Looking at Shen Jingzhe collapsed on the ground, Lin Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That's right. He had poisoned the girl. He had been provoking her relentlessly just to make the poison in her body act faster. Of course, it wasn't a lethal poison, merely a drug designed to knock her out.

The Immortal Doctor Sect was a righteous faction, and its ancestral teachings were to save all living beings under heaven. But that didn't mean the Sect Master couldn't use poison. In fact, the head of the Immortal Doctor Sect was a top-notch poison expert. As his only disciple, Lin Xiao had naturally received his master's true teachings.

Lin Xiao certainly could have used a lethal poison to kill Shen Jingzhe, but he was reluctant. After all, he still didn't know why this girl wanted to kill him. With her cultivation being so abnormally powerful, who exactly was her master?

Countless doubts hovered over his mind like dark clouds. If he couldn't get answers, the feeling would be as unbearable as a hundred claws scratching at his heart.

Looking at the unconscious Shen Jingzhe, Lin Xiao instinctively wanted to tear off her veil and see her true face. But as his hand neared her face, he retracted it. This girl wore a veil, so she must have her reasons. Besides... what if an exceptionally ugly face lies beneath? Wouldn't I be haunted by nightmares?

Without any further delay, Lin Xiao carried her to the car and drove toward the city center.

When Shen Jingzhe woke up, she found herself lying in a bed in a strange place. She sensed danger and instinctively tried to sit up, but as soon as she exerted herself, she realized her entire body was limp, without a single trace of strength. This sudden change sent a shiver down her spine as cold sweat beaded on her face.

She knew she had been poisoned. The feeling was all too familiar. She silently tried to circulate the Profound Energy in her Dantian to force the poison out, but just then, a familiar voice sounded in her ear.

"Awake? You sure can sleep!"

Shen Jingzhe was startled again. Yes, she saw Lin Xiao. She saw that beggar-like man sitting less than three meters away, smiling at her with eyes brimming with barely concealed pride.

She instantly became furious, and a chilling killing intent burst from her beautiful eyes. "Bastard, what have you done to me?"

Lin Xiao shrugged. "Nothing much. I just gave you a little poison to temporarily seal your cultivation."

Shen Jingzhe grew even more furious. She truly regretted not killing the beggar outright. If she had, she would never have been poisoned, let alone humiliated like this.

"What, are you angry?" Lin Xiao asked with a grin. "If I were you, I wouldn't be. Getting angry will only make the poison circulate faster."

"Bastard, what the hell do you want?" Shen Jingzhe cursed.

"Let's make a deal."

"What do you mean?" she asked coldly.

"It's simple. I cure your poison, and from now on, you stop trying to kill me."

"In your dreams!" Shen Jingzhe's tone was bone-chilling.

"I'm not talking about the poison I gave you. I'm talking about the poison that was already in your body. Although I don't know its name, I'm happy to inform you that I can cure it."

While she was unconscious, Lin Xiao had diagnosed her. He discovered that her heart was poisoned and that the toxin had already corrupted more than half of it. Once the entire heart was infected, she would undoubtedly die.

Shen Jingzhe's captivating eyes stared at Lin Xiao like sharp daggers. "And you think I'd believe your nonsense?"

"Believe it or not, you can give it a try. What if it's true? Besides, even if I'm lying, you don't lose anything, do you?"

"Go on with your daydreaming."

"So, you're refusing to cooperate?" Lin Xiao asked, a look of dejection on his face.

Shen Jingzhe didn't speak, but her gaze grew even colder, so cold that Lin Xiao felt as if he were streaking naked in the dead of winter.

"Fine. Since you refuse to cooperate, you'll have to excuse me. From now on, you can just lie in bed. Let me know when you change your mind."

Shen Jingzhe trembled with anger, her eyes turning blood-red like those of a provoked wild beast. Lin Xiao, however, paid her no mind and simply turned to leave.

"Bastard! You... you stop right there!"

Lin Xiao halted and turned back, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at her. "Changed your mind? That's more like it. We have no grudge against each other. I cure you, you spare me. It's a win-win. I'm only being this patient because you're a girl. Otherwise, I would've already..."

"Bastard, keep dreaming!" Shen Jingzhe spat, enunciating every word. "I'm telling you now, don't you ever fall into my hands. The day you do, I, Shen Jingzhe, will tear you to pieces!"

Her threat, combined with her beautiful eyes that now looked like they could devour him whole, made her appear utterly murderous.

Yet, Lin Xiao merely shrugged with disdain and turned to walk away.

"Bastard! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" Shen Jingzhe's furious roars echoed from the room.

Lin Xiao snickered. You've been poisoned by me, yet you think you can break free? Dream on.

After leaving the room, a woman in her fifties named Zhu Mingfang hurriedly approached him. She was the wife of Xiao Shixiong's butler, Fan Zengjia. The villa belonged to Xiao Shixiong; it was a retreat he rarely used, so Lin Xiao had borrowed it to house Shen Jingzhe.

"Mr. Lin, are you alright?" Zhu Mingfang asked respectfully. Although Fan Zengjia hadn't revealed Lin Xiao's background, he had told her to serve him well, so her attitude was extremely deferential.

"I'm fine, Auntie Zhu. Sorry for the trouble," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

His words seemed to startle her. She quickly replied, "Mr. Lin, you're too kind! It's my honor to be of service to you."

"Auntie Zhu, don't say that. I'll be relying on you. Please take good care of the young lady inside. Make sure she gets her three meals a day, on time."

"Understood, Mr. Lin. Rest assured, I will take good care of her."

Lin Xiao nodded in satisfaction and then left.

After exiting the villa, Lin Xiao called Su Qingning, who quickly answered.

"Honey, what are you up to?"

"Hmph, I'm discussing the renovations. Do you need something? If not, I'm hanging up," Su Qingning replied irritably. She wasn't angry at Lin Xiao; the bar's renovation was just giving her a headache because the contractor's quote was outrageously high.

"Hey, don't hang up. Honey, have you eaten yet?"

"No appetite."

With that, Su Qingning ended the call.

Lin Xiao smiled and was about to leave when a terrifying murderous intent washed over him. He swiftly looked up and saw Bei Kuang standing in front of the car, blocking his path.

Lin Xiao's heart sank.

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