Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

Liu San stared at the large hand clamped around his wrist, his heart about to leap out of his throat!

’It’s over! Have I been exposed?!’

He stared intently at the bowl of congee held by [Righteous Light], his heart in his throat. He watched helplessly as the "bodyguards" gathered around the bowl and began what looked to him like a bizarre ritual.

One of them brought two fingers together and pointed them at the congee from a distance. A moment later, the others leaned in. Liu San could faintly hear them discussing something.

[Item: A Bowl of Ordinary Congee]

[Quality: Common]

[Description: Looks like it was cooked just right. The rice grains are soft and glutinous, and it has a faint, fresh aroma. Maybe... give it a taste?]

Immediately after, another person actually pulled a silver needle from his robes and stirred it in the congee.

[DING! Scan complete... No highly toxic substances detected.]

The information on the [Item: A Bowl of Ordinary Congee] from the Jianghu Identification Skill still showed no changes.

"It’s not poisoned?"

"I told you, you’re being paranoid. He’s just a delivery guy."

Hearing their conversation, the heart that had been stuck in Liu San’s throat finally THUMPED back into his chest.

The cold sweat on his back instantly gave way to the draining sensation of having survived a close call. As his taut nerves relaxed, an irrepressible sense of mockery washed over him.

’Damn it, you scared the hell out of me... With all that fuss, I thought I’d run into the capital’s top constables. But this is all you’ve got? Do I really need poison to take out this old fart? Looking at you guys go, I thought you had some masterstroke up your sleeves.’

’Alright, just a false alarm. These blockheads can’t see the trick at all. I’m completely safe.’

However, just when he thought victory was in the bag...

The player next to them called [Big Bro] shoved his companion aside and sneered, "Just because there’s no poison doesn’t mean it’s fine? Let me!"

With that, he picked up the bowl of congee and, under Liu San’s astonished gaze, unhesitatingly took a big GULP. He smacked his lips, seeming to savor the taste.

Liu San was stunned. ’Wait, so you were going to taste it yourself all along? No wonder you used the silver needle and performed that whole ritual—it was just to make sure you wouldn’t drop dead on the spot?! Seriously, has the bodyguarding business gotten this intense? What if I’d used some kind of poison the silver needle can’t detect? Wouldn’t you be on your way to see King Yama right now?!’

Before Liu San’s internal tirade could even finish, [Big Bro], the one who had drunk the congee, suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream, "AGGH—!"

His eyes instantly bulged wide, white foam appeared at the corners of his mouth, and he fell backward, stiff as a board. His limbs twitched and flailed nonstop, just like a fish out of water!

The acting was so realistic that Liu San could almost smell the earthy odor that clings to a person on the verge of death!

This time, Liu San’s heart wasn’t just in his throat; it felt like it had been ripped out of his chest, thrown on the ground, and stomped on repeatedly!

’Wrong! This is all wrong! All I put in was a bit of croton seed! It gives you diarrhea, sure, but it shouldn’t make you convulse and foam at the mouth on the spot! Didn’t you guys test it with the silver needle?! Could it be... you’re trying to set me up?! Are you deliberately faking a poisoning scene to frame me?!’

The very instant this thought flashed through Liu San’s mind, the nearby [Righteous Light] flew forward and kicked the convulsing [Big Bro] right in the ass.

"Dude, seriously? Are you for real? The info panel didn’t even change. Besides, if something goes wrong when you’re trying to bait someone, you’ll get red-flagged!"

[Big Bro] immediately stopped convulsing on the ground, hopped up nimbly, and dusted himself off. "Hey, it’s just an old habit acting up," he explained with an innocent look. "A conditioned reflex, a conditioned reflex. What do you mean, ’baiting someone’? Don’t talk nonsense, you’ll ruin my reputation."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," [Righteous Light] said, rolling his eyes. "Just take a break already."

Liu San: "..."

’So they were acting! But how could they fake it so convincingly?! Then why did they stop? Still, that ’baiting someone’ talk... it gives me a bad feeling...’

"Ahem," Liu San let out a long sigh of relief and forced a smile onto his face. He gave the group a cupped-fist salute. "Brave warriors, since... I’ve delivered the congee, is it... alright if I leave now?"

[Big Bro] waved his hand impatiently. "Scram, scram. Just looking at you is bad luck."

Liu San felt as if he’d been granted a pardon. Bowing and scraping, he turned to leave, his heart blooming with joy.

However, he had only taken a single step when—"GRUUGUGLELELELE—!!!" A loud intestinal gurgle suddenly erupted from [Big Bro]’s stomach!

The expression on his face instantly shifted from impatience to astonishment, finally twisting into a strange, purplish color.

"Wait... what’s going on?!"

"Big Bro, did you eat at that restaurant that passes off dead fish as fresh again?"

His companions immediately crowded around him, while [Big Bro] could only frantically tap at his virtual panel, instantly turning his pain perception down to the minimum.

[Righteous Light] dashed in front of him, his eyes filled with curiosity and excitement. "Holy shit! You really got hit?! Did your status panel change? What does the debuff say? Quick, let me see!"

[Big Bro] gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words. "Why... are you so damn excited?... [Status: Gastrointestinal Disorder (Minor), Diarrhea (Minor)]..."

"Diarrhea? Then what are you just standing there for? You’ve already turned off the pain, you’re not thinking of... taking care of business right here, are you? Can you not be so shameless just for a reward?! It’s not like you won’t get your share!" [Righteous Light] took half a step back with a look of disgust.

"Screw you!" [Big Bro] roared, his image completely forgotten. "I’ll be right back!!!"

With that, he clutched his stomach and shot off like an arrow from a bow, disappearing in the direction of the courtyard latrine. Watching his brother’s retreating back, [Righteous Light] marveled, "Wow, does diarrhea give you a speed boost, too?"

On the other side, Liu San watched the disappearing afterimage, his mind a complete mess.

’That’s not right... There’s no way croton seed could take effect that fast. Not even if it were freshly ground! Could it be... I didn’t stir it in evenly?’

While he was racking his brain, he suddenly noticed that as the man clutching his stomach ran off, the attention of the others surrounding him seemed to have been drawn away as well.

’An opportunity!’ Liu San’s heart leaped. ’Heaven is on my side!’

A wave of ecstasy washed over him! He began to inch his body toward the courtyard gate, moving backward soundlessly.

One step, two steps... No one noticed!

Three steps, four steps... He fought the urge to break into a run, maintaining a steady backward pace. Just as his fingertips were about to brush against the courtyard gate—that symbol of freedom...

A large hand landed on his shoulder. In that instant, the blood in Liu San’s veins turned to ice.

"Your favorite uncle is still here. Where are you rushing off to?"