Yue ger quickly snatched it back, hiding it in his sleeve, and looked up to see Yu ger storming in, a wine jug in hand.
Yu ger grabbed Yue ger’s wrist, eyeing the tray. "What did you just put in the food?"
"I—" Yue ger’s lips trembled with panic. "I d-didn’t put anything!"
"Nothing?" Yu ger narrowed his eyes. The ger before him was deathly pale, his fear impossible to hide.
"Then why are you so nervous?" Yu ger set the wine jug down and picked up a dish to sniff it. Detecting nothing unusual, he frowned in confusion.
"This food was specially prepared for A-Jin. If you added something..." Suddenly, realization dawned on him. He glared at Yue ger. "You poisoned it, didn’t you?!"
Yue ger shuddered, the pouch slipping from his sleeve again. He tried to break free to grab it, but Yu ger was faster.
Holding the plain-looking pouch, Yu ger spotted two embroidered characters at its opening—Severed heart.
"Severed heart! A lethal poison! Yue ger, you really poisoned it!" Yu ger was so shocked he dropped the dish, the loud crash of shattering porcelain filling the room.
Yue ger’s face turned ghostly white. He frantically tried to cover Yu ger’s mouth, but Yu ger’s grip was ironclad. "So this was the real purpose of your banquet, you wanted to kill A-Jin! You’re vicious!"
"A-Yu, lower your voice! Let me explain!" Yue ger’s eyes reddened with desperation.
He had been so close, how had this person arrived without him noticing?
Yu ger stared at him as if seeing a stranger. "I thought you were just scheming, but I never imagined you’d go this far, actually plotting murder! And you’re my brother’s ger!"
Yue ger shook his head desperately. "No, A-Yu, listen to me—"
Yu ger recoiled as if unable to accept it. "You hate A-Jin, so you try to kill him. What if one day you hate me? Will you kill me too? My a-die disapproves of you, if he scolds you, will you kill him next? We live under the same roof, you’d have endless chances to poison us! You’re terrifying..."
Yue ger’s face twisted in utter panic.
Yu ger wasn’t doing much better either. He clearly hadn’t expected to stumble into such a scene and was now panicking: “No, I’m dragging you to see my brother! I’ll make him divorce you! You’re terrifying, plotting to kill a ger! You should be exiled from the tribe!”
The words “exiled from the tribe” struck Yue ger’s mind like a thunderclap, shattering his heart into pieces.
No, he couldn’t leave the tribe. Leaving the tribe meant being devoured by wild beasts.
He still had to win Brother Heng, he couldn’t be banished.
Yue ger didn’t know where he found the strength, but he suddenly grabbed Yu ger, who was trying to drag him away, snatched something from the table, and smashed it hard against Yu ger’s head.
The ceramic jar shattered into fragments. Yu ger instantly fell silent, collapsing to the ground as a pool of blood spread beneath him.
Yue ger’s eyes widened in horror. He barely managed to stay upright by clutching the table.
After a moment, he realized he had grabbed a bottle of wine. The scent of alcohol filled the kitchen, and the broken shards of the jar were scattered everywhere. His hands were cut in several places, while Yu ger’s head was bleeding profusely.
His body weak, Yue ger shakily reached out to check Yu ger’s breathing—only to find he had merely passed out…
He exhaled sharply in relief and slumped beside Yu ger.
After a dazed pause, he seemed to regain his senses and crawled over to retrieve his small cloth pouch from Yu ger’s hand. Inside was still half the powder. He stared at it, then at the unconscious Yu ger, his gaze darkening.
Yu ger already know my secret. If he wakes up and exposes me… then I…
Yue ger’s fingers curled tightly around the pouch, his breathing growing ragged as if struggling against some overwhelming urge.
A moment later, like a lunatic, he pried open Yu ger’s mouth and forced all the remaining powder inside…
Soon, blood seeped from the unconscious ger's orifices, his lips turning purple, his body stiffening…
Yue ger watched, trembling, then checked his breath again—he was already dead.
Yue ger collapsed to the floor, his hair and clothes disheveled, sitting there like a complete lunatic.
He covered his mouth, sobbing silently, tears streaming uncontrollably.
As if struck by overwhelming terror, he scrambled to his feet, stepped over Yu ger’s corpse, and bolted outside.
But after just a few steps, he heard voices and footsteps approaching.
Panicked, Yue ger glanced around frantically before hiding.
Wang Jin and Mu ger emerged.
Yue ger’s eyes darkened, his fingers clenching the small pouch so tightly his knuckles turned white.
That poison was originally meant for him…
Yue ger glared at Wang Jin with seething hatred.
Wang Jin looked around and said, “A-Mu, where exactly is the kitchen?”
“I think it’s over there. Should we check? Yu ger said he was going to warm the wine, it should be ready by now…”
“Yeah, let’s find him. It’s cold, I want some warm wine.” Wang Jin tugged Mu ger toward the direction Yue ger had fled.
Yue ger stared at their retreating backs in shock. His trembling fingers stilled as a sudden, better idea struck him - a way to eliminate Wang Jin and absolve himself of Yu ger’s death…
Feeling more settled, he straightened up, smoothed his messy hair and clothes, and strode off purposefully.
When Wang Jin and Mu ger entered the kitchen, they found the room in complete disarray and Yu ger lying lifeless on the floor.
They rushed forward, only to discover his body was already cold.
Mu ger’s legs gave out in terror, while Wang Jin’s face paled.
“A-Jin, wh-what… what happened? Yu ger… how could he…?” Mu ger finally stammered, voice choked with tears. The man had been perfectly fine just moments ago, offering to warm wine for them…
Wang Jin shook his head, dazed. Then, as if realizing something, he quickly stood. “A-Mu, we need to leave—now!”
“?” Mu ger was yanked to his feet, but before they could escape, voices sounded at the door.
“What are you doing here in your condition?”
That voice… the leader…
“I just wanted to check. Wang Jin is picky, I wasn’t sure if the dishes prepared for him were to his liking.”
That was Yue ger…
Wang Jin and Mu ger exchanged glances. Why such a coincidence? Yue ger and the leader arriving right now…
Their eyes fell on Yu ger’s corpse, then panic surged.
Yue ger had always disliked them. If he saw this scene… they…
Wang Jin quickly pushed Mu ger away, whispering, “A-Mu, hide! Then find a way to slip out and get Xi ger. I noticed Yu ger’s lips were purple, his death isn’t natural. Have Xi ger examine him…”
“What about you, A-Jin?” Mu ger asked shakily.
Wang Jin replied, “Something’s off. I’ll stall, you hurry and find Xi ger. Bring Lai Yuan and Xiao Ruo too.”
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