"How are you feeling?" Xiao Feng asked.

The color of the water in the barrel had gradually begun to change, but it was obviously not as dark as before. This indicated that most of the residual toxins in Chen Feihu's body had been eliminated, leaving only a small part still stubbornly resisting.

Chen Feihu thought for a long time before speaking, "Just before passing out, I felt stifled... when I regained consciousness, I was scared... Now... it's like I've been given a new lease on life."

Xiao Feng didn't reply, but he understood Chen Feihu's feelings. Those who have not experienced the sensation of being close to death cannot understand how wonderful the simple word "alive" truly is!

Although very weak, Chen Feihu seemed to have endless things to say. He continued, "I heard everything you guys said over the past two days, remembered it in my heart. In one word, you are friends worth entrusting my life to, even if I never woke up, it was worth it!"

"Did you ever regret agreeing to the promises we made before?" Xiao Feng asked suspiciously.

He wasn't deliberately trying to pick a fight, but according to Chen Feihu, he could hear what people were saying around him but couldn't open his eyes; this kind of torment was akin to the harshest punishment. Even the strongest will would waver.

Chen Feihu replied frankly, "Yes, I was always regretting, complaining, even cursing, but didn't you also never give up on me?

Honestly, if you'd said anything unkind or unjust while I was unconscious, the first thing I'd do upon waking would be to find any way possible to kill you, regardless of whether it cost me my future and career."

Xiao Feng nodded slightly. He didn't doubt this statement at all. Anyone in that situation would probably think the same way, or rather, it was the most natural thought to have.

"Got any wine?" Chen Feihu smacked his lips, looking as if his craving had been stirred.

"In his current state, can he drink alcohol?" Xiao Feng turned to ask Zhao Guo'an.

Zhao Guo'an nodded, silently walked out of the bathroom, and returned with a celadon bottle in hand, with a cup that looked like it was made of amber covering the mouth of the bottle.

"No need for a cup, just give me the bottle," Chen Feihu said eagerly, his once pale face flushed with excitement.

However, Zhao Guo'an did not comply. Instead, he lifted his hand holding a crutch: "Bro, can you handle this? Mixing it in will help you recover faster."

Chen Feihu froze, and Xiao Feng looked at his hand, both of them wide-eyed in shock.

Because wrapped around Zhao Guo'an's arm was a small snake about as thick as a hemp rope, its head resting on the back of his hand, occasionally flicking its tongue with a "hiss" sound.

This sound wasn't audible in the usual sense but more like a psychological suggestion, appearing directly from the heart and mind.

Besides this, Zhao Guo'an's arm also had a scorpion and a centipede on it, with a gecko on the latter half, and a toad covered in pustules perched on his shoulder, making one's skin crawl at the sight.

Looking at the deadly creatures, seemingly ready to pounce at any moment, Chen Feihu swallowed hard and nodded through gritted teeth, "No problem, bring them on."

Zhao Guo'an was not polite. He placed his hand on the edge of the wooden barrel, and the five creatures, as if they had received an order, rushed into the barrel one after another, resembling starving beasts suddenly seeing a delicious prey.

"Is this using poison to fight poison?" Xiao Feng asked uncertainly.

"That's one way to understand it. They're all raised by me, feeding on toxins to grow stronger. In times of danger, they can also be used in emergencies," Zhao Guo'an explained as he handed the wine to Chen Feihu in the barrel.

Chen Feihu grabbed the bottle, tilted his head back, and took a big swig, exhaling with satisfaction, "Ah! That's the life, hahaha!"

Ignoring Chen Feihu's excitement, Xiao Feng's gaze turned to Zhao Guo'an, "Are those five creatures you raised powerful?"

Zhao Guo'an seemed to disdain answering such a mundane question, raising his nose proudly, "You can try. If you can stay standing for half a minute after getting bitten, I'll write my surname backwards."

Xiao Feng frowned, then suddenly roared, "Then why the hell did you get caught by those Japanese guys before? Why didn't you use these powerful 'pets'?"

This sudden outburst startled both Zhao Guo'an and Chen Feihu, making them shudder. Zhao Guo'an slammed the crutch on the ground, rebutting, "Do you think they're human, and can be commanded by me?

They're simply inherently drawn to all kinds of toxins. Those little devils were like bugs to them, and besides, did I even have time to react back then?"

Just as Chen Feihu was about to mediate, their argument was suddenly interrupted as his gaze shifted behind them, filled with surprise.

Xiao Feng and Zhao Guo'an were no fools. Noticing something off in Chen Feihu's expression, they exchanged a glance before turning to look outside the bathroom door. Astonishingly, an old man, who seemed to have been standing there the whole time without ever moving, had appeared.

"Is it you?" Xiao Feng said in a deep voice, his inner vigilance heightened.

The old man was someone both Xiao Feng and Zhao Guo'an knew—Su Yuzhuo's personal protector, Fujiwara Keiaki.

"No need to be nervous, gentlemen. I'm here to ask whether you still intend to help with my lady's affairs?" Fujiwara Keiaki's tone was calm like water but gave off a feeling of accountability.

It was clear he was addressing Xiao Feng.

This was understandable, as in Fujiwara Keiaki's eyes, his lady was so outstanding that anyone she'd take a fancy to must also be an exceptional young talent in every aspect.

Yet, this Xiao fellow seemed indifferent, despite his strength and good looks, showing no interest in his lady, nor even giving a simple courtesy call, which naturally upset him.

"How did you find this place?" Xiao Feng squinted, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Fujiwara Keiaki's eyes.

"Because of this," Fujiwara Keiaki calmly raised his right hand and extended his palm. In the center was a tiny white insect, the size of a grain of rice.

To put it bluntly, the insect's appearance was no different from the maggots found in old-style squat toilets, but it was pure white and, oddly, looked somewhat cute.

Of course, this was just the first impression. Once linked to maggots with similar appearances, that thought quickly disappeared.

"What on earth is that?" Xiao Feng asked.

Though it seemed like a silly question, it wasn't, because surely the other party wouldn't have retrieved something like this from a toilet and cleaned it up...

At this thought, Xiao Feng could no longer continue down that train of thought. But in any case, this creature was definitely not ordinary.

Moreover, it was winter now—such a thing wouldn't even be found in toilets.

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