107: Chapter 107 Poisoned at the Banquet? Go drink it yourself!

Li Biao scrambled back to the City Lord's Mansion and ran back out in less than half an hour clutching a thick leather register. Behind him followed a dozen trembling servants carrying four heavy camphor wood chests. Sweat soaked his official robes, and with a "thud," he knelt before Lin Zhe again, holding the register above his head: "Sir! This is the list of all the Remnants of the Three Clans hidden in the city, along with the eighty thousand gold coins and three thousand pieces of high-grade fine iron I've embezzled over my three-year tenure—it's all here! Please, in your great magnanimity, unseal the benefits for the players in the city first, okay? I truly know I was wrong!"

Lin Zhe glanced indifferently at the register; the cover was still stained with the dust Li Biao had kicked up while kowtowing. His Rule Perception swept over it, and the information inside perfectly matched the dozen or so malicious auras he had just locked onto, without a hint of concealment. Qing Yu stepped forward to take the register and the storage card, and only then did Lin Zhe faintly utter two words: "Enter the city."

The surrounding players instantly erupted into deafening cheers, each holding up their terminals to snap photos. The anger from having their benefits sealed just now completely vanished. After all, Li Biao would have to compensate for the losses in the end, and getting to see the dog-like City Lord kneeling and begging for mercy was a huge win.

Li Biao scrambled up and patted the dust off his clothes, his face wearing a smile so fawning it was nauseating as he bowed and led the way: "Sir, lords, I have specially prepared a welcoming banquet at the City Lord's Mansion. It features the finest ingredients from Red Leaf City and a century-old wine from my private collection to apologize to you all! This way, please!"

While he smiled brightly, a sinister look was hidden in his eyes. He had already received a reply to the secret letter he sent to the Remnants of the Three Clans. As long as he could drug Lin Zhe's group and deliver them to the stronghold outside the city, he would receive a bounty of two million gold coins and could flee to an overseas fief with the remnants, where no one could touch him. As for the Bone-Softening Powder in the wine and the Natural Divine Power sealing agent prepared for Ling Xi, once consumed, even a Level 20 Brave-class powerhouse would be paralyzed for three hours, let alone an NPC like Lin Zhe who looked weak and fragile.

The group entered the City Lord's Mansion. The banquet hall had long been decorated to look magnificent, with the long table piled high with delicacies from land and sea. The wine in the goblets shimmered with a ruby-red light, but upon closer inspection, one could see an extremely faint blue-purple fluorescence floating at the bottom—the traces of the dissolved Bone-Softening Powder.

Li Biao attentively served dishes to everyone, occasionally stealing glances at Lin Zhe's expression. Seeing that he remained indifferent throughout and hadn't touched any wine, Li Biao's heart skipped a beat. He simply walked over carrying two pure gold goblets, handing one to Lin Zhe and the other to Ling Xi, his face wrinkling with a forced smile: "Sir, Princess, this is a top-tier Cabernet Sauvignon I've aged for fifty years. I've brought it specifically to apologize to you both. I'll drink first as a toast!"

As he spoke, he tilted his head back and drained the unpoisoned cup in his hand, showing the empty vessel with an imperceptible look of anticipation in his eyes.

Lin Zhe leaned back in his chair without even lifting his eyelids, his fingertips moving slightly.

*Buzz—!*

A pale golden barrier of rules lit up without warning. The two goblets in Li Biao's hands suddenly flipped over uncontrollably, their rims aligning perfectly with his mouth. Both cups of poisoned wine were poured down his throat with a "glug, glug," without a single drop spilled.

"Mmph—!"

Li Biao's eyes instantly widened into circles, and he subconsciously tried to spit out the poisoned wine, but it was too late. First, the strength drained from his body as if it were being sucked out, and his legs went soft, causing him to collapse onto the floor. Then, his throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton; he opened his mouth but couldn't shout a single word. The sealing potion intended for Ling Xi also took effect; his muscles twitched uncontrollably, and his face turned a purplish-red. He could only lie on the ground wailing in muffled groans, looking just like a dead dog with its tendons pulled out.

"Holy crap? This dog actually dared to use poison?!"

The guard team instantly exploded in anger. Qing Yu stepped forward and pinned Li Biao down, searching him to find the remaining half-packet of Bone-Softening Powder, a small bottle of the natural sealing agent, and the secret letter from the Remnants of the Three Clans he had just received. It clearly stated, "Two million gold coins and a fief of a thousand households upon success." The evidence was irrefutable.

Just then, the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats came from outside the banquet hall. The doors were pushed open, and a squad of Royal Guards in black iron armor marched in. Leading them was Zhao Feng, the Deputy Commander of the Royal Guards. Seeing Li Biao slumped on the floor, he instantly understood what had happened. He strode over to Lin Zhe and knelt on one knee, his voice booming: "This subordinate has been ordered by Her Majesty the Queen to lead the Vanguard Camp to rendezvous with you, Sir! Her Majesty had long suspected Li Biao of colluding with the Remnants of the Three Clans and specifically ordered us to follow along. I didn't expect this dog to actually dare use poison to plot against you!"

With a wave of his hand, two guards stepped forward and bound Li Biao tightly, hoisting him up like a sack of grain: "This subordinate will escort this dog back to Holy Light City immediately to be dealt with by Her Majesty personally!"

As Zhao Feng spoke, he pulled out a communication talisman and infused it with spiritual power. Su Ninghua's cool, clear voice immediately rang out, tinged with undisguised apology: "Sir, it is due to my poor discipline over my subordinates that such a scum appeared to disturb you. Rest assured, Li Biao's entire clan will be dealt with for the crime of rebellion. All assets seized from his home will be transferred to Red Leaf City's public account to compensate the players. I have specifically prepared one hundred sets of blue-tier armor exclusive to the Imperial elite; they have already been delivered to the city gate as an apology for your guard team. I will also have one hundred thousand gold coins sent later for your travel expenses."

[Ding! Detected that the top-tier female NPC Su Ninghua's favorability toward the host has increased to 85. Third Bond trigger progress +5%! Current progress: 35%!]

The cold system notification echoed in Lin Zhe's mind. He gave a faint "Mm," accepting the apology.

Qing Yu led the men to the city gate to collect the armor. Each set provided +5 defense and a 10% health bonus, perfectly suited for the warriors and knights of the guard team. After changing into the new equipment, the guard team's aura became noticeably more formidable, and their combat power increased by at least twenty percent.

When the players in the city saw Li Biao being taken away and their benefits fully unsealed—along with an additional 10% drop rate compensation—they all cheered and ran to the entrance of the City Lord's Mansion to express their thanks. The video of the poisoning attempt they had just filmed was also uploaded to the world channel, sending players across the entire server into fits of laughter:

[Holy crap? Is this Li Biao tired of living? He just finished kneeling and he dares to use poison? Now he's being packed off to Holy Light City to be beheaded, right?]

[Hahahaha, he drank all the poisoned wine himself? I give this counter-attack a perfect score! Boss Lin Zhe is the GOAT!]

[Her Majesty the Queen is so generous! Sending a hundred sets of blue gear just like that? I want to go be a guard for Boss Lin Zhe too!]

Lin Zhe didn't stay long in Red Leaf City. After resting for half a day, he left ten guards to assist Zhao Feng in purging the Remnants of the Three Clans from the city, then continued toward Holy Light City with the main force.

Yellow sand swirled with gravel from the main road, clicking against the newly replaced armor with a rustling sound. Lin Zhe rode the white horse specially prepared by Xing Jianwan, looking toward the distant horizon. Behind the clouds, the golden spires of Holy Light City were already faintly visible. Within his Rule Perception, a dozen or so malicious auras were creeping along the main road toward them—clearly the persistent Remnants of the Three Clans.

A very faint cold smile played at the corners of his mouth as his fingertips lightly tapped the saddle.

Since these clowns were willing to deliver themselves to his door, he would simply take them all down.