Chapter 78: Poison in One Hand, Medicine in the Other

Last time when Jiang Hao treated Zhao Shibo, the Corpse Scent Blood Lotus had not been nourished with fresh blood and flesh for a long time, so only the flowers remained, with barely any leaves. Therefore, Jiang Hao did not use the leaves to detoxify Zhao Shibo, but instead employed bloodletting to purge the toxins from his body.

Had he used the leaves for detoxification, Zhao Shibo would have recovered much faster, and the results would have been much better.

Now, Jiang Hao carefully picked the leaves, placed them in a separate plastic bag, and headed to the kitchen.

Upon the stove, an array of glassware was neatly arranged: Erlenmeyer flasks, rubber bulb pipettes, test tubes, funnels, separatory funnels, beakers, and more. Crucibles and alcohol lamps, all necessary heating vessels, were present as well.

Jiang Hao had specifically purchased these items online. When he first transplanted the Corpse Scent Blood Lotus, he intended to make the most of its properties, so he had prepared extensively over this period.

Today, he was finally going to extract the flower’s toxin and refine the antidote.

Bai Tianyu followed him into the kitchen, but Jiang Hao immediately pushed her out and locked the door behind her.

“What are you up to in there, Jiang Hao?” Bai Tianyu complained from outside, pounding the door twice.

Jiang Hao ignored her, showing no intention of letting her in.

He kept his mask on, changed to a fresh pair of gloves, and began the formal extraction process.

Jiang Hao crushed the vivid red petals of the Corpse Scent Blood Lotus, filtered them through a funnel and beaker, then poured the liquid into an Erlenmeyer flask set above an alcohol lamp to simmer.

Most of the water in the flower extract evaporated, leaving behind a small quantity of scarlet crystals.

Jiang Hao treated these crystals as if they were deadly enemies—keeping his body well away, lifting his head as high as possible, and stretching out his arms to operate from a distance.

He didn’t believe a mere mask could shield him from the Corpse Scent Blood Lotus’s poison.

But with only limited equipment at hand, he had no choice but to work in such primitive conditions.

Luckily, Jiang Hao’s body had been fortified by the Red Jade Ring, making him quite different from ordinary people. The lotus’s toxin, lethal to most, was still within his tolerance.

Two hours passed.

Jiang Hao looked at the two gloves laid before him—one black, one white—with a deep grin spreading across his face.

Each glove contained a small mechanism capable of storing liquid and, when necessary, launching it out up to ten meters away.

The black glove housed the extract of the Corpse Scent Blood Lotus toxin.

The white glove held the antidote.

Jiang Hao donned the gloves, flexed his wrists and checked their movement, feeling immensely satisfied.

With these gloves, he wielded poison in one hand and antidote in the other. Whether to kill or to save, it all rested upon a single thought—and he could act without leaving a trace, undetectable by anyone.

These gloves were truly the perfect tools for assassination.

Jiang Hao stowed the gloves away, cleaned the kitchen thoroughly, and finally stepped out.

No sooner had he emerged than he saw Bai Tianyu had changed out of his clothes back into her own emerald green dress.

“It’s sunny today, so my clothes dried quickly!” Bai Tianyu said with a bright smile.

Jiang Hao nodded casually and prepared to sit down, but suddenly remembered something.

Wasn’t that dress ripped by him?

“Don’t turn around!” Jiang Hao hurriedly warned.

“What did you say?” Bai Tianyu asked in confusion, turning to face him. In that instant, her strawberry-patterned underwear and snow-white legs were exposed to Jiang Hao’s eyes.

The scene happened so suddenly, Jiang Hao couldn’t avoid seeing it even if he tried!

A moment later, the spacious and luxurious living room rang with Bai Tianyu’s scream—filled with terror, fury, and deep embarrassment.

A deep bite mark appeared on Jiang Hao’s arm.

It was the result of Bai Tianyu’s rage after being exposed, driving her to attack him with wild abandon.

Fortunately, Jiang Hao’s constitution was no longer ordinary; otherwise, Bai Tianyu’s bite would have drawn blood.

“You’re ruthless! Are you part dog?” Jiang Hao grumbled, massaging his arm.

Bai Tianyu had changed back into Jiang Hao’s clothes: blue jeans on her lower half, and a white T-shirt on top.

“You dare scold me? This is all your fault! Didn’t I tell you to wash my dress gently? Why were you so rough? That dress was expensive—over ten thousand!” Bai Tianyu exclaimed angrily, her cheeks glowing red, betraying not only anger but also deep embarrassment.

“I’ll pay for it, alright?” Jiang Hao sighed.

“Forget paying, just buy me a new one... No, a whole outfit!” Bai Tianyu abruptly changed her mind, a sly smile playing on her lips.

“Fine, I’ll give you my online shopping account. Pick whatever you want,” Jiang Hao resigned himself to her demand.

But Bai Tianyu shook her head vigorously. “I don’t like shopping online. Let’s go out to the mall. I haven’t explored Maple Leaf City properly yet—this is the perfect opportunity. Take me around.”

Take her around?

Jiang Hao himself hadn’t properly enjoyed Maple Leaf City in years.

In the Su family, he was treated like livestock, working tirelessly and enduring Su Jianren’s scorn and ridicule. When could he ever spare time for shopping or leisure?

Honestly, Jiang Hao didn’t even know what fun places Maple Leaf City had.

Still, Bai Tianyu’s request wasn’t unreasonable, and Jiang Hao did need to buy some daily necessities, so he nodded and agreed.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Jiang Hao and Bai Tianyu set out together.

Their attire was casual—Jiang Hao looked plain, while Bai Tianyu stood out. Her clothes were obviously several sizes too big, giving her a loose, hip-hop vibe. Combined with her stunning beauty—beyond description—she drew curious glances from passersby, some even surreptitiously snapping pictures of her with their phones.

Bai Tianyu was unfazed by the attention. In fact, she was delighted, sometimes posing for the camera.

“You’re not angry when strangers take your picture?” Jiang Hao asked, puzzled.

Bai Tianyu replied smugly, “If people take pictures, it just proves I’m pretty! Why would I be angry?”

“Alright, I give up,” Jiang Hao said, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Maple Leaf City’s center—Guangyuan Shopping Plaza.

Jiang Hao and Bai Tianyu wandered aimlessly around the third floor of the shopping plaza. After quite some time, the heiress of the Bai family still hadn’t found any clothes she liked.