Chapter 115

“WHAT? HUMAN EXCREMENT?”

Quentin dry-heaved beside Dustin. The poison was already in his stomach, however, so he couldn't expel it. His face flushed crimson instead. Before this, "eat shit" had been a mere threat; he couldn't believe it had actually happened.

"I didn't expect Dustin to be so heartless, forcing our cousin to eat shit," Ruth commented, covering her nose. Disgusted, she moved away.

"For all the shit he spews, this is a fitting punishment," Natasha added.

"How dare you trick me, you little bastard!" Quentin roared, his expression darkening, his gaze murderous. He'd never been so humiliated.

"Since we were tasked with making poison, I chose my recipe and ingredients," Dustin stated matter-of-factly.

"Good, good! You've got nerve," Quentin shouted, his face contorted with anger. "I can't wait to see you begging at my feet!"

"We'll see who's on their knees," Dustin grinned. "Ask if anyone can cure this."

"Give me the antidote, Mr. Wangley!" Quentin urged, not wanting his body to suffer further damage.

Mr. Wangley picked up the poison bottle, smelled it, and tasted a drop. "I thought it was potent. It's Venenum Insectum!" he chuckled.

"Venenum Insectum? What's that?" Quentin asked.

"A poison from seven venomous organisms—snakes, scorpions, toads, centipedes, spiders, poisonous bees, and fire ants—ground into a powder," Mr. Wangley explained confidently.

"Are you serious? From one drop?" Ruth asked incredulously. If he could identify the recipe, he was an expert.

"As expected of a poison master," Dustin remarked with a smile. He admitted Mr. Wangley was talented, but he'd mistakenly identified it as Venenum Insectum instead of Venenum Insectim. The golden juice was added for flavor.

"Stop the nonsense! Hurry and make an antidote. My stomach hurts again," Quentin whined, clutching his abdomen. Two minutes later, his stomach churned violently.

"Wait while I prepare an antidote," Mr. Wangley said, swiftly beginning to work with the remaining ingredients.

"Hurry! It's getting worse!" Quentin howled in pain, feeling like a knife was stabbing his insides. He broke out in a cold sweat. Meanwhile, Dustin calmly sipped his tea, showing no ill effects.

"H-how are you unaffected?" Quentin stuttered, astonished. Dustin had drunk the poison first.

"I've already removed the poison. How could I be affected?" Dustin replied.

"You've already made an antidote? But how? You didn't do anything!" Quentin exclaimed disbelievingly.

"That's not your concern. Focus on your problem—what if he can't cure it?" Dustin suggested with mock concern. "It induces searing pain, and without the antidote within three hours, it'll tear through your guts and kill you!"

"What!" Quentin gasped, panicking. The pain intensified.

"I have the antidote, Mr. Harmon!" Mr. Wangley announced, arriving with a vial of white liquid.

Quentin drank it, but immediately vomited it up.

"You just threw up the antidote!" Mr. Wangley exclaimed.

"I couldn't help it!" Quentin whined.

"You could eat shit, but not take the antidote?" Mr. Wangley scolded, flabbergasted.

"Make another dose!" Quentin shouted, his face twitching.

Mr. Wangley prepared another dose, and this time Quentin kept it down.

"My stomach still hurts! Why aren't the effects gone?" Quentin complained.

"The antidote for Venenum Insectum uses forsythia, lotus root, and white creepers, supplemented with herbs and heated. Wait a little longer," Mr. Wangley comforted him.

Quentin endured the pain, his face contorting.

"This isn't the right antidote! It hurts more!" Quentin shouted through gritted teeth, drenched in sweat.

"How could this be?" Mr. Wangley checked Quentin's pulse. "Don't tell me this isn't Venenum Insectum?"

"Then what about the antidote?" Quentin roared.

"What else did you put in it? I saw you add creepy crawlies!" Mr. Wangley demanded.

"The ingredients aren't the focus. Can you cure it or not?" Dustin said indifferently.

"You played dirty. Even if it's a tie, give me the antidote, and I'll give you the antidote for the Devil's Elixir," Mr. Wangley proposed, deciding to be the bigger person. He couldn't afford to lose this client.

"You want the antidote? Fine. Kneel and admit defeat, then you'll get it," Dustin grinned.

Quentin and Mr. Wangley's expressions changed.

(Today's Bonus Offer - this section is unrelated to the story and should be removed or placed separately.)