Samhain Poison (2)

A maidservant came into the room, summoned by Shen Tianyu's bell again and was given another bottle of Samhain Poison. She retreated with a bowed head.

"Heh... So Tian'er is interested in those kinds of people." Rong Jian drawled with a hand on his chin like a jealous girlfriend.

"Now what does Ah-Jian(1) mean by that?" Shen Tianyu feigned ignorance.

"Nooothiiing..." He droned.

"Pft." Shen Tianyu covered her mouth with a fist and let out a laugh. Rong Jian puffed out his cheeks, not looking at her.

"Haha. How cute." Shen Tianyu commented.

"A man is not cute. I appreciate handsome." Rong Jian pouted even more.

"Haha. Yes, yes, Ah-Jian is handsome." She coaxed. "To think you got jealous so easily, it really destroys your image." 'And reputation,' she thought. "I only meant as friendly acquaintances or friends, not as a romantic partner." She got up and sat beside the still pouting Rong Jian and leaned on his arm with her whole body. "Okay, don't be mad anymore. I really didn't have that meaning. If you keep being mad, I won't know what to do and might even leave you here." She coaxed him like a mistress trying to gain favor, adding in a not-so-subtle but insignificant threat.

Rong Jian finally turned his head to look at her and let go of his chin. He pulled her into a tight hug. "Tian'er is mine, you can't look at another man." He said as he buried his head in her hair on her shoulder.

"Of course I won't look at someone else in a romantic way since I already have you. But you also must not look at another woman, otherwise, I really will leave you. And you won't be able to find me." She raised her hand and patted his back as he replied.

"Mmm." He made a sound of agreement and turned her around. She widened her eyes in surprise. He thought she looked cute and sat her on his lap, hugging her from behind. Her face regained her usual soft, smiling calm and she put one hand on his hands at her waist and the other to support her chin as she stared out at the auction hall again.

By this time, the pig was hauled up and the second bottle of Samhain Poison was also presented. One of Lotus Pavilion's medicine masters verified that what was in the second bottle was the same as the one put up for auction. The poison was fed to the pig and the whole hall waited with bated breath. Before half an incense stick was burned(1), the pig started shivering, as if it was cold. A maid brought over a blanket, which the pig immediately burrowed in to. However, the pig didn't stop shivering at all. In fact, it shivered even more as time went on. A whole incense stick had passed(2), and the pig was curled up in a shivering mass along with the blanket. Not even a fifth of the second incense stick had been burned when the pig stopped moving completely. There was a thin layer of what seemed to be ice on the pig's body also.

The physicians of the Lotus Pavilion came up to examine the pig and declared that t had indeed died of cold. Shen Tianyu sent another piece of paper through the maidservant from Rong Jian's lap, which the auctioneer read out loud.

"Eh, this honored seller is inviting other physicians in the audience or for powers with doctors to invite them up and come examine them. The note reads 'Since Lotus Pavilion is the ones selling it, there will naturally be doubts about the truth of the matter so I invite other powers to summon their physicians to examine the pig to prevent any sullying of Lotus Pavilion's reputation in the future or strain on my relationship with the auction house.'" He announced to the great hall.

There were murmurs inside the hall. Since the person dared to invite a third party to examine the pig, does that mean the poison was real?

"We will send a physician down to examine the subject, if that is okay with he auctioneer." A seductive male voice sounded from the fourth floor.

"We will also do the same." The masculine voice from the third floor sounded again.

"Of course we don't mind. Please do so." He agreed with a bent back. He then straightened up and looked at the other guests. "If anyone else has the same idea, you are welcomed to do so too."

After some hesitation, other powers sent down the doctors that came with them, some called for the doctors staying nearby. It was not a good idea to offend Lotus Pavilion like this, but they had agreed to it so they couldn't retaliate. Besides, if they could figure out how the poison was made... wouldn't they not need to pay for a bottle here? They can just make it at a lower cost on their own.

After the time it took for the couple on the fifth floor to finish their tea and get another pot, the doctors and physicians of the various powers finished diagnosing the pig. It had indeed died from extreme cold and no abnormal traces could be found. This diagnosis got the various guests excited. Some of those doctors and physicians were summoned from outside the auction hall and therefore had no idea what was going on. For them to all reach this consensus meant the poison was indeed as good as was advertised by the auctioneer, maybe even better. In addition, some of the physicians on the stage were big figures that belonged to certain sects and organizations. Those that don't have a doctor in their hand o whose doctors could not compare, naturally trusted these big name doctors. Otherwise, who else could they trust?

After the doctors and physicians returned from the stage, the auctioneer stepped out and resumed the auction of the Samhain Poison. This time, with the requirement that some will be paying for two bottles. How could the winner of the bid, not pay his weight for the show?