Detoxification, Council of Elders Meeting

Lu Xia took a small porcelain bottle from his robes and tossed it to her.

"There's an antidote inside. Take it, and the poison from the Spirit Dissolution Powder will be cured."

Dugu Mei hurriedly caught it, opened the bottle, poured out a white pill, and swallowed it without a second thought.

She both revered and feared Lu Xia now. Even if it had been poison, she would not have dared refuse to take it.

The pill melted as soon as it entered her mouth. A cool sensation slid down her throat and quickly spread through her limbs and bones.

Her sluggish meridians instantly cleared, and her Dou Qi began circulating again, returning to normal.

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Joy appeared on Dugu Mei's face.

Lu Xia said nothing more and turned toward the entrance of the cave dwelling.

"Let's go. Seal the cave dwelling."

"Yes."

Dugu Mei hurried after him.

The two left the cave dwelling. Dugu Mei stepped forward and worked the restriction jade wall beside the stone door, resetting layer after layer of restrictions and completely sealing the cave dwelling.

From the outside, there was no sign of anything unusual. It looked exactly as it always did whenever Wu Ya entered seclusion.

After finishing everything, Dugu Mei turned around and respectfully bowed to Lu Xia. "Young Master, it is done."

"Mm."

Lu Xia nodded, glanced at her, and said flatly,

"Do your work well, and you will be rewarded. But if you dare play any tricks... you know the consequences."

"I would not dare!"

Dugu Mei lowered her head, her voice filled with fear and reverence.

Lu Xia said nothing else. His figure flickered, and he vanished.

Dugu Mei stood where she was, staring in the direction he had disappeared, motionless for a long while.

Only after Lu Xia's aura had completely faded did she finally let out a long breath. Her back was already soaked in cold sweat.

Though Lu Xia was young, his strength was absurdly powerful, and his thoughts were unfathomable...

Following someone like him, she did not know whether it was fortune or disaster.

From the moment she had helped Lu Xia administer the poison, she had already been tied to his boat.

She could only keep going down this dark path.

Dugu Mei suppressed the stray thoughts in her heart, straightened her clothes and hair, and restored the gentle, seductive smile on her face before turning to leave.

Early the next morning, in the discussion hall of Wu Tian Manor.

Several elders had arrived early and taken their seats, their expressions none too pleasant.

"Madam suddenly summoned us for a meeting. What exactly is this about?"

The Second Elder frowned and spoke first, his tone somewhat impatient.

He was at the peak of the Dou Wang realm and was one of the oldest members of the manor. Aside from Wu Ya, he looked down on everyone.

"Who knows?"

The First Elder held a teacup and slowly took a sip, his gaze deep.

"The Manor Lord has not shown himself for several days. I heard he was refining Sky Centipede Poison, and now he suddenly wants a meeting today... I fear something may have happened."

"Something happened? What could possibly happen?"

The Third Elder paused in surprise. "The Manor Lord is a Dou Emperor. Who in Heavenly Centipede Ravine could harm him?"

"You cannot put it that way."

The First Elder shook his head. "Who can predict matters involving poison cultivators? Mishaps while refining poison are hardly uncommon."

As they discussed the matter, footsteps sounded from the entrance of the hall.

Dugu Mei entered from outside, dressed in a long red gown with exquisite makeup and a graceful figure.

A faint smile rested on her face, and behind her followed a youth in white.

It was Lu Xia.

Lu Xia kept his head lowered as he followed behind Dugu Mei. He looked like an ordinary disciple, utterly inconspicuous.

When the elders saw Lu Xia, they were all taken aback.

"Isn't that the disciple the Manor Lord took in? The one called Lu Xia?"

"Why is he here? A little Dou Ling brat is qualified to enter the discussion hall?"

"Why did Madam bring him?"

The elders looked at one another, all somewhat puzzled.

Dugu Mei ignored their discussion and walked straight to the chair beside the main seat, where she sat down.

She raised her eyes, swept her gaze over everyone, and spoke calmly.

"I gathered all of you elders today to announce something."

"The Manor Lord formally entered seclusion yesterday to break through to the Dou Zong realm."

"The Manor Lord instructed that, during his seclusion, all major and minor affairs of the manor will temporarily be handled by me, with Lu Xia assisting me."

The hall fell silent as soon as her words landed.

A few seconds later, the Second Elder was the first to rise. Frowning, he said,

"Second Madam, I'm afraid this is inappropriate. The Manor Lord is entering seclusion to break through to Dou Zong. How could there have been no word of such a major matter beforehand?"

"Furthermore, the manor's affairs have always been discussed jointly by the Council of Elders. Since when has it been a woman's turn to manage them?"

His tone was filled with disdain and suspicion.

In his eyes, Dugu Mei was merely a plaything favored by the Manor Lord. It was one thing for her to throw her weight around under the protection of his favor, but now she wanted to take control of all Wu Tian Manor?

What a joke!

The other elders quickly echoed him.

"That's right, Madam. This goes against the rules."

"If the Manor Lord has entered seclusion, the First Elder should act in his place. How can a mere woman be allowed to manage the manor?"

"Could it be that something happened to the Manor Lord, and Madam wants to seize control of the manor's authority while she has the chance?"

For a time, the hall buzzed with discussion, all of it filled with doubt.

Dugu Mei sat in her chair with a calm expression. Only when they had nearly finished did she slowly say, "Are you done?"

Her gaze swept over them with a sharp, imposing force that made the elders instinctively fall silent.

"You doubt me?"

Dugu Mei sneered. "The Manor Lord personally instructed me before entering seclusion to temporarily manage the manor's affairs. What, are you refusing even to obey the Manor Lord's orders?"

"Not convinced?"

She rose to her feet, folded her arms across her chest, and spoke forcefully.

"If you are not convinced, then wait for the Manor Lord to emerge from seclusion and ask him yourselves! See whether he personally gave those orders!"

"But let me remind you: the Manor Lord is at a critical moment in his attempt to break through to Dou Zong, and the last thing he can tolerate is being disturbed. If anyone causes a scene at his seclusion cave because they doubt this matter and disturbs the Manor Lord..."

She did not finish, but the threat in her words was unmistakable.

The elders' expressions changed, and none of them spoke.

They dared doubt Dugu Mei, but they did not dare doubt Wu Ya.

What kind of man was Wu Ya?

A ruthless Dou Emperor poison cultivator!

If they disturbed his seclusion and ruined his great undertaking, then once he emerged, he would never let them off lightly!

Yet they were unwilling to simply accept this.

The First Elder frowned and said in a deep voice,

"Madam, it is not that we do not trust you, but this is a matter of great importance. There should at least be some proof, shouldn't there?"

"Proof?"

As Dugu Mei found herself at a loss, Lu Xia, who had been standing silently at the side, stepped forward.

"Elders, before Master entered seclusion, he did indeed personally tell me to assist Master's wife in managing the manor's affairs."

The elders all looked at him, their eyes full of suspicion.

"You? Would the Manor Lord tell a little brat such things?"

The Second Elder snorted. "You are still wet behind the ears, yet you dare spout nonsense here?"

"Master accepted me as his personal disciple, so naturally he would tell me such things. Second Elder, are you questioning Master's decision?"

"You!"

The Second Elder was left speechless.