"Fine! Seven days." The old woman let out a cold laugh, then looked at Lin Xiao Tian. "Lin Xiao Tian, you should understand that right now, we are in the same boat."
The old woman's words were a blatant threat, and Lin Xiao Tian knew it.
But he was powerless.
As the old woman had said, Lin Xiao Tian was not alone; he had many people by his side.
If the old woman died, Lin Xiao Tian would be forced to abandon many people.
"Arrange a room for me, one where I won't be disturbed."
"Also, I need a炼丹炉 (refining furnace)."
Lin Xiao Tian said to the old woman.
"No problem. What kind of refining furnace do you want? The Lin family can make it for you immediately. If you need the refining furnaces from your home, we can go and get them for you now."
Lin Xiao Tian nodded, saying nothing more.
He then withdrew from the room.
At the doorway, the elder bowed to Lin Xiao Tian and then had Xiao Ming, who was guarding the outer perimeter, escort Lin Xiao Tian back.
Walking on the road, Lin Xiao Tian's expression remained calm, as if what had just happened was nonexistent.
Seeing him like this, outsiders would never suspect that anything major had occurred.
In fact, Lin Xiao Tian was acting this way for others to see.
After returning to his room, Lin Xiao Tian drew a blueprint for Xiao Ming, which was the design for a refining furnace.
"How long will this take at the earliest?" Lin Xiao Tian asked Xiao Ming.
Lin Xiao Tian's design was for a refining furnace about two meters high and over a meter wide, requiring it to be made of pure iron.
Xiao Ming took a glance and confidently held up one finger.
"One day."
Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but admire the Lin family's wealth and extravagance. This design not only required a lot of materials but was also very difficult to process. An ordinary factory might not be able to complete it in a week, yet Xiao Ming was so confident in saying one day!
After handing the blueprint to Xiao Ming, Lin Xiao Tian began to study the蠱毒 (gu poison).
The primordial gu was not like ordinary gu poison; Lin Xiao Tian needed to conduct many experiments.
Before long, Qin Yu Xiang returned from the Qin family.
During this period, Old Madam Qin had been summoning Qin Yu Xiang to her side every few days. Since Qin Yu Xiang was new to the Qin family, certain procedures had to be followed. Therefore, during the day, Qin Yu Xiang spent almost half her time at the Qin family's estate.
As soon as Qin Yu Xiang returned, she sensed that something was amiss with Lin Xiao Tian.
Although Lin Xiao Tian hid it well, Qin Yu Xiang knew him intimately. If Lin Xiao Tian had something on his mind, he couldn't hide it from her.
In the past, to avoid delaying Lin Xiao Tian, even if she knew he was troubled, she wouldn't pry.
However, ever since Lin Xiao Tian had told her everything, Qin Yu Xiang could no longer ignore it.
"What happened?" Qin Yu Xiang asked.
"Nothing."
"Don't hide it from me. You can't fool me."
Looking at Qin Yu Xiang's worried face, Lin Xiao Tian sighed.
"Yu Xiang, something big might be about to happen with the Lin family..."
He then proceeded to tell Qin Yu Xiang about the old woman's situation.
"If the old woman has an accident, the Lin family will inevitably fall into the hands of the Jiangs, and things will become troublesome. Therefore, during this time, I must find a way to cure the old woman of the gu poison. Otherwise..."
Lin Xiao Tian didn't finish his sentence.
But Qin Yu Xiang knew what he meant.
"Yu Xiang, don't mention this to anyone. For the next few days, continue as you have been. If the old woman truly has an accident, you stay at the Qin family's. I will disappear for a while, but don't worry, I will come to find you."
Although Qin Yu Xiang was extremely worried, she also knew that worrying at such a time was futile. She would simply listen to Lin Xiao Tian.
In the afternoon, Qin Yu Xiang and Lin Xiao Tian were in the house. Lin Xiao Tian was in his study researching the gu poison, while Qin Yu Xiang was in the adjacent room.
She was also very anxious, praying silently in her heart that nothing would happen to Lin Xiao Tian.
Meanwhile, at the Jiangs' mountain villa.
The Jiangs and their son, Jiang Li, were gathered in a small room, secretly discussing something.
For a villa like theirs, the designer wouldn't be foolish enough to build such a cramped room. After all, with the three of them inside, there was hardly any space to move.
But this was not due to the designer's foolishness.
In fact, even the designer didn't know about this place in the villa.
This was their original place for discussing highly confidential matters.
The room was equipped with signal jamming devices to prevent any form of surveillance, and it was built underground, ensuring their safety even in the event of a terrorist attack.
"Did she really get poisoned? I heard from the household staff today that she went for a walk this morning and seemed to be in good spirits," said a woman, who was the boss's wife of Jiang Group and the second daughter of Old Madam Lin, named Lin Li Ping.
Only she could get news about Old Madam Lin from the Lin family's servants.
If it were anyone else, they would have no way of knowing.
"It's definitely a success. This primordial gu was cast by a master poisoner from Miao Jiang, using their own life as a catalyst. The moment the primordial gu was planted, the master poisoner died immediately. A master poisoner wouldn't risk their life for nothing." Jiang Kun, the head of the Jiang family, said.
"Perhaps someone else was affected?" Lin Li Ping countered.
"A master poisoner is no ordinary person. This primordial gu has a curse on it; it will only take effect if Old Madam Lin is affected. Others will be fine. Old Madam Lin is definitely poisoned." Jiang Kun said confidently.
"So, is Old Madam Lin deliberately faking it for others to see?"
"Probably! And, do you know? The foundry has been working overtime to rush the production of something yesterday."
"What is it?"
"A refining furnace!" Jiang Kun said, enunciating each word.
"This must be something Lin Xiao Tian requested. But why would the old woman suddenly agree to have this made for Lin Xiao Tian? Isn't it to help him detoxify?"
"How did you know about the foundry's news?" Lin Li Ping asked, somewhat surprised.
All activities of the Lin family were kept confidential from the outside world. Even she only knew that Old Madam Lin went for a walk today; she couldn't know anything else.
Jiang Kun, being merely the son-in-law of the Lin family, would have even less knowledge.
"Heh heh! Don't forget, it's not just one person who wants Old Madam to fall!" Jiang Kun said meaningfully.
"Have the branch families contacted you?" Lin Li Ping asked.
"To be precise, they've contacted our precious son." Jiang Kun said, looking at Jiang Li with pride.
Lin Li Ping looked at Jiang Li. "Son, is it true?"
"Mom, Dad is telling the truth. This time, Grandma is doomed."