85 Pair of Bloodshot Eyes (1/2)

Xue'er watched as the fire continue to rage on, as people attempted to put it out with water, but to no avail.

She no longer stayed to the end, because there was no longer any excitement she could feel as she watched the flames dance. It was hard for her to feel anything except for the searing temperature that it brought along. She was new to the town and therefore bore no connection to these people who were within the blaze.

In her eyes they were mere strangers, people she would probably pass on the streets, and forget about in the blink of an eye.

Fires, in the end, were either accidental or used to cover up something. Judging by the past raining days, the wood of these old houses in the border town would have been completely soaked in water, such that without the use of kindling fluid, it would have been impossible to start such a large fire without it.

She wondered if the people within were guilty, or innocent. But that did not matter anymore, because they had already died long before this fire had started. Her head involuntarily turned back towards the good samaritans scrambling to get buckets of water trying to save their neighbors.

She knew herself that she could not be so selfless as them who risked life and limb for people who they were merely acquainted with.

~

At the Hundred Flower Hall, madam Lu was preparing for the most brilliant night ever, though tonight was the night that most men would have the reunion dinner with their families, it did not mean that The Hundred Flower Hall would stay cold and unwelcoming, on the contrary, they would most likely come in the middle of the night to have their fun.

Madam Lu had just come down from the third floor when she went to look for servant Zhao, who was carefully tidying up the place, a rag was still in her hand as the door was forcefully pushed opened.

”Servant Zhao, you switched the red scorpion powder for the normal rat poison didn't you.” That was the first sentence that came from her mouth, without even allowing servant Zhao a chance to give her a greeting.

It seemed that madam Lu had already gotten her rundown of everything that had taken place.

Servant Zhao did not have anything to hide, so she nodded: ”Yes, it was my decision.”

”Have you forgotten who your boss is? I specifically wanted red scorpion powder.” Madam Lu asked menacingly.

Servant Zhao did not seem to fear her pressing tone, answering tactfully ”Red scorpion powder is used for silent assassinations and is valuable, whereas common rat poison can be found almost anywhere in this town, the constables will not know where to start if rat poison is used and will not exhaust much manpower to search, but if red scorpion powder was used, they will know for sure the death wasn't by accident.” She also wanted to say that the death from the red scorpion powder was quite unsightly, causing blood to flow from several orifices two incense sticks after ingestion.