Chapter 106: The Scholar (Part Two)

This scholar was stubborn and unyielding, dawdling and insisting on leaving, refusing to drink at the tavern.

Liu Qin grew somewhat impatient, even contemplating summoning the corpse demon to deal with this fellow directly.

The scholar seemed to have a thought, dismounted from his horse, and said, “Seeing that you two run a tavern out here in the wilderness, it must be hard work. I’ll reluctantly have a drink to support you.”

Seeing the scholar suddenly change his mind, Liu Qin suppressed her urge to act immediately and smiled charmingly, “Young master, you are truly kind-hearted.”

The scholar tied his horse to a wooden post outside the tavern, his sword hanging at his waist, and strolled leisurely inside.

“Heat up a pot of good wine, and bring two side dishes to go with it.”

He sat carelessly.

Liu Qin turned to Zhao Yudong and said, “Did you hear that? Hurry up and get busy, the young master is waiting.”

She herself sat beside the scholar, chatting with him and probing for information.

There was something off about this scholar. Although with the two of them—senior and junior disciple—plus the corpse demon, even if the scholar was formidable, they could still take him down.

Yet, in this world, surprises and sudden reversals happen. To be safe, it was better to gather more intelligence.

Of course, the easiest way would be to use the poison she carried to infect this feigning scholar, taking him down immediately.

“Since you want to play dumb, then I’ll play along and let you know what it means to reap what you sow.”

With that thought, Liu Qin moved very close to the scholar, their breath mingling, nearly pressed against him.

Zhao Yudong’s face darkened, but remembering his junior sister was trying to confuse the opponent, and since this scholar was a dying man anyway, he didn’t take it too seriously.

He went to the back to heat the wine, out of sight and mind.

“Young master, are you heading to Longchong Prefecture?”

Liu Qin asked softly, removing the fur-trimmed cloak she wore over a sheer smoky gauze shirt.

The shirt’s neckline was cut very low, and from such close proximity, one could see far more than should be seen.

“Ah? I’m coming from Tianbao Prefecture,” the scholar replied absentmindedly, his eyes sneakily wandering to forbidden places, barely hearing the question and giving a random answer.

Liu Qin’s expression showed a hint of pride. Her full figure and ample bosom always attracted men’s gazes.

To her, this scholar was like a medicinal herb for refining elixirs—if he glanced, so be it. Taking advantage of the moment was nothing.

Especially since he was handsome, and the way he looked at her made her body feel weak.

“Young master, you’re already a little drunk before drinking. I asked where you’re going, not where you came from,” Liu Qin giggled, slowly leaning closer to him.

After cultivating the sinister poison art, she carried toxins that could only spread through skin contact or more intimate exchanges.

“Miss, this isn’t proper. Men and women should keep their distance,” the scholar muttered, but didn’t shy away as Liu Qin closed in.

Just as these two “adulterers” were about to touch, hurried coughs came from behind.

It was Zhao Yudong, carrying the heated wine.

Liu Qin straightened and glared at him resentfully, blaming her senior brother for spoiling the moment.

Zhao Yudong looked grim but made a hand signal to the scholar, meaning to summon the corpse demon and attack together.

The two cultivators at the late Qi Gathering stage, plus a corpse demon at the peak of Qi Gathering—it shouldn’t be hard to take down a mere scholar.

Could this scholar be a rare innate master martial artist?

Liu Qin gave her senior brother a meaningful look, signaling him to hold his patience.

She took the tray from Zhao Yudong, setting the heated wine and two side dishes on the table.

“Young master, the wine is ready. Please enjoy.”

Speaking, she reached out to pour the wine.

The scholar was quick and grabbed the wine pot first. “No trouble, miss. I’ll pour it myself.”

He filled the cup halfway.

Liu Qin bit her lip. “Young master, you’re so cautious. Afraid I’ve poisoned the wine?”

The scholar shook his head. “You’re so beautiful and charming, how could you harm anyone? Even if I suspected anyone, it wouldn’t be you.”

He then took a small embroidered box from his bosom.

Opening it revealed several silver needles.

He picked one and dipped it into the wine.

“See? The silver needle hasn’t changed color. I told you, you’re too lovely to be harmful.”

Liu Qin clenched her embroidered fist secretly but smiled, “Poison doesn’t have to be in the wine; it can be in the side dishes too.”

The scholar seemed to find this reasonable and hurriedly stuck the silver needle into both dishes several times.

After examining, he said, “Hmm, no poison either.”

Liu Qin was at a loss for words.

The scholar put the silver needles back into the box and lifted the wine cup to drink.

The warm wine slid down his stomach, indeed warming his body.

He ate and drank with enjoyment, then pounded the table and recited:

“Since the earth first stirred with wind and thunder, spirits arise amid piles of bones.
Monks are fools who can be taught, but demons and ghosts bring disaster.”

This scholar was none other than Fang Yue.

In such a remote place, encountering a small tavern, he originally didn’t want to pay attention—this world was too dangerous, requiring caution.

But Liu Qin’s persistent pestering made Fang Yue realize escape was impossible, yet he was not afraid.

He didn’t act immediately, wanting first to confirm if they were truly hostile, to avoid killing the innocent, and secondly, to roughly gauge their strength before moving.

Though the wine and dishes were free of poison, Fang Yue had already confirmed that the alluring tavern mistress was toxic.

Having cultivated the Dragon Turtle Concealment Technique, he could not only suppress his own aura but also had a strong ability to sense others' auras.

His strength had reached the peak of the postnatal stage, equivalent to half an innate master martial artist; naturally, his sensing ability was on par.

After reaching the first level of the Dragon Turtle Concealment Technique, his sensing ability increased further, effectively reaching the innate master level.

Thus, Liu Qin’s poison was no secret to him.

Her constant attempts to get close had obvious intent. It was unlikely she merely wanted to admire him or spark a passionate encounter at first meeting.

Although Fang Yue felt that given his charm, her interest was understandable and quite possible.

But the faint yet sinister aura of ghostly energy lurking behind the tavern shattered his illusions.

Fang Yue dared to eat and drink what she offered not because he trusted the silver needle test, but because he had merit points that could cure poisoning.

After finishing the meal and reciting the verse, Fang Yue prepared to strike while drunk.

Yet suddenly, he sensed something and did not act immediately, instead looking outside.

A young Taoist stood outside the tavern, watching those inside.

“Is this tavern run by you two?”

The young Taoist made no effort to conceal his aura, and upon seeing him, Liu Qin and Zhao Yudong’s faces changed drastically.

For this young Taoist was a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.