After much deliberation, I made up my mind and decided to inform Xu Shengbao that I could agree to his request, but I was uncertain whether the things on me could cure the poison.
However, since I have already brought out the thing, whether it is to cure the poison or not, I will have to participate in this matter and cannot go back on my word.
Xu Shengbao's face stiffened slightly before he nodded and said, "That is reasonable."
This is when I took out the batch of porcelain bottles from Jia Jin and placed them on the ground.
I did not invite Xu Shengbao into the house. What Jia Jin taught me was that, in the Chilushao Temple, being careful and cautious was not enough. We needed to be extremely careful.
Xu Shengbao uncorked one bottle after another and inhaled lightly at his nostrils, murmuring to himself.
"Can you recognize them?" I pondered.
"I have a basic understanding of pharmacology, hehe. It seems you don't know them. I can explain them one by one. By the way, what is your name and surname?" Xu Shengbao replied.
"Liu Ziyu," I maintained my tone.
Xu Shengbao's hand trembled slightly.
"This is my younger sister, Liu Yaner," I introduced to Si Yane.
"Is the Master Liu Qiang?" Xu Shengbao hesitated and asked.
"Brother Xu, you can examine the medicine," I steered the topic away without answering.
"Taking the surname Liu was to draw some attention to a certain extent."
"It was Jia Jin who sought Master Liu and got killed. It was his own fault." Xu Shengbao's face became more respectful, and he continued to discern the drugs with his head down.
He set down a bottle and quietly explained to me the effects of the medicine.
As soon as he saw half of it, Xu Shengbao's face lit up, tightly grasping that porcelain bottle and saying, "This is the cure he was looking for."
I nodded in agreement, and he immediately swallowed a few of them. The rest were carefully and tightly put in his body, and then he helped me identify the remaining drugs.
Twenty-plus porcelain bottles, excluding Xu Shengbao's one, turned out to have only three bottles of pills with different effects, while the rest were laced with various kinds of potent poison.
I handed the three bottles to Si Yane, and the remaining poisonous drugs were still kept close to his body.
After the last time, the old Gong made me carry the copper tube laced with potent poison, so I am somewhat immune to these toxins.
Of course, it's a psychological immunity. After all, if Jia Jin can carry them around, why can't I?
"Dear Master Liu, please, let me take you to meet the other friends and discuss important matters together." Xu Shengbao made a gesture of inviting.
I pondered for a moment before saying, "Sister Yaner, please accompany me."
Even though Old Gong hasn't returned, I believe he should have more self-protection abilities than Si Yane.
Si Yane nodded and walked out of the house, turning to close it behind her.
"Haha, Master Liu need not worry. Your previous means were cruel, and I fear no one dare enter your house and seek death," Xu Shengbao's voice carried a tone of admiration.
I did not reply, only gesturing for him to lead the way.
We left the residence and walked in front of the row of houses opposite Jia Jin's, where he lived.
Under Xu Shengbao's guidance, we entered the most conspicuous room.
There were four people in the room, all wearing Taoist robes, each exuding a distinct aura.
As soon as they saw me and Si Yane, their expressions varied.
However, Xu Shengbao had pulled me into the team, which must have been a pre-arranged matter. These few people didn't find it strange.
Xu Shengbao closed the door and introduced me to the four men, mentioning their names and backgrounds. The tallest one, with a goatee like a goat's beard, came from Juyu Mountain and was named Tang Ji.
I pondered, and I've heard the information about Juyu Mountain more than once or twice. In the past, it was Juyu Mountain's Five Zhi, and recently, it was because Tang Yao came from Juyu Mountain. I still remember that the big family in Juyu Mountain is Mao. Tang should be a weaker collateral branch.
Another short and stout Taoist, surnamed Chen and named Chen Shuyou, had long eyebrows and always wore a smiling look, somewhat like Maitreya.
The other two Taoists were of medium stature and looked almost identical, with one having a scar on the face and the other without any scars. They were twins from a local Taoist temple in Jianghuang, known as Tong Shen Guan.
The one with a scar is named Song Zhi, while the one without a scar is named Song Zhong.
As Xu Shengbao introduced his own people, he was about to introduce me and Si Yane when suddenly, the fat Chen Shuyou with a smiling expression said, "Why don't you show your true face, my friends are here in good faith. I believe Xu Shengbao has already told you about the big thing. Please remove your mask."
I felt a slight weight in my heart.
Si Yane looked slightly uneasy and glanced at me.
The eyes of the others fell on Si Yane.
Having betrayed her teacher and then joining the Chilushao Taoist Temple, the people in the room were not simpletons; they were all shrewd individuals. They immediately noticed Si Yane's oddness.
Of course, this does not mean that Si Yane is revealing her mistakes. Rather, it shows that she lacks the initiative and cannot adapt to the current situation flexibly.
"Not convenient." I said in a plain tone.
"Oh? Where is it inconvenient? Hehe, If it's inconvenient to show your true face, is it also inconvenient to show your true name?"
Chen Shuyou's words were like a soft blade, faintly saying, "Xu Shengbao did not say, it's inconvenient to tell the secret to you. If you keep saying it's inconvenient one after another, we are not people of Jia Jin's level. We will not be swayed by you. To keep secrets, we will have to make you shut up."
Xu Shengbao's face turned pale slightly, and he was about to speak.
I noticed the expressions of the other few in the room; they were all sitting idly by.
"If you don't take off your mask, I will make you shut up. Please ask, how can I be made to shut up?" I broke in before Xu Shengbao could speak.
"Haha, of course, only a dead man can keep his mouth shut. Boy, you talk too much." Chen Shuyou's eyes suddenly became ferocious. He took a step forward and directly grabbed at the collar of my neck!
The other three continued to watch indifferently.
"Stop!" Xu Shengbao shouted in alarm, rushing in front of me to block!
Chen Shuyou hesitated, looking rather angry, as if Xu Shengbao had not played according to the usual script.
The brief change in their expressions has already given me the answer.
This group of people indeed promised to let Xu Shengbao recruit others in exchange for the cure, but they would screen those recruited. If their strength was sufficient and they were obedient, there should be no problem.
Otherwise, they would be killed!
Only when Xu Shengbao stopped Chen Shuyou from making a move would his expression change.
I placed my single hand on Xu Shengbao's shoulder and pushed with force.
At the same time, I pulled out the copper pestle, not striking it sideways, but pushing it forward as if thrusting it out like a sword!
As soon as Chen Shuyou saw this, he immediately drew a sword and aimed for the tip of the copper pestle!
The feeling was that he looked down on my qi power, thinking that it was definitely not a match for him!
At the moment the copper pestle touched the tip of the sword, a strong force surged towards me.
I maintained my composure and pushed the copper pestle forward with all my might!
A humming sound resonated, and the copper sword instantly curved as if it was about to snap.
Chen Shuyou's face changed dramatically. In shock, he said, "Master, please exercise mercy, do not damage my..."
Only to hear a crisp snap, the copper sword broke apart, and the broken edge shot out in all directions!
"You!" His plump face flashed a hint of ferocity.
I abruptly raised my hand, the copper pestle crashing down fiercely on top of his head!
In a whoosh, the copper pestle was about to hit him on the head!
The two twin Taoists took a step forward simultaneously, one with one hand, directly catching the copper pestle!
As soon as they touched the copper pestle, both their faces changed in shock, and they grunted in pain, pushing upwards with all their might!
The force from both of them managed to reach a balance with my downward strike!
I felt a slight shock in my heart because I myself did not know that after He Youtian soaked me with that liquid, the physical fitness of my body had changed so much!
"Haha, misunderstanding, misunderstanding," said the tall Taoist with a goat's beard, Tang Ji, his face full of smiles.
"Chen Shuyou's character is straightforward, and he unintentionally offended you. Please forgive him once he enters this room. We are all Taoist friends here," said Tang Ji, the tall Taoist with a goat's beard.
