Page 231 of Savage Throne
“You get it from a flower that grows only in the darkest valleys of Mount Linghun.” Master Wu returned to looking through his bag. “Legend says it was discovered by a monk seeking enlightenment. Instead, he found death, his body contorted in agony beneath the flower’s bloom. You see. The venom attacks the body slowly, shutting down organs one by one.”
My stomach churned.
“However. . .I’ve watched Leo fight for a very long time.” Master Wu pulled out a long vial of black liquid. “And I knew to bring several different types of antidote with me just in case.”
I blinked. “You knew Leo would cheat?”
“More like I knew he wouldn’t play fair.” Master Wu gave me a tired smile and held up the vial, swirling the dark liquid inside. “This is what we need.”
The other healers moved back, giving Master Wu space.
The men holding Lei on the gurney came closer to him.
One of the women handed me an empty plastic bottle. “Here you go, Mountain Mistress.”
I took it. “What is this for?”
“Later.” Master Wu uncorked the vial of the antidote. A sharp scent hit me immediately; earthy, metallic, and vaguely sweet. He turned to Lei. “I’ll need your urine. You can put it in that bottle later and make sure your servants bring it to me.”
“Why would you need my urine?”
“To give to Lei.”
I tensed. “Excuse me?”
“I know it sounds strange but I like to use urine for one of my trusty concoctions that invigorate the life force—”
“But. . .like are you going to wash Lei in it or. . .”
“He’s going to drink it.”
“I’m not doing that.” I handed the empty bottle back to the woman. “Let’s focus on giving Lei the antidote.”
“You are quite the Mountain Mistress.” Smiling, Master Wu carefully lifted Lei’s head.
The woman came over and gently parted Lei’s mouth.
Then, Master Wu began to pour in the antidote.
The dark liquid hovered above Lei’s lips, thick and viscous, resembling oil that had been pulled straight from the depths of the earth.
Nervously, I whispered. “And. . .what’s in that?”
“You think there’s urine in this?”
“Well. . .I’m a bit worried about that.”
He chuckled. “No urine, Mountain Mistress.”
I sighed. “Thank God.”
Master Wu tilted the vial carefully, letting the first drop fall onto Lei’s slightly parted lips.
I watched in horrified fascination as it clung to his skin, unmoving for a split second, before sliding into his mouth.
My stomach churned.
The sight of that substance entering him felt wrong, almost unholy, like I was witnessing the beginning of something I wasn’t meant to see.
