Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 434 - 392: The Power of the Miaojiang Goddess

Chapter 434: Chapter 392: The Power of the Miaojiang Goddess

Early in the morning, Chen Long went to fetch Si Snake, having guessed that this fellow wouldn’t last more than two nights at the Xu Family’s residence.

Having tolerated him for two months on the journey, Chen Long feared that if Si Snake kept chirping in his ear, he might end up killing chickens.

Si Snake calmly nodded. "Ji Li."

To that nauseating remark, "I’ve missed you so much, Commander Guard," he responded without a ripple of emotion.

Chen Long became even more convinced that bringing Si Snake here was the wisest decision he had made in recent days.

When Ji Li saw Si Snake, a thought suddenly struck him. He turned to Chen Long and said, "Chen Long, didn’t you say your Little Chen Long was about to arrive in the Capital City? How come I’ve returned to the Capital without seeing him? He didn’t even show up for my wedding?"

No wedding gift either?

That’s five copper coins added to the bill!

Not only they didn’t see him, but Meng Qianqian, who had been in the Capital City all this time, hadn’t seen him either.

Meng Qianqian couldn’t help but glance at her brother.

Chen Long frowned. "He must have ended up lost again."

Meng Qianqian twitched the corner of her mouth. Again... From his tone, she wondered: could Little Chen Long be hopelessly directionless?

She was very curious about how her brother had chosen him as Little Chen Long in the first place.

"Forget about him," Chen Long said. "After we’ve settled the vendetta, I’ll go find him."

Meng Qianqian was stunned. "This ’after settling the vendetta’ means... he’ll keep getting lost indefinitely..."

Chen Long deeply regretted his impulsive decision back then.

Who would have thought his powerful little apprentice was hopelessly clueless when it came to distinguishing east from west, north from south?

Indeed, people cannot judge by mere appearances... or martial skills.

Soon, Lu Yuan also arrived.

The two greeted each other.

Lu Yuan asked, "Did Luo San not come with you?"

Si Snake replied, "He’s behind."

As soon as those words were spoken, Luo San entered the Liu Family manor, striding confidently.

Behind him followed eight attendants from Witch Mountain.

Meng Qianqian raised her eyebrows. "Well, well, looking rather impressive now."

After not seeing him for mere months, Luo San seemed utterly transformed—from head to toe, he appeared rejuvenated, as if reborn. Even his gaze and aura were starkly different from when he was in the Capital.

Standing under the scorching sun, he held himself tall and radiant.

"Luo San,"

Lu Yuan called.

Luo Shan smiled. "You can call me Luo Shan now."

Lu Yuan acknowledged with a soft grunt.

Luo Shan turned toward Meng Qianqian, cupping his fists in respect. "Yin Hu Guard."

Meng Qianqian returned the gesture. "Luo Young Master."

On Witch Mountain, there was no notion of male superiority over females; in fact, women held higher status within families. Luo Shan’s mother was the Luo Family’s legitimate eldest daughter, and rightful heir.

After her passing, her only son, Luo Shan, naturally became the Luo Family’s Young Master.

If he were to have a daughter someday, she would inherit the position of Witch in the Luo Family.

Luo Shan addressed the couple sincerely, "Thanks to both of you, I was able to reunite with my family. I’ve marked this favor; in the future, should you need anything, the Luo Family won’t hesitate to assist."

The Luo Family, one of Witch Mountain’s three major clans, possessed formidable foundation.

Yet Luo Shan’s gratitude towards Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian wasn’t solely for the reunion.

His mother had left the Luo Family for many years, and her position had long since been usurped by her half-sister. Thanks to Lu Yuan’s grandmother, he managed to reclaim his rightful position as Young Master.

Luo Shan paused and asked Lu Yuan, "I’ve always been curious—how did you know I belonged to the Luo Family?"

Lu Yuan: "Your surname is Luo."

Luo Shan opened his mouth. "That’s it?"

Lu Yuan replied indifferently, "What else?"

Luo Shan said, "There are plenty of people surnamed Luo under Heaven, not all of them belong to Witch Mountain’s Luo Family. What if I wasn’t?"

Lu Yuan: "Whether or not, you just need to test to find out."

Luo Shan was now completely impressed by Lu Yuan.

He realized that Lu Yuan’s boldness was something he could never come close to matching in his lifetime.

He was fortunate to have turned foes into allies with Lu Yuan at the key moment; otherwise, in intelligence or familial backing, Lu Yuan could have crushed him effortlessly.

Suddenly, Lu Yuan said, "Your father is dead."

"Your father’s dead too—oh wait, my father really is dead."

Luo Shan nearly thought Lu Yuan was insulting him. "Chen Long already told me: someone who indulges in wrongdoing is bound to meet their demise. Especially when their opponents are all of Miaojiang and yourself; this outcome was inevitable."

Luo Shan spoke such words with tranquil composure, a testament to how he had fully let go of his obsession toward his father.

It seemed he had found genuine familial love back at the Luo Family.

Turning back, Luo Shan gave orders to the eight attendants: "You all return to the Luo Family first."

The lead attendant replied, "Young Master, the family head instructed us not to leave your side. If you lose even a strand of hair, we will be severely punished."

Luo Shan rubbed his forehead. "Fine, then just wait outside."

Meng Qianqian asked, "How does being doted on feel?"

Luo Shan responded arrogantly, "Just so-so."

Meng Qianqian chuckled.

Love could cause flesh and blood to blossom wildly.

Although Luo Shan had long come of age, right now, he was being pampered back into the vibrant youth he once was.

Meng Qianqian turned her gaze to Lu Yuan once more.

Lu Yuan: "Why are you looking at me?"

Meng Qianqian curled her lips into a smile. "You’ll get the same."

Lu Yuan asked oddly, "Get what same?"

Meng Qianqian said nothing but smiled, shifting her attention to Si Snake. "Si Snake, you’ve come at the perfect time. I’d like to ask for your help."

Si Snake asked, "Is it about the Shang family’s poisoned child?"

"Yes."

Meng Qianqian nodded.

During the journey here, Chen Long had discussed the dragon-phoenix twins’ condition with Si Snake.

Si Snake was an expert in poison.

Perhaps he could determine what poison Shang Changle suffered from.

The group headed to Shang Changle’s room.

The dragon-phoenix twins had just finished breakfast. Shang Wuyou was petting Bao Shu’s tabby cat while watching his sister.

By the time he arrived in the Capital City, Si Snake and Luo San had already departed for Miaojiang.

Upon entering the room, Meng Qianqian introduced, "Wuyou, Changle, come meet Si Snake Guard and Luo Young Master."

Shang Wuyou politely cupped his hands. "Si Snake Guard, Luo Young Master, I am Gongsun Wuyou."

"Shang Wuyou."

Chen Long corrected him.

Shang Wuyou frowned but ultimately didn’t refute.

After all, Chen Long’s fists weren’t any lighter than those of the Miao King.

Shang Changle put down the tabby cat and performed a greeting. "Changle, honored to meet you."

Si Snake nodded slightly.

Luo Shan smiled at Shang Changle. "You’re much more courteous than your brother. Interested in..."

Meng Qianqian immediately put on a stern face. "If you dare scheme against her, you’re dead."

Luo Shan instantly returned to seriousness.

Lately, the elders at home had been trying to set him up with marriages everywhere. It was truly exhausting.

Si Snake addressed the room, "Everyone else out, leave Meng Xiaojiu behind."

Shang Wuyou said, "I’m staying too."

Chen Long hauled him out all at once.

Only three people remained inside: Si Snake, Meng Qianqian, and Shang Changle.

Meng Qianqian took Changle’s hand. "Don’t be tense; Si Snake is here to detoxify you."

"I may not be able to detoxify you."

Si Snake said, "I specialize in poisoning, but there are plenty of toxins I can’t cure myself."

Meng Qianqian: "A master of planting, but not burying, eh?"

Si Snake: "..."

Shang Changle giggled.

The tense atmosphere instantly lifted quite a bit. She extended her smooth wrist. "Please, Master Si Snake."

Si Snake said, "I need to take your blood—it’ll hurt a little."

Shang Changle said softly, "Changle is not afraid of pain."

Si Snake said no more, pulling out a dagger to roast over the candle for a brief moment before swiftly slicing her fingertip to collect a few droplets of blood onto a Five-Colored Shell.

Meng Qianqian focused her gaze and instinctively exclaimed, "Oh, isn’t that Mao Tu’s treasure?"

Si Snake asked dubiously, "How do you recognize this?"

Meng Qianqian thought. Oops, slipped the tongue.

In her past life, she had been intimately familiar with Mao Tu’s entire fortune, but in this life, she hadn’t yet met Mao Tu.

She cobbled together an excuse. "Governor Mansion investigated the Twelve Guards once. I’ve seen some of the dossiers, which detailed your weapons, hidden tools, and such."

Si Snake seemed to buy it and didn’t press further.

Meng Qianqian blinked. "Oh right, where is Mao Tu now?"

Si Snake replied, "Ran away, whereabouts unknown."

Meng Qianqian asked, "You even dare to swipe her treasures? Aren’t you afraid of her coming back for revenge?"

Mao Tu, as a Medicine King Valley successor, was notoriously difficult to deal with.

Si Snake admitted plainly, "Originally, I intended to take her head."

Meng Qianqian: ... Forget I asked.

After Changle’s blood dripped onto the Five-Colored Shell, the shell seemed to succumb to a vicious poison, turning utterly dim and devoid of color.

Meng Qianqian had seen Mao Tu use this artifact before; ordinary poisons could only cause the shell to lose one color, even the deadliest poison could only drain three colors. Witnessing it lose all radiance now was a first for her.

"To be honest, I tested this poison with the Golden Silkworm Gu—the Golden Silkworm was knocked out cold for quite some time."

Si Snake remarked, "The Golden Silkworm Gu recognizes only one master, its power magnified within you. Away from you, it’s weakened. But for it to merely faint and not die from such poison—truly worthy of the legendary Gu King."

Meng Qianqian furrowed her brows. "What sort of poison afflicted Changle? It’s incredibly potent."

Shang Changle also looked toward Si Snake.

Si Snake’s gaze flickered with complexity. "The most formidable poison in the world—Soul-breaking Grass."

Meng Qianqian prided herself on her medical expertise and poison knowledge, having apprenticed under Yin Hu, yet she had never heard of such toxin.

Shang Changle spoke quietly. "I’ve seen it mentioned in Thousand Mechanism Pavilion’s archives: Glazed Glass Island, unmatched in poison techniques, reigning supreme with seven poisons, and Soul-breaking Grass at the top. So, that’s what I’ve been afflicted with."

She smiled nonchalantly. "Master Si Snake, how much longer do I have?"

Si Snake said, "Your body is too frail to say for certain. Additionally, what you’ve taken monthly isn’t an antidote but poison instead. While it suppresses the symptoms of poisoning, it simultaneously heightens the toxicity of the Soul-breaking Grass, until it fully erupts, claiming your life—that’s the tyranny of Soul-breaking Grass."

Meng Qianqian touched Changle’s head. "Don’t worry, we still have grandmother."

At noon, Liu Muye returned from the Divine Prayer Hall with Liu Qingyun.

Upon hearing Changle was awake, she immediately went to her room.

"It’s Soul-breaking Grass indeed."

Liu Muye nodded.

Changle had already fallen asleep.

Liu Muye said to Meng Qianqian, "Little Nine, go find Za Muduo and have her fetch my medicine kit."

"Yes, grandmother."

Meng Qianqian left the room.

Lu Yuan asked, "What did grandmother say?"

Meng Qianqian replied, "Grandmother told me to find Za Muduo for the medicine, but I think she’s intentionally sending me away—she probably has something to discuss privately with Si Snake."

Lu Yuan cast a glance at the rooftop. "Grandmother’s wall can’t be overheard. Let’s go."

The two turned and left.

Chen Long, Ji Li, and Luo San departed as well.

Liu Muye gently moved her fingers, and with a powerful wave of Inner Strength, effortlessly sent eavesdropping Yu Zichuan and Qing Shuang flying off the rooftop.

Si Snake’s gaze flickered.

So this is the power of Miaojiang’s Goddess?