Shi Hou went up to meet them.
Without wasting words, he reached into the Black Pot with his right hand and pinched out a leek leaf.
Its stalk was as thick as a thumb, purple-green juice seeping from the broken end. A pungent, spicy smell wafted toward them on the wind.
The lame boy abruptly recoiled.
The burly man's left arm hung in a sling, and his right hand had already closed around the short saber at his waist. The old man was even more direct, pulling the boy behind him and holding his walking staff across his chest.
"Don't be afraid."
Shi Hao patted the lame boy's shoulder. "This is my big brother, Skinny Monkey."
He paused.
"He might be a little dark, but he's a good guy."
Shi Hou pretended not to hear the latter half.
"This is Shi Qingfeng."
Shi Hao pointed to the lame boy, then to the two behind him. "Hai Lao, and his son, Hai Da."
Shi Hou nodded once.
He crouched down and reached out to lift Shi Qingfeng's trouser leg.
His calf was swollen as though two steamed buns had been stuffed inside it. The skin below his knee was entirely blue-black, with two clearly visible fang marks. The veins around them bulged into black lines, spreading toward his groin.
The snake venom had penetrated to the bone. His leg was already half ruined.
Shi Hou crushed the leek leaf and dripped its juice onto the wound.
"Hiss-!"
Shi Qingfeng's whole body jolted. His clenched teeth creaked, and the old scar on his forehead turned white as his muscles tightened. Beads of sweat dripped from his chin and struck the muddy ground.
He didn't utter a sound.
Shi Hou nodded inwardly. Tough. A real man.
The instant the leek juice seeped into