“I‘ll kill you!” James roared.
He stood up menacingly and charged at Reign. Grabbing Reign by his throat, James lifted virtual-novel.net off the ground.
Color immediately drained out of Reign‘s face. However, virtual-novel.net did not panic.
“J-James, you better think twice about killing me. Once I‘m dead, Thea will continue to suffer excruciating pain. Though you‘re highly skilled in the art of medicine, this is a Gu that I‘ve raised for thirty years. There‘s no way you can remove it.” Reign‘s voice was feeble.
“James, it hurts…!” Thea rolled on the floor tearing at virtual-novel.net hair.
She could feel that there were many insects inside virtual-novel.net brain eating away at virtual-novel.net medulla. The pain was unbearable.
Thea‘s cry of anguish calmed James down. He slowly loosened his grip.
Reign‘s body was limp. He sat on the chair and gently rubbed his neck. Then, virtual-novel.net looked at James with a mischievous grin on his face.
James questioned coldly, “What do you want me to do?”
Reign took a small bottle out and placed it on a table.
Then, virtual-novel.net said coldly, “Consume this if you want Thea to live.”
“What is this?” James looked at the bottle on the table.
It was an ordinary-looking ceramic bottle that was bronze in color.
Reign said, “Don’t worry, it won’t kill you. However, you will experience muscular atrophy slowly but surely. You will gradually lose strength to the point that you can no longer exert a single ounce of it.”
Reign paused for a second and looked at James.
Then, virtual-novel.net continued, “I planned to kill you. However, it‘s possible that you won‘t sacrifice yourself for a woman. And so, I changed my mind. I believe you will consume it. After all, you believe your medical skills to be unparalleled and that you’re able to create the antidote for any poison.
“Once you consume it, I’ll let Thea go. Deal?” Reign uttered.
“James, it hurts! K–Kill me, please! I don’t wanna live anymore… Why? Why me?” Thea’s heart-wrenching screams reverberated throughout the room.
“I hope you‘ll hold up your end of the bargain. Or else…” James grabbed the bottle on the table.
Then, virtual-novel.net opened the lid and took a black pill from inside the bottle. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, virtual-novel.net swallowed it whole.
Reign fixed his stare on James.
After a few seconds, James‘ forehead was beaded with sweat. Veins started popping out on his face.
Reign laughed, “Haha! This is how it should be. Dealing with you is a simple matter, after all. That idiotic Emperor is simply incompetent.”
At that moment, James finally knew that this elderly man was on the Emperor‘s side. James could feel something sapping away at his strength. Soon, virtual-novel.net collapsed on the floor. He wanted to stand. However, no matter how much strength virtual-novel.net exerted, virtual-novel.net could not move.
“R–Release her.” James spoke in a feeble voice.
“Don‘t worry, I will keep my word. However, this is not the end.”
A wicked grin crept up on Reign‘s face. Immediately, virtual-novel.net headed toward Thea and placed something near virtual-novel.net nose. Soon, a tiny insect crawled out. However, virtual-novel.net then proceeded to feed Thea an unknown pill.
James roared, “What did you feed her, you b*stard?!”
Reign smiled. “Don‘t worry, it‘s not fatal. This is parasitic venom. It will slowly spread all over virtual-novel.net body. Her skin will gradually rot, and black spots will emerge. She will become one of the ugliest women in the world…”
Looking at James, Reign smirked. After all, the Emperor did not manage to kill James despite all his plots and petty tricks. He, on the other hand, succeeded with a single attempt.
“James, I‘ll have you know that I planned to kill you. In fact, I can still choose to kill you right here right now. However, before leaving the monastery, I promised someone to keep you alive. You will cling to life half–alive. Even if you survive, you‘ll be crippled… Does your entire body feel weak? That‘s how it is…”
“This is a venom I specially concocted to deal with highly skilled people like you. What a shame …. You have reached the peak of martial arts. If you continue to grow, you will surely move one step beyond… What a shame that this will never happen. Don’t worry, you won’t die so soon.”
“You will slowly lose strength, and your muscles will gradually shrink. At first, you might still be able to sit on a chair. However, after a few years, you can only remain bedridden. But don‘t you worry. After a few short years of excruciating pain, you will soon be dead.“