Chapter 2251: Chapter 2226: Drugged and Dazed

The two expressed that it was only right and took some flatbread, then poured themselves a bowl from the soup on the table and drank heartily like Steward Li.

It was clear they didn’t taste the drug Manbao had added, and Steward Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After the meal, Fu You found his eyelids feeling heavy. He lowered his head slowly, almost falling asleep, but suddenly woke up. How come he wanted to sleep when it wasn’t even dark?

He tried hard to keep his eyes open, but found them growing increasingly heavy. His instincts told him something was wrong, and he sluggishly turned to look at his companion, only to see him with closed eyes, swaying and collapsing onto the table...

His eyes widened slightly, trying to stay awake, but the fatigue was too much and he fell onto the table.

Steward Li watched in amazement, couldn’t help but pick up their soup to smell it, but nothing special stood out, and he couldn’t help looking up at Zhou Man and the others sprawled on the second floor.

Seeing them firmly asleep, Manbao hopped quickly down the stairs, Bai Shan and the five others eagerly followed, joining to observe the two.

Manbao reached out a finger to poke his head, which wobbled and then tilted to the side, showing no awareness.

She was satisfied and exclaimed excitedly, "It really works, the potion recipe Shopkeeper Zheng gave is quite effective."

Bai Shan also poked the other person’s head, confirming he was thoroughly knocked out, then nodded contently, "It’s quite good."

Da Yu moved closer and asked, "Why did you knock them unconscious?"

Manbao replied, "Every trade has its specialization, naturally we hand them over to Assistant General Nie."

Assistant General Nie tied them up and tossed them into the woodshed, asking, "How long will they stay unconscious?"

Manbao uncertainly replied, "Until tomorrow?"

Assistant General Nie: "...We could have overpowered them directly with our numbers, if the lord is concerned about making a scene alerting their comrades, but the scouts have returned, finding no enemies before or after, and this is within the post station, among our own people, why resort to a potion?"

Manbao: "...We just wanted to test it, never mind, I’ll find a way to wake them up."

Before leaving, Manbao had prepared quite a few things, aside from some potion recipes Teacher Mo helped find, there were various knockout, itching, and soft muscle powders given as friendly gifts by Shopkeeper Zheng, Director Xiao, Imperial Doctor Liu, and others, not extremely powerful, but slightly stronger than some market-available ones.

Forgive her, growing up, studying medicine for years but never using these items, so now she seized the opportunity.

Manbao quietly went to fetch medicine to prepare for them.

The knockout potion was powder, mixed with lamb soup had no noticeable taste, but the antidote was sour and bitter. Assistant General Nie had a guard administer it directly to them, then the group squatted by the woodshed door watching the two.

After waiting for over a quarter of an hour, one of their eyelids twitched the desire to wake.

Ultimately, he tried briefly then closed his eyes again, leading Manbao somewhat awkwardly to explain to the observing group, "The effects of this knockout potion are particularly strong."

Another quarter passed, and the squinting person abruptly woke, Fu You almost instantly sat upright but realized his hands and feet were bound, he stared wide-eyed at Zhou Man and the others in disbelief.

Bai Shan raised a hand with a smile and greeted, "Awake?"

Fu You steadied himself, his bound hands clenched tight behind him, face full of panic, "Sir, what do you want to do?"

Bai Shan spoke softly, "Don’t be afraid, we’re acquaintances, we won’t torture you."

Fu You’s eyelids twitched slightly, "I don’t understand what you’re saying, have you mistaken me, we’ve never met before."

Bai Shan chuckled, "It’s not been that long, merely a bit over a month, my memory isn’t that bad, not to mention over a hundred of us here recognized you."

He sighed, "You’re too reckless, at least send someone who wasn’t there at the time, or change your appearance."

Fu You: ...thinking it’s not like he didn’t want to, but Eldest left only three people for him, one stayed in Shazhou City waiting, he could only bring one.

He stared silently at Bai Shan for a while, then since they truly recognized him, he closed his eyes and ignored them.

The others, seeing his reaction, immediately grew excited, they were right, this was the group they encountered at the desert inn, bandit aura all around, sneaking into their group, it was clear what their wicked intentions were.

Bai Shan picked up a log casually and poked him with it, smiling, "Let’s talk about your companions, that bearded man with you, is he your leader? Where is he now?"

Fu You sneered, "Young master, don’t bother, if you have the ability, just kill me, I won’t tell you."

Bai Shan chuckled, "My skill isn’t demonstrated by killing you alone, whether you talk or not doesn’t matter."

He stood up looking at Assistant General Nie, nodded, "Leave it to Assistant General Nie."

Assistant General Nie nodded.

Manbao and the others went out, intending to wash up for sleep, "How to handle them? Can’t bring them with us, right?"

Da Yu, always tagging along, suggested, "Just kill them, why keep them? They won’t confess anyway."

Bai Shan gave him a look, turned to ask Manbao, "What do you think?"

Manbao replied, "I think? I think we should hand them over to the authorities."

Bai Shan nodded in agreement, "That’s what I think too, it’s not far from Yumen Pass, tomorrow we can have two people send them back quickly, we’ll rest before entering the desert, they’ll catch up."

Da Yu was startled, "Why the rest?"

Bai Shan replied, "Didn’t you mention we need to replenish food and water before entering the desert? Also, it’s a long desert journey, you previously said to acquire a few camels."

Manbao clenched her fist, "I’ve only heard of camels, seen them in pictures, but never a real one."

The conversation shifted instantly.

Da Yu opened his mouth several times but failed to bring the topic back.

Assistant General Nie spent two hours in the woodshed, during which time everyone’s ears were filled with the sounds of screams, yet no one flinched or bothered to inquire.

Manbao and company had already closed the door and gone to bed, even the post station steward was sitting in the shop drowsing, Da Yu watched for a while, finally returned to the firepit and said to his companions, "They seem a kindhearted group, but when they’re ruthless, they’re really ruthless, everyone tighten up, don’t think you can just bargain and be sneaky, they haven’t paid half the silver to us yet."

The guards in the small town responded softly, and then couldn’t help but curiously speculate, "Brother Da Yu, where do you think their people are?"

Da Yu: "How would I know, but judging by his tone, they’re not from our area, strange that they don’t rob caravans but come to target government officials?"