Poison Genius Consort

r>Long Feiye “suspected” Chu Tianyin as much as the man suspected him.
The fact that he had ran into Long Feiye and Han Yunxi in the forbidden grounds last time already made him suspect that the duo was aiming for the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion.
Perhaps the poison was even now in their hands.

But Long Feiye’s question now dissipated much of Chu Tianyin’s suspicions.
The Perplexing Butterfly Illusion was the most valuable treasure of the Poison Sect, after all.
It had been missing for so many years that it seemed unlikely for Long Feiye to have it.
Chu Tianyin was a shrewd and subtle man with many intelligent ideas, but in the end he still wasn’t a match for the old fox that was Long Feiye.
Naturally, Long Feiye’s questions were to throw him off track.

“No.
I expect the Duke of Qin is also interested in Perplexing Butterfly Illusion! Those who own it, own the world.
If that is the Duke of Qin’s aspiration, why refuse the invitation to lead the central and southern regions as their commander-in-chief? Isn’t that hypocritical of you?” Chu Tianyin laughed coldly.

The various powers of Tianning’s southern and central regions had joined together to fervently support the Duke of Qin should he proclaim himself emperor of their lands.
But Long Feiye had ignored them all, leaving everyone guessing even as they continued to keep tabs on the situation.
Unfortunately, none of them could read his mind or true intentions—nor predict the true situation of Tianning Country at this moment.

The Chu Clan wanted to use Chu Qingge and her child to seize the throne by force and claim a piece of Tianning for themselves.
Using that territory, they could fight for the rest of the country.
Because of that, Chu Tianyin and the rest had all been observing Long Feiye’s movements over the years.
But if he wanted to get Long Feiye’s motives just by his line of questioning, he was too naive.

Long Feiye didn’t answer, but Han Yunxi just laughed.
“Chu Tianyin, you overestimate the appeals of the southern and central regions.
The Duke of Qin wasn’t rejecting the offer, just ignoring it entirely.”

Chu Tianyin’s blow had withered away as if punching into cotton, leaving him gloomy.

“Those who own the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion, own the world? Looks like your Chu Clan has aspirations to rule the world.
Your lordship will need to have a good talk with Western Zhou’s emperor,” Long Feiye said carelessly.

“Long Feiye, you…!” Chu Tianyin grew alarmed.

Long Feiye arched a brow at him.
“Besides the Earth of Ten-Thousand Poisons, what else were you looking for?”

Chu Tianyin fell silent.

Long Feiye wouldn’t let him stay mute.
“Your lordship’s patience has limits.
Don’t regret this.”

His warning from behind was still clear in Chu Tianyin’s mind.
Witch Aunt was his mother’s older sister and his own aunt.
He would never allow any harm to befall her.
Moreover, it was Witch Aunt who had discovered everything about the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion, so it was worth it to trade the intel for her safety.

“We didn’t find anything,” Chu Tianyin remarked.
“But we found clues to three more poisons.
If you left Witch Aunt go, I’ll tell you about them.”

“Speak,” Long Feiye said simply.

“I want to see Witch Aunt first,” Chu Tianyin said seriously.

Long Feiye got even more to the point.
“Speak if you want, or else forget it!”

Chu Tianyin had plenty of counters to negotiate, but Long Feiye’s aggressive attitude crushed him utterly.
This was the first time he’d ever been so downtrodden, oppressed, and forced to endure!

“This one believes that the Duke of Qin isn’t a man who goes back on his words!” he said first, before launching into a spiel.
“There’s also the Water of Ten-Thousand Poisons, Wood of Ten-Thousand Poisons, and the blood of the poison beast.
The Water of Ten-Thousand Poisons comes from the poison pond in Medicine City’s Medicine Forest, which has already gone missing.
The Wood of Ten-Thousand Poisons is on a thousand-year gingko tree located in Western Zhou’s Thousand Buddha Cave.
I don’t know which tree it is, but it’s there.
The poison beast blood is the blood found in the teeth of the Poison Sect’s poison beast.
Rumors has it that the poison beast’s been lost, but I can’t verify that.”

Han Yunxi sat on one side, gently stroking the sleeping Lil Thing hidden in her sleeve.
Though Chu Tianyin had told them about three poisons, only one of them was useful intel.
Still, one was enough.

“On a gingko tree? What do you mean by that?” Long Feiye asked next.

“I’m not sure.
It’s not easy to catch sight of the gingko trees in Western Zhou’s Thousand Buddha Cave,” Chu Tianyin said honestly.

The Thousand Buddha Cave was sacred land to Western Zhou Country, only opened during grand ceremonies and its accompanying offerings.
Even then, only members of the royal family and specific clans were allowed access inside.
Meanwhile, the thousand year gingko trees were cultivation areas for Buddhist monks, making it harder for laymen to approach them.

“Duke of Qin, I’ve already said all I know.
Now can you let Witch Aunt go? You’re a noble, you shouldn’t go back on your words!” Chu Tianyin said anxiously.

Tang Li had been standing to the side this entire time, but now he burst out into laughter.
“Young Master Chu, the Duke of Qin let her go last night already! That’s enough to be a man of his word, isn’t it?”

Chu Tianyin realized that he’d been tricked and was both ashamed and upset.
But he still managed to hold onto his reason.
The first question in his mind was why Long Feiye had let Witch Aunt go.

“Long Feiye, just what are you planning?” he asked.

Long Feiye avoided the question and asked back, “If it’s the Nether Clan’s Chu Clan that aspires to own the world, who should your lordship speak to?”

Shocked overwhelmed Chu Tianyin at those words, leaving him speechless.
He didn’t want to talk either, because any words now would only reveal more information to the man.
Long Feiye cast a glance at Han Yunxi, only to see her looking curious.

She’s always so curious when it comes to the Seven Noble Families.
It’s fortunate…that she doesn’t know the truth.

Long Feiye had no extra time to waste on Chu Tianyin.
He only asked coldly, “Besides your Nether Clan, which of the other Seven Noble Families are still active?”