Pei Xi chuckled, "Of course, I want his life."
Shen Qingqing gave a cold laugh, "That depends on whether you have the ability."
The atmosphere instantly froze. Pei Xi could even feel the intense, terrifying killing intent emanating from the woman.
She had murder in her heart.
Instead of fear, Pei Xi's smile deepened. "Alright, I was just kidding. I won't kill him."
Shen Qingqing stared at him expressionlessly.
"But I will torture him." The smile on Pei Xi's face vanished, replaced by a sinister glare. "If he hadn't forced me to learn poison, and then told me I was wrong when I started to like it, why should I care?!"
He stood up abruptly, his expression almost contorted.
"Is good or evil, right or wrong, all decided by him? I didn't want to learn back then, and he didn't ask for my opinion. Now I want to learn, and he doesn't want to teach. He says my intentions are impure, that if I continue to learn, I'll harm the world..."
"Hahaha, why should it be like that? Whatever he says goes. I am a person, not a beast, not a toy for him to play with!"
He roared in anger, passionately making his accusations.
Shen Qingqing understood the old man well; that was his personality, always doing the opposite. "If you didn't want to learn, you could have refused to cooperate."
The old man's words were harsh, but his heart was soft.
At most, he would show off his poisons in front of him, or lock him up. But if the other party was resolute, the old man would eventually let them go.
He had always done things this way over the years.
She had witnessed it all.
Pei Xi remained silent for a long time, then finally spoke with a cold laugh, "So what? He's a freak, playing with poisons all day, locking me up. Did I dare not obey? I even feared touching the food he gave me, worried it was poisoned!"
Shen Qingqing's lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn't.
Regardless of what was said, the old man was in the wrong first.
"Since you've learned it, why would you harm others?"
"I didn't harm anyone!" Pei Xi stated word for word, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "They came to me, wanted poison, wanted revenge, wanted to use this to obtain certain things... and offered me a lot of money."
"Why should I refuse? Living is all about money!"
"I need to survive, I need to make money, I want to be above others! I studied so hard, was it just to hide in a room alone, a hermit who doesn't interact with people, a pauper?!"
As he spoke, he became agitated, almost spitting, as if he were dissecting his inner self.
But Shen Qingqing understood that this was not dissection; it was an accusation, resentment. He had never reflected on his own mistakes.
She said softly, "But do you think the old man lived his life like a hermit?"
"That's his choice!" Pei Xi's eyes were filled with hatred, mockery, and disdain. "That's not the life I want. I don't want that. I will never live an ordinary life!"
Shen Qingqing couldn't help but question, "So, those people deserved to be poisoned to death?"
"They deserved it." Pei Xi said matter-of-factly. "It was their bad luck. Someone wanted to harm them. Even if I didn't sell poison, wouldn't they still die?"
He started to laugh, laughing until he gasped for breath, tears streaming down his face.
He took a step back and sat on a chair, as if relieved, his voice becoming lighter. "Since they were going to die anyway, they might as well create some value for me."
It was their honor!
Shen Qingqing looked at him. "You've gone mad."
Pei Xi's expression suddenly became incredibly calm, as if he hadn't been the one roaring moments ago. "I'm not mad. I'm just more rational than everyone else."
"So, you want to get revenge on the old man?"
Shen Qingqing didn't want to discuss his madness with a madman, so she quickly changed the subject.
Pei Xi smiled and nodded. "Yes, I hate him. I hate that he wouldn't teach me all his poison arts, and later he even repeatedly broke my poisons. It's so annoying!"
Unfortunately, the old man had no weaknesses. He was alone, valued nothing, and feared nothing.
He was right there, but Pei Xi could do nothing to him.
Moreover, the old man was a renowned poison doctor.
Shen Qingqing held back, but couldn't suppress her disgust. "You truly have no sense of gratitude."
Pei Xi retorted, "Gratitude for what? The way he treated me, not killing him was my final act of mercy. And I'm not trying to kill him now. Shen Qingqing, I just want you to make a choice."
"What choice?"
Pei Xi took out his phone from his pocket. On the screen was a photo, simple content, just a vial.
"A special medicine?" Shen Qingqing was moved.
"Precisely." Pei Xi gave her a grudging glance before putting his phone away. "I have it, and I can even give it to you right now."
"What's the condition?"
Shen Qingqing didn't believe this madman would give it for free.
Pei Xi snapped his fingers, looking at her with almost admiration. "So smart. I like dealing with smart people. The condition is, you hand over the poison doctor to me."
Shen Qingqing remained silent for a long time.
Pei Xi observed her expression, unable to discern her thoughts. He continued to persuade, "What do you say? You won't lose out. An old man with one foot in the grave, in exchange for a special medicine that can save your son's life. How worth it!"
His voice was gentle, seductive, trying to entice Shen Qingqing to accept his terms.
"With the special medicine, your son can be completely cured, and from now on, he'll be a healthy child. You won't have to worry about losing him at any moment."
"So, do you want it?"
No one spoke.
Silence fell upon the room.
Shen Qingqing sat by the bed, her gaze lowered, her expression unreadable.
In another room, the old man and King were also silent. King was the first to break it. "Old man, do you trust your little apprentice?"
The old man snorted, "I do hope this girl agrees."
Then he could have a fair duel with this beast Pei Xi and cleanse his house.
Time ticked by, and Shen Qingqing finally raised her eyes. There was no emotion in them, only coldness. "I refuse your transaction."
"Oh?" Pei Xi was somewhat surprised. "Don't you want to save your son anymore?"
"I do." Shen Qingqing stated with certainty. "And the old man must be protected."
Pei Xi laughed outright. "Do you really think you're Superman? Capable of doing everything? Achieving both is the most impossible thing in this world."
Shen Qingqing stood up, a frosty glint in her eyes. "Pei Xi, I'm only telling you this once. I will protect the old man. If you move against him, you are my enemy."
Fu Jing Shu, standing behind her, let out a hint of a smile in his eyes, stood up, and firmly stood behind her.
"And me."