Chapter 120: Poisoning

"What's wrong?" Qian Jin asked, puzzled. Yet, out of his usual trust in Shen San, he instinctively stopped.

"You're not the one who served the dishes earlier. Where's the original person?" Shen San ignored the stout man's confusion. Instead, he slowly stood up, pressing his hand on the saber pouch at his waist, and coldly stared at the young attendant serving wine.

"There are too many guests, so Li Er went to run errands for other private rooms. I'm filling in for him. Sir, is something the matter?" The attendant's face turned completely white under Shen San's gaze, and he replied in a panic.

Seeing the man's reaction, Shen San's expression softened slightly. However, he still seemed uneasy. He turned to Xiao Jinzhi, who was in Shen Zhongshan's arms, and asked:

"Miss Jin, do you know this person? Is he truly from your Xiaoxiang Brothel?"

"This...?" The top courtesan showed a troubled expression, but eventually said with some embarrassment:

"To be frank, Master Shen, this person does look unfamiliar. However, with hundreds of people working in our Xiaoxiang Brothel, it's not unusual for me not to have seen him."

"Haha! Xiao San, aren't you making things difficult for Miss Jin? How could such a delicate beauty know a mere servant? Do you suspect he's a killer who sneaked in from outside?" Shen Zhongshan chuckled, lowering his head to sniff the alluring woman in his arms a few times, speaking indifferently.

"Brother, we live by the sword; it's better to be careful!" Shen San remained expressionless, his gaze fixed on the young man serving the dishes.

"Heh heh! This person has light, unsteady steps and dull eyes. It's clear he knows no martial arts. If you're still uneasy, I have a method to immediately verify his identity and put everyone's minds at ease." The Poison Scholar Fan Ju suddenly sneered a few times, speaking sinisterly.

Fan Ju had long been displeased with Shen San, who had joined the Siping Gang after him but enjoyed more of Shen Zhongshan's trust. As someone who always claimed to be the Siping Gang's strategist, he decided to make Shen San look foolish.

"Oh, what method? Brother Fan, go ahead and try." Although Shen Zhongshan spoke with great swagger, he actually treasured his own life dearly. He immediately changed his tune and agreed to let Fan Ju try.

"Since this person knows no martial arts, if he truly intends us harm, he'd only tamper with the food and wine. So, if we make him taste everything, wouldn't the truth be revealed?" The Poison Scholar said confidently.

"Brother Fan, excellent idea!" The black-clad Qian Jin clapped his hands in delight, then immediately yelled at the attendant who had entered the room, "Lad, first, drink a mouthful of this wine for the master, then eat some of the dishes. If you hesitate at all, I'll twist your head off!"

Upon hearing Fan Ju's words, the black-clad Shen San found the method quite good. He offered no objection, watching coldly.

As for Shen Zhongshan and Xiao Jinzhi in his arms, they had even fewer objections.

Thus, under the watchful eyes of the group, the attendant serving the food and wine, with a somber face, drank a cup of wine and ate a few mouthfuls of the dishes.

Seeing that the man remained unharmed after consuming the food and wine, Fan Ju smiled triumphantly. He said to Shen San with significant meaning, "It seems Brother Shen was overly cautious. This person is indeed just a servant. Next time, please don't spoil our drinking mood!" After speaking, he picked up a few pieces of the newly served dishes, put them into his mouth, and chewed leisurely.

"Hmph!" Shen San grunted, ignoring Fan Ju's veiled criticism. However, he also relaxed and sat back in his seat.

"Haha! All clear! It was just a misunderstanding." Shen Zhongshan was naturally aware of the discord between his two subordinates, but this was something he welcomed. So, he let out a hearty laugh, feigning generosity.

"Since it was just a misunderstanding, you may leave, lad. This silver ingot is your reward!" Shen Zhongshan took out a two-tael silver ingot and tossed it to the attendant.

"Thank you, Master. Then I shall take my leave!" The young man disguised as an attendant was overjoyed at the sight of the silver. He happily withdrew, closing the door behind him.

"Oh, Master Shen is so generous! You shouldn't be stingy with Jinzhi in the future either!" Xiao Jinzhi's delicate, coquettish voice came from inside the room.

"Of course, my beauty, you're my heart's treasure! As long as you serve this master well, you'll never be mistreated! Come on, brothers! Let's all have a drink. We won't leave until we're drunk tonight!" Shen Zhongshan's raspy voice followed, clearly audible to the young man outside the door.

Outside the door, the young man suddenly sneered. He didn't leave immediately but quietly positioned himself under a nearby eaves, standing motionless like a ghost, seemingly waiting for something.

After about a quarter of an hour, a terrified scream suddenly erupted from inside the room: "Poison! This food and wine are poisoned, I'm poisoned!" No sooner had the words left his mouth than the person let out two eerie laughs, and then his breath vanished. By the sound of his voice, it was Qian Jin.

"Wretches! You dare to harm your gang leader?! I'll have your lives!" Shen Zhongshan roared in shock and fury. But it seemed too late; after two uncontrollable dry laughs, he also collapsed and died.

The Poison Scholar Fan Ju and Shen San exchanged a terrified glance, then spoke simultaneously:

"That attendant, he's the one who poisoned us.""That attendant must have the antidote!"

The two immediately pushed aside the women in their arms and frantically rushed towards the door.

Unfortunately, just as they reached the doorway, they let out two "haha" sounds and slowly slid to the ground.

"It seems the black-clad fat man drank the most, so the poison took effect first! Shen Zhongshan also drank quite a bit, making him the second. As for the black-clad man and the scholar, though they didn't drink much, my 'Soul-Laughing Powder' is incredibly potent; even a single drop ingested is lethal." The young man thought leisurely, then waited a little longer before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Inside, there were no survivors. Even Xiao Jinzhi and the three other women who had been serving drinks were long dead.

After Han Li meticulously checked and confirmed there were no living people, he gracefully departed from the room.

"Presumably, once the news of Shen Zhongshan's poisoning spreads, it will simply be seen as a gang vendetta. It shouldn't cause any major trouble," Han Li thought, feeling at ease as he walked.

"This Clear Spirit Powder is truly effective. Just one pill beforehand not only prevents all poisons but also works wonders against aphrodisiacs and similar drugs. I used it to trick Madam Yan and the others last time." He smiled oddly, instinctively touching the bottle of "Clear Spirit Powder" in his pocket.

Han Li returned to the inn unnoticed. As soon as he entered his room, he lay down on the bed and fell into a sweet sleep.

This was a habit Han Li had unintentionally developed: whenever he completed a significant task, he would become extremely drowsy, allowing him to thoroughly relax his body and mind in sleep.

While Han Li was deeply asleep, the deaths of Shen Zhongshan and his three great protectors were finally discovered by the people of Xiaoxiang Brothel. Consequently, when the news reached the Siping Gang, it immediately stirred up many ambitious individuals.

No one wanted to investigate Shen Zhongshan's cause of death, because in Jiayuan City, the law of the jungle was natural. Shen Zhongshan himself had ascended to his position by killing the previous leader of the Siping Gang. Therefore, all that concerned the remaining Siping Gang chiefs, big and small, was who should inherit the vacant leadership position.

With no strong candidate and no one willing to submit to another, a brutal struggle for the leadership position finally erupted within the Siping Gang that very night.

The next morning, when the ordinary, lower-ranking gang members who hadn't participated in the struggle woke up, they were astonished to discover that the entire Siping Gang had fallen into the hands of an inconspicuous minor leader named Sun Ergou.

In a single night, Sun Ergou had inexplicably eliminated all other high-ranking members who opposed him. With no one daring to stand against him, he smoothly ascended to the position of Siping Gang leader. The very next day, he sent out notices to other gangs in the West City, confirming his succession.

Meanwhile, Han Li, the mastermind behind the entire affair, appeared at the Mo Residence after a good night's sleep. He was in the same elegant small building, with Madam Yan and several other beautiful ladies still standing before him. However, behind them stood three renowned beauties of Jiayuan City: the Mo Clan's Three Charms.

Han Li had already met Mo Yuzhu and Mo Caihuan, so his gaze lingered more on Dr. Mo's adopted daughter, Mo Fengwu.

Mo Fengwu was a yellow-clad beauty with an oval-shaped face, appearing to be sixteen or seventeen years old. Her entire demeanor was exquisite, giving Han Li a sense of delicate charm.

At that moment, Mo Fengwu, feeling Han Li's continuous gaze, shyly lowered her head, revealing her long, fair, and delicate neck. Han Li couldn't help but swallow several times.

"Young Master Han, please stop staring at my Fengwu like that!" Third Madam said coquettishly to Han Li after a foxy smile. "Our Fengwu is very shy! Shouldn't we continue yesterday's discussion?"