A scheme capable of harming so many people could not have lasted this long without careful planning. The merchant’s attempt to shift the blame onto him was almost predictable.

Lin Feng calmly looked at the smug man without the slightest hint of anger on his face. To the merchant, it might seem as though he had regained control of the situation.

To Lin Feng, however, the man was merely making his final struggles. A fish trapped in a net would always thrash about desperately before its death.

The crowd remained divided. Some believed the merchant’s words, while others remained suspicious. The uncertainty hanging in the air was exactly what the merchant wanted.

Seeing the hesitation on the faces around him, the merchant’s confidence grew. His smile widened. He believed that he had successfully turned the situation around.

Unfortunately for him, he had met Lin Feng today.

Of all the people in the countless worlds, he had chosen to provoke the one person he should never have crossed.

Lin Feng possessed medical knowledge that surpassed the understanding of entire eras.

Countless mysteries that others considered impossible to solve were no different from children’s riddles in his eyes.

From the moment he had laid eyes on those pills, the merchant’s fate had already been sealed. Whether the man admitted his crimes or not no longer mattered.

Whether he lied, deceived, or shifted the blame was equally irrelevant. The truth could not be hidden forever.

Lin Feng merely stood there with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and indifferent.

"I think Pill Master Li Mingzhe is innocent. I have used his pills for many years, and they have helped me greatly. I simply cannot believe that a respected figure like him would throw away his reputation for a few filthy spirit stones."

"I agree. Pill Master Li’s pills have effects far superior to any ordinary pills on the market. During a dangerous expedition, I was trapped in a tight encirclement by wild spirit beasts. Without the pill that boosted my strength, I would have died that day. I owe my life to him."

"Exactly. If sacrificing ten years of my lifespan means surviving another day, then I would willingly make that trade."

"Me too. What’s the point of having a long life if you’re already dead?"

"That’s true, but there is still a difference," another cultivator said with a frown.

"A pill like the Fiend God Berserk Pill is powerful enough that most people would accept some hidden drawbacks. However, if even a simple fasting pill or other common medicinal pills secretly shorten our lives without our knowledge, that is a completely different matter. Hiding such information from customers is both evil and criminal."

The crowd quickly split into two camps.

One side firmly supported Pill Master Li Mingzhe. They believed his years of service and countless success stories spoke louder than the accusations of a stranger.

To them, Li Mingzhe was a respected expert whose reputation had been built over decades. They found it difficult to believe that such a person would intentionally poison his customers.

The other side was not so certain. While they respected Pill Master Li’s accomplishments, they also understood that greed could corrupt even the most reputable cultivators.

The possibility that hidden side effects existed in the pills planted a seed of doubt in their hearts. Arguments erupted throughout the marketplace.

"What proof does this young man have?"

"Why would he make such a serious accusation if he had no evidence?"

"Pill Master Li has saved thousands of lives!"

"And what if those same people unknowingly sacrificed years of their lifespan in exchange?"

Voices grew louder and louder. Some people defended Li Mingzhe passionately, while others demanded an explanation.

The debate became so heated that nearby vendors stopped doing business altogether just to watch the spectacle unfold.

In the center of the commotion stood Lin Feng and Pill Master Li Mingzhe. Neither man appeared worried.

Lin Feng remained calm and composed, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was as tranquil as still water, as though everything was proceeding exactly as he expected.

Across from him, Pill Master Li Mingzhe wore a confident smile. He had spent decades building his reputation and prestige.

In his eyes, a few accusations were nowhere near enough to bring him down. The two men simply looked at each other across the crowd.

One possessed absolute confidence in his knowledge of medicine. The other possessed absolute confidence in the reputation he had spent a lifetime building.

Both were convinced that, in the end, they would be the victor. The crowd continued arguing for more than ten minutes.

What had started as a simple accusation had now turned into a full-blown debate involving hundreds of people.

Voices rose from every direction as cultivators, merchants, adventurers, and ordinary citizens all expressed their opinions.

"Pill Master Li has helped this city for decades!"

"And what if he’s been poisoning people for decades as well?"

"Ridiculous! Why would he ruin his own reputation?"

"Greed has corrupted far greater people than him!"

"You’re all just blindly trusting a stranger!"

"I know right? We don’t even know his name!"

"He’s just a handsome young master wanting to lool cool in front of his women!" The arguments showed no signs of stopping.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng continued to simply stood there with his hands behind his back. His expression remained calm, but inwardly he was growing impatient.

He had not come to the marketplace to spend the entire afternoon watching people argue. Today was supposed to be a pleasant trip with his women.

He wanted to show them around Fragrant Mist City, enjoy the sights, and perhaps buy a few interesting items. Instead, he had become involved in exposing a criminal.

If it were anyone else, Lin Feng would have already left. Unfortunately, allowing this man to continue selling such pills would only create more victims in the future.

Finally, Lin Feng decided he had heard enough.

"If your pills are truly as safe as you claim..."

The moment he spoke, the entire marketplace became silent.