Volume 3, Chapter 304 – Drug

Well. Time to give her a hint.

At this rate, the girl would freeze herself into uselessness and blow the whole thing on her own.

Lu Zhuxin let out a small, plaintive sound. “Water,” she murmured drowsily. “I want water.”

“Water?!” The branch family young lady blinked, then quickly pulled herself together.

“Second young lady, just one moment.”

She walked to the table, where a teapot and cups had already been set out and waiting.

She drew a slow breath. She remembered the plan.

All she had to do was put the drug in the water, get the girl to drink it, and her part would be half done.

She had heard from Chi Zhong that the drug obtained from Sin Moon Tower was extraordinarily rare. A pleasure-inducing poison passed down in secret from the ancient Bliss Demon Sect, said to be producible by only one person alive today. Colorless, odorless, leaving no trace whatsoever.

No alchemist in the world could produce an antidote. The poison left no detectable signs even after its effects had fully passed.

So even if the Chi family grew suspicious afterward, there would be no evidence to find.

Besides, a farm girl who had long missed the optimal age for beginning cultivation was hardly worth the Chi family expending serious effort over.

Chi Muxue simply did not have that kind of value.

The family head’s attitude at the recognition ceremony had already made that clear enough.

All that was needed now was to get the drug into the farm girl, bring in the men they had arranged, and the plan was as good as done.

The teapot and cups were already here. The opportunity was right in front of her.

There was almost no difficulty to this at all.

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The real problem was the two guards standing watch outside the door. How to bring the arranged men in without drawing their attention?

She could not think of a solution.

Lu Zhuxin noticed her hesitation and understood exactly what she was stuck on.

She had already worked that part out for these minor villains long ago.

Estimating the timing in her head, she figured things should be just about ready.

Lu Zhuxin rested against the edge of the bed, her cheeks flushed, eyes half-lidded. She spoke in a hazy, drifting voice toward the young lady dithering at the table. “Kind sister… I feel a little stifled. Could you open the window for me?”

“The window?” The young lady glanced toward it. The window was on the side wall, out of the guards’ direct line of sight.

Her eyes lit up. She walked quickly over and pushed it open.

And found herself staring straight into the face of a guard standing just outside.

She froze completely.

The guard’s expression was flat. “Miss, the second young lady has not cultivated. Her constitution is weak. I suggest you close the window.”

The young lady’s back went rigid with cold dread.

Why were these guards still this alert inside the Chi residence?

Lu Zhuxin watched the minor villain lock up and very nearly laughed out loud.

The two Chi family guards had cultivations approaching the boundary between the Fourth and Fifth Realm. Unless someone surpassed them in power, slipping past their awareness was next to impossible.

The two of them covered each other’s blind spots. Any development and they would respond at once.

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If someone truly wanted to get around them, the only option was to have that hidden Sixth Realm expert within the Chi family step in.

But that Sixth Realm expert was unlikely to have any time to spare for this right now.

The thought had barely settled in Lu Zhuxin’s mind when a tremendous crash sounded from outside. An invisible shockwave rolled outward through the Chi residence.

The two guards at the door went pale at the same moment. They looked at each other and saw the same alarm mirrored on each other’s faces.

“Something’s happened!”

“That aura, there are powerful cultivators fighting somewhere on the grounds!”

“What’s going on?”

The young lady standing by the window heard their exchange. She looked back at Lu Zhuxin, then turned to the guard outside. “Guards, it sounded like it came from the direction of the main hall. Did something happen at the banquet? Why don’t you go check?”

The guard’s brow creased. He was silent for a moment. “No. The family head’s order is to watch the second young lady. What happens elsewhere is not our concern.”

“But…” The young lady pressed her lips together. “Tonight, the most important person is the eldest miss.”

“If something goes wrong at the eldest miss and Young Master Song’s engagement banquet, that would be very bad for the Chi family.”

“And when the second young lady finds out afterward, she’ll be worried sick too.”

“Guards, if you don’t find out what’s happening, standing here in the dark could be dangerous for you as well, couldn’t it?”

The guard outside was quiet. A thoughtful look crossed his face.

Then the other guard spoke. “She has a point. Tonight is the eldest miss’s engagement banquet. Nothing can go wrong. You stay here. I’ll go take a look. If something’s actually happened, at least I can be of use.”

The first guard considered for a moment, then nodded.

News of Lu Zhuxin’s sword-body constitution had been locked down by Chi Xiyan before it could spread through the Chi residence. Compared to a second young miss of limited value, the eldest miss was indeed the greater priority.

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One guard left at a brisk pace. Only one remained in the courtyard.

The young lady felt no particular relief.

As long as someone was still standing guard outside, getting anyone in would be nearly impossible.

Just then, Lu Zhuxin’s voice drifted over again. “Sister, I want water. Haven’t you found any yet?”

The young lady closed the window in silence.

Fine. She would drug this girl first and figure out the rest later. If she waited any longer, the timing would fall apart entirely.

With that thought, she walked briskly to the table.

She took out the vial Chi Zhong had given her and measured out the amount he had specified, tipping it into the cup.

Expression cold, she lifted the cup and carried it toward Lu Zhuxin.

“Sister, what are you doing?”

Lu Zhuxin’s voice came from directly behind her.

The young lady startled violently and spun around to find Lu Zhuxin standing at her back. She had no idea when she had gotten up.

The young lady nearly flung the cup out of her hands in panic. She managed to hold on.

“Why are you out of bed?” she asked, pressing down on her hammering heart.

“Water,” Lu Zhuxin said, dazed and vague.

The young lady wet her dry lips and held the cup out to Lu Zhuxin.

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Lu Zhuxin took it and drank it down in one go.

With a sharp crack, she dropped the cup on the floor.

“Mm…” Lu Zhuxin pressed a hand to her forehead. “Mm… I feel a little dizzy…”

The drug was beginning to take effect?

The young lady shot a nervous glance at the door, then said in a tense voice, “You’re just tired. Let me help you back to bed.”

“Alright.” Lu Zhuxin gave a docile nod.

A moment later, the young lady pushed open the door and stepped outside.

The remaining guard looked over with a questioning expression.

The young lady kept her voice carefully steady. “The second young lady has had too much to drink and wants to rest. Please keep watch here. I’m going to the main hall to find out what’s happened.”

The guard studied her for a beat, but found nothing to object to.

He nodded. “I’ll stay here.”

The young lady walked away and broke into a near-run the moment she was clear.

Something had gone sideways. She had to get to Chi Zhong immediately and let him figure out the rest.

***

Inside the guest room, Lu Zhuxin opened her eyes.

She let out a quiet, slow breath.