After being poisoned by mushrooms, all the strange creatures became fascinated by me.

"Senior, is there any more efficient way?"

The two of them looked at Tang Li with hope.

Tang Li turned to Shu Yijiao and asked, "Tell me first, did Manager Zhou bring you out on his own initiative?"

Shu Yijiao seemed to have finally figured something out. Her expression gradually turned ugly, and she slowly nodded.

"She's really a hot commodity," Tang Li chuckled, "that both Manager Zhou and Sister Hong have their eyes on her."

"But it's not a bad thing either."

Not a bad thing? The boy and girl stared at her intently, waiting for her next words after the turn of events.

Tang Li gave a mocking laugh. "Tell me, if Steward Zhou knew that those lowly servants dared to covet his 'property'... what would his reaction be?"

Shu Yijiao's eyes lit up, and her breathing quickened: "Senior, you mean...?"

"Manager Zhou has a group of men under his command, and those who usually hang out with Sister Hong also have a group, right?" Tang Li analyzed slowly and methodically, "If the two sides don't get along and a fight breaks out..."

"Can you two sneak in and take advantage of the chaos to cut off a few heads?"

"Yes!" the two exclaimed excitedly in unison.

"Okay, then do as I say."

And so, this chaotic day officially began.

"Tao Yongjun," Tang Li said, "keep a close eye on Manager Zhou. You'll be the messenger and guide."

Then, Manager Zhou suddenly realized that the "prey" he had his eye on had disappeared.

"Where's Shu Yijiao?" He demanded coldly, his voice ringing out to his men, "Where did Shu Yijiao go?"

As everyone shook their heads in bewilderment, a figure stumbled open the door and collapsed at his feet.

"Manager Zhou! Manager Zhou!" Tao Yongjun cried out in alarm, clutching Manager Zhou's robe tightly. "Something terrible has happened! Shu Yijiao... Shu Yijiao is being targeted! Sister Hong and the others want to kill her!"

Sister Hong? A few handymen, who had just learned from him that killing people could be exchanged for money, actually started eyeing the goods in his possession?

Manager Zhou's eyes suddenly turned extremely sinister.

"Get up!" He grabbed Tao Yongjun by the collar. "Take me there!"

"Sister Hong," Tang Li said, "take good care of your people. I've already lured Sister Shu into that alley. Be careful; if she gets rescued, we'll be in big trouble."

Sister Hong and her group of servants appeared menacingly at the west end of the alley, and sure enough, they could see Shu Yijiao's figure in the distance.

"Grab her!" Sister Hong shouted, and the crowd rushed off in a frenzy.

"Shu Yijiao," Tang Li said, "If Sister Hong chases you, run, but don't run too fast. Keep the battlefield in the alley. Hold on for one minute, and Manager Zhou will appear soon."

Shu Yijiao took off running, with the menial servants behind her, their faces contorted with rage. She could hear their curses and shouts, but she dared not make full use of her agility.

"Hold on a little longer," she told herself, trying to lead them on for a little while longer.

Steward Zhou...

Manager Zhou finally appeared at the east end of the alley!

Shu Yijiao let out a cry of joy!

"Help me! Please, please help me!"

She opened her arms and lunged at Steward Zhou!

"Tao Yongjun," Tang Li said, "be the first to make a move against Sister Hong, don't give them a chance to talk. Otherwise, Sister Hong and the others will give in."

"Damn it! What do you think you're going to do to Jiaojiao?!" the young man roared furiously. Without hesitation, he bypassed Steward Zhou and pounced on the fastest runner, throwing a reckless punch at his face!

So, just as Shu Yijiao deliberately rushed forward and used her body to block Steward Zhou's figure, he also firmly blocked the servants' view.

They couldn't see that the person who arrived was Manager Zhou, and instead thought he was a kind passerby.

"Damn it, you're asking for it!" The servants all started to fight!

"Shu Yijiao," Tang Li said, "Here's the prop. Throw this out if things start to get chaotic."

Shu Yijiao calmly loosened her fingers, and a handful of white powder floated in the wind, spreading through the narrow alley, and was inhaled by countless people.

Their eyes were bloodshot, their hearts were racing, and they could hear shouts echoing in their ears, though they couldn't tell if they were shouting themselves or someone else's.

Whether it was the handymen on Sister Hong's side or the subordinates following behind Steward Zhou.

"You've all gone too far!" Manager Zhou shouted. "Stop! Stop!"

It's too late.

No one could hear his commands; in everyone's hearts, only these words echoed:

—Fuck you! Fuck you! I'll kill you all! I'll kill you all!

The dungeon item, Bullfighting Powder, can quickly intensify anger and murderous intent in people's hearts in a short period of time.

"Wait for the first person to bleed," Tang Li said. "If we can't wait, then let the first person bleed."

Tao Yongjun plunged a sharp blade into the abdomen of someone unknown; a flash of light, and blood splattered everywhere.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh—" A scream.

A surging crowd, narrow alleys, and more and more people drawing their knives.

She smiled gently, "Alright, now it's up to you to improvise."

"Have fun."

Manager Zhou had no choice but to risk his life to protect himself.

In the midst of this fierce fight, someone shoved him, someone's knife ripped his brand-new brocade robe, and somehow...

A token he had been carefully keeping hidden in his bosom rolled to the ground.

The wooden token rolled along, unnoticed by anyone stepping on it or kicking it, until it rolled a long way and bumped into someone's shoe.

And so it finally stopped.

Tang pear.

She stood at the far end, away from the fighting crowd, and the little girl bent down and picked up the token.

"Tang Li," Han Zhou said, "find a way to get Steward Zhou's token."

The day before.

Tang Li and Han Zhou sat facing each other.

"Well then, since you have this opportunity, please go to the city with them."

King Zhou of Han rested his chin on one hand, his eyelids half-closed, as he looked at the celadon bowl on the table. The bowl was half-full of water, and two small fish, one black and one white, were swimming around in it.

Tang Li rested her chin on her hands, staring at him from below: "You let me into the city this time not just to observe whether Shu Yijiao and Tao Yongjun are acting strangely, right?"

She leaned over the table, stretching her arm to reach the bowl of water. "I can get information out of them anywhere, it's not worth my time and effort to go with them."

Tang Li tapped the side of the celadon bowl with her knuckles, startling the small fish, which darted about in panic.

"...So, you have other plans?" she guessed casually. "Who else on this trip is good enough for you...Manager Zhou?"

A hand reached out and placed some fish food in her palm.

"Guess again," Han Zhou laughed.

Guess again? Besides the young couple, the servants, Steward Zhou... who else is on this trip?

Tang Li held her hand above the bowl of water, then let go, and the fish food cascaded down, with two fish vying for it.

"Ah," Tang Li smiled, "I see."

"You've got your eye on... the buyer."

Manager Zhou sells people; the buyer.