Chapter 103: Both the Culprit and the Stolen Goods Captured

Doctor Sun stroked his beard, recalling, and said:

I remember that a few days before Assistant Official Zhang was poisoned, he had gone to the Clear Wind Mountain Villa outside the city to visit a friend.

He paused, then added:

Besides that, there seemed to be nothing else unusual.

"Clear Wind Mountain Villa..." Jiang Xiaomu murmured.

On the surface, he remained expressionless, merely giving a slight nod, and said:

Thank you for the information, Doctor Sun; I take my leave.

Having said that, Jiang Xiaomu rose, left the silver ingot on the table, turned, and left the clinic.

Doctor Sun watched Jiang Xiaomu depart, waiting until his figure vanished into the night.

His formerly kind face instantly turned grim, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Back home, Jiang Xiaomu lay in bed but could not sleep no matter what.

Doctor Sun's evasive attitude made him repeatedly recall every detail of the clinic.

More importantly, Jiang Xiaomu recalled that, besides the strong herbal scent in the clinic, he also detected a faint strange fragrance.

"Could it be..."

A bold conjecture arose in Jiang Xiaomu's mind.

【Ding! System alert! The host is about to die!】

【The host sneaked into the clinic at night to find Doctor Sun's evidence, never expecting his identity to be exposed and discovered.】

【The host was drugged and knocked unconscious by Doctor Sun, then killed!】

【It is advised that the host cease operations!】

Jiang Xiaomu's heart sank; it seemed Doctor Sun indeed had a problem!

In the dead of night, he donned a black outfit and silently infiltrated Doctor Sun's clinic.

Holding his breath, he cautiously felt his way forward.

That peculiar fragrance grew stronger in the night, guiding Jiang Xiaomu deeper into the clinic.

Finally, Jiang Xiaomu arrived at a concealed small room.

The room held various herbs and utensils; in a corner, Jiang Xiaomu noticed an inconspicuous porcelain bottle.

He picked up the bottle, opened the stopper, and a familiar fragrance instantly filled the air.

"Bewitching Incense!" Jiang Xiaomu's heart jolted.

This was exactly the bewitching incense found earlier on the merchant convoy's master!

Could it be that Doctor Sun colluded with the bandits, using bewitching incense to abduct the merchant convoy and the Zhang family's young lady, and then…

Jiang Xiaomu dared not think further.

He gripped the bottle tightly, about to leave, when a cold voice suddenly sounded from behind.

"Young master, what brings you here at this late hour?"

Jiang Xiaomu spun around to see Doctor Sun standing at the doorway, holding an oil lamp, a sinister smile on his face.

"You..." Jiang Xiaomu tightened his grip on the bottle, thinking inwardly that things were bad.

Doctor Sun stepped closer, his tone icy.

"It seems you have uncovered my secret, young master."

He said gloomily:

"Too bad you learned what you shouldn't have."

Jiang Xiaomu forced himself to stay calm and said coldly:

"Doctor Sun, you colluded with the bandits, committed atrocities, the evidence is solid—what else do you have to say?"

Doctor Sun burst out laughing, as if he'd heard the biggest joke, and said:

"Evidence? Is the bottle in your hand the evidence?"

His eyes turned cold, killing intent fully revealed.

"Too bad the dead can't speak."

Having said that, Doctor Sun suddenly struck.

The oil lamp in his hand flew out, smashing toward Jiang Xiaomu, while he raised his wooden staff to attack.

Jiang Xiaomu had been prepared; a dagger slid from his sleeve, deflecting the incoming oil lamp.

"Old fool, it really is you!"

Jiang Xiaomu let out a low shout, his body agile, the dagger thrust straight at Doctor Sun's throat.

Although Doctor Sun was old, his movements were unusually agile; his wooden staff whirled with vigor, matching Jiang Xiaomu's dagger blow for blow.

"Hmph, brat, you've ruined my plans—today is your death day!"

Jiang Xiaomu, relying on youthful strength, used speed to overcome slowness, gradually gaining the upper hand.

After dozens of rounds, Doctor Sun's strength waned and his breathing grew ragged.

Seeing he was outmatched, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he seized the moment when Jiang Xiaomu drew near.

He drew a delicate small porcelain bottle from his bosom, flung open the stopper, and a pale pink smoke burst forth.

"Bewitching Incense!"

Jiang Xiaomu silently cursed, hastily held his breath, and covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve.

But this bewitching incense had obviously been specially prepared; Jiang Xiaomu still felt a wave of dizziness.

His vision began to blur, and his body gradually lost control.

"Hahaha, kid, you're still too green!"

Doctor Sun, seeing the situation, burst into loud laughter, his eyes full of mockery.

"My bewitching incense has got you; even immortals can't be saved! Submit to death!"

Jiang Xiaomu clung to consciousness, staggered backward, but lost his balance and fell to the ground.

He felt utterly weak, breathing difficult, and his consciousness began to blur.

Doctor Sun stepped closer, raising his wooden staff high, a ferocious smile on his face.

"Kid, in your next life, remember not to meddle!"

Just as the wooden staff was about to fall, Jiang Xiaomu suddenly laughed, his smile eerie.

"Old fool, you're getting ahead of yourself!"

At the moment Doctor Sun froze, Jiang Xiaomu sprang up from the ground and stabbed his short dagger into Doctor Sun's thigh.

"Ah!"

Doctor Sun cried out in pain, his wooden staff flew from his hand, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

"You... you actually..."

Doctor Sun clutched his wound, his face deathly pale, eyes filled with terror.

Jiang Xiaomu struggled to his feet, step by step approached Doctor Sun, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Old fool, you think this petty trick can defeat me? You seriously underestimate me!"

He grabbed Doctor Sun's collar, lifted him up, his tone icy.

"Speak, what's your relation to the bandits? Where is Miss Zhang now?"

Doctor Sun's face was ashen, his lips trembling, yet he remained silent.

Jiang Xiaomu staggered, one hand covering his nose and mouth, the other gripping Doctor Sun's clothes tightly.

He dragged him out of the clinic like a dead dog.

"Cough... cough... let... let me go..."

Doctor Sun weakly struggled, the wound on his leg still bleeding, staining his trousers red.

"Shut up, old fool!"

Jiang Xiaomu gritted his teeth, he dared not delay, not knowing how strong the bewitching incense's aftereffects were; he must find an antidote quickly.

The constables of Xian Ya were startled by the sight; Jiang Xiaomu's clothes were disheveled, his head drenched in cold sweat, and he was dragging a bloody half-dead old man.

"Sir... Sir Li..."

Jiang Xiaomu's vision darkened, he could barely stand.

Li Wenqing rushed over upon hearing the news, and seeing the scene, he was also stunned.

"Mr. Jiang, what's going on?"

"Doctor Sun... colluded with bandits... bewitching incense..."

Jiang Xiaomu spoke haltingly, his vision went black, and he fainted completely.

Li Wenqing quickly had Doctor Sun imprisoned and sent someone to escort Jiang Xiaomu home.

When Jiang Xiaomu awoke again, it was already deep night.

The bewitching incense's effect still lingered; he struggled to sit up, everything before him doubled.

"System, is there an antidote?"

Jiang Xiaomu silently recited in his heart.