Tick-tock---

The wall clock ticked, each tick a distinct sound in the otherwise frozen room. All other sounds seemed to vanish, leaving only the insistent click of the clock's hands, suddenly amplified in this moment of stillness.

Hearing was heightened to the extreme in such an environment, Shen Zhixian could even hear the heartbeat of the person standing opposite her.

"The crowd gasped as the cold and arrogant man let out a sneer, "I never expected that the No. 5 on the International Wanted List would be so easily ambushed. It's truly disappointing!"

Li's eyes were misty with swirling haze, and Shen Zhixian said coldly, "I should have killed you five years ago."

"If I had known this, why would I have started?" Ren Wu's giggle was soft and ambiguous, her tone as if she were speaking directly to someone.

"Dear Shen, you should have known that I would have a chance to get my revenge someday since you didn't kill me back then. The consequences you are facing now are all due to your momentary lapse in judgment!"

Shen Zhixian sneered, "How do you know I didn't have a backup plan?"

A worry flashed across his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a calm expression. He let out a cold smile and said, "Close relative Shen, in front of me, do you think you could fool me with your tricks? I see through everything."

Shen Zhixian's eyes were full of disdain. "Do you really think that after learning psychology for a few years, you can understand everyone's thoughts?"

The person raised an eyebrow. "What did you do?"

"Wait until I'm dead, and you'll know." Shen Zhixian smirked with a cold, cruel smile. "It's just a pity that I won't get to see your expression as you go from shock to despair later on. What a shame."

"What have you done!?" The person strode closer, and a sudden unease filled their heart, causing anxiety to gnaw at them.

"Haha, Bai Wei, it seems that besides death, you're afraid of something else!" Shen Zhixian burst into laughter, the vicious gleam in her eyes vanished, slowly becoming vacant.

Bai Wei, since you have taken away my freedom, then I will destroy your future! Now, you have given me my life back. Even if I dissipate into ashes and become a vengeful spirit, I will not let you live in peace.

The last word was uttered, and she vanished like smoke.

But every word he said seared into Bai Wei's heart like a hot iron, instilling fear in her.

"Ding, a letter from dearie! Ding, a letter from dearie!"

Bai Wei was stunned for a moment, then immediately took out her phone from her designer handbag and answered it.

"Bai Wei, all the access points in headquarters have been locked down by the management system!" The voice on the other end of the phone was calm and steady, a low rumble that sent chills down your spine.

But at this moment, Bai Wei didn't feel the usual excitement when she received a call from him, because there was a very bad premonition.

As expected, the next moment, the other party asked, "Do you know where Shen Zhixian is?"

Shen Zhixian! Shen Zhixian! It's Shen Zhixian again!

Bai Wei fiercely bit down on the scarlet drop, controlling herself from letting out a voice filled with jealousy that wanted to scream.

"I don't know, you see, every time a mission is over, Shen always goes out to play by himself. How am I supposed to know where he goes?"

The sound seemed to be a soft whisper, yet it held boundless killing intent.

Hearing this, the voice on the other end of the phone immediately became anxious, "How can you not know where you are!?"

Bai Wei was stunned for a moment, and called out in a hesitant and confused tone: "BOSS?"

Shen Zhixian set a virus on the mainframe at headquarters. For some reason, the mainframe suddenly locked all access points at headquarters and released poison from every ventilation shaft!

Bai Wei stared blankly at the face of Shen Zhixian, who had already died across from her. Her mind was a void.

Suddenly, it was as if all his strength had vanished. The phone slipped from his hand and he collapsed onto the ground uncontrollably.

"Bai Wei? Bai Wei!? Bai Wei!"

The phone that had fallen to the ground was still transmitting the BOSS's voice, urgent and jumbled.

This was the first time he heard his voice tremble, for the threat of death had terrified him.

Shen Zhixian's judgement was clear: since the other party was well-prepared, even if she rushed back now, the chance of saving the boss would be negligible!

International wanted list's NO. 5, the Poison Fairy Shen Zhixian, her concocted poisons are not so easy to antidote.

……

"One bow to heaven and earth!"

Waking groggily, Shen Zhixian felt a sense of disorientation. She vaguely sensed someone helping her up and bowing, but the ringing in her ears drowned out all other sounds.

"Paying respects to the ancestors!"

He bowed again, and the ringing in his ears subsided. He could now faintly hear the murmur of a crowd gathering nearby.

"Husband and wife pay respects—!"

A clear voice exploded in her ear, and Shen Zhixian heard it perfectly.

He was stunned. What a husband and wife bow!? When did they get married!?

I want to struggle, but I don't have the strength.

Shen Zhixian frowned, her face falling. Quickly, she realized that a highly poisonous drug was coursing through her body, and the effects would begin in just one hour!

"Gift a house—!"

After the last shout, Shen Zhixian was helped away from the crowd and brought to a quieter place.

After being helped onto the bed and lying down, as soon as the door closed, there was an eerie silence.

No matter what the situation is, Shen Zhixian doesn't want to die. She can only helplessly wait for death to come.

To face death once again after already having died?

"Bang—!"

The door was flung open with a bang, and Shen Zhixian's sensitive ears picked up the sound of footsteps. They were heavy and slow, like the steps of someone seriously ill.

"Even my marriage is to be controlled?" A low, icy voice echoed in the room, laced with sarcasm. "Truly a disgusting lot."

He...should be the groom, right?

It seems like he's very unhappy with the bride and this wedding.

But, if he could notice his abnormality, perhaps there would still be a glimmer of hope!

Holding Yi Xi tightly, Shen Zhixian gathered all her strength in her hands.

On the wedding bed, there were many snacks with auspicious meanings such as dates, peanuts, red dates, lotus seeds, chestnuts, and walnuts.

Extreme focus, overexertion, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead.

So close! So close!

The more one persisted, the hotter their gaze became. In the end, after a gritted-teeth resolve, a pungent metallic odor suddenly filled the entire mouth.

"Tap—!"

Finally, Gong threw a peanut on the ground, making a sound.

"Huh?"

As expected, the man was drawn over by the sound.

Seeing the bride lying on the bed, the man couldn't help but frown and walked forward, lifting the red veil with one hand.

The man was about one meter and eight tall. His shoulders were broad, but his frame was thin, like he couldn't support a bright red wedding gown.

His face was handsome, but his complexion was pale, as if he were about to be laid in a coffin at any moment.

At this moment, the man looked down at her with an impassive face.

At a glance, Shen Zhixian knew that the other person was someone who had been in a position of power for a long time. The intense aura emanating from them was palpable, making it impossible to underestimate them.

At this moment, I could suddenly speak. "I've been poisoned, and I have about an hour left to live. Whoever you are, save me. In return, the Poison Fairy Shen Zhixian can unconditionally help you kill one person."

Chu Han's heart flashed with surprise, could it be that the emperor wasn't simply giving him a concubine as he had appeared to?

"You said you were poisoned?"

"Yes."

Chu Hanran narrowed his eyes and sized up Shen Zhixian.

This person before you is unremarkable in appearance, even less striking than the palace maids. She is tall for her age and stands out amongst the other young ladies like a crane among chickens.

But those eyes, they were the finishing touch.

Logically, a child of this age shouldn't be able to bear the weight of the gaze that comes with it. But there is something peculiar about his eyes - deep and cold, like an abyss under the moonlight, impossible to see through at first glance.

Her voice was crisp yet warm, like jade beads colliding, just as the saying goes, "Big pearls and small pearls fall on a jade plate." It was cold and aloof, but with a calmness that was surprising, like her eyes – still and arresting.

"This king never saves those who are worthless."

Shen Zhixian said seriously: "I can help you kill someone."

Chu Hanyan sneered and deliberately asked, "Even if the person this king wants to kill is the current emperor?"

Who is the current emperor?

What does this mean?

A flicker of suspicion crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "There's no one in this world that Du Xian can't kill,"

Her voice was cool and collected, yet laced with unwavering confidence.

Chu Hanran fell silent for a moment, "Why should I believe you?"

Shen Zhixian's brows shot up sharply.

Time gradually slipped away, Death strode closer, and with a sip, he spoke in a low voice: "If you save my life, I will save yours. The poison you have is only curable by me."

You can usually guess someone's general situation just by looking and listening.

Upon hearing this, Chu Han's pupils dilated. "Do you know what poison I was poisoned with?"

"I don't know what kind of poison it is, but it must be a slow-acting poison, and you've been taking it for ten years. The other party's complexion is pale from accumulating toxins for too long, and the detoxification process is too complex."

That's why it was initially offered as a condition to help him kill someone, so the other party would save him.

"Alright, I'll save you." Chu Hanran's eyes were deep. "What do I need to do?"

Shen Zhixian said solemnly, "Give me a lethal poison."

Chu Han's eyes glazed over for a moment before he reacted decisively, "You want to fight fire with fire?"

"Yes."

Shen Zhixian closed her eyes. Although she didn't know why the spread of the poison had slowed, the threat of the deadly toxin still hung over her like a sword, ready to fall and kill her at any moment.

Chu Hanran took a deep look, then pulled out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, poured out a pill, and stuffed it inside.

The medicine tablet dissolved in the mouth, and quickly flowed to the depths of the throat.

Abruptly, one half became scorching hot while the other turned freezing cold, resembling a world of ice and fire, tormenting people to the point of life and death.