Chapter 23

Retaliate

Dudian understood how the old man's arm had become like that. Most of the experiments done by the alchemists were carried out on their own bodies. Though from the results it was clear that the experiment had failed. The additional limb seemed to follow the nerve system signals for taking action. But each action taken has to paid by a corresponding price. Otherwise such a body mutation in an era such as this was definitely an unstoppable war weapon.

Old man seemed to want to rest, so he spoke to Dudian in a cold voice: "Go there". Old man's palm touched the small crossbow. He wanted to give the impression that if Dudian refused to move, he would immediately shoot.

Dudian stoop up. In this life and death moment he was anxious and his mind was in mess. He took deep breaths so that his mind would calm down. His body trembling, Dudian began to move towards the table that old man was pointing to. It was a large table. On it edge there were number of tools used for cutting. Some of them were stained with blood which had not been washed clean.

Dudian heard sounds coming from his left side. He turned to see a large cage. There were more than a dozen snakes twisting inside the cage. Obviously these were the other captured materials for the experiments.

Old man did not urge Dudian, but quietly watched him. As if the hunter was watch the prey attempting its final struggle. When he saw Dudian's expression change, his mouth slightly curved into a cruel smile.

At this time, Dudian has come to the table.

"Do you see that chain? Tie your arm." Old man ordered Dudian.

Dudian looked at few chains fixed on the workbench. Most of these chains and tools were used beforehand in experiments. His eyes flashed but still grabbed the chain and wrapped around his wrist.

Old man's face reflected trace of disdain and sneer. As Dudian would chain himself up, he would go to cut him alive to death.

Bang!

Dudian squatted down. At the same time he shook the chain and hit the cage. The snakes began to twist and struggle in an attempt to escape.

Old man spoke: "Little devil. You just have to act like a smart ass, don't you? Do you think you can escape form here? Now, you obediently come out and I will forgive you for once!"

Dudian naturally refused to believe old man's words. He began to kick the iron cage. He was using the table as a cover from the crossbow that old man held. His aim was to get close to old man so that he will have the opportunity to wrestle him.

Although the old man had an external amputation to his body, it took a lot of willpower and mental exhaustion to command it. Fatal point of using something like that was that it would terribly weaken him.

After a few kicks, the iron cage fall down onto the table. Fortunately one of the doors were opened and a dozen snakes side-wind out of it. Some of them moved towards the darkness, few towards the old man and the most towards the Dudian.

Old man smiles, "There is no difference of life and death to me!"

The next moment, his smile suddenly paused. He saw the serpents that were moving toward Dudian changed their direction. Few of them bent around to move other places but four or five of them moved towards him.

"How ... ..." Old man's eyes went wide. He suddenly looked to the table. His face was gloomy: "No wonder he had the courage to shake the snake cage"

Dudian clutched his hand. There is a small bottle of powder. He was spilling it all over his body. He had previously bet on this bottle of powder. It must be something that old man had used while capturing the snakes. Even though the old man refers to himself as 'alchemist' but in essence he uses chemical elixirs.

So the old man couldn't have seized all these serpents unarmed. He had to rely on other things.

The results of his logical deduction was as he had expected. As he was moving towards the table he had seen the bottle of the powder on it. Perhaps it had been to long since someone except the old man had been here. So he had placed many things on casual manner on top of the table. Dudian had secretly grabbed the bottle while moving.

"Humph!". Old man grabbed a brown robe that was hung on the wall. He quickly draped it over his body. As a result, the serpents who were moving toward him immediately stopped, twisted their bodies and swam to the surrounding darkness.

Dudian understood that the dress was gown in the same powder and most probably was used in catching the serpents.

"Kid, you better be obedient." Old man was staring at the table. The crossbow was in his hand. As long as Dudian showed his head, he would immediately shot! Although Dudian was a child, but one after another time had created misfortunes. Dudian had made old man feel threatened so he was not going to give any chance to him.

Dudian looked around the chamber. The only way to survive was to subdue the alchemist. He had a dagger but it was far from enough.

He had taken the opportunity to grab the cutting tool from the table which was similar to a dagger.

At this time Dudian saw large number of accumulated bottles and jars on a board near the fallen cage. There were labels stuck over them. Impressively two of them were sulfur and charcoal!

This was one of the main raw materials of the gunpowder!

Dudian eyes light up. Heart ecstasy suddenly, quickly looked around, but did not see the nitric acid. He was disappointed as sulfur and charcoal was not enough to create gunpowder.

He clenched his fist. He felt as if he acquired a chance to survive but to be slapped back at the same moment.

"I know, you have a dagger in your hand. Ready to fight with me, don't you?" Old man's voice sounded again. Dudian's mind sank. It seemed old man has noticed him taking the tagger. "Are you hungry?", old man continued.

As he heard him talk, Dudian felt the hunger of the day. His stomach juice was burning up.

However, his heart is a little relieved, at least he has time to continue to think of a way.

At this time, the green mist floated.

Dudian pupils shrank, and quickly covered his mouth and nose. He did not expect the other party would even release this thing in the narrow chamber. Apparently old man had antidote or other kind of measure to respond.

Dudian pinched his nose. His heart was beating fast, knowing that his time is running out. He didn't stand up in desperation as the other side may have aimed the crossbow at his position. As long as he stood up he would be shot.

He slightly gritted his teeth, clenched the dagger. Looked at powder on his other hand. He was ready to throw it out. An idea flashed in his mind.