Chapter 18: The End of a Chapter (1)

“My head is yours to use as a stool!” Liu Sanwu’s tone remained resolute. “No one understands the properties of Heartbreak Powder better than I. You—won’t live out the quarter-hour.”

Liu Yitiao did not argue. Following his lead, he asked, “Since I am a doomed man, will you tell me who you really are? Don’t bother denying it—I know you are not Liu Sanwu.”

“It matters not if you know,” ‘Liu Sanwu’ clasped his hands behind his back, striking a pose he clearly thought imposing, and declared proudly, “I am none other than Qin Wuxia, known across the martial world as the ‘Saintly Poison Doctor’!”

“‘Saintly Poison Doctor’? Never heard of you. The title sounds rather trite, but your name has an interesting ring to it. Pity it’s wasted on an old man.” Liu Yitiao stretched his legs languidly, critiquing both the title and name with a nonchalance unfitting a man supposedly at death’s door.

Qin Wuxia flushed with embarrassment, clearly sensitive about his chosen moniker. He said darkly, “Boy, everyone who’s spoken to me like that has ended up in the Underworld without exception. Your turn is coming.”

Liu Yitiao shrugged. “If the name troubles you so much, I’ll drop the subject. Let’s talk about something else—where have you sent my miserly old uncle? Don’t tell me he’s already in the Underworld too?”

A trace of disdain crossed Qin Wuxia’s face. “Just a pile of fat. Killing him would only waste my poison—I wouldn’t bother. He and his family are all in the cellar out back. They won’t die for a while yet.”

Liu Yitiao stood, still beaming. “That’s a relief. As stingy as Liu Sanwu is, he is still of the Liu clan, as you said—we share the same ancestral blood. I can’t bear for his family to suffer on my account.”

“But now,” Liu Yitiao’s tone shifted, his smile fading, “with the master away, it falls to a relative like myself to play host. Mr. Qin, I’m afraid you’ll have to stay a while today.”

At last, Qin Wuxia sensed something amiss. More than a quarter-hour had passed since Liu Yitiao drank his first cup of tea, yet he was still standing and conversing with ease. Qin Wuxia backed away, eyes fixed on the young man. “How is it—you are unharmed?!”

Liu Yitiao, at these words, spun around twice for good measure. “As you see, I am perfectly fine. Your Heartbreak Powder has no effect on me.”

“That’s impossible!” Qin Wuxia shook his head. “Anyone who drank from that pot of tea would die a grisly death—even a strong ox’s insides would rot! You can’t be unscathed!”

Liu Yitiao advanced two steps, smiling. “Mr. Qin, one must face reality. At your age, you should see things more clearly than us young folk.”

“You didn’t drink the tea?” Qin Wuxia asked uncertainly, then quickly dismissed the notion. “Impossible. You’re just a boy who rarely even sees tea leaves—how could you tell by scent alone?”

“And yet here I am, unharmed. How do you explain that?” Liu Yitiao stepped closer, raising his left hand slowly. “You must be wondering how I could drink the tea and show no signs of poisoning. It’s no great mystery—the answer lies in this sleeve.”

Qin Wuxia, obsessed as he was with poisons, couldn’t help but lean forward to peer into Liu Yitiao’s wide cotton sleeve.

Inside was a wad of water-soaked burlap.

Realization dawned—Liu Yitiao had never actually drunk the tea. He really could judge flavor by scent alone!

As Qin Wuxia jerked his head up, about to speak, he never got the chance. In that instant, Liu Yitiao’s left fist hooked straight into the spot just below his right ear. Qin Wuxia’s mind went blank, and he collapsed, unconscious.

Liu Yitiao crouched over him, pried open his mouth, and searched thoroughly. All he found was a mouthful of yellowed teeth—no hidden poison. He laughed to himself; he’d watched too much television—who would really hide poison in their mouth?

He searched Qin Wuxia’s body more carefully, finally finding two packets of white powder—one in the cuff, one in the boot lining. Presumably, this was the infamous Heartbreak Powder.

Liu Yitiao tucked them carefully into his clothes—such things might come in handy one day.

“Hahaha, Brother Liu, you moved quickly! My men just arrived, and you’ve already subdued him!” Huang Shan entered from outside, his constables following to bind Qin Wuxia.

In truth, Huang Shan had been tailing Liu Yitiao the whole time. As soon as Liu Yitiao entered the Liu residence, Huang Shan and his men slipped in after him, watching from a distance as Liu Yitiao and Qin Wuxia chatted and sipped tea without any sign of trouble, so they held back.

Only when they saw Liu Yitiao suddenly strike did Huang Shan realize something was wrong and rush in with his men.

Liu Yitiao cupped his hands in greeting. Official types always arrived for the aftermath—he’d never relied on them, so Huang Shan’s belated entrance didn’t bother him. He bowed and said, “Constable Huang, this villain impersonated my uncle at someone’s behest, scheming to poison me with tainted tea. Fortunately, I saw through his plot and subdued him. Kindly take him and the poisonous tea to Lord Wang, so justice may be done and the true mastermind revealed.”

“Rest assured, Brother Liu. Lord Wang may only be the deputy magistrate, but he is wise, just, and swift—he will see justice done.” Huang Shan nodded solemnly. “I ask that you accompany me back to the yamen. As a constable, I am duty-bound to protect your safety until the true culprit is found.”

“Thank you, Constable Huang. But first, could you send some men to rescue my uncle and his family? They’re still locked in the cellar and could be in danger if left too long.”

Huang Shan nodded. “There are men for that. For now, let’s hurry back—the magistrate and Brother Bofang have likely waited long enough.”

“Oh? Uncle Yang is there too? Did Lord Wang tell him what happened already?” Liu Yitiao was surprised—how could such matters be shared with an outsider? Was Lord Wang so close to Yang Bofang that he no longer bothered to draw lines between public and private?