Chapter 397: Visiting in Person

"What should we do?"The patients weren't cured; instead, the physician fainted. Lin Ruotian and Ji Feng exchanged bewildered glances, both feeling dizzy with confusion.

What kind of opponent did Lin Lang and Ji Mo encounter to reduce them to such a state?

"Physician Mu Hong's medical skills are among the best in the Tianwu Kingdom. If he can't do it, no other physician will be able to help!" After a moment, Ji Feng added, "Unless... as he suggested, we first find a way to detoxify them!"

"Detoxify them? How can we do that when we don't even know what kind of poison it is?" Lin Ruotian shook his head. Poison isn't something one can just declare solved. Without knowing the type or dosage, resolving it is almost impossible!

"Indeed, to resolve a potent poison that even Grandmaster Mu cannot handle, only a true Poison Master would likely suffice..." Ji Feng nodded.

"A Poison Master? That's right, the Grand Apothecary from Red Lotus City is in the Royal City. Send someone to invite him immediately! I also heard that Hall Master Liao Xun of the Poison Hall arrived yesterday; invite him as well!" Upon hearing "Poison Master," Lin Ruotian's eyes lit up, and he quickly turned to give orders. He had always maintained contact with the Grand Apothecary; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to acquire the poison used against the Golden-tailed Lion.

"Hall Master Liao? But isn't the Poison Hall Master not..." Patriarch Ji Feng's face was full of doubt. He had little contact with the Poison Hall, but as a formidable specialized professional group, he had heard of them. Though he didn't know the exact name of the Hall Master, he knew for certain it wasn't Liao. Furthermore, why would the esteemed Hall Master of the Poison Hall leave his stronghold and come to Tianwu Royal City?

"I'm not entirely sure what happened," Lin Ruotian pondered and then explained, "but it seems the previous Hall Master passed away, and his student took over. He only came here this time to see off a powerful figure!" He had also received this news from the Grand Apothecary; apparently, the headquarters sent a special envoy, and Hall Master Liao was here to see them off.

"Regardless of the reason, their presence here is top secret and must not be known by anyone!" After explaining, Lin Ruotian looked at him, his eyes flashing. "Patriarch Ji," he said, "I'm telling you this truthfully because our two families have been friends for generations, which is why I haven't hidden anything! I'm sure you know what to do." Poison Masters do not have good relations with other professions. If others were to learn that the esteemed Hall Master of the Poison Hall is in the Royal City, it could lead to unnecessary conflict.

"Rest assured, Patriarch Lin, I'm not that talkative!" Seeing the other's serious demeanor, Ji Feng's expression changed, and he quickly nodded in agreement. He couldn't refuse. The Lin family was too powerful; if he didn't agree, the entire Ji family might be wiped out by tomorrow. And the Tianwu royal family would be absolutely delighted to see such a scene unfold. Large families like theirs were an impediment to the royal family's authority. If they could be eliminated without royal interference, the royal family would be overjoyed.

The Lin family sent people to invite them, and before long, the Grand Apothecary and Hall Master Liao Xun arrived. By this time, Liao Xun already exuded the aura and gravitas of a Hall Master. With his hands clasped behind his back and his gaze deep and distant, he gave off an unfathomable impression.

Lin Ruotian and Ji Feng, who had previously been incredibly arrogant, dared not act presumptuously upon his arrival. They respectfully clasped their fists in unison, "Lin Ruotian and Ji Feng pay respects to Hall Master Liao!" Unlike other professions, Poison Masters seemed to have peculiar temperaments. If offended and displeased, they might casually administer a poison, leaving their victims to die without knowing how.

"Hmm." Seeing their demeanor, Liao Xun nodded in satisfaction. He lifted an eyelid and asked, "May I ask why Patriarch Lin has urgently summoned me?"

"It's like this!" Lin Ruotian looked at him. "My humble son accidentally suffered a severe poisoning, and even Physician Mu Hong is helpless. We hope the Hall Master can intervene and save him..."

"Poisoning?" Glancing at the three people lying on the ground, as well as Physician Mu Hong, Liao Xun's expression remained impassive. He lifted an eyelid and said, "They are indeed poisoned. However... why should I help?" Why should your son's poisoning concern me? Others may want to curry favor with your Lin family, but it has little to do with me!

"This..." Seeing the other's indifferent expression, Lin Ruotian flushed, feeling so frustrated he wanted to vomit blood. As the foremost aristocratic family in the Tianwu Kingdom, the Lin family had always bullied others and demanded favors. When had anyone ever spoken to him like this? Yet, facing this man, he dared not erupt in anger. Although the other's strength was inferior to his, Poison Masters' attacks were strange and defied common sense. Many with lower cultivation could easily poison powerful individuals far surpassing them. This Liao Xun, as Hall Master of the Poison Hall, had also reached the peak of the Grandmaster realm. It was best not to offend him; otherwise, if he became enraged, an entire courtyard of people might not be enough for him to poison.

Thinking of this, he suppressed his frustration. With a flick of his wrist, a jade bottle appeared in his palm. "This is a Golden Essence Pill," he explained, "a mid-tier Grade 3 elixir, personally refined by Grandmaster Tie You of the Xuanyuan Kingdom, and it has reached the perfect level! After consumption, it will surely advance the Hall Master's cultivation, possibly even allowing him to enter the Half-Supreme realm!"

The Golden Essence Pill, being of the metal element, is incredibly sharp and possesses the effect of breaking through barriers. Reaching the perfect level, its value is even greater, comparable to a spirit stone! Bringing out such an item meant Lin Ruotian was truly bleeding money.

"A Golden Essence Pill?" Without even a glance, Liao Xun waved his hand, his face completely indifferent. "Elixirs are useless to Poison Masters," he said. "There's no need to bring them out and embarrass yourself!" Poison Masters require consuming poisons and cultivating poisonous arts to advance; elixirs indeed have little use for them.

"This..." He hadn't expected that the item he had grudgingly offered would be dismissed so casually. Lin Ruotian was utterly mortified, unsure how to proceed.

"Alright! I'll tell you one thing. As long as you can accomplish it, not only will I help detoxify them, but I wouldn't mind even killing someone for you!" Liao Xun looked at him again.

"Please speak, Hall Master!" Seeing a glimmer of hope, Lin Ruotian quickly urged.

"It's simple. I hear your Lin family holds considerable influence in the kingdom. I'd like to ask for your help in establishing a trading venue for Poison Masters in the Royal City!" Liao Xun revealed his true purpose. Without this objective, why would he have agreed to come here? Poison Masters cannot always remain in the Poison Hall; they also need to live and conduct transactions. If such a trading venue could be established here, it would mean official recognition of their status, saving them much trouble and eliminating the need for constant secrecy.

"This..." Lin Ruotian hesitated. After a moment, he said, "Hall Master, you must know that while our Lin family holds certain power in the Tianwu Kingdom, we are not, after all, its true rulers. Rashly establishing such a trading venue might provoke dissatisfaction from numerous guilds..."

"Don't beat around the bush with me!" Liao Xun said coolly. "The Grand Apothecary has already told me what you're trying to do. Poisoning the royal family's Golden-tailed Lion—isn't that just a move to usurp their position? Rest assured, if you agree to my request, even if the Nation-Guarding Demonic Beast reaches the Supreme level, our Poison Hall still possesses medicine to deal with it!"

"Even Supreme-level can be dealt with?" Lin Ruotian's eyes lit up. Previously, the Golden-tailed Lion's breakthrough had made him considerably more cautious. Now, with this Hall Master's promise, his restrained ambitions began to stir once more. Truth be told, even without an official trading venue, Poison Masters could still communicate secretly. In fact, Red Lotus City was the largest trading hub. To make a decision that wouldn't affect the bigger picture and to win over a powerful ally... why not?

Nodding, Lin Ruotian was about to speak when a guard rushed in, flustered. "Patriarch, this is bad..." His voice echoed into the room before he had even entered.

"What is it?" Annoyed by the interruption, Lin Ruotian's face showed his displeasure.

"Third Elder, he..." The guard who had entered stammered, his lips trembling.

"What happened?" Lin Ruotian looked at him. "Did you catch the culprit? Why are you so nervous about catching a culprit?" Third Elder had been sent to apprehend the culprit, and now with news, it seemed the culprit had likely been brought to justice.

"No... the Third Elder was sent back!" the guard stammered. "He's gravely injured and unconscious, and, and...""And what?""His lower body was kicked to smithereens, completely crippled..." The guard reported with a tearful face.

"Kicked to smithereens?" Lin Ruotian froze, then his face contorted in a furious rage. "Who? Who dares to be so audacious?" What the hell! The Lin family had always dominated the Royal City, unchallenged and unprovoked. What the hell was happening today? First, his son was severely beaten and thrown into a cesspit, and now the Third Elder, who went to investigate, was kicked to pieces! When had their Lin family ever been humiliated like this? If they were bullied to this extent and did nothing, how could the Lin family maintain its standing in the Tianwu Kingdom?

"It... it was the royal family who sent him back!" the guard explained. "Apparently, the culprit who attacked Young Master escaped into the palace and was found by the tracing rat. As a result, a conflict ensued, and the Third Elder was kicked into this state by the other party. The fate of the other guards is unknown..." The guard relayed the information he had. "As for the person who struck," he continued, "it seems to be Liu Cheng, the recently renowned President of the Physician Guild. And the culprit who attacked Young Master is precisely his student..." With spies from the Lin family within the Tianwu Royal Palace, it wasn't difficult to uncover this information.

"Liu Cheng? Despicable... How dare he injure my son and the Third Elder, treating the dignity of our Lin family as nothing? I, Lin Ruotian, will fight him to the death..." Upon understanding what had happened, Lin Ruotian let out a furious roar, nearly losing his mind! Where did this fellow come from? He keeps causing trouble for their Lin family; has he gotten addicted? It was bad enough that he cured the Golden-tailed Lion and ruined their plans; they hadn't even sought trouble with him! Yet, he dared to send his student to injure someone, and then he himself gravely wounded the Third Elder... He's merely an honorary president; who gave him such audacity?

"Guards, seize this Liu Cheng for me! Unless I kill him, the hatred in my heart will not be quelled..." Furious to the point of spitting blood, Lin Ruotian waved his hand, reclaiming the demeanor of a formidable overlord. No matter if you're a president or a genius, if you offend me, I'll kill you. Even if the Physician Guild comes looking for trouble afterward, I'll have a justifiable reason...

Before he could finish his command, another guard rushed in, equally flustered. "Patriarch, this is bad... That President Liu, with his student, has already arrived outside our gates! He says he wants to settle accounts with our Lin family, demand justice, and wants us to... apologize!""Apologize? He injured my people, and he expects me to apologize?"