“Arrk!”
The grotesque gurgles of resonance artificers choking on their own blood filled the room. For the artificers themselves, it was their worst nightmare come to pass. Blinded by their own blood, they dropped to the floor like flies.
Utter chaos.
The other resonance artificers rushed over, yelling and trying to rouse the fallen.
"Don't panic! Check their vitals!"
Jiang Qing'e's clear voice of command cut across the confusion, heeling them in.
"So Pei Hao shows his hand, finally," Jiang Qing'e muttered to Li Luo.
"A murderous hand, it is!" Cai Wei hissed.
"He must have poisoned them all beforehand. He intends for them to die in the Suncreek Villa." Yan Lingqing's eyes went cold with realization. "The other parts of his plan must already be in motion. He's probably spreading the news of House Luolan poisoning its resonance artificers all around Xia City. He will kill our reputation stone dead."
"He might even be spreading rumors that the poisoned artificers had all used Li Luo's secret watersource, casting doubt on it," Li Luo postulated. "No sane person would believe those lies, but rumors fly faster than wind resonant power.
"The truth rarely matters when the epidemic of sensation runs rampant.
"If the rumor takes hold, no resonance artificer will ever be willing to join the Suncreek Villa ever again. We'll be ruined." Li Luo's face was devoid of any emotion now, his smile completely gone. Those that knew him well knew that his killing intent had finally awakened.
"What's your plan?" Jiang Qing'e regarded him calmly.
Li Luo took a deep, steadying breath. "I anticipated a poison of some sort. I even had healers check them over the last few days, but the results were clean.
"It was no ordinary poison. That gong sound must have been the trigger for the poison. Pei Hao must be watching us at all times. Ahhhh, none of that matters now." Li Luo could feel his frustration building inside, even as the artificers' sands of life trickled down the hourglass of death.
"Sister Lingqing is right. Pei Hao's aim is to destroy the Suncreek Villa." They could not allow it. The Suncreek Villa was an economic vital point for House Luolan that they could not give up on.
Pei Hao had to have a powerful backer to launch such a daring attack.
What was his objective?
All too clear: the destruction of House Luolan's defensive wards.
"We cannot let them die here at headquarters," Jiang Qing'e emphasized.
Their entire reputation would be ruined if the resonance artificers died here.
Li Luo nodded. He glanced up to a group of people rushing over from a distance away. "Those are the healers I employed. I had them on standby for emergencies. Looks like the decision paid off."
Jiang Qing'e nodded with approval. Perhaps they might not be able to dispel the poison, but it was always the first option to explore.
The healers paled when they saw the artificers bleeding from every orifice.
"Your best efforts in purging the poison, please. If you cannot, analyze its composition and I will purchase the needed antidotes immediately," Li Luo said crisply.
"Please do your best. House Luolan will reward you greatly for your efforts."
The healers hurried off to begin their examinations.
Less than 10 minutes later, they came to report. "Young Lord, the poison is extremely rare and extremely strong. We can slow the poison's course, but expelling it is tricky."
Li Luo had expected something of the sort. If Pei Hao's poison could so easily be dispelled, he would not be Pei Hao.
"Can you tell the components?" Li Luo asked. When studying for the little emperor's treatment, he had crammed some basic physician knowledge as well.
They conferred briefly, then produced a hastily scribbled list. "We definitely need these. If the Young Lord could see to their expedient procurement, it would go a long way in helping these people."
Li Luo scanned the list briefly and nodded.
He then beckoned Elder Zheng Ping over. "Note everything on this list and buy it immediately."
Elder Zheng Ping hurried off to carry out his orders.
Jiang Qing'e's eyes flashed with new realization. "If these ingredients are helpful, then Pei Hao must have already taken care of them."
Li Luo's eyes narrowed. "You mean he's bought them all up in advance?"
She nodded. "Pei Hao is not working alone. The powers behind him must have fortunes to spare. He just needs to buy himself time for the poison to do its work. When they die, he wins."
Li Luo inhaled sharply. Pei Hao's heart was cold as ice. This attack was vicious and well calculated.
"If there is one place left in Xia City where those special ingredients can be bought…" Jiang Qing'e said meaningfully.
He nodded. There was no better-stocked cornucopia than the Golden Dragon Bank.
"Still, things might not go smoothly there either, unless…" She smiled at him.
"You have to go yourself. Use your connection."
Li Luo gave her an exasperated nod. Of course he knew she was referring to Lu Qing'er. There was no time to talk more.
"I'm going." He sped off like the wind.
A powerful shadow followed after, as did a few others.
"Pavilion Master Lei Zhang will escort you. Do not worry about the Suncreek Villa, I'll guard it myself," Jiang Qing'e called out.
Li Luo nodded as he ran, leading his small group towards their only hope.