Chapter 325 - 311: Liu San, Drink It
The Righteous Light peeked out from behind him, a mischievous grin on his face. "Look," he said cheerfully, "our big bro drank your porridge, and it seems he’s having a bit of a... situation. Don’t you think you should stick around and... show some concern?"
"I... I have somewhere to be..." Liu San’s legs went weak. He saw the other two players flank him on his left and right, and cold sweat streamed down his face like rain.
"What could you possibly have to do? Is it more important than your second uncle-in-law’s business? Where do you think you’re going?" The Righteous Light picked up the remaining half bowl of porridge from the table. He’d originally thought about taking a sip himself to confirm the guy’s guilt, but then he had another idea. His gaze fell upon Liu San.
’Wait a minute, isn’t there a perfectly good ’devoted nephew’ right here? Why should I suffer through that experience?’
He shoved the bowl right up to Liu San’s mouth, a benevolent smile on his face. "Here, you have some too. This is the porridge you so lovingly made for your dear second uncle-in-law. We can’t let it go to waste."
"Liu San, drink up! Why aren’t you drinking?"
"N-no, no, no... Brave Sir, I... I’ve had a bad stomach lately, the doctor told me not to drink this stuff..." Liu San shook his head frantically, spouting gibberish as he grasped for excuses. "I’m allergic... allergic to rice! For real! I break out in a rash if I drink it!"
"Oh? Allergic, you say?" The Righteous Light’s smile grew even wider as he saw Liu San’s guilty expression. He was finally sure there was something wrong with the porridge!
He wasted no more words, grabbing Liu San’s chin and pressing the rim of the bowl firmly against his mouth. "You weaselly-faced animal! Still trying to act in front of me! Drink!"
"MPH! MPHHH—!!" Amidst Liu San’s desperate struggles, the half-bowl of spiked porridge was forced down his throat. GLUG GLUG GLUG.
And at that very moment, with the truth now revealed, the information panel for the Jianghu Identification Skill finally changed.
[Item: A bowl of ordinary rice porridge] > [Item: A bowl of rice porridge laced with croton beans]
[Quality: Common]
[Effect: A laxative that can effectively alleviate symptoms of constipation.]
[Negative Effect: The properties are mild, but it may cause severe diarrhea and dehydration in those with a weak constitution.]
[System Evaluation: A bowl of porridge... filled with "filial piety"?]
...
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Leading Big Bro finally shuffled back from the direction of the latrine, his face deathly pale and his steps unsteady. He was clutching an empty medicine bottle he had just finished.
He looked around, his brow furrowed instantly. "Where is he? Where’s that weaselly-faced brat?"
In the courtyard, only The Righteous Light and a few of their brothers were left, cracking melon seeds. The fellow named Liu San had vanished without a trace.
Leading Big Bro’s heart skipped a beat. A sense of foreboding washed over him. He dashed over to The Righteous Light and lowered his voice, "No... you didn’t... you didn’t just go and kill him on your own, did you?!"
"How many times do I have to tell you? We’re the ’City Patrol’ now, we’re official! If our names turn red, not only will Miss Su kill us, but a whole bunch of people will start farming us like we’re wild mobs!"
However, The Righteous Light just gave him a baffled look, then pointed to a sack in the corner that was constantly wriggling.
"Kill him? Am I crazy?" He curled his lip. "There was definitely something wrong with that porridge. I made him drink it all himself. He’s tied up in that sack right now. Later, we’ll just bundle him up and hand him over to the authorities for a reward."
GURGLE... GURGLLLLE... The words had barely left his mouth when a series of distinct stomach rumbles came from the sack, accompanied by Liu San’s warped howls of agony. "Brave heroes... spare me, brave heroes... let me out quick... My... my stomach... I can’t take it anymore... If I don’t get out now, someone’s going to die!!"
Leading Big Bro finally let out a sigh of relief, which was immediately followed by a wave of inexplicable fury surging through him. He strode forward and gave the sack several vicious kicks.
"Fuck! You can tell it to your toilet in prison!" he cursed. "Making me waste a bottle of Marching Powder and get hit with a debuff. Still, since we caught you ourselves, we should be able to get a bigger reward from the authorities!"
After dealing with Liu San, The Righteous Light turned to the old man, who hadn’t dared to breathe too loudly, and waved. "Ahem, old sir, we’re here with a community care package... ah, no, that’s not it. We’re the ’City Patrol,’ here to bring some warmth on the orders of Miss Su."
"We’ll report what happened here truthfully to the authorities later. As for that ’wonderful grand-nephew’ of yours, he probably won’t be getting out for the rest of his life."
With that, he and his men left in a grand procession, shouldering the still-wriggling and wailing sack.
The courtyard fell silent once more.
The old man watched the sunlight stream in through the window, and in his clouded eyes, something began to melt away.
How many years had it been... He could no longer remember the last time he’d had a peaceful night’s sleep.
Ever since that so-called "nephew" had latched onto him, every single one of his days had been spent in fear and despair. He had even thought he would just silently rot to death in this dilapidated courtyard.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of reporting it to the authorities, but he’d almost forgotten where the government office even was. Besides, he was just a lonely old man with one foot in the grave. Who would care about the words of someone like him? It was only natural for a person who could no longer provide any value...
But today... those "City Patrol" members, whose words and actions were so peculiar, those Immortals who should have been high and mighty... would they really cast their gaze upon common folk like him...?
The old man raised his head and looked toward the sky.
’Anhe City... Is it possible... that the times are truly changing...?’
...
「Meanwhile, at the Li Mansion in the northern part of the city.」
Unlike the merchants in the city who were in an uproar over the "crackdown on crime and vice," the atmosphere in the Li Family was solemn and orderly.
Mr. Li of the mansion had "died of old age" some days ago. All the funeral arrangements had been handled perfectly by Liu Yue’s people—cleanly and efficiently, with no loose ends left behind. The three-day wake was now over, and it was time for the burial.
In the courtyard before the ancestral hall, several young maids, servants, and a few slaves were trussed up and forced to the ground, their cries heart-wrenching.
"Master! Young Master! I beg you, please show mercy!"
"I don’t want to die! I still have my old mother to take care of at home!"
A slightly bolder maid, having heard about the commotion at the Su Mansion’s entrance the day before, managed to struggle and lift her head, shouting with false bravado, "I... I heard! Miss Su has even formed a City Patrol to maintain order in the city! Aren’t... aren’t you afraid that Miss Su will punish you?!"
However, Li Hanlin of the Li Family, standing under the veranda, merely shot her a cold glance.
’Punish me?’ He found it almost laughable. ’It’s just human sacrifice. Is it against the law? Is it a crime? If not, on what grounds would she punish me?’
’The laws of our ancestors are immutable. Don’t tell me the laws are no longer set by the Daqian Dynasty, but by this Miss Su instead?’