80: Chapter 80 The Feast at Hongmen

After accepting the invitation, Meng Li, Jiang Yuyan, and Xiao Baiyan followed Jiang Dan to the Jiang Manor.

Upon arriving, the three of them found that Jiang Dan hadn't lied; Jiang Biehe had indeed prepared a banquet.

However, the moment they saw Jiang Biehe, all three were stunned.

Because Jiang Biehe was wearing a bamboo hat, and although it was hard to see clearly through the veil, they could vaguely tell that something was wrong with his face.

Xiao Baiyan, who had the deepest feelings for him among the three, couldn't help but ask upon seeing this, "Biehe, your face?"

Jiang Biehe sighed, putting on an expression as if it were a long story, then said with some resentment, "It's all thanks to that wicked woman, Madam Jiang Liu! After you left the Jiang Manor last time, she didn't let things go and tried to secretly order people to use poison against you."

"I confronted and criticized her after discovering it, but unexpectedly, in her shame and rage, that poisonous woman used the very poison intended for you to injure my face."

"I couldn't bear it any longer and had no choice but to divorce her."

Xiao Baiyan was instantly shocked.

Jiang Yuyan was also surprised.

Only Meng Li sneered inwardly.

Then, Jiang Biehe said with a sincere tone, "Xiao Baiyan, I am all alone now. Are you willing to bring Yu Yan back? If you are, once the injuries on my face heal, I will pick an auspicious day to marry you. Afterward, I'll have Yu Yan officially recognized as a member of the clan."

Xiao Baiyan froze.

She hadn't expected things to change like this. If the situation was truly as Jiang Biehe said, then...

Before the following thought could emerge, it was interrupted by Meng Li's clapping.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Young Master Meng, what is the meaning of this?" Jiang Biehe asked, puzzled.

Meng Li smiled and said, "I'm clapping for you. As expected of Great Hero Jiang, who is unmatched in benevolence and righteousness; your talent for spinning stories and acting is truly not bad."

Jiang Biehe's heart sank, and his voice involuntarily carried a hint of anger: "What do you mean by that, Young Master Meng? Every word I just said is true and from the bottom of my heart. Where is this 'spinning stories and acting' coming from? Do not speak such nonsense."

Meng Li's smile remained unchanged as he directly exposed him: "The injury on your face wasn't caused by poison at all, but by Qi Deviation during cultivation. Once this happens, if you don't expel the toxins produced by the Qi Deviation from your body within three days, you will surely die."

Xiao Baiyan and Jiang Yuyan were both shocked at the same time.

Xiao Baiyan hadn't expected such a reversal; Jiang Biehe, who had just talked about marrying her, was actually in mortal danger.

Jiang Yuyan was frightened by the consequences of Qi Deviation.

Meng Li continued: "And to expel this toxin, the simplest and most effective method is called 'Blood-Passing Massage.' It allows you to transfer your own toxins onto another person, but there's a restriction: the person receiving the transfer must be blood-related to you, otherwise it won't work."

"Your purpose in holding this banquet—no, I should say setting this trap—was to transfer the toxins to Yu Yan, wasn't it?"

Xiao Baiyan and Jiang Yuyan were instantly stunned.

Subsequently, Jiang Yuyan felt a chill in her heart.

Although Meng Li didn't say what the consequences would be for her after the toxin transfer, looking at Jiang Biehe's nearly disfigured state, it certainly wouldn't end well.

Xiao Baiyan looked at Jiang Biehe with reddened eyes and asked through gritted teeth, "Jiang Biehe, is what Li'er said true?"

"Of course not!"

Jiang Biehe flatly denied it, but inwardly he was dissatisfied with why the medicine given by the Old Ancestor of the Five Poisons was taking so long to take effect.

Then, he said earnestly, "I am Yu Yan's biological father; how could I harm her? Xiao Baiyan, you must believe me. My face was truly injured by that poisonous woman Madam Jiang Liu using poison, not some Qi Deviation. I asked you here because I truly want to marry you and have Yu Yan recognized by the clan."

After speaking, Jiang Biehe turned his focus to Jiang Yuyan: "Yu Yan, I am your father. Trust me."

Jiang Yuyan shook her head and said resolutely, "I believe my husband, not you."

Seeing this, Meng Li interjected, "Great Hero Jiang, you've been talking in circles just to stall for time, waiting for the Five Poisons Power-Dispersing Incense and the Sleep Inducing Powder in the incense burner to take effect, right?"

Jiang Biehe's expression changed instantly.

Meng Li smiled. "Don't wait any longer. This Sleep Inducing Powder and Five Poisons Power-Dispersing Incense only work on average experts. They have no effect on me."

Having a certain degree of poison resistance or even immunity is a hidden attribute of most top-tier Cultivation Techniques or when one's cultivation reaches a certain level.

There were many instances of this in the original show as well. For example, in the Late Stages, Jiang Yuyan couldn't be harmed by ordinary poisons at all; even if she accidentally consumed some, she could neutralize it with her inner power or easily expel it from her body. Otherwise, Xiao Yuer and the others wouldn't have needed to specially concoct the incurable Holy Water of the Poison King.

Another example is Hua Wuchuan in the later stages; his alertness became almost instinctive, making it extremely difficult to poison him even while he was asleep.

Even the Old Ancestor of the Five Poisons had to bring out the Sect's Ultimate Treasure to help Jiang Yuyan fulfill her dream.

Meng Li had learned about this Five Poisons Power-Dispersing Incense and Sleep Inducing Powder when he was tinkering with defensive poisons; they were two of the Five Poisons Sect's signature poisons.

Since they were signature items, their effects were naturally decent, but they wouldn't be overly powerful, or they would easily invite countermeasures.

As soon as Meng Li finished speaking, Xiao Baiyan felt an overwhelming drowsiness wash over her, and she slumped onto the table on the spot.

This was the Sleep Inducing Powder taking effect.

As for the Five Poisons Power-Dispersing Incense? Those without Martial Arts had no power to be dispersed, so they were automatically immune.

Next was Jiang Yuyan. She first felt her internal power draining away, and then she couldn't stop herself from feeling sleepy. She couldn't help but call out to Meng Li worriedly, "Husband~"

Meng Li reached out and gently stroked her pretty face, saying softly, "Sleep for a while. When you wake up, it will all be over."

"Okay." Hearing him say this, Jiang Yuyan instantly felt at ease and stopped resisting, letting herself collapse.

Meng Li helped her adjust her sleeping position and then looked at Jiang Biehe. "I'm a bit surprised you didn't take the Opportunity to flee."

Jiang Biehe said with a grim face, "This is my home. Where would I flee to?"

"Furthermore, my situation is exactly as you said. If I don't transfer the toxins, I won't live past three days even if I flee."

"Young Master Meng, how about we make a deal?"

Meng Li raised an eyebrow slightly. "Let's hear it."

A hint of hesitation flashed in Jiang Biehe's eyes, but it was replaced by determination in an instant. "Hand Yu Yan over to me and let me expel the toxins from my body. I will grant you a great Opportunity and betroth Yu Feng to you. How about it?"

Then, he added, "After Yu Yan absorbs the toxins, she will at most be disfigured; her life will not be in danger."

"At most disfigured?" Meng Li laughed out of anger and asked with a cold face, "Do you know how much harm disfigurement causes a woman? For you to say such a thing, I suspect Yu Yan must have had a grudge against you in a past life."

Then, he asked in confusion, "By the way, why didn't you just transfer the toxins to Jiang Yu Feng? She's also blood-related to you."

A look of reluctance passed over Jiang Biehe's face, but he said, "Yu Feng has returned to Mount Emei. There isn't enough time."

In reality, Jiang Yu Feng was in a Secret Room, but because he loved her more than Jiang Yuyan, he chose Jiang Yuyan as his primary target for the transfer, with Jiang Yu Feng as a backup.

This kind of favoritism was very unfair, but it was in line with human nature.

Jiang Yu Feng was not only born to his primary wife but was also raised under his watch, so he naturally felt more affection for her.

Whereas Jiang Yuyan had been wandering outside with Xiao Baiyan since she was a child and had only recently come into Jiang Biehe's sight, so he naturally had little affection for her. He felt almost no guilt, even though he bore a significant portion of the responsibility for her hardships.

Seeing that Meng Li remained unmoved, Jiang Biehe upped the ante again: "In addition to that Opportunity and Yu Feng, I can give you half of my family fortune."

At this point, he suddenly felt it was strange that the Meng Li before him didn't seem curious at all about the Opportunity he mentioned.

"Young Master Meng, don't you want to know what this Opportunity I'm talking about is?"

...