"Master, have we been discovered?" Steiss asked immediately after the old man returned to the secret chamber.
"Not sure. But someone broke through the barrier here a few moments ago. I don't know if they have discovered what is in the other two secret chambers," the old man replied with a sombre face.
"What should we do?" Steiss was obviously panicking. "If the House of Sainte finds out that we are doing this behind their backs, they will surely kill us all!"
"What are you worried about?" the old man scolded. He sat down calmly and, after a moment's thought, ordered, "Remove anything suspicious from this place immediately. I have to stay away from this place temporarily. Don't worry, if the House of Sainte can't find any incriminating evidence, they won't do anything. Besides, I don't think the intruder was from the House of Sainte. Otherwise, given the way the House of Sainte usually behaves, they would have stormed in here by now."
"You are right, Master. I will get these things moving immediately," Steiss sighed with relief after listening to the old man's explanation.
"Go. Get the impure things out of the secret chambers as quickly as possible. Make sure you do not frighten the apothecaries who are here for the conference," the old man instructed.
Steiss knew the situation was critical. He rushed out of the room and began to arrange things.
Gu Li from Mirage City tossed another thick pharmacopoeia to the side and cursed loudly, "That son of a bitch must be full of rubbish, there are no medicinal ingredients with those names! He must have made them up! Liar, that wretched liar, I must find him and get to the bottom of this!"
Gu Li then left her VIP lounge and started to leave the pharmacy, even though it was very late at night.
"Huh?" Gu Li was surprised to find that in the middle of the night, there were blurry figures moving quickly around several restricted areas of the Godswamp Pharmacy. She thought that enemies had entered the pharmacy, and her heart skipped a beat. She was only a pharmacist. Not only did she have very limited strength, but she was also very afraid of death.
After observing for a moment, she noticed that the figures seemed to be moving something from several rooms. They seemed anxious and in a hurry.
At first, Gu Li did not find it very suspicious. She thought that perhaps the Godswamp Pharmacy had purchased some new medical ingredients. As she was about to go to the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy to look for Han Shuo, she suddenly heard a loud clang like some kind of glass container shattering.
"Stupid, be more careful! If anyone discovers this, you'll all die!" a deliberately low voice came from the area.
Gu Li was shocked and suspicious. She cautiously approached the area and immediately noticed an intense sour taste filling the air. Gu Li knitted her eyebrows and took two deep breaths. Her expression suddenly turned horrified and she hastily took out a bottle and consumed the medicine inside.
It's a poison! Gu Li managed to quickly determine what was in the broken glass jar. As an experienced pharmacist who had been immersed in the art of refining medicine for countless years, even though Gu Li had not studied poisons extensively, she could easily detect the distinctive smell of poisons.
Gu Li's curiosity was aroused, but she did not dare to approach directly. She took out several types of exquisite medicine that she had personally refined, and carefully applied them to herself. She hid all the scent on her body, and even the fluctuation of energy in her body was stabilised.
After that, Gu Li gained some confidence and continued to approach the place surreptitiously.
Since it was the middle of the night, most people's visions were affected. The people who were busy moving the incriminating evidence were in a hurry and did not pay too much attention to their surroundings. On top of that, since Gu Li had used special medicine to conceal her aura, none of these people spotted Gu Li, who was cloaked in darkness and watching not too far away.
After Gu Li clearly saw the items those people were moving, she was so terrified that she almost screamed. She covered her own lips tightly with her hands. Having lost the nerve to witness any more of these objects, she slowly retreated.
Organ trafficking and the refinement of poisons were forbidden in all the Divine Dominions. After seeing what those people were moving, Gu Li immediately realised what evil deeds the Godswamp Pharmacy had been up to. Those who dared to dip their hands into the illegal trade while masquerading as a legitimate business usually possessed extraordinary power and wouldn't let any outsider who discovered their wrongdoings leave alive. Gu Li understood this very well, which is why she wisely retreated as soon as she learned of their crimes.
I can't stay here any longer. I can't believe that the Godswamp Pharmacy, one of the largest pharmacies in the Darkness Dominion, would be so brazen as to commit such atrocities. I must expose them! Gu Li thought to herself and made a firm decision. She made her way outside the Godswamp Pharmacy.
One of the divine guards stationed at the front gate of Godswamp Pharmacy recognized Gu Li, who had a queer temper. "Master Gu Li, why are you out so late at night?"
"I... I have something to do!" Gu Li wouldn't be so nervous if she hadn't witnessed the scene just now. She might even have acted arrogantly, completely ignoring the divine guard and walking away with her head held high. But at that moment, in her panic, her behaviour was completely different from usual. Even the divine guards stationed there found it rather strange.
"Oh, then be careful, Master Gu Li. Although the City of Shadows was peaceful and safe, there might be criminals roaming the streets at this time of night!" the divine guard had no idea what Gu Li had seen, but he did not suspect a thing. He even kindly reminded her to be careful.
"Got... got it... I will..." Gu Li was so scared that she started to stutter. After answering the divine guard, Gu Li hurriedly left.
Godswamp Pharmacy did not impose too many restrictions on this odd-tempered visiting pharmacist, and the divine guards did not stop her from leaving, but chatted happily with each other as they watched her go. They were rather puzzled as to why Gu Li was so polite and talkative that night when she usually didn't even bat an eyelid.
Gu Li's heart was in an uproar, and she began to run wild as soon as she left the Godswamp Pharmacy. This confused the divine guards even more.
Shortly after she left, a divine guard with a dark face came out of the pharmacy and arrived at the front gate. He asked the divine guards, "Did someone just leave?
"Yes, it's that Gu Li from Mirage City. She seemed to have seen a ghost," the divine guards who guarded the front gate replied casually.
Upon hearing these words, the questioner seemed to suddenly remember something and his face stiffened. He asked hastily, "Which way did she go?"
"In the general direction of the Sainte residence. What's going on?" one of the divine guards asked, puzzled.
"N- nothing!" The questioner was an insider. Without another word, he quickly flew out of the God Swamp Pharmacy and ran in Gu Li's direction. He thought, "Shit, that old woman must have seen something and is now trying to inform the House of Sainte!
His judgement was correct - this was indeed Gu Li's intention. Although queer and arrogant in character, she was an ethical pharmacist. She was very much against the practice of experimenting with poisons on living people. So, without much thought, she ran in the direction of Sainte's house.
However, Gu Li was only a pharmacist and had not really put much effort into her cultivation. Shortly after she left the God Swamp Pharmacy, she heard a deep, deep voice behind her, "Stop running! I urge you not to leave the Godswamp Pharmacy!"
Damn it! I've been found out! They're coming to kill me!
Gu Li was terrified. Not only did she not stop running, she started running even faster.
The divine guard knew immediately that Gu Li had found out about their dirt when she did not stop but ran even faster. At that moment, the Divine Guard knew that he had to take her life, and a murderous thought flashed through his mind. He flew to the top of a tall building, pulled out a strange-looking crossbow and aimed it at Gu Li. But after a moment's thought, he lowered his bow to put some poison on the arrow before taking aim again.
Whoosh! A cold streak of lightning flashed across the silent night sky. As a pharmacist, Gu Li wasn't a god in combat. Even though she heard the arrow streaking across the sky from behind her, she just continued to run forward in a straight line.
Shoot! The arrow struck her in the left shoulder and sent her tumbling. When she landed, her head was dizzy and she felt numbness in her shoulder. There's poison on that arrow! I'm finished, I'll die for sure!
The Divine Guard heaved a sigh of relief as the arrow struck Gu Li. He was glad that he'd put poison on the arrow, because this kind of injury wouldn't have been fatal. He flew down the building and towards Gu Li. He was ready to kill her and destroy her body so that this secret of the Godswamp Pharmacy would not be revealed.
At that moment, Andrina and Han Shuo, who were flying towards the Sainte Residence, heard the arrow shoot across the sky behind them. Han Shuo was stunned, thinking that the Godswamp Pharmacy had discovered them. A nearby demon general quickly arrived on the scene and spotted Gu Li.
"Poison... poisonous..." Gu Li muttered in a weak voice. She was only half conscious and her body had become so numb and stiff that she could not move.
Han Shuo was startled. Using the Demon General, he saw that a divine guard from the Godswamp Pharmacy was rushing towards Gu Li as if ready to finish her off.
Based on Gu Li's words, as well as the murderous look on the divine guard's face, Han Shuo, after a quick thought, immediately realised that Gu Li must have realised something as well. Otherwise, this Godswamp Pharmacy man wouldn't have taken such a radical measure.
Han Shuo had actually wondered how he was going to explain the crimes of the God Swamp Pharmacy to Andre and the others. After all, it was his demon generals who had discovered and witnessed the scenes hidden in those secret chambers. If Andre and the others asked how he had found out, Han Shuo would have to come up with a convincing alternative explanation. But if it was Gu Li who told them about the crimes, then Han Shuo would be spared those questions.
Although Han Shuo did not like Gu Li at all, he immediately decided to save her life as she was very useful at this moment. It was also at this time that the divine guard from the God Swamp Pharmacy arrived next to Gu Li. He took out a bottle of liquid that emitted green smoke and was about to pour it on Gu Li.
From the demon general's observations back in the secret chamber, Han Shuo knew that the green-smoke liquid could melt a divine body into a puddle of green liquid. It was an extremely caustic poison. If even a few drops landed on Gu Li, no matter how skilled Han Shuo was, he would have no way of saving her.
Even though Han Shuo was still some distance away from the region, it didn't mean that Han Shuo was completely helpless as he had a demon general right there!
"Old fart, you have quite a temper, don't you? Hmph, not only have you thrown a tantrum at me before, but now you want to inform the House of Sainte about our crimes? Let's see how you talk when you've turned into a puddle of blood," the divine guard grumbled, remembering all the times he had been mistreated by Gu Li. He slowly tilted the bottle in his hand...
But suddenly, a bizarre shadow miraculously appeared. It was as if a demon had come out of the blue and struck the green poison bottle. The bottle slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. Shocked by the sudden appearance of the demon general, the man took a few hasty steps backwards.
Before he could draw his weapon, the demon general pounced on him, fangs and claws bared. If Donna had somehow witnessed this scene, she might have suspected that Han Shuo knew something about this strange life form that had once appeared at the Ninth Realm Mystical Yin Harvester. This man had no idea about the characteristics of demon generals. When he saw that his physical attacks against the Demon General had no effect, he became confused.
"What, what are you? What the hell are you?" the man shouted in a low voice as he resisted the attacks.
Most of the demon generals refined by the Cauldron Spirit were created using the souls of Lowgods. They all possessed powers that should not be underestimated. Since this man had no clue about the proper method of attacking demon generals, he was forced to retreat further and further. Meanwhile, Han Shuo quickly rushed to this place.
The Godswamp Pharmacy man was confused and failed to destroy Gu Li's divine body. Worried that divine guards might be patrolling nearby and suddenly show up, the man dared not stay any longer and hastily left before Han Shuo arrived. He thought Gu Li had been poisoned. Given the strength of the poison, no one should be able to save her now. It wouldn't be a problem once she's dead, right?
With that thought, the person quickly disappeared. The demon general might be able to keep him occupied, but it would be difficult to kill him. Therefore, Han Shuo let him retreat.
A few minutes later, Han Shuo arrived next to Gu Li. Of course, Andrina was also there.
Gu Li had collapsed to the ground. Her face was green. The poison had penetrated the cells of her body. Han Shuo inserted Demonic Yuan into Gu Li's body to get a glimpse of her condition. He immediately knew that it was the Godswamp Pharmacy that had orchestrated the incident at the House of Kisa, for he discovered that the poisonous compound in her body was exactly the same as that found in the deceased House of Kisa Divine Guardian who had supposedly taken his rejuvenation pill.
Han Shuo pulled out a pellet of detoxifying medicine and stuffed it into Gu Li's mouth.
Then he grabbed Gu Li and rushed towards the Saint Residence.
Han Shuo was unable to save the divine guard of the House of Kisa, as he was dead before Han Shuo could reach him. Gu Li, however, was discovered in time.
Just one pellet of his detoxifying medicine would allow her to fully recover. Han Shuo believed that once the Godswamp Pharmacy found out that their dark secrets had been exposed, they would actively try to cover them up. Therefore, Andre needed to be informed of the situation as soon as possible, before all the evidence was removed.
Han Shuo was not doing this for the Sainte family, but for himself. Given the current situation, Han Shuo knew that as long as the Godswamp Pharmacy remained in the City of Shadows, his Celestial Pearl Pharmacy would face constant competition and trouble. Besides, from the looks of it, they wouldn't let Han Shuo go until he was forced out of business.
Since the Godswamp Pharmacy had fired the first shot and threatened his interests, Han Shuo would naturally try to eliminate them and destroy them completely.
After taking the detox pill, Gu Li, who had been moments away from certain death, began to improve. After examining her condition with Demonic Yuan, Han Shuo discovered that the poison in her body was slowly being expelled from the pores of her skin. With that, Han Shuo was truly at peace.
"Why are you saving her?"
Andrina seemed confused. She furrowed her brow and asked, "This woman has been vicious and insulting to you with her words. As I understand you, it was a miracle that you did not take the opportunity to kill her.
Why are you willing to save her?"
"Right now, she is more useful to me alive than dead. Because if she's dead, not only would I have to waste a lot of words explaining to Andre what I saw in the Godswamp Pharmacy, but he would also doubt how I discovered the situation there. But if she lives, all that will be easily resolved.
If she was of no use to me, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid!" Han Shuo explained.
"You really are a bad person!" Andrina giggled and said as she pointed at Han Shuo.
"Good people die young," Han Shuo replied nonchalantly as he hurried to the Sainte Residence.
"Identify yourselves!" the divine guards outside the Sainte Residence were alarmed to see Han Shuo approaching so quickly in the middle of the night.
"I am Bryan from the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy. I'm looking for Lord Andre on an urgent matter!"
Han Shuo hastily explained.
The divine guards had all heard of Han Shuo. They greatly admired this young man who had saved Carmelita's life twice. As soon as they heard that Han Shuo had an urgent matter, one of the divine guards immediately replied, "Come with me, I will lead you to Lord Andre!
The divine guard could tell that the matter must be unusual and urgent by the fact that it was the middle of the night and that Han Shuo was carrying a dying woman. He dared not stop Han Shuo.
"Poison... poison refinement..." Gu Li started to wake up after taking a detoxification pill. She began to mumble as she was carried to Andre.
Good!
You woke up just in time. We won't have to waste too much time. Fantastic, Han Shuo thought.