Chapter 11

What's going on here!

Ponytail and the other henchmen were immediately stunned, as if they had turned to stone.

Even Tao Ruoxiang was completely baffled.

"Brother, please lend me a hand."

Han Sanqiang's call of "brother" was truly sappy, but his tone was very sincere. There was no choice; at this moment, the only words in Han Sanqiang's mind were "arsenic." When he realized he might have been poisoned by arsenic, his face turned pale with fear.

From a modern perspective, arsenic is not the most potent poison; there are many more toxic substances. But Han Sanqiang was not well-educated and had never heard of cyanide, sarin gas, or anthrax. His knowledge of poisons came from ancient TV shows and movies, where "arsenic" and "crimson crane" were portrayed as the most lethal poisons. So when Han Sanqiang heard "arsenic poisoning," he felt his legs give way. He no longer cared about his dignity and instinctively saw Qin Lang as his last hope, addressing him as "brother."

After all, while a leader's dignity is important, it is not as important as one's life.

Arsenic!

Han Sanqiang immediately recalled the gruesome scenes from TV shows and movies where people poisoned by arsenic bled from all seven orifices, and his heart ached.

As a "ambitious" leader, Han Sanqiang really didn't want to die so young.

Killing someone is just a matter of a nod, and since Han Sanqiang had already lowered his head and called Qin Lang "brother" with a thick face, Qin Lang couldn't just let him die. After all, Han Sanqiang had only stood up for his brother, and it wasn't a crime deserving death.

So, Qin Lang stopped and turned to Han Sanqiang, saying, "Go to the hospital for a check-up as soon as possible; it's still in time."

Hearing that his life could still be saved, Han Sanqiang felt much relieved. He came to Qin Lang's side and said humbly, "Brother, since you can tell I'm poisoned, you should be able to cure me, right?"

"I can." Qin Lang's tone was very firm, but he quickly added, "But I don't seem to have an obligation to cure you."

Han Sanqiang thought Qin Lang was blaming him for Ma Wei's earlier rudeness and immediately shouted at Ma Wei, "Ma Wei! Get over here—"

Ma Wei didn't dare to disobey Han Sanqiang and hurriedly walked over. As soon as he arrived, he received a slap from Han Sanqiang. However, when Han Sanqiang called Qin Lang "brother," Ma Wei had anticipated this outcome. He knew that this slap was Han Sanqiang's way of showing Qin Lang that he was taking responsibility. Ma Wei, who had been in the game for a long time, understood the principle of flexibility. He respectfully apologized to Qin Lang and Tao Ruoxiang. Ma Wei's two henchmen also hurriedly came over to apologize, almost kneeling.

"Qin Lang, let it go," Tao Ruoxiang said. She didn't know how Qin Lang had subdued Han Sanqiang so thoroughly, but she clearly didn't like such a scene.

"Since Aunt Tao says to let it go, I won't pursue it further. Han Sanqiang, go to the hospital for a check-up first. If the hospital can't cure you, come back to me!"

Qin Lang's meaning was clear, and Han Sanqiang and his men naturally didn't dare to stop Qin Lang and Tao Ruoxiang from leaving.

On the way back to school, Tao Ruoxiang asked Qin Lang, "Qin Lang, Han Sanqiang is a formidable figure in the underworld. How did you subdue him so thoroughly?"

"He's not afraid of me; he's afraid of death." Qin Lang explained the situation with Han Sanqiang being poisoned by arsenic.

"Is he really poisoned by arsenic?" Tao Ruoxiang was surprised. "I thought you were just scaring him. How did you figure it out?"

"Heh... I can even see through your unspoken secrets, let alone Han Sanqiang's deep poisoning." Qin Lang chuckled. "I've studied medicine with an old Chinese doctor for several years. If I couldn't even recognize this, I'd be letting my master down."

If the old poison master knew Qin Lang called him an "old Chinese doctor," he would be furious because he hated saving lives and preferred the opposite.

"Is that so? Our Chinese medicine is profound. It seems you've learned some real skills!" Tao Ruoxiang couldn't help but praise him.

"Indeed. To be honest, my medical skills are better than many so-called famous doctors." Qin Lang seemed to have no concept of modesty.

"Hey, a few compliments, and you're already getting cocky." Tao Ruoxiang huffed, then remembered something. "By the way, will Mr. Sun be okay?"

"Don't worry. That guy Sun Bo has long fled the scene." Qin Lang huffed, showing no respect for Sun Bo.

Before they knew it, they had reached Tao Ruoxiang's dormitory building. Qin Lang showed no signs of stopping, so Tao Ruoxiang, knowing his thick skin, had to give him the boot. "Qin Lang, it's getting late. Since you're new here, go and set up your bed in the dormitory."

"It's not even eight o'clock yet. I thought Aunt Tao would invite me up for a cup of coffee or something." Qin Lang said reluctantly. "By the way, what's Aunt Tao's phone number? If I need help, I can call you. Oh, and give me Sun Bo's number too."

Tao Ruoxiang had no choice but to give Qin Lang her phone number and send him off. As he left, Qin Lang said to Tao Ruoxiang, "Aunt Tao, drinking is bad for your health. Try to drink less in the future."

Tao Ruoxiang was slightly taken aback but didn't say anything, walking straight up the stairs.

Qin Lang found his way to Dormitory 409 and discovered that Zhao Kan was his roommate.

At that moment, Zhao Kan was lying on his bed, playing a game on his laptop.

"Qin Lang—Is Miss Tao really your aunt?" Zhao Kan was quite nosy.

Qin Lang nodded. "Where are the others?"

"Of course, they're at evening study session." Zhao Kan told Qin Lang.

Qin Lang looked at his empty bed and asked Zhao Kan, "No one set up my bed for me?"

Zhao Kan stared at Qin Lang as if he were an alien. "What the hell! Do you think you're a prince, expecting someone to set up your bed? I was wondering where you'd sleep tonight without a bed."

"Where will I sleep?" Qin Lang suddenly realized this was a problem.

Qin Lang had a sudden idea and quickly called Sun Bo. "Mr. Sun, this is Qin Lang... I didn't have time to set up my bed. Can you find me a bed?"

Zhao Kan was stunned, thinking Qin Lang was really something, directly asking the homeroom teacher to find him a bed.

Sun Bo had just sneaked back to school and was furious when he received Qin Lang's call. He thought, "Who do you think you are, making me find you a bed?" So he firmly rejected Qin Lang's request.

"Sun Bo—"

Qin Lang, seeing that Sun Bo was being uncooperative, called him by his name. "You don't want those people to come after you again tonight, do you? Should I give them your name and phone number?"

Sun Bo didn't want to suffer any more physical pain and quickly gave in. "There's a guesthouse near the school gate. I'll call and book a room for you."

"Thanks, Mr. Sun." Qin Lang hung up.

"You're really something!" Zhao Kan couldn't help but admire Qin Lang. On his first day at school, he had dinner with the most beautiful female teacher and got his homeroom teacher to book a room for him. In Zhao Kan's view, such a friend was worth having!

Soon, Qin Lang and Zhao Kan became close. Qin Lang learned that Zhao Kan was also a student council member, as he was the president of the poetry club at No. 7 High School. Although the poetry club had fewer than ten members, including Zhao Kan, because the golden age of poetry, where "a love poem and a cup of wine could win a girl's heart," was long gone.

Zhao Kan was quite talkative and chatted with Qin Lang until the end of the evening study session.

Seeing that it was getting late, Qin Lang left the dormitory and went to the guesthouse Sun Bo had booked for him.

As soon as he sat on the bed, his phone buzzed with a new message:

"Good disciple, don't forget to take your medicine and practice. Also, since you're in Xiyang City, do the first task for your master: take over all of Andesheng's assets, leave him with nothing, and bring him to me!"

The message was from the old poison master. Qin Lang thought for a moment and replied with two words: "Why?"

The old poison master didn't respond.

This was what Qin Lang had expected. After nearly five years with the old poison master, he knew the old man's character. It seemed that Qin Lang would have to investigate the matter about Andesheng on his own.

Qin Lang then threw his phone aside and took a red poison pill from a white leather pouch, swallowing it.

His stomach felt a burning sensation, but the pill, which could easily kill an elephant, affected Qin Lang like a single chili pepper.

That was all!

Qin Lang then sat cross-legged on the bed, entered a meditative state, and gradually absorbed the poison's toxicity into his body.