Chapter 474: Chapter 474. Coincidence or Premeditated

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

There was no response from inside. Undeterred, Xiao Zeyu pushed the door open, relieved to find it wasn’t locked from the inside.

Entering the room, he found a man lying face down on the floor, surrounded by overturned plates and bowls. Bits of rice and vegetables were strewn about. The man was utterly motionless, leaving Xiao Zeyu uncertain whether he was alive or dead.

“Brother, are you okay?”

He nudged the man and called out loudly.

Receiving no response, Xiao Zeyu checked the man’s wrist for a pulse. What he found was alarming: signs of poisoning. The poison coursing through the man’s veins was unusually potent, reminiscent of the surging Yellow River.

This piqued Xiao Zeyu’s curiosity. Who was this person, and who could have poisoned him so severely?

Xiao Zeyu had an antidote given to him by Su Qing. Encountering someone in such a dire condition, he felt compelled to help. He administered the antidote to the man, lifted him, and placed him on the bed.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the man appeared in his forties. He was thin, with pronounced brow bones and deep-set eyes. Two vertical lines etched between his brows suggested a life filled with worry.

His hands were rough, indicative of manual labor, yet he could afford a room of this quality. This discrepancy raised Xiao Zeyu’s suspicions.

“Ah…”

The man exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes. His irises were an unusual yellowish-brown shade, unlike the typical black, suggesting he might not be from the Central Plains.

Understanding the situation, Xiao Zeyu inquired, “Brother, how are you feeling? I just administered an antidote.”

Most people would express gratitude upon learning they’d been saved, but not this man. He looked at Xiao Zeyu coldly and stated, “I didn’t ask you to save me.”

Xiao Zeyu smiled and responded, “True, you were unconscious. How could you ask? I sensed you were poisoned. Who would be so cruel to do this to you?”

Despite Xiao Zeyu’s amicable demeanor, the man remained guarded. He answered briefly, “I don’t know.”

“You’re deeply poisoned. Immediate detoxification is essential, or your life could be at risk. The antidote I gave you can only temporarily suppress the poison; it won’t eradicate it.”

Xiao Zeyu continued to smile, calmly addressing the man.

Upon hearing that Xiao Zeyu had administered an antidote, the man finally showed some emotion. He looked at him cautiously and inquired, “Could you sell me some antidote pills? I need to live if only to find my daughter.”

“No problem, but first, tell me who you are,” Xiao Zeyu agreed, setting a precondition for the transaction.

“If you won’t sell, leave,” the man snapped, visibly irritated.

“Fine, next time you’re in distress, I won’t lift a finger to help,” Xiao Zeyu’s tone shifted dramatically, his face as grim as a dark abyss. Gone was the warmth; what remained was cold detachment. He turned and left without another word.

Witnessing Xiao Zeyu’s abrupt departure, the man felt regretful and called after him, “I’m Li Tie from Cang County. The Dianxi Five Ghosts have poisoned me, and my time is running out. Please, I need that medicine.”

“Cang County?”

Upon hearing the name “Cang County,” Xiao Zeyu halted and turned back to face Li Tie. The man was poorly dressed, his hands rough and callused. Could this be a mere coincidence?

Recalling that his uncle had predicted Qin Tie would be in the southeast and considering that the City of Brisk was indeed in the southeast of Mo City, he wondered if fate was at play.

Before proceeding, Xiao Zeyu decided to gauge Li Tie’s reaction. “The ingredients for my antidote are quite rare—thousand-year-old lingzhi, hundred-year-old ginseng, and thousand-year-old snow lotus. Each pill costs a thousand taels of silver.”

“Agreed.”

Expecting Li Tie to balk at the high price, Xiao Zeyu was surprised when he readily accepted. Li Tie promptly produced ten thousand taels of silver, saying, “I’ll take ten pills to start.”

Xiao Zeyu verified the authenticity of the silver notes, then looked at Li Tie, his eyes alight with curiosity. “There’s a man named Qin Tie in Cang Prefecture. Do you happen to know him?”

“I don’t know him.”

Li Tie responded quickly, a trace of impatience in his expression. His gaze toward Xiao Zeyu grew increasingly wary. “Who are you, exactly?”

Observing Li Tie’s heightened vigilance, Xiao Zeyu felt increasingly confident in his suspicions. He respectfully said, “I have an important matter to discuss with Qin Tie. I’d appreciate an introduction if Brother Li is acquainted with him.”

“Hmph, Qin Tie has no interest in meeting anyone. Don’t waste your time.”

Li Tie scoffed dismissively, his eyes narrowing as he rejected Xiao Zeyu’s request.

“In that case, Mr. Qin Tie, I sincerely seek your assistance. In return, I can help you fully detoxify the poison within you.”

Upon hearing his real name spoken, Qin Tie dropped the act. He now realized Xiao Zeyu was not to be trifled with and felt a flicker of hope.

Gazing intently at Xiao Zeyu, he said, “Since you’ve identified me, yes, I am Qin Tie. If you seek my assistance, there will be a price.”

“And what would that price be?”

Xiao Zeyu had been warned by his Martial Uncle that Qin Tie was eccentric. One would need to meet his terms to gain his cooperation, which could be money or even more elusive. Today, Xiao Zeyu was experiencing this firsthand.

Xiao Zeyu only feared Qin Tie’s refusal to help, not whatever conditions he might set.

“My daughter’s name is Qin Yu-er. She was abducted a year ago. I’ve scoured the Central Plains for any information. I found out the Five Ghosts of Dianxi took her. Just last month, I located their hideout in Miaojia Mountain but was poisoned before I could proceed. I’ve sought the help of reputed martial artists across the Central Plains to rescue her. I’d go through any ordeal for my daughter’s safety.”

Hearing the question from Xiao Zeyu, Qin Tie’s eyes filled with a fiery intensity, his teeth clenched. He candidly shared his desperate search for the notorious Dianxi Five Ghosts.

He then turned his gaze to Xiao Zeyu. Over the past month, he had reached out to renowned martial artists, appealing for their help. Yet, when they heard the name “Five Ghosts of Dianxi,” they backed out, refusing to engage with such dangerous foes.

Having faced many rejections, Qin Tie needed more hope for Xiao Zeyu.

What a turn of events, thought Xiao Zeyu. He was on a quest related to the Dianxi Five Ghosts, and now here was Qin Tie, claiming his daughter was their victim.

Xiao Zeyu studied Qin Tie carefully. He had heard the Five Ghosts were masters of disguise. Could this man before him be genuine or an imposter?

Seeing Xiao Zeyu’s silent scrutiny, Qin Tie sighed, his eyes clouding with resignation and despair.

“Forget it, just forget it. No one in the Central Plains has the courage. They’re all spineless, afraid of their shadows. Leave, I’ll save my daughter myself.”

Xiao Zeyu met Qin Tie’s gaze intently.. Was this an attempt to provoke him?