When Li Ban emerged from the latrine, he saw Lu standing not far away.
She had clearly heard his retching sounds earlier and looked surprised. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"Nothing." Li Ban tried to walk past her.
But Lu sidestepped to block his path.
She studied Li Ban's complexion closely.
Though dusk was falling, Lu could still see that despite his violent vomiting, Li Ban's face lacked the pallor of poisoning.
By now, he should have been showing clear signs of weakness.
Something had gone wrong with the plan. Forcing a smile, Lu said, "Let me get you some hot water."
Li Ban dared not accept anything from her alone. "No need."
"What did the jailer want earlier? Are you going out again tomorrow?"
Li Ban stopped, and Lu halted right behind him, determined to get answers.
Knowing his "fatal poisoning" was scheduled for tomorrow, Li Ban decided the charade had lasted long enough.
Besides, he wasn't a slave anymore.
"Jailer Zhou Gu wished to see me."
At the word "jailer," Lu's eyes widened.
"W-why?"
"Zhou Gu took a liking to me. He granted me menial worker status."
Lu staggered, her mask of composure nearly cracking.
After several shaky breaths, she managed strained congratulations.
"That's... incredibly fortunate."
No other word could describe Li Ban's luck.
Stepping closer, Lu gazed up at him. "Ban, could you ask Zhou Gu what it takes to become a menial worker? I... I don't want to remain a slave either."
Li Ban retreated a step, feigning humility. "I wouldn't dare bother him directly. But if the chance arises, I'll put in a good word for you."
"Thank you so much." Lu smiled with apparent gratitude. "Did you miss dinner? Let me warm some sweet potatoes for you."
"No need." Li Ban raised a hand. "Zhou Gu gave me food afterward. Strangely, though I felt terrible earlier, vomiting helped."
A twitch betrayed Lu's panic.
"R-really? The jailer's provisions must be miraculous."
Now uncertain whether Li Ban knew about the poisoning—or if Zhou Gu did—Lu noticed his changed attire for the first time.
No longer slave garb, but proper robes with a brown vest.
Clothes meant for humans!
She retreated involuntarily. "I should go. Rest well."
Watching Lu's near-fleeing figure, Li Ban felt satisfaction.
After so long in the Witch World, he'd finally countered someone.
But he knew this minor victory solved nothing.
The real solution lay with the problem's source.
Back in the storage room, Li Ban's eyes landed on the iron hook hanging on the wall.
Testing its weight in hand, he sprinted again to the dungeon's second level.
The cat-woman watched the blur of movement, muttering, "What's that boy doing instead of training?"
At the third-level entrance, the food bucket remained where he'd left it.
The gruel preparers would be deeper underground, unlikely to check frequently—probably not until evening.
Li Ban dipped the hook's blunt tip into the bucket's residue.
Poisonous to him—best avoided entirely.
But for Lu?
After thirty minutes of soaking, he withdrew the hook.
"Potent enough, but will it transfer properly?"
Carrying the damp-hooked tool, he walked back slowly this time.
Passing the cat-woman's cell, she called out, "What are you up to?"
Without stopping, Li Ban answered, "Self-defense."
Next morning, Li Ban intended to consult the cat-woman about absorbing spiritual essence, but Lu appeared early at the white path, mopping.
Normally coming after lunch, her premature arrival was conspicuous.
With Lu present, conversing with the cat-woman became impossible.
The feline prisoner resumed her initial aloofness toward Lu, who mopped cautiously, fearing sudden attack.
Li Ban planned to check the second-level prisoners first, expecting Lu to leave by his return.
But she intercepted him.
"Ban, I... have something to tell you."
Her tone dripped with false affection, leaving Li Ban unmoved.
Even without knowing her poisoning attempt, her obvious youth deterred him.
Still, he played dumb. "What is it?"
Leaning on her mop handle, Lu blushed suspiciously. "Not here. Come with me."
She walked ahead confidently, certain he'd follow.
As Li Ban stepped forward, burning scrutiny prickled his back—the cat-woman glaring.
When he glanced back, she drew a finger across her throat.
Li Ban glared back, briefly lifting his vest to flash the concealed hook.
The cat-woman's round eyes instantly curved with amusement.
Hurrying after Lu before she turned, Li Ban followed her past the white path's end, turning right into the black path.
He hesitated, then proceeded.
They advanced until distant from illumination stones, nearly engulfed in darkness.
To Li Ban's enhanced vision, Lu's movements remained clear.
"Ban, congratulations on becoming a menial worker. Your life will be completely different now."
Li Ban bluntly asked, "Is that all you wanted to say?"
"I... if another menial position opens, could you recommend me?"
"I told you, I have no influence."
"But—" Lu's voice wavered with fake sobs. "Help me, and I'll give you anything..."
Rustling clothes echoed in the stinking darkness.
After a pause, Li Ban pretended to undo his vest sash.
Amid the fabric sounds, a slender tail snaked from behind Lu, striking toward his groin.
Seeing clearly, Li Ban sidestepped and swung the hook, deflecting the attack.
He'd palmed the hook during his vest act.
Lu froze, shocked her hidden tail had been anticipated.
Abandoning pretense, she drew a kitchen knife from her clothes and lunged.
Lu possessed surprising combat skills.
Having only trained basic moves with the cat-woman, Li Ban now faced real blades for the first time.
Despite preparation, his throat tightened at steel clashing against iron.
Thankfully, his relentless training paid off.
When Lu slashed horizontally, Li Ban dodged by leveraging his height, then hooked downward, raking her shoulder.
Lu ducked too late, crying out as the strike connected.
Seizing the advantage, Li Ban... turned and fled.