Chарtеr 4 (7/21)
Gоng Yuаnzhi’s еуebrows twitсhеd, ignоring his quеstiоn entirely. Не casuаlly plасеd thе mеdiсine bottlе aside, paying no аttеntion tо anуоnе.
Sеeing his dismissivе аttitudе, Jin Fаn сouldn’t hеlp but speаk uр: “Young Мaster Zhi, aсcording tо the rules, уоu shоuld bоw whеn уоu see thе Вladе Маster.”
Нeаring this, Gоng Yuanzhi cаst а cоld, sidelong glanсe: “Who arе уоu? Do уou even dеsеrvе to sреаk tо mе?”
Gоng Ziyu liftеd his сhin, delibеratеly saуing: “Jin Fan, if Yоung Маster Zhi is unwilling tо bоw, hе must hаve his reasоns. Though I don’t understand, I wоn’t force him. Wе can lеavе it tо the Еlders Council to judge.”
Gong Yuanzhi’s slender fingers, hanging at his side, clenched slightly, as if in disgust or restraint. This man actually used the Elders Council to pressure him! After a moment of silence, he had no choice but to lower his head and utter: “Blade Master.”
Gong Ziyu replied with utmost seriousness: “Young Master Zhi, there’s no need for such formality.”
Gong Yuanzhi gritted his teeth, a fierce glint flashing in the young man’s stubborn eyes.
Ignoring his anger, Gong Ziyu walked over and picked up the medicine bottle he had just set down. The label read “Hundred Herbs Extract.”
Recalling how his father and brother had still been poisoned despite taking the Hundred Herbs Extract, and knowing that Gong Yuanzhi was always in charge of it, Gong Ziyu felt many doubts arise. He couldn’t help but ask: “Young Master Zhi, you’ve always specialized in refining poisons and antidotes. You were responsible for examining my father and brother’s bodies. Have you found anything?”
Gong Yuanzhi already had the answer: “The poison that killed the Blade Master and the Young Lord is the House of Gong’s own poison, ‘Immortal-Dispelling Dust.’ This poison acts extremely quickly. Without timely treatment, death is certain.”
“So there is a cure?”
“There is, but it’s difficult.”
“Oh?”
Gong Yuanzhi continued: “Since this poison was successfully developed, there have been almost no cases of successful rescue. Immortal-Dispelling Dust is a highly diffusive poison that rapidly spreads throughout the body via blood and qi, leaving the antidote administrator with an almost impossibly narrow window of time.”
“How narrow?”
Gong Yuanzhi raised a fingertip, estimating: “Two hundred heartbeats.”
Gong Ziyu: “Such a potent poison—is it hard to obtain?”
“It seems the Blade Master is not very familiar with the affairs of the House of Gong…” Gong Yuanzhi gave him a disdainful look. “Immortal-Dispelling Dust is sold at various House of Gong outposts both inside and outside Old Dust Valley, as long as one can afford the price.”
“Difficult to cure but easy to obtain. Understood.” Gong Ziyu then asked another question: “Then, is this poison hard to guard against?”
Gong Yuanzhi’s expression shifted slightly: “I don’t understand what you mean by that.”
Gong Ziyu finally got to the point: “Let me rephrase. Young Master Zhi, would someone who takes Hundred Herbs Extract daily be susceptible to this poison?”
Gong Yuanzhi fell silent for a long time. Glancing sideways at the pharmacy steward beside him, he had no choice but to admit through gritted teeth: “No.”
Gong Ziyu sneered: “Then, since both the Blade Master and the Young Lord, who took Hundred Herbs Extract daily, died from Immortal-Dispelling Dust, shouldn’t I hold the person responsible for making the Hundred Herbs Extract accountable?”
Faced with his aggressive questioning, Gong Yuanzhi remained calm and composed, displaying a poise far beyond his years.
“For years, everyone in the House of Gong, from the Elders down to the ladies, has been taking the Hundred Herbs Extract, along with other pills and dietary supplements developed by Zhi Manor, without a single mishap. Earlier, you asked why I came to the medical hall. In fact, I came precisely to check whether there was any issue with the Hundred Herbs Extract in the pharmacy…”---
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