Chapter 278: This Time It's Really Over

Inside the hall, the Great Pill King sat on a stool, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.

Just now, not only Liao Xun had inquired, but the Second and Third Deputy Hall Masters had also sent people to ask specifically. If he hadn't prepared his words in advance, he probably wouldn't even be able to stand now.

The pressure was just too great!

He was merely a spokesperson. It was fine to throw his weight around outside, but to deceive people here—he wouldn't have dared to think of it before.

If the other party hadn't saved his life, and the Poison Hall had indeed acted ungratefully, he wouldn't have gotten involved in this muddy water...

But now, there was no turning back.

Once Physician Bai was exposed, not only would he gain nothing, but both of them would surely die here.

Not to mention anything else, just the fact that they failed to recognize the special envoy and were bluffed by the physician would be enough for the three Deputy Hall Masters to poison all who knew the truth to death.

If such a disgraceful matter got out, what face would they have left to manage their subordinates and compete for the Hall Master position?

Of course, they would have to kill a few people to quell their anger.

So, to survive, they had to find a way to make everyone believe Physician Bai was the real special envoy, thus making them hesitant to act.

Now, it seemed the effect was not bad.

At least the three Deputy Hall Masters, though suspicious, did not dare to act rashly.

"I wonder what this gentleman really came to the Poison Hall for. Hurry up and finish, then leave quickly..."

Thinking of Physician Bai, the Great Pill King shook his head.

Physician Bai insisted on coming to the Poison Hall, but he hadn't stated the specific purpose. In the Great Pill King's view, it might be for some treasure or something essential. If so, why not hurry up and find it... What was the point of going to the library to read?

The library only contained some books about poison masters. Any poison master could enter; there were certainly no treasures.

Risking his life to come here... to find a book?

If that were the case, it would be utterly ridiculous!

"Forget it. He must know the danger too; he can't stay long..."

Just as he was muttering to himself, he heard a commotion outside the room, and countless poison masters rushed out.

The Poison Hall was usually closed off, with each poison master attending to their own duties. They rarely ran around like this. What was going on?

"Poison Master Han, what's happening?"

He stood up, grabbed a poison master, and asked.

"You don't know? I heard another person has come outside, claiming to be a special envoy, and wants everyone in the Poison Hall to go greet him!" Poison Master Han said.

"Another... special envoy?"

Physician Bai was a fake. This one... couldn't be real, could it?

If it were real, then it would really be screwed!

Li Gui meets Li Kui, and they're both trapped inside the Poison Hall...

The Great Pill King felt his vision go dark.

"Yes, let's go take a look together. The headquarters never sends anyone, so why are two sent at once?" Poison Master Han muttered with a puzzled look, pulling him forward.

"I..."

The Great Pill King's legs cramped, and he shook his head repeatedly: "I... I'd better not go!"

Just when he thought he had managed to bluff his way through without being exposed, the real special envoy showed up. Heaven, are you playing with me?

"Let's go!"

Without letting him argue, Poison Master Han grabbed him, and the two quickly walked toward the gate.

Soon they arrived. By then, the gate was crowded with poison masters, and the three Deputy Hall Masters along with many elders had also arrived.

In front of everyone, two figures stood on the spot.

"Steward Lu?"

He recognized one of them at a glance.

It was Steward Lu from his mansion.

He had brought him here once before, but they only stayed outside for a while before leaving, never entering the Poison Hall. He hadn't expected Steward Lu to remember the route.

It seemed he must have led the way. Otherwise, even the real special envoy would have had difficulty finding this place.

Realizing this, he looked at the person standing beside him.

It was a middle-aged man wearing a dark red cloak, standing with his hands behind his back, chin slightly raised, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

"That's... a poison master badge... a three-star poison master?"

His eyes fell on the other's robe, and the Great Pill King's mouth twitched.

On the man's chest hung a poison master badge with three stars glittering.

The most powerful old Hall Master of the Red Lotus branch was only at the early three-star level. After his death, the strongest was Deputy Hall Master Liao Xun, a two-star peak. A three-star poison master...

He had still harbored a faint hope that this one might also be a fake, but now that last shred of hope was gone.

A three-star poison master, even if not a special envoy, no one in the Poison Hall would dare to offend. Otherwise, they would surely be poisoned into a sieve and die without knowing how.

Reaching such a star level, his cultivation must have already reached the Supreme Realm. Even without poison, he could destroy this Poison Hall with one hand, effortlessly.

"This..."

Liao Xun hadn't expected another special envoy to arrive, and a three-star poison master at that. His demeanor became respectful. He cupped his fists: "May I ask how to address the special envoy? Would it be convenient to show me the [Poison Heart Golden Token]? I'm not questioning your identity, but it's a rule set by headquarters that a special envoy must have a token representing his identity for us to liaise."

He said the same words he had said to Zhang Xuan earlier.

The special envoy didn't speak. He flipped his wrist, and a heart-shaped golden token appeared in his palm, which he casually tossed over.

Liao Xun quickly caught it. He and the others looked down and, after a single glance, their pupils simultaneously contracted, confirming it.

"It's real!"

The Poison Heart Golden Token was something only a special envoy possessed, representing the Poison Master Headquarters. It carried a special, ancient aura. Even if one had never seen it before, a single glance would easily distinguish its authenticity.

"This one is a three-star poison master and has the Poison Heart Golden Token... He can't be fake. So the one before..."

After seeing the token, Liao Xun and the others felt a jolt in their hearts.

Since this one was real, the other was most likely fake.

Otherwise, why would he make excuses when asked for the Poison Heart Golden Token?

"What, is there a problem?"

Seeing their faces flush and pale, lost in thought, the special envoy's face darkened, exuding authority without anger.

"No..."

Liao Xun hesitated: "It's just that another special envoy arrived earlier. Seeing you suddenly, we were a bit surprised."

"Oh?"

The special envoy frowned: "Headquarters only sent me to handle the appointment of the new Hall Master and to take away something that has matured. No one else was dispatched. What do you mean by 'another one'?"

"It's like this: an hour ago, someone came, also claiming to be a special envoy. He is now reading in the library."

Liao Xun quickly said.

"Claiming to be a special envoy? Does he have the Poison Heart Golden Token?"

The special envoy raised his eyebrows.

"This..." Liao Xun hesitated: "He did not show us the token."

"Nonsense!" The special envoy flicked his sleeve, and a shocking aura shot into the sky: "Without the Poison Heart Golden Token, how could he be a special envoy? Take me to see him. I want to see who dares to impersonate a headquarters special envoy!"

"Yes, this way, please."

Liao Xun and the others quickly made way, and the crowd immediately headed toward the central hall of the Poison Hall.

As they strode forward, the Great Pill King's body swayed, as if drained of all spirit, stiff all over.

"Master..."

Steward Lu saw him and hurried over.

"What is this..."

The Great Pill King couldn't help but transmit his voice.

"A day after you and Physician Bai left, this one arrived. He asked me to lead the way to the Poison Hall. I had no choice but to guide him. I thought I might catch up with you on the road, so I sped up. But... we ended up here."

Steward Lu also looked like he was about to cry.

Only four people knew that Physician Bai was impersonating a special envoy to the Poison Hall: the Great Pill King, Steward Lu, Physician Bai himself, and Miss Mo Yu.

Miss Mo Yu had already left for the Heavenly King's City, so only he remained among those who knew.

When this man revealed his identity, the Great Pill King wasn't around, so he had to lead the way himself. He thought that by speeding up, he might catch up on the road and avert disaster. But he never dreamed... they chased all the way here without catching up.

"This time... it's really over!"

After hearing Steward Lu's explanation, the Great Pill King's mouth twitched, and a mouthful of blood stuck in his chest, ready to burst out at any moment.

If they had come a little slower, Physician Bai might have gotten what he wanted and left the Poison Hall. Even if discovered, it would have been too late.

If they had come a little earlier, they might have caught up with them. Knowing the real special envoy was coming, Physician Bai wouldn't have needed to pretend; he could have just followed as an attendant and still entered.

But now... just after claiming to be the special envoy, after putting on the whole act, and after the others had started to believe him... damn it, the real special envoy shows up...

It's like being caught naked with a beautiful woman—who the hell would believe you if you said nothing happened?

Caught red-handed, there's no time to explain even if you wanted to!

I knew impersonating a special envoy was unreliable...

But I didn't expect it to be this unreliable!

It seemed that the life he had barely saved might be lost again...

"Master, what do we do now?" Steward Lu also thought of this, his face mournful.

"I don't know either..."

The Great Pill King shook his head: "It looks like we can only wait for death..."

Full of despair, he looked around and found many poison masters staring at him. Escape was certainly impossible, so he had no choice but to follow the crowd toward the hall.

"By the way... it seems Physician Bai still doesn't know the real special envoy has arrived!"

After walking a few steps, a thought struck him, and the Great Pill King's face changed.

If he had known in advance, he might have thought of a way. Now, without knowing anything, he was caught red-handed...

But now, the Deputy Hall Masters and elders were all ahead, and even the real special envoy was there. Even if he wanted to send a message, it was too late.

His mind in turmoil, the crowd had already entered the room.

"Elder Black Pupil, please go and invite that special envoy out."

Arriving at the hall and taking his seat, Liao Xun waved his hand and said calmly.

"Yes!"

Elder Black Pupil quickly walked out and strode toward the library.

After more than an hour, Zhang Xuan had finished reading all the books inside. Seeing that he was being summoned, he came out.

"What, are you ready? If so, let's begin!"

Entering the hall, Zhang Xuan clasped his hands behind his back, glanced at Liao Xun and the others, and said calmly.

"Are you the one claiming to be the special envoy?"

Liao Xun and the others didn't speak. The special envoy stood up, his eyes narrowing.

"Who do you think you are?"

Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows, exuding an authority that brooked no disrespect: "Did I give you permission to speak?"

"Damn it!"

The Great Pill King spat out blood: "It's really over..."