My Years in the Jianghu with the Prince: A Time of Unethical Conduct

"What are you saying, Brother Xie? I don't understand."

But soon, Song Yunzheng withdrew her gaze and returned to her gentle demeanor, as if the cold feeling she had just given off was just an illusion.

He imitated Xie Yan, slowly raising his glass and taking a sip.

Shen Yulin, however, understood Xie Yan's implied meaning and looked around in shock at the two people sitting on either side of him.

"This means... could it be you, Brother Song?!"

This time, Song Yunzheng did not deny it. Instead, she chuckled and put a finger to her lips. "Shh, Brother Shen. Let's finish watching this show."

Only then did the people around finally react and swarm around Cheng Ruonan.

Amidst the chaos, Cheng Ruonan collapsed to the ground, her face ashen, convulsing violently, looking utterly terrifying.

"Quick, quick, find a doctor!"

Cheng Nanchun realized he shouldn't have backed down and was about to step forward to "care" for his daughter when he suddenly felt a surge of blood and qi in his chest and a dull pain in his dantian.

With a "pfft," he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Cheng Nanchun spat out the blood unexpectedly, and it was so gushing that even the servant standing next to him was splattered with it.

"master!"

This threw the entire front yard into complete chaos. Everyone was in a panic, and for a moment, no one knew which of the two people lying on the ground to check on first.

At this moment, the most composed were the Master of Zixiao Manor and the Sect Leader of Xuanzhen Sect, who immediately stepped forward.

One person checked on Cheng Ruonan's condition, while the other helped Cheng Nanchun sit down and took his pulse.

But even before the two of them spoke, everyone present could see that the father and daughter were clearly poisoned.

Moreover, the poison was extremely potent. Cheng Ruonan, who had collapsed earlier, was writhing on the ground in agony and howling in pain. In just a moment, she was barely breathing.

Although Cheng Nanchun was not yet in as much pain as her daughter, her face had lost its color and her lips were turning bluish-purple at a visible speed.

The Xuanzhen Sect leader withdrew his hand with a solemn expression, then stood up and picked up the wine cups the two had just drunk from to examine them closely.

After a moment, he sighed, shook his head at the equally somber-faced Master Zixiao, and said, "The ferocity of this poison is unprecedented in this old man's experience. I'm afraid..."

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock. What kind of poison was this that even the two venerable elders were helpless against?!

Is it possible that Cheng Nanchun is truly doomed today and will die just like that?

"help me……"

Upon hearing that he might not be saved, a look of fear flashed in Cheng Nanchun's eyes.

He tried to stand up despite the pain, but his hands were limp and he had no strength at all. His voice was hoarse and weak. "Whoever can save me, I am willing to give them a thousand taels of gold, no, ten thousand taels of gold!"

Master Zixiao sighed, stood up, and raised his voice to those around him, "Gentlemen, Brother Cheng and his daughter are in imminent danger. Is there any skilled physician or antidote among us who can come to their aid?"

It is said that a great reward will surely bring forth brave men, but upon hearing this, the guests looked at each other in bewilderment, and none of them dared to respond.

It wasn't that they didn't want to save them, but they simply had no other choice.

If even the two senior experts were helpless against this poison, how could they possibly have a way to cure it?

Seeing that no one answered, a look of despair filled Cheng Nanchun's eyes.

Just then, a clear voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Senior Cheng, please don't panic. This junior may be able to give it a try."

Everyone turned around and saw Song Yunzheng stand up from her seat.

He smiled, looking completely at ease, as if unaffected by the tense atmosphere.

"Brother Song!"

Shen Yulin, unsure of what he intended to do, nervously called out in a low voice.

But Song Yunzheng only glanced at him slightly before walking straight up to Cheng Nanchun.

He lowered his head, gazing at the man in front of him with a half-smile.

Cheng Nanchun clearly recognized this rather famous young man. Seeing him arrive, he endured the excruciating pain and said hoarsely, "Yun...Yun Zheng, if you can cure the poison in my body, I will...I will definitely not treat you unfairly!"

Song Yunzheng glanced down at the hand that was being reached out to her, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

He didn't respond immediately, but instead took something out of his pocket and placed it in his palm.

His lips were still curved in a smile, but his tone was heavy with sorrow, "This is the Great Rejuvenation Pill that my master refined before his death, capable of curing all poisons. But this medicine is extremely precious; he spent countless efforts to refine only this one. He originally intended to keep it for me to save my life..."

“But now,” Song Yunzheng sighed softly, handing the pill in her hand to Cheng Nanchun and watching his reaction closely.

"Human life is at stake, so I can't just stand by and watch someone die."

Cheng Nanchun was in so much pain that his vision was blurred, but he still managed to see the pill in Song Yunzheng's hand.

Upon hearing that it could be used as an antidote, Cheng Nanchun was overjoyed and forgot everything else, even ignoring Song Yunzheng's follow-up remark—

"But there's only this one. I don't know who I should give it to for the antidote."

He couldn't wait any longer and reached out to snatch the medicine and swallow it.

Within moments of swallowing the pill, the excruciating pain that had been gripping his internal organs vanished without a trace, and he felt much more relaxed.

Cheng Nanchun immediately circulated his internal energy to regulate his breathing, and only after confirming that he was completely unharmed did he slowly open his eyes.

Just as she was about to express her gratitude, she looked up and met Song Yunzheng's smiling eyes.

For some reason, a strange unease suddenly welled up in his heart.

"you……"

He quickly realized what was happening, and his expression changed drastically. He turned to look at his daughter, who was still rolling on the ground in pain, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Father, Father..."

Two streams of bloody tears flowed from Cheng Ruonan's eyes. She stretched out her hand and made a "hoarse" sound, as if she wanted to ask for help.

But by then, the poison had taken hold, and after calling out "Father" twice, she breathed her last.

"Ruonan!"

Cheng Nanchun's eyes widened in horror. He rushed over and reached out to check his daughter's breath.

But the body beneath his palm quickly became stiff and cold, devoid of any life.

Cheng Nanchun froze on the spot, feeling the strange gazes of everyone slowly gathering on him.

Although it is difficult for a person to maintain rationality when their life is at stake.

But as a father and a respected figure in the martial arts world known for his good deeds, he only cared about his own survival in the face of danger, neglecting his own daughter.

Such behavior is truly regrettable.

At that moment, in the midst of silence, Song Yunzheng suddenly chuckled softly.

Everyone looked on in surprise, only to see him raise his hand and clap a few times, exclaiming, "Old Cheng is still as afraid of death as ever."

"Just like forty years ago, when I encountered bandits, I pushed my family out to shield them from the blades while I took the opportunity to escape."