Chapter 32: Lord Shen, Let Me Feed You

Upon hearing the name "Eternal God-Slaying Pill," even Nalan Yanran looked at Shen Lang in sheer shock. It was common knowledge that the Eternal God-Slaying Pill had been lost to history for a very long time. Legend had it that anyone who ingested this poison would suffer from complete bodily rot and death within seven days if they did not receive the antidote. She had not expected that Shen Lang would actually possess such a thing. He truly lived up to his reputation as a ruthless schemer.

"Lord Shen, I am truly surrendering. Is it really necessary to take this?" Wu Yong, clearly aware of the pill's terrifying nature, looked at Shen Lang with a face full of dread.

"Take it or die."

Seeing that Shen Lang was not granting him even the slightest margin for negotiation, Wu Yong fell into utter despair. He slowly picked up the Eternal God-Slaying Pill from the floor and let out a self-deprecating laugh. "To think that I have walked on thin ice my entire life, only to end up in such a state. Lord Shen, you intended to control me from the very beginning, didn't you?"

Shen Lang sipped his tea calmly, neither admitting nor denying it. Seeing this, Wu Yong stopped struggling. He tilted his head back and swallowed the pill. A second later, feeling the horrific toxins coursing through his body, he was completely resigned. "I am defeated by your methods, Lord Shen. I only wish to know, what exactly did you see in me to make you willing to waste an Eternal God-Slaying Pill just to control me?"

Seeing that Wu Yong had taken the poison, Shen Lang did not hold back. "I figured that if you could endure your wife wearing the green hat for you, you must be a man capable of great things. Therefore, I intend to bestow a grand opportunity upon you."

Wu Yong, who had been angry over the reason, felt his eyes light up at the mention of an "opportunity." "What kind of opportunity?"

"How about I make you the head of the Wu family?"

With just one sentence, a look of wild ecstasy appeared on Wu Yong's face. When Shen Lang had previously mentioned that he didn't just want the Zhou family dead, Wu Yong had realized that Shen Lang and the Divine Firmament Emperor were planning to move against the Eight Folk Kings. Yet, he had never dared to dream that Shen Lang intended to install him in power. While excited, he could not help but voice his concerns: "Lord Shen, the Wu family is no minor clan. The eight great noble houses, to which the Eight Folk Kings belong, are not fools."

Sensing the implication behind his words, Shen Lang sneered with disdain. "I have my own methods to dismantle them; you need not worry about your own life. You only need to work for me diligently, and I guarantee you will sit in the position of the Wu family head."

Seeing that Shen Lang had spoken with such certainty, Wu Yong kowtowed to the ground. "I am willing to die for my master!"

"Very good!" Shen Lang scanned him with satisfaction and said lightly, "Next, I need you to do two things for me..."

An incense stick of time later, after hearing Shen Lang's plan, Wu Yong could not stop his body from trembling. He finally understood why, even after only being in the city for a few days, Shen Lang had managed to strike fear into the hearts of all the civil and military officials in Chang'an. It was because this young man was simply too venomous. Wu Yong dared not imagine if all of Shen Lang's plans were to be implemented, would there be any path of survival left for the Eight Folk Kings?

Thinking of this, his awe for Shen Lang deepened. He knelt down with utmost sincerity: "This servant will certainly not disappoint you, Master!"

"Fine. Go tidy yourself up and prepare for dinner. Be flexible at the banquet to come!"

"As you command, Master!"

Watching Wu Yong leave with a humble demeanor, Nalan Yanran frowned slightly. "Is he really trustworthy?"

"Rest assured. A man who wouldn't even explode with rage when cuckolded is a man who cares most about his own life."

"But he is a member of the Wu family after all!" Nalan Yanran raised her primary concern.

Shen Lang looked at her with disdain. "And so what? So-called loyalty is merely a sign that the stakes for betrayal are not high enough."

*The stakes for betrayal are not high enough?* Nalan Yanran’s heart skipped a beat. A look of worry appeared in her eyes as she looked at Shen Lang. Realizing he had misspoken, Shen Lang immediately laughed it off. "So, why don't you sacrifice yourself for the Emperor, marry me, and bear my children, keeping me in the Great Qin forever?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Suddenly being teased, Nalan Yanran's pretty face flushed red instantly. "Who would bear children for a lecher like you? In your dreams!"

With that, Nalan Yanran vanished from the room. Shen Lang chuckled, straightened his clothes, and prepared to face the Zhou family.

...

"Brother Lang, you're here! Where is sister-in-law?" Walking into the most luxurious private room at The First Pavilion, Zhou Yu rose to welcome him immediately.

Shen Lang flashed a knowing, masculine grin. "She's worn out."

"As expected of Brother Lang, impressive!" Zhou Yu gave him a thumbs-up and ushered him to the seat of honor.

Shen Lang did not stand on ceremony and sat down. He then looked at the slightly pale-faced Wu Yong sitting opposite him and said lightly, "City Lord Wu, I thought I said just ten dishes and a soup. This table full of food is tempting me to commit a transgression!"

Seeing Shen Lang suddenly pick a fight, Wu Yong stood up, at a loss for words. Zhou Yu cursed inwardly at his awkwardness, thinking, *What a spineless wretch, truly shameful!* But on the surface, he laughed loudly, "This banquet is to welcome you, Brother Lang! You not only saved me but also helped our Zhou family understand the sinister intentions of Zhao Tianba. Naturally, we must host you with a special standard!"

Hearing this, Shen Lang laughed. "Then many thanks, brother. I wonder, regarding the matter I entrusted to you..." He left the sentence hanging. He wanted to probe the Zhou family's attitude before deciding how to deal with them.

Zhou Yu, entirely unaware that he had walked into a trap, laughed it off. "Let's discuss that later. Let's drink and eat first!" He clapped his hands, and several graceful women entered the room. The woman in the lead wore a veil, but her fair skin, stunning figure, and the pure, faint fragrance she emitted immediately stunned even a seasoned veteran of the flower gardens like Shen Lang.

The woman bowed slightly toward Shen Lang. "This servant, Qingyou, greets Lord Shen."

"Brother, who is this?" Shen Lang feigned ignorance as he looked at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu laughed. "When men drink together, how can we be without beautiful company? Qingyou is the top courtesan of The First Pavilion; usually, no amount of money can buy her time. Only we of the Zhou family have the qualifications to have her accompany us at any time!"

Sensing that Zhou Yu was indirectly elevating the status of the Zhou family, Shen Lang sneered internally. On the surface, however, he nodded repeatedly. "Brother is right. The Zhou family is one of the Eight Folk Kings; who would dare not give you face? But tell me, Qingyou, do you provide 'out-of-house' services?"

"Brother Lang, you have Lady Nalan by your side, yet you still dare to flirt with others?" Zhou Yu squinted at him, clearly trying to probe whether his relationship with Nalan Yanran was real.

His petty tricks could not deceive Shen Lang. Shen Lang chuckled, "How could garden flowers compare to the fragrance of wild ones!"

"Brother Lang is truly a role model for men! Qingyou, you must take good care of my Brother Lang today!"

"This servant obeys!"

"Lord Shen, allow this servant to feed you..."