Chapter Sixty-Eight: Tiger Clam Poison

Lu Tianlin gazed at the scene before him, his expression dim. Even the princess had promised to speak on behalf of Lu Tianhong and the others—he had already lost.

“Lost? Ha! I haven’t lost! I haven’t lost!” Lu Tianlin suddenly laughed, his hair already disheveled. “Second Brother, don’t forget, I still have a son in Jinyang Sect. Sooner or later, he will avenge me and Ran’er.”

“Elder Brother, I can forgive what happened back then. As for today, let’s say you were momentarily confused. As long as you admit your mistake in front of the clan, I promise you’ll be fine,” Lu Tianhong said. After all, this was his blood brother—no matter what, he had to give him a hand.

A strange glint flashed in Lu Tianlin’s eyes. “Second Brother, do you mean that?”

“Big Brother, don’t you trust me? As long as you truly repent, I believe Father will forgive you as well.” Lu Tianhong finished speaking and went to help his elder brother up.

In truth, Lu Tianhong knew many of Lu Tianlin’s deeds over the years, but as they only targeted him personally and hadn’t harmed the family’s interests, he had chosen to turn a blind eye. Only when Lu Tianlin schemed against Lu Han did Lu Tianhong decide to find evidence and confront his brother.

Now that Lu Han had returned unharmed, Lu Tianhong did not intend to pursue the matter further. Moreover, with Lu Ran’s death in the recent battle, he worried Lu Tianlin might not recover from the blow. Seeing his brother agree, he was naturally glad.

Just as Lu Tianhong grasped Lu Tianlin’s hand to help him up, Lu Tianlin gave a sinister smile. “Second Brother, I don’t need your charity! Come to hell with me!”

Suddenly, a jade-green vapor poured from Lu Tianlin’s body.

He gripped Lu Tianhong’s hand tightly, making it impossible for Lu Tianhong to break free at first. The green mist quickly enveloped them both.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Only then did the surrounding people react.

Lu Tianlin released Lu Tianhong’s hand.

His face now entirely covered in green, he spoke softly, “Second Brother, since childhood, I’ve never beaten you. This time, I suppose we’re even.”

With that, Lu Tianlin slowly collapsed to the ground.

Lu Tianhong shook his head, seeming to lose consciousness.

“Tianhong!”

Meng Wan’er and Lu Han noticed something was wrong and rushed over.

Qian San and the others also hurried to look.

“Princess, this seems to be the Tiger Clam Poison from the Wen family. Fortunately, only a small amount was inhaled. However, in at most fifteen minutes, not even the greatest elixir could save him,” the old woman said, her brow furrowing.

“Tiger Clam Poison? Master, do you have a way?”

“I know the tiger clam; its poison can only be fully neutralized by the blood of the Soul-Stealing Marten, or a fifth-grade detoxification pill. Unfortunately, I have neither.”

The Wen family of the imperial capital was notorious for their mastery of poison, feared throughout the city. Lu Tianlin had gone to great lengths to procure this Tiger Clam Poison from Wen Hao, for even Wen Hao himself considered it precious.

Seeing that someone present recognized the poison, Meng Wan’er immediately fell to her knees.

“Elder, I beg you, please save my husband! I, Meng Wan’er, will serve you as a slave if you wish.”

The old woman did not reply, instead turning to the princess for her decision.

Lu Han was also at a loss, as even Old Man Ling had no solution.

He stepped forward, cupped his fists, and bowed to the princess. “Princess, I beg you to save my father. I, Lu Han, will certainly repay you someday!”

The princess looked at Lu Han without speaking, as if weighing her options.

After a moment, the princess in purple seemed to reach a decision. “Granny Hua, save him!”

Though she did not understand why the princess would help someone unrelated to her, the old woman still took out a detoxification pill.

“This is a fourth-grade detoxification pill. It cannot completely remove the Tiger Clam Poison—it will only suppress it for a while. Moreover, a congenital stage cultivator must help him regulate his body every day. The rest is up to you,” the old woman said coolly.

“From now on, the Lu family will govern Maple Leaf City. I’ll inform the capital. Granny Hua, let’s go,” the princess said, turning away.

Granny Hua and Qian Santong followed her.

Suddenly, the princess seemed to recall something.

“Lu Han, is it? I hope that one day, you truly can help me.”

The three figures gradually vanished from sight.

Lu Tianhong and Lie Ruge were also taken away for treatment.

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me…” Li Zhengcheng, lying weakly on the ground, pleaded.

Lu Han and Meng Wan’er had already left, leaving only Uncle Fu and the Lu family guards.

Uncle Fu spoke indifferently, “If you don’t pull out weeds by the roots, they grow again in the spring breeze. Master Li, you know this truth well. If our Lu family had lost, would you have spared us?”

…

In the Treasure Pavilion.

Qian Santong exited the room, closing the door behind him.

“Granny Hua, if there’s anything you wish to ask, just ask,” the princess said calmly.

“Princess, is the Lu family really worth offending the Wen family for? Wen Hao is, after all, of the direct line.”

After some hesitation, the old woman voiced her concern—she had wanted to ask earlier but was held back by Qian Santong’s presence.

“Granny Hua, you know that my eldest brother has no intention of vying for the crown. The next crown prince must be chosen between my second and third brothers. If I report this incident, the Wen family may be displeased, but it may also earn the favor of a certain someone. If he supports my second brother for the throne, doesn’t that greatly increase my second brother’s chances?” The princess in purple spoke evenly.

At her words, the old woman’s face brightened. “If we can gain his support, offending the Wen family is worth it—the third prince is no easy opponent.”

“That’s why I saved the Lu family head and gave them the city lord’s seat. A remote city like this is still within my authority.”

“Princess, you are wise!”

…

“Boy Han, take this Tranquil Heart Pill. Combined with the fourth-grade detoxification pill, it will keep your father safe for a year. He’ll wake soon, but he must not use his innate strength. If he does, nothing will be able to save him,” Old Man Ling’s voice echoed in Lu Han’s mind.

After administering the two pills to Lu Tianhong, his complexion improved, though a faint green haze still lingered around him.

“Mother, don’t worry. Father will wake up soon. These two pills will keep him safe for a year, as long as he doesn’t cultivate or use his powers. Within a year, I will find the Soul-Stealing Marten,” Lu Han said, clenching his fist.

Meng Wan’er did not ask where the pills had come from. She trusted her son; when he was ready, he would tell her.

“Han, you should check on Ruge. We don’t know how she’s doing,” Meng Wan’er said with relief upon learning that Lu Tianhong was out of immediate danger.

“Boy Han, what’s the rush? Don’t worry, the girl is fine—she may already be awake,” Old Man Ling couldn’t help but comment on Lu Han’s anxious demeanor.

“She’s fine? Master, how do you know?” Lu Han slowed his steps, asking.

“All you need to know is that this will only benefit her. And you’d better focus on your cultivation, or she’ll leave you in the dust,” Old Man Ling replied with a mysterious smile.

Creak—

Lu Han pushed open the door and saw Lie Zhong and Lie Xiong inside.

“Grandpa Lie, Uncle Lie.”

“Little Han, is your father all right?” Lie Xiong asked.

“He’s fine for now.”

“Ruge is all right too. She just needs some rest. You should stay with her,” Lie Xiong said, then left with Lie Zhong.

As they exited, Lie Xiong suddenly asked, “Father, why do you look at Lu Han like that? It’s as if you’re sizing up a grandson-in-law.”

“Me? I think you’ve already accepted him as a son-in-law.”

“When Brother Lu wakes up, I’ll discuss it with him,” Lie Xiong said as they hurried away.

…

Lu Han looked at Lie Ruge lying on the bed.

Although her face was pale, there was an air of pure beauty about her.

Lu Han’s heart ached—if not for saving him, Lie Ruge wouldn’t have fallen unconscious. Fortunately, Old Man Ling said she’d be all right.

“Little one, what I said before still stands. From now on, I’ll protect you. What happened today will never happen again—I swear it!” Lu Han gently stroked her exquisite cheek and whispered.

Announcement: Only three weeks left in the preliminary round of the online fiction league this season! If you haven’t participated yet, hurry up! Huge prizes and a chance at greatness await! Click here to join!