The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 14

The moment those words were spoken, the entire crowd fell into shock. The one who reacted most strongly was Lu Nan. As one of the ‘accomplices,’ she had become a scapegoat since the poisoning incident broke out. She was frequently dragged out and scolded, experiencing firsthand what it felt like to live under constant torment, just as Yi Xian once had.

Although she had never believed Yi Xian would poison anyone, since she had eaten the fish herself without any issue, the facts still spoke louder than belief.

Nervously, Lu Nan asked, “Yi Xian, is there some misunderstanding in all of this? Could it be… a mistake?”

“Yes, could it be a mistake?”

“Don’t trust her! Last time we believed she had turned over a new leaf, accepted her goodwill, and look what happened. She poisoned the fish we ate.”

“Physician Qin has always treated us kindly. She even gave me lots of bleeding-stem vine last time. Why would she poison us? She has no reason to do that.”

…

For a while, voices of doubt filled the air.

Yi Xian offered a calming smile to the crowd. “Lord Lu is present. She won’t favor anyone unfairly. Once the real poisoner is found, I believe Lord Lu will give us a satisfactory outcome. Right, Lord Lu?”

Lord Lu’s eyelids lifted ever so slightly.

Qin Rong snapped in anger. “Yi Xian, search your heart. How have I treated you? When you were hurt, I even brought you medicine. And now you accuse me? Everyone, please do not believe her baseless words. I, Qin Rong, act with a clear conscience. I can answer to heaven, to the earth, and to everyone here.”

Ah, playing the sympathy card again.

Lord Lu sneered. “To heaven, to earth, to everyone here… Since both of you claim you’re not the poisoner and have a clear conscience, then why fear a so-called experiment? Don’t your people have a saying that true gold fears no fire? Then let’s throw you both into the flames.”

Yi Xian raised her pitifully swollen fingers and waved them before the crowd. Miraculously, her sausage-like hands had subsided. It was likely due to the brute forcing her to drink that bl00d. She calmed herself and cast a provocative glance at Qin Rong.

“I’m not afraid. Physician, are you?”

Qin Rong’s face darkened, but someone nearby tried to encourage her kindly. “The physician wouldn’t be afraid. Whoever did it knows in their heart.”

No fear of a godlike enemy, only fear of pig-like allies.

Seeing Qin Rong’s bitter expression gave Yi Xian immense satisfaction. Usually, Qin Rong was the one silencing others with her glib tongue. It was refreshing to watch her suffer for once.

“If that’s the case, let’s begin.”

Yi Xian’s method was simple. It followed the same principle as the fish-scent test. Anyone who poisoned the fish would still have trace toxins on their hands. It was impossible for those traces to disappear completely in just two days. She pulled a stalk of herb from her clothing and handed it to Lord Lu.

“I found this herb by chance in the forest. It’s unique. When it comes into contact with poison, it secretes a colored fluid. Anyone who handled poison will show discoloration. The more contact, the deeper the shade.”

Lord Lu did not take the herb herself. One of the beastmen beside her stepped forward to assist.

The beastmen exchanged uneasy looks, clearly unfamiliar with the plant. Yi Xian kindly offered, “If you don’t trust me, you can have your shaman examine it.”

Qin Rong asked with a frown, “What is that? You recognize it?”

Yi Xian flexed her itchy, numb fingers. “When I was young, I followed a physician and learned to identify basic herbs. Otherwise, someone like me, who knows nothing, would never have been trusted as a poisoner in the first place, right?”

Qin Rong was left speechless.

Yi Xian relished her discomfort.

Lord Lu ignored the tense exchange and snorted. “The shaman is not someone slaves like you can meet. Go and test a few people to verify its effect.”

In beastman society, the shaman was revered. No ordinary person, especially a slave, could meet them on a whim. And Kus City was too small a place to have the right to request an audience.

Following Lord Lu’s orders, her subordinates selected a few people to try the herb. A strange phenomenon occurred. Some had their skin darken after contact, while others showed no change at all.

“What is this? Their skin turned color.”

“How amazing.”

“I didn’t change at all.”

A beastman explained, “Those whose skin turned purple were exposed to the poison and had taken the antidote early. Those with no change never touched poison.”

Lord Lu nodded. “So this herb indeed detects toxins.”

When it was Yi Xian’s turn, she confidently let them apply the herb’s juice to her hands. After a moment, there was no change. She raised her hands for all to see.

“Everyone, look closely. My hands bear no trace of poison. Clearly, the conclusion that the herbs I brought back were poisonous was hasty.”

And who had made that hasty judgment?

Qin Rong.

Because she was the human physician, everyone had believed her. But now, as the truth became visible, whispers spread through the crowd.

Yi Xian smiled at Qin Rong. “Your turn.”

Qin Rong tried to argue. “I only touched the poison accidentally while examining the fish—”

Yi Xian cut her off. “You mean to say you were contaminated while checking the poisoned remains? As a physician, making such a basic error is truly inexcusable. We could just ask the victims. Before eating the fish, did she visit their homes? Or while examining the poison, did she touch it directly? That would show whether she’s lying.”

With Yi Xian’s prompt, the victims began to think back carefully.

“Yes, I remember now. The day before I was poisoned, she came to visit and brought lots of herbs, even though she had already done so the day before.”

“I recall she never touched the scraps. When we visited, she only asked a few questions and then concluded the fish was poisoned…” The woman then bowed. “I’m sorry, Yi Xian. We misunderstood you.”

It was human nature to suspect someone with a criminal record first. Yi Xian held no grudge for that.

After all, the real culprit stood before them.

The crowd began to murmur. The more they thought about it, the more suspicious coincidences surfaced, including Qin Rong’s sudden appearances, the fish, and the poison.

Qin Rong’s face went beyond pale. She backed away in a panic. But the gathering ground was surrounded, with a ring of humans inside and towering beastmen outside. The reverent stares had turned into glares of accusation and resentment. The voices of condemnation felt like a tidal wave.

Yi Xian turned to Lord Lu. “Shall we continue?”

Lord Lu lifted her chin slightly. The beastman beside her moved swiftly, restraining the retreating Qin Rong and forcing her hands open for the test. The once fair hands instantly turned black.

“Black!” someone in the crowd shouted.

“Why?!”

“I’m sorry.” Yi Xian thought she heard someone say.

Zhu Yu struggled to rise and pointed at Qin Rong.

“It was her. She said she would make fish soup to nourish me and help my baby grow well. Afterwards, she told me the poison had been put there long ago by Yi Xian, which is why so many got sick. Qin Rong, how could you? I thought we were friends.”

That explained why the purple yuanxiao hadn’t reacted to Zhu Yu.

Qin Rong had no defense left. With Zhu Yu’s testimony, her guilt was undeniable. Yi Xian quietly stepped back. The moment she relaxed, her fingers felt like a thousand ants were crawling over them. She tried to rub one hand against the other, but before she could, a large hand seized her wrist.

“Don’t touch it.”

“What is it?”

From what Yi Xian could tell, her hands would need at least a month to heal properly. But now, they had subsided, and the itching felt like a sign of recovery.

Fascinating.

Lan Tong gave her a long look. “We’ll talk later.”

Just as they were about to push their way out, Lord Lu caught them.

“Lan, this concerns Kus City. You must stay and make a decision.”

Even someone as slow as Yi Xian had sensed it. This brute seemed quite close to Lord Lu.

Lan Tong firmly grabbed the still-restless Yi Xian.

“Hand over the antidote. Expulsion.”

Qin Rong screamed like a madwoman.

“Lan Tong, you can’t do this! I’m a physician. I can save many lives and reduce your casualties. You can’t do this to me—”

Expulsion.

To both slaves and beastmen, it was a punishment worse than death. Once a beastman was expelled, it meant they were abandoned. Alone, they would not be able to survive against powerful enemies. For slaves, the fate was even crueler.

Beyond Kus City lay endless mountains and vast plains. Without the protection of beastmen, they would face countless threats, including cunning, man-eating beasts like the grotesque, slime-green goblins.

Qin Rong’s words moved many beastmen present. After all, a physician was valuable to a small city.

Yi Xian thought about it and figured Lan Tong might only give her a light punishment.

After all, not everyone received the same treatment.

If you want to kill her, I can help.

That voice emerged again in Yi Xian’s head, like a persistent ghost, always whispering, tempting her.

She thought she really needed to find a way to deal with that madwoman.

Lan Tong shook her head firmly.

“Get the antidote. Expel her.”

Then, holding the little one in one arm and dragging Yi Xian with the other, she marched away, ignoring Qin Rong’s howling curses behind them.

Yi Xian glanced at the unmoved Lan Tong beside her and felt a sliver of sympathy for Qin Rong.

What a cold-blooded brute.

Tch. Not easy to deal with.