The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#632 - Sheep horns

Qi Wenren slapped his forehead, saying, "Oh, right, I've got something extra on me."

As he spoke, he lifted his clothes, and Lu Jing saw a pattern on his left abdomen that looked like a ram's horn.

Upon seeing the ram's horn, Tong Qianxi on the bed became agitated. "Yes, yes, I have this too, and it won't wash off no matter what, but it's on my butt."

Lu Jing was also stunned when he saw the ram's horn. "Could it really be that thing?"

"What thing?" Luo Yingying asked.

"In my hometown, there's a legend of a monster with the body of a sheep and a human face, eyes under its armpits, tiger teeth and human claws, greedy and gluttonous, called a Taotie."

"So, are you saying they've become like this because they were targeted by that monster called Taotie?"

"I don't know," Lu Jing shook his head. "A single pattern doesn't prove anything, and… I still lean more towards human factors behind this. Taotie doesn't understand politics."

Qi Wenren had almost finished gnawing on the pig's trotter in his hand. His once-flat abdomen was now slightly bulging.

However, he didn't feel full at all. Instead, he began to look around, wondering where else he could find something to eat.

A look of worry appeared on Luo Yingying's face. "If he keeps eating like this, will his body be able to handle it?"

Tong Qianxi said, "Don't worry. After we feel hungry, our stomachs become more capable of holding food than before, and we digest it very quickly, like a bottomless pit."

"It's a pity that the food we eat doesn't disappear into thin air. Eventually, it will all turn into fat on our bodies. He'll soon become like me, so you'd better prepare early.

"Oh, right, do you have a lot of silver? The amount he's going to eat next won't be a small sum. Also, prepare a bed early. Ordinary beds won't be able to bear his weight for long. You need to make a special bed like I did. Oh, and… you need to prepare someone to take care of him.

"He'll soon be unable to get out of bed. At that time, it won't just be about eating and drinking; he won't be able to go to the outhouse either, and he'll have to relieve himself in bed. I guarantee the scene will be spectacular…"

As Tong Qianxi spoke, she giggled, but there was no joy in her laughter. Instead, it contained a hint of resentment.

Qi Wenren was sweating profusely from what she said. If he really had to become like Tong Qianxi, he'd rather die now.

He turned his pleading gaze to Lu Jing, expectantly. "How is it? Did you find anything on your end?"

"We went to find a guy named Uritu, hoping to find out from him if there were any similar incidents happening in the city, but by the time we found Uritu, he was already dead," Lu Jing said.

"Dead?" Qi Wenren was incredulous. "Someone killed him, ahead of you? Have they caught the killer?"

"Uh, actually… we still don't know how the killer entered Uritu's courtyard in broad daylight and how they left after killing him."

"How is that possible? Could it be that Uritu killed himself?"

Qi Wenren was just saying it casually, but unexpectedly, Lu Jing was stunned.

Qi Wenren was embarrassed. "I didn't mean that."

Lu Jing shook his head. Before he could say anything, they heard footsteps coming from outside the hall, and then Tong Tuqiu's figure appeared behind the screen again.

As soon as he entered, he glared at Lu Jing and Qi Wenren.

"Heh, as expected, the Chen people are all untrustworthy. I thought you were some kind of miracle doctors, but it turns out you're just getting yourselves involved. My daughter wasn't cured, and instead, you've put yourselves in danger. I won't kill you for the sake of Aku Man, but you'd better get out of my palace now and never let me see you again!"

Qi Wenren was so ashamed that his face turned red, but Lu Jing said unhurriedly, "Tong Tuqiu, we told you when we came that we needed to find the cause of the disease before prescribing the right medicine. To find out what exactly happened to Miss Qianxi, my master didn't hesitate to put himself at risk.

"Tong Tuqiu, you don't reward us, but how can you say my master is putting himself in danger?"

Tong Tuqiu knew that Lu Jing was arguing, but he couldn't refute it for a moment.

After a moment, he could only snort coldly and say, "Then what about what happened before? You kept saying you were going to cure my daughter, so why did you run off to my son-in-law's side?"

"That was naturally also for the sake of curing the disease. We suspect that Bouble and Miss Qianxi's strange illnesses are related."

"Nonsense," Tong Tuqiu shook his head. "I heard from the maids what happened there. Bouble was righteous and had a clear conscience from beginning to end, while you were evasive and secretive, which clearly shows that you have something to hide."

"If you can judge a person's character solely from their actions, then there's no need for constables in the yamen," Lu Jing said.

"Eloquent, I think you're not as honest as your master." Tong Tuqiu had no intention of arguing with Lu Jing anymore and waved his hand to have the guards drive the three of them out.

But then they heard a voice say, "Wait."

Tong Tuqiu looked at Tong Qianxi on the bed in surprise.

"Father, I think these two masters have some ability. Why not give them some more time and let them try again?" Tong Qianxi said.

"Uh, since you said so, then give them… three days," Tong Tuqiu said. "If they still can't cure the strange illness on your body after three days, then I'll… I'll…"

Tong Tuqiu said "I'll" twice, but couldn't think of how to punish Lu Jing and the others.

Although Tong Tuqiu didn't take the three of them seriously, Aku Man, who was behind them, had a special status that he didn't want to offend. In addition, his daughter's attitude clearly showed that she was on their side.

Seeing this, Lu Jing quickly bought him some snacks by the roadside, which restored Qi Wenren's spirits a bit.

Afterward, the three of them went to the place where Luo Changshi was and met up with him.

After hearing the news of Uritu's death, Luo Changshi also seemed very surprised, stroking his beard and saying, "When I was a Changshi, I also asked him for help several times. He is indeed very cunning, and it's not easy to kill him."

Lu Jing then asked, "Are there any other people in the city who are well-informed?"