Chapter 130: Fixed!

Lu Yuan's voice fell.

The two kitchen helpers looked at each other, then said blankly:

"Master Liu had us bring it over as soon as he finished making it; no one else has touched it, right?"

"What happened to the Hall Master?"

With Lu Yuan's keen eye, he could naturally see that these two helpers truly knew nothing. His tone was detached:

"Where is Liu Yishou? Find him and bring him to me. If he is not there, have Peng Yidao, Chen Zhantang, and Lin Sheng come here instead. Also, do not shout or make a scene!"

With the Sprout Sensing Technique at his disposal, almost the moment he saw this pot of medicinal cuisine, he felt something wrong in the dark, as if it contained an omen unfavorable to him.

Without a doubt, this pot of medicinal cuisine was nine times out of ten secretly poisoned.

Of course, the feeling brought by the Sprout Sensing Technique was very slight, clearly indicating that the poison in the medicinal cuisine posed little threat to him.

After all, since his Food Consumption Technique had advanced, the current Lu Yuan could digest even deadly poisons as nutrition, not to mention that he had Dharma Power protecting his body and a reserve of Healing Bait Return Pill that could dispel a hundred poisons; whether even the most potent poison in this world could kill him was a matter of debate.

At this, the two helpers, who clearly sensed something was wrong, immediately showed expressions of panic:

"Yes, yes!"

"We'll go right away!"

The two ran out in a flash. They first returned to the kitchen and circled around, but could not find Liu Yishou. Only after asking did they learn that he had just left the hall, claiming there was an emergency at home.

So they hurriedly found Chen Zhantang and the other two, who had just sat down to eat, and anxiously informed them of the general situation.

Upon hearing this, the three of them were greatly shocked. They stood up with a start and flew toward Lu Yuan's private courtyard.

They arrived in the courtyard in a great hurry.

Lu Yuan was sitting leisurely in the pavilion. Chen Zhantang and the others rushed up in a flurry and said urgently:

"Hall Master, what happened?"

"Are you unharmed?"

Lu Yuan's expression was faint:

"Naturally unharmed. Where is Liu Yishou? Has he already fled?"

The two kitchen helpers who followed behind turned pale:

"Hall Master, after Master Liu finished the medicinal cuisine, he claimed he had an emergency and left the hall early."

No one present was a fool. Chen Zhantang and the others were suddenly struck with horror, and they all looked at the medicinal cuisine on the stone table, which was still steaming and fragrant:

"Could it be that Liu Yishou... in the medicinal cuisine for the Hall Master...?"

"Correct."

Lu Yuan confirmed their guess and said calmly:

"This pot of medicinal cuisine has been laced with deadly poison. An ordinary person would certainly die after eating it. I imagine it must be the work of Liu Yishou."

As he spoke, he reached out and beckoned. One of the birds perched on a tree several yards away was instantly snatched into his palm, and he let it peck at the medicinal cuisine.

It only pecked once; the next moment, the bird let out a sharp cry and then went silent.

"This?!"

Seeing this scene, Chen Zhantang's face turned livid, and he said with irrepressible rage:

"How dare this beast do such a thing!? Hall Master, he shouldn't have run far yet. I will go catch him and interrogate him to give you an explanation!"

With that, he turned around in a fit of fury, preparing to hunt down Liu Yishou.

"Wait."

Lu Yuan raised his hand to stop him and smiled faintly:

"I have no grudge against Liu Yishou; he likely acted under coercion or instruction. Since that is the case, it is better to let them reveal their own flaws. Chen Zhantang, act as if I have been poisoned. Take half of the Gatekeepers to search for Liu Yishou. If it gets late, let the Gatekeepers go home to rest and do not return to the hall.

Peng Yidao, Lin Sheng, I will give you some Silver Yuan. You two take a group of people and go to the medicine market to purchase all kinds of antidotes and Pill, and make as much noise as possible. As for the other Gatekeepers, and even the long-term laborers and helpers, tell them all to go home for now and return to the hall in two days."

Hearing Lu Yuan's arrangements, the three Dharma Disciples looked at each other:

"Hall Master, are you planning to lure the snake out of its hole?"

"Those who dare to make a move against you are likely not ordinary people or forces. This... might it be a bit dangerous?"

Lu Yuan's smile remained unchanged:

"No need to say more, go do it."

The ones most likely to have coerced Liu Yishou into poisoning him were the Sha'e Consulate and the Rizhao Consulate, the two forces that had suffered heavy losses at his hands.

Last time, these two sides sent elites to assassinate him, and after he killed all the attackers, he did not pursue the matter. Today they dared to plot against him again; if he didn't make the blood flow like a river, these people would think he was made of mud.

Thinking of their Hall Master's god-like abilities, Chen Zhantang and the others felt relieved and immediately responded:

"Yes!"

The three left in a hurry, then gathered all the Gatekeepers according to Lu Yuan's instructions and left the hall with great fanfare.

It was now evening, and the sky was growing dark. There were still many pedestrians on the street, and they were filled with curiosity to see so many members of Guangwu Hall take to the streets.

In a two-story building at the end of the street, just one mile from Guangwu Hall, Takov held binoculars and watched the sudden movement of Guangwu Hall, his eyes filled with joy:

"There is movement. Did it succeed?"

Behind him, Liu Yishou, who had been waiting anxiously, hurriedly leaned forward to look, then said in fear:

"With so many Gatekeepers, they are probably out looking for me? Mr. Takov, you promised to ensure the safety of my family!"

"Don't be anxious yet."

Takov would not release the hawk until he saw the rabbit. He narrowed his eyes and said:

"Colonel Moros, please send our secret agents to investigate and see what exactly happened."

Wherever the powers established a Concession, there was naturally no shortage of spies and scouts gathering information.

The Sha'e People, who grew a foreign face in Jinjin, naturally could not do such delicate work, so the Consulate secretly recruited many local ruffians and even Martial Arts experts in Jinjin to become secret agents.

"Good."

A sturdy Sha'e People man behind him left immediately to issue orders, and then several secret agents who had been on standby were dispatched to approach the large group of Gatekeepers rushing out of the hall in a menacing manner to gather intelligence.

In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, once the sky had turned completely ink-black, the secret agents returned with news and notified Takov.

"That Lu Yuan was poisoned, but he didn't die?"

Hearing the news brought back by the secret agents, Takov frowned deeply and said with some disappointment:

"What is his current situation?"

A secret agent with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks, who also wore a braided queue, said obsequiously:

"It's not very clear. These Gatekeepers are also just repeating what the leading Dharma Disciple said; they didn't see the scene of the poisoning with their own eyes, only knowing that the situation seems quite critical. Now, about eighty people from Guangwu Hall have some of their number searching everywhere for Liu Yishou's whereabouts, while another group of Gatekeepers went straight to the medicine market and spent a large sum of money to purchase snow lotus, lingzhi, and all sorts of antidotes and folk remedies. Clearly, that person's situation is not optimistic and he is waiting to be saved!"

"Is that so..."

Takov's brow relaxed, and a cold, malicious sneer appeared on his face:

"To think he didn't die on the spot; it seems the effect of the Blood Mass isn't as strong as I imagined. It made me look forward to it for nothing, but this should be enough."

Liu Yishou dared not mention that the Niangan Office had also come to his door to make him add an extra ingredient, only saying urgently:

"Mr. Takov, I have already done as you said. Now, can you release my son and grandson so that our family can be reunited?"

"Reunited?"

Takov turned his head and gave a sinister laugh:

"Good, I will send you to reunite with your family right now."

Seeing the malicious smile on the other party's face, Liu Yishou was instantly filled with terror and subconsciously took a step back:

"Mr. Takov, you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a steel-like hand behind him instantly gripped his neck and squeezed hard.

Crack!

Liu Yishou's neck was as fragile as a withered branch and snapped immediately; his head tilted at an unnatural angle, and he died on the spot.

On his tilted head, his eyes were wide open, and his lusterless pupils were filled with fear and regret.

"Stupid and naive Jin Dynasty man, you can go underground now to accompany your family."

Watching Liu Yishou's expression of terror, anger, and refusal to close his eyes in death, Takov sneered, then looked at Moros, the imperial guard sent by Aojinniezi to assist him, who had just crushed Liu Yishou to death:

"Colonel Moros, it seems this Lu Yuan is quite tenacious. It's hard to say if he will survive. Do you think we need to intervene and send him to his grave early?"

"No need."

Moros was as emotionless as a robot and said coldly:

"Our mission is already complete. General Aojinniezi has instructed that if that Lu Yuan dies under the Blood Mass, so be it; if he does not die, he will personally step out and kill the other party in a challenge before the eyes of all to restore the lost reputation!"

Takov nodded with a beaming smile: "Then I understand."

Meanwhile.

On the other side.

Also in a residential house not far from Guangwu Hall.

Outside, the night was already filling the sky, and in one room, candlelight flickered, illuminating two faces—one cold and gloomy, the other as still as an ancient well.

It was Mankeduo, the Great Governor of the Niangan Office who had sensed the unusual movement at Guangwu Hall and sent his subordinates to investigate, and Lugu Ta, a Great Martial Master of Shamanism who was accompanying him.

"Oh?"

Looking at the confidant who had just finished reporting the situation, Mankeduo's gaze was as sharp as a knife, and a cold sneer appeared on his face:

"To have been struck by Meteor Dragon Poison and the Sha'e People's deadly poison and still not die on the spot—this Lu Yuan's life is even tougher than I imagined."

"Changshengtian is above."

Lugu Ta also sighed with emotion:

"Governor Man is indeed meticulous in his thinking. Even half a dose of Meteor Dragon Poison is not something an ordinary Grandmaster can withstand. That this person has not died proves he truly possesses great fortune and great secrets. Now that the Gatekeepers of Guangwu Hall have poured out in full force, and his strength is greatly diminished with little power to resist, should you and I act quickly to avoid being beaten to the punch by the Sha'e People?"

Mankeduo, however, fell into deep thought, a shadow of doubt appearing in his eyes:

"That should be the case... but it is somewhat strange. Since this person is poisoned and hanging by a thread, most of his Gatekeepers should be guarding him; how could they have poured out in full force, creating such a scene of internal emptiness?"

Lugu Ta laughed dismissively:

"His Guangwu Hall is, after all, only newly established and lacks even a single decent expert; it is no different from a ragtag troupe. With no leader, it is perfectly normal for these people to be like headless flies.

The so-called 'opportunity lost is never regained'; he must be at his weakest right now. For the two of us to join forces and take him down is as easy as turning over one's hand. Why does Governor Man need to worry so much?"

Mankeduo pondered for a moment and nodded:

"Elder Lu is right. With the two of us joining forces, even at his peak he would be enough to be beaten to death; now there is even less need to worry. Let's go!"

"Mugudu, Elder Lu and I will enter the hall to capture this person. You all provide support from the outside. Unless necessary, do not use guns, and do not let anyone see through your origins!"

In such a struggle, even a Six Realms Martial Arts Master could hardly help, so the top expert of the Niangan Office named Mugudu immediately agreed.

Subsequently, the group of more than ten people, filled with murderous intent, moved out in force under the cover of night, and in a short while, they arrived in front of Guangwu Hall.

The night curtain was the best cover. Without another word, the two Grandmasters, Mankeduo and Lugu Ta, flew up like night owls, stepping lightly and swiftly over the perimeter wall and onto the roof of the hall, which was several zhang high.

Their gazes swept around like falcons; the large hall was pitch black inside and out, with no one having returned, save for a flickering light in a separate courtyard not far away.

Having investigated for many days, they already knew that was Lu Yuan's residence. Mankeduo and Lugu Ta's figures moved like lightning, flying down and heading straight for the separate courtyard.

Arriving before the courtyard, the two had cold light in their eyes, like ghosts in the night, leaping over silently and entering the courtyard.

The spacious courtyard was dim, and with the help of the faint starlight, one could see a weak light in the main room; it seemed the target was inside.

Hmm?

There seemed to be no one else in the separate courtyard. Sensing vaguely that something was wrong, Mankeduo raised his hand to signal slightly, and the two Grandmasters immediately slowed their pace and approached quietly.

As top experts of the True Martial Realm, and having come prepared, the two restrained their footsteps and breathing as they walked, moving like phantoms without making a sound. As their ears twitched, they took in every movement in the surroundings.

After reaching the True Martial Realm, a martial artist not only undergoes the transformation of Qi and the evolution of life, but in reality, their five senses, hearing, and other perceptions are also greatly enhanced.

For these two Grandmasters, within ten zhang, as long as they did not intentionally control it, they could even capture the breathing and heartbeat of any person, so there was absolutely no need to break into the room; they could easily judge whether there was anyone in the room and what their state was.

Once confirmed, it would be the moment for the two lions to hunt the rabbit and strike!

And it was at this very moment.

In the courtyard, Mankeduo's ears twitched slightly, while Lugu Ta's expression changed; he suddenly turned his head and, without any warning, formed a seal with one hand, striking out toward the empty space at his side.

Boom!

His seal technique was as violent as gunpowder, unleashing a visible shockwave of force in the air that actually blasted through and collapsed the perimeter wall at his side!

Lugu Ta's attack missing was something Mankeduo had not expected; just as he was about to ask, he suddenly realized that something seemed to be moving at high speed within the earth beneath his feet, and he immediately dodged away in shock and anger, then stomped down fiercely.

Rumble!

In an instant, as Mankeduo stomped down, the airflow around his body immediately let out an unbearable roar, and his protective Qi exploded violently.

Under that single stomp, with the point of impact as the center, the tamped and paved ground collapsed without resistance, and large swathes of soil and stone slabs churned like waves, surging in all directions, as if earth dragons were all turning over at once, intending to flip the entire courtyard floor over!

"Someone is sneaking underground!"

"Hidden in the darkness, without shadow or form; what kind of illusion technique is this?"

Amidst such violent momentum, the two Grandmasters, Mankeduo and Lugu Ta, shouted in shock and anger, instead gathering back-to-back, scanning the dim courtyard with suspicious gazes and overflowing killing intent.

Grandmaster-level powerhouses have superhumanly keen perception; just before they struck, both Mankeduo and Lugu Ta had clearly felt that a person had suddenly appeared out of thin air at their side.

However, the moment Lugu Ta struck, that invisible person vanished into thin air, and subsequently, an anomaly came from the ground beneath their feet, as if someone were sneaking underground.

The two of them had fought countless experts in their lives, but this was the first time they had experienced such a bizarre situation; they had never even heard of such a thing before!!

And just as their hearts were filled with immense suspicion.

From the night sky high above their heads, a nonchalant sneer suddenly rang out:

"As expected of True Martial Grandmasters, to be able to detect Invisibility and Earth Travel Technique so quickly; it seems I still underestimated you."

"To show my appreciation for you, let the two of you sample another technique I have recently learned."

"Jiji Rululing Ding!"

(End of chapter)