to clear a safe space amidst the encroaching Split Tooth Fruit. "Let's go." Lan Luohai extended his hand, intending to pull Shi Jingxian out of the encirclement. His gaze was fixed on Shi Jingxian, fearing any harm might come to him.

However, he failed to notice a grinning fruit suddenly attacking from behind. Shi Jingxian grabbed Lan Luohai's hand, pulling him over with force. The following Split Tooth Fruit opened its jagged maw—

"Xuanran!!" A tearing pain shot through his right arm, and Lan Luohai's incredulous voice echoed in his ears. Shi Jingxian trembled with pain, unable to utter a word of comfort.

He knew he wouldn't be in danger. Besides the antidote, Shi Jingxian had been preparing for the awakening of his healing ability these past days—if he wasn't mistaken, the awakening of the healing ability required stimulation from high-level plant toxins.

Sure enough, despite the pain, Shi Jingxian soon felt changes within himself. However, the awakening process was excruciating, and everything around him blurred.