Chapter 12: Source of the Poison

Cheng Kexin returned inside the house.

Cheng Weijun looked up and asked, "Kexin, tell Dad the truth, where did you find this person? What exactly is his cultivation realm?"

Cheng Kexin was surprised by her father's question and said, "What's wrong? Aren't you very satisfied, Dad?"

"I am naturally satisfied with him as a Bodyguard, but we still need to figure out his background. To have such a high Martial Artist realm at the age of twenty-something, if his identity is also without issue, then we cannot treat him merely as a Bodyguard; that would be a waste of talent!"

Cheng Weijun said, "Given his age and talent, it would not be unreasonable to have him serve as a retainer for the Cheng Family."

Hearing her father say this, Cheng Kexin smiled knowingly: "Dad, don't worry. His identity is fine, and as for what his exact realm is, I don't know either. But he is very powerful, that's for sure. As for being a retainer... it's not that I want to discourage you, Dad. Our Cheng Family cannot afford to keep him, nor are we qualified to."

"What?!"

Cheng Weijun could not believe that his eldest daughter, who had always been so haughty, would say such a thing.

The Cheng Family couldn't afford it? And wasn't qualified? Just what kind of person could make Cheng Kexin say such disparaging things about their family.

"Who exactly is he? Tell me the truth!" Cheng Weijun pressed for an answer.

"Dad, just don't ask. It's not convenient to reveal his identity right now, and I promised him I wouldn't say. But rest assured, even without being a retainer, with me here, if the Cheng Family has any trouble, he will help."

Cheng Kexin said with a face full of confidence.

"Fine, since you say so, I am relieved."

His eldest daughter had always been steady, and Cheng Weijun did not doubt her words at all.

Cheng Weijun suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, a few days ago, Zhang came to visit your grandfather. You were away on official business for the Inspection Bureau at the time. Your grandfather's intention is for you to go see Zhang's elders when you have time. After all, you have a marriage Contract with Zhang, so you cannot be lacking in etiquette."

Cheng Kexin's expression instantly turned gloomy, and she said reluctantly, "Understood."

Chen Che and Cheng Kexin's car left the Cheng Family gate and headed toward the city center.

Inside a black Audi not far from the Cheng Family villa, a man and a woman with somewhat similar features watched the car Chen Che was in drive away.

Cheng Song had not yet calmed down and said with an angry tone, "I don't know where Cheng Kexin found that person; the five-man team I spent a fortune to hire was actually dealt with so easily!"

"Cheng Kexin is a Commander of the Inspection Bureau. There are many powerful Martial Artists locked up in the prison, so it's not strange that she could find someone like that."

Sitting next to Cheng Song was a woman wearing a black dress.

The woman had short hair, her slender fingers held a cigarette, her nails were painted black, she wore smoky makeup, and her silver earrings swayed as she puffed out smoke.

She sat upright on the leather seat with her legs crossed, and overall, she had a beauty like a black rose.

She was none other than the eldest sister of the Cheng Family, Cheng Song's own sister, Cheng Qian.

"The five-man team has collapsed. Now the plan to plant a spy beside Cheng Kexin has also fallen through, and there is an extra Martial Dao expert now. The wedding date between Cheng Kexin and Zhang is only a month away. What should we do?"

Cheng Song had exhausted all his methods and asked Cheng Qian.

Cheng Qian snorted coldly: "It's because the people you found are stupid! They couldn't even handle a small matter. I told you to poison Cheng Kexin, but the person you found actually got the target wrong, and in the end, it was Cheng Kexin who got poisoned! Otherwise, we could have settled things last time!"

"Stop with the sarcastic remarks and hurry up and think of a way!" Cheng Song said indignantly.

Cheng Qian exhaled a puff of smoke, her voice cold: "Leave it to me. From now on, listen to my instructions."

………

Under Cheng Kexin's guidance, Chen Che first went to a mobile phone store and changed to the latest model.

Then he went to a barbershop and had his long hair, which hadn't been cut in ten years, trimmed according to the style Cheng Kexin liked.

After the haircut, everyone in the barbershop was amazed; they couldn't believe that the person with long hair and the person with short hair were the same!

The hairstyle perfectly matched Chen Che's face, and even though he was still wearing that dowdy long robe, he projected a refined and courteous image.

Including the barber, several pretty girls took the initiative to ask for Chen Che's contact information.

Cheng Kexin naturally wouldn't allow others to poach her territory, especially when they were doing it right in front of her!

"He is my boyfriend, you have no chance!"

Cheng Kexin hugged Chen Che's arm to declare her sovereignty, then quickly pulled Chen Che away amidst the disappointed gazes of the other girls.

"When did I become your boyfriend?"

After leaving the barbershop, Chen Che asked casually.

Cheng Kexin blushed and asked in return, "Is it so terrible to have a scandal with me?"

Chen Che shrugged: "My identity right now is, after all, your Bodyguard."

"So what? An invincible Bodyguard and a delicate young lady—what a romantic story!"

Cheng Kexin had a look of daydreaming on her face.

Chen Che shook his head helplessly; sure enough, in the heart of a girl her age, romance was the most important thing.

Cheng Kexin caught Chen Che's expression and said unhappily, "What's with the head-shaking? Let me tell you, I'm not that kind of love-struck girl! Although you are very heart-throb material, I can still distinguish what's important and urgent!"

"Then tell me, what is the important thing right now?" Chen Che asked.

"Of course, it's finding the person who poisoned me!" Cheng Kexin frowned and pondered, "I'm eighty percent sure it was done by my cousin from my uncle's side, but there's no evidence."

"Do you remember what happened before you got sick? Even the smallest thing." Chen Che asked.

Cheng Kexin racked her brains and suddenly said, "Does someone anonymously sending a pair of shoes to the house count?"

"Tell me specifically."

"Someone anonymously sent a pair of shoes, saying they were for 'Miss Cheng'. But they didn't specify if they were for my sister or me."

"And then?"

"And then I just wore them." Cheng Kexin said confidently, "There have been suitors sending things before, but this was the first time it was anonymous. So I didn't think much of it, and the style and design of the shoes were the type I liked. My sister didn't like them, so I wore them."

Chen Che asked: "Where are those shoes now?"

"There." Cheng Kexin pointed her toe, "These are the ones."

Chen Che looked down; they looked like just a very ordinary pair of sneakers.

Chen Che suddenly scooped Cheng Kexin up by the waist. The happiness came too suddenly; Cheng Kexin's face turned red instantly, and her heart was thumping wildly!

"What are you doing?"

Cheng Kexin stared blankly at Chen Che's face.

Chen Che placed Cheng Kexiang on the seat of the bus stop on the side of the road, knelt on one knee, and grabbed one of Cheng Kexiang's ankles.

As his fingers made contact with her skin, Cheng Kexiang couldn't help but shiver, her earlobes turning bright red.

Chen Che took off one of Cheng Kexiang's shoes, then took off her sock, and held that small, exquisite jade-like foot, observing it carefully.

Cheng Kexiang looked around in a panic; fortunately, it wasn't peak hour and no one was coming here, otherwise she would have died of shame!

This person is so handsome, why does he have this kind of fetish?!

Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover!

Chen Che put down the jade-like foot and pulled out the insole from inside the shoe; a scent of medicinal herbs drifted into his nasal cavity.

"It should... not be smelly, right?"

Cheng Kexiang's face was as red as a cherry, her voice as small as it could possibly be.

Chen Che frowned tightly and said with a serious face, "The shoe has a problem."

"Ah?"

"The insole was soaked in poison; when you stepped on it, the toxins invaded your skin and gradually accumulated in your legs. This is also the reason why your legs had no sensation before."

Cheng Kexiang nodded: "So that's how it is!"

Without warning, Chen Che grabbed Cheng Kexiang's small foot again and drove a Ghost Gate Needle into the sole of her foot.

"Ah..."

Taken by surprise, Cheng Kexiang let out a soft moan instinctively.

Fortunately, she reacted in time to cover her mouth, and there was no one around, otherwise, if someone heard, they would have thought she was carrying something around with her.

"What are you doing?"

Cheng Kexiang's face felt hot as she stared at Chen Che, whose attention was focused on her foot.

"Expelling poison."

Chen Che said: "You have been wearing this pair of shoes the whole time; even though you were cured last time, a portion of the toxins has entered your body again now."

Cheng Kexiang was startled, stopped talking, and obediently let Chen Che expel the poison.

One was finished.

Chen Che took off her other shoe and sock and inserted a Silver Needle into the sole of her foot.

This time, Cheng Kexiang covered her mouth in advance, so she didn't make any more shameful sounds.

"Done."

One minute later, Chen Che finished expelling the poison and put away the Silver Needle.

"Don't wear this pair of shoes for now; I will tell Senior Sister and have her check the sender."

Chen Che took out his phone and sent the message to Cheng Kexin.

"Then what should I do now? I can't go with you to buy clothes barefoot."

Cheng Kexiang said while swinging her pair of small, exquisite, beautiful feet.

Chen Che pondered slightly and said with a straight face: "I can go buy clothes by myself; I will call Senior Sister now and have her come pick you up to go home first."

"No!"

Having finally obtained the opportunity to be alone with Chen Che, how could Cheng Kexiang leave first?

Chen Che looked helpless: "Then what do you suggest?"

Cheng Kexiang rolled her eyes and suddenly smiled playfully: "Carry me on your back!"

"Impossible!"

Chen Che refused decisively.

"Why?"

Cheng Kexiang said unhappily.

Chen Che retorted: "And why should I carry you?"

"Just because you are my Bodyguard! Whatever I tell you to do, you have to do!"

"But a Bodyguard's duty is to protect your safety."

"I don't care!"

Cheng Kexiang acted unreasonably, "If you don't listen to me, I'll tell my sister that you bullied me! I'll make her stop helping you investigate your enemies!"

Chen Che's expression turned ugly; are all girls these days so unreasonable?

Forget it, she is the younger sister of his Sixth Senior Sister after all; since he promised to help, he would just have to endure it for now.

Chen Che turned around and squatted down in front of Cheng Kexiang.

Cheng Kexiang smiled in triumph, climbed onto Chen Che's warm back without hesitation, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

Chen Che smelled the fragrance on Cheng Kexiang's body and that indescribable youthful aura, which left him stunned for a moment.

Was this girl actually this wonderful?

Why hadn't he noticed before?

That's right, his Sixth Senior Sister is a great beauty, so how could her younger sister be any worse?

If his own toxins flared up, he wondered if she could handle it? If she could handle it, that would be for the best!

"Hey! Compared to me, do you like my sister more? After all, you two are fellow disciples."

Chen Che was still daydreaming when Cheng Kexiang's words entered his ears; the voice was very soft, almost inaudible, but the hot air blowing on his ear was itchy.

"Ah? What did you say?"

Chen Che played dumb.

"Nothing, let's go!"

"Where to?"

"Xiangfei Clothing Store!"