Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Fury Black Poison

The Moonlight Pagoda was a force to be reckoned with! Even the Imperial family treaded carefully with regards to it. If this woman in a wheelchair was its Goddess, just how influential of a person was she?

The drunken man stammered as he dropped to his knees, "I- I apologize. Goddess, please forgive me!"

He quickly kowtowed to her. Su Dongmei watched him with a look of pure disbelief.

The other courtesans had definitely heard the patrons talk about Moonlight Pagoda before. They knew what it was. To learn its Goddess was here, among them, and that they had treated her poorly, made them think twice.

Even Madam Meng's tune quickly changed. She swiftly approached and said, "Young Lady Li, Mr. Taio here is a long-standing patron of Dream House. Though he's sometimes brash and crude, he usually means no harm. I hope you can forgive him this time for his transgression."

Qiu Ling glared at the man who had offended her Lady. "My Lady is benevolent and kind. But she also doesn't easily accept her situation. If you wish for her magnanimity, then prove you've rescinded your words."

Mr. Taio kowtowed again. "Goddess, please forgive this foolish man! I will donate to Moonlight Pagoda and help the poor if you send me some men to investigate my coal mines!"

Li Yingshan's eyes remained narrowed. "You've not learned your lesson, Mr. Taio. Until you do, I will not dispatch any people from Moonlight Pagoda to help you."

"I- I don't understand..."

"Young Lady Li-"

Li Yingshan held up a hand, effectively silencing Madam Meng. She leaned forward in her wheelchair, resting her forearms on her thighs. Looking right at the distraught man, she blinked once.

"The coal mines do not belong to you. And I don't care whether you fund Moonlight Pagoda or not. We do just fine without your money. As for the poor, you should be helping them anyways. Do you understand now?"

His eyes widened as big as saucers before he nodded. "I understand. I'll write up a letter transferring ownership back to the Xiu family."

She sat back, satisfied. "Once that's done, I'll send people to investigate the accidents."

Qiu Ling added, "Once my Lady promises something, she'll hold to it. She's never gone back on her word before."

With Qiu Ling's affirmation, Mr. Taio felt much more at ease. He nodded.

Madam Meng and the other courtesans were stunned. They wondered what Li Yingshan's background was, that she could even control an arrogant man like Mr. Taio.

Just then, her voice rang with a warning, "If you do not follow through, I know where your vault is within the Taio residence."

His eyes widened as he stared at her. Li Yingshan smiled sweetly at him, but there was a ruthlessness in the whites of her teeth. He shivered in fear and wondered how an invalided woman could scare him so much.

But she hadn't been called the Elite of the Jianghu for nothing. If they knew who she was, it would be likely that her reputation would precede her. But they didn't know. They only knew her as the Goddess of Moonlight Pagoda, not the Third Daughter of the Li family.

"I understand," he mumbled before standing.

Mr. Taio stumbled his way to the front doors and left. In their hearts, everyone held a newfound respect for Li Yingshan.

∇

The next morning, Qiu Ling went to go meet with Han Shaolei. When she returned, she reported the good news to Li Yingshan.

"He's agreed to meet at Jade Bell Inn. Also, Mr. Taio sent over the paperwork, so I had Han Shaolei dispatch five people to the coal mines."

"Good work, Qiu Ling. Now that this problem is settled, we can look forward to meeting Madam Meng's friend this afternoon. I hope this poison has a cure. I want to walk again."

"My Lady, did you do your legs exercises today?"

"Yes, before I started reading."

"Then you should be able to walk in no time!"

Li Yingshan chuckled as she poured a cup of tea. She took a sip and sighed. "Things are usually easier said than done, Qiu Ling. I cannot hope to just stand up and walk after being cured. I've been in this wheelchair for months. It's almost been a year now. And that's even if there is a cure."

Qiu Ling knelt down on one of the pillows and dropped her head into her hands. Her elbows rested on the table as she pouted. "I still don't get who would even dare to harm you, my Lady."

"We can figure that out later. I've had Moonlight Pagoda secretly investigating different leads, but they all went nowhere. For now, let's focus on surviving here and growing Moonlight Pagoda's influence."

Qiu Ling nodded. "Yes, my Lady."

∇

That afternoon, there was a knock on the door. Qiu Ling opened it to reveal Madam Meng and a middle-aged man. He was carrying a handle-box in his left hand.

"Young Lady Li, my friend is here."

"Come in, come in."

Li Yingshan was still sitting at the table and watched as they entered. When she saw who the apothecary was, her eyes widened. He was equally shocked. Madam Meng noticed their gazes.

"Do you two know each other?"

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The middle-aged man bowed. "It's an honor to see you again, Third Young Lady Li. I didn't expect to see you in such dire straits."

"Ren Shengfu任胜福 rèn shèngfú - given name meaning "Blessed with Success", long time no see. I didn't expect to see you here either. Don't you still work for His Majesty, the Emperor?"

He chuckled. "Yes. Now that Seventh Prince isn't as sickly as before, I'm not as needed though."

"Ahh, I see."

"I heard you've been poisoned, may I?"

She nodded, trusting him. Both Madam Meng and Qiu Ling were curious as to their connection, but neither dared to ask.

"Third Young Lady Li, have you see His Highness since coming here?"

"Yes, we met the first day. He actually recommended me to Madam Meng."

"Oh, I see."

He waved over to Qiu Ling who helped Li Yingshan to stand. He walked behind them and gently tested her back.

"Tell me when you can no longer feel anything."

His fingers glided down her spine. When they came to the small of her back, she murmured, "There."

He pulled back his hand and walked over to his handle-box. Opening it, he drew out a set of acupuncture needles and one silver needle to test for poison.

Cheng Nuo was just passing by when she heard, "Third Young Lady Li, do you mind if I test for poison in your back?"

"Not at all. Go ahead."

Cheng Nuo stopped and eavesdropped at the door.

Ren Shengfu gently stuck the needle into the small of her back. Li Yingshan knew her body well enough to know he had found her scar. She stood there, holding onto Qiu Ling, and took a deep breath.

Please let this poison be curable.

When he withdrew the silver needle, it had turned pitch black. His eyebrows furrowed as he frowned.

"Who did you offend in the Jianghu, Third Young Lady Li?"

Her head whipped around. "What do you mean? As far as I know, no one."

Cheng Nuo silently gasped. The Jianghu?

Ren Shengfu shook his head and sighed. "Third Young Lady Li, your status in the Jianghu was unwavering. Only someone of equal reputation would dare to poison an Elite of the Jianghu. Whoever you offended was willing to kill you. I would suggest you think it over before they try again."

Li Yingshan countered, "But I'm not even in the Jianghu anymore! I lost everything the day I was ambushed.  My father hates me and pretends I don't exist. I'm the Disgraced Third Daughter of the Li family. Why would anyone bother to try and kill me again?"

Madam Meng gasped. "You're the Third Daughter of the Li family in the Jianghu? Your family is one of the best martial arts families!"

Cheng Nuo was shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Yes," Li Yingshan admitted quietly. "I, Li Yingshan, am the youngest child of the Li family in Longxin City."

Ren Shengfu spoke up, "Third Young Lady Li, you've been poisoned with a very specific poison. It's called Fury Black Poison. The reason why I say only someone of equal standing could have done it is because of this poison."

Her jaw dropped. "Cloudless Night Sect? B- but I've never even associated with them! How could they have poisoned me?!"

"My Lady?" Qiu Ling asked, confused.

Li Yingshan quickly explained, "Cloudless Night Sect is an old sect in the Jianghu. They've been around for centuries. But the reason why the entire Jianghu generally scorns them is because they focus a lot on hidden weapons and poisons. Their most famous poison is the Fury Black Poison. Legend has it that this poison slowly kills whoever is poisoned with it. They'll slowly lose control of all limb movements and then their internal organs will slowly fail. The victims will die within five years unless they're cured by its antidote, Peace White Tea."

Qiu Ling's eyes began to water. She turned towards Ren Shengfu and asked hurriedly, "Is there any way to get the antidote? Can my Lady be cured?"

He sighed. "Only Cloudless Night Sect has the cure. And to go there would be a suicide mission. If they've already attacked you once, going there is nothing but a death wish."

Qiu Ling choked back a sob. Li Yingshan's features turned thoughtful as she lowered her head. Finally, she looked up.

"What if I sent a small team of stealth fighters to Cloudless Night Sect? They could get in, get the poison, and get out without being noticed."

"And how do you plan to do that, Third Young Lady Li?" Ren Shengfu asked.

She smirked. "Simple. Qiu Ling, got to Jade Bell Inn and send a note to Han Shaolei. Have him dispatch the Black Phoenixes to Cloudless Night Sect."

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