Chapter 117

In the dark dungeon, the air was thick with a damp, rotten stench. Li Qing took a light sniff and immediately felt sick, stomach acid surging up his throat.

The stone-brick walls had only a square window the size of two bowls, through which a faint sliver of light filtered in.

Li Qing lay on a cold straw mat as rainwater from outside splashed through the square window onto his chest.

His mind was a mess. Recalling how Xue Ye had coughed up blood and fainted after eating a piece of Popcorn felt like a bolt from the blue striking him directly.

In an instant, Li Qing's mind went blank. Instinctively, he wanted to run, but the man beside Xue Ye stopped him.

That man claimed to be the president of the Chef's Association. He told Li Qing, "If you run now, then even if you are innocent, you will never be able to clear yourself of this matter. Unless you can flee to another country, to the ends of the earth, you will become a wanted criminal in the Heaven Dou Empire."

"If you believe me, then do not resist. I will definitely uncover the truth for you."

For some reason, seeing his sincere expression made Li Qing trust him. It was as though the man possessed some special kind of aura.

And so, Li Qing now lay in this dark, damp dungeon, praying that Wan Tianlin would discover the truth soon so that he could leave this place.

This damned dungeon was pure torture.

Inside a pavilion at Gourmet Plaza.

Because of the incident, the area was immediately surrounded by guards to preserve the scene.

A bucket of Popcorn sat conspicuously on the pavilion table.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder exploded in the sky. After a light breeze swept through, everything returned to silence...

Meanwhile, Wan Tianlin was pacing anxiously in the Chef's Association building like an ant on a hot pan.

Xue Ye had collapsed unconscious right before his eyes. Though Wan Tianlin had not caused it, he could not escape the charge of severe negligence.

Clearly, this was no ordinary dereliction of duty.

"How is my father, Uncle Wan?"

At that moment, Xue Qinghe hurried over with a worried look, his voice filled with urgency. Behind him followed an exquisitely beautiful blonde girl—Xiao Xue.

Wan Tianlin bowed deeply to Xue Qinghe. "I am sorry, Your Highness. I failed to protect His Majesty. I am guilty! Please punish me!"

Xue Qinghe hurried forward and helped Wan Tianlin up. "Uncle Wan, this is not the time to care about such trivial matters. What matters is how my father is doing."

"Imperial Physician Wang is treating him."

Just then, a white-haired old man walked out.

"How is he, Imperial Physician Wang?" Wan Tianlin quickly asked upon seeing him.

"Alas, His Majesty has been poisoned."

"How can he be treated?"

Imperial Physician Wang let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "I am sorry, Your Highness. All signs indicate that His Majesty was poisoned with Mysterious Nether Absolute Powder. If an antidote cannot be found within three days, the vitality in His Majesty's body will be completely exhausted. Unfortunately, my medical skills are insufficient, and I cannot detoxify His Majesty."

"Then do you know who can cure it?"

"Mysterious Nether Absolute Powder is an extremely ancient poison. It is colorless and odorless when administered, but it has vanished from the continent for a long time. As for who can cure it, I do not know who is capable of neutralizing this poison. Perhaps... perhaps the poisoner knows."

"Then hurry and find the poisoner!"

Xue Qinghe said anxiously.

"Commander Gu, Imperial Physician Han found poison residue on the Popcorn bucket."

At that moment, a guard hurried in and reported to Gu Xiang, who stood to one side.

"Understood. You may leave."

"Yes!"

Gu Xiang then turned to Xue Qinghe.

"Your Highness, it has been confirmed that the bucket containing the Popcorn indeed had Mysterious Nether Absolute Powder in it. The poisoner who was captured is currently being held in a dungeon cell and can be interrogated at any time."

Xiao Xue's expression immediately froze.

"Popcorn... how could it be?"

Xue Qinghe waved his hand. "Go to the dungeon at once!"

"Yes!"

Naturally, Xiao Xue could not enter the prison cells. Although she desperately wanted to know whether the captured person was really "Qin Li," she could only wait for the moment.

Li Qing lay on the cold straw mat, having already regained his composure.

He regretted it. In his panic earlier, he had actually believed the words of a stranger he had never even met before and so easily placed his life in that stranger's hands.

He had to come up with a way to save himself.

Just as Li Qing racked his brains in deep thought, the sound of iron chains sliding came from the end of the dim corridor.

The door should have opened.

Then came the sound of approaching footsteps.

A guard led a group of people to stop in front of Li Qing's cell door. Wan Tianlin, Xue Qinghe, and Gu Xiang were among them.

Of course, there were several others as well.

Li Qing immediately jumped off the straw mat and shouted, "I'm innocent! I'm innocent! President Wan, I've been framed!"

Li Qing put every ounce of emotion into his cry. There was even a glimmer of tears in his eyes, enough to make listeners weep and onlookers grieve.

"I was fra—"

"Stop trying to argue! The evidence is already conclusive. Hand over the antidote now!"

At that moment, a blonde youth dressed in luxurious robes loudly cut Li Qing off.

As expected, he had to be Xue Qinghe. After a brief thought, Li Qing arrived at the right answer.

"The antidote? I don't have an antidote. I'm not the culprit, Your Highness. I really have been framed!"

"Then why was Mysterious Nether Absolute Powder residue found on the Popcorn bucket?"

"Yeah, I want to know why there was poison on it too!"

Li Qing felt like crying without tears. He had definitely been used by some sinister person, then turned into a scapegoat.

Damn it. Don't let me find out who you are. Once I get out, I'll fucking kill you!

Li Qing cursed furiously in his heart.

"Mysterious Nether Absolute Powder?"

Ling Wu's voice suddenly rang out in Li Qing's mind.

Li Qing quickly asked, "Senior Ling Wu, do you know this poison?"

"That's right. I invented this poison." Ling Wu sounded rather proud.

"Senior, then do you know how to cure it?"

Li Qing seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

Seeing Li Qing remain silent, Gu Xiang said viciously, "It seems you will not shed tears until you see the coffin."

"Your Highness, shall we use the instruments of torture?" Gu Xiang turned and asked Xue Qinghe.

"Your Highness, he is only a child. Using torture may not be appropriate."

Wan Tianlin frowned at Gu Xiang's words and hurriedly spoke.

Although Mysterious Nether Absolute Powder residue had been found on the Popcorn bucket, there were still far too many suspicious points in his view. The child before them could not possibly be the culprit.

"This..."

Xue Qinghe hesitated.

"Your Highness, His Majesty is already at death's door. If he is not detoxified in time, then it really will..." Gu Xiang continued persuading him.

"Fine, then..."

"Wait!" Li Qing raised his head, the corners of his mouth curling up.

"Although I am not the culprit, that does not mean I cannot cure the poison!"