Chapter 5: Drinks

Due to her appearance, her sudden shift in tone didn’t faze the man.

He took pride, not shame, in consuming poison: “Yes, it’s poison, but it’s good stuff for me and others.”

He looked at the ball of powder in his hand.

At that moment, the shopkeeper quietly slipped out of the room.

One of the man’s friends, who had followed them in, used magic to pour water.

He didn’t use his hands to pick up the cup.

Instead, he used magic to make the cup float and poured a drink from a kettle.

The kettle was peculiar.

It poured different drinks into each cup—one juice, the other something like milk.

The cups wobbled as they floated to the tea table.

The man handed Zixueta the juice: “Come, let’s have a drink and talk slowly.”

Zixueta looked at him coldly.

He took the ‘milk,’ sipped it, and said:

“Everyone here comes to use drugs. Little sister, if you can’t handle it, go home. I’m still rational enough to talk because you can make medicine. Help me make more of this drug, and I’ll let you go.”

She didn’t like being called little sister: “I’m not ‘little sister’!”

She looked angry but softened her tone: “I can help you make medicine to reduce the toxicity. What good does this drug do for you? It must cost a lot, right?”

The man and his friends exchanged glances.

After looking, the man smiled: “Pleasure. What else do you think drugs give us?”

Zixueta said seriously: “So, I can make a deal with you. As long as I don’t cross your bottom line, I can do anything? There are probably others doing this here, right? I can keep you rational and earn money for the drugs.”

The man grabbed a pinch of powder from the ball.

Under the light, it sparkled, making it even more enticing.

He said eagerly: “Go on. What’s the deal?”

Zixueta negotiated:

“I’ll make the drugs, sure, any amount. But you can’t say I made them without my permission. With me, you’ll save money, and the extra can be sold. But I set a limit—one person gets no more than 100 grams of powder a day.”

“No way I can agree to that,” the man said, unable to tolerate it.

“Earthlings smoke four cigarettes a day, drink two bottles of alcohol. Your limit cuts off our lifeline.”

“Then don’t ask me to make the drugs. I’ll find my own way out.”

Zixueta replied instantly.

The man thought, then said: “Fine, make both medicine and drugs. We’ll just take more medicine.”

“Good, deal. But I won’t pay for materials—you cover what I need. And you can’t involve people close to me.”

The man knew who she meant and interrupted: “I’ll get that guy back right away. He’s probably nearby.”

He recalled the guy’s appearance, then realized: “Demon prince! That guy’s the second demon prince! The useless prince!”

“His name’s Bai Mingliu, right? I’d advise you not to stick with him.”

One moment serious, the next disdainful, he said:

“Everyone here knows the second demon prince is the most useless. Even the blood prince passed the talent test, but he failed ten times! No one who knows him likes him. His greatest luck is being born into the demon royal family.

His father’s cleaned up plenty of his messes. Being around him is like taking five doses of drugs a day! No, worse! You’ve seen it—he’s useless, runs when others are in danger, but loves to meddle.”

Zixueta said flatly: “I don’t care how others see him. Just bring him here. He’s a prince, so he’s useful here.”

The man shook his head: “His power is nothing compared to his incompetence.”

He grumbled: “Fine, since you insist. There are places here where you need him to buy things.”

Right after he spoke, someone opened the door.

They whispered a few words to him.

He said: “Perfect, this little sister needs him. Bring him in.”

The person nodded and went to fetch him.

It was a polite gesture, but only on the surface.

When Bai Mingliu entered, the person rolled their eyes at him.

Someone kicked Bai Mingliu.

He yelped in pain and fell to his knees.

The man laughed: “Haha, such a grand bow the moment you arrive, thank you, Your Highness!”

He mocked Bai Mingliu, but Zixueta didn’t intervene.

He turned to her politely: “See, I brought him. Can you start preparing what we need?”

To keep her, he added: “If you don’t like this, I can treat you to something else.”

Zixueta assumed he meant other drugs: “No need.”

The man smiled:

“Other normal food. I don’t like forcing people. Since you’re useful to us, you can work for us here. If you satisfy us, we’ll not only let you and your friend go, but cover all your expenses while you make drugs and medicine.”

One of his friends added: “We have some influence here. Without our permission, you can’t leave easily. Do well, and we’ll introduce you to others for bigger business.”

Zixueta’s response was: “I agree.”

Bai Mingliu was shocked, unable to understand: “How can you agree? We can find another way out!”

Zixueta thought: ‘Make medicine that looks like the drug. They won’t know if they’re taking medicine or poison. Use their materials to profit, help others, and win loyalty—what a perfect deal.’

Bai Mingliu didn’t grasp her plan.

He only knew she agreed to work for them, and he was furious: “You can’t make drugs for them! It’s wrong! It’s illegal!”

“Did I allow you to yell here?”

The man cut in before Zixueta could speak: “She agreed, what’s it to you? Why are you so worked up? Do you have a say in this? In this deal, what can you do? Make medicine? Find a way out? Don’t forget, you’re still in our hands!”