The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#158 - Too late

"You mean Shrike? She's a handpicked maid of mine," Vulture said. "After my prophecy comes true..."

The black wizard paused, perhaps feeling the pressure from Lu Jing's gaze, and had to change his tune, "Alright, the prophecy thing was just something I said. After all, being locked up in jail, I had to do something."

"Unexpectedly, as soon as I finished speaking, the sandstorm arrived. Then, because I had foreseen this disaster, I was summoned to the City Lord's mansion. I told the City Lord that I needed a few maids to assist me in spellcasting."

At this point, Vulture again sensed Nada's disdainful gaze, but with his thick skin, he pretended not to notice and continued.

"So the City Lord allowed me to choose four maids, who would also take care of my daily life. I chose four people, including Shrike. But at the time, I chose her only because she had bigger breasts and was bolder than the other women, who were all afraid of me."

"However, after spending some time together, I discovered that this woman was not only skilled in bed but also very intelligent. She helped me manage many things in an orderly manner, so I trusted her more and more."

"Speaking of which, it was indeed her suggestion to meet with you tonight. She said that I shouldn't worry about you replacing me in the City Lord's eyes, but should actively cooperate with you. Marasarkand is very wealthy and can certainly support two strategists."

"Furthermore, haven't you been having conflicts with Yazdan recently? She encouraged me, saying it was a good opportunity to unite with you. She even said that after we unite, I should be in charge of the investigation progress… I shouldn't have listened to that woman. How could a hero like Great Hero Lu be controlled by me?"

Vulture opportunistically flattered Lu Jing, but was disappointed to find that the latter had no reaction.

Then, he heard Lu Jing say in a deep voice, "Where is Shrike now?"

"Oh, she's waiting for my news in the house next door."

Vulture had barely finished speaking when Lu Jing grabbed him from the ground. Immediately afterward, he found his body soaring into the air again, and this time he was flying much higher than before, as if floating on clouds.

Seeing his feet getting further and further away from the ground, Vulture's heart rate couldn't help but skyrocket, and he almost screamed!

He usually relied on some amateur science to play tricks and pretend to be a black wizard.

Over time, even he himself began to believe in the existence of magic.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain what was happening to him now.

After all, humans aren't birds. How could they fly without magic?

After landing, he also saw Shrike's face.

This favorite maid of his was smiling charmingly at him, just like when they first met.

But the difference was that this time, Shrike's face was greenish-blue.

After releasing Vulture, Lu Jing rushed to Shrike's side at the first moment and quickly sealed several acupoints on her body with his hand.

Then he placed his right hand on her back, but after a moment, he withdrew it.

At this time, the female shopkeeper next door also rushed over from the gate in a hurry.

As a result, as soon as she entered the door, she saw this strange scene and exclaimed, "She… she's poisoned?!"

Lu Jing nodded, "Yes, and it's a very potent poison that has already invaded her heart. There's no saving her."

Vulture, who was standing aside, was also dumbfounded at this time and couldn't help but ask, "Why did you take poison?"

Shrike sighed, "Of course, it's because you're useless. You were exposed as soon as you came, I knew you were useless, but I didn't expect you to be so useless that you confessed everything without even asking anything."

Vulture was annoyed by her words, "Isn't it because you keep giving me bad ideas? Tell me, who sent you to my side?"

"Didn't you choose me yourself, Lord Vulture? Have you forgotten?" Shrike giggled.

Even though she was about to die, she didn't seem to be afraid at all. She just didn't bother to hide her true feelings like she used to, and her eyes were full of disgust when she looked at Vulture.

"Did you think I really wanted to be chosen by you? You insidious and sleazy dwarf, every day I spend with you makes me want to vomit. I've wanted to expose your true face and your ridiculous tricks to the City Lord countless times, but considering that you're still somewhat useful, I can only grit my teeth and endure it."

"Fortunately, you're useless at everything, and it's the same in bed. I close my eyes and open them again, and it's over. It's so fast that I can't feel anything."

The black wizard was enraged by her harsh words, but Shrike no longer looked at him. Instead, she turned her gaze to Lu Jing and said faintly, "Great Hero Lu, you are different from clowns like him. You are a true hero, but unfortunately…"

"Unfortunately what?" Lu Jing asked.

"Unfortunately, you can't save this city, or the people in it."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you're running out of time." Shrike's greenish-blue face looked particularly eerie at night, as if it was covered in a layer of ghostly aura.

"In another five days, the army in the sandstorm will be completely controlled by the Lord, and will obey his orders. By then, no one in the entire Mingsha Desert will be his opponent. Not only Marasarkand, but also Kunta, Sun City, Stone Spring City… will all submit at his feet!"

Speaking of this, a hint of fanaticism appeared in Shrike's eyes, "Although I won't be able to see that day, I'm happy in my heart even if I'm about to die, because I can be a part of the whole plan."

"Don't be so happy yet. You just said that someone is planning to control those iron-clad warriors in the sandstorm?" Lu Jing raised his eyebrows.

"That's right," Shrike grinned. "I heard that Young Hero Lu has been fighting those things these past few days, so you should know how powerful they are. The Mingsha Desert hasn't had any wars for hundreds of years, and the city defenses are very lax. As long as there is such an army in hand, no one will be the Lord's opponent."

"Even with Great Hero Lu's skills, if they all attack together, you can only run away."

"You're right, but fortunately, that situation will no longer occur."

"Why?" This time it was Shrike's turn to ask.

Her breathing was becoming more and more rapid, and her chest was rising and falling. Obviously, the poison was taking effect, bringing her originally young life to its last moment.

However, in the last moment before her death, she heard another piece of bad news that shocked her!

"Oh, that's because… those things are almost completely dismantled by me." Lu Jing looked into her eyes and said.