FRGNM -Chapter 249 Making You Scratch All the Way Back

A faint smile curved across his lips as the city gates outside suddenly slammed shut. Green Robe stepped onto the city wall, propping his chin on one hand. How long had it been since the last battle? And here he was again, facing an army at the gates—this time, to save a small country.

“Again… it’s you?” Yelü Hanxin shouted from below, pressing a hand to his mask. No matter what poison the enemy used now, it couldn’t affect them.

Green Robe waved to Yelü Hanxin across the way and smiled. “Hey, haven’t seen you all night. How’s it going? Bad luck again, huh? Your opponent today is me. Did you really think that wearing a mask would make poison useless against you?”

“Useless words! As long as I don’t inhale it, what can you do?” Yelü Hanxin sneered confidently. They had tested this before: no matter how potent the poison, it couldn’t penetrate the mask and harm them.

Shaking his head with mock helplessness, Green Robe chuckled. He pointed to his eyes, then at Yelü Hanxin. “Too bad—I can’t see if your masks can actually filter poison. But I do know this: using medicine doesn’t always require inhalation. Some substances can work through contact with your skin. Want to give it a try?”

“Nonsense! That’s impossible! Where could such medicine exist?!” Yelü Hanxin shouted. On the battlefield, they wore armor, but their necks and arms were exposed. If such a poison existed, they’d be in grave danger.

Green Robe stroked his chin. “Not quite. Medicine can enter through hair as well. Anything your body grows that’s exposed can let poison in. Unless… you wrap yourselves into a ball and roll as far as you can—then maybe you wouldn’t be poisoned.”

“You!” Yelü Hanxin nearly spat blood from anger, glaring at Green Robe. “I don’t care if what you’re saying is true or not—if such medicine existed, you wouldn’t be standing here telling us!”

“Oh? What a shame. I kindly warn you, and you just brush it off. But I don’t have the medicine that would kill you… yet I do have a type that can sneak into your bodies. Want to try?” Green Robe laughed, clapping his hands.

A soldier behind him stepped forward, carrying a white bundle. Inside seemed to be some powdered substance.

The soldiers who had previously been affected by Green Robe’s medicine paled and hurriedly stepped back. Last night’s incident had left one man’s pain indescribable—how could they understand the torment? Moreover, this medicine doctor was strange. If it wasn’t deadly, the substance was still extremely bizarre.

“What… what is this?!” Even Yelü Hanxin was slightly taken aback. Yet facing Green Robe’s calm gaze, he refused to admit defeat. How could these people have prepared so much medicine overnight? Confidence surged, and he barked, “Everyone, don’t panic. He’s bluffing! That’s just flour inside!”

“Is that so? Then enjoy the taste of this flour. And later, you’re welcome to give feedback,” Green Robe said coldly.

With a flick of his wrist, the soldier hurled the bundle forward, while archers aimed at it.

Bang! The powder exploded like a balloon, raining down like a storm of white specks.

Green Robe waved lightly. A purple glow emanated from his clothing, forming a barrier on the city wall. Even if the wind reversed, none of the powder could pass through.

The horseman watching the powder fall roared in anger, reined his horse, and swung his sword—but it was too late. The powder moved faster than he could, drifting downward.

Masked soldiers’ faces drained of color. They began scratching their skin frantically as the powder landed, as if infested with fleas. Helmets and armor were abandoned; their skin was scratched raw and bloody.

Painful screams echoed across the city’s outskirts. Green Robe rested his chin on his hand, calm as ever. “There’s a saying: ignore good advice, suffer the consequences. I told you the medicine could penetrate your bodies, yet you didn’t listen. I’m not responsible—it wasn’t even me spreading the powder. Now, scratch your way back!”

The generals watching behind were speechless. They stared at Green Robe in disbelief. He had routed Yelü Hanxin’s army without expending a single soldier. Once thought to be just an ordinary medicine doctor, he was clearly far more skilled.

Meanwhile, those scratching themselves lay on beds, blood streaking their bodies. No amount of washing could remove the powder.

“Bring Huang Ming here—quickly!” Yelü Hanxin roared, clutching his body, furious.

Soon, the young man with the medicine chest approached, frowning. “Strange… this medicine is unusual. Once it sticks, it causes itching. I can’t stop it until the time has passed, General.”

“Useless! Tomorrow, you go with us! I refuse to believe you can’t handle that brat! By now, Dongyang Ze must be dead!”

“Oh yeah!” Silver Wolf watched the man on the bed sit up, drinking millet porridge. Relief washed over him. “Luckily, he’s alive. Otherwise, any news we needed would have gone to the King of Hell.”

“What do you want to do?” Dongyang Ze asked darkly. These four had saved them twice already, preventing Jinqin’s success—but he knew their motives were not entirely pure.

Wu Ma quietly replied, “Your Highness, they just want to go to Danhuai Tower. This time, it’s important—they have a question for you.”

She opened her hand, revealing the scented pouch.

Dongyang Ze’s face changed instantly. He reached for his belt, then leapt up to snatch the pouch from Ling Ruoxi. “Give it back! You can’t touch this!”

“If you don’t want to die, sit still!” Ling Ruoxi said, her eyes cold. “Because you carried this thing all the time, Yelü Hanxin had an opportunity to exploit it and nearly kill you!”

“Preposterous! It’s just a scented pouch! How could it be exploited? You’re talking nonsense—give it back!” Dongyang Ze drew his sword in anger, glaring at her.

Wu Ma quickly intervened. “Your Highness, it’s true! The pouch almost killed you. The toxins in your body haven’t cleared completely. Don’t wear it for now!”

“Poisoned? Impossible! I’ve worn it for years… and it’s…” He stopped abruptly, clutching his hands and turning away coldly.

Ling Ruoxi held the pouch, raising an eyebrow. “This was a gift from Miss Bai He, wasn’t it, Dongyang Ze?”

“You… everyone out!” Dongyang Ze roared at the soldiers nearby.

No one dared disobey. Even Wu Ma left, lowering the curtain.

Dongyang Ze’s eyes flared. “Give it back! Since you know who gave me this, you must know its value!”

“Yes. Miss Bai He is dead. This was the only thing left for you. However…” Ling Ruoxi extended her hand. Purple Dou Qi flared, forming a slender bamboo in the air, glowing faintly.

Her eyes sparkled as she said coldly, “Your pouch contains something everyone in the world wants: Purple Bamboo. Bai He made this for you personally. That’s why we’re going to Danhuai Tower—because of the Purple Bamboo.”

Purple Bamboo? Dongyang Ze’s face changed. No wonder he was immune to poison, could endure sleepless nights, and always felt refreshed—he had been carrying Purple Bamboo all along!

“Now… tell us, who are you? Why did Miss Bai He give you a love-token pouch? Or… are you that heartless scholar who came to the capital to take the exam?” Ling Ruoxi’s eyes flickered as she handed him the pouch.

Exhausted, Dongyang Ze slowly sat down, clutching the pouch. His gaze was uncertain. He sighed heavily. “Yes… but none of this was what I wanted!”

“Then explain—what happened back then?” Ling Ruoxi asked coldly, while the three behind her sat with tea, ready to listen.

Dongyang Ze hesitated, fumbling with the pouch. His voice trembled. “I wasn’t a struggling scholar. I am the Crown Prince of Yunshui. While traveling, I was pursued and fell off a cliff. They thought I was dead and abandoned the chase. Without money, I survived on wild food. When I reached Danhuai Tower, I fainted. When I woke, I realized I had been rescued by Bai He, the top singer there…”