“Any clue about the mastermind?” Fan Luoyu frowned and asked.
“Ever since we came to this Immortal City, we’ve always acted low-key, never offended anyone.” The old man shook his head and said, “But some time ago, someone came wanting to cooperate with us. I refused them. I don’t know if this has something to do with them.”
“Then let’s do this. Later I’ll visit those three major suppliers and probe their attitude,” Fan Luoyu said.
The group then discussed some more details.
When they came out of the private room, it seemed some commotion had broken out downstairs. The noise was loud.
The old man frowned and hurried down.
…
“Everyone come take a look, Hundred Pill Hall’s pills killed someone!”
“Yeah, and they even try to deny it. Merchants like this should be kicked out of Immortal City.”
“From now on, never buy anything from Hundred Pill Hall again!”
Downstairs was in chaos. A few men were shouting. Countless people crowded at the entrance, craning their necks to look inside.
When Xu Zimo came down, he saw a corpse placed at the entrance of Hundred Pill Hall. Two women were crying over the body.
“What happened?” Fu Bo stepped forward, frowning.
“Shopkeeper, this person says our Hundred Pill Hall’s pills killed someone and is here to demand compensation,” one of the maids who sold pills quickly explained.
“Killed someone?” Fu Bo’s brows furrowed deeper.
“You’re in charge here?” The leading man stepped forward, questioning.
“Where’s the pill, let me see,” Fu Bo said calmly.
The man handed over a pill, contained in a transparent bottle. On it was the Fan Clan’s emblem.
Fu Bo took the bottle, placed it by his nose, and sniffed.
“Failure,” he snorted.
“This pill is completely a failed product, full of pill poison. How could anyone eat this?”
“You admit Hundred Pill Hall sold poisonous pills!” the man shouted toward the crowd gathered at the door.
“I only said the pill is problematic, but whether it came from Hundred Pill Hall, that is not certain yet,” Fu Bo replied evenly. “All our pills are strictly inspected, how could pill poison appear? When exactly did you buy this pill?”
“Yesterday afternoon at five. You can go check,” the man said. “You’re not trying to shirk responsibility, are you?”
“He did indeed come and buy a pill, but I clearly remember it was fine at the time,” the maid beside them said.
Fu Bo frowned slightly. Then he said, “If any pill from Hundred Pill Hall has quality issues or causes accidents, we take full responsibility. But you also know, all pill halls have regulations. For all grade-five pills, transactions must be made in the shop directly. Once you leave, we do not bear responsibility.”
“What do you mean, now that someone is dead you don’t want to take responsibility?” the man shouted louder.
The other men with him also began shouting. Some even tried to smash things in the shop.
“Should we just pay them something to make them leave?” the maid in green whispered. “This is bad for our business and reputation.”
“For matters like this, either pay in full or not a single coin,” Fan Luoyu shook her head. “If we pay even a little, it means admitting we sold poisonous pills.”
The maid in green nodded slightly.
“You all should leave now, otherwise don’t blame me for having you thrown out,” Fu Bo said coldly.
“Look at Hundred Pill Hall’s attitude! Would you dare buy their pills again?” the man shouted loudly.
“I’m just an ordinary man, nothing compared to Hundred Pill Hall. But I’m willing to take the lead, to demand justice, and not let this evil spread.”
Just as the standoff continued, a woman in blue suddenly rushed in from outside.
“Luoyu, you came to Immortal City and didn’t even tell me? Do you still treat me as your sister?”
The woman in blue ran in, her eyes lighting up when she saw Fan Luoyu. She quickly walked over.
Her blue dress was bound tightly with several silk ribbons, accentuating her tall, slender legs.
Her face carried a touch of heroism, like a swordswoman’s presence.
“Mu Qing,” Fan Luoyu called when she saw the woman.
“I didn’t mean to hide it. You know I came to Immortal City because of business.”
“I know, you’re busy these days,” Mu Qing replied. Then she looked around and asked, “What’s going on here? Why are so many people gathered?”
The maid in green quickly explained the situation.
“That’s simple,” the woman in blue smiled and walked toward the man.
“Mu Qing, don’t make trouble,” Fan Luoyu quickly called out.
But before her words were even finished...
Boom!
The woman in blue directly punched the man, knocking him to the ground.
She drew the sword at her waist and pressed it against his neck. “Speak. Who sent you here to stir trouble?”
“What are you doing?” The man’s eyes flashed with panic as he shouted again. “Everyone look! They’re furious and trying to force me to confess falsely!”
The shop entrance grew even noisier.
But the woman in blue was calm. She looked down at the man, smiling faintly. “That trick doesn’t work on me. I’ve lived in Immortal City for over twenty years. I’ve seen every kind of person.”
She slowly waved her sword. Blood spurted out instantly.
An arm was severed cleanly.
“I don’t want to repeat myself a second time. Next time it’ll be your head,” the woman said. “Who sent you?”
The man was frozen in terror, unable to speak.
Seeing her impatience, the sword sang as it swung down, stopping mid-air.
“It was the City Lord’s Mansion! They paid me to frame Hundred Pill Hall!” the man screamed.
The sword halted. His shout echoed in the air.
“Nonsense! You’d better confess truthfully, don’t slander the City Lord’s Mansion,” the woman’s gaze turned cold.
“I’m not lying! It was really the steward of the City Lord’s Mansion who told me to do this!” the man said quickly.
“Do you know who I am?” Mu Qing asked calmly.
“I don’t,” the man studied her for a while, then answered.
“You live in Immortal City and don’t even know who I am?” Mu Qing smiled faintly.
“I truly don’t,” the man still shook his head.
“My name is Mu Qing. I’m the daughter of City Lord Mu Chengmiao. Do you need me to explain more clearly?” Mu Qing smiled.
At her words, the man’s face changed drastically.
“Still not confessing honestly? I think it’s best to let people from the City Lord’s Mansion talk to you,” Mu Qing said.