"Why would he expose himself at this time?" The bald man's questioning left the scar-faced man speechless, reluctantly retorting.

"Idiot, I have always told you to think more, but you wouldn't listen. In Nanli City, despite the chaotic powers, the Zhu Family is definitely one of the major forces. As a member of the Zhu Family, staying low-key and modest with Fifth Rank prowess should be enough to protect oneself! However, he never expected that we would suddenly appear, right? With this young man's temperament, he must have sensed something odd by now!" the bald man said coldly.

"So, what do you plan to do now? Since the young man has already noticed, it won't be easy to make a move!" Zhu Yuheng probed.

"I've already sent a message back to You State using a Chasing Wind Bird. The lady's orders will arrive soon," the bald man said with a smile, his gaze lightly sweeping over Zhu Yuheng's face, leaving a meaningful smirk.

"Cough cough… A Chasing Wind Bird travels three thousand miles a day; I expect Lady Xu's message to arrive by the afternoon the day after tomorrow," Zhu Yuheng said, his gaze narrowing slightly with a calm tone.

"Here is what you wanted!" Zi Yu handed a large package to Zhu Bufan.

"Oh, that was quick!" A flicker of joy crossed Zhu Bufan's face.

"Of course, knowing you were anxious, I utilized all my connections to gather these items in such a short time," Zi Yu exaggeratedly stated.

"Alright, alright, tell me, how much?" Knowing Zi Yu's implication, Zhu Bufan quickly took out his favorite thing—money.

"Hehe, it's good that you understand me, brother! Here's a discount for you, 20% off, though some of the poisons are quite rare and hence a bit more expensive, resulting in a total of two hundred thousand taels of silver."

Truth be told, Zi Yu didn't really know the extent of Zhu Bufan's wealth; the price he quoted was already the lowest.

Indifferently towards money, Zhu Bufan immediately took out two hundred thousand taels in silver notes.

"Wow, although I always knew you were wealthy, I never imagined you to be this rich!" Zi Yu's eyes sparkled as he spoke.

"Hehe, just some unexpected fortune, nothing more!" Facing Zi Yu's probe, Zhu Bufan responded with a silly smile.

Confusion Powder, ingredients—Seven Leaf Shyness, Lotus Seeds, Five-Colored Poison Spider, Sharp Leaf Needle. Refining method...

Recalling the records from the Poison Scripture, Zhu Bufan sequentially added the ingredients into the medicine pot. Soon, boiling water extracted the medicinal properties from the ingredients, turning a pot of clear water into a thick purple-black liquid. As time passed and the liquid thickened like paste, Zhu Bufan occasionally topped up water as the contents evaporated considerably. After meticulously tending to the pot for two nights and a day, according to the Poison Scripture, any lapse during the refining of Confusion Powder could drastically affect its efficacy.

With eyes bloodshot, Zhu Bufan intently watched the liquid in the pot. Once it thickened sufficiently to trap the bubbling Qi inside, he removed the pot from the stove and used the residual heat to dry the remaining liquid.

Soon, a layer of purple-black crystalline substance formed at the bottom of the pot. Using a small knife, he gently scraped off the fine powdery substance, which cascaded down. Zhu Bufan took out a prepared porcelain bottle and collected all of the powder.

Bringing the porcelain bottle close, he gently sniffed it, a faint fragrance rushed towards Zhu Bufan's forehead.

"It's done!" One can imagine Zhu Bufan's joy after such a lengthy effort.

"Just wonder how effective it will be?" Zhu Bufan whispered softly.

According to the Poison Scripture, the effectiveness of Confusion Powder depends on the rank of the refining materials. The materials Zi Yu helped obtain were naturally quite precious and according to the Poison Scripture, this Confusion Powder could indeed bewilder a Tenth Rank expert.

"Tomorrow, I need to find someone to properly test the effects of the medicine!" Zhu Bufan whispered.

Of course, what Zhu Bufan primarily refined this time was not Confusion Powder, but a poison called Death Potion. The Confusion Powder was merely for practice.

After a good night's sleep, the next day, Zhu Bufan fully recovered, feeling refreshed and spirited, as he walked out of the small courtyard.

Upon exiting, Zhu Bufan instantly noticed something different. The attitudes of various members of the Zhu Family toward Zhu Bufan had changed significantly.

"Young Master Bufan!" The servants bowed respectfully to one side as soon as they saw Zhu Bufan.

As for those young members of the Zhu Family, they avoided him if possible, and if not, they greeted him awkwardly with a nod.

"What fine big dogs!" Watching the two chest-high dogs outside Zhu Wu's courtyard, a sly smile flashed in Zhu Bufan's eyes.

"Hmph, truly a case of dogs bullying based on their master's power!" Seeing Zhu Bufan, a stranger, the two big dogs immediately stood up alertly, baring their teeth and their eyes emitting a dim blue light as they threatened Zhu Bufan.

His hands were already clutching two clumps of Confusion Powder, and then with a flick of his fingers, he shot the powder into their bowls.

Afterward, Zhu Bufan turned and hid in a shadowy spot to observe, while simultaneously timing the event.

Just a few breaths later, the two big dogs wobbled dizzily on the spot and under Zhu Bufan's watchful gaze, they eventually collapsed with a thud.

"Excellent stuff!" Timing the reaction time of the Confusion Powder, Zhu Bufan inwardly exclaimed. As for the fainted dogs, their reaction was no longer Zhu Bufan's concern.

Feeling secretly vindicated, coupled with the impressive potency of the Confusion Powder, Zhu Bufan was in high spirits. Humming an unknown tune, he returned to Huanxin Garden.

Upon opening the door, Zhu Bufan halted abruptly, his smile freezing momentarily before he resumed his normal expression and walked into the house, closing the door behind him.

The moment the door closed, the smile on Zhu Bufan's face disappeared instantly, and his eyes coldly swept across the courtyard corner.

"Hmph, what a grand display. There are two Eighth Rank masters hidden in the shadows. Who could they be?"

As he entered the courtyard, like usual, Zhu Bufan cautiously activated the Sensing Crystal in his chest, and surprisingly discovered two Eighth Rank powerhouses lurking in a dark corner of the room.

"They shouldn't be outsiders. Firstly, I have never made enemies outside, and secondly, with Eighth Rank capabilities, it's practically impossible to infiltrate the Zhu Mansion unnoticed, assassinate, and hide within my own courtyard."

Zhu Bufan analyzed calmly.

"So, why have they done this? To assassinate me?"

Zhu Bufan then shook his head in denial.

"No, it can't be an assassination. They wouldn't be that foolish. Even if they wanted to make a move, they would do it when I leave the Zhu Mansion. Inside the Zhu Mansion, they can neither escape suspicion nor evade public scrutiny."

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