Chapter 380: Coming to the Door

"What do we do?"

The patient wasn't cured, but the physician had fainted first. Lin Ruotian and Ji Feng looked at each other, both feeling dizzy.

What kind of opponent had Lin Lang and Ji Mo encountered to end up like this?

"Physician Mu Hong's medical skills rank among the best in the Tianwu Kingdom. If he can't do it, no other physician can either!"

After a moment, Ji Feng said, "Unless... as he said, we first find a way to detoxify them!"

"Detoxify? We don't even know what the poison is. How can we detoxify?"

Lin Ruotian shook his head.

Poison isn't something anyone can just remove. Without knowing the type and dosage, it's nearly impossible!

"Yes, to cure a poison that even Grandmaster Mu finds hopeless, only a true poison master could do it..."

Ji Feng nodded.

"Poison master? Right, the Great Medicine King of Red Lotus City is in the royal city. Send someone to invite him quickly. I also heard that Liao Xun, the Poison Hall's hall master, arrived yesterday. Invite him too!"

Hearing "poison master," Lin Ruotian's eyes lit up, and he quickly turned to give orders.

He had been in contact with the Great Medicine King; otherwise, he couldn't have bought the poison to kill the Golden-Tailed Lion.

"Hall Master Liao? Isn't the Poison Hall's hall master..." Ji Feng looked puzzled.

He had little contact with the Poison Hall, but as a formidable special profession, he had heard of them. Though he didn't know the hall master's name, he knew it wasn't Liao.

And why would the Poison Hall's hall master, instead of staying in his lair, come to the Tianwu royal city?

"I'm not sure of the details. It seems the previous hall master passed away, and his student took over. He came here to see off an important person," Lin Ruotian said after thinking.

He had heard from the Great Medicine King that the headquarters had sent some special envoy, and Hall Master Liao was here to see him off.

"Regardless of the reason, their presence here is top secret. No one must know!"

After explaining, Lin Ruotian looked at him, his eyes flickering: "Patriarch Ji, I only told you because our families have been on good terms for generations. You should know what to do!"

Poison masters didn't get along well with other professions. If others learned that the Poison Hall's hall master was in the royal city, unnecessary conflicts might arise.

"Patriarch Lin, rest assured, I'm not that talkative!" Seeing the serious expression, Ji Feng's face changed, and he quickly nodded in agreement.

He had no choice. The Lin family was powerful; if he didn't agree, by tomorrow the entire Ji family might be wiped out.

And the Tianwu royal family would be happy to see that.

For a large family like theirs, they were an obstacle to royal authority. If someone else destroyed them without the royal family's involvement, they would be overjoyed.

...

The Lin family sent people to invite them, and before long, the Great Medicine King and Hall Master Liao Xun arrived.

Liao Xun now carried the aura and dignity of a hall master, hands behind his back, eyes deep and distant, giving an unfathomable impression.

The previously arrogant Lin Ruotian and Ji Feng, seeing him arrive, dared not act superior. They cupped their fists in unison: "Lin Ruotian (Ji Feng) pays respects to Hall Master Liao!"

Poison masters were different from other professions; they seemed to have eccentricities. Offending them might lead to being poisoned to death without knowing how.

"Mm." Seeing their demeanor, Liao Xun nodded in satisfaction, lifting his eyelids: "I wonder why Patriarch Lin urgently summoned me here?"

"It's like this," Lin Ruotian said, looking over. "My son accidentally fell victim to a severe poison, and even Physician Mu Hong is helpless. I hope the hall master can save him..."

"Poisoned?"

Glancing at the three people lying on the ground (including Physician Mu Hong), his expression neither happy nor sad, Liao Xun lifted his eyelids: "He is indeed poisoned, but... why should I save him?"

Your son being poisoned is none of my business.

Others may want to curry favor with your Lin family, but that has little to do with me!

"This..."

Seeing his indifferent expression, Lin Ruotian's face reddened, and he felt so frustrated he could vomit blood.

As the top family in the Tianwu Kingdom, the Lin family was used to bullying others and demanding favors. When had anyone ever spoken to him like this?

But facing this man, he dared not lose his temper.

The other's strength might be inferior to his, but poison masters had bizarre attacks that defied common sense. Even those with lower strength could easily poison stronger opponents to death.

This Liao Xun, as the Poison Hall's hall master and a grandmaster at the peak, was best not offended. Otherwise, if angered, he might poison the entire courtyard.

Thinking this, he suppressed his frustration, turned his wrist, and a jade bottle appeared in his palm.

"This is a [Golden Essence Pill], a mid-grade third-rank pill, personally refined by Grandmaster Tie You of the Xuanwu Kingdom, reaching the perfect level! Taking it will surely allow the hall master to take a step further in cultivation, perhaps even stepping into the half-step Supreme realm!"

The Golden Essence Pill was of the metal attribute, sharp and capable of breaking barriers.

At the perfect level, its value was even greater, rivaling a spirit stone!

Offering this, Lin Ruotian was truly bleeding.

"Golden Essence Pill?"

Without even looking, Liao Xun waved his hand, completely indifferent: "Pills are useless to poison masters. Don't embarrass yourself by bringing them out!"

Poison masters needed to consume poisons and cultivate poison arts to advance; pills were indeed of little use.

"This..."

He hadn't expected that the item he'd gritted his teeth to offer would be dismissed so casually. Lin Ruotian was deeply embarrassed, unsure what to do.

"How about this? I'll make a request. If you can fulfill it, not only will I help detoxify, but I'll even kill someone for you!" Liao Xun looked over again.

"Please speak, Hall Master!" Seeing a turn of events, Lin Ruotian quickly said.

"Simple. I heard your Lin family holds a high position in the kingdom. I want you to help build a venue in the royal city where poison masters can trade!" Liao Xun stated his purpose.

If not for this, why would he agree to come here?

Poison masters couldn't stay in the Poison Hall forever; they needed to live and trade. Establishing such a trading place here would give them official recognition, saving them from constant secrecy.

"This..."

Lin Ruotian hesitated, then said, "Hall Master must know that although the Lin family has some power in the Tianwu Kingdom, we are not the true rulers. Rashly building such a trading venue might provoke discontent from various guilds..."

"Don't beat around the bush with me. The Great Medicine King has already told me your intentions. Poisoning the royal family's Golden-Tailed Lion—isn't that to replace them? Rest assured, if you agree to my request, even if the guardian beast reaches the Supreme level, our Poison Hall has drugs to deal with it!"

Liao Xun said calmly.

"Even a Supreme can be dealt with?" Lin Ruotian's eyes lit up.

Previously, the Golden-Tailed Lion's breakthrough had made him restrain his ambitions. Now, this hall master's promise rekindled his dormant thoughts.

To be honest, even without a trading venue, poison masters could communicate in secret.

In fact, Red Lotus City was the largest trading ground. For a decision that didn't affect the big picture, winning a powerful ally—why not?

Nodding, Lin Ruotian was about to speak when a guard rushed in frantically.

"Patriarch, something terrible has happened..." Before entering the room, his voice came through.

"What is it?" Interrupted, Lin Ruotian looked displeased.

"The Third Elder, he..." The guard who entered was trembling.

"What? Did you catch the culprit? What's there to be nervous about if you caught him?" Lin Ruotian looked over.

The Third Elder had been sent to catch the culprit. Now there was news; the culprit was probably already dead.

"No... The Third Elder was sent back! He's severely injured, unconscious, and, and..."

"And what?"

"His lower body was kicked and crushed; he's completely ruined..." The guard said mournfully.

"Kicked and crushed?" Lin Ruotian was stunned, then went berserk: "Who? Who dares to be so bold?"

Damn it!

The Lin family had always dominated the royal city, untouchable. What the hell was happening today?

First, his son was beaten severely and thrown into a cesspool; now the Third Elder, sent to investigate, had his dick kicked off!

When had the Lin family ever been bullied like this?

If they took no action after such humiliation, how could the Lin family continue to stand in the Tianwu Kingdom?

"It was... sent by the royal family! It's said the culprit who attacked the young master fled to the palace and was found by a tracking rat. A conflict ensued, and the Third Elder was kicked like this by the other party; the other guards are also in critical condition..."

The guard relayed what he knew.

"As for the one who struck, it seems to be the recently famous Physician Guild President Liu Cheng, and the culprit who attacked the young master is his student..."

There were spies from the Lin family in the Tianwu royal palace; it wasn't hard to find out these things.

"Liu Cheng? Damn it... He dares to harm my son and the Third Elder, treating our Lin family's authority as nothing. I, Lin Ruotian, will not rest until he dies..."

Understanding what happened, Lin Ruotian roared, nearly going mad!

Where did this guy come from? He kept causing trouble for the Lin family—was he addicted?

He cured the Golden-Tailed Lion, ruining their plans. They hadn't even sought him out, and he dared to send his student to harm people, and even personally injured the Third Elder...

Just an honorary president—who gave you the guts?

"Someone, arrest this Liu Cheng! If I don't kill him, I won't be able to quell my hatred..."

Frustrated to the point of vomiting blood, Lin Ruotian waved his hand, regaining the aura of a leader.

No matter what president or genius, if you offend me, I'll kill you. Even if the Physician Guild comes to cause trouble later, I'll have my reasons...

Before he could finish his order, another guard rushed in panicked: "Patriarch, something terrible... That President Liu, with his student, has arrived at the gate. He says he wants to settle accounts with our Lin family, seek justice, and demands that we... apologize!"

"Apologize? He injured my men, and he wants me to apologize?"

Eyes reddening, Lin Ruotian truly went mad!