Chapter 122

"What's wrong?" Qian Jin asked in surprise, but out of his usual trust in Shen San, he instinctively stopped.

"The person who brought the dishes just now wasn't you—where's the original one?" Shen San ignored the fat man's confusion and instead slowly stood up, hand resting on his waist knife sheath, staring coldly at the wine-serving servant.

"Because there were too many guests, Li Er was running errands to other rooms—I'm here to replace him. Sir, is there a problem?" The servant's face turned instantly pale under Shen San's gaze, and he answered in panic.

Seeing the man's reaction, Shen San's expression softened slightly, but he still seemed uneasy, turning to the small golden mushroom in Shen Chongshan's arms and asking:

"Miss Jin, do you recognize this man? Is he truly from Xiao Xiang Courtyard?"

"This…?" The most celebrated courtesan showed a troubled expression, then finally said awkwardly:

"To be honest, Master Shen, this man looks very unfamiliar. But with hundreds of people in Xiao Xiang Courtyard, it's not unusual that I've never seen him before."

"Hah! Little San, you're putting the poor girl to shame! Such a delicate beauty—how could she possibly know a servant? Are you suggesting this man is an assassin who slipped in from outside?" Shen Chongshan sniffed deeply at the beautiful woman in his arms, speaking carelessly.

"Big brother, we live by the blade—we should be cautious!" Shen San's face remained expressionless, his eyes still locked on the young man delivering the food.

"Heh! This man's steps are light and unsteady, his eyes dull—he's clearly never trained in martial arts. If you're still unsure, I have a way to instantly verify his identity and put everyone's mind at ease." The Poison Scholar Fan Ju suddenly let out a cold laugh, speaking in a sinister tone.

He had long resented Shen San, who had joined the Four Peace Gang after him yet earned greater trust from Shen Chongshan; as someone who always called himself the gang's strategist, he decided to make Shen San look foolish.

"Oh? What method? Brother Fan, go ahead and try." Shen Chongshan spoke grandly on the surface, but he treasured his own life dearly, so he immediately changed his tone and agreed to let Fan Ju test it.

"Since this man knows no martial arts, if he truly means us harm, he can only have poisoned the wine or food. So let him taste a sip of the wine and a bite of each dish—then the truth will be clear!" Fan Ju spoke with perfect confidence.

"Brilliant idea, Brother Fan! Boy, drink this wine first, then eat some of the dishes. If you hesitate even a moment, I'll twist your head off!" The black fat man Qian Jin clapped in delight and immediately shouted at the servant.

Hearing Fan Ju's suggestion, the black-clothed Shen San thought the method was sound and said nothing, merely watching coldly.

As for Shen Chongshan and the little Jin Zhi in his arms, they had no objections at all.

Thus, under the watchful eyes of the group, the wine-serving servant, face drawn with sorrow, drank a cup of wine and ate a few bites of food.

Seeing the man remain perfectly unharmed after eating and drinking, Fan Ju smiled triumphantly and said to Shen San with deep implication: "Looks like Brother Shen is overly cautious—this man is truly just a servant. Don't spoil everyone's drinking fun next time!" With that, he picked up a few new dishes and chewed them leisurely.

"Hmph!" Shen San grunted, ignoring Fan Ju's veiled insult, but relaxed and sat back down.

"Hah! No problem! Just a misunderstanding!" Shen Chongshan, well aware of the tension between his two subordinates, was pleased by it, so he laughed loudly as if magnanimous.

"Since it's just a misunderstanding, you may leave. This silver ingot is your reward!" Shen Chongshan pulled out a two-tael silver ingot and tossed it to the servant.

"Thank you, Master! I'll take my leave!" The young man disguised as a servant beamed at the silver and happily retreated, closing the door behind him.

"Oh my! Master Shen is so generous! You mustn't be stingy with Jin Zhi next time!" A sweet, coquettish voice came from inside the room.

"Of course, my beauty—you're my heart's treasure! Serve me well, and you'll never be shortchanged! Come, brothers! Drink up! Tonight we don't stop until we're drunk!" Shen Chongshan's grating voice rang clearly through the door, heard perfectly by the young man outside.

The young man outside suddenly sneered, did not leave immediately, but quietly stepped beneath the nearby eaves, standing like a ghost, motionless—as if waiting for something.

About a cup of tea later, a terrified scream erupted from inside: "Poison! The food and wine are poisoned—I've been poisoned!" The voice had barely faded when the man let out two eerie laughs, then fell silent. The voice belonged to the black fat man, Qian Jin.

"Wretched woman! You've betrayed me, the boss—I'll kill you all!" Shen Chongshan roared in fury and shock. But it was too late; after two involuntary, dry laughs, he collapsed dead.

Fan Ju and Shen San exchanged a fearful glance, then spoke in unison:

"That servant—he's the one who poisoned us."

"That servant must have the antidote!"

Instantly, both men shoved the women in their arms aside and dashed toward the door.

But unfortunately, as they reached the door, they both let out "Ha! Ha!" and slowly slumped to the ground.

"It seems the black fat man drank the most, so the poison took effect first. Shen Chongshan drank quite a bit too—he was second. As for the black-clothed man and the scholar, though they drank little, my 'Xiao Hun Powder' is extremely potent—just a single drop inside the body means certain death." The young man thought calmly, then waited a little longer before pushing open the door and stepping inside.

Inside, not a single soul remained alive—not even Jin Zhi or the other three serving girls, all long dead.

Han Li carefully examined the scene, confirmed no one was alive, then drifted out of the room.

"Once news of Shen Chongshan's poisoning spreads, everyone will assume it's just a Jianghuchousha —no major trouble should follow." Han Li thought lightly as he walked.

"This Qing Ling Powder really is useful—just take one pill beforehand, and it prevents all poisons and works wonders against mind-altering incense. Last time, it fooled Yan's group perfectly." He gave a strange smile and absentmindedly touched the vial of "Qing Ling Powder" in his pocket.

Han Li returned to the inn unnoticed, entered his room, and immediately lay down on the bed, falling into sweet sleep.

This was an unconscious habit of Han Li's: after completing any major task, he became especially sleepy, allowing him to fully relax his body and mind in dreams.

While Han Li slept deeply, the deaths of Shen Chongshan and his three bodyguards were finally discovered by Xiao Xiang Courtyard staff; when the news reached the Four Peace Gang, it immediately stirred up many interested parties.

No one wanted to investigate Shen Chongshan's death, for in Jia Yuan City, survival of the fittest was natural law. Shen Chongshan himself had murdered the previous boss to seize power. Thus, the remaining leaders of the Four Peace Gang cared only about who would inherit the vacant position.

With no strong candidate and no one willing to yield, a bloody power struggle erupted within the Four Peace Gang that very night.

When the next morning came, the lower-ranking members who hadn't joined the fight were shocked to find the entire Four Peace Gang now under the control of an utterly insignificant minor leader—Sun Ergou.

Sun Ergou had, in a single night, slaughtered every senior member who opposed him. With no one daring to challenge him, he smoothly ascended to the position of boss, and by the next day, he had sent out notices to other gangs in West City, confirming his succession.

The mastermind behind the entire affair, Han Li, after a full night's rest, appeared at the Mo residence—still the same elegant little pavilion, with Yan Shi and several other beautiful ladies standing before him. But behind them now stood three of Jia Yuan City's most famous beauties—the Mo Sisters.

Han Li had already met Mo Mo Yuzhu and Mo Mo Caihuan, so his gaze settled mostly on Mo Mo Fengwu, the adopted daughter of Master Mo.

Mo Mo Fengwu was a yellow-clad beauty with an oval face, appearing sixteen or seventeen, exquisitely delicate, giving Han Li a sense of petite, refined charm.

At that moment, Mo Mo Fengwu, flustered by Han Li's constant stare, lowered her head shyly, revealing a long, smooth, snow-white neck—making Han Li involuntarily swallow several times.

"Young Master Han, stop staring at my Mo Fengwu so lecherously! Our Mo Fengwu has a delicate face! Shouldn't we continue yesterday's topic?" The third madam smiled seductively and cooed at Han Li.

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