Chapter 380 - A Surprise Gift for a Visit (III)

Xiong De did not meet the old man for a long time, almost a year now. After most of his shares in the Xiong Empire was taken away, he made various excuses to visit the old man and handed out his 'gifts' personally.

His gifts were naturally accepted as all of the relatives who visited here personally would normally gift the old man a box of expensive herbal tea, ginseng, some tea seat, antiques, or his favorite incense. They usually would secretly watch out to not clash with each other's gifts and avoided gifting redundantly.

Thus, in the past two years, he took the job to be the old man's supplier of his incense. Others thought he was simply trying to get back the old man's grace. 

Even when he finally refrained from visiting too much and simply sent the gifts over, he had never received rejection from the main house.

The poison was unique and very hard to detect unless the experts handling it was familiar with its nature. Poison checks would not be able to detect it, only if they use especially designed tools for this specific poison would they be able to. He was confident that this would pass the safety check and be stored inside the storeroom.

Naturally, the maids and butlers would use this favored incense even without telling the old man himself. Since a relative was the one who gifted it and it was proven safe, it was natural to use it first rather than the ones that the household bought.

This was a kind of courtesy in their circle.

Unless, someone with higher status gave the same gift. The gift from the one with the higher status would be prioritized.

It so happened that the heiress' gift was to be prioritized as a sign of respect.

Xiong De's knuckles went pale, but he still tried to confirm.

"Y-young Miss Zhi...also gave you gifts in the past year...?"

"En. My granddaughter, as you said, is filial. She knows what incense I am quite addicted to. She sent me gifts consistently every month, ever since she was titled as the heir."

Titled as the heir... that was more than two years ago, almost three years now!

"So you see. Your gifts are all in my storage room. Forgive me for not prioritizing yours."

Xiong De turned silent. He could not speak. His effort to poison the old man in the past two years... It was all in vain...

How could that be possible! His spies told him that they were using his incense!

His eyes flickered. But did they know that there were two incense with the same shape and material, from the same craftsmen?

The ominous premonition grew stronger. 

The Young Miss' gift, exactly the same gift, the same frequency. Was it really a coincidence?

No. He did not believe in coincidences, like his wife's death. It was all planned.

But if it was, then that would be scarier.

Someone knew of his scheme long ago and waited for two years.

It was no doubt connected to the Young Miss.

Was it Xiong Bilan, that snake brother of his, or the Young Miss herself?

Xiong De's brain ran quickly. It did not even slightly entered his mind that the old man might knew of his poisonous scheme. Because if the old man knew, Xiong De would not be sitting here and having tea with the old man in an intact body.

Old Xiong watched every expression faintly flashing on his face. He enjoyed the feeling of cornering a doomed prey. He gave an evil smile.

"But don't worry. I made use of some of your gifts."

Use?

Xiong De was given a bit of hope that perhaps the old man used the gifts alternately. Though, a part of his mind could sense that something was wrong. He just could not pinpoint what exactly was wrong.

"My granddaughter is quite interested in scientific research nowadays. She may be wanting to invest in this field."

Xiong De: ?

What was with this topic, all of a sudden?

"You see, she seemed especially curious about chemistry. She kept on testing a few samples from here and there. There was a time that she used a few of your gifts as samples..." 

Badump.

Xiong De's heart skipped a beat. The direction of this conversation... finally, the ominous premonition seemed to drown him. 

Coldness from within the bones started to cover his being, and he began to tremble.

He stared at the old man's cold gaze, his face pale and pupils dilated.

"Guess what we found?"

No way— 

"Potent Poison. Untraceable and undetectable in nature. They estimated it needed at least two years to kill someone without trace."

It can't be—

"I find it funny. Was it the same time you started giving me this 'gift' out of your concern? You are just blabbering earlier at how concerned you were about my health. It seems you are really eager for me to die, eh?"

He knows—

His mouth opened but he could not speak.

The air around them had reached the freezing point. Xiong De's vision faded to black and white. It was as if the whole world stopped. No sound could be heard and everything was swallowed in the darkness. Only the old man's unfeeling eyes and his cold voice sounded in this moment.

"Hmm? I'm kind of disappointed to see the shock all over your face. It's like you never saw this could possibly fail at all."

How long?! How long did he know?!

"For you to be so confident like that, there must be a spy in this mansion."

Xiong De opened his mouth. But like a fish gaping for water on the ground, he did not know what to do at the moment. He tried to stabilize his mind as his thoughts ran in an unprecedented speed.

His scheme that he painstakingly and carefully laid out for a very long time was exposed so easily like this?

He already checked everything. Even if someone indeed investigate and check the incense, they would not be able to find anything at all... unless they were already familiar with the poison and did a considerable study of it.

However, this poison was unique in the world. The only people who knew of this kind of unknown drug was the man who gave it to him and his confidants.