Chapter 26
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Chapter 26: Poisoning
As the largest chain restaurant in the Huoyun Country, Tian Xia Restaurant’s background and identity were far loftier than imagined.
Legend had it that behind it lay a powerful Immortal Sect similar to the Qinyuan Sect, vastly stronger than any long-life family.
This was precisely why the long-life families felt entirely secure lodging here, harboring no concern for safety.
In principle, Tian Xia Restaurant wouldn’t choose to collude with the Lu Family—unless they cared nothing for their reputation.
Thus, behind this scheme, there naturally lurked some ill-intentioned scoundrels involved in a way that had escaped the restaurant’s notice.
At this moment, Zhou Luo stood on the ninth floor of the restaurant, his cultivation level having surged to the eighth level of Qi Refinement after consuming the Explosive Spirit Potion.
The layout of the ninth floor differed from the tenth; there weren’t many rooms here, and they were arranged inward according to rank.
Zhou Luo stood in the corridor; the only room with its lamp still lit was the third one on the left side.
Clad in assassin’s attire, his face concealed beneath a hood, he strode straight to that room and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" A male voice instantly called out from inside, sounding slightly flustered.
Zhou Luo did not answer, simply remaining silent and knocking persistently.
Click—
The person inside could resist no longer and finally pulled the door open a crack.
Seeing the familiar outfit, the man frowned: "What are you doing here? Has something gone wrong?"
Indeed. It was someone within the restaurant colluding with the Lu Family.
Confirmed, Zhou Luo suddenly slammed his right hand against the door.
Violently shoving it open, he flashed into the room.
The man clearly hadn’t reacted in time; he barely moved to resist.
But Zhou Luo’s left hand had already slammed the door shut hard, while his right hand shot upward.
A surge of spiritual energy manifested in his palm, and a crimson wave erupted, transforming into raging flames that lunged at his opponent.
The middle-aged man in splendid robes paled drastically.
His first thought was stark: The Lu Family was silencing him.
Even as this realization formed, the flames roared toward him.
His expression hardening, the man gathered spiritual energy in both palms and thrust his hands out, unleashing a wave of pale cyan energy.
Instantly, countless vines materialized from the surrounding air, twisting forth to entangle the flames.
Ssszzzz!
The crimson flames and emerald vines collided, hissing and scorching as they met.
Every room in the restaurant was shrouded in shielding arrays, which concealed both spiritual perception and muffled sound.
So, no one had detected the commotion.
"The Lu Family truly has no shame!" The man snarled furiously as he blocked Zhou Luo’s assault.
Zhou Luo offered no reply.
He merely took a step forward, his right fist now sheathed in crimson spiritual energy, and swung it down again.
BANG!—
Mighty spiritual energy spurted from his Qi sea, causing his strength to surge dramatically.
Seeing the situation turn dangerous, the man flashed sideways to evade.
Zhou Luo pressed on relentlessly. Clenching his left fist, he conjured another blazing fireball and instantly hurled it forward.
Scorching heat flooded the entire room. That tide-like spiritual energy made the man’s expression twist violently.
He shouted, "You aren’t Zhao Tong!"
"I’m certainly not Zhao Tong," a low voice responded as the flames crashed into the space between them.
Trapped with no escape, the man desperately mustered his full power. Both palms slammed forward as cyan wood-attributed spiritual energy roared forth in defense.
Boom!
An explosive blast erupted, scattering fiery sparks. The man’s entire body hurtled backward and slammed against the bed, his face deathly pale.
But Zhou Luo made no move to strike again.
He needed to spare this man’s life.
Standing quietly, he stared at the other. "You conspired with the Lu Family to murder my Lin Family. If this gets out, you’ll die without question."
The man’s face contorted with dread.
He gaped at the silhouette before him, his heart trembling violently.
Was this a Lin Family expert?
So the Lin Family was prepared all along!
Instantly, the man felt profound regret.
Knowing exposure meant certain death, he begged: "Sir, the Lu Family forced me! I had no choice!"
Though he held minor authority within Tian Xia Restaurant, he remained insignificant.
Against a long-life family like the Lu Family, he lacked power to refuse. Besides, the Lu Family had aided him years prior—which drove him to risk supplying the room tokens for three Lin members.
Zhou Luo hadn’t come for punishment. His voice cut coldly: "The Lin Family might overlook this… if you serve us."
"Anything! Command me!" Concealing his relief, the man agreed eagerly.
Suddenly, Zhou Luo retrieved a brown pill from his robes and tossed it onto the man’s chest.
"Swallow it."
"Huh?"
The man’s face twitched, eyes fixed warily on the pill, frozen.
"Refuse and perish," Zhou Luo stated icily.
After agonizing hesitation, the man snatched the pill and gulped it down, features hardening with resolve.
"That is the Spirit Extinguishing Pill," Zhou Luo informed coolly.
The man’s face decayed to ash. He crumpled to the floor.
A top-level first-level poison, it would dissolve all his spiritual energy within twenty-four hours without the antidose—leaving him crippled forever.
The man understood this was insurance against betrayal.
He lifted his head, staring up at the shadow, his voice quavering. "What… must I do?"
Zhou Luo threw another vial at him.
Confused but obedient, the man caught it swiftly.
"Place its contents into the Lu Family’s meals," Zhou Luo commanded gravely.
If they poisoned first, reciprocating was only courtesy.
The man recoiled in fear. "But, sir—this means Si Wu for me!"
Pill Masters ranked among the most valued assets of long-life families. Even the Lu Family dared not poison Lin Zhi Shou, lest they provoke the Lin Family’s wrath.
Yet now, this person demanded he poison the Lu Family—an act that would unleash chaos and drag Tian Xia Restaurant into disaster.
"Don’t panic. It’s merely a mild toxin, non-lethal," Zhou Luo answered.
Hearing these words, the man finally relaxed.
Surely even the Lin Family wouldn’t be so reckless.
"Also," Zhou Luo added, "dispose of the assassin’s body upstairs."
The man nodded repeatedly. As Zhou Luo turned to leave, he whispered: "Sir… what of the antidote—?"
"Complete your tasks, and you’ll get it."
With that, Zhou Luo exited the room.
Stepping into the hall, he sensed the once-torrential spiritual energy within him slowly dissolving.
The pill’s effects were fading.
Fortunately, all plans were settled.
Back in his room, Zhou Luo switched to his own garments and slumped by the table. Exhaustion flooded over him.
The medicine vanished completely now—crisis averted, tonight settled.
This affair reinforced a truth:
The world beyond proved far deadlier than imagined. His Qi Refinement, level-two cultivation remained hopelessly inadequate.
Once home, he resolved, he’d practice relentlessly and venture out sparingly.
Weariness overtook him. He staggered to the bed, lay down, and sank into a deep, heavy sleep.