I stormed up the stairs of Yu Chun’s Blossom Parlour, startling a nearby couple who were engaging in the activities of the night. I barely spared them a glance as the girl shrieked and the man hurried to cover his rather… insignificant privates.

  Then again, I wasn’t here to judge people for how they spent their time. Or money, in this instance. I was here to see Du Wen, the young Miss Yu’s old friend who had fallen sick after taking one of my healing pills.

  I was sure that something else had caused his sickness, but until I examined his body all I had to go on were the whispers of Three River City’s rumour mill. Reputation could live and die from a single word, whether it was the truth of the heavens or the lies of the hells.

  People only cared for the perception of words and what they believed. The actual truth of matters was often of little consequence. I reached the door and pushed it aside forcefully, startling a young girl who was placing a wet cloth against the sick man’s brow.

  Yu Chun followed soon after, entering the room and shutting the doors behind us. “Don’t worry, little An. Sir Zhao is here to treat Du Wen’s illness. Thank you for tending to him all this time,” she said, wrapping an arm around the girl’s shoulders.

  “Zhao? Like the bastard who’s been selling poisoned-” she exclaimed before Yu Chun clamped a hand over her mouth.

  “Don’t spread rumours when you don’t know the truth of them, girl. Haven’t I taught you better than that?” she chided, an icy edge to her voice.

  “But, Feng Li Mei said-”

  “Feng Li Mei,” Yu Chun snarled, “Is not the arbiter of wisdom that she believes she is. Nor is she the madam of this house, even if she and her gaggle of powdered witches have convinced themselves otherwise.”

  The girl flinched at the sudden explosion of anger, but Yu Chun softened her expression and pulled her into an embrace immediately after. “Don’t worry about things that do not concern you, little An. Thank you for your help looking after brother Du. Go to bed now.”

  “Okay,” she replied, shuffling out of the door and pulling it closed behind her.

  I raised an eyebrow at Yu Chun as she pulled herself upright. “You act like that girl’s mother,” I remarked.

  “What of it?” she snapped back, storming over to the bed and kneeling beside the poisoned man who lay within.

  “I meant no harm. You have a gentle touch. It was an interesting contradiction to your honeyed tongue when you try to mess with me,” I replied with a shake of my head.

  She sighed as she grasped the man’s hand. I winced, my hand outstretched to stop her. “Well, I suppose neither of you can leave until I’ve figured out what is wrong.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If this is not a poison, but an infectious disease or plague, you may have exposed yourself by touching him. Even breathing the same air could carry it. In fact, everyone in this building might be at risk,” I explained as her eyes gradually widened in realisation and shock.

  I flicked my sleeve as I stood on the opposite side of the bed. “That is only one possibility, of course. It could be poison, as the rumours suggest. However, I told the truth. It is impossible that my healing pills caused this. Either someone is selling false products under my name, or someone was aiming to kill this man in particular and my pills provided an easy cover.”

  “How can you know it is impossible that your pills caused this? What if there was an unforeseen side effect?” she demanded, knuckles going white as she gripped the man’s hand.

  “Relax, Yu Chun. You will hurt your friend,” I sighed, gently removing her arm from Du Wen’s. “It is a personal secret of mine, but I can guarantee that there is no effect of any pill I refine that escapes my knowledge. Trust me on this.”

  “If you say so,” she relented, letting her head fall into her hands as she sat on the edge of the bed.

  I turned to Du Wen, whose shallow breathing had provided a wheezy backdrop to our conversation. Inside his body, I could see traces of a potent poison. The traces of energy seemed familiar.

  However, before making any guesses the first priority was to heal him. I placed two fingers against his chest and let a strand of my qi infuse itself within him.

  It did not take long for my technique to work, expelling the poison and healing all other afflictions he was suffering with. The boost to my cultivation was miniscule, barely noticeable.

  Healing mortals was no longer a way to advance my own cultivation, but that did not mean it was not a worthwhile pursuit. As the name of the poison appeared in my mind, I felt conflicted.

  My initial suspicions were correct, but that only served to muddy the waters. Three River City was clouded in mysteries and I was no closer to solving them than I had been when I first found myself in the viper’s nest.

  Mortal grade, Polished quality Iceflower Poison. That was the name that appeared in my mind. The same poison that someone had attempted to use to kill little Cui when we were held prisoner in the city lord’s palace.

  All roads seemed to lead to Councillor Gao. His dirty fingers were in every rotten crevice of Three River City. I’d had some faith in the city lord’s sense of honour, as well as Captain Kang’s.

  However, it was clear that Councillor Gao was continuing to act as he wished without retribution. The time for conversation was over. I needed to act.

  “Du Wen will be fine. Let him rest for a while to recover. His body is healed but his mind is most likely exhausted from the poison,” I told Yu Chun.

  She sighed in relief, clasping Du Wen’s hand in her own.

  “You should stay here. I know you don’t believe you will be safe from your employer here, but I imagine you would be in even more danger at my clinic. Hopefully, that rotten bastard will not plague this city much longer.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I am heading to the city lord’s palace myself. This has gone on long enough,” I replied, striding out of the room.

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  “Wait, Sir Zhao!” she exclaimed, grabbing my sleeve. “You don’t understand. Councillor Gao is just the serpent’s tail. The Gao Clan’s influence spreads deeper than you can hope to understand. One man cannot fight an army, especially not one as evil as them.”

  I stopped, rubbing my temple in frustration. I wanted nothing more than to storm the palace and put an end to Councillor Gao’s schemes, but if he had a powerful backer then I would need to tread carefully.

  Taking a seat on a nearby armchair, I looked up at Yu Chun. “Tell me everything. Enough of the secrets and half-truths. You know more than you let on,” I demanded.

  She perched on the end of Du Wen’s bed, throwing the man a melancholy glance before turning back to me. “Both of us have a history with the Gao Clan. You think the councillor a lonesome plague, corrupting Three River City from within? The truth is far worse. The Gao Clan have their insidious tendrils in almost the whole of the Cloudy Falls Sect’s territory.”

  ****

  The former councillor, Gao Deng Luo, whistled a merry tune to himself as he strode through the halls of the city lord’s palace. The man himself, Teng Shi, walked beside him like a servant.

  He pushed open the doors of the throne room like an emperor, strutting inside with his chest puffed like a peacock. However, he deflated like a burst balloon with a single sharp word from the man lounging in the throne.

  “What makes you so pleased on this sunny morning, little cousin?” Gao Shan inquired with a wicked smile.

  Despite the piercing gaze of his elder cousin, Gao Deng Luo was not deterred. He had failed in his original task, but he was well on his way to regaining control of Three River City once and for all.

  If he accomplished this without the aid of Gao Shan, he would be able to regain his standing in the clan. Of course, he would need to share some of the glory with the despicable, shadowy bastard, if only to save his own skin.

  “The last thorn in our side is almost torn out. His downfall brought about by his own hands. I find it rather hilarious, hence my cheerful demeanour,” he replied, stopping at the base of the stone dais.

  “Ah, you speak of the dissemination of the clan’s iceflower poison among the citizens. I did wonder why you took it upon yourself to order my shadows about as though they were your dogs,” Gao Shan said, clapping his hands together as he sat up in the throne.

  “You will remember that it was your failure to complete your assigned duty that brought me here in the first place. The patriarch gave you a strand of his intent, carefully cultivated over decades, to use as a guarantee. Where is Young Master Teng now, little cousin? I don’t seem to have caught his attention these past few weeks,” he continued, now standing at the top of the dais and staring down at Gao Deng Luo, letting the full weight of his cultivation creep out.

  “My scheme is infallible, cousin. Zhao Dan’s reputation will crumble and the city’s alchemy trade will fall entirely into our hands. The other businesses are already under the control of your shadows. What does it matter if the little brat ran away?” the former councillor scoffed.

  Gao Shan remained silent, then took a single step down from the stone dais. “You are a fool, little cousin,” he sneered. “Only chasing your own glory while ignoring the shadows cast by the heavens. The patriarch sent you here to learn that you serve the clan, yet you continue to imagine that the Gao Clan exists to serve you.”

  Gao Shan had walked down the steps as he spoke and stopped in front of Gao Deng Luo’s face as he uttered the final word, pushing a bony finger into his chest. Gao Deng Luo shivered, glancing at the former city lord before returning his gaze to his elder cousin.

  “What would you have me do instead, wise cousin of mine? If the patriarch wanted me to learn something he could’ve told me instead of sending me to this backwater shithole to suffer for years while he rotted in a cave somewhere,” he hissed.

  A sharp crack rang out across the throne room. Gao Deng Luo clutched at his swollen face as he stumbled backwards, glowering at his cousin. Rage burned in his eyes but fear of retribution stopped him from responding.

  “Do not speak of the patriarch with your foul tongue. He has led the Gao Clan to great heights through his wise leadership. Secluded cultivation is a necessity at such lofty heights. We cannot presume to understand the level of his comprehension or the decisions he makes. Complete your business with this upstart alchemist. Find Teng Sheng and bring him here or I will be returning to the clan alone and you will be feeding the stray dogs and cats of Three River City,” Gao Shan ordered, flicking his sleeve.

  As his cousin turned to leave, he snapped his fingers and Gao Deng Luo froze in his tracks. “You claim this city insignificant, but is it not the closest to the Cloudy Falls Sect itself? You might be a foolish, insolent brat, but you are one of the clan’s heirs. At least consider the future when you make your decisions, little cousin.”

  The former councillor’s eyes shot open as though struck by heavenly lightning. He had not realised the clan held such ambitions, but it made him curse his own lack of foresight. “As you command, cousin,” he replied before leaving the throne room with a determined expression.

  ****

  I found myself sitting on the second floor of a restaurant in the heart of Three River City. We were in a private room that one of the other people at the table had rented out for the purpose of holding this meeting.

  “I am at a disadvantage here,” I said, drumming my fingers on the table. I had been served a cup of tea but I held off on drinking it yet. “You all seem to know who I am and yet I only recognise one of you.”

  The person I recognised was a woman, a herbalist who I had purchased ingredients from when I went around the city to acquire them for my tests. She had been one of the friendlier ones, but I saw no trace of that jovial nature now.

  “We represent the alchemists and herbalists of Three River City, whose business you have upended and thrown into chaos with your ridiculous pills. You may be able to deceive the citizens with your shoddy products, but you cannot fool us masters,” hissed a young man wearing flashy golden robes with silver clouds of smoke embroidered all over the folds.

  I frowned. Was this another of the councillor’s schemes? Picking them all apart was like trying to find enlightenment in the Dao by scratching one’s backside. An impossible task.

  “You should be careful with your words. My pills are reputable and safe. I have not lied about their effects and I do not charge ridiculous prices to those who cannot afford them. Perhaps if you didn’t want to lose business, you should’ve treated your customers with more respect,” I replied, picking up the cup of tea and taking a sip.

  “You dare!? When commoners are falling to an unknown plague after taking your pills, you would sit here and claim they are safe?” the woman snarled.

  I didn’t let my emotions bleed into my expression. Since treating Yu Chun’s friend Du Wen, I heard that many people had experienced similar symptoms. After doing some research I found that none of them had acquired their pills from me, but instead from an unknown source claiming to be me.

  Knowing that it was the iceflower poison, I knew the culprit to be Councillor Gao. I also knew what he hoped to achieve by poisoning my reputation. What I didn’t understand was why all the other alchemists and herbalists in the city seemed to be on his side.

  “What is it about the councillor that makes everyone support his cause?” I mused, draining the rest of my tea and placing the cup on the table. My tongue tingled, but I ignored it.

  All of their faces darkened, except for the young man who leapt to his feet with rage on his face. I smirked, turning to the eldest of the group who had not spoken a word or moved until now.

  “Do not levy such accusations at us, brat. Not all alchemists in this city are slaves to whoever throws the most gold at them. You say your pills are safe, but the evidence says otherwise. Why should we trust you, when the reputation of our ancient and honourable vocation is at stake?” he said, slamming a fist against the table.

  Interesting. I had guessed incorrectly, judging from the fury with which the old man reacted to being accused of working for the councillor. The young man, however, was another matter.

  He was the only one whose anger seemed to be a facade. I sat back in my chair, thinking through everything I’d experienced since entering the restaurant. I threw a glance at the empty cup in front of me, before beginning to choke.

  I clutched at my throat as my mouth began to froth and I collapsed, my head slamming into the table. The last thing I saw before closing my eyes was the old man turning to the golden robed youngster with disappointment written across his wrinkled visage.