Chapter 183: Schemes and Plots Are No Match for a Pot of Chili Water

She also took out the Illusion Insect and the Enchanting Heart Worm, one in a large bottle, the other in a small one.

The Illusion Insect was quite a bit larger, so its bottle was much bigger than the Enchanting Heart Worm’s.

The group exchanged glances, then turned to the two insects in the bottles with wicked grins.

Seeing the group gathered around them with such malicious smiles, the two insects couldn’t help but shiver.

The Enchanting Heart Worm asked the Illusion Insect in their insect tongue, "What are these Beastmen planning now?"

The Illusion Insect’s bug-like face tensed as it stared at them warily. "I don’t know, but it’s definitely not good."

A moment later, a sudden, indescribable odor shot into the bottles, and both the Illusion Insect and the Enchanting Heart Worm began to scurry about frantically.

As it scurried, the Illusion Insect cursed, ’What is this?! COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... These Beastmen! Just wait until I get out! I’ll have the Insect Mother kill them all!’

The Enchanting Heart Worm was already spinning in circles, frantically scratching itself.

No matter how they scrambled, they couldn’t climb out of their bottles.

Bai Zhi watched them for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "So it actually works."

Most of her peppers were purchased from the system’s shop. Since some ingredients weren’t available here—and those that were tasted different—Bai Zhi had bought a large supply.

Bai Zhi glanced at the soldiers and said, "What do you think would happen if we pumped this into the Insect Clan’s nest? Would they all just come pouring out? Then we’d just have to wait outside and pick them off with headshots, one by one."

Her words instantly painted a vivid picture.

Even the Enchanting Heart Worm and the Illusion Insect were so scared that their small eyes went wide. ’This female is terrifying!’

Sang Mo thought for a moment. "Hu Yan’s group should be arriving at the location by now. If we leave now, we should make it in time."

Yan Yichen immediately volunteered, "I can be responsible for fanning the smell inside."

’This is the perfect use for my big wings!’

Yue Junxiao rested his chin on his hand. This didn’t require any running, so he asked, "What can I do? I’m pretty strong. How about I help carry things?"

Listening to them, Lang Qiu said with a hint of resignation, "You all just spoil her."

Bai Zhi gave an embarrassed smile. She had only mentioned it offhandedly, not expecting it to become a real plan.

Yue Junxiao’s eyes were clear and bright as he said matter-of-factly, "But my wife’s method, while not exactly orthodox, is effective."

Lang Qiu conceded, "Then let’s go."

And just like that, Bai Zhi found herself being led onto the warship. She immediately went to the system’s shop to purchase supplies: chili peppers, chili powder, Sichuan peppercorns, and ground Sichuan peppercorns—basically anything with a pungent, choking heat. She bought a lot of everything, along with a large number of gas masks.

Sometime after Hu Yan’s group arrived, they suddenly received news that Bai Zhi and the others were on their way.

The message said that Bai Zhi had come up with a brilliant plan.

The others found it strange that the Third Prince had yet to give the order to attack, and their confusion lasted until Bai Zhi and her group arrived.

This delay even sparked some discontent, as a small number of soldiers grumbled. After all, they were at a critical juncture, and they were waiting for a single female. Some even suspected the Third Prince had been put under a spell by her.

But no matter how disgruntled they were, they couldn’t voice their complaints.

Bai Zhi explained to Hu Yan how her method had been effective against the Illusion Insect and the Enchanting Heart Worm. After hearing this, Hu Yan was also surprised. The method wasn’t exactly orthodox, but it was certainly an option.

They used strategies and tactics, of course, but their methods were always direct, head-on confrontations. They had never witnessed a plan that required so little effort.

Hu Yan ordered everyone to prepare and had them all put on their gas masks.

Then, everyone watched as the fair, delicate-looking young female took out Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers and began to roast them, while Yan Yichen rapidly fanned the fumes into the nest with his wings.

At this point, they didn’t yet understand the gravity of the situation, so they weren’t in any particular hurry to put on their masks.

However, the scent of the peppers spread with astonishing speed. In an instant, many of the Beastmen who hadn’t yet put on their masks began to choke and cough violently, tears streaming from their irritated eyes.

Bai Zhi had deliberately bought the most pungent varieties, prioritizing strength of scent, so the smell was far more intense than it had been back at camp.

It wasn’t just the Beastmen. The members of the Insect Clan inside the nest were also caught off guard. A horrifyingly acrid smell suddenly filled their tunnels, sending them scurrying about in a desperate attempt to escape.

To them, the smell was sheer torture.

Instantly, the entire Insect Clan began pouring out of the nest.

The Beastmen outside had just finished putting on their gas masks when they saw a member of the Insect Clan emerge. One soldier reflexively pulled out the pepper spray Bai Zhi had Hu Yan distribute earlier and unloaded on the insect.

Then, the Beastman watched, wide-eyed, as the insect visibly weakened at an astonishing rate.

He raised his gun and put it out of its misery with a single shot.

All the Beastman soldiers stared at the scene, utterly stunned.

This...

’It... it actually works?!’

Bai Zhi was also stunned for a few seconds. ’Her reasoning had been simple: if the smell of peppers made them uncomfortable, then pepper spray should work too. She just hadn’t expected it to be so effective!’

’But... why does this feel like some kind of mutant pesticide?’

Seeing this, Bai Zhi made a point to search the system’s shop for pesticides. To her surprise, there were none!

’The system’s shop always seemed to have everything, but it didn’t have any pesticide?!’

When she asked the system, the reason given was that to prevent misuse or self-harm, such items were not sold.

’Looks like it’s back to peppers, then.’

What followed was the most effortless battle anyone had ever witnessed.

One after another, members of the Insect Clan poured out of the nest. All the soldiers had to do was guard the entrances. The moment an insect appeared, it was one shot, one kill. One shot, one kill.

If a tougher one appeared, they would douse it with a heavy dose of pepper spray before finishing it off with a headshot.

At first, the Insect Clan didn’t realize it was a trap. It was only when they heard the incessant gunfire from outside the nest and received no response from any of the insects that had gone out—not a single one—that the ones still inside grew hesitant to emerge.

But staying inside was unbearable; the stench in the tunnels was too much for any insect to stand.

Rather than suffocate, the Insect Clan decided to fight back.

But just as they launched their counterattack, a massive pot of pepper-laced water came pouring down on them.

The Beastman soldiers had discovered just how effective the method was. The Insect Clan seemed to have a natural fear of the peppers, but they had also grown wary and were no longer coming out. So, the soldiers had prepared a huge pot of pepper-laced water, intending to flood them out with it.

They hadn’t even had the chance to pour it into the nest when the Insect Clan decided to counterattack with their light cannons.

However, before they could even begin...

...they were doused with the pot of pepper-laced water, and their entire attacking force was wiped out.

Who would have thought that no intricate plot, no brilliant strategy, no top-tier weapon could ever compare to a single pot of pepper-laced water...