Chapter 535 - Windfall
Chapter 535 Windfall
What? Immortal Powder?
The three of them turned to look at Lin Mengya simultaneously with disbelief in their eyes.
“That’s right. The news Xiu brought was ‘Immortal Powder’.”
A smile formed at the corner of Lin Mengya’s mouth.
Indeed, she had searched high and low only to find it when she least expect to.
While she was stranded in the Pavilion of Herbs, at the same time, there were so many people outside who were eyeing her menacingly.
Not to mention searching for the whereabouts of the Immortal Powder, she would be scrutinized by the people outside once she stepped out of this courtyard.
Unfortunately for them, they would never expect that Xiu had found it and brought it here at this time.
“Could it be Dongfang Xu?”
Long Tianyu quickly understood what Lin Mengya meant and he spoke his mind while frowning.
Nodding, Lin Mengya gave Long Tianyu an affirming look.
“That’s right. Xiu said that someone came looking for Dongfang Xu, hoping that he could help sell him some quality opium poppy. However, Dongfang Xu later rejected the request but that man did not give up. Eventually, it was a younger person who was a peer of Dongfang Xu’s nephew who struck the deal. I was just wondering if the old capital cultivates medicinal herbs all year round, the purity of opium poppy planted here would be affected. However, it would be a different story if the opium poppy comes from the Nation of Lieyun.
There was a sparkle in Lin Mengya’s eyes, although, on the surface, she did not appear to be anxious or impatient.
Nevertheless, every suffering Long Tianyu went through had been etched in her mind.
Thank good heavens that the Immortal Powder had arrived at her doorstep like a windfall.
“Could this be the reason Xiu insisted on entering the Pavilion of Herbs—”
Zuo Qiuyu’s brain was working faster for once.
Lin Mengya raised her eyebrows at him. He was not that dumb after all.
“That’s right. She said that the person who received the goods was a disciple in the Pavilion of Herbs. Although Dongfang Xu, her uncle had refused the deal, the Nation of Lieyun doesn’t forbid the transaction of the opium poppy. For this reason, that nephew of his did not keep this as a secret from him. However, Xiu got the information from eavesdropping. She didn’t want to make things difficult for her uncle, so she had come here as an excuse to continue with the investigation. As for the why she knew I was interested was that during the transaction, it was because the person mentioned Long Tianyu and my name.”
Lin Mengya mentioned the various causes in one breath.
The three men appeared to have been enlightened all of a sudden. Little did they expect that after searching for so long to no avail, it was Xiu who finally brought this to them.
Destiny really played a trick on them.
“How dare that these people collude with the Pavilion of Herbs! Those people were obviously digging their graves for doing such things!”
Zuo Qiuyu appeared rather agitated. Being someone who practiced medicine, he naturally abhorred this substance that did great harm to people.
Moreover, such a malignant tumor had been born out of the Pavilion of Herbs, which encompass the idea of an ideal nation.
This made Zuo Qiuyu even more indignant.
Lin Mengya naturally understood and shared his sentiments.
As Lin Mengya patted Zuo Qiuyu on his arm, a cold look flashed across her eyes.
“I hate it as much as you do, so we must find out who the culprit is and completely exterminate him. Don’t you worry, I will assist you.”
Zuo Qiuyu’s mood lifted lightly at Lin Mengya’s promise to help.
After the four of them continued in their conversation for a little while more, Xiu entered the room wearing a sweet smile on her face. She was followed by two similarly dressed men from the group of traveling businessmen who carried her baggage into the room.
“Alright, you may leave them here. You may go back to my uncle now and tell him that I’ll come to look for him after a few days. Please tell him not to worry about me. If he were to inquire about it further, just tell him not to come to fetch me personally because it’s difficult to gain entrance into the Pavilion of Herbs.”
Xiu might appear to be naive and mischievous, there was an air about her that commanded obedience from the men by her side, who were more than a head taller than her.
Her two stalwart followers did not dare answer back but responded to her subserviently.
Although they appeared reluctant, they were a little fearful of Xiu.
At the sight, Lin Mengya became rather amused and curious.
Logically, Xiu was merely Dongfang Xu’s niece, but the air about her had not been forced, neither was it a pretense.
On the contrary, it was as if it was naturally cultivated in her life.
Could it be that Xiu’s status was not as simple as it appeared to be?
“It’s been hard on the two of you. Mr. Dongfang can trust that Xiu would be safe and sound with me.”
Lin Mengya nodded slightly and Xiu’s two followers looked as if they found reinforcement and started thanking Lin Mengya profusely.
“Many thanks to Princess Anle. These are the belongings of our young mistress. Where shall we leave them?”
These followers might look like they were difficult to deal with, but they surely paid attention to the expected etiquette.
Lin Mengya indicated to them that they may leave Xiu’s belongings in her room. Soon after they put down their young mistress’s belongings, they took their leave.
Once Xiu made sure they were gone, she stuck out her tongue.
However, the moment she turned around, she bumped into Lin Mengya, who looked at her questioningly.
Smiling, she held on to Lin Mengya’s arm and said with a soft voice, “Elder Sister, can I sleep with you tonight?”
She was not speaking with a loud voice, but it was enough for the other three to hear her clearly.
Instinctively, Lin Mengya glanced at Long Tianyu, who was silent and looking cool and composed as usual.
Nevertheless, for a second, there was an expression of displeasure on his face, but it soon disappeared.
Would a big man like him be calculating with a little lass?
“Of course. Come over here. I’ve something to tell you.”
She tucked at Xiu and the two walked towards the room shared by Lin Mengya and Long Tianyu.
They had left the three men to their respective imaginations.
Lin Mengya had wanted to tidy up Xiu’s belongings but when Xiu saw how difficult it was for Lin Mengya to use her right arm, Xiu pushed Lin Mengya down onto the chair and refused to let her help.
“Oh yes, I’ve brought you a present. I wonder if you like it.”
Smiling, Xiu stuffed a delicate-looking white ceramic bottle into Lin Mengya’s hand.
A present? Lin Mengya dazed for a moment, then she opened the cap of the ceramic bottle.
Strangely, why was it empty?
Just when Lin Mengya was taken by surprise, a subtle scent that made her dizzy diffused out of the bottle.
“This is…”
It was merely a scent, but Lin Mengya was already made to feel faint from it.
Xiu, who appeared to be tidying her belonging, suddenly patted herself on her head and ran over to Lin Mengya. Without explaining to Lin Mengya, she drew out a shining dagger and cut open Lin Mengya’s finger.
A drop of blood oozed out from the little cut and dripped into the ceramic bottle.
All of a sudden, a very soft sound of effervescence sounded next to Lin Mengya’s ear.
It was at this time that she came to her senses.
“What is inside this bottle?”
A vigilant Lin Mengya instantly stuffed the bottle back to Xiu.
The latter gave her an apologetic look. Feeling embarrassed, she said, “This is a kind of poisonous bug where we came from. I’ve wanted to give it to you as something that protects you. However, I’ve forgotten that you need to feed it with your blood so that it would harm you. I’m sorry, Elder Sister. It’s just because I’m… I’m too excited.”
Poisonous bug? Could it be used to protect oneself?
Lin Mengya suddenly remembered that her master had once told her that the Nation of Lieyun was covered with poisonous things.
For this reason, the officials in the imperial courts all the more knew how to cultivate these poisonous bugs.
Xiu also mentioned that she carried with her a number of poisonous items with her. However, these items were rather bizarre. The Shen Nung system had in fact just begun to react to them.
However, this was not because there was a problem with the system. Rather, it was because the fragrant scent that diffused in the air had numbed her sense somewhat.
Based on the system’s analysis, the fragrant scent diffusing into the air had a strong numbing effect.
In terms of its function, it was like an anesthetic that could be inhaled directly.
“Get out this moment and apologize to Elder Sister, the princess!”
Xiu could tell that Lin Mengya did not blame her.
Using her little hand, she patted lightly on the bottles, and following that, a pair of tiny beady eyes appeared near the bottle opening.
Lin Mengya eyed the bottle warily, thinking that some creature in the likes of centipede might emerge from it.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a fuzzy ball smaller than half her palm.
It was snow-white in color and it looked very adorable with those black beady eyes.
“This is the fragrant bug that is hot produce of the Nation of Lieyun. It’s very obedient but extremely timid. Most times, it loves to stay inside the bottle. However, after it tasted your blood, it will obey your instructions. If you carry it with you all the time, you will also diffuse its subtle fragrance. That way, you can save on using scented powder. However, the scent intensifies when you are feeling frightened or nervous. Not to mention other humans beings, even a bull would faint smelling it.”
Xiu picked out the adorable fragrant bug from the bottle with practiced movement and put it onto Lin Mengya’s palm.
At the start, the fragrant bug seemed frightened and its body quivered.
Nevertheless, when it smelt the scent of blood on Lin Mengya’s palm, it gradually calmed down.
Its thick soft fur felt good on Lin Mengya’s palm.
“This… alright, thank you.”
However, Lin Mengya thought that the bug was not very useful to her but she did not bear to discard it.
Perhaps it would be able to save her life at some crucial point in time. One could not really tell.
Despite looking so adorable, the bug was poisonous after all. Lin Mengya fondled with it for a while, then carefully put it back into the white bottle.
Thereafter, Xiu explained to Lin Mengya the way to feed it. Basically, she only needed to feed it with her blood once a month. Other times, the bug would usually feed on some kind of spices.
Lin Mengya pondered over it and thought that it was not difficult or troublesome to upkeep it anyway.
Following Xiu’s instructions, Lin Mengya left the bottle on top of her vanity table. Then the two girls started chatting.
“Xiu, you mentioned that the man said someone from the Pavilion of Herbs wanted to buy opium poppy right? Do you know how we can find who this buyer is?”