The old man pouted, thoroughly disappointed. "You saw through me again."
Shen Qingqing tapped her teacup. "Since that's the case, you should know what to do."
"Alright, alright."
The old man, a man of his word, picked up the teacup and downed its contents in one go.
He and this young girl were like sworn friends. The first thing they did upon meeting was to test each other. He was skilled in poisons, while the girl excelled in medicine.
Thus, their encounters always involved him administering poison and her neutralizing it.
If she managed to see through his trick, as punishment, he had to drink the poison himself. Of course, his own poison wouldn't harm him.
At most, it would just give him a stomachache.
Shen Qingqing turned serious. "Old man, I've come to ask you for a favor."
The old man smacked his lips, savoring the taste of his own concoction. Hearing her words, he appeared intrigued. "You, you little imp, actually have something to ask of me?"
"Will you help me or not?"
"Hmm..." The old man's eyes darted around, feigning difficulty.
Shen Qingqing had known him for a long time and understood his personality perfectly. Without a word, she stood up. "If you won't help, then forget it."
She turned to leave.
The old man immediately became anxious. "Don't go! Can't I even tease you a little? You girl!"
Shen Qingqing stopped, turned back, her expressionless. "I don't accept teasing."
The old man sighed helplessly. "Fine, I'll help you!"
On one hand, this girl was not to be trifled with; she would truly leave if she said she would. On the other hand, the poison she brought must be a good one!
He relished such challenges!
Shen Qingqing handed over the drop of blood to the old man. He immediately took it for analysis. In less than half an hour, he had identified the components of the poison.
"This poisoned person is quite miserable."
"What do you mean?"
The old man placed two diluted doses of the poison and a list of ingredients on the table.
One of them indicated that the poison was congenital, present from birth. If it didn't manifest, it was fine, but once it did, it required a specially made antidote to save the person.
Shen Qingqing listened thoughtfully.
The other was "Luohua Can" (Falling Flowers Residue), a notorious poison with a beautiful name and potent toxicity. It wouldn't kill instantly, acting as a slow poison.
It would gradually deplete a person's strength, causing them to waste away imperceptibly, their essence, energy, and spirit extinguished, leading to death.
"I told you not to research this poison," Shen Qingqing chided him.
The old man looked genuinely innocent. "It's not my fault. I didn't develop it for them to harm others. I was just researching it out of boredom. Who knew it would fall into her hands."
Shen Qingqing suddenly recalled someone. "Old man, I remember you mentioning you had a disciple."
"...Yes."
When this person was mentioned, the old man's expression became complicated, a mixture of pride and anger.
Shen Qingqing was somewhat aware of the history between them. She couldn't help but say, "I remember you said he left the sect at fifteen. He should be thirty-eight now."
"Are you implying he stole Luohua Can?"
Shen Qingqing nodded slightly. "Or perhaps you sold it to someone else?"
"That's impossible!" The old man never sold poisons. In his youth, he devoted himself to studying poisons. After years as a poison master, he naturally became half a doctor and opened a clinic to treat patients.
However, he only took on difficult and complex cases, especially those involving poisoning.
He loved deciphering poisons the most.
But whether he was practicing medicine or developing poisons, he never harmed anyone.
Shen Qingqing calculated the age. The year he left coincided with A'Lang's birth. Therefore, the person who poisoned A'Lang's mother was very likely that disciple.
The old man, being intelligent, also realized something. "When he left, he took quite a few things from me, including some poisons. Over the years, I've treated many poisoned individuals, but I haven't encountered Luohua Can until now. Girl, who is poisoned?"
He was worried it was someone close to Shen Qingqing.
"Don't worry, it's a young lady I know."
That's friendship.
The old man breathed a sigh of relief. He was naturally detached, but he showed a bit more care towards this girl. As long as it wasn't her family, he didn't want any conflict with her over this.
"Girl, I can cure Luohua Can."
"Alright, then I'll trouble you to come with me."
The old man waved his hand, settling into the sofa. "I'll develop the antidote for you. You can take it back for the person to consume. I don't want to meet her. If you need anything, you can come find me anytime."
Shen Qingqing chided him, "You're already this old. You can't just stay cooped up all the time. You should go out and about. Otherwise, your bones will crumble one day."
"No, no, absolutely not. I won't go."
The old man began to act shamelessly, disregarding her words.
Shen Qingqing, helpless, agreed to pick up the antidote in three days and then left the clinic. She needed to return to the Feng family; she had a suspicion she needed to confirm.
Feng Residence.
The place was eerily quiet.
Shen Qingqing entered without any obstruction. The guards at the door gave her strange looks, filled with resentment, but said nothing.
As a maid came out of the kitchen, she grabbed her and asked.
"Are Director Feng and Feng Yilian at home?"
"No."
Shen Qingqing released her and walked upstairs. She first returned to her room and found that Fu Jingshu was also absent. She checked her phone and discovered a text message.
Fu Jingshu – Had something come up, went out. Will contact you when I'm done.
She turned off silent mode and put her phone in her pocket.
Turning, she went to Feng Yilian's room.
She was looking for something.
Feng Yilian's room, much like her personality, was a soft pink, exuding a princess-like aura. Shen Qingqing actually disliked such a pink room and decided to finish quickly.
The item she was looking for was easy to find; generally, it would be in the bathroom.
However, upon entering, she found the bathroom spotlessly clean, clearly having been tidied.
She turned and went to the bedside. Under the pillow, a place often overlooked. As she lifted the pillow, she spotted a strand of brown hair.
She took out a transparent bag and placed the hair inside.
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind.
"What are you doing?!"
Shen Qingqing's fingertips twitched, and she slowly turned around. Feng Yilian stood at the doorway, glaring at her, her eyes sweeping around the bedroom, filled with suspicion.
"Are you trying to steal something?"
Shen Qingqing shoved her hands into her pockets and strolled leisurely towards the door. "You're overthinking it."
Feng Yilian blocked the doorway. "If you're not stealing, what are you doing here sneakily?"
"I came to the wrong room."
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Feng Yilian didn't believe her at all. Seeing Shen Qingqing's calm demeanor, and recalling her recent misfortunes, hatred surged in her heart. "You're not leaving today. If you dare to steal, I'm telling Daddy!"
If it weren't for this woman, she wouldn't have contracted that illness!
The incessant itching day and night was driving her mad.
She grabbed Shen Qingqing and pulled her downstairs, simultaneously shouting, "Everyone come out, everyone come out, and see that we have a thief in the house!"
The maids emerged upon hearing the commotion. Director Feng happened to be entering the house and, upon hearing this, his eyes flickered. He feigned concern and stepped forward to inquire.
"What's going on again? Who stole something?"