Chapter 14

Ma Wei took Qin Lang to the Blue Diamond Bar outside the school.

This bar was owned by Han Sanqiang. Before Qin Lang even reached the bar’s entrance, Han Sanqiang came out to greet him personally, with a woman in her mid-twenties, wearing a blue qipao and exuding a certain charm, standing beside him.

Han Sanqiang looked much more haggard. He thought it was because the poison was starting to take effect, but in reality, it was just because he hadn’t been resting well and was extremely worried.

Seeing Qin Lang, Han Sanqiang felt as if he had seen a savior. He said warmly, "Brother Qin, you’ve finally come. The one who tied the bell must untie it. My life is entirely in your hands, Brother Qin!"

"Brother Sanqiang, what do you mean by 'the one who tied the bell must untie it'? You didn’t poison yourself." Qin Lang thought how terrifying it was to be uneducated. He smiled faintly, "Don’t worry, since I can identify your poison, I can certainly cure it."

Hearing Qin Lang’s words, Han Sanqiang’s heart, which had been on edge, finally relaxed. He invited Qin Lang into the bar. The woman in the qipao brought a bottle of red wine and some glasses to the bar counter for Han Sanqiang. Han Sanqiang personally poured a glass for Qin Lang and then continued, "Brother, can you cure my poison now?"

Qin Lang took a sip of wine and then said, "Brother Sanqiang, I need to talk to you alone."

Han Sanqiang gave the woman in the qipao a look, signaling her to stand aside.

"Brother Sanqiang, your poisoning is severe. Even if the hospital could cure it, it might still damage your internal organs. You’ve come to the right person for the cure. Arsenic has been used and studied for thousands of years by our ancestors. In terms of detoxification, traditional Chinese medicine is more thorough and won’t harm your organs." Qin Lang planned to cure Han Sanqiang but wanted him to understand the magnitude of this favor.

"Yes, yes, our traditional Chinese medicine is indeed profound." Han Sanqiang, a true descendant of the Yan and Huang Emperors, had a strong sense of national pride. "I entrust everything to you, Brother Qin. I will always remember this life-saving favor!"

"Don’t worry, I’ve already thought of the prescription. However, I need to prepare the herbs myself. I’ll go to the herbal medicine shop in the city later—"

"I’ll have someone take you there immediately!"

"No rush." Qin Lang said to Han Sanqiang, "Brother Sanqiang, rest assured, I will cure your poison. But have you thought about why you were poisoned?"

"Didn’t you say it was because I ate too much seafood?" Han Sanqiang looked at Qin Lang with confusion.

"Seafood is just the trigger." Qin Lang shook his head. "A strong and healthy person like you wouldn’t be poisoned just from eating a few meals of seafood. Generally, a large amount of seafood combined with Vitamin C can produce a small amount of arsenic. Did you drink a lot of orange juice or similar drinks when you ate seafood?"

"I rarely drink that stuff; I usually drink alcohol."

"That’s even more puzzling." Qin Lang said. "Without Vitamin C, it’s impossible for you to be so severely poisoned. Moreover, even with sufficient Vitamin C, it’s not guaranteed that you would be poisoned. It’s likely that someone mixed a small amount of arsenic into your food and made it look like food poisoning! Yes, that’s probably it."

Although Han Sanqiang wasn’t very educated, he wasn’t stupid. After some thought, he said in shock, "Brother Qin, you mean—someone wants to kill me? Damn! Which bastard is so evil!"

"Originally, I was just suspicious, but now I’m almost certain." Qin Lang said. "The person not only wants to harm you but also wants to create the illusion of food poisoning so that the police and others won’t suspect anything."

"Damn his whole family! Who the hell is so vicious!" Han Sanqiang was almost ready to lose control, but he knew Qin Lang wasn’t exaggerating.

"You’ll have to figure out these things yourself." Qin Lang planned to guide Han Sanqiang. "First, think about why you’ve been eating so much seafood recently. Then, consider how Vitamin C or a small amount of arsenic could have been mixed into your food. Finally, think about who you might have offended."

Han Sanqiang forced himself to calm down. Although detoxification was important, finding the culprit was even more crucial. This time, he could be cured, but what about next time?

After a while, Han Sanqiang had some leads. He said to Qin Lang, "A few of my subordinates are suspicious."

"That makes it easier." Qin Lang said. "Have these few people accompany me to the city to get the medicine, and let them know that these herbs are necessary for your detoxification. If any of them want to harm you, they will likely try to sabotage my mission."

"Brother Qin, you’re really clever!" Han Sanqiang said admiringly. "But won’t you be in danger? Why don’t I have someone else get the medicine?"

"Can anyone else distinguish the quality of the herbs?"

Qin Lang’s plan was twofold: to make Han Sanqiang owe him a life-saving favor and to show Han Sanqiang his strategy and skills. Only then would Han Sanqiang be willing to work for Qin Lang. With Han Sanqiang’s help, Qin Lang would find it easier to complete the Old Poisoner’s task.

Han Sanqiang was indeed moved. "Brother, I’ll remember this great favor! In the future—"

"Brother Sanqiang, let’s talk about that later. Arrange it first." Qin Lang interrupted Han Sanqiang.

Han Sanqiang nodded and called for the four subordinates he suspected. He said to them, "You four, take Brother Qin to the city to get the medicine to cure my poison. Be smart and don’t mess up my affairs!"

The four subordinates quickly nodded respectfully and then led Qin Lang out.

After Qin Lang and the others left, the woman in the qipao came to Han Sanqiang’s side and said in a coquettish voice, "Brother Sanqiang, Qin Lang is just a high school kid, and you really value him so much?"

"That’s why women are so short-sighted!" Han Sanqiang snorted. "I may be a rough man, but I have some discernment. Someone like Brother Qin must not be offended. I thought he was just good at martial arts and medicine, but I didn’t expect him to be so skilled in strategy. He will surely become a big figure in the future! So, don’t offend him. Give him whatever he needs."

"What if he needs me?" the woman in the qipao asked resentfully.

"Then wash up and go to bed with him!" Han Sanqiang snorted.

"Brother Sanqiang—how heartless you are!"

"Just kidding." Han Sanqiang laughed. "Besides, Brother Qin won’t be interested in you. Just wash up and wait for me, the rough man. After the detoxification tonight, we’ll do that thing..."

"Brother Sanqiang, you’re so bad..."

***

Qin Lang and Han Sanqiang’s four subordinates got into a minivan and arrived in the city after about ten minutes.

It was still early, and many herbal medicine shops hadn’t opened yet.

At this moment, one of the subordinates, Wu, suggested to Qin Lang, "Brother Qin, let’s go to Chun Kang Pharmacy. The owner is a friend of mine. I’ll call them to open the shop so that Brother Sanqiang doesn’t have to wait too long."

"Okay." Qin Lang nodded, pretending to be indifferent.

A few minutes later, the minivan drove into a small street, and at the end of the street was Chun Kang Pharmacy.

Sure enough, the roller shutter of the pharmacy was already open.

"Brother Qin, this is the place." Wu led Qin Lang and the other four subordinates into the pharmacy.

"Boss, we’re here to get the medicine." Qin Lang said as he approached the counter.

The person standing behind the counter was a muscular man in a black tank top. He smiled coldly, "The medicine you need is already prepared!"

"Then give it to us." Qin Lang said calmly.

"Sure. Here—"

The man in the black tank top suddenly pulled out a machete from behind his back and slammed it on the counter.

The atmosphere was tense!