Chapter 25: Good Night, Makka Pakka

What is this?

The courtesan was completely caught off guard. Could those previous tricks not be the extent of her opponent's arsenal?

"Ah Ling, well done!"

Qin Xi gripped an iron pipe that had been extended from the roof, its end thrust directly into the courtesan’s throat. Up on the roof, Ah Ling had just punched through the tiling to feed the pipe down. She wasn't carrying her signature black stone stele, but rather a dragon-bone waterwheel that had barely fit across half the rooftop. In one hand, she held a massive vat filled with water—a magical artifact from her storage ring that could change size at will while keeping its internal volume constant, effectively holding the capacity of a small pond.

This artifact was originally intended for water storage during long journeys, but it was proving useful now. Qin Xi had originally considered secretly digging a small pond in the backyard of the Blissful Mansion to store water, but since Ah Ling had such a treasure, things were much simpler.

The mouth of the vat was now expanded to several meters wide. Ah Ling had tilted it so the upper end rested on the roof while the lower end submerged into the water. Even more astonishing was Ah Ling’s strength; she could hold up that massive vat with one hand and set it down without her hand even trembling.

Terrifying.

Once everything was set, Ah Ling dropped a spirit stone into the waterwheel’s array.

Ninth-grade array, activate!

This array had been set up by Bu Weiwei. As a member of the Artistry Sect, she had some expertise in arrays, and a basic ninth-grade setup wasn't difficult for her. After all, the array’s only purpose was to spin the blades of the dragon-bone waterwheel at high speed.

And it spun fast. Extremely fast.

The waterwheel now functioned like a modern water pump. The rapidly rotating blades accelerated the flow of water, pushing it to the pressure level of a high-powered water cannon. And that cannon was aimed directly at the curved iron pipe. Qin Xi had initially thought about going to a blacksmith to forge a curved pipe, but it turned out Ah Ling could just bend one by hand.

Ah Ling was truly useful.

The iron pipe served merely as a constraint. As the high-speed flow surged through it, Qin Xi watched a stream of water, reminiscent of a fire hose from his past life, blast out from the end of the pipe and pour into the courtesan’s stomach.

The courtesan was shocked and suspicious, thinking to herself, "What is this brat doing? Is he pumping water into my stomach?"

Qin Xi curled the corner of his mouth slightly and whispered, "Heh, just water? Are you sure you shouldn't think again?"

The courtesan’s mind was in a whirl. What could it be if not water?

***

Seven breaths had passed. In three more, her body would be free from its paralysis. If she could just hold on a little longer...

Wait!

The courtesan felt her strength rapidly fading. Her limbs went numb and weak, as if she had been poisoned.

"Let you taste my 'Knockout Cocktail.' This is the top note—Bone-Softening and Sinew-Numbing Powder!"

"Its characteristic is an extremely rapid onset. For a Qi Refinement cultivator, a single packet dissolved in water will leave them completely powerless in under a breath, unable to even control their spiritual energy."

"Since you are a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I’ll start you off with twenty pounds to get a taste!"

*Gulp, gulp, gulp.*

As the knockout drug flowed into her stomach with the water, the courtesan realized that the sack of flour the girl had thrown earlier was merely a distraction to divert her attention; this was the opponent's true weapon.

However, this still wouldn't stump her.

The drug could naturally knock out a Qi Refinement cultivator because they were still "refining" their energy; they lacked the ability to manipulate their inner spiritual energy like an extension of their own body. But Foundation Establishment was different. They had total control over their spiritual energy. Even if her body was paralyzed by the drug, she could still manipulate her energy freely!

The courtesan summoned all her spiritual energy, forcing the toxins out through her meridians! Her pores began to spray tiny jets of water like a sprinkler!

Seeing this strange sight, Qin Xi’s eyes widened.

Cultivators are truly miraculous!

But it wasn't over yet.

"Alright, since you survived the top note, now the cocktail has reached the middle note!" Qin Xi laughed heartily. "Soul-Confusing and Energy-Dissipating Poison!"

Upon hearing the name, the courtesan cursed internally, but it was too late. The spiritual energy she was using to purge the toxins began to run wild and uncontrolled throughout her body.

She had suffered a qi deviation!

"They say this drug is specifically designed to target spiritual energy. After a Qi Refinement cultivator drinks a packet in water, their spiritual energy dissipates for an hour, leaving them like ordinary mortals."

"Since you are at Foundation Establishment, to be safe, I prepared forty pounds for you."

*Damn you!*

The courtesan wanted to curse, but unfortunately, she couldn't make a sound. As her control over her spiritual energy weakened, the speed at which she expelled the poison began to slow, and the streams of water from her pores gradually turned into a trickle.

Qin Xi recalled a primary school math problem from his previous life.

***

A reservoir takes X hours to drain when full and Y hours to fill when empty. If you drain and fill it at the same time, how long until it is full?

Qin Xi had originally thought this problem was incredibly idiotic—why would anyone fill and drain at the same time? But now, he felt the problem had some merit.

Meanwhile, because she couldn't expel the water fast enough, the courtesan’s stomach began to swell.

"Qin Xi, you’ve made the courtesan pregnant!" Jiang Baiqiu pointed at the increasingly rounded belly.

Qin Xi gave Jiang Baiqiu a look like he had just swallowed a fly. "I’ve noticed you always like to say things that are easily misunderstood. Are you doing that on purpose or is it accidental?"

"I am doing it accidentally on purpose."

"You..."

"Wait, it looks like she can still struggle!" Jiang Baiqiu suddenly realized the courtesan was still moving!

Ten breaths had passed.

The courtesan stood trembling on the spot. Though her body was paralyzed, her mind dazed, and her spiritual energy in chaos, she still had not collapsed. Despite twenty pounds of Bone-Softening and Sinew-Numbing Powder and forty pounds of Soul-Confusing and Energy-Dissipating Poison, Foundation Establishment was Foundation Establishment. These toxins could have taken down a hundred Qi Refinement cultivators, but it still wasn't enough!

"As expected, cross-level challenges in cultivation novels are a privilege reserved for the protagonist." Qin Xi couldn't help but admire those who could defeat Foundation Establishment while in Qi Refinement. He then barked, "Fine, the base note of the cocktail, come out!"

"The Bone-Softening and Sinew-Numbing Powder tires your bones and muscles, and the Soul-Confusing and Energy-Dissipating Poison exhausts your spirit and essence. By now, your body must be at the end of its tether, utterly exhausted!"

Qin Xi stood with his hands behind his back. "So, how about some sleeping pills?"

"Spirit-Calming Meditation Powder! It puts a cultivator into a state of complete relaxation, making it extremely easy to fall asleep. You’ll sleep for three days, and when you wake up, your body will be reborn, refreshed and clear-headed!"

"Of course, you’ll be very, very sleepy."

The courtesan used a hand-blade to sever the iron pipe. Finally free from the forced toxic infusion, she coughed a few times before suddenly feeling the world spin and being overcome by an unbearable drowsiness.

*I'm tired enough. Let's just... take a nap.*

*Thump.*

Qin Xi exhaled and nodded.

"Goodnight, Makka Pakka."