Chapter 125: Calculating Moves

After the two of them returned to the small courtyard, Yao Ye patted Peng Yu lightly on the shoulder and said, “Peng Yu, go outside and keep watch. I’ll examine your father’s condition.”

Peng Yu nodded, turned, and walked out of the room. He sat down by the doorway, remaining carefully on guard.

Yao Ye stared at Peng Li, who lay on the bed, and shook his head in puzzlement. He hurriedly circulated his inner energy to examine him.

The more he investigated, the deeper the furrow between his brows became. After pulling the blanket over Peng Li, he walked outside. Hearing the door open, Peng Yu quickly ran over.

“Big Brother, how is he? My father is all right, isn’t he?”

“For the moment, there’s no serious danger, but…”

“But what?”

Yao Ye glanced at Peng Yu, then turned and walked to the pavilion in the courtyard. Peng Yu was desperate to know his father’s condition and followed him closely.

“Peng Yu, the reason your father is in this state is that he has been poisoned. Unfortunately, even I can do nothing about this poison.”

“How could this happen? Big Brother, is my father beyond saving?”

“I just used my inner energy to contain the spread of the poison. Go back and find Hua Lin. She must have an antidote. Even if she doesn’t, we can at least determine what kind of poison it is and prescribe the appropriate treatment.”

“I’ll go right now! I’ll go right now!”

Peng Yu raced toward the Peng family estate without stopping. When he reached Hua Lin’s door, he pounded on it urgently. After receiving no response, he frowned deeply and pushed the door open.

“No one’s here. She hasn’t returned? Then I’ll wait here for her!”

After burying Hua Xiong’s body, Hua Lin wandered aimlessly through the streets. Thinking of her son, she quickened her pace and hurried directly toward Peng Yu’s residence.

No matter how hard Hua Lin knocked, Peng Yu’s door remained motionless. Looking utterly bereft, she turned and made her way back to her own room.

When Hua Lin pushed open the door and entered, she failed to notice that Peng Yu was already inside.

“Auntie, what you did today has truly disappointed me. Were you hoping your own son would die?”

Although Peng Yu was anxious to save his father, he had not lost his composure. The moment Hua Lin heard his voice, she rushed forward and seized his arm.

“Peng Yu, your aunt was wrong before. I deserve to die. I was the one who caused your mother’s death. I’m willing to repay one life with another. Please, let my son go. He’s innocent!”

“Hmph. I could have spared your son. But who told you to use Hua Xiong to launch a sneak attack against me?”

As he spoke, Peng Yu shook off Hua Lin’s hand. Seeing this, Hua Lin fell to her knees and clung tightly to his leg.

“It truly wasn’t me who informed Hua Xiong tonight. I have never disobeyed your orders. Please, let my son go! I’ll agree to anything, so long as you spare him.”

Peng Yu grabbed Hua Lin and hauled her to her feet.

“You’ll agree to anything?”

He gave her a sinister smile, his gaze sweeping slowly up and down her body. Tears welled in Hua Lin’s eyes. She slowly closed them, gripped the sash of her robe with both hands, and began to loosen her clothes.

Peng Yu stepped forward and stopped her. Hua Lin stared at him in astonishment, while Peng Yu sneered coldly.

“Don’t use your filthy body to disgust me. I’m asking you: What poison is in my father’s body? Is there an antidote? If you cooperate this time, I’ll agree to spare your son.”

Hearing Peng Yu judge her so harshly, Hua Lin could not stop the tears from falling.

“I don’t know what poison the master was given, but I do have an antidote. It’s beneath my pillow.”

Peng Yu hurried to the bed. Sure enough, he found a small jade bottle beneath the pillow and brought it over.

“You don’t even know what poison it is. How can you be certain this is the antidote?”

Now that matters had come this far, Hua Lin had nothing left worth concealing.

“My elder brother gave it to me. Using my position as the first wife, I once poisoned everyone during a family banquet, thereby bringing all the core members under my control. Afterward, I took the antidote myself, so no one could discover what I had done. The poison normally lies dormant and is extremely difficult to detect. As long as I use a catalyst to activate it, they have no choice but to submit.”

Peng Yu gave a cold snort, took the jade bottle, and headed outside. Hua Lin immediately wrapped both arms around his leg.

“I’ve told you everything, and I’ve given you the antidote. Aren’t you going to release my son now?”

“Once I wake my father, I’ll certainly let your son go.”

Peng Yu kicked Hua Lin away and hurried toward Yao Ye without looking back. Hua Lin collapsed onto the floor and began sobbing into her hands.

Peng Yu rushed back to the small courtyard. As he ran toward Peng Li’s room, he called out to Yao Ye, “Big Brother, I’ve got the antidote!”

Yao Ye came over at once. After Peng Yu administered the antidote to Peng Li, he gazed expectantly at his father’s tightly closed eyes.

“He won’t wake so quickly. Let’s go outside and allow your father to rest properly.”

Once they had left the room, Peng Yu told Yao Ye everything Hua Lin had revealed.

“Big Brother, what should we do next?”

Yao Ye gave a cold snort and took the jade bottle from Peng Yu’s hand. Looking at the antidote within, he let out a sinister laugh.

“Go back first. Tomorrow, I’ll prepare a batch of antidotes and send them to you. Using your father’s position, summon all the core members and tell them what happened. Then use the antidote to cure them of the poison and establish your authority.”

“What about Peng Fei? Should we send him back?”

“Not for now. We can continue using Hua Lin. We’ll let her suffer by the same methods she used against others and have her poison the Hua clan, allowing us to seize control of the entire clan in one stroke.”

After hearing this, Peng Yu clapped his hands in delight.

“Brilliant! Big Brother, you’re truly wicked—but I like it. Heh heh, I can hardly wait to see it happen! Hmph, Hua Nong will lose everything while trying to gain an advantage. Hahaha!”

Yao Ye could not help laughing as well. Peng Yu remained until dawn, but when his father still had not awakened, he reluctantly left the small courtyard.

Yao Ye went to Peng Li’s side and circulated his energy to regulate his body. Only after completing a full cycle did he withdraw his power and leave the room.

In the courtyard, Yao Ye poured out a portion of the antidote and studied it carefully in his hand. Looking at the black, unappealing medicine, he shook his head repeatedly.

“Elder Ding, I’ll have to rely on you. Help me analyze its ingredients.”

“Leave it to me!”

Just as Elder Ding drew the antidote into the Creation Cauldron, a cough came from inside the room. Yao Ye turned and hurried back in.

“Uncle, are you all right? How do you feel?”

Yao Ye supported Peng Li as he sat up. Peng Li studied him carefully, then slowly shook his head.

“Young man, you were the one who saved me, weren’t you? Thank you. I feel much better—my whole body feels comfortable.”

Yao Ye smiled and shook his head.

“You needn’t thank me, Uncle. It was Peng Yu who risked his life to save you.”

“Where is Peng Yu now? He isn’t in any danger, is he?”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. Peng Yu is perfectly safe. Just concentrate on recovering.”

“Yao Ye, I’ve finished analyzing the medicine’s ingredients!”

Hearing Elder Ding’s message, Yao Ye nodded imperceptibly before turning to Peng Li.

“Uncle, rest peacefully. I’m going to help Peng Yu.”

“Child, if things become impossible, protect yourself. And please, help me look after Yu’er.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. Peng Yu is my brother. I won’t let anyone harm him!”

After saying this, Yao Ye hurried throughout the city, purchasing medicinal ingredients in large quantities and tirelessly refining antidotes.