Yu Jinqi was grateful for the green fox mask that hid most of his expression as he took the scroll. Working mechanically, he removed the heavy leather cover and examined the rolled-up pieces of parchment within. He already had an idea what he would find when Master Duzhen said 'five simple recipes' but when he read over them, Yu Jinqi felt no elation at having guessed correctly.
His uncle had taught him that there were five fundamental ways to administer poison. Injection, ingestion, inhalation, absorption, and contagion. The first three were the most common. The venoms of many beasts were injected into their prey and poisons that refined those venoms shared that delivery method. Likewise, many plants produced toxins that were deadly only when something tried to eat them, and refining them produced poisons that needed to be ingested.
