29: Chapter 29 Are you afraid I'll eat your family out of house and home?

In reality.

Jiang You let out a hiccup that reeked of alcohol.

"Hic—"

Aside from his complexion being slightly flushed, he looked completely… fine.

Zhao Tai: ???

He checked his watch.

A minute had passed.

Logically speaking, the Gut-Severing Powder should dissolve upon contact with the throat, sealing the throat in three seconds and rotting the intestines in five.

Why was this Jiang You still reaching for a chicken leg?

"Another glass?"

Zhao Tai gritted his teeth.

Perhaps this kid's constitution was too strong, and the dosage wasn't enough!

He poured another glass, his hands trembling violently this time, and dumped in another half-bottle of poison.

"Come on, Brother Jiang! Good things come in pairs! Have another glass to cleanse your palate!"

Jiang You didn't stand on ceremony; he took the glass and, while gnawing on a chicken leg, downed it like he was drinking plain water.

"Gulp."

It was still the same look of disdain, and still the same loud belch.

Five minutes passed.

Ten minutes passed.

Jiang You had already polished off three turkey Legs, half a plate of lobster, and five glasses of special poisonous wine.

Not only was he not dead, but he was eating even more happily, his mouth glistening with grease.

Zhao Tai stood to the side like an idiot, staring fixedly at Jiang You's face.

His gaze shifted from anticipation to confusion, and finally to terror.

Is this even a human?

That was a dosage capable of poisoning a Tier 4 Martial Artist to death!

And he was using it to wash down his meal?

Jiang You, currently burying his head in the food, suddenly felt that something was off.

That feeling of being stared at intently made him feel uncomfortable all over.

He stopped what he was doing, put down the chicken bone, and slowly raised his head.

Their eyes met.

Jiang You's gaze suddenly became vigilant, even carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Zhao Tai's heart skipped a beat.

It's over!

He found out!

He discovered the wine was poisoned!

He's going to make a move!

Zhao Tai instinctively took half a step back, his hand reaching for the alarm on his waist, preparing to call the death warriors to rush in and fight to the death.

"B-Brother Jiang, why... why are you looking at me like that?" Zhao Tai said, his voice trembling.

Jiang You narrowed his eyes, his tone serious and cold: "Zhao Tai, be honest with me."

"Are you lying to me?"

Zhao Tai's Legs went weak, and he nearly knelt down: "I... I didn't..."

Jiang You pointed at the mountain of food scraps in front of him and said with a look of disdain: "You keep staring at the plate in my hand."

"Are you feeling stingy?"

"We agreed it was a buffet, all-you-can-eat! You've been watching me eat this whole time—are you afraid I'll eat your family out of house and home?"

"You're too stingy, aren't you? As the great young master of the Zhao family, you can't even spare a few turkeys?"

Zhao Tai: "..."

In that instant, Zhao Tai heard the sound of his sanity snapping.

He even had the urge to cry.

Do you think I care about the damn turkey?

I'm mourning my poison!

A single drop of that is more expensive than this entire table of food!

But on the surface, Zhao Tai let out a long sigh of relief, feeling completely drained.

"Hey! Brother Jiang, you scared me to death!"

"How could that be! Am I, Zhao Tai, that kind of person? Eat! Eat whatever you want! Someone, go to the kitchen and bring out two more boxes of Australian lobster!"

To cover up his embarrassment and also to complete the mission, Zhao Tai steeled his heart and decided to change tactics.

If I can't poison you to death, then I'll drink you under the table!

He picked up a bottle of high-proof liquor, switched to a large glass, and said while pouring: "Brother Jiang, I see you haven't had your fill yet! Come, red wine is weak, let's have some white liquor! This is real aged spirit!"

I refuse to believe you're immune to alcohol too!

Jiang You looked at the bottle of Erguotou and hesitated: "White liquor? This has a high alcohol content, my tolerance is just average..."

"Oh, come on! Are you a man or not? Today is a happy day! You must drink!"

Under Zhao Tai's goading and enthusiastic urging, Jiang You let his guard down.

"Fine! Let's have some then!"

...

Half an hour later.

In the corner of the banquet hall, wine bottles were scattered all over the floor.

Because of his leg injury, Zhao Tai didn't dare drink too much, but looking at Jiang You in front of him, he finally revealed a victorious smile.

Jiang You was now flushed, his eyes unfocused, his body swaying like a roly-poly toy.

Although his organs could break down toxins, Jiang You's human consciousness couldn't handle alcohol, a substance that purely numbs the nerves.

"B-Brother Zhao! You... although your Legs aren't good... but... but your drinking capacity isn't that great either!"

Jiang You slurred his words, pointing at Zhao Tai as he continued: "This wine... it's got a kick... I want to sleep..."

After saying this, "Thump!" Jiang You's head lolled to the side, and he slammed heavily onto the table, passing out completely from intoxication.

Within the next second, he was even snoring.

Zhao Tai tentatively pushed Jiang You: "Brother Jiang? Brother Jiang?"

No response.

He pinched Jiang You's arm hard.

Still no reaction; he was sleeping like a dead pig.

"Whew..." Zhao Tai sat down on the floor and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Damn it... he finally went down."

"This monster... he drinks poison like water, and in the end, he was taken down by Erguotou?"

"If I had known, I wouldn't have bought that poison worth tens of millions; I would have just bought a crate of Erguotou! Much easier!"

He took out his phone with trembling hands and sent a message to his father: [Dad, it's done. The poison didn't work, but he's drunk and passed out.]

...

On the other side of the banquet hall.

Patriarch Zhao, who was chatting and laughing with the principal of No. 1 High School and a few teachers, felt his phone vibrate.

He glanced at the message, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He put down his glass, stood up, and with his signature kindly smile, announced loudly to the surrounding guests: "Teachers, students!"

"Apologies, I just received news that my son and young friend Jiang You have had a bit too much to drink and couldn't hold their liquor; they are both passed out."

Everyone turned their heads and saw Jiang You sleeping soundly on the table in the corner, all of them revealing smiles of either goodwill or disdain.

"Passed out already? It seems this kid Jiang You doesn't have much of a tolerance."

"After all, he's just a young man of eighteen or nineteen; maybe he was just too happy today."

Patriarch Zhao took the opportunity to say: "I think that's enough for today; the College Entrance Examination just ended, and everyone is tired. Why don't we conclude the banquet here?"

"I have already arranged a fleet of cars to take the teachers and students home."

The principal glanced at Jiang You and asked: "And Jiang You..."

Patriarch Zhao patted his chest in assurance: "Principal, rest assured. Jiang You is a good buddy of my little Tai; he can sleep in our guest room tonight. I will make sure he is well taken care of, and I will personally send him home tomorrow morning."

Patriarch Zhao specifically emphasized the words "well taken care of," but to outsiders, this just sounded like the host's hospitality.

Since the head of the Zhao family had said so, no one could say anything else.

After all, this was his territory.

Under the "enthusiastic send-off" of the Zhao family's butler and bodyguards, the unsuspecting teachers and students left the villa one after another.

The once lively banquet hall gradually became cold and quiet.

All that remained were the leftovers on the table and Jiang You, sleeping soundly in the corner.

Ten minutes later.

"Click—"

The heavy villa doors were slowly closed and locked.

The heavy curtains were all drawn shut.

The entire Zhao family villa instantly became an isolated island cut off from the world.

The smile on Patriarch Zhao's face completely vanished, replaced by a ferocious killing intent.

He walked to the corner, looked at Jiang You, who was still snoring, and waved his hand coldly: "Clearance complete."

"Call everyone over."

"Tonight, we'll trap the dog and beat it."