The War of Resistance Against Japan: Starting with a Calm View of Life and Death

"They're...they're keeping an eye on our guerrillas...and...and in town...are there any unfamiliar faces...especially any high-ranking Eighth Route Army officials..."

Su Hao was startled by Wang Yuan and confessed quickly.

"Damn it!" Wang Yuan was trembling with rage!

Zhou Jindong pressed further: "And this time? Why did the Japanese suddenly come to Dongzhai this time? Did you bring them?"

"It's...it's because..." Su Hao's eyes darted around, as if he was weighing whether or not to confess.

Without hesitation, Zhou Jindong pushed the dagger in a little further, and beads of blood immediately appeared.

"I'll talk! I'll talk!" Su Hao immediately screamed like a pig being slaughtered, "It was me...it was me the day before yesterday at the pharmacy...oh no...at the back door of the pharmacy...I overheard...Doctor Zhou...Doctor Zhou talking to a stranger..."

That person…that person was seeing a doctor at the pharmacy…it was Doctor Zhou…Doctor Zhou seemed to call him…"Minister Li"…he talked about 'organization'…'transfer'…'safety'…

I... I heard it sounded like a high-ranking official... so... I secretly informed my cousin... He said this was a huge achievement... the Japanese were offering a reward for capturing a high-ranking Eighth Route Army official!

And then...and then the Japanese devils came today..."

"Minister Li?" Wang Yuan and Wang Quan's expressions changed drastically at the same time!

Of course they know that name!

That was truly an important commander who had come down from the main force to recuperate from his injuries!

Dr. Zhou is the only doctor in town, and it's a top secret that Minister Li is secretly receiving treatment there!

In reality, apart from Minister Li himself and one of his bodyguards, only four people in the town knew about it: Zhou Langzhong, Wang Yuan, Wang Quan, and Zhang Fang.

That bastard actually betrayed me!

"You bastard! I'll skin you alive! I could tell you were a monster the moment I saw you!"

Wang Yuan could no longer contain himself and shouted as he rushed forward.

"Brother Yuan! Wait a minute!"

Zhou Jindong thoughtfully stopped Wang Yuan.

"Good, very good." His voice calmed down, but this calmness was more terrifying to Su Hao than any shouting.

He released his grip on Su Hao's hair, letting him slump to the ground.

Thinking things had taken a turn for the better, Su Hao clung to this like a lifeline and quickly continued to beg for mercy: "Brother Dong! Brother Yuan! I've told you everything! I've confessed everything! Please spare me! I was forced into this! Just ignore me and let me go! I..."

Zhou Jindong ignored him and instead slowly rummaged inside his cotton-padded jacket.

Soon, he took out the white porcelain bottle that his father had given him.

He carefully poured a black pill out of the porcelain bottle.

Before leaving the cave, his father, Zhou Yannian, gave him two porcelain bottles.

One was a white medicine bottle containing black pills, which were poisons carefully prepared by the old doctor.

The other one is a black medicine bottle containing white pills, which are the corresponding antidote and also a powerful tonic!

The kind that can instantly unleash a person's potential!

To be honest, in Zhou Jindong's opinion, using poison on Su Hao was a bit of a waste.

However, one should act hastily and expediently.

"Do you recognize this?" Zhou Jindong held the pill up to Su Hao's eyes.

Su Hao looked at the unremarkable black pill in front of him and shook his head blankly.

"This is a poison that my father painstakingly prepared over many years," Zhou Jindong introduced in a calm tone.

"If you eat it, within three days, without a unique antidote, your intestines will first rupture and your stomach will rot, causing you to writhe in pain on the ground. Finally, you will bleed from all seven orifices, and your body will fester and you will die. When you die, you won't even leave behind a whole corpse."

Zhou Jindong spoke in a calm tone, but the content was truly explosive.

Of course, he also exaggerated the effects of the poison to some extent.

No matter what kind of medicine it is, when talking about its efficacy, it actually depends on the dosage!

According to his father's instructions, if he took four or five poison pills together, he would die instantly!

This is for him to extricate himself in critical moments.

When Zhou Jindong heard this usage from his father, he was also taken aback.

This guy is a real dad!

He had a vague premonition that Old Master Zhou's past experiences might be even more fascinating than his own time travel adventures!

Wang Yuan, Sun Erniu, and Wang Quan were also taken aback. They had indeed heard from the older generation that Zhou Lang was a master of both traditional Chinese medicine and poison.

Before Zhou Jindong was born, he was said to be a formidable and ruthless figure!

"No...no! Brother Dong! Spare me! Spare me!" Su Hao was terrified and desperately tried to shrink back.

Clearly, having spent so many years in the town, he had heard of the rumors surrounding Dr. Zhou!

But Zhou Jindong didn't give him a chance at all.

He grabbed Su Hao's chin and pinched it hard, forcing him to open his mouth. With his other hand, he shoved the pill deep into Su Hao's throat!

Then he slapped him hard on the back!

"Uh...cough cough cough!"

Su Hao was forced to swallow the pill, choking and coughing violently, his face turning red. He was then overwhelmed by fear, and his stomach churned instantly.

"Ugh... Brother Dong... the antidote... give me the antidote... I don't want to die!"

He began to wail, his face streaked with snot and tears, his body trembling uncontrollably, as if the poison had already taken effect.

"Want the antidote?" Zhou Jindong looked down at him, his eyes icy cold. "Fine, I'll give you a chance. Arrange a private meeting with your good cousin, Su Zhan!"

"Right now! The location is behind that dilapidated mill at the village entrance! Remember, only he can come! If I find out you're up to something, or brought any Japanese soldiers..."

He paused, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "Just wait until you're a pile of rotting flesh in three days! Even a god can't save you!"

"I'll go! I'll ask him! I'll ask him right away!" As soon as Su Hao heard there was still a chance, he didn't care about brotherhood anymore and nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice. "Don't worry, Brother Dong! I have a way! I have a way to ask him out alone!"

He...he's incredibly greedy for credit! Several times before, when we met, he didn't want the other Japanese soldiers to know! He was afraid someone would steal his credit!

This time... if I tell him... that I've discovered Minister Li's secret hiding place... he'll definitely come alone!

"I'll definitely come! Please... after you're done... you have to give me the antidote!"

Zhou Jindong ignored him and turned to Wang Yuandao, "Brother Yuan, let him go. Let's ambush him behind the broken mill and give our cousin Su, who has come from afar, a proper welcome!"

Wang Yuan was now completely convinced by Zhou Jindong. He nodded vigorously, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent, and said, "Good!"

He grabbed Su Hao from the ground like a dead dog and lifted him up, then took the lead in untying the ropes binding Su Hao.

Then, he kicked the other man hard in the butt and watched him tumble and crawl towards the town.

The dilapidated mill at the village entrance has been abandoned for many years, leaving only half a mud wall and a few huge millstones. It is surrounded by waist-high withered wormwood, rustling in the cold wind, making it an extremely secluded place.

Zhou Jindong directed Wang Yuan and the others to hide in the shadow formed by the angle between the millstone and the earthen wall, a place where they could both conceal themselves and observe the path in front of the mill.

Time passed second by second.

About fifteen minutes later, two figures appeared at the end of the path.

The person walking in front was wearing a thick gray cotton robe and looking around as he walked; it was Su Zhan!

He walked to the broken mill, stopped, looked around warily, and turned to Su Hao, who was following behind him, saying, "Alright, there's no one else here. Can you tell me the important information you mentioned? Do you really have concrete information about where Minister Li is hiding?"

Su Hao glanced around guiltily, then forced himself to continue lying: "Of course. But, even brothers should keep clear accounts! What good will it do me if I tell you?"

Su Zhan had already harbored some suspicions, but Su Hao's sudden request for benefits put him at ease.

My own brother is still as rotten as ever.

Just as he was about to speak to comfort his good-for-nothing cousin, something unexpected happened!

A dark shadow, like a cheetah that had been lying in wait, suddenly sprang up silently from the shadows behind the millstone!

It was Zhou Jindong!

Su Zhan felt a blur before his eyes, and a gust of wind rushed towards him, scaring him out of his wits. He instinctively wanted to open his mouth and scream.

But it was too late!

Zhou Jindong's right palm, with fingers pointing like a knife, struck Su Zhan's neck hard once more.

They gave Su Zhan a "cousin's meal"!

"Well!"

Su Zhan's eyes bulged out suddenly, and he let out a short, muffled groan before his body went limp and he collapsed forward.

Zhou Jindong immediately helped him up.

"Tie him up!" Zhou Jindong shouted, throwing the unconscious Su Zhan to the ground.

Wang Yuan, who had been waiting eagerly, was the first to pounce.

Meanwhile, Su Hao was the most enthusiastic person besides Wang Yuan, busying himself with helping everyone tie Su Zhan up tightly!

This performance left Wang Quan and the others standing nearby completely stunned!