Chapter 38: Reason

Gu Mo smiled, while Gu Chundong was somewhat startled, never expecting the annoying Lin Buqi to be so kind as to warn them.

"Drink it," Gu Mo whispered in response.

Lin Buqi's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Brother, you're here in Yong'an County to see a doctor, aren't you? I recently got my hands on a batch of excellent medicinal herbs that are perfect for your condition. Hehe, you know what I mean..."

As he spoke, Lin Buqi put on a suggestive smile, as if about to discuss private matters between men. He leaned close to Gu Mo's ear and discreetly slipped two pills into Gu Mo's hand. He whispered, "These are antidotes. They can temporarily suppress common poisons and slow down the spread of the toxins. Once I've finished my business here, I'll come back to detoxify you. When the fight breaks out later, quickly hide in a corner. I know you're a skilled martial artist, Grandmaster Gu, but you're currently poisoned, so don't push yourself."

Gu Mo, finding it amusing, exchanged a few more words with Lin Buqi, who then returned to his own table.

Gu Chundong leaned closer to Gu Mo's ear and whispered, "Brother, what's Lin Buqi up to?"

"Let's just watch," Gu Mo replied with a faint smile.

A short while later, the waiter brought the food to their table.

Gu Mo inspected the dishes and found no poison at all, wondering if it was because their adversaries simply didn't take the siblings seriously.

At Gu Mo's signal, Gu Chundong also ate something.

Meanwhile, at Lin Buqi's table, his companions were feasting and drinking heartily, enjoying themselves immensely.

Suddenly, at a certain moment, there was a "clatter" as a merchant's bowl fell to the floor.

Lin Buqi chuckled, "Brother, you're giving up after just this much?"

Immediately after, with more "clatters," several merchants began to slump to the ground. On the other side, Gu Mo and Gu Chundong also played along, dropping their chopsticks and then collapsing onto the table, feigning unconsciousness.

Just then, the people who had been drinking in the inn, along with the innkeeper, the waiter, and the cook from the kitchen, all stood up and came out. The innkeeper told the waiter, "Go close the door. We have enough guests for today; don't let anyone else in!"

The waiter happily ran out to close the door, while the innkeeper and the men who had been drinking approached Lin Buqi and the merchants, taking their large and small bags.

However, when they opened the packages, they were stunned.

Instead of precious medicinal herbs, the bags were filled entirely with white radishes.

As they stood there in confusion, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out in the inn: "Winter radishes are as good as ginseng, gentlemen! Why not save these radishes to make stew in the winter? Oh, no, wait, none of you will live to see winter!"

It was Lin Buqi who spoke. At the same time, the traveling merchants who had been lying on the ground all stood up, each one throwing open their plain clothes to reveal their weapons.

The innkeeper and his men were greatly alarmed, exclaiming, "Who are you people?"

Lin Buqi drew his long sword and said coldly, "Listen up, you scoundrels! Your grandfather here is Lin Buqi, the senior disciple of the Bashan Sect. These are my junior brothers. We've heard for a long time that this road isn't safe, and that many people traveling this path have disappeared in recent months. We've been watching you for days. So it turns out you wretched dogs are running a den of thieves!"

The innkeeper shouted, "Attack!"

Immediately, his men drew their weapons. At the same moment, the Bashan Sect disciples also began to fight, and the inn instantly erupted into chaos.

The quick-witted innkeeper, taking advantage of the commotion, ran towards Gu Mo and Gu Chundong, who were feigning unconsciousness. He knew well that people from reputable martial arts sects had a common weakness: they would not harm ordinary citizens. While he considered this hypocritical, the tactic always worked. As long as he took ordinary people hostage, his opponents would surely let them go.

Lin Buqi had already noticed this and instantly lunged to intercept the innkeeper. However, the innkeeper suddenly threw a spherical bead, which immediately exploded on the ground, releasing clouds of white mist.

Lin Buqi quickly covered his mouth and waved his sleeve. The innkeeper seized the opportunity to rush towards Gu Mo and Gu Chundong. Then, in the next instant, a scream rang out, and the innkeeper was sent flying backward, crashing onto the counter, dying with his eyes wide open.

This scene astonished everyone in the midst of the chaotic fight.

"Lin Buqi, you're not so great yourself," Gu Chundong quipped playfully. "It's been quite a while, and you still haven't apprehended these petty thieves!"

As Lin Buqi looked on, puzzled, Gu Mo and Gu Chundong emerged from the white mist. Gu Chundong pursed her lips at Lin Buqi and said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, do you want me to help you out?"

Lin Buqi's mouth twitched. "They're just a few petty thieves; there's no need to trouble you, Lady Gu."

Feeling scorned, Lin Buqi immediately wielded his sword and put all his effort into the fight. However, it was clear that he was still recovering from the palm strike Gu Mo had dealt him earlier, making his movements somewhat restricted.

Nevertheless, the inn's criminals were not martial arts masters; they only relied on some underhanded tactics. Facing the Bashan Sect disciples, some were able to hold their own initially, but once their tricks ran out, they quickly succumbed and were all apprehended.

Immediately after, Lin Buqi quickly called to his junior brothers, saying, "Brothers, come quickly and meet Grandmaster Gu! This Grandmaster Gu is none other than Gu Mo, who has slain many wanted criminals such as Flying Dragon, Iron Arhat, and Abbess Kuxin, and even the White Cloud Sword, Grandmaster Shen Bai, conceded defeat to him! The lady beside him is his sister, Lady Gu Chundong, a heroine who rivals any man!"

"Greetings, Grandmaster Gu and Lady Gu!"

The Bashan Sect disciples hastily bowed in salute.

This scene momentarily flustered Gu Chundong, who had initially been annoyed with Lin Buqi and wanted to mock him. She had never witnessed such a spectacle, with so many people bowing to her.

Gu Chundong said, "Lin Buqi, what are you playing at? Weren't you just..."

Lin Buqi looked embarrassed and said, "Grandmaster Gu, Lady Gu, I was just about to sincerely apologize to both of you for what happened at the Wang Residence. I truly misunderstood then; I genuinely believed you two were swindlers, which is why I spoke so arrogantly and acted disrespectfully."

Seeing Lin Buqi's sincere expression, Gu Chundong immediately believed him somewhat and asked, "So tell me, why did you think we were con artists?"

Lin Buqi explained, "I rarely venture into the martial arts world, so I wasn't aware of your deeds. That day, I happened to overhear Senior Whitewing and Senior Scholar discussing you. Both of them said that Grandmaster Gu was a fame-seeker, claiming that the wanted criminals you supposedly killed were actually slain by others, and that you shamelessly took credit.

"They also said that Grandmaster Shen Bai knew nothing of you, that you only met him from a distance but then used his name to gain fame, capitalizing on being blind to gain sympathy, and that Grandmaster Shen Bai found it difficult to argue, and so on.

"Senior Whitewing even claimed that when he had almost killed the philanderer Zhou Tong, you ambushed him to steal the kill, and despite agreeing to a 50/50 split, you went back on your word... Anyway, there were many similar statements, and I grew increasingly angry, thinking I should help Elder Wang drive away a swindler like you. So, I... spoke wildly and foolishly provoked you!"