Chapter 25: Bait, Warm Room, Make a Move

Dining hall.

Apothecary Liu arrived; although he is at the age of destiny, his face is like a baby's, his spirit is vigorous, and he is the Qin Family's full‑time apothecary, highly skilled.

He had taken on the old master's favor back then, cared little for fame or profit, and lived leisurely within the Qin Family.

"This is Entangling Poison!" Apothecary Liu said after a careful examination, quickly confirming the toxin, his complexion grim. "Entangling Poison is a complex exotic toxin; throughout Qingzhou, not many can even attempt to brew it. This poison is potent enough to kill a 9th‑rank warrior or a family head. To my knowledge, the senior apothecary of the Liu family within the city can concoct it. Because of this, he became renowned throughout Wan'an County."

Apothecary Liu is not a member of the Liu family.

"The Liu Family?" Zhang Fu's eyes instantly flashed with murderous anger. "The Liu family dares to poison the family head—seeking death."

"Fu Ye Ye, hold your temper!" Qin Feng's eyes flickered as he calmly said, "Apothecary Liu, does the Liu family know you can identify Entangling Poison?"

"They do!" Apothecary Liu nodded, somewhat startled.

Fu Ye Ye inhaled deeply, squinting his eyes: "Family head, you mean this was not done by the Liu family? That's correct—if you were poisoned, it would surely be discovered, pointing to the Liu family, and then our Qin Family would wage a life‑or‑death battle against them."

The poisoning of the family head is an unparalleled disgrace for a clan.

If revenge is not taken, generations will never be able to lift their heads.

Urgent footsteps sounded.

Qin Kai arrived.

Ma Chao also arrived.

"Family head!" Qin Kai, after bowing, hurriedly said, "The kitchen has been sealed off. According to the investigation, the most likely culprit who poisoned the soup is Zhang Liu. After the stew was finished, she claimed there was a family matter and left early."

"Family head!" Ma Chao clasped his hands, "We found her corpse in the alley leading to Zhang Liu's home. Red‑white fluid was flowing from her nose, her eyes were bulging; most likely a palm strike to the crown shattered her brain. We also sent people to her residence for further investigation, but have no news yet."

"The action was indeed swift!" Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh.

But the laugh was cold.

"Family head, I will lead men to the Liu Family; regardless of whether they are responsible, we will deem the Liu Family guilty." Fu Ye Ye, still brimming with anger, after contemplation, proposed directly.

"That would be pointless!" Qin Feng waved his hand, "First spread the news that someone has administered Entangling Poison to me—the wider and faster, the better."

Fu Ye Ye seemed deep in thought.

"Captain Ma, continue the investigation. Geese leave calls, people leave shadows; every deed leaves a trace," Qin Feng instructed.

"Yes!" Ma Chao clasped his fists.

"Qin Kai, re‑screen the kitchen staff."

"Yes!"

The others gradually withdrew.

All the food on the table was cleared; a new spread must be prepared.

"Family head, what is your plan?" Fu Ye Ye finally asked, his doubt evident. "Stir up the grass to scare the snake?"

"Exactly!" Qin Feng nodded, his expression solemn. "Since my father's death, incident after incident has felt off. The Lu Family struck twice in a row, and we saw no clue; the third strike is imminent, and we only learned of it through a notice from the Cao Family. Uncle Jiu was threatened and bribed, yet we missed it; even after lengthy investigations, we only uncovered the true cause under an outsider's guidance. Even if the second, third, and fourth houses are estranged from us and act half‑heartedly, such situations should not arise. It is only with today's event that I finally understand."

"Our eyes and ears have been blinded," Fu Ye Ye frowned, "Was it outsiders jointly cutting off our tendrils, or rather jointly deceiving us?"

"That is the only possibility!" Qin Feng replied, "But it likely wasn't a proactive alliance; rather, there was tacit understanding, aimed at our Qin Family's assets and the secret my father left behind."

"By that logic, we have enemies everywhere!"

"We cannot say that! Fu Ye Ye, don't forget, the Cao Family stabbed the Lu Family from behind, and now someone frames the Liu Family. What does that show? It shows they are not united; they all want to fish in muddied water, so we will stir the water completely. When the water is muddied, the fish surface, and we can see who is human and who is a ghost!"

Soon, the dishes were placed again.

Night had already fallen.

Lanterns hung high in the courtyard, illuminating the manor, yet a suppressed anger lingered.

After the meal, Qin Feng summoned Qin Bo: "Find an empty house and turn it into a warm room, keep the temperature spring‑like, add plenty of candles or fire pits, and never let them go out day or night. If you need anything, go to Uncle Yuan; he can arrange help. Remember, this is top priority. Once done, plant the remaining three varieties of sunflowers and see if they bloom. It would be best to hire a gardener; ask if you don't know."

"Yes!" Qin Bo, though puzzled, responded without hesitation.

In the courtyard.

Qin Feng looked up at the night sky, pondering the events of recent days.

Xiao Hong came over, fastening his cloak onto him: "Master, the weather is getting cold and snow is near. Shall I and Sister Xiao Qing warm your bed?"

Her voice was low, ears reddened, with a hint of anticipation.

Qin Feng was startled, then laughed silently. A maid warming the bed was perfectly ordinary.

"You, my master, are already impervious to cold and heat," Qin Feng chuckled, then looked at Xiao Hong, "Besides, with your slight frame, if I turn over in my sleep I might crush you."

"Master..." Xiao Hong pursed his lips, stretching the tone.

"Find time to cultivate more; I, your master, am still protecting you two!" Qin Feng ruffled his hair.

Xiao Qing came over: "Master, the medicinal bath is ready!"

"A medicinal bath at this season is absolutely comfortable!"

Qin Feng walked toward the bath chamber.

Xiao Hong and Xiao Qing hurried after.

Liu Family.

The Second Young Lady died of excessive grief, and the entire Liu mansion was in turmoil.

Liu Kaishan was splashing ink in the study.

"Master!" The old steward lightly knocked the door, then entered, whispering, "The Qin manor has an incident."

Liu Kaishan's brush halted, a drop of ink spilled, staining the whole character.

The old steward continued, "During dinner, the Qin family head was administered Entangling Poison."

"Entangling Poison?" Liu Kaishan raised an eyebrow, tone unchanged, "How did you learn so quickly?"

"It has already spread outside."

"Spread? The Qin family head is dead?"

"No!"

"No? Interesting!" Liu Kaishan let out a slight sigh of relief, "He didn't die, yet the news spread— they're using my Liu family as a knife! But this knife still has to be wielded."

The old steward remained silent; he understood the head of the family's meaning.

Within Wan'an City, the top powers all know that the Liu family can concoct myriad scheme poison; now the head of the Qin Family was almost killed by it, and the Liu family must take the blame.

Even at a glance one can see it's a frame‑up.

Liu Kaishan was silent for a moment, set aside the page he had just uncovered, spread a fresh sheet, and began to write: Cao, Xiang, Zhou, Qin, Liu.

"Who is it?"

The Xiang family are brutes, the Cao family stay out of it, and the Zhou family sit comfortably on the fishing platform.

"Sir, there's also a Sun family!" the old steward reminded.

"Sun family?" Liu Kaishan was startled, then realized, "How could I have forgotten them? If the Sun family gets involved, that would be a big trouble. But it probably won't, after all the Sun family…"

He hesitated.

"The most likely is still the Xiang family!" Liu Kaishan's brows relaxed, "Whether or not they're involved, it can only be the Xiang family. The attention on the Qianji poison must be shifted quickly, and we must give the Qin Family an answer, so…"

After a brief thought, his brush flew like a dragon and snake, quickly writing several lines, then he paused and said: "Look, spread the news as fast as possible."

"Yes!" the old steward examined carefully, kept it in mind, then stepped back out.

Liu Kaishan set the paper alight, turning it into a handful of ash, whispered: "Now that this news is out, you won't be able to sit still, will you?"

Qin Residence.

Qin Feng walked out of the bathroom, his spirit invigorated and his condition excellent.

"Now that I have the great medicine from the Lu family supporting me, in the coming period my cultivation will enter a rapid advancement phase again; perhaps by the ancestral ceremony I can reach the ninth rank!"

He was in high spirits.

He went into the courtyard, drank a cup of tea, closed his eyes to contemplate, sorting out the cultivation of the Three‑Phase Sword Finger.

He prepared to first practice this supreme skill.

The college entrance exam is tomorrow; by the way, how many points did you score back then?

(End of chapter)