《Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife – o》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 First Encounter (1) ?1: Chapter 1 First Encounter (1) 1: Chapter 1 First Encounter (1) December 5th, on this day Xuandu City was blanketed by heavy snow, the entire world was clad in silver, pure and spotless. At that time, outside the operating room of the military hospital, a handsome man with gold-rimmed glasses walked back and forth anxiously with clenched fists. ¡°You fool, what kind of chaos is this?¡± the authoritative old man seated in the chair chastised him loudly, yet his tightly gripped cane revealed that he wasn¡¯t as calm as he appeared. The man did not speak, as if his heart had already flown away with the woman inside the operating room. Suddenly, the operating room doors swung open, and a few medical staff in white coats emerged. ¡°Doctor, how is my wife?¡± The man rushed forward and grabbed the leading doctor¡¯s arm. ¡°Mother and daughter are safe, the old man can now be content,¡± the doctor said cheerfully as he took off his mask. While others hoped for a son, this family had eagerly anticipated a daughter. ¡°Good! Haha! I finally have a granddaughter! Haha, our family¡¯s little princess has finally arrived!¡± The elder¡¯s hearty laughter of joy spread throughout the entire floor, sharing his hard-won happiness with everyone who heard. ... Four months later. ¡°Honey, has Xiao Bao woken up?¡± The handsome man with gold-rimmed glasses gently pushed the door open and walked in, his eyes filled with happiness looking at the gentle-woman in the room and Little Bun, milk-fragrant and fair, lying on the bed. ¡°Shush!¡± The woman shook her head slightly and made a ¡°silence¡± gesture with her finger on her lips. The man wrapped his arms around the woman¡¯s slim waist and leaned in, adoringly gazing at the little one asleep on the bed. Little Bun was very small, her complexion pink and fair. The four-month-old had gradually grown dark, thick hair, and two large eyes were tightly closed on her delicate, baozi-like face, casting fan-shaped shadows with her long, dense, black eyelashes. Her pink mouth opened and closed, unconsciously blowing bubbles in her deep sleep. Although Little Bun¡¯s eyes were shut, her vivacity couldn¡¯t be hidden. ¡°Wife, our daughter will definitely be a little troublemaker when she grows up,¡± the man said proudly, this was his daughter after all! ¡°Tsk, my daughter is not a troublemaker!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I was wrong. Honey, let¡¯s go downstairs, the banquet is starting.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The woman kissed Little Bun once more before she reluctantly left the room. Today was their elder son¡¯s eighth birthday; she had to be by his side. ... During the banquet, toasts were made and the laughter of children and the chatter of adults blended into a lively song. On the quiet second floor, a slightly stooped figure slowly opened the door, paused, and then made a quiet exit as if no one had come by... ... After the banquet ended, the woman entered the bedroom, fatigued, and moments later, she stumbled out again. ¡°Someone help! Quick, someone help! My daughter is missing!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, wife?¡± The man rushed over upon hearing her, only to find his wife¡¯s face pale with fright. ¡°Our daughter, our daughter¡¯s gone!¡± ¡°Quick! Send the word down, ask if anyone has seen Little Miss! Hurry!¡± Suddenly, there was utter chaos. ... ¡°Master, Young Master, we have reviewed all the surveillance footage of the villa and questioned all the servants, but so far there is no sign of Little Miss.¡± ¡°Search! Go out and search again! We must find my granddaughter!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, wife!¡± The man held his wife who fainted from too much grief, calling out in desperation. ... After a night passed, the villa slowly took on a gloomy atmosphere, reflecting the mood of its owner. The woman awoke pale-faced from a nightmare, running out of the room in her weakness without even bothering to put on shoes. Chapter 2 - 2 2 First Encounter (2) ?2: Chapter 2 First Encounter (2) 2: Chapter 2 First Encounter (2) In the study ¡°Still no sign of her?¡± The man¡¯s voice was hoarse, completely devoid of his previous handsome and scholarly charm. The subordinate fell silent, the situation evident. After a while, the man leading them called out, ¡°Chairman, we¡¯ve mobilized all our manpower, and sealed off airports, train stations, and major traffic routes. But the young miss seems to have vanished from the face of the earth... Could it be that¡ª¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The man abruptly looked up to see his wife entering through the door; her face deathly pale, pupils contracting sharply upon hearing the dreadful news, her entire body collapsing weakly to the floor. ¡°Wife, don¡¯t worry, our daughter will come back.¡± The man quickly strode over to the woman, comforting her with heartache. The woman sat on the floor without uttering a word. Her eyes were somewhat vacant, her bloodless lips trembling violently, as if her soul had departed. ... ¡°My daughter¡ª!¡± After a moment of silence, a heart-wrenching wail erupted from the villa! ¡ª¡ªI am the foodie divider¡ª¡ª Nine years later In the back mountains of a small village, within a tranquil and elegant courtyard. ¡°You little brat! Did you put drugs in the food again yesterday?!¡± An old man with a rosy complexion glared at a little girl, his whiskers bristling. This little girl, growing bolder by the day, actually dared to test poisons on him! ¡°Hmm...¡± The little girl lying on the bed slowly opened her sleepy eyes, and in an instant, it was as though the galaxy flowed within them, clear and ethereal. ¡°Master, my meager skills are not worthy of your notice. See? Aren¡¯t you doing just fine now?¡± ¡°Nonsense! Old man itched all night long!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡ªHaha!¡± The old man stared helplessly at the little girl who laughed heartily, his eyes brimming with affection. ¡°Girl, recite the ¡®Inner Canon of Huangdi¡¯ from beginning to end.¡± ¡°In ancient times, there was Huangdi. Born a spiritual being...¡± ¡°Hmm, not bad. Now recite the Medicine Sect¡¯s Heart Method.¡± ¡°The Way manifests as substance, sight but a blur and flurry. Blurred and flurry...¡± ¡°Good, now show me the set of boxing techniques I taught you yesterday.¡± ¡°Umm, I¡¯m hungry, can¡¯t practice.¡± The little girl refused to move. ¡°You little glutton!¡± The sunshine was warm, with birds chirping through the mountains, a scene of tranquil serenity... ¡ª¡ªI am the foodie divider¡ª¡ª Nineteen years later Xuandu City, the center of power in Xuanjin Country. It was a city overflowing with desire and dreams. Down an abandoned alley near Xuan University, rumors said the place was haunted, so even in daylight, few ventured there. The alley¡¯s stone pavement was cluttered with broken planks and bamboo baskets, its surroundings eerily quiet. ¡°Tap¡ªTap¡ªTap¡ª¡± Soft, slow footsteps approached from a distance, each one echoing as if weighing on the soul. At one end of the alley, a slender figure shrouded in sunlight slowly appeared. Her white dress fluttering, hair cascading over her shoulders, her exquisite silhouette just visible through the intense light. The girl stepped steadily to the center of the alley, steadied her breath, and lowered her gaze. ¡°Whoosh¡ª!¡± Suddenly a few thick and massive wooden planks flew up, slamming fiercely towards her like rogue waves. The girl didn¡¯t move. The planks drew closer, and the men hiding in the shadows thought they saw the girl¡¯s bloodied body sprawled on the ground, a malicious smile curling their lips. At that moment, with a fierce shout, the girl suddenly spun around and struck with her palm, unleashing a gust of wind like a tumultuous wave that instantly shattered the planks! The hidden men felt an overwhelming Inner Breath surge forth, their throats as if gripped tightly, their bodies flung uncontrollably through the air! Such profound Inner Breath! The four exposed men were shocked, quickly regrouping and adopting defensive stances. ¡°Little girl, although you are the Sect Leader¡¯s disciple, you are still inexperienced. The few of us together would be more than a match for you. The grudge of the Medicine Sect has nothing to do with you; why press us so hard?¡± ¡°Your personal vendettas are none of my concern, but I must apprehend the traitors who stole the Medicine Sect¡¯s Secret Technique!¡± Her voice, melodiously delightful like a nightingale and usually soft, was now chillingly cold. ¡°Bratty girl, we intended to spare your young life, but since you are so ungrateful, don¡¯t cry foul when you¡¯re in the Hall of Yama King!¡± Seeing their plan foiled, the men turned murderous, ¡°Ha!¡ª¡± The lead man bellowed, his iron-like fist driving fiercely towards the girl along with the wind, while the others attacked swiftly and ruthlessly, closing in with each move! The girl encircled by the men circulated her Inner Breath throughout her body, facing four opponents without a trace of panic. She lightly tipped on her toes, leaped into the air, and with her pale fist, she struck an assailant¡¯s temple with formidable force! The opponents, seeing this, struck back even more viciously. For a time, the alley was filled with chaotic winds and heavy killing intent! ... ¡°Thud!¡± The last man alive was slammed hard to the ground, limbs convulsing as blood spewed from his mouth, ceasing to breathe in mere moments. The girl took a delicate porcelain bottle from her bag, poured a few drops, ¡°Sss!¡ª¡±, and the corpses on the ground began to emit white smoke, the unknown liquid boiling over them. After a short while, the girl slowly walked out of the alley, hailed a taxi, and left the place, The eerily quiet alley was now filled with the stench of rotting flesh. On the disordered stone path, only a moist puddle remained, as if the bodies of several men had evaporated into thin air! Chapter 3 - 3 3 First Encounter with the Second ?3: Chapter 3 First Encounter with the Second 3: Chapter 3 First Encounter with the Second In the taxi, the girl was on the phone. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve got the stuff.¡± ¡°You brat, why did you act on your own without waiting for your uncle? What if you¡¯d encountered danger? You¡¯re going to be the death of me!¡± Listening to her master¡¯s concerned scolding, An Yiqing¡¯s clear eyes curved into a smile like a crescent moon. ¡°Master, you can relax. Aren¡¯t you aware of my strength?¡± ¡°Er...¡± There was a noticeable choke on the other end of the line. ¡°Hmph, ungrateful girl. Xuandu City is a mix of fish and dragons, with the Five Great Families¡¯ powers intricately intertwined. Isn¡¯t this old man still worried about you?! A young lady like you should be looking for a boyfriend, not fighting and killing all the time¡ªwhat kind of behavior is that!¡± An Yiqing was left speechless; she was only nineteen. Why was her master always in such a hurry to marry her off? ¡°Um... Master, I can smell the fruit wine you¡¯ve been sneaking.¡± ¡°Who, who said that? Ah! The porridge I was cooking is burnt, gotta go, hanging up!¡± An Yiqing looked at the hung-up call and laughed helplessly; her master must have been drinking on the sly again. The taxi driver sneakily glanced at the girl sitting in the backseat. ¡®Master¡¯? This kind of address was really rare these days. But it didn¡¯t sound out of place when this girl said it. She was so stunningly beautiful that she emanated an aura of indifference to worldly matters, warm and gentle as if not of this world. As if sensing the unfamiliar gaze, An Yiqing lifted her eyes, causing the driver to be captivated by her clear, flowing eyes. The driver, who was almost thirty, blushed instantly and quickly averted his gaze to focus on driving. Seemingly accustomed to such amazed stares, An Yiqing was just a bit helpless. At that moment, her phone rang. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Qingqing, where are you? You didn¡¯t forget my birthday party, did you?¡± Gu Tingting knew her best friend¡¯s nai?ve yet sly nature well and feared being stood up. ¡°Cough, Tingting, I¡¯m in a taxi. If there¡¯s no traffic, I¡¯ll be there in forty minutes.¡± ¡°Then be careful. Ruan Xue and I have already arrived at Prosperous Haoting. We¡¯ll wait for you, muah~¡± An Yiqing smiled and hung up the phone. Today was her roommate and best friend Gu Tingting¡¯s eighteenth birthday, and they had planned a party at Prosperous Haoting for the evening. Miss Gu had declared that friends had to show up. An Yiqing considered very few people her friends. Roommates Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting were among them. She was an orphan; according to her master, he found her in the backwoods of Wuling Village, Qingning City, when she was a baby less than four months old, in a forest during snow. She was heartlessly abandoned there. In ancient terms, An Yiqing¡¯s master, Ye Chenghong, would be considered a hermit of the highest order. But in her eyes, her master was just an old mischief-maker eager to marry her off. The Sect Leader of Medicine Sect, Ye Chenghong, had no children and only one disciple, An Yiqing, whom he treated as his own, cherishing her dearly. The Medicine Sect, known for its medical arts and ancient martial arts, held a unique status in the world. Ye Chenghong, the 123rd Sect Leader of the Medicine Sect, had grown indifferent to worldly affairs because of some romantic ventures when he was young and chose to live in seclusion in Wuling Village. When he first picked up An Yiqing, it was her pure gaze and pitiable background that compelled him to adopt her. What he hadn¡¯t expected was that as An Yiqing grew older, her talent in medical arts began to manifest. After discovering that at the age of three, she could flawlessly recall over a hundred types of herbs he had taught her, he started to chuckle, feeling blessed by the heavens to have such a genius disciple. Two things An Yiqing loved most in life were medical arts and food. For this, Ye Chenghong lamented, beat his chest, and stamped his feet¡ªhis disciple was so bright and steadfast. Even someone as cunning as he couldn¡¯t handle this sly little fox! As her medical skill grew stronger, even he, her master, sometimes had to admit defeat! Too much talk equals tears! ¡ª¡ªFoodie Divider Line¡ª¡ª Prosperous Haoting, located in the highly valuable Xishan District, was a top-tier clubhouse sought after by the rich and affluent of Xuandu City. Everyone considered getting into Prosperous Haoting a symbol of status. You couldn¡¯t enter without significant wealth, and even with money, without influence, you might not find a foothold here. ¡°Miss, please show your invitation,¡± a server politely stopped a woman with delicately applied makeup at the door. Zhang Lin was a third-tier little star in the entertainment circle, always presenting herself as a pure and innocent figure to the public. After much effort and pulling various connections, she finally got involved with the famous Diamond Single King of Xuandu City. Today, she was here to accompany her sugar daddy to a friend¡¯s birthday party. ¡°Make way! Do you know who I am?¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, showing some displeasure. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss, but please show your invitation,¡± the server insisted. ¡°Get lost! Let me tell you! I am the companion of Bai Yiming, the Young Master of the Bai Family, one of the Xuandu Five Great Families! This Prosperous Haoting belongs to his brother, Third Young Master Guh! How dare you stop me?!¡± Zhang Lin crossed her arms, looking down on the server. The server¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he spoke with respect, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss, but according to the club¡¯s rules, everyone needs to show an invitation.¡± ¡°What are you good for! You¡ª¡± ¡°Excuse me, sorry to interrupt.¡± Before Zhang Lin could finish, a gentle and pleasant voice cut in. A delicate white hand handed over a black invitation to the server. After checking the invitation, the server bowed respectfully, ¡°I hope you have a pleasant evening. Miss, please come in.¡± Just as An Yiqing was about to step in, an arrogant and sharp female voice rang in her ear. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± ¡°Hmm? What is it?¡± An Yiqing¡¯s clear liquid eyes shifted. Seeing the girl with stunning features before her, a hint of jealousy and displeasure flashed in Zhang Lin¡¯s eyes. She raised her chin high, glanced at An Yiqing¡¯s simple and plain dress with disdain, and said with a condescending tone, ¡°Give me your invitation. I¡¯ll give you five thousand yuan.¡± An Yiqing was somewhat surprised by the offer, taking a good look at Zhang Lin before thinking to herself, does this woman have a screw loose? ¡°This isn¡¯t the place for you. Give me the invitation, take the five thousand yuan, and get out of here quickly!¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s impatience grew due to An Yiqing¡¯s silence. An Yiqing no longer paid her any attention and turned to enter the club. Hmm, this woman¡¯s mind is not right. ¡°Hey! Stop right there!¡± The girl¡¯s disregard drove Zhang Lin to the edge of fury, and she reached out to grab her arm. An Yiqing sidestepped nimbly, ¡°smack,¡± gently pushing away Zhang Lin¡¯s arm. She frowned in displeasure, what is this woman¡¯s problem?! ¡°You dare hit me?!¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s voice pitched high as she raised her hand to strike, ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± A seductively charming voice sounded from behind Zhang Lin. Chapter 4 - 4 4 Getting to Know Each Other (1) ?4: Chapter 4 Getting to Know Each Other (1) 4: Chapter 4 Getting to Know Each Other (1) Zhang Lin¡¯s hand suddenly stiffened, and her facial expression quickly turned into one of pitiful helplessness. She turned around and flung her soft body towards the strikingly attractive man in front of her. ¡°Young Master Bai! You¡¯re finally here!¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s red lips slightly parted, displaying a look that was both sexy and pitiful, ¡°Young Master Bai, this waiter won¡¯t let me in. That woman also bullied me. Look, my hand is all red from being hit.¡± Faced with the affected display of affectation by the woman before her, An Yiqing¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. She shook her head and, in a blink, fell into a pair of deep, icy black eyes. Stunning, absolutely stunning! The man before her had star-like eyebrows and a chill in his demeanor. His facial features were sharp and well-defined, with a high nose bridge that sat above a pair of thin, sensual lips that drove countless women wild. Despite his slender, upward-tilted, peach blossom eyes, they didn¡¯t give off a frivolous vibe. The depth of his dark eyes emitted specks of cold light, his gaze like that of a lone wolf in the snowy mountains, domineering, wild, dangerous, and explosive. Black shirt and trousers hugged his explosive, slender figure¡ªperfection! He was an emperor! An emperor meant to achieve great success at a heavy cost! In An Yiqing¡¯s heart, she affixed a label to this man: a dangerous beauty. And this dangerous beauty was now intently staring at the clear and pure girl in front of him, causing his cold heart to skip a beat. ¡°Oh?¡± Bai Yiming, who had his arms around Zhang Lin, slightly furrowed his handsome brows and glanced at the waiter nonchalantly, ¡°Lao San, this bill should be settled with you.¡± ¡°Prosperous Haoting does not entertain women of unknown origin.¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s cold voice made Zhang Lin shiver uncontrollably. Bai Yiming chuckled softly, his bewitching red lips curving upwards, ¡°Baby, did you hear that? Lao San¡¯s place is not for you to throw tantrums like a spoiled girl.¡± Though Bai Yiming¡¯s words seemed teasing, they were actually a subtle warning to Zhang Lin. He and Gu Yelin had become close friends through their not-quite-friendly encounters in the military and naturally, he wouldn¡¯t fall out over some insignificant woman. Zhang Lin¡¯s face stiffened slightly, and she laughed dryly a few times, ¡°Young Master Bai, all you do is joke at my expense. Look at my hand, it¡¯s swollen from that woman hitting me.¡± Zhang Lin quickly tried to shift the topic and direct attention towards An Yiqing. Bai Yiming turned his head and caught sight of the girl before him, his eyes flashing with admiration. He had seen many beautiful women, but never one as ethereally lively as this girl. Bai Yiming whistled stylishly and said to An Yiqing, ¡°Beautiful, how about we go have a drink together?¡± ¡°Young Master Bai, you can¡¯t be fickle, she might not be pleased!¡± Zhang Lin, sensing the tide turning against her, quickly clung to Bai Yiming and spoke in a delicate voice. ¡°Babe, if you cheer me up, naturally you¡¯ll be rewarded.¡± Bai Yiming gently tilted Zhang Lin¡¯s chin, his face expressing a seductive menace, but his eyes devoid of any tenderness. An Yiqing cast a strange glance at Bai Yiming and Zhang Lin as if she was watching a monkey show. She didn¡¯t respond to Bai Yiming¡¯s invitation, instead turning around and walking into the club. As if knowing what the girl was thinking, a hint of a smile flickered in Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes. Watching her walk away, he found himself unconsciously following her. Once he realized what he was doing, Gu Yelin was slightly surprised at himself. What was he doing? Bai Yiming, who had been curiously glanced at by the girl¡¯s clear and lovely eyes, felt annoyed as if he had made a fool of himself before her. He abruptly shook off Zhang Lin¡¯s hand and strode into the club. ¡°Hey! Young Master Bai!¡± Watching Bai Yiming leave, Zhang Lin stomped her foot in frustration and chased after him. However, in her heart, her resentment towards An Yiqing only deepened. Chapter 5 - 5 5 Getting to Know Each Other (2) ?5: Chapter 5 Getting to Know Each Other (2) 5: Chapter 5 Getting to Know Each Other (2) In the elevator, An Yiqing saw Gu Yelin and two others come in, her footsteps involuntarily shifting slightly towards the corner. That enchanting man reeked of womanliness, which she disliked. Ugh, the bewitching man and the enchantress were in cahoots, which also wasn¡¯t a good sign. Noticing the girl¡¯s subtle movements, the corners of Gu Yelin¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily. Was he being disliked? ¡°Really, what¡¯s with this smell in the elevator.¡± Zhang Lin, who followed in, dramatically covered her nose and cast a sidelong glance at An Yiqing as she spoke in a delicate manner. An Yiqing didn¡¯t say a word but rolled her eyes dramatically in front of Zhang Lin. The rude gesture somehow came off as incredibly cute. Both Gu Yelin and Bai Yiming had indulgent smiles in their eyes. The elevator stopped on the third floor. An Yiqing was the first to walk out, heading straight for private room 301. When Gu Yelin and Bai Yiming saw the girl standing at the entrance of 301, their eyebrows raised in interest. Intriguing, she was also here to attend Gu Tingting¡¯s birthday party. ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡± An Yiqing gently knocked twice on the door and soon after, the door was flung open from the inside with such force that it reflected the eager mood of the person inside. ¡°Qingqing! You¡¯ve finally arrived! Wuuu~~~~(&gt;_&lt;)~~~~I thought you were going to stand me up again!¡± Gu Tingting burst into An Yiqing¡¯s embrace with high spirits, her fluffy head burrowing in her arms repeatedly. ¡°I got held up by some things; sorry I¡¯m late.¡± An Yiqing apologized, smiling as she gently patted the girl¡¯s head, hmm, so soft, just like... a fluffy Samoyed. Gu Tingting, of course, had no idea her bestie¡¯s thoughts had wandered off to dogs. She lifted her head from An Yiqing¡¯s embrace cheerfully, ready to speak, but her face froze. Her expression quickly changed from shock to a brown-nosing one. ¡°Eh... ha... hahaha! Third Brother, you¡¯re here too?¡± An Yiqing suddenly realized, so this man was the fearsome Gu Yelin from Xuanjin, the illustrious First Young Marshal who struck terror in hearts around the world! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªLittle Foodie Divider¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The room had seven or eight people, among them was Ruan Xue. Seeing An Yiqing walk in, she sashayed over with her sensually swaying hips. ¡°You¡¯re finally here! That brat Gu Tingting has been driving me crazy! I don¡¯t care, you must soothe my ¡®bruised¡¯ heart!¡± An Yiqing blinked her limpid eyes, a hint of understanding flashing through them. ¡°Hmm, a bottle of ¡®Honey Nectar¡¯ as compensation.¡± With Gu Tingting¡¯s introduction, everyone gained a general understanding of each other. The twins from Xuandu City¡¯s wealthiest family, the Bai Family¡¯s sole heir Bai Yiming, the rest also from wealthy or noble backgrounds. It was just in time for the dishes to be served, and everyone moved to the floral dining hall under Gu Tingting¡¯s lead. Zhang Lin had never been to Prosperous Haoting before, and if not for hooking up with Bai Yiming, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to set foot in here. Looking at the dazzling decor, the priceless antiques, the soft imported wool carpets, and the lustrous white jade tables, and then at these young elites, Zhang Lin felt her desire and vanity growing stronger. She was determined to seize this opportunity to enter high society and stand above others! Everyone took their seats with birthday girl Gu Tingting in the place of honor, An Yiqing and Gu Yelin sitting to her left and right, while the others sat in order. ¡°Tingting, what¡¯s ¡®Honey Nectar¡¯?¡± Shen Feng from the Shen Family twins, a bold and feisty girl, was always curious about anything unusual. ¡°Honey Nectar¡¯ is a drink concocted by Qingqing. It¡¯s especially good for the skin. During military training, Qingqing shared some with us, haha, and while everyone else got tanned like black monkeys, our skin got even better,¡± Gu Tingting boasted proudly, pinching her cheek with her hand. ¡°Tsk!¡± Zhang Lin let out a disdainful snort, then faked a smile at Gu Tingting, ¡°Miss Gu, you¡¯re still too young. The things you put on your face, well, they can¡¯t have questionable origins.¡± As she spoke, she threw a pointed look at An Yiqing. ¡°Whose donkey is braying? Too hard on the ears!¡± Before Gu Tingting could retort, the outspoken Shen Feng lost her patience. She glared at Zhang Lin with an accusatory stare. Zhang Lin bit her lip hard, knowing she couldn¡¯t afford to offend the Shen Family, she naturally shifted the blame onto An Yiqing in her heart. ¡°Hehe, Xiao Qing... umm, is what Tingting said true?¡± Shen Feng scratched her head and smiled sincerely at An Yiqing. An Yiqing nodded and offered a clear smile to the frank and straightforward girl. ¡°I concocted it when I was young. If you need it, I can give you a bottle. Friends of Tingting are my friends, too.¡± Shen Feng nodded excitedly, and Gu Tingting, feeling moved by this, clung to An Yiqing with teary eyes. ¡°Wuuwuu, Qingqing, you¡¯re too good to me!¡± An Yiqing looked at the teary-eyed Gu Tingting and chuckled as she patted her head, revealing a warm smile. She didn¡¯t have many friends, but she cherished the heartfelt sincerity she shared with each one. Gu Yelin saw An Yiqing¡¯s warm smile, but didn¡¯t miss the fleeting loneliness in her eyes. His heart ached slightly. Chapter 6 - 6 6 Getting to Know Each Other II (1) ?6: Chapter 6 Getting to Know Each Other II (1) 6: Chapter 6 Getting to Know Each Other II (1) Zhang Lin didn¡¯t like all the attention focused on An Yiqing, not even Bai Yiming¡¯s gaze. If that bitch made a fool of herself, Young Master Bai might lose interest in her. Tch! The An family of Xuandu City is the only notable household with the surname An among the Five Great Families, and it¡¯s well-known that the An family has no daughters. Seeing An Yiqing¡¯s ¡°poor¡± attire, Zhang Lin classified her as someone from an insignificant household. ¡°Miss An is so talented, may I inquire which family¡¯s daughter you are?¡± Zhang Lin pushed out her voluptuous chest, took a sip of red wine, and her eyes were full of smugness. Everyone present was from an Aristocratic family and had grown up in a world of scheming and manipulation; each one was a crafty individual. The woman brought by Young Master Bai was clearly one who coveted vanity, a fact clear to everyone. Bai Yiming, upon hearing her words, did not speak but the smile that had been constant on his lips was gone. He didn¡¯t like pets that made decisions on their own; this woman had stepped out of line. Gu Yelin¡¯s starry eyes darkened with warning as he glanced at Bai Yiming, ¡°Get your woman under control.¡± ¡°Miss Zhang flatters me. I am not the daughter of a wealthy family, orphaned and alone. It¡¯s only that my master taught me well from a young age. He always told me to rely on myself, otherwise, I¡¯d be no different from a parasite.¡± Just as Gu Tingting was about to retort, An Yiqing spoke. Her master had taught her since she was young; if someone offended her, she should retaliate. The woman in front of her, reeking of chemical products, was preventing her from enjoying her meal, and that was an offense. The few people in attendance silently applauded An Yiqing¡¯s clever retort. With neither arrogance nor obscenity, she effectively insulted Zhang Lin as an uneducated parasite. Even Gu Yelin¡¯s eyes held a trace of amusement, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted. This little woman turned out to be a biting rabbit; it seemed he had worried for nothing. But... orphaned and alone? Gu Yelin felt a twinge in his heart. He would need to ask Gu Tingting about this little woman¡¯s situation when he got home. And Bai Yiming was all smiles, his handsome, bewitching face beaming with joy; this beauty was quite interesting. Zhang Lin, observing the expressions of those present and looking at Bai Yiming¡¯s smiling handsome face, clenched her hands tightly under the table. She was no fool and heard the implication in An Yiqing¡¯s words all too clearly¡ªinsinuating that everything she had was due to men. Hmph, as expected, not as simple-minded as her appearance suggested, a bitch! If one were to speak of Zhang Lin, she was not a fool; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been introduced to Bai Yiming. But to call her smart was an overstatement. Which of the people in attendance could she afford to offend? By ridiculing her friend at Gu Tingting¡¯s birthday party, it could only be said this woman¡¯s jealousy blinded all reason. The moment she opened her mouth to attack An Yiqing, she had said her final goodbye to the high society she desperately longed for. ¡°Hehe, Miss An truly has a way with words. However, I feel that what one earns through hard work is never as good as what is given by the affection of others, don¡¯t you think, Miss An?¡± Zhang Lin steadied her mind and asked more sharply. Those seated all frowned in displeasure. One comment at Gu Tingting¡¯s birthday party might have been enough, but why was this woman getting carried away? An Yiqing nodded as if in agreement, a warm smile on her fair, petite face, ¡°Thinking about it, you¡¯re right. Miss Zhang is indeed a stunning beauty and a great star. May the affection you receive last forever.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Gu Tingting was the first to burst out laughing, followed by Ruan Xue who laughed heartily. Then, as if catching the contagion, everyone else laughed, and Shen Feng exaggeratedly gave An Yiqing a thumbs-up. Qingqing was truly a master at insulting people! In only a few sentences, she had reduced that woman to nothing. Having relations in exchange for benefits can only last so long. May the affection you receive not be like that of ancient concubines kept in the harem, who could be cast into the cold palace at any moment. Chapter 7 - 7 7 Getting to Know Each Other (2) ?7: Chapter 7 Getting to Know Each Other (2) 7: Chapter 7 Getting to Know Each Other (2) The outcome was drastically different from what Zhang Lin had imagined. It was supposed to be that vixen who made a fool of herself, so why did she end up being the one mocked by these influential figures? The scant shreds of rationale Zhang Lin was clinging to had crumbled under everyone¡¯s disdainful taunts; she suddenly stood up, pointing furiously at An Yiqing¡¯s innocent beauty. ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°Darling, you¡¯ve crossed the line!¡± Zhang Lin hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Gu Yelin and Bai Yiming both cut in. Gu Yelin cast a chilling glance at Zhang Lin, his formidable presence so crushing that she struggled to breathe, while Bai Yiming¡¯s lips curled in a smile but his eyes were brimming with indifference. Witnessing their reactions, Zhang Lin shuddered, as if doused with a bucket of ice water, feeling the chill from head to toe. It was over! She was utterly ruined! She had actually insulted one of the Gu family daughter¡¯s friends at her gathering. Young Master Bai would never forgive her! Zhang Lin¡¯s sense had returned at last, and she finally understood what she was doing. She slumped defeatedly into the expensive chair, the delicacies before her as tasteless as wax. Uh... time to enjoy the meal properly. An Yiqing felt quite pleased at the moment. If Zhang Lin knew that she was less important to An Yiqing than a meal, who knows if she would go mad? Gu Tingting looked at Gu Yelin in surprise, then at Bai Yiming, and finally at An Yiqing. Tsk tsk, Third Young Master Gu and Young Master Bai actually spoke up for Qingqing¡ªit seemed like a good show was on! The thoughts of those present varied; some thoroughly enjoyed the meal, while others saw their wretched fates unfold. Although this gathering was slightly disrupted by Zhang Lin¡¯s foolishness, the overall atmosphere was still rather pleasant, thanks to An Yiqing¡¯s sharp retort and Gu Tingting¡¯s warm hospitality. By the time the party ended, it was past nine at night. The city of Xuandu was just beginning to come alive as the night deepened. A variety of luxury cars were parked in front of Prosperous Haoting, their brilliant lights shining even more resplendently against the night, highlighting the club¡¯s opulent splendor. ¡°Qingqing, it¡¯s late; you shouldn¡¯t go back to the dormitory. Stay with me for the night,¡± Gu Tingting said, after seeing everyone off. Concerned that it was too dangerous for An Yiqing to go back alone, she tried to get her to come to her place. An Yiqing shook her head, ¡°No need, I don¡¯t want to trouble your family. You know I¡¯ve had training! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll message you when I get to school.¡± Seeing that An Yiqing had made up her mind, Gu Tingting could only nod helplessly. It was a pity; she had wanted Qingqing to visit her house. At that moment, a sports car slowly pulled up to the entrance of Prosperous Haoting¡ªan Aston Martin One-77, limited to 77 units worldwide, with only five in Xuandu. The silver-gray dark body and the bold, steady lines became even more enchanting under the flickering neon lights. The window rolled down gradually, revealing Gu Yelin¡¯s bewitching and domineering face. ¡°Grandfather asked me to drive you back to the mansion, get in.¡± Upon hearing this, Gu Tingting¡¯s expression turned sour; not everyone could handle being in the same car as Third Brother, right? Could she even say ¡°no¡±? An Yiqing couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little at Gu Tingting¡¯s pitiful look. ¡°Get in the car. I¡¯ll take a cab back.¡± ¡°Then message me once you get to school, okay?¡± Gu Tingting repeated, then got into the car. Gu Yelin glanced at An Yiqing outside the car, his eyes darkening. There were some things he needed to think over. With everyone gone, only An Yiqing, Bai Yiming, and Zhang Lin were left at the club¡¯s entrance. Bai Yiming smiled coquettishly, ¡°Beauty, looking forward to seeing you again.¡± After that, he turned and got into the sports car. Zhang Lin hurriedly took the passenger seat, not forgetting to give An Yiqing a fierce glare. Chapter 8 - 8 8 Getting to Know Each Other II (3) ?8: Chapter 8 Getting to Know Each Other II (3) 8: Chapter 8 Getting to Know Each Other II (3) Bai Yiming didn¡¯t start the sports car. He sat quietly inside, not blaming Zhang Lin for her actions today. Instead, he quietly watched An Yiqing¡¯s retreating figure through the window, her slender and graceful silhouette, her fresh and ethereal aura. He saw a waiter help her hail a taxi, An Yiqing smiled in thanks and then disappeared from his sight. Zhang Lin, feeling somewhat guilty about today¡¯s incident, couldn¡¯t sit still as she watched Bai Yiming stare motionlessly at An Yiqing¡¯s retreating figure, lost in thought. ¡°Young Master Bai...¡± ¡°I only like obedient pets.¡± Before Zhang Lin could finish speaking, she heard Bai Yiming¡¯s cold and merciless voice. Her face turned pale in an instant, Young Master Bai was truly angry. ¡°Young Master Bai, listen to me...¡± Zhang Lin hurriedly tried to explain, grasping Bai Yiming¡¯s arm. Before she could finish, Bai Yiming shook off her hand, pulled out a checkbook from his pocket, and wrote with a flourish. ¡°This is one million. I never shortchange women. You¡¯re only worth this much. Get out of the car.¡± His long, powerful fingers flung the check at Zhang Lin. Zhang Lin was completely panicked. She had finally managed to get close to Bai Yiming and was on the verge of living a life above the rest. How could she accept such an outcome! Zhang Lin wanted to explain, but Bai Yiming was already losing his patience. ¡°Do you want to get out of the car yourself, or shall I have someone drag you out?¡± The words from his sensuous, thin lips were so cold and merciless. Like Gu Yelin, Bai Yiming was a cold-blooded man. Zhang Lin didn¡¯t dare to say anything more, knowing that Bai Yiming always meant what he said. If she were dragged out in front of Prosperous Haoting¡¯s entrance, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose face! Zhang Lin hastily got out of the car, her face deathly pale, watching as Bai Yiming¡¯s Lamborghini sped away. Clutching the check in her hand, her made-up face was filled with resentment and hatred. An Yiqing! I won¡¯t let you off! ** The silver-black Aston Martin One-77 raced down the highway at high speed, its dominating body looking even more mysterious and low-key under the cover of the night. Gu Tingting sat stiffly in the passenger seat, muttering to herself, would it be better to jump out of the car and break an arm just to get herself into the hospital than to sit with Third Brother? His aura was simply too strong, unbearable! ¡°Gu Tingting.¡± Gu Tingting was internally debating whether jumping out would result in a broken arm or leg when she heard Gu Yelin call her name. Those three simple words, why did they sound from Third Brother like there was a ¡°I¡¯ll kill you at any moment¡± vibe? Damn, it was too scary! ¡°Yes!¡± Gu Tingting sat up straight, responding loudly. ¡°Tell me about An Yiqing.¡± His sensuous lips barely moved, his handsomely lifted eyes staring straight ahead, his fingers long, strong, and pale on the steering wheel. ¡°What?¡± Gu Tingting¡¯s mouth twitched, her eyes widening, as if she had heard something unbelievable. There must be something wrong with her ears. Was Third Brother in heat?! Although Gu Tingting appeared shocked, deep down she laughed triumphantly. Hahaha! Finally, someone could handle Third Young Master Gu! So refreshing! Gu Yelin seemed dissatisfied with Gu Tingting¡¯s response, his deep, cold eyes giving her a glance full of displeasure. Gu Tingting felt a chill from head to toe under that glance from Gu Yelin. Wuu~~ so scary~ ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk!¡± Qingqing, I¡¯m sorry, I am really compelled, wuu~~ Gu Yelin listened to Gu Tingting spill the beans rapidly. An orphan with unknown parents, raised by a master, and living in Wuling Village, Qingning City, Gu Yelin thoughtfully pondered the information he had received from Gu Tingting. Until Gu Tingting had nothing more to say, she cautiously ventured, ¡°Third Brother... you couldn¡¯t be falling for Qingqing, could you?...¡± A flicker passed through Gu Yelin¡¯s eyes, but he didn¡¯t answer Gu Tingting¡¯s question. He handed his phone to Gu Tingting, ¡°Her phone number.¡± Gu Tingting frantically typed in An Yiqing¡¯s number, murmuring apologies internally. Qingqing, I¡¯m sorry, in the next life I will surely be your ox and horse... Chapter 9 - 9 9 Proud Tang Lin (1) ?9: Chapter 9 Proud Tang Lin (1) 9: Chapter 9 Proud Tang Lin (1) An Yiqing didn¡¯t ask the taxi to drive to the school gate; instead, she got off at a bus stop near the school. The nights were still quite warm in October, but it was a lot better than during the day. Since Xuan University didn¡¯t have a curfew, the area near the school was still bustling even at this late hour. Various specialty shops, snack stalls emitting delicious scents, and students selling all sorts of trinkets were all lively under the night sky, joy evident on the faces of these young men and women. An Yiqing walked alone on the street, her white figure graceful and slender, always attracting the occasional glances from the opposite sex. Having been in Xuandu City for over a month, she had gradually adapted to life here. These days, she was attending classes with friends, living a normal and peaceful life. But she knew such days wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Her master had given her a peaceful and happy childhood, and now it was her turn to carve out her own place in the world for herself and her master. There was much to do, and before coming to Xuandu City, she had already discussed with her master the plan to restore Medicine Sect to the world stage. The greatness of Medicine Sect was her master¡¯s dream and her goal. If she used the title of being Ye Chenghong¡¯s disciple, others might indeed show her some respect. However, An Yiqing had her own considerations; relying on the protection of elders wouldn¡¯t last forever, and she needed to fight for her own prestige! Next, it was time to start implementing her plan to open a company. Antique jades and medicine¡ªher plan was gradually taking shape. She wasn¡¯t indifferent to everything, she just felt that those weren¡¯t the main themes of life. She cared about her master, her friends, her cherished Medical Arts, and, well, she cared about good food too. She didn¡¯t like bullying others, but she wanted to become strong so no one could bully her. Yep, that was it. An Yiqing¡¯s thoughts began to drift, from Medicine Sect to friends, and from friends to the delicious food she had eaten today at Prosperous Haoting, then, well, it was time to eat stinky tofu... The stinky tofu from Aunt Zhou¡¯s stand near the school was famous far and wide, and An Yiqing was very fond of it. Even though street stalls weren¡¯t the most hygienic, it was quite enjoyable to eat there once in a while. ¡°Xiao Qing is here! It¡¯s a bit late today!¡± Aunt Zhou spotted An Yiqing from a distance. A girl so outstanding and beautiful was noticeable wherever she went. Due to An Yiqing¡¯s influence, all her dorm mates had become foodies. They had eaten their way through the snack street beside the school during the month since school started. The three girls were all beautiful and had good personalities, and many of the stall owners remembered them. ¡°Hmm. Went out for a gathering today, Tingting¡¯s birthday. It¡¯s a bit late coming back. Aunt Zhou, could you please give me a serving of stinky tofu?¡± An Yiqing chatted with Aunt Zhou while smiling and found a spot to sit down. Aunt Zhou cheerfully responded and soon, a small bowl of piping hot stinky tofu was ready. An Yiqing sat at a nearby table, savoring the crispy outside and tender inside of the stinky tofu, her eyes full of satisfaction. Suddenly, she paused, then took out her phone to check the time. Hmm, she should call Tingting to let her know she¡¯s safe. The Gu Family Mansion was in the military compound, quite distant from the Prosperous Haoting in Xishan District. So when Gu Tingting¡¯s phone rang, she and Gu Yelin were still on the road. ¡°Qingqing, have you arrived?¡± Gu Tingting glanced at Gu Yelin before answering the phone. ¡°Yep, I¡¯m at Aunt Zhou¡¯s eating stinky tofu, and I¡¯ll head back once I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Look at you, Qingqing, eating stinky tofu without me! I don¡¯t care, you¡¯re treating me to it on Monday when we go back to school!¡± Gu Tingting thought about Aunt Zhou¡¯s stinky tofu and salivated. ¡°Hehe, sure. Hurry back, and I¡¯ll take you there.¡± The sound of An Yiqing¡¯s pleasant laughter came through the receiver. The car was very quiet, so the sound reached Gu Yelin¡¯s ears, and he could imagine her smiling warmly, her eyes brimming with warmth, which softened his gaze unconsciously. Chapter 10 - 10 10 Proud Tang Lin (2) ?10: Chapter 10 Proud Tang Lin (2) 10: Chapter 10 Proud Tang Lin (2) Gu Tingting chatted with An Yiqing for a while, and after instructing her to return to the dormitory after eating, she hung up the phone. ¡°What else does she like to eat?¡± Hearing Gu Yelin¡¯s slightly gentle question, Gu Tingting¡¯s smile had just faded when her mouth corners twitched back into place. Master Gu! You¡¯re not my brother, you¡¯re my master! Can you not be so frightening! That¡¯s so scary! An Yiqing finished the stinky tofu and, as she promised Gu Tingting, she quickly returned to the dormitory. She tidied up briefly, changed into a nightgown, and then began to read while leaning against the headboard of her bed. The night was quiet, with an occasional breeze blowing through the curtains, gently touching the beautiful woman¡¯s face, bringing with it a burst of fragrance. ** After dropping Gu Tingting off at the mansion, Gu Yelin returned to the suburban villa without heeding the butler¡¯s request to stay. This was a place where Gu Yelin stayed alone, and if it were to be called ¡°home,¡± it lacked the vitality and warmth a home should have. The interior design of the house was much like Gu Yelin himself: clean lines, harsh in black and white, understated yet luxurious, but missing that hint of softness. Gu Yelin took a shower and put on a black silk robe. His dense hair, having just been washed, lacked the cold rigidity of daytime but gained a messy, carefree beauty. Gu Yelin loosely tied the belt of his robe, revealing a sexy and toned chest. Drops of water from his recent shower still clung to his body, creating a trail of enchantment as they slipped over his chest with each of his movements. He went to the bar and poured himself a glass of red wine. His thin lips looked even more seductive and alluring against the blood-red wine. His Adam¡¯s apple quivered slightly with a simple swallow, a movement that was provocatively suggestive. Gu Yelin sat on the tall stool, lost in thought as he recalled his abnormal behavior that day. This was a loss of control he had never experienced in his 27 years. Although he hadn¡¯t been with a woman, he wasn¡¯t ignorant of love. Perhaps his feelings for An Yiqing hadn¡¯t reached the level of love yet, but from the moment he saw An Yiqing¡¯s silhouette that evening, his heart seemed to tell him, she was the one. If it was just one night, why was he so certain that An Yiqing was the one for him for life? He wasn¡¯t sure himself. But sometimes, with some people, it takes just one look, and it lasts a lifetime. It was fate, unexpectedly, that this little woman turned out to be Tingting¡¯s best friend, making things much easier. He needed to think of a perfect plan to capture her; after all, it was best to keep the little white rabbit close and raise it himself. Having figured everything out, Gu Yelin downed the glass of wine, his dark eyes glittering with determination to succeed. ** Sunday morning An Yiqing had developed the habit of getting up early to exercise over the years due to practicing ancient martial arts. She still remembered standing on the plum blossom stakes as a child, falling nose first onto the ice-cold, smooth surface, bruising her face but eventually mastering the fighting skills she had now. After freshening up, An Yiqing changed into a white tracksuit and tied her hair up in a simple ponytail. Her petite face was delicate, and the ponytail made her look even more youthful and vibrant. The Xuan University sports field was busy with people exercising every morning, with students and local residents alike. The sunshine was pleasant today, and An Yiqing stretched her arms and legs a bit before slowly starting to jog around the plastic track. ... ¡°Were you really oblivious or just pretending?¡± An awkward male voice rose behind An Yiqing, and upon hearing the slightly aggrieved tone, she couldn¡¯t help but secretly smile. Not long after she started her run, she had sensed someone following her. The only person at Xuan University childish enough to do such a thing was her one and only male friend, Tang Lin, who always acted awkward and tsundere. Intentionally, An Yiqing didn¡¯t look back, and sure enough, after two laps, the breathing behind her began to falter. Born in Xuandu City, Tang Lin chose to live in the dormitory for independence. That morning, on a whim, he came to the field for a run and spotted An Yiqing from a distance. With her graceful and slim silhouette, no one else at Xuan University could be mistaken for her. He had initially planned to call out to An Yiqing but once behind her, he just silently followed. He was indeed childish; he just wanted to see how long it would take for An Yiqing to notice him. An Yiqing slowly came to a stop and turned around leisurely, her eyes twinkling with mirth. ¡°Hmm, I always thought it was a tsundere dog following me,¡± An Yiqing teased, arching her eyebrows playfully. At her words, Tang Lin¡¯s face turned beet red, and although he glared at the mischievous girl in front of him and opened his mouth, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything harsh. ¡°Hmph! To compensate for my loss, you¡¯re treating me to lunch!¡± Tang Lin turned away awkwardly, giving An Yiqing the opportunity to invite him for a meal. An Yiqing, fully aware of the boy¡¯s tsundere ways, quickly nodded in agreement, ¡°Alright, whatever you want to eat, I¡¯ll treat, guaranteeing your satisfaction.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Tang Lin¡¯s ears tinged red, a triumphant smile on his lips. If Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting were here, they would definitely scream at An Yiqing for being a fool. Couldn¡¯t she see such obvious affection, only she, the beauty with sluggish senses, wouldn¡¯t get it?! Having decided on their lunch plans, An Yiqing and Tang Lin walked and chatted on the field. Tang Lin gazed at An Yiqing, the morning sunlight casting a holy glow upon her as if coating her in sanctity; he was slightly spellbound, fearing that such a wonderful person might leave at any moment. Tang Lin steadied his emotions and began to act tsundere again, causing An Yiqing to listen with a smile as if dealing with a grumpy younger brother. As An Yiqing and Tang Lin were chatting, they noticed many people hurrying in the same direction, faintly hearing shouts of ¡°Quick, call an ambulance¡±. Exchanging a glance, they stopped a student rushing by to ask what had happened. It turned out that an old man had fainted in the pavilion, and his condition seemed serious; the people around him were hesitant to move him. Upon hearing this, An Yiqing sprinted towards the crowd, with Tang Lin quickly at her heels. Around the pavilion was a large crowd, some genuinely anxious, others just onlookers. An Yiqing, using her agility, squeezed to the forefront to see the school doctor attending to an elderly man dressed in a white robe. He appeared to be an early riser out for exercise but had collapsed here for some reason. An Yiqing carefully examined the old man¡¯s complexion and her expression turned solemn. Chapter 11 - 11 11 Rescue ?11: Chapter 11 Rescue 11: Chapter 11 Rescue An Yiqing took a few steps to the old man¡¯s side and squatted down to feel his pulse when suddenly a strong hand grasped her arm, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± An Yiqing looked up at the man who asked coldly. He was around forty-five years old, with a square face, dressed in a black suit, his eyes bright and spirited, his presence robust, clearly an Ancient Martial Arts Expert! An Yiqing¡¯s heart trembled slightly, but her expression did not show it. It seemed the elder¡¯s status was not ordinary. However, no matter what the man¡¯s status was, her goal was to heal and save people. ¡°I want to take his pulse,¡± An Yiqing said calmly. The man in the black suit visibly paused; he looked closely at the young girl in front of him. She was very young, about eighteen or nineteen years old, and apart from her exceptional appearance and temperament, he really couldn¡¯t tell that she was skilled in the Medical Arts. An Yiqing saw that the man in the black suit obviously didn¡¯t plan to trust her. At the same time, a school doctor also spoke up, ¡°Student, it¡¯s good that you want to save a life, but you can¡¯t be blindly arrogant.¡± The school doctor really didn¡¯t believe a student could treat a patient; even he, a top graduate of the medical department, wouldn¡¯t dare to make a rash guess about the elderly man¡¯s condition and insisted he must be taken to the hospital for treatment. An Yiqing glanced at the school doctor and the man in the black suit, her cherry lips barely opening, ¡°This elder has HP myocardial infarction, and it looks like he has been sick for five or six years. Although he has controlled it with medication, it treats only the symptoms, not the cause. I think he must have had a recurrence in the past two months, right? His current condition is very dangerous, and it¡¯s too late even if the ambulance arrives now. You have no choice but to let me try.¡± The man in the black suit¡¯s expression slowly changed from calm to surprised, then to horrified. Who exactly was this girl? She was able to diagnose the old man¡¯s illness without even taking his pulse! As he listened to An Yiqing¡¯s explanation, his face showed difficulty. What should he do? Should he really put the old master in the hands of this girl? His thoughts flashed in an instant, and the man in black made up his mind. Clenching his teeth, he said word by word, ¡°If you cure the old master, I will surely reward you handsomely. But if something goes wrong with the old master, I will not let you off!¡± An Yiqing paid no mind to the man¡¯s threats. Her gaze was clear and unclouded, her cherry lips parted lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I fail, you can have my life!¡± The man in the black suit looked at An Yiqing, shocked, as if amazed by the young girl¡¯s confidence. ¡°Xiao Qing...¡± Tang Lin, who had been following An Yiqing, was a bit worried. ¡°Trust me,¡± An Yiqing reassured with a comforting smile, her eyes brimming with captivating confidence. Her fingers lightly rested on the old man¡¯s pulse for a moment, then she turned to the school doctor and asked, ¡°Do you have a Silver Needle?¡± Since she was out for a morning run, she was dressed in simple casual clothes, and she had not brought her own Silver Needles with her. The school doctor had been stunned when An Yiqing made her bold statement, and upon hearing the girl¡¯s question, he took out a Silver Needle from his carried medicine box with a complex look in his eyes and handed it to An Yiqing. An Yiqing unfolded the needle pack, pulled out a Silver Needle of moderate length to examine it- well, it wasn¡¯t as good as her own, but it would do. The man in the black suit narrowed his eyes when he saw An Yiqing take out the Silver Needle. He opened his mouth but said nothing. ... As time passed by, second by second, the expressions of those surrounding, including the man in black and the school doctor, shifted from disbelief to amazement. Before their eyes, the ordinary silver needles in An Yiqing¡¯s delicate hands seemed divinely guided, and the precision of her acupoints insertion left both the school doctor and the students of the Ancient Medicine department in awe. They watched the young girl, her expression serious and concentrated, her lips slightly pursed, her whole demeanor shifting from casual to increasingly sacred. The school doctor at Xuan University was particularly astounded. Teachers at Xuan University had true expertise, and this included him as the school doctor. He was more aware than anyone present of the depth of Ancient Medicine, and upon seeing the silver needles that An Yiqing had inserted moving without wind, his face looked as if he had seen a monster. After all, modern acupuncture always used electrical stimulation, and he had never seen this kind of needle movement without any external force like this girl had done! Everyone present held their breath, afraid of disturbing the girl¡¯s needlework. Tang Lin¡¯s expression was complex as he watched An Yiqing. He always knew she loved medical studies, but he never thought her Medical Arts could be so exquisite. Even though he was a layman, just by looking at the school doctor¡¯s expression, he could tell how advanced her skills were. She was even more exceptional than he had imagined. He used to think he was quite a match for her, but now, it seemed he was not worthy. As time slowly ticked away, the elderly man¡¯s originally cyanotic face and lips gradually regained their rosy color, and his breathing became more and more normal. An Yiqing removed the last silver needle and, unseen by the others, transmitted some special Vital energy to the elder, scrutinizing his meridians and consolidating his bodily functions. This was a special ability An Yiqing was born with. As a child, she often used this Vital energy to scrutinize the meridians of injured animals, and it wasn¡¯t until Ye Chenghong discovered her that she realized not everyone had this ability. By channeling the Vital energy through herself, An Yiqing could see many illnesses that were not apparent on the surface and could also fortify bodily functions. Ye Chenghong was shocked when he learned of An Yiqing¡¯s ability; his apprentice possessed such a formidable talent that combined with her understanding and dedication to the Medical Arts, would make her a force to be reckoned with in time. However, after the shock, Ye Chenghong warned her not to disclose this power to anyone¡ªdespite the protection of the Medicine Sect, it could still attract the malicious intent of others. Fortunately, An Yiqing was not one to boast. She was pleased to have another special ability but did not become arrogant because of it. After a long while, An Yiqing withdrew her Vital energy and slowly stood up. ¡°How is the old gentleman doing now?¡± the man in black asked anxiously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he will wake up in a moment.¡± As An Yiqing spoke, the man in black noticed the old man¡¯s eyelids twitch a few times before slowly opening his eyes. He immediately rejoiced, gently asking, ¡°Old master, how do you feel?¡± The old man lying on the ground opened his eyes, his tiger-like gaze still commanding respect even when sick. After reflecting for a moment, he knew he must have had another attack. However, why did his chest feel so clear now when it usually felt so stuffy? This was a significant improvement. ¡°Ah Cheng, help me up,¡± the old man said with a steady voice, although still weak. The man named Ah Cheng carefully helped the elder up, his expression excited. ¡°What happened?¡± The old man knew the severity of his condition well; in the past, every relapse meant he had to be rushed to the operating room. He was sure he couldn¡¯t have woken up on his own without external assistance. ¡°Old master, this young lady saved you,¡± Ah Cheng turned to introduce An Yiqing but found she had already disappeared from view. An Yiqing had quietly slipped away while everyone¡¯s attention was elsewhere. Ah Cheng had no choice but to recount everything to the elder. After pondering for a moment, the elder¡¯s resonant voice commanded, ¡°Find her! We must find this young lady!¡± Chapter 12 - 12 12 An Yiqing Goes Viral (1) ?12: Chapter 12 An Yiqing Goes Viral (1) 12: Chapter 12 An Yiqing Goes Viral (1) An Yiqing was not a saint who did things without expecting anything in return. The reason she quietly left after the elderly awoke was twofold. First, if the person she had saved came from an ordinary family, An Yiqing felt it was better not to seek a reward for helping others. If the elder was very wealthy, then if he truly wanted to express his gratitude, he would naturally find a way to reach her. As for the second reason for leaving quietly... well, it was breakfast time in the canteen, and her favorite shrimp dumplings were on the menu today. If she didn¡¯t go now, there would be none left... So Qingqing, the main reason you left was actually because of the shrimp dumplings, wasn¡¯t it?... Tang Lin stared absentmindedly at the girl in front of him who was eating her shrimp dumplings with satisfaction, thinking that the canteen¡¯s dumplings must be a heavenly delicacy given her enjoyment. Hehe, maybe that¡¯s what this girl truly believed. After what had happened earlier, he had gained a deeper understanding of her. Although she might appear aloof and slow to react, she was also intelligent and quick-witted. And though indifferent, she wasn¡¯t ignorant of the ways of the world. She wasn¡¯t incapable of anger, perhaps in her heart, she simply did not take the petty schemes of others seriously. Tang Lin bitterly smiled within, originally thinking that he was well-suited for her, but realizing now that she had long outstripped him by a long mile. The girl in front of him naturally appeared slow, and now it seemed his hopes were even more remote. Well, better not to force it. Being cared for by her as a friend was actually quite a blessing. After having breakfast, An Yiqing and Tang Lin returned to their dormitory. She did not pay much attention to the morning¡¯s events, as treating and saving people was a common occurrence for her. However, for those who had witnessed the event, it was truly no small matter. Fueled by incessant gossip and inquiries, the identity of the beautiful woman who treated the elder quickly surfaced ¨C she was none other than An Yiqing, the newly appointed Xuan University Campus Beauty! A freshly made post on the Xuan University campus forum was quickly stickied and shot to the top of the trending list. Many students who had just woken up from sleeping in saw the eye-catching headline: ¡°Xuan University¡¯s New Campus Beauty, An Yiqing, Saves Life on Campus ¨C Her Medical Arts So Advanced They Make the Experts Blush!¡± The post¡¯s author excitedly detailed the morning¡¯s events at the pavilion, including the dialogue between the man in black and An Yiqing, and vividly depicted her administering acupuncture, even attaching several photos taken with a smartphone at the scene. As soon as this post was published, it set off waves of excitement. Many were impressed by An Yiqing¡¯s commanding presence when she said, ¡°If I fail, I will give you my life.¡± Who could have imagined that the Xuan University Campus Beauty was not only beautiful but also so domineering and impressive? This was the true embodiment of beauty and brains, wasn¡¯t it? Did any other school have such a formidable and medically skilled Campus Beauty?! Of course, not everyone viewed the matter with a positive mindset. Some with more extreme thoughts, or those who were sour for not being able to taste the grapes, claimed it was all self-promotion by An Yiqing and that she must be crazy for fame. However, as more and more eyewitnesses of the event posted their accounts and confirmed the story, such mind-boggling comments were quickly overwhelmed by overwhelming adoration for the Campus Beauty. An Yiqing, of course, was unaware of the sensation she had caused at the school; at the moment, she was poring over the ¡°Compendium of Materia Medica,¡± a book she had read countless times before, beginning from the start once again. To her, each reading of this essence of wisdom condensed by ancient sages brought new insights and indescribable joy. ** Ruan Xue got up early today. Her brother, Ruan Hao, had a flight returning to Xuandu City at 7:30 in the morning. She had a close relationship with her brother, who had taken care of her since their parents passed away. Naturally, it fell to her as the loving younger sister to pick him up from the airport. Although it was still early, the airport was not very quiet. Ruan Xue quickly spotted Ruan Hao pushing his luggage. Standing at 1.85 meters with a sharp gaze and firm lips, he was clearly someone meticulous in his dealings. After picking him up, Ruan Xue ordered her brother to take a short rest in the car, insisting that she should drive. Ruan Hao wouldn¡¯t refuse his sister¡¯s kindness, of course. Although not tired, a little nap was a good chance to rest his eyes. Ruan Xue drove onto the highway, and with the silence in the car coupled with her decent driving skills, it wasn¡¯t long before Ruan Hao fell asleep. Chapter 13 - 13 13 An Yiqing Goes Viral (2) ?13: Chapter 13 An Yiqing Goes Viral (2) 13: Chapter 13 An Yiqing Goes Viral (2) The phone rang suddenly, and Ruan Hao, who had been asleep, furrowed his brow and snapped his eyes open, devoid of any trace of sleepiness. He listened to the phone call for a while, and his expression turned ugly. ¡°Drive to Mu Yun Group, take me there,¡± Ruan Hao ordered after some thought. He hadn¡¯t expected so much to have happened during the days he was away. As soon as Ruan Xue heard that, she swiftly turned the steering wheel and headed towards Mu Yun Group. Her brother was the general manager of Mu Yun Group and was always busy with a multitude of tasks. He had just gotten off the plane, and now he was about to get busy again. After dropping off Ruan Hao at his destination, Ruan Xue drove herself home. She had risen too early in the morning and planned to catch up on some sleep. Lying in bed, she grabbed her iPad intending to read something to feel sleepy, but when she entered the school forum, she shot up in bed, shocked. ¡°Xuan University¡¯s new Campus Beauty An Yiqing saves someone on campus, her medical arts so advanced they embarrass the experts!¡± Clicking on the post, she skimmed through it line by line, muttering, ¡°Damn! Qingqing did such an earth-shattering thing while I was away! So cool! Full of dominance, I like it!¡± Ruan Xue tossed the iPad aside, picked up her phone, and dialed An Yiqing¡¯s number. As An Yiqing was eating grapes and reading a book when Ruan Xue called her, she glanced at the phone and answered. Before she could even speak, Ruan Xue¡¯s excited voice erupted from the other end, ¡°Qingqing, you¡¯re doing great! I think you¡¯re starting to be as impressive as me, so imposing and powerful! Without Gu Tingting and me around, you actually pulled off such an incredible feat!¡± Blinking in confusion, An Yiqing waited for Ruan Xue to finish before asking, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Ruan Xue choked for a second, almost rolling her eyes. In her excitement, she forgot that An Yiqing, the stunningly oblivious beauty, never checked the forum, and probably wouldn¡¯t be one to sing her own praises about saving lives and treating the ill. ¡°Check out our school forum, you¡¯re the top headline. The Campus Beauty of Xuan University doing medical treatment and saving lives, beauty and talent in one! Qingqing, you¡¯ve made us in the dorm very proud. Later, I¡¯m going to post something titled ¡®My Roommate is the Campus Beauty¡¯! Such an eye-catching title will surely be a hit! I¡¯m going to reveal your measurements and the color of your underwear! I won¡¯t talk more now, I¡¯m off to post! Bye!¡± Not giving An Yiqing a chance to respond, Ruan Xue rapidly finished speaking and hung up. An Yiqing looked at the disconnected call, bemused. She wasn¡¯t worried Ruan Xue would actually reveal her measurements and underwear color, since Xiao Xue, despite her fiery temper, always acted appropriately. What made An Yiqing both amused and exasperated was Ruan Xue¡¯s impulsive nature. Hmm, the school forum? Alright, she¡¯d take a look. An Yiqing picked up her iPad, opened the school forum, looked at the glaring headline, then read the content of the post, and her head immediately buzzed. Wasn¡¯t this an exaggeration? She was almost portrayed as the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva! ...Alright, maybe it¡¯s better not to look, she thought to herself, lest she gets tempted to ascend to immortality... Well, that was An Yiqing¡¯s rather gloriously unfulfilled venture into the forum. Shen Family ¡°Brother! Come look! Hurry!¡± Shen Feng called out excitedly from in front of the computer. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Shen Long, hearing his sister¡¯s call, strolled over leisurely. Shen Feng grabbed Shen Long immediately, ¡°Check out the forum, Qingqing is the top news!¡± Shen Long, realizing what she meant, looked at the screen, his expression growing increasingly shocked. While Shen Feng might be hooting senselessly just because she liked An Yiqing¡¯s personality, Shen Long was much more rational than Shen Feng. He analyzed the situation quickly in his mind as he read. If he had thought An Yiqing was distinguished last night, today he elevated her to an entirely new level in his mind. Such a capable person, if not a friend, must at least be kept as a friendly contact, as it would be beneficial for both himself and his family. The Shen Family was also among the elite in Xuandu City. Old Master Shen had once been a subordinate of Old Master Gu Zhongyi. However, later he left the military to pursue business. Leveraging his prestige and ability, he had remarkably managed to develop Shen¡¯s into one of the top fifty strongest companies nationwide. Unfortunately, the second generation of the Shen Family was not as competent, and they gradually struggled to keep pace with the other top families. However, Old Master Shen was consoled by the fact that his grandchildren were far better than their father. He had now pinned all his hopes on Shen Long and Shen Feng. Shen Feng had a forthright personality, quite akin to a tomboy, and had aspired to become a soldier since her childhood. After finishing high school, she enrolled in the best military academy in Xuandu City. Old Master Shen, having a military background himself, fully supported Shen Feng¡¯s decision. Shen Long, born just a minute before Shen Feng, had a very different temperament. He was steady and reserved. Throughout high school, he was required by Old Master Shen to start handling various affairs of Shen¡¯s. His thoughts weren¡¯t as simple as Shen Feng¡¯s; he thought about things more deeply. But thankfully, Shen Long had a good heart, not allowing worldly wisdom to blind him to what was right. ** At noon, as agreed, An Yiqing invited Tang Lin to lunch. Knowing An Yiqing¡¯s love for gourmet food, he took her through streets and alleys to a well-known private restaurant. The establishment was small with an exquisitely delicate vintage decor, run by a middle-aged couple with kind faces. Rumor had it that the male proprietor was a descendant of a Qing Palace Imperial Chef. An Yiqing loved spicy food and had the fortune of a zit-free face, something Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting had once decried as heavenly injustice, before promptly taking advantage of several of An Yiqing¡¯s treat meals. An Yiqing and Tang Lin ordered some of the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes, enough to satisfy them both. After the food arrived, An Yiqing tasted it and nodded with stars in her eyes¡ªyum, delicious. Observing her content expression, Tang Lin¡¯s handsome mouth unconsciously curled into a smile. He knew Xiao Qing, the foodie, would enjoy this place, making all his searching worthwhile. Chapter 14 - 14 14 Third Young Master Gus Plan to Hunt the Rabbit (1) ?14: Chapter 14 Third Young Master Gu¡¯s Plan to Hunt the Rabbit (1) 14: Chapter 14 Third Young Master Gu¡¯s Plan to Hunt the Rabbit (1) While An Yiqing and Tang Lin were thoroughly enjoying their meal, the Gu Family Mansion was filled with chaos that even startled the neighboring Husky into howling for a long while. Humans are so terrifying, it wanted to go back to Dog Planet to find its mommy~/(¨Òo¨Ò)/~ ¡°Awoo, awoo, awoo! Oh my God! Qingqing is on fire! Ahhh! She¡¯s making me so proud!¡± Gu Tingting and Ruan Xue, both of whom were An Yiqing¡¯s close friends, echoed each other¡¯s sentiments. Gu Tingting was jumping excitedly up and down on the sofa, hugging her iPad and shouting with joy. ¡°What happened to An Yiqing?¡± Gu Yelin, who had just walked through the door, overheard Gu Tingting¡¯s rants and looked intrigued as he immediately asked. Upon hearing her Third Brother¡¯s icy voice, Gu Tingting¡¯s body momentarily froze in an odd position. She slowly turned her head, ¡°Ha... Haha, you¡¯re back, Third Brother? Tired? Thirsty?¡± Her face was the picture of flattery. Gu Yelin didn¡¯t respond to Gu Tingting¡¯s obsequious concern; instead, he patiently repeated his question, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Gu Tingting quickly handed her iPad to Gu Yelin, ¡°Third Brother, Qingqing is trending, haha, she¡¯s amazing! I can¡¯t take it, I need to call her right now!¡± Ignoring Gu Tingting, Gu Yelin looked at the post on the screen, his brows slightly raising with surprise in his eyes. Just how capable was this little woman? He had assumed she was a harmless little bunny, but she had surprised him both last night and today. He had been worrying about how to approach her, but now an opportunity had presented itself. ¡°Qingqing, I saw the post. You¡¯re incredible!¡± Gu Yelin mused as he overheard Gu Tingting¡¯s voice on the phone; he knew she was calling that little woman. Gu Tingting never imagined there would come a day when her Third Brother would eavesdrop so openly. Yes, there was Gu Yelin, blatantly eavesdropping on Gu Tingting¡¯s call, oh so blatantly indeed. ¡°What?! You¡¯re eating homemade dishes with Young Master Tang?! Tingting, you¡¯re so wicked, not inviting me when there¡¯s good food! I don¡¯t care, from now on, you must take me with you!¡± While Gu Tingting and Ruan Xue always referred to Tang Lin as Young Master Tang, which suited his status as the son of the police chief, he was quite low-profile, and only a small portion of people at Xuan University were aware of his identity. Unintentional on the speaker¡¯s part, but meaningful to the listener. Upon hearing this, Gu Yelin¡¯s starry eyes darkened. Hmm, very good, it seemed that the little woman had quite a number of admirers; he would have his hands full in the future. ¡°Who is Young Master Tang?¡± Just as Gu Tingting hung up the phone, she startled at the voice and almost dropped her phone. Damn it, if this kept up, she¡¯d live several years less, okay? Was Third Brother really not sent by the heavens to be the death of her? ¡°Young Master Tang¡¯s name is Tang Lin. He is Qingqing¡¯s only male friend at Xuan University,¡± Gu Tingting recovered and immediately rattled off the details. The more Gu Yelin listened, the lower his mood fell. It wasn¡¯t good for the little woman to have so many admirers; he needed to whisk the little bunny home soon. After finishing, Gu Tingting hesitated and looked at Gu Yelin with an awkward expression. ¡°Out with it!¡± ¡°Third Brother, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re jealous?¡± Gu Tingting boldly voiced the unbelievable thought in her mind. Gu Yelin¡¯s mouth twitched slightly at her words. Jealous? Alright, he admitted it. When he learned someone liked that little woman, he felt extremely uncomfortable, wishing he could shoot that Young Master Tang himself. Thankfully, the little woman was naturally obtuse, otherwise, with so many suitors, there would be no chance for him to make his move. But... if she was that clueless, did it mean that his journey to win her over wouldn¡¯t be easy? Gu Yelin thought it through and decided it was best to strike first. He said to Gu Tingting, who was still chattering endlessly, ¡°Pack your things, I¡¯ll drive you back to school. Bring more stuff, I¡¯ll help you move it to the dormitory.¡± Chapter 15 - 15 15 Third Young Master Gus Rabbit Hunting Plan (2) ?15: Chapter 15: Third Young Master Gu¡¯s Rabbit Hunting Plan (2) 15: Chapter 15: Third Young Master Gu¡¯s Rabbit Hunting Plan (2) ¡°Boom!... Crackle!¡± Gu Tingting felt as if a thunderbolt had struck right above her head, and her mouth twitched uncontrollably. What did she just hear? Since when had Third Brother become so kind-hearted? Not only was he offering to take her to school, but he was also volunteering to help her move her belongings. Could she tell Third Brother that she actually didn¡¯t have much to bring with her? Would that get her strangled? Alright... She knew that Third Brother¡¯s intention was not really on the wine, and she was just a minor assistant. Gu Yelin didn¡¯t pay any attention to Gu Tingting¡¯s thunderstruck expression. He thought for a moment, then continued, ¡°Leave your phone behind and just tell her it fell into the toilet and is being repaired. From now on, when I need to contact you, I¡¯ll call her directly. You figure out the best way to handle this. Once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll give you that custom Lamborghini sports car you¡¯ve always wanted.¡± To actually have to surrender her phone?! Gu Tingting was about to object when Gu Yelin tempted her with such a huge lure. What should she do? She was not the kind of person to betray a friendship for material gain, okay?! ... She would definitely show off around Xuandu City in that sports car once she got her hands on it! Just like that, An Yiqing was sold out by the wavering revolutionary, Gu Tingting, all for the sake of a sports car... In truth, Gu Tingting was not an unreasonable person; she genuinely thought that An Yiqing and her Third Brother were a great match. Third Brother was not someone without a sense of responsibility, and she wouldn¡¯t push Qingqing to be with Third Brother, but she would help create some opportunities for them. Gu Tingting acted with great vigor, stuffing all kinds of useful and useless things into a large suitcase, fully demonstrating the burst of strength humans can show when faced with temptation. She tried to lift the hefty pink suitcase¡ªalright, this weight would probably pose a challenge to an average guy. However, Gu Yelin casually tossed the suitcase into the car with one hand, leaving Gu Tingting¡¯s jaw almost hitting the floor... Third Brother¡¯s physical capabilities were not something mere mortals like them could compare with. On the way, Gu Tingting specifically called An Yiqing to make sure she was back in her dorm room, then instructed her not to go out, claiming that she had forgotten her dorm key... Well, admittedly, Tingting was a rather ¡°honest¡± kid. Because he had luggage, Gu Yelin swapped out for a plush yet understated Mercedes-Benz van. An hour later, Gu Yelin¡¯s flashy license plate number began attracting plenty of attention on the Xuan University campus. Damn, with such a domineering license plate number, how could the rest of us even scrape by? Isn¡¯t it infuriating how some people can make you feel inferior? Gu Yelin parked the car just downstairs of the dormitory, causing quite a commotion. With his height at 1.86 meters, broad shoulders and narrow waist, the handmade black suit perfectly showcased his potent and alluring physique. Coupled with his stunningly handsome appearance and a regal, majestic demeanor, the girls gathered under the dorm were left with their hearts racing uncontrollably¡ªso handsome! So perfect! As for Gu Tingting beside him, she was automatically ignored by the crowd... Gu Yelin, carrying the luggage as if no one else was present, walked ahead, while Gu Tingting followed behind, sobbing and sprinting to keep up. After today, she was sure to become the public enemy of all the girls on campus! She didn¡¯t want to die yet! It has to be said, being good-looking did have its advantages. Even the menopausal dorm supervisor let Gu Yelin in with ease, her eyes filled with stars as she watched his retreating figure. If only she were twenty or thirty years younger, she would definitely chase after him¡ªhe was so handsome! ¡°Which floor?¡± Gu Yelin didn¡¯t stop his steps, asking as he walked. ¡°Third... third floor...¡± Gu Tingting, trailing behind, was nearly exhausted from running. Third Brother, are you always this inconsiderate with your wife?! She wanted to protest! At the doorstep of dormitory 338, cough cough, yes, An Yiqing and her roommates lived in dorm 338, solidifying their title as three silly girls. When An Yiqing first saw this number, she was both amused and exasperated, and subsequently, they joked about it for quite a long while. Gu Yelin naturally wouldn¡¯t associate it with all those messy thoughts; he stood at the door, knocking in what seemed like a casual manner, yet a trace of nervousness was hidden in his dark eyes. The door was quickly opened from the inside, and a wave of enchanting fragrance mixed with a hint of mild medicinal scent hit him. When An Yiqing appeared in front of him, Gu Yelin felt even his breathing became difficult. Her casually draped black hair, her delicate bare-faced visage, and a white cotton camisole nightdress revealed her round, fair shoulders, her skin so delicate it seemed it might break upon a touch. An Yiqing was visibly startled to see the man before her¡ªof course she wouldn¡¯t forget him. Although they had met only once, he was the most intimidating and impressive man she had ever met. An Yiqing paused, then quickly came to her senses and ¡°bang,¡± swiftly shut the door. Um, she was still in her nightgown; she needed to change. Gu Yelin had imagined countless scenarios for their second meeting, but he never thought it would be so... spicy, cough, and also so awkward. He really didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry now. Gu Tingting was also frozen in place, smacking her forehead in frustration. Shoot, she had been careless; she really messed up! Hurriedly, Gu Tingting carefully pushed the door open a crack and squeezed in. ¡°Qingqing, I¡¯m so sorry, I forgot to tell you that my Third Brother brought me here. With so much stuff, I asked him to help carry it up, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t notify you,¡± Gu Tingting said pitifully with her hands clasped together. An Yiqing naturally wouldn¡¯t get mad over such a small matter. Her sleep dress was not revealing; she could even wear it for a stroll downstairs without issue. She just felt it was inappropriate to wear this in front of a guest. However, An Yiqing didn¡¯t realize that with ordinary guests, she would politely excuse herself to change clothes. But facing Gu Yelin, she impulsively closed the door like a willful child. After consoling Gu Tingting with a few words and seeing that she truly wasn¡¯t upset, Gu Tingting relaxed. When she opened the door and saw the ridiculously large suitcase in Gu Yelin¡¯s hand, the corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily, she asked, ¡°Tingting, are you planning to move your entire house here?¡± Gu Tingting¡¯s face was streaked with black lines, and she chuckled awkwardly: ¡°Hehe, my grandfather saw my pile of junk and wanted to throw them out for taking up space. I had no choice but to bring them to the dorm.¡± Well, it seemed the Gu Family Mansion didn¡¯t have room for such trivialities... An Yiqing didn¡¯t know the situation of the Gu Family Mansion; she really thought Old Master Gu wanted to throw away Gu Tingting¡¯s things. After thinking it over, she said, ¡°There¡¯s some space under my table; it should fit.¡± ¡°Ah! That¡¯s great! Then, uh, I¡¯ll head to the restroom, okay? You guys chat first! Third Brother, take a seat and rest, Qingqing, please entertain my Third Brother for me! I¡¯m off to the bathroom!¡± In order to give Gu Yelin a chance to be alone, Gu Tingting hastily ran off to the bathroom under the guise of needing to use it. She locked the door from the inside and carefully crouched by it, eavesdropping around the corner. Chapter 16 - 16 16 Mu Yun Society Meets Duan Tang (1) ?16: Chapter 16 Mu Yun Society Meets Duan Tang (1) 16: Chapter 16 Mu Yun Society Meets Duan Tang (1) An Yiqing looked at Gu Tingting hurrying off and casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Tingting?¡± ¡°She ate three boxes of ice cream last night and her stomach is upset today,¡± Gu Yelin answered without even a hint of embarrassment while disparaging his own sister. Overhearing Gu Yelin¡¯s response from the bathroom, Gu Tingting¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡®Third Brother, are you trying to tell me not to go out for a while?¡¯ Growing a bit worried upon hearing Gu Yelin, An Yiqing asked, ¡°Is Tingting okay? Should we take her to the hospital?¡± Qingqing, aren¡¯t you a renowned doctor yourself, have you forgotten? ¡°Ahem, no need, she¡¯s taken medicine already, it¡¯s not serious,¡± Gu Yelin coughed lightly, conveniently forgetting that this little lady knew medical arts. Fortunately, her concern completely overshadowed this fact. Reassured by Gu Yelin¡¯s words, An Yiqing let go of her worry. He was Tingting¡¯s Third Brother after all, so she trusted he couldn¡¯t be wrong. That said, Qingqing is sometimes just too nai?ve, isn¡¯t she? How could someone like Gu Yelin, who in order to pursue his wife could confiscate his sister¡¯s phone and cruelly lock her in the bathroom, possibly have a conscience? Hahaha! For a moment, An Yiqing felt a bit awkward, not really knowing how to interact with this enigmatic man before her. She always felt his gaze was too intense; whenever she met his eyes, they seemed excessively focused. Nevertheless, as Tingting¡¯s Third Brother, it would be impolite not to show concern. ¡°Ahem, please, sit down and rest for a bit,¡± An Yiqing said, voicing her concern softly after some thought. Gu Yelin very much appreciated An Yiqing¡¯s concern, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting and even his alluring peach blossom eyes softened a touch. Even though he knew it was only polite concern from her, it still made him very happy. An Yiqing could sense the man¡¯s mood suddenly improved. She might not know the reason, but happy beats cold any day. After Gu Yelin sat down, he saw An Yiqing looking around for something, which made him ask with a hint of curiosity, ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°Hmm, a cup,¡± An Yiqing figured Gu Yelin might be thirsty after moving stuff and wanted to find a new cup for him, but there were no disposable ones in the dormitory. She remembered buying a pair of Tutu kissing cups before, only using the pink one herself, and the cleaned blue one was always tucked away in the cabinet. Finding the cup and giving it a quick rinse, An Yiqing filled it with boiled water and handed it to Gu Yelin, ¡°I haven¡¯t used this cup before, have some water.¡± As Gu Yelin looked at the fair little hands presenting the cup, his heart filled with joy. This little lady knows how to care for him, which is nice. Taking the cup from An Yiqing¡¯s hands, his eyes subtly narrowed with happiness¡ªalthough he never paid attention to such things, he could tell it was a couples¡¯ cup. The bewitching black eyes glanced around the dormitory, and as expected, there was the other cup on An Yiqing¡¯s desk. His eyes moved ever so slightly, pleasure evident as he thought it was destined for him and the little lady to use the couples¡¯ cups. Gu Yelin was covert in his movements, and a somewhat embarrassed An Yiqing naturally didn¡¯t notice. She didn¡¯t consider herself antisocial, but she didn¡¯t know why she always felt unnatural around Gu Yelin. Our oblivious Qingqing won¡¯t figure this out right away; Third Young Master Gu still has some work to do. Gu Yelin obediently drank all the water in the cup, a rather ordinary action emboldened with an accidental sensual appeal by him, making even someone as indifferent as An Yiqing truly believe the man before her was just too perfect. After finishing the water, Gu Yelin thought for a moment before speaking in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ve used this cup now, let¡¯s not waste it; I¡¯ll take it back with me.¡± The cunning and sly Third Young Master Gu certainly wouldn¡¯t pass up a chance to use a couples¡¯ cup with An Yiqing. Chapter 17 - 17 17 Mu Yun Society Meets Duan Tang (2) ?17: Chapter 17 Mu Yun Society Meets Duan Tang (2) 17: Chapter 17 Mu Yun Society Meets Duan Tang (2) An Yiqing thought for a while, then nodded her head. Since the cup had already been used, let him take it back. Anyway, it was just a decoration here. As for the issue of the couple¡¯s cups, An Yiqing really had no idea at all! Hiding in the bathroom, Gu Tingting agonized over her phone. Twenty minutes had passed; should she go out now? Even a bad stomach shouldn¡¯t take this long! Gu Tingting pretentiously flushed the toilet and opened the door to step out. An Yiqing turned her head and upon seeing Gu Tingting, immediately approached to ask, ¡°Tingting, how are you feeling? Why were you gone for so long?¡± Gu Tingting inwardly cursed. How dared she come out? Once home, her Third Brother would probably slaughter her! While her heart cursed, her face was all smiles as Gu Tingting nonchalantly waved her hand: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not as serious as Third Brother said. I¡¯m fine now after taking some medicine.¡± Gu Yelin glanced at the time and knew that pursuing his wife was a delicate matter and shouldn¡¯t be rushed, so he stood up and looked at An Yiqing: ¡°I should go now. Tingting said she wants to go to Penglai Residence for dinner tonight, you should come too. I¡¯ll come to pick you both up.¡± With that, he took long strides and left the dormitory like a shooting star. ¡°Eh? No need, I...¡± ¡°Hey! Qingqing! Don¡¯t be polite with my Third Brother, we¡¯re all family here. If it¡¯s free, why not eat? Just consider it as keeping me company!¡± Before An Yiqing could refuse, Gu Tingting interrupted her and forcibly gave her the title of ¡°family.¡± An Yiqing watched as Gu Yelin¡¯s figure disappeared, and she heaved a helpless sigh. While An Yiqing wasn¡¯t looking, Gu Tingting touched her chin with her hand, her large almond eyes narrowing. Just now... why did Third Brother seem like he was afraid of rejection, fleeing in panic? ** Ruan Hao, with a dark expression, stepped into the executive elevator at Muyun Group after parting with Ruan Xue. On the top floor, Ruan Hao pushed open the door of the Chairman¡¯s office. In view was a purely classical Chinese decor, with furniture made of exquisitely crafted huanghuali wood, ink paintings by famous artists hanging on the walls, and wisps of smoke from the tea table, creating an aura of ancient elegance. Sitting on the delicate couch behind the tea table was a man in white. His refined and elegant appearance was calm and serene, his dark eyes filled with a gentle warmth. The smile on his lips was like a refreshing spring breeze, and the snow-white robe paired with his shoulder-length hair wasn¡¯t the least bit incongruous. This man seemed to have stepped out of a landscape painting, tranquil and peaceful, like the high mountains and flowing water. ¡°Family Head!¡± Ruan Hao addressed the man as he entered, with great respect. ¡°You¡¯ve had a long journey. Have a seat.¡± The man didn¡¯t look up, continuing to make tea, his skills deft. This seemingly warm man was named Duan Tang, and he held a terrifying status¡ªthe new Family Head of the Muyun Society! The Muyun Society was the emperor of the Xiluo Continent¡¯s underworld, with a history of over a hundred years. Two years prior, the former Family Head Duan Yuntian had handed over the society¡¯s affairs to his twenty-six-year-old grandson, Duan Tang. Duan Tang was warm and sunny, often in a white robe appearing scholarly like a dashing gentleman, but in reality, he was a ruthless figure. After his ascension, he swiftly purged the hidden dangers that had plagued Muyun Society for years, eliminating dissidents with ruthless tactics that terrified the underworld. Even Old Master Duan Yuntian often praised his grandson for surpassing him. Muyun Society¡¯s businesses were global, with Muyun Group being one of them. Duan Tang¡¯s parents were tragically killed when he was a child, and in his grief, his grandfather Duan Yuntian raised him. Thus, this grandfather was the only and most cherished relative in Duan Tang¡¯s life. This morning, Elder Duan had a relapse of his chronic condition during exercise and nearly didn¡¯t make it. By the time Duan Tang arrived, Elder Duan had already been admitted to the hospital. The doctors examining him were incredulous, saying that according to his condition he shouldn¡¯t have made it, yet somehow all of his vital functions were showing improvement. Elder Duan glanced at Ah Cheng, who then casually fobbed off the doctors with an excuse. Some things were better kept from the common folk. Duan Tang noticed the expressions of Elder Duan and Ah Cheng, his eyes flickering, but he didn¡¯t ask anything. After enjoining Elder Duan to rest well, he gently closed the door behind him. ¡°What happened?¡± The bodyguard Ah Cheng had been waiting outside the door. Ah Cheng reported everything that happened in the morning to Duan Tang in full detail. After hearing it, Duan Tang seemed unfazed, but his calm dark eyes hid surging tides. He was aware of Elder Duan¡¯s condition, which could fail at any moment, and all medical checkups showed declining functions. He had consulted many renowned experts, both domestic and international, only to find similar conclusions. Ah Cheng would not lie to him, and if that was the case, that girl must indeed be a Divine Doctor. After a moment of contemplation, Duan Tang ordered his followers: ¡°Search! Even if it means digging three feet into the ground, we must find this girl!¡± There was an undeniable decisiveness in his otherwise warm voice. Chapter 18 - 18 18 Alone Together (1) ?18: Chapter 18 Alone Together (1) 18: Chapter 18 Alone Together (1) Meanwhile, An Yiqing was blissfully unaware that she had been flagged as a person of interest. With Gu Tingting¡¯s chattiness resembling that of a jubilant magpie, An Yiqing¡¯s afternoon passed by without too much boredom. As the sun set, casting a warm yellow glow across the land, the outline of a crescent moon began to emerge on the horizon. Gu Yelin expertly drove to the dormitory building where An Yiqing resided, and picked up his phone to call the number he had memorized several times over. ¡°Hello?¡± A soft and melodious voice, akin to that of a oriole, gently flowed into Gu Yelin¡¯s ear, slowly warming his cold and profound black eyes. ¡°This is Gu Yelin.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± He could picture the little woman on the other end of the line, her surprised expression delightful, which made him smile with amusement. ¡°Tingting¡¯s phone is broken, and I couldn¡¯t contact her, so I had to look up your number. It¡¯s a bit presumptuous, sorry.¡± As if afraid of alarming the person on the other end, Gu Yelin rushed to explain. Gu Tingting, who was currently sitting beside An Yiqing eavesdropping on the phone conversation, almost bit her tongue when Gu Yelin apologized. When had Third Young Master Gu ever apologized? At last, she believed the saying ¡°All are equal before love.¡± Tsk tsk, the imposing Third Brother, so irresistible and mighty, had been utterly captivated by the muddleheaded Qingqing. Hahahaha! Heaven truly has eyes! An Yiqing, after hearing Gu Yelin¡¯s reasonable explanation, didn¡¯t think too much of it. ¡°Then I¡¯ll pass the phone to Tingting,¡± she said. Before she finished, she heard Gu Yelin say, ¡°No need, I¡¯m downstairs at your dormitory. Come down, let¡¯s go out to eat.¡± Hear that! Hear that! Third Young Master Gu had smoothly turned ¡°you guys come down¡± into ¡°you come down,¡± tsk tsk, such finesse. An Yiqing hung up the phone, feeling conflicted. Why did she have this nagging feeling that something was off? She glanced at Gu Tingting, sensing the answer right before her eyes, yet despite thinking it over, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what was amiss. Gu Tingting watched An Yiqing with a look of confusion on her face, inwardly snickering at Third Gu¡¯s skill at creating diversions. She hadn¡¯t expected the usually clever Qing to be so dense about matters of the heart. She had missed the clear flirtation entirely. Tsk tsk, every match has its master. But that left the question, between Qingqing and Third Gu, who had conquered whom? Gu Yelin sat in his car, pondering, and as he looked up, he saw An Yiqing and Gu Tingting emerge from the building. An Yiqing was dressed in a light blue tracksuit, accentuating her already slender waist to appear even more delicate. Her simple ponytail, her delicate face, and her large eyes twinkling, all bore a softly gentle demeanor. Gu Yelin immediately got out of the car, his eyes fixated on the approaching beauty. An Yiqing stood before Gu Yelin, giving him a nod with a smile. After spending twenty minutes together at noon, the distance between them had unknowingly closed significantly. Gu Tingting, giggling, hopped into the back seat, swiftly shutting the door behind her, leaving An Yiqing outside. ¡°Hee hee, Qingqing, why don¡¯t you sit in the front? I¡¯m sleepy, I¡¯ll take a nap.¡± She said. An Yiqing looked at Gu Tingting¡¯s beaming face with speechless exasperation. Before she could refuse, Gu Yelin, the gentleman, opened the passenger door, ¡°Get in.¡± Seeing this, An Yiqing no longer protested. She nodded in thanks and got into the car. Gu Yelin closed the door with ease and exchanged a knowing glance with Gu Tingting, signaling to proceed according to plan. Penglai Residence, a renowned high-end restaurant in Xuandu City, was always sought after for its delicious and exquisite cuisine. It was only someone like Gu Yelin who had the clout to have the owner reserve an exclusive private room specially for him. The restaurant¡¯s decor was exquisitely traditional, with a dominant theme of national style. Bright red lanterns hung high above beams, the intricate carving of the windows was precise, the dark red tablecloth embroidered with propitious cloud patterns was strikingly festive, and even the dinnerware used to serve the dishes was specially crafted. Chapter 19 - 19 19 Alone Together (2) ?19: Chapter 19 Alone Together (2) 19: Chapter 19 Alone Together (2) As soon as Gu Yelin and his party walked in, the manager of the restaurant came forward to greet them personally. He greeted them with respect and cast a discreet glance at An Yiqing, then quickly collected himself. He had met the Gu Family¡¯s daughter before, but the girl by Third Young Master Gu¡¯s side took him by surprise. Everyone knew that Third Young Master Gu was not interested in women. Many women had tried to get close to him because of their looks, only to be thrown out by him. Apart from the women of the Gu Family, he had never seen Third Young Master Gu bring any other woman to dine; this time was truly an eye-opener. However, the manager also knew what should be said and what should not. It¡¯s enough for him to know it in his mind. The manager led Gu Yelin and An Yiqing to a private room and then excused himself. The room had a dedicated ordering system, so there was no need for any outsiders to come in and disturb them. The private room specially reserved for Gu Yelin was not too big, with a main and a secondary hall and an elongated square table that could seat eight people. The table wasn¡¯t very large; given Gu Yelin¡¯s status, he didn¡¯t need to entertain people specially. This private room was just for gatherings with a few friends. An Yiqing and Gu Tingting sat together, and Gu Yelin sat opposite An Yiqing, a position that made it convenient for him to watch the little woman. ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± Gu Yelin watched An Yiqing and asked in a low voice. An Yiqing thought for a moment, picked up the tablet in front of her to take a look¡ªuh, what should she eat? She was a bit indecisive. Gu Yelin watched with amusement as An Yiqing struggled with her choices. Every expression of this little woman was so adorable; he really wanted to tuck her into his pocket and keep her hidden. On the other hand, Gu Tingting had no such hesitation and swiftly clicked on a bunch of dishes on the screen. Penglai Residence was famous for its delicious and exquisite cuisine. The portion sizes were small, and the dishes had the delicacy of Southern cuisine, so even if they ordered more, they wouldn¡¯t overeat. By then, An Yiqing had made up her mind and selected a few dishes on the screen. Gu Yelin watched from across the table, silently taking note in his heart. At that moment, Gu Tingting¡¯s gaze shifted, and she signaled Gu Yelin with a look. Hehe, the moment had arrived! Sure enough, Gu Yelin¡¯s phone rang shortly afterward. He looked at An Yiqing with an apologetic glance and took his phone out of the room. ¡°Answer the call; Grandpa is looking for you.¡± In less than a minute, Gu Yelin called Gu Tingting out, then returned to his seat. The service at Penglai Residence was fast, and in a short while, a waitress clad in a cheongsam brought the dishes to the table one after another. An Yiqing¡¯s delicate little nose twitched, and her normally calm and gentle eyes gradually brightened¡ªhm, the food smelled delicious. Gu Yelin kept an eye on An Yiqing¡¯s actions, and when he saw her wrinkle her nose like a little rabbit, his smile became more pronounced. It seemed he had chosen the right place; he knew the standard of Penglai Residence would impress her. But... if he himself learned this skill, would the little rabbit be even easier to catch? After the waitress served all the dishes, she withdrew from the room. The identity of the master of this private room was too prestigious, and they didn¡¯t dare to transgress. Right after the dishes were served, Gu Tingting came back in with her lips pouted and looking visibly upset. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing Gu Tingting¡¯s obvious displeasure, An Yiqing asked with concern. ¡°I¡¯m so mad! Hmph! Grandpa wants me to go back for a blind date now! He¡¯s already arranged everything! I hate it so much!¡± Gu Tingting¡¯s performance was full of fury; she was quite the professional. ¡°What should we do? Shall we leave?¡± An Yiqing didn¡¯t want Gu Tingting to be uncomfortable, especially since she was just accompanying Tingting. However, Gu Tingting waved her hand dismissively, ¡°No need to trouble yourself! You and Third Brother keep eating, I¡¯ll go first. We can¡¯t waste a whole table of dishes. Third Brother, you make sure to take good care of Qingqing, and then you must personally take her home. I¡¯m going to leave first, continue eating.¡± She then made a swift exit, knowing that the more she said, the larger the chance for slip-ups. Qingqing was very smart, so to avoid arousing suspicion, it was better to leave quickly. An Yiqing watched Gu Tingting¡¯s retreating figure, blinked her eyes, and wondered why she felt that Tingting was acting so unusual today... ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. Grandpa arranged blind dates for her a long time ago, and she¡¯s been putting them off. She probably can¡¯t dodge it this time.¡±, Third Young Master Gu was quite the actor himself and, of course, didn¡¯t want to waste this precious alone time on others. He needed to ensure that this little woman¡¯s attention was on him, ¡°The dishes here at Penglai Residence are excellent. Try some.¡± Normally indifferent, Third Young Master Gu was exceptionally attentive today, pouring tea and offering every convenience with great care. If he weren¡¯t afraid of moving too fast and scaring An Yiqing, he would have been happy to feed her the dishes himself. It must be said that An Yiqing was really rather slow on the uptake. With such a handsome and considerate man before her, any other woman would have been delighted beyond measure. Yet she barely reacted, although her impression of Gu Yelin was certainly improving. Hm, it turned out he was different from that flirtatious man from yesterday; he was quite nice. Chapter 20 - 20 20 Showing Ones Edge (1) ?20: Chapter 20 Showing One¡¯s Edge (1) 20: Chapter 20 Showing One¡¯s Edge (1) Both individuals were not much for talking, one warm and tranquil, the other icy and reticent. Although their characters were poles apart, the atmosphere at the dinner table was damnably harmonious. An Yiqing realized that Gu Yelin really knew a lot, in many aspects he could be described as learned and well-versed. Gu Yelin himself was quite surprised, this young woman was able to chip into any topic he brought up. This pleasantly astonished him. When he saw her the previous night, he was captivated by her clean and warm temperament, which was neither pretentious nor naive like a flower in a greenhouse. Her calm demeanor, the clever sharpness she demonstrated in her retort to Zhang Lin, successfully drew his attention. And today, he gained a deeper understanding of her. This young woman was like a treasure, continuously drawing him in to explore and uncover more. Thus, it has to be said, a good woman is like a renowned book, making those who read her long for more and unwilling to part with her. The meal relaxed both individuals greatly, and An Yiqing was very happy. She felt that she could discuss anything with this man and he would understand perfectly, giving her a strong desire to confide. Although he spoke little, every word was incisive and efficient. Apart from her master, this man was the most outstanding person she had encountered. The meal was not long, but it brought their hearts closer... Unconsciously, more than an hour had passed, and they were both nearly done eating. After resting for a while, they stood up and left the restaurant. Gu Yelin drove An Yiqing back to her dormitory and waited until he saw the lights of the dormitory turn on before leaving. The night was quiet and mysterious; some people were experiencing joy and warmth, while others were enduring unspeakable fears. ¡°Ahhh¡ª!¡± A piercing, twisted scream echoed in the empty office building, before slowly dissipating as if nothing had happened. ** The next morning, Muyun Group. In an antique room, a figure in white sat upright on a sofa. A few thin sheets of paper were spread out on the coffee table in front of him, bearing clear images of a girl with a warm and angelic smile, her eyes seemingly gleaming, pure and clear. That girl was An Yiqing! ¡°Family Head, there¡¯s very little information on An Yiqing. Even mobilizing all our resources, this is all we¡¯ve managed to gather,¡± Ruan Hao said with a touch of frustration. After all that searching, this An Yiqing turned out to be his own sister¡¯s friend, forcing him to remark how small the world was. Duan Tang¡¯s long and immaculate fingers tapped on the papers a few times. The girl was easy to find; the Xuan University forums were abuzz with her stories of rescuing someone. However... the information gathered was all about her few months at Xuan University, there was almost nothing on her upbringing. Seeing Duan Tang silent, Ruan Hao hesitated for a moment before he spoke up, ¡°Family Head, do we need to approach An Yiqing through Xiao Xue?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Duan Tang rose and walked to the window. His tall figure was elegant and refined, his exceptional appearance resembling that of a peerless nobleman, ¡°She is the savior of the old patriarch, we should seek her out openly and honestly. Don¡¯t let your sister know for now, let¡¯s keep Ruan Xue out of this matter.¡± Faced with this, Ruan Hao could only agree with a nod, ¡°Then when shall we...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, to the hospital, to meet the old patriarch¡¯s savior.¡± Before Ruan Hao could finish his sentence, Duan Tang had already answered his question. A warm smile filled his fair and handsome face. ** Xuan University Ruan Xue headed straight to the classroom after returning to school this morning, knowing An Yiqing and Gu Tingting would save her a seat. Upon seeing An Yiqing, Ruan Xue excitedly performed a ¡°Eagle Claw¡± move on her, nearly causing An Yiqing internal injury. For a long, grueling fifty minutes, An Yiqing endured the torture of Ruan Xue¡¯s and Gu Tingting¡¯s shrill voices, and by the time class was over, she felt faint. She stretched her hands forward, cupping them in a fist, and said pitifully, ¡°Mercy, noble heroines. I¡¯ll treat you both to something delicious tonight.¡± Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting shared a knowing glance and burst out laughing¡ªthe sight of Qingqing looking so defeated was utterly adorable! Chapter 21 - 21 21 Showing Ones Edge (2) ?21: Chapter 21 Showing One¡¯s Edge (2) 21: Chapter 21 Showing One¡¯s Edge (2) On Monday morning, their class only had one lesson. After class, the trio slung their bags over their shoulders and headed for the dormitory. All three of them were great beauties, especially An Yiqing who was a surefire head-turner. Along the way, the male students¡¯ eyes nearly popped out of their heads ¨C what a sight, beautiful scenery paired with beauties! Absolutely gorgeous! Before yesterday, although An Yiqing was known as the Xuan University Campus Beauty, she hadn¡¯t been widely recognized due to her low profile. However, after her sudden fame on the forum yesterday, she became the goddess in the hearts of Xuan University¡¯s male students. During the short ten-plus minute walk back to the dormitory, at least eight boys appeared, using dropped books, phones, and bags as excuses to catch the goddess¡¯s attention. Along the way, An Yiqing didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, while Gu Tingting and Ruan Xue laughed so hard their stomachs hurt. At the foot of the dormitory building, Duan Tang¡¯s graceful figure stood in the sunlight, hands behind his back, his amiable smile imbued with an imposing aura of authority that could not be ignored. Ruan Hao stood silently behind Duan Tang, and in the car beside him, Old Master Duan sat steadily in his seat, accompanied by the family doctor. As soon as An Yiqing and her friends entered their line of sight, Duan Tang noticed her right away. An Yiqing¡¯s ethereal grace was an eye-catcher, and Duan Tang believed he could spot her instantly even in a vast crowd. She was even more stunning than in her photos, and what drew people to her the most were those clear, pure eyes, brimming with elegant charm and not a trace of impurity. ¡°Miss An Yiqing,¡± unlike Gu Yelin¡¯s deep and magnetic voice, Duan Tang¡¯s voice was gentle, ethereal as mist-wrapped mountains, elusive and unfathomable. Hearing this, An Yiqing turned her head and felt as if she were gazing at an exquisite ink painting. The man in the painting slowly approached her, his smile refined: ¡°Hello, I am a relative of the old man you saved yesterday. I¡¯m extremely grateful to you for saving my grandfather¡¯s life.¡± Sincerity filled his kind eyes. Perhaps his approach had underlying motives, but his gratitude was heartfelt; he was truly thankful for her saving his grandfather. ¡°Brother? Duan Tang, brother? Why are you guys here?!¡± Ruan Xue, standing behind An Yiqing, was surprised to see Duan Tang and Ruan Hao, her brows arching dramatically. An Yiqing suddenly realized; the man behind her was the brother Ruan Xue often mentioned ¨C Ruan Hao. Ruan Xue hadn¡¯t hidden her identity, and An Yiqing was well aware of Ruan Hao¡¯s status within the Muyun Society. With that, the identity of the man in white in front of her was glaringly obvious. ¡°Family Head Duan need not give thanks; saving lives is a doctor¡¯s duty.¡± Duan Tang wasn¡¯t surprised that An Yiqing had recognized his identity, given this woman¡¯s intelligence. He hadn¡¯t intended to hide it. ¡°Hahaha! Young lady! The old man has to thank you for saving his life!¡± A hearty and rugged laugh sounded, and Old Master Duan, escorted by the doctor, walked over with stable steps. Seeing this, Duan Tang quickly walked over to support Old Master Duan, taking care not to neglect introducing him: ¡°This is my grandfather, Duan Yuntian.¡± An Yiqing naturally recognized the elder before her. Seeing that he looked much better than yesterday, she felt reassured. The people she saved had come back from Death¡¯s door, and even Yama Raja would have to give her some face ¨C with her expertise in the Medical Arts, she wouldn¡¯t disgrace herself. ¡°You overstate matters, Old Master Duan. Saving lives is a doctor¡¯s duty,¡± An Yiqing responded with a smile. ¡°Young lady, don¡¯t be modest! This old man knows his own body. Without you, I would have been keeping company with Yama Raja long ago.¡± At these words, An Yiqing smiled. It was said that the former Family Head of the Muyun Society, Duan Yuntian, was revered for his benevolence, and now it seemed the rumors were true. ¡°It appears that unless I take credit for this deed, Old Master Duan certainly won¡¯t let me off the hook,¡± An Yiqing joked. Duan Tang raised an eyebrow, amused. There weren¡¯t many who dared to joke with his grandfather, and none as young as she. This girl was indeed bold. Caught off guard by her remark, Old Master Duan burst into laughter, his robust laughter befitting of someone who had not just cheated death. ¡°Miss An, my grandfather and I will be hosting a thank-you banquet this Wednesday evening at Penglai Residence. Please be sure to attend,¡± Duan Tang said, revealing the purpose of their visit. ¡°Right, right! Young lady, you must come. This old man is inviting you; you wouldn¡¯t refuse to give face, right?¡± Old Master Duan glared, seemingly threatening but with a hint of mirth in his eyes. Seeing this, An Yiqing let out a light chuckle and accepted the invitation. Such an opportunity she would not refuse, as making more connections could be advantageous in the future, and besides, she needed their help with something. ¡°Then I will send someone to pick up Miss An on Wednesday evening. We¡¯ll take our leave for today.¡± Duan Tang nodded with a smile, bidding farewell gracefully, every gesture exuding an air of nobility. An Yiqing watched the luxury car drive away, a beautiful smile dancing in her lovely eyes. Her journey was finally beginning! Chapter 22 - 22 22 Meeting Duan Tang (1) ?22: Chapter 22: Meeting Duan Tang (1) 22: Chapter 22: Meeting Duan Tang (1) After Duan Tang left, Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting inevitably made quite a fuss. Ruan Xue in particular, she repeatedly ¡°patted¡± An Yiqing with the Nine Yin White Bone Claw to express her excitement. ¡°Qingqing, the person you saved yesterday was actually Old Master Duan! Tsk tsk, you¡¯re going to strike it rich! Let¡¯s go! You¡¯re treating us to dinner!¡± Ruan Xue grandly waved her hand and slung an arm over An Yiqing¡¯s shoulder. An Yiqing felt a surge of exasperation at these words, thinking to herself how she seemed to owe them several meals lately?... ** Inside the car ¡°Ah Tang, what do you think?¡± Duan Yuntian was the first to speak. He was first and foremost a leader among his peers, and only secondarily an ordinary old man. While grateful for An Yiqing¡¯s lifesaving help, having the intention to make connections and to properly reciprocate were two different matters. ¡°Grandfather, just with her miraculous Medical Arts alone, An Yiqing is indeed worthy of forging an alliance with Muyun Sect,¡± Duan Tang said without hesitation, his thoughts unbidden to the smiling face of An Yiqing which caused him to pause for a moment. Then he smiled warmly, finding the situation quite interesting. Duan Yuntian had always trusted his grandson¡¯s judgment and means, so he didn¡¯t say more upon hearing this. However, he was somewhat moved, as the girl did indeed have the makings of a great talent, evident from her extraordinary bearing alone. He truly felt old now; the world belonged to the younger generation. ** Wednesday came in the blink of an eye. In the past few days, Gu Yelin had been calling An Yiqing every morning and evening under the pretext of ¡°passing a message to Gu Tingting,¡± even Ruan Xue noticed something was amiss. Gu Tingting had secretly told her about what happened, and Ruan Xue got excited in an instant, eager to play matchmaker! At four-thirty in the afternoon, Duan Tang called to inform An Yiqing that Ruan Hao would arrive at Xuan University in half an hour and asked her to get ready earlier. Having his number one general Ruan Hao personally pick someone up sufficiently demonstrated Duan Tang¡¯s regard for An Yiqing. The precision in Ruan Hao¡¯s timing was as meticulous as his personality. Half an hour later, a majestic and mysterious Bentley sedan appeared promptly across the road from the main gate of Xuan University. An Yiqing had specifically asked Ruan Hao to stop there, as recently there had been too many luxury cars coming into the university to look for her, and the topics surrounding her were increasing. After getting into the car, An Yiqing quietly sat in the back, lost in her thoughts. Ruan Hao occasionally glanced at An Yiqing through the rearview mirror. What exactly was it about this girl that warranted such high regard from the Family Head? Penglai Residence, An Yiqing had been here once three days ago and hadn¡¯t expected to come again so soon. Ruan Hao, as Duan Tang¡¯s foremost general, was well-known in Xuandu City. The manager, upon seeing Ruan Hao, hurriedly greeted him but was surprised to see the girl who had come with Third Young Master Gu a few days ago. Who exactly was this girl? The people she dined with were always the top figures in Xuandu City! An Yiqing, of course, was unaware of the manager¡¯s surprise. Ruan Hao took her to the private room where Duan Tang was, politely knocking on the door. ¡°The Family Head, Miss An has arrived,¡± Ruan Hao pushed open the door and nodded respectfully to Duan Tang. The man in the room was still dressed in a white Tang suit with a red plum blossom embroidered on the chest, which added a touch of enchantment to his ethereal elegance. Duan Tang got up and nodded politely when An Yiqing entered. ¡°Welcome, please take a seat.¡± An Yiqing occupied the seat to the right of Duan Tang, and when the dishes were served, Ruan Hao excused himself and stood guard outside the door. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what you liked, so I ordered some signature dishes. Please enjoy them at your leisure,¡± Duan Tang¡¯s tone was warm and didn¡¯t seem distant, almost like a casual chat between old friends. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality, Head Duan,¡± An Yiqing replied politely and appropriately. There was a moment of silence in the room, filled only with the clink of tableware. An Yiqing neither inquired about Old Master Duan¡¯s health nor made any requests. Chapter 23 - 23 23 Meeting Duan Tang (2) ?23: Chapter 23: Meeting Duan Tang (2) 23: Chapter 23: Meeting Duan Tang (2) Duan Tang saw this, smiled helplessly, and thought the girl really had the patience. Ordinary people who dined with him were either trembling with fear or fawning over him. If someone else had saved Old Master Duan, they would have taken the opportunity to build connections with him long ago. Who could be as indifferent and composed as this girl? Such a person was either an idiot or highly strategic, and An Yiqing naturally fell into the latter category. ¡°May I ask, Miss An, under whom did you study?¡± Duan Tang ventured, resigning himself to a setback; he couldn¡¯t quite explain why his attitude had softened. ¡°I apologize, but my master instructed me not to reveal our Shimen, so I really cannot disclose that information,¡± An Yiqing deflected with the slightest of efforts. Duan Tang nodded understandingly, ¡°What are your thoughts on Elder Duan¡¯s condition?¡± he asked, posing the first key question of the day. An Yiqing¡¯s expression remained unchanged, her clear eyes directly meeting Duan Tang¡¯s, ¡°Although this heart disease is difficult to cure, it is not impossible to recover from,¡± she said succinctly, without overstating her abilities. Duan Tang¡¯s eyes, glittering with intelligence, focused intently on An Yiqing, his surface calm betraying a tumultuous interior. None of the experts before had dared to claim this disease could be cured. What gave this girl the confidence to make such a claim? ¡°Miss An, how am I to believe in your abilities?¡± Duan Tang asked, his tone gentle but his eyes sharp. An Yiqing chuckled at the question, ¡°Head Duan has no choice but to trust me.¡± ¡°Miss An, you must be aware that Muyun Society¡¯s influence is enough to bring any dignitary down to ruin,¡± Duan Tang declared with an intensity that matched his role as the Family Head of Muyun Society. ¡°Family Head, I have always been confident but not arrogant,¡± An Yiqing replied with a gentle smile, gracefully taking a sip from her teacup. Her composure remained unaffected by Duan Tang¡¯s formidable presence. The two just sat there quietly, looking at each other, one with clear water-like eyes, the other with gentle, dark ones. After a moment, Duan Tang smiled, reining in his aura, full of admiration and awe. He sighed and said, ¡°You win. I request that you fully cure Elder Duan¡¯s illness. Duan Tang and Muyun Society will be in your debt.¡± Seeing her aim achieved, An Yiqing was quite pleased, but her face did not show it, ¡°Family Head Duan, such a magnanimous offer. I will not harm Muyun Society; as for the consultation fee for Elder Duan, I trust Family Head Duan to make a fair offer. Muyun Society¡¯s connections are vast, and I believe Head Duan will give me a satisfactory response.¡± An Yiqing knew that her Medical Arts were indeed a priceless treasure, and to measure the act of saving someone from Yama Raja with money alone would simply imply that Elder Duan¡¯s life was not worth much. Her plans to start a company were imperative, and the first step was to build a reputation. Saving Elder Duan and owing Duan Tang a favor provided her with this opportunity. The extensive network of Muyun Society was beyond imagination, and she could use this chance to lay the groundwork for her company¡¯s foundation. Duan Tang was a smart man and caught An Yiqing¡¯s implication. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle bitterly to himself; the girl really was astute, not interested in money or profit, but rather in the vast network of Muyun Society, which was worth far more than any cheque. It was not a difficult request, and it also presented an opportunity to build a good relationship with An Yiqing. Duan Tang naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse such a favorable deal. An Yiqing saw Duan Tang nod in agreement and beamed a big smile, ¡°Thank you, Family Head Duan.¡± This time, her tone was much more sincere. Duan Tang looked at the beaming An Yiqing, shook his head helplessly, and wondered where this girl got all her clever ideas from. With their business settled, both of them felt more at ease, and the initial awkwardness in the room had dissipated. An Yiqing was happily savoring the delicacies in front of her, while Duan Tang watched her enjoyment, finding his own appetite greatly increased as a result. Chapter 24 - 24 24 Assault (1) ?24: Chapter 24 Assault (1) 24: Chapter 24 Assault (1) After a pleasant dinner, with both host and guest in high spirits, Ruan Hao drove An Yiqing and Duan Tang back to Xuan University. The car was quiet and silent as Ruan Hao drove, with Duan Tang and An Yiqing sitting in the back seat. Suddenly, Ruan Hao glanced in the rearview mirror, his cold eyes betraying no emotion, ¡°Family Head, we¡¯re being followed.¡± Duan Tang¡¯s expression remained unchanged, ¡°Head towards the suburbs,¡± he said. Then, with a slightly apologetic smile at An Yiqing, he added, ¡°Sorry for getting you involved.¡± Dark lines creased across An Yiqing¡¯s heart. Was she really getting shot while lying down? Resigned to her fate, she mentally gave herself a thumbs up for her knack for getting into trouble and jokingly teased, ¡°The price of a meal with Head Duan really is quite steep.¡± Taken aback, Duan Tang chuckled warmly, his elegant and handsome face displaying a look of helplessness. As they talked, Ruan Hao sped towards the suburbs. The car following them had clearly realized they were spotted and recklessly gave chase. In an instant, several cars raced one after another on the highway in the dark night, their headlights streaking through like fast-moving lines of light. ¡°Does Family Head have any idea who they might be?¡± An Yiqing asked softly. Duan Tang didn¡¯t hide his thoughts, ¡°It¡¯s not clear yet. Xuandu City has been uneasy lately, and all forces are like startled birds, too busy with self-preservation to concern themselves with ambushes.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s curiosity was piqued, ¡°What happened in Xuandu City?¡± ¡°Recently, there have been deaths among various forces within the country, especially in Xuandu City where power is concentrated. The conditions of the deceased are pitiful and strange, and the cause of death has yet to be discerned. Initially thought to be grudge killings, everyone gradually realized something was unusual. The matter has escalated to higher authorities. Normally, no one would dare to stir up trouble at this time, but it seems some are not afraid of death.¡± Duan Tang¡¯s gentle and pleasant voice slowly conveyed the situation, making An Yiqing feel that listening to him was as enjoyable as listening to Gu Yelin. ¡°Since the higher-ups are involved, have they not found anything?¡± ¡°Nothing. All the remarkable experts are at a loss. Later, they called on the Gu Family from the five major families, but expertise is specialized, and forensics and investigation simply aren¡¯t their strengths.¡± Duan Tang shrugged, the simple gesture somehow imbuing him with the grace of a dashing gentleman. An Yiqing knew the Gu Family was an Ancient Martial Family with a long history. If even they were out of options, the situation must indeed be tricky. However, these issues were unrelated to her. What she needed to worry about now was how she and Duan Tang would shake off their pursuer. In the midst of pursuit and evasion, the car inadvertently exited the highway and headed towards an even more deserted area. ¡°Ruan Hao, stop the car,¡± Duan Tang decided to strike first, discerning that since the pursuers were premeditated, shaking them off would likely be impossible. Ruan Hao remained silent, slowly braking the car to a halt while calling for backup. Because today¡¯s event was a thank-you dinner, bringing too many people would have looked provocative, so Duan Tang only brought Ruan Hao. However, trouble had indeed arisen unexpectedly. ¡°Miss An, please stay in the car for a moment. I will go out and take a look first,¡± Duan Tang said calmly to An Yiqing. Without waiting for her nod, he opened the car door and stepped out. Ruan Hao looked at An Yiqing with a complex gaze. Although today¡¯s incident was a result of the Muyun Society¡¯s involvement, if it wasn¡¯t for her presence, Family Head escaping by abandoning the car wouldn¡¯t be difficult... Sigh! Watching Ruan Hao¡¯s complex expression, the corner of An Yiqing¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t help but twitch¡ªdid she really look like such a burden? Outside the car, Ruan Hao shielded Duan Tang behind him, his gaze fixed like a torch on several business vehicles ahead. One by one, more than thirty black-clad, masked figures alighted from the vehicles, fully equipped from head to toe, revealing only their lifeless eyes, as if they were entities with lives but no souls. Chapter 25 - 25 25 Assault (2) ?25: Chapter 25 Assault (2) 25: Chapter 25 Assault (2) Ancient Martial Artists! These thirty-odd people were all Ancient Martial Arts Experts with profound Inner Breath! ¡°Heh, they really think highly of me, Duan Tang.¡± The warm smile vanished from Duan Tang¡¯s face, replaced by a mocking sneer at the corners of his mouth. It was clear that today¡¯s battle would be fierce; even with impressive abilities, he and Ruan Hao would have a hard time fending off so many. The black-clad figures opposite them didn¡¯t speak; they seemed like lifeless machines. Once they locked onto their target, their auras drastically changed, and they attacked Duan Tang and Ruan Hao with ruthless and vicious methods. Inside the car, An Yiqing¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sight. These people were clearly under the control of some drug, not ordinary assassins. And their Martial Skills... there was something bizarre about them... As she was pondering, the fight between the black-clad figures and Duan Tang and Ruan Hao had already escalated quickly. Although Duan Tang appeared as graceful and dashing as a noble young master, when he took action, his moves were relentlessly cruel. Clad in white amidst the dense night, he seemed to be brushed with a layer of radiance, his figure a blend of ink and painting. Ruan Hao, while not as skilled as Duan Tang, was also savage, aiming straight for his opponents¡¯ vital points with every move. An Yiqing¡¯s pupils constricted. She hadn¡¯t sensed that Duan Tang was an Ancient Martial Artist! This meant one of two possibilities: first, Duan Tang¡¯s Inner Breath was far superior to hers; second, he possessed an object that could conceal his Inner Breath. But now was clearly not the time to reflect deeply on this. She looked at the situation before her: although Duan Tang and Ruan Hao were exceptional, their more than thirty opponents were vast in number. If the fight dragged on, the three of them would certainly suffer severe injuries! During these thoughts, An Yiqing swiftly opened the door and got out of the car. Hearing the sound of the door, Duan Tang¡¯s fierce eyebrows furrowed. He turned his head, about to speak, when he saw An Yiqing¡¯s aura change the moment she got out, her whole body exuding icy fierceness. Her fingers turned into claws as she attacked the nearest black-clad figure, targeting vulnerable areas like the wrist, elbow, armpit, and inner knee with ruthless efficiency. When Duan Tang felt An Yiqing¡¯s aura, his pupils dilated in shock¡ªshe was actually an Ancient Martial Artist! Distracted by his brief surprise, Duan Tang was struck in the shoulder by a black-clad figure. Staggering and losing his advantage, the attacker¡¯s hooked fingers went straight for Duan Tang¡¯s throat. Engulfed in his own fight with the black-clad men, Ruan Hao saw Duan Tang¡¯s situation and felt his eyes about to pop with rage but couldn¡¯t break free. As the fierce palm strike headed straight for him, Duan Tang knew it was too late to completely dodge. Just as he was about to settle for a mutual takedown, a delicate, jade-like hand reached out from the side and grabbed the attacker¡¯s wrist. With a ¡°crack¡±, the wrist was twisted back at a gruesome angle. ¡°Family Head Duan, you owe me another favor. Don¡¯t forget to repay it.¡± While fighting off her attackers, An Yiqing didn¡¯t forget to remind Duan Tang. Huh, she had no intention of making a bad deal. A twitch pulled at the corner of Duan Tang¡¯s mouth, and he let out a wry smile. This time, it was his carelessness; not only had he failed to protect her, but she had also saved his life. Even though An Yiqing, Duan Tang, and Ruan Hao were skilled, their thirty-plus opponents were all Ancient Martial Arts Experts with deep Inner Breath, and they seemed tireless. Unless they were completely dead, even if wounded, they would still get up without any sense of pain and continue their attack. As time ticked by, the trio¡¯s stamina began to wane, and they all sustained various injuries. This relentless battle was excessively draining, and even with An Yiqing and Duan Tang¡¯s impressive skills, they were starting to struggle. An Yiqing worked hard to fend off the attacks of four or five black-clad figures, but a moment of fatigue caused her to be knocked to the ground. She inwardly chuckled bitterly¡ªapparently, her skills were not up to par. If she managed to get out alive today, she would still be riddled with injuries. Unable to get up, An Yiqing braced for the violent blows raining down from above, when suddenly a screeching sound of braking pierced the air. Then she faintly saw a dark figure speeding toward her with incredible velocity! So fast! An Yiqing was shocked; she had never seen such speed, not even from her master! Before she could regain her composure, she saw a pair of strong, slender hands appear swiftly, firmly grasping the arms of the man attacking her. As a surge of murderous aura rose, with a powerful tug, the black-clad man was gruesomely torn in two! In the dense night, the man, standing amidst a puddle of crimson blood, exuded a chilling murderous presence, demonic and monstrous! An Yiqing didn¡¯t dwell on the excessively bloody scene before her. She stared blankly at the cold, domineering man who had suddenly appeared. It was actually Gu Yelin! Chapter 26 - 26 26 Warmth (1) ?26: Chapter 26 Warmth (1) 26: Chapter 26 Warmth (1) Why was he here? She hadn¡¯t expected his mastery in ancient martial arts to have reached such a level! An Yiqing was aware that the Gu family came from a lineage of ancient martial arts, but even if one cultivated their inner strength from the womb, they wouldn¡¯t become as formidable as Gu Yelin! Her contemplation lasted only a moment, and the situation in front of her had already reversed. The nine people brought by Gu Yelin were all ancient martial arts experts with considerable strength. Although they did not possess Gu Yelin¡¯s extraordinary ability to tear people apart with bare hands, they had managed to dismember the limbs of the men in black. Gu Yelin had been investigating the mysterious deaths occurring in Xuandu City lately and had sent people to follow these vans all day after finding some clues. When he receives his subordinate¡¯s message and rushes over, he saw a scene that enraged him! He didn¡¯t wonder why An Yiqing was there; just seeing her injured made him lose all reason. Without thinking, he immediately jumped out of the car and charged over, intent on tearing apart these men to vent his fury. An Yiqing stared blankly as Gu Yelin bent down to lift her up; his movements were gentle as if handling a fragile crystal doll. ¡°That, that... I can walk on my own,¡± An Yiqing regained her senses as she blushed, ¡°Whoosh.¡± She had never been so close to a man before. The unique scent emanating from him slowly eroded her sense of smell, and her heartbeat involuntarily began to race out of control. ¡°You¡¯re injured,¡± Gu Yelin said, not setting An Yiqing down but simply stating the fact with his sexy lips pursed slightly¡ªhis displeasure and concern were clearly visible. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing! I want to get down!¡± An Yiqing, oblivious to Gu Yelin¡¯s displeasure, only felt uncomfortable all over, as if her body was heating up, and her heart seemed to be sick. Seeing how insistent An Yiqing was, even though it pained him, Gu Yelin respected her wishes. He gently set her down but stayed close by her side. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve caught them all,¡± a young man with fiery red hair reported to Gu Yelin, sneaking a glance at An Yiqing. Geez, this girl was impressive; he had never seen the boss so anxious over someone. ¡°Take them back to base,¡± he said tersely, his voice cold as ice. One could imagine these people would not have an easy time in the days to come. After speaking, Gu Yelin turned to An Yiqing, his tone much softer, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back to school.¡± ¡°Uh... wait, I want to say goodbye to Head Duan,¡± An Yiqing thought about it and still accepted Gu Yelin¡¯s offer to take her back. Gu Yelin remained silent; he did not question why An Yiqing was with Duan Tang, but when he noticed Duan Tang¡¯s gaze toward An Yiqing, his cold dark eyes involuntarily darkened. ¡°Head Duan, I¡¯m going to leave now,¡± An Yiqing approached Duan Tang, intending to say a quick goodbye, but she saw that his face was pale. Out of professional habit, her delicate hand reached for Duan Tang¡¯s wrist. From a distance, Gu Yelin¡¯s expression darkened further upon witnessing this scene, and Duan Tang, whose wrist was seized, was also stunned. His clear eyes flickered, and an unknown feeling slowly began to sprout within him. ¡°It¡¯s just some superficial injuries; get some good rest when you¡¯re back. And remember, you owe me a favor,¡± An Yiqing said as she took his pulse while reminding him to return the favor. Duan Tang¡¯s heart had just begun to stir, but he couldn¡¯t help but laugh and shake his head at An Yiqing¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t forget this favor,¡± he replied. After saying goodbye, An Yiqing turned to walk toward Gu Yelin. Duan Tang watched her retreating figure, his gaze then shifting to rest on Gu Yelin. He knew who this man was¡ªGu Yelin, the youngest general of Xuanjin, part of the Gu family¡¯s third generation. He could tell that Gu Yelin¡¯s look at An Yiqing was one of affection. However... hehe, wouldn¡¯t it be more interesting if he involved himself in the matter! Chapter 27 - 27 27 Warmth (2) ?27: Chapter 27 Warmth (2) 27: Chapter 27 Warmth (2) ** The enigmatic and distinguished Aston Martin sped along the highway. Gu Yelin quietly drove the car, while An Yiqing felt as if she could sense Gu Yelin¡¯s irritation, even though she didn¡¯t know what was bothering him. It seemed wisest not to talk. A night of tumult had left An Yiqing somewhat exhausted. She leaned back against the comfortable seat and watched the rapidly receding lights outside the window, slowly closing her eyes. Gu Yelin felt the girl¡¯s breath beside him grow steady and knew she had fallen asleep. He considerately made the car ride even smoother, hoping to let the girl sleep more comfortably. Time passed, and An Yiqing gradually woke from her slumber. She had slept deeply and soundly, and though her regular sleep was good, this level of unguarded dozing off was a first for her outside her home. As soon as An Yiqing opened her eyes, she saw the man beside her gazing at her intently and gently. His eyes were bright and black, reflecting only her image, as if in his world, there was only her. Gu Yelin tenderly watched the still groggy little woman, not knowing what she was thinking as she stared at him. An Yiqing slowly became fully alert, and she abruptly sat up. Strange! When had the seat been flattened? Where was she? How long had she been asleep? ¡°You slept for an hour; I lowered the seat. This is the military hospital. You¡¯ve been hurt, so you need some treatment,¡± Gu Yelin said considerately, as if he knew the questions on An Yiqing¡¯s mind. An Yiqing¡¯s delicate face twisted slightly. Hospital? She was a doctor; why did she need to go to a hospital? ¡°I am a doctor; I can heal myself. There¡¯s no need for me to come here,¡± An Yiqing stated her thoughts openly. ¡°A physician cannot heal oneself; I can rest easy only after you¡¯ve been checked.¡± An Yiqing was conflicted; she didn¡¯t miss the concern in Gu Yelin¡¯s voice, nor was she an ungrateful person. However... ¡°Can I not get an injection?¡± she muttered from behind her little red lips. Gu Yelin¡¯s handsome eyebrows rose upon hearing this. His hearing was very good, and although the little woman¡¯s voice was almost inaudible, he heard her clearly. Was she... afraid of injections?! Someone with such mystical skills in the Medical Arts... was afraid of injections?! An Yiqing looked up just in time to see the amusement in Gu Yelin¡¯s eyes. Although he wasn¡¯t laughing at her, An Yiqing inexplicably felt like being capricious, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being afraid of injections?! Who says a doctor can¡¯t be scared of that? They really hurt, okay?...¡± She puffed out her chest and spoke with righteous indignation, her childlike words coming out with surprising confidence. Gu Yelin looked at the wilfully childish and adorable little woman before him with a smiling mouth. She was always so serene and mature, desiring nothing, but now she showed such a cute side in front of him. Did this mean she was also becoming closer to him? An Yiqing didn¡¯t receive the mockery she expected from Gu Yelin; instead, she was met by his ever-softer gaze, mesmerizing her. The gentleness in his eyes was as vast as the ocean, seemingly ready to engulf her, sinking deeper and deeper within it. ¡°Alright, no injections,¡± the man¡¯s magnetic and deep voice rose gently, filled with boundless indulgence and spoiling. ¡°What?¡± An Yiqing snapped back to reality. What had he just said? ¡°If you don¡¯t want an injection, we won¡¯t do it,¡± Gu Yelin repeated patiently, as if he had endless patience for her. After speaking, he stepped out of the car and considerately opened the passenger door for An Yiqing, extending his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± An Yiqing, as if under a spell, slowly placed her hand in Gu Yelin¡¯s. It was then firmly grasped. Led by the hand, An Yiqing was lost in the pampering tenderness bestowed by Gu Yelin. She never knew that, besides her master, there was someone else who could treat her with such indulgence. The feeling made her involuntarily long to sink into it. Two figures, one tall and the other petite, one sturdy and one lovely, walked hand in hand into the hospital¡¯s grand doorway, their shadows elongated by the warm light, stretching long and far. Chapter 28 - 28 28 Xiao Bai Rabbit Felt Shy on the First Day of Recommendation ?28: Chapter 28 Xiao Bai Rabbit Felt Shy on the First Day of Recommendation 28: Chapter 28 Xiao Bai Rabbit Felt Shy on the First Day of Recommendation Gu Yelin had already called Chen Fang on his way there. Chen Fang, the dean of the military hospital and Gu Yelin¡¯s second aunt, has always been very fond of him due to his mother¡¯s early death. Their relationship was also very good. After Gu Yelin explained the reason to Chen Fang over the phone, Chen Fang, who was resting at home, immediately called Director Zhang who was on duty and gave the order. At this point, Director Zhang had already been waiting at the main entrance of the hospital building. This Director Zhang had seen Gu Yelin before; two years ago, this god-like figure had rushed into the operating room, holding a man who had been blasted beyond recognition and was covered in blood, accompanied by several men and women who were also shrouded in a murderous aura. The situation was urgent at the time, with the patient in dire need of treatment, but the doctor in charge of the surgery was somewhat sluggish. The God of Slaughter almost took the doctor¡¯s life there and then with a pulled gun. The scene was in chaos, and it was only when he, along with the dean and others who heard the commotion and came from a meeting, that they prevented something even more dreadful from happening. Everyone was wondering who this man with such a heavy murderous aura was, until the dean suddenly called out ¡°Lao San,¡± and it dawned on everyone that this was the notorious Third Young Master Gu, Gu Yelin. His ruthlessness was well-known, and it fit his aura of prestige and reputation. The doctor who was in charge of the surgery almost went mad with fear upon hearing this; he couldn¡¯t believe he survived an encounter at gunpoint with Third Young Master Gu¡ªit was like a miracle had descended upon him! The incident left a deep impression on everyone present, especially the sight of this exceptional man covered in blood, which was unforgettable. Director Zhang was certain that the heavy murderous aura of Gu Yelin was built upon countless lives. Director Zhang respectfully ushered both of them into the treatment room, having already arranged for a doctor to take care of the injuries. However, he was surprised to find that the person Third Young Master Gu had brought with him was a young girl. Who exactly was this girl? ¡°Get a female doctor to examine her wounds, and don¡¯t give her injections,¡± An Yiqing, still daydreaming, reacted to the words, and then she realized Gu Yelin was holding her hand, her entire face red with embarrassment. Gu Yelin let An Yiqing pull her hand away, looking at her with amusement as her shy face flushed red. Some things shouldn¡¯t be rushed; it was better to take things slowly, step by step. Director Zhang¡¯s mouth twitched at Gu Yelin¡¯s request¡ªasking for a female doctor to examine the injuries? Wasn¡¯t he being a bit too cautious? Though he muttered to himself, he still did as Gu Yelin had said and found a female doctor to come over. ¡°I¡¯ll go out first,¡± said Gu Yelin, then turned to the female doctor, ¡°Be careful with the examination, be gentle, she¡¯s afraid of pain, don¡¯t give her injections.¡± The way he carefully instructed this showed a completely different side from the God of Slaughter who nearly caused a fatality two years ago¡ªthe contrast in his treatment was stark! An Yiqing felt warmth in her heart seeing how meticulously Gu Yelin instructed, temporarily forgetting the awkwardness of holding hands earlier. Aside from her master, no one had ever treated her with such care, and the sensation made her want to cry. After giving his instructions, Gu Yelin left reluctantly, looking back three times with every step he took. Now only the female doctor and An Yiqing remained in the room. ¡°Miss, please take off your clothes,¡± said Doctor Ruan, who was in her forties and an experienced member of the hospital staff. An Yiqing obediently took off her clothes, allowing Doctor Ruan to carefully examine the wounds on her body. ¡°Little miss, that guy just now is your boyfriend, right? He may look cold as ice, but he really cares for you!¡± Since only the leadership had recognized Gu Yelin during the incident two years prior, Doctor Ruan did not recognize him. An Yiqing¡¯s cheeks reddened again at the comment, a sensation like a little cat scratching at her heart¡ªit was ticklish. ¡°Eh... he¡¯s not my boyfriend...¡± An Yiqing said somewhat embarrassedly. ¡°Hehe, the little miss is shy!¡± Doctor Ruan took An Yiqing¡¯s response as just the shyness of a young girl. Considering the atmosphere between the two of them seemed intimate as if no one could intervene, who would believe they weren¡¯t a couple! Fortunately, An Yiqing only had superficial skin injuries, which would heal after applying some medicine a few times. An Yiqing knew her injuries weren¡¯t serious, but she had come for the check-up out of consideration for Gu Yelin¡¯s concern. However, to put his mind at ease, she still listened carefully to Doctor Ruan¡¯s instructions. The door to the examination room opened, and Gu Yelin, who had been anxiously waiting outside, swiftly greeted her. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury, a bit of medicine should do, and another check-up in a few days will suffice.¡± Gu Yelin breathed a sigh of relief, nodded at Doctor Ruan to express his thanks. Seeing that there was nothing left for him to do, Doctor Ruan prepared to leave, but not before he exclaimed, ¡°What a beautiful couple! Really nice!¡± Caught off guard by the comment, Gu Yelin blinked. A couple? It seemed... not too bad. He looked down at An Yiqing, whose face had turned into a little tomato, and the smile on his face was warm and happy. Shouldn¡¯t Third Young Master Guh, in the quiet of the night, be plotting to whisk Qingqing back to his home? Please! Such behavior is something our Third Young Master Gu finds particularly disdainful. Master Gu aims for long-term possession, how could he ruin a lifetime of happiness for a moment of pleasure? Hahaha! It was past ten when Gu Yelin dropped An Yiqing off at her dormitory building, and the campus was very quiet. An Yiqing, mortified by Doctor Ruan¡¯s teasing, had been like a little ostrich the whole way, the words ¡°little couple~ little couple~ little couple~¡± echoing in her head nonstop. What¡¯s wrong with her? She must be sick! Not only is her heart acting up, but her brain is also starting to malfunction. She needs to go home and ask her master to treat her! /(¨Òo¨Ò)/~ ¡°Qing, we¡¯re here.¡± Startled, An Yiqing looked up. What did he just call her?! Qing?! Such a special name... Noticing An Yiqing¡¯s surprise, Gu Yelin explained somewhat nervously, ¡°It felt too distant to call you Miss An.¡± An Yiqing pondered for a moment, troubled. It seemed... what he said didn¡¯t seem wrong. But... why did it make her scalp tingle?... Before An Yiqing could wrap her head around it, she saw Gu Yelin¡¯s handsome face getting closer. The unique, cool mint scent of his body overwhelmed her, and as his dark eyes drew nearer, she unconsciously closed her eyes... What was he going to do?... ¡°Click!¡± A light sound, and An Yiqing felt a release, the seatbelt had been undone. ¡°Boom!¡± An Yiqing felt smoke coming out of her head. She had blushed more times today than in the first half of her life combined. What on earth was she thinking?! Why did she close her eyes?! ¡°Drive safely, I¡¯m heading up.¡± An Yiqing, embarrassed beyond measure, scrambled out of the car. Gu Yelin watched the retreating figure flee in a panic, a hint of amusement coloring his deep, dark eyes. Truly a shy little white rabbit. Chapter 29 - 29 29 The Torn Young Master Bai ?29: Chapter 29: The Torn Young Master Bai 29: Chapter 29: The Torn Young Master Bai Meanwhile, at the Muyun Society, after Duan Tang and An Yiqing parted ways, he was escorted away by his arriving subordinates. Ruan Hao informed Duan Tang¡¯s personal physician, and it was only after confirming that he was unharmed that he heaved a sigh of relief. Duan Tang bandaged his wounds and sat on the sofa in his white pajamas, lost in thought. Everything about today¡¯s events was odd; who were those who dared attack him at such a disconcerting time, without fear of provoking the full assault of the Muyun Society? Or, was it that... the assailant¡¯s purpose was actually to draw the Muyun Society into the fray? Duan Tang¡¯s clear and gentle eyes flickered slightly, as he thought things over in his mind. It was as if he suddenly thought of something, and his gaze slowly fell upon his right wrist, where the image of An Yiqing¡¯s stunningly beautiful face came to mind. This girl was even more impressive than he had imagined. He had originally thought she was just a physician with profound Medical Arts, but it turned out she was also an Ancient Martial Artist. Although he didn¡¯t know why he couldn¡¯t sense her presence, perhaps she, like him, carried some precious treasure on her person. However, that wasn¡¯t his concern; he just wanted to know what exactly was her relationship with Gu Yelin. He felt as if some of his emotions were already out of control. Duan Tang narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze focused and deep. ** Shuixie Lanting, a well-known wealthy villa community. It was here that Gu Yelin¡¯s villa was located. In the quiet study, Gu Yelin sat still at the desk in a black robe, with a computer on the desk, clearly in the midst of a video conference. ¡°How are those people doing?¡± ¡°Boss, those people are really strange. Once brought to the base, they are like sleeping, unresponsive to any provocation, yet all of their bodily functions are exceedingly normal. We haven¡¯t gotten anything out of them so far.¡± The red-haired man, frustrated, ruffled his hair which he had previously styled sharply but now made look like a turkey¡¯s plumage. ¡°What does Ye Hong say?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even mention Ye Hong; he almost dissected those people!¡± With every mention of Ye Hong, the redhead felt a headache coming on. Ye Hong was a medical madman who saw everyone as if they were corpses¡ªno one but the boss could handle him. ¡°Lock them up for now, I will take a look tomorrow.¡± At these words, the redhead nodded. The recent events were so bizarre that even the skies over Xuandu City felt oppressively gloomy. Gu Yelin closed the video call, pondered in silence for a while, then turned on another computer beside him. For a time, the only sound in the quiet study was the tapping of the keyboard. The computer screen was filled with strange symbols that no one but Gu Yelin could understand. ** In the early hours of that day, the Muyun Society suddenly issued an edict¡ªan extraordinary proclamation¡ªAn Yiqing was to be considered a distinguished guest of the Muyun Society, and within all its territories, she was to be accorded every courtesy! This edict shocked the world of martial arts; it had been nearly a hundred years since the Muyun Society had issued such a command. Who was this An Yiqing, that warranted Head Duan to use an edict that the Muyun Society had not used in a century? The next day The gentle morning sunlight streamed into the dormitory, as An Yiqing slowly opened her eyes to see two pairs of large black eyes staring intently at her. An Yiqing blinked groggily, blinked again, and uttered a sound as soft and fluffy as that of a kitten, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting got up especially early today with the sole purpose of catching An Yiqing and giving her a severe interrogation. ¡°Spill it, what were you up to last night?¡± The aggressively sexy Ruan Xue was the first to speak. Qingqing had disappeared since yesterday afternoon and only came back after they had both fallen asleep. Had they not known Qingqing was quite capable, they would have called the police. As An Yiqing thought about what happened last night, Gu Yelin unexpectedly came to mind, causing a troubled look to appear on her face, ¡°Cough, that... I went to dinner with a friend.¡± ¡°Qingqing, your face is all red!¡± ¡°Oh my God! You weren¡¯t with my Third Brother all night, were you?¡± Gu Tingting boldly conjectured. When it came to Third Young Master Gu¡¯s decisive manner, she remained quite calm, as he has always been swift and efficient in his dealings, including the pursuit of a wife. ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t you go to have dinner with Brother Duan Tang last night?¡± Ruan Xue remembered the appointment Duan Tang mentioned when he came to find An Yiqing a few days ago. It was supposed to be yesterday. An Yiqing looked headache-stricken at the two gossiping spirits in front of her. How could she explain? Should she tell them that she not only had dinner with Duan Tang but also went to the hospital with Gu Yelin, and incidentally, beat up a few people? Would they string her up and lash her with a whip?... Just as An Yiqing was entangled in how to phrase her response, there was a knock at the dormitory door, and the fierce voice of the dorm caretaker rang from outside, ¡°An Yiqing, someone¡¯s looking for you downstairs!¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s here for me, I¡¯m heading down first, ha.¡± For the first time, An Yiqing found the dorm caretaker unexpectedly cute and understanding, like an angel with a bare butt and a halo above her head~ An Yiqing casually put on a jacket over her nightdress, striding out without feeling out of place in such attire. It cannot be denied ¨C being attractive really meant even a sack would look stylish. As An Yiqing descended the stairs, she wondered who would be visiting her early in the morning. She ran through the names of everyone she knew but couldn¡¯t come up with an answer. Bai Yiming had been feeling depressed these past few days. Ever since that Saturday when he came back from Prosperous Haoting, he felt uneasy, and his mind was filled with the image of An Yiqing¡¯s delicate face. To say he liked her, Young Master Bai would definitely not admit such a thing. It had to be that this woman was too unique ¨C yes, that must be it. These past days, nothing he did seemed right, as if there was a tiny claw scratching inside his heart. Bai Yiming, who never mistreated himself, made a decisive decision: he had to find that woman and settle the score! So when An Yiqing saw Bai Yiming appear before her, her brain short-circuited for a moment. Why was he here? ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with those weird eyes. I don¡¯t even know why I came to find you!¡± Bai Yiming, typically known for his gentlemanly demeanor, frustratedly ran his fingers through his hair. Any sign of his usual charisma and grace had been thrown to the ends of the earth. ¡°Mr. Bai, did you call me down this early just to let me watch you go crazy?¡± An Yiqing looked at Bai Yiming as if he were an idiot. She had never had a very good impression of this fickle playboy, and seeing him today only worsened her outlook, ¡°Please go back to wherever you came from, Mr. Bai. I have to attend class, excuse me.¡± As Bai Yiming watched An Yiqing begin to leave, he quickly grabbed her arm, ¡°Don¡¯t go¡ªah!¡± When An Yiqing¡¯s arm was grabbed, she reflexively applied force and twisted the other¡¯s wrist. Snap, and then came Bai Yiming¡¯s cry of pain... Bai Yiming felt like crying, yes or no? To think that he, the formidable Young Master Bai, would be caught off guard and have his wrist dislocated by a petite woman. What on Earth had he come here for today? (¨i¨s^¨t¨i) Chapter 30 - 30 30 Zhang Lins Revenge (1) ?30: Chapter 30 Zhang Lin¡¯s Revenge (1) 30: Chapter 30 Zhang Lin¡¯s Revenge (1) An Yiqing couldn¡¯t help but facepalm when she heard Evildoer Bai¡¯s cry. She really hadn¡¯t done it on purpose, it was just a reflex... ¡°Ahem, um, are you okay?¡± Since she was the one who caused it, she felt she should show some concern. ¡°Miss An, it seems to me Bai hasn¡¯t wronged you in any way.¡± Bai Yiming glanced at his dangling wrist and hissed, it really damn hurt. ¡°Oh, haha, let me set it right for you. The bone-setting technique of my shimen is very professional.¡± Without waiting for Bai Yiming¡¯s response, there was another crack, followed by another howl from under the dormitory building. This woman was doing it on purpose, wasn¡¯t she? She must be! Bai Yiming glared fiercely at the innocent-looking little lady, not expecting An Yiqing to show him a radiant smile. Evildoer Bai was stunned for a moment, looking at the woman whose smile bloomed like flowers, his heart skipped uncontrollably. Realizing his own abnormality, Bai Yiming didn¡¯t stay any longer, ¡°You¡¯ve injured me, remember to repay the favor,¡± he said before hurriedly getting in his car and speeding off, his retreating figure looking a lot like he was fleeing in defeat. An Yiqing watched the entire frenzied process of Bai Yiming until his figure completely disappeared from view, then helplessly raised an eyebrow. Maybe his brain is abnormally affected from indulging himself too much. Speaking of Bai Yiming, he quickly drove out of Xuan University and stopped nearby. Bai Yiming sat quietly in his car, hand on his chest, silently feeling the irregular heartbeat. If by now he didn¡¯t know why he was acting out of character, then he wasn¡¯t Bai Yiming... After Bai Yiming left, An Yiqing somehow ended up going upstairs, feeling bemused. Ah, there are too many people with spiritual issues these days, she had to be understanding. An Yiqing went back to her dorm and found a missed call on her phone from an unknown number. She was just about to call back when the number rang again. ¡°I¡¯m Bai Yiming, to make up for the harm you just did to me, accompany me to an auction on Monday!¡± As soon as An Yiqing answered the phone, Bai Yiming¡¯s roguish voice came through. An Yiqing was speechless, about to refuse, but then she heard Bai Yiming say, ¡°You twisted my arm, and on Saturday, you drove away my date. If not you, then who will accompany me?¡± ¡°Okay, fine.¡± In response to Bai Yiming¡¯s capricious childishness and unreasonable demands, An Yiqing thought it over and agreed. After all, she had hurt him. It¡¯s just this once, might as well indulge him like a child. Bai Yiming got the promise he wanted and contentedly curved his lips. Today¡¯s classes were few, and after the last afternoon session was over, An Yiqing planned to go out to buy some herbs to treat Elder Duan. She had already notified Duan Tang over the phone and would start treating Elder Duan tomorrow. With the financial power of Muyun Society, buying some Chinese medicine would be easy, but An Yiqing didn¡¯t trust it, too many fakes these days, she trusted herself more. Xuan University had its own hospital close to the school. An Yiqing spent less than two hours and bought all the herbs she needed, a huge bagful. The delicate-looking girl hugging the big bag as she walked somehow seemed a bit incongruous. Along the way, several guys offered to carry it for her, but she declined. This little amount of stuff was a piece of cake; Tingting and Xiao Xue from the dorm had once nicknamed her ¡°Super Strong Qing.¡± There¡¯s a secluded shortcut from the hospital to the Xuan University dorms. Few people choose this path, but An Yiqing happened to be one of those rare ones. The path was quiet, not a soul in sight, and An Yiqing¡¯s footsteps slowed to a halt. ¡°You¡¯ve followed long enough, come out.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s soft voice rang out distincly, as she turned and looked behind her. Chapter 31 - 31 31 Zhang Lins Revenge (2) ?31: Chapter 31 Zhang Lin¡¯s Revenge (2) 31: Chapter 31 Zhang Lin¡¯s Revenge (2) The alley was still quiet when, out of nowhere, five or six shady-looking young men appeared. The one with yellow hair looked at the attractive and spirited An Yiqing with a sleazy gleam of desire in his eyes. He hadn¡¯t expected the task given to them by that woman to be such a high-quality girl! The Xuan University Campus Beauty, haha, wonder what she would taste like? ¡°Who sent you?¡± The men with yellow hair exchanged looks of surprise, their faces showing shock. A normal girl would have screamed in such a situation, but they had never seen one remain so calm. However, they simply attributed An Yiqing¡¯s composure to her putting on a brave face. The sleazy man with yellow hair chuckled, ¡°Beauty, someone asked us to take very good care of you. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for offending someone you shouldn¡¯t have. Don¡¯t blame us. Tsk tsk, I just can¡¯t wait to get my hands on such a delicate beauty.¡± The group of men were all itching to take action, as An Yiqing was far too beautiful, someone they normally couldn¡¯t even get close to. ¡°Then go ahead, all of you. I¡¯m in a hurry.¡± The men with yellow hair clearly misinterpreted the meaning behind An Yiqing¡¯s words, their minds filled with fantasies. As they were about to laugh lecherously, they noticed a drastic change in the girl¡¯s aura. Her usually gentle eyes turned icy and piercing in an instant, and even the ethereal quality about her became bloodthirsty. This was no longer the harmless, delicate girl they thought they were facing; her presence indicated she had blood on her hands! It must be said, although these men were of poor character, their sixth sense was quite strong. Regrettarily for them, it was now too late. With a sweep of her long, jade legs, carrying the formidable Inner Breath of an Ancient Martial Artist, she knocked the men with yellow hair off their feet before they could react. Fast! Too fast! The men lying on the ground cried out in pain as they spat blood. An Yiqing hadn¡¯t left any external injuries on them, but with one kick, all her blows were internal! To think they wanted to defile her and not have to lie in bed for a few months was simply an insult to herself! ¡°Speak, who sent you?¡± An Yiqing pressed her foot against the chest of the man with yellow hair, pushing down hard, forcing another mouthful of blood from him. ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk! Merciful heroine, spare my life!¡± The man with yellow hair, disregarding the pain in his chest, hurriedly confessed, ¡°It was that bitch Zhang Lin who sent us! That little starlet! She gave us a hundred thousand yuan to take your video and upload it online. Heroine, this really has nothing to do with us, we were just taking money to do a job! Please spare us!¡± The man with yellow hair pleaded miserably, sniveling and crying. Zhang Lin? The woman Bai Yiming took with him to Tingting¡¯s birthday party? An Yiqing had almost forgotten about her, but who would have thought that Zhang Lin could be so malicious. If it weren¡¯t for her martial arts skills, she really would have been violated today! Good! Very good! If she harbored such malicious intentions, then she would have to face the consequences she couldn¡¯t bear! ¡°Get lost. Keep your mouths shut, not a word about this.¡± An Yiqing paid no heed to these lackeys. The force with which she struck them was enough to torment them for several months. As for whether they would be dead or alive a few months later, that was no concern of hers. The men, upon hearing An Yiqing¡¯s words, scrambled away as if they had seen the light of tomorrow¡¯s sun, fleeing in disgrace. Damn it, that bitch Zhang Lin was trying to send them to their graves at the hands of Yama Raja! Having dealt with these men, An Yiqing, carrying her medicinal herbs, had just returned to her dormitory when she picked up her phone and made a call, ¡°I want all the information on Zhang Lin, get me everything.¡± Chapter 32 - 32 32 Bai Wuchang ?32: Chapter 32 Bai Wuchang 32: Chapter 32 Bai Wuchang An Yiqing made the call to a man named Xiao Bai. Xiao Bai might be an unknown name to many, but speak of Bai Wuchang and there would hardly be a force in the jianghu that didn¡¯t recognize the name. Bai Wuchang, the person in charge of the Medicine Sect¡¯s intelligence network. Twenty-one years ago, he was picked up by the Master of the Medicine Sect, Ye Chenghong. Originally named Bai Feng, he became an orphan at the age of five when both of his parents died, and had since survived by scavenging. After being taken in by the Medicine Sect, he changed his name to Bai Wuchang and came to regard Ye Chenghong as his benefactor and the Medicine Sect as his home. Ye Chenghong often took An Yiqing out of Wuling Village to gain experience from a young age, gradually introducing her to the affairs of the Medicine Sect. Although her name wasn¡¯t yet known throughout the jianghu to date, all the fellow disciples within the Medicine Sect recognized An Yiqing. This disciple of the Sect Leader was intelligent, excelled in the medical arts, and even her cultivation in ancient martial arts and Inner Breath was advancing rapidly. Bai Wuchang first met An Yiqing five years ago, a little girl who possessed a maturity that belied her age. She stood graceful and elegant, like a lotus flower untouched by the muddy water. Over time, Bai Wuchang, who was then twenty-six, found himself increasingly impressed by An Yiqing¡¯s remarkable capabilities and talent, eventually becoming one of her followers. Bai Wuchang was responsible for the Medicine Sect¡¯s intelligence network, specializing in gathering all sorts of secretive information. His ability to unearth intelligence was no less formidable than the famed ¡°Hong Ci¡±. For him, obtaining information on a woman like Zhang Lin was merely a matter of minutes. In less than ten minutes, An Yiqing¡¯s inbox received all of Zhang Lin¡¯s details, from her birth to the present day, including the ages at which she was weaned and when she started wearing split-crotch trousers. An Yiqing took a quick glance; the information was nothing more than the story of a vain woman who climbed up the ranks in the entertainment industry using her body. People like this were too easy to deal with. Whatever she cared about was precisely what she would lose. One had to admit, even though An Yiqing often seemed gentle and nai?ve, when it came to holding a grudge, she was ruthless. An Yiqing had already forgotten about Zhang Lin, but Zhang Lin just had to come provoking her. It could only be said that Zhang Lin brought disaster upon herself. Zhang Lin¡¯s issue was not a concern for An Yiqing. After issuing a few commands over the phone, she put the matter out of her mind. However, just because she was indifferent didn¡¯t mean others felt the same. For example, Yellow Hair and his associates, as well as Gu Yelin, who always kept an eye on her. Yellow Hair and his group almost had to be carried into the hospital after getting out of the taxi, the doctors conducted a comprehensive examination but couldn¡¯t find anything wrong with them, not a single scratch on their bodies. This panicked them. How could they possibly vomit blood and feel chest pain if they weren¡¯t ill? If the hospital had found something, that would be one thing, but to have suffered such serious injuries and for nothing to be found was inconceivable! Naturally, Yellow Hair didn¡¯t dare to hold a grudge against An Yiqing. With her profound skills, she wasn¡¯t someone he could afford to offend. It was all Zhang Lin¡¯s doing! Claiming she had no background and was just a delicate little girl. Bullshit, could a delicate girl knock them out with a single move like that? Before Yellow Hair and the others could catch their breath, their Boss brought them earth-shattering bad news! The Muyun Society had issued a jianghu order not to offend a woman named An Yiqing! When Yellow Hair saw the photo and name on his phone, his vision went dark, and he collapsed on the ground. An order from the Muyun Society, an entity they could only look up to but never reach, meant she couldn¡¯t possibly be a nobody! Zhang Lin! You¡¯ve doomed us! Gu Yelin also learned about the attack on An Yiqing as soon as it happened. Although he knew she was skilled in self-defense, he still couldn¡¯t help but worry and made a call to check on her. An Yiqing was somewhat distracted when she answered the call, feeling something was amiss whenever she dealt with Gu Yelin, her heart seeming to start thumping again. ¡°Zhang Lin gave you trouble,¡± Gu Yelin said in a grim tone. An Yiqing was stunned and blurted out with surprise, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°How are the injuries?¡± Gu Yelin deftly sidestepped An Yiqing¡¯s question in a composed manner. ¡°Eh... all healed.¡± Why did she find it hard to keep pace with this man¡¯s rhythm? ¡°Do you need my help with Zhang Lin?¡± Although he was aware of her capability to handle everything, his concern was involuntary. An Yiqing was taken aback. He always seemed to care about her... ¡°No need, I want to deal with her in my own way. That... thank you though,¡± An Yiqing appreciated Gu Yelin¡¯s goodwill, but she still refused. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Take care of yourself. I have to go now.¡± An Yiqing stared at the disconnected phone, blinking innocently. Why did she feel like he was angry? This man was so hard to read... Gu Yelin was indeed somewhat unhappy. He felt rather defeated. This little woman was still so formal with him, there were too many wolves around, and yet the little rabbit remained oblivious. He needed to find a solution. ... The next evening, Duan Tang sent a car to pick up An Yiqing to treat Elder Duan. The evening sun carried a hint of melancholy. An Yiqing sat quietly in the car, watching the bustling crowd pass by, her thoughts drifting... She wondered what her master was doing now. Was he feeling lonely all by himself? She really wanted to bring her master to live with her, but he stubbornly adhered to a promise of twenty years of seclusion he had made to someone else. He had never explained the reason behind it, sighing with eyes full of vicissitudes whenever she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the use of talking about it when everyone¡¯s gone?¡± As time passed, her curiosity faded to avoid causing her master sadness. However, she was pleased that there were only six more months until the twenty years were up, and then her master would finally be able to return! Thinking of the happy event brought a gentle smile to An Yiqing¡¯s lips, and even as she got out of the car, her mood was especially bright. ¡°What¡¯s got you so happy today? You seem much more cheerful than usual,¡± Duan Tang, already waiting at the door, noticed An Yiqing¡¯s happy face and felt his own heart lighten. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m thinking about how to claim the favor you owe me from a few days ago,¡± An Yiqing replied, no longer treating Duan Tang with the distance of before, but with a liveliness reserved for friends. Duan Tang paused, then shook his head helplessly. He had noticed An Yiqing¡¯s change in attitude but was unsure whether this change was good or bad for him at the moment. Chapter 33 - 33 33 Treating Elder Duan ?33: Chapter 33: Treating Elder Duan 33: Chapter 33: Treating Elder Duan ¡°You really know how to avoid a loss. Just give the word when you want to collect your debt, and I will wholeheartedly oblige,¡± said Duan Tang, jokingly yet with a hint of sincerity. An Yiqing laughed lightly, said no more, and followed Duan Tang into the mansion. The Mu Family Mansion was a standard elite family compound, with gates that bore the charm of antiquity. Standard quadrangles connected one after another, while classical colonnades oozed with charm. The vermillion columns adorned with carved dragons and phoenixes, along with the exquisite openwork windows, evoked an air of elegance throughout. However, the presence of black-clothed bodyguards, especially the firearms at their waists, cast a solemn shadow over the mansion¡¯s classic elegance. The Muyun Society¡¯s influence was indeed formidable; only a few in Xuandu City, located right at the Imperial City Root, could openly carry firearms like this. As soon as An Yiqing stepped through the main mansion door with Duan Tang, she heard Duan Yuntian¡¯s, Old Master Duan¡¯s, hearty laughter: ¡°Girl Qing, the old man has been eagerly anticipating your arrival.¡± Duan Yuntian was of course aware of the incident that had occurred a few days earlier. He hadn¡¯t expected a delicate young lady to have not only divine medical skills but also such sharp martial arts proficiency. What a remarkable girl! A nineteen-year-old Divine Doctor and Ancient Martial Arts Expert, truly extraordinary! The more Duan Yuntian thought about An Yiqing having saved his grandson¡¯s life a few days ago, the more affectionately he felt towards her. This girl and the Muyun Society truly had a fateful connection, having saved both him and Ah Tang. If... if she could marry into his family, wouldn¡¯t that be...? Heh heh heh, best to keep such thoughts to himself. Old Master Duan¡¯s mind was like one harboring a cunning Old Fox, but his face revealed nothing, the gaze he cast upon An Yiqing even more warm. ¡°Xiao Qing, I¡¯ve heard about the incident from Ah Tang,¡± said Old Master Duan. ¡°Remarkable, truly remarkable! I feel so old now!¡± ¡°Listening to your hearty voice, it¡¯s even louder than your grandson¡¯s. How can you say you¡¯re old?¡± remarked An Yiqing, her comment not entirely flattery¡ªthe loudest voice truly did belong to Old Master Duan out of all present. Taken aback by the comment, Duan Yuntian then burst into laughter, ¡°Hahaha! You sly girl, beating around the bush and teasing this old man! Hurry on inside; the setting sun is still fierce.¡± An Yiqing smiled faintly, following Duan Yuntian into the main house with Duan Tang trailing behind. ¡°Old Master Duan, I should give you a thorough check-up first; it would put Family Head Duan¡¯s mind at ease, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± suggested An Yiqing upon entering, heading straight to the point. Duan Yuntian¡¯s illness wasn¡¯t difficult to cure, but it required time, and she preferred to prioritize it¡ªthe sooner she got back, the better, lest her dormitory mates start gossiping again. ¡°Of course, let¡¯s follow your plan, girl,¡± nodded Duan Yuntian again and again upon hearing her words. For years, his illness had loomed over him like a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. Now, knowing it could be cured completely, how could he not be thrilled? An Yiqing gestured for Duan Yuntian to extend his hand and began to check him seriously. Ancient Medicine used Yin and Yang and the Five Elements as foundations, and through the methods of ¡°Look, Smell, Ask, and Cut¡± it sought to find the causes, natures, and locations of illnesses, analyze the pathogenesis, and variations in the internal organs, meridians, qi, and blood, then judged the increase and decrease of pathogenic and healthy factors. From there, they determined the illness¡¯s name and summarized the pattern of symptoms, which guided treatment principles. They developed various treatments such as ¡°sweat, vomit, purge, harmonize, warm, clear, supplement, dissolve,¡± and used multiple therapeutic approaches like Chinese Herbal Medicine, acupuncture, massage, and dietary therapy to help the body achieve Yin and Yang harmony and recovery. After a detailed examination, An Yiqing quickly determined Duan Yuntian¡¯s treatment plan. ¡°Elder Duan, your illness is caused by your unstable lifestyle over the years and the emotional burdens you have accumulated. If seen by modern medicine, this would certainly be a difficult case to treat. I will use the ancient remedies passed down from my shimen to treat you, and I guarantee you will recover in two months. During this period, you must try to keep your mood as peaceful as possible and continue nurturing your character and virtues,¡± An Yiqing gave a simple explanation to the Duan grandfather and grandson, and she conservatively estimated the time for recovery. In reality, with her special Inner Breath, recovery could happen in less than a month, but to avoid drawing the attention of those with ulterior motives, she decided to extend the time a bit. Duan Yuntian was overjoyed upon hearing this, for a person who could have died at any moment now had the chance to live well again ¨C a change that would excite anyone to no end. He was very receptive to An Yiqing¡¯s instructions, nodding again and again in agreement. In Duan Tang¡¯s clear and bright eyes, there was also full of joy. His grandfather¡¯s illness had always been his greatest worry, but now it could finally be thoroughly cured. Even the usually gentle and easygoing Duan Tang was somewhat excited. An Yiqing had already had someone bring in the several large packages of medicinal herbs she had purchased. As instructed by An Yiqing during the day, Duan Tang had ordered the servants to prepare the bathing barrel on top of the brazier. After the water became warm, An Yiqing had Duan Yuntian, dressed in shorts, sit in the bathing barrel, while Duan Tang was in charge of controlling the fire in the brazier, and An Yiqing gradually added the medicinal herbs in sequence to the barrel and simultaneously performed acupuncture on Duan Yuntian. An Yiqing brought her own Silver Needles today. Learning from the previous experience when she hadn¡¯t brought her needles, An Yiqing had specifically made a portable tool kit to carry with her. The brocade pouch was made from a special material. Although soft, it would not be easily damaged, allowing her to tie it to her body conveniently, making it easy for An Yiqing to carry her Silver Needles and tools without injuring herself. An Yiqing spread the brocade pouch on the table, revealing rows of sparkling and translucent Silver Needles flashing in the cold light. The material used to make these Silver Needles was Crystal Stone, which she had obtained by chance during her travels. The Crystal Stone, as recorded in the ancient texts of Medicine Sect, was very suitable for making flexible tools, which would bend as needed without compromising the treatment efficacy. Her fair and delicate hands lightly brushed over the sparkling Silver Needles, her finger gently lifting one of them. The sight of the transparent Silver Needle in An Yiqing¡¯s fragile and fair hand was strikingly beautiful. This was the first time Duan Tang witnessed An Yiqing treating someone, she appeared different from her usual gentle and indifferent demeanor; there was now a sacred and inviolable beauty to her. Her bright eyes showed determination, concentration, and confidence that were enchanting. Duan Tang thought that it was perhaps this unyielding persistence and seriousness that endowed the young girl with astonishing Medical Arts and Martial Skills. As time ticked by, because the medicine bath was not allowed to be ventilated with the open flame, the room was filled with damp steam. Although the heat didn¡¯t bother An Yiqing and Duan Tang due to their abilities, the overall dampness was still uncomfortably intense. Especially for Duan Tang, responsible for controlling the fire and being closest to the brazier, the man who ordinarily carried an ethereal and carefree air was now with his white robe¡¯s sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing muscular arms, adding a touch of vitality to his usual elegance. Duan Yuntian¡¯s body was covered in beads of sweat, and he was now full of Silver Needles. Most remarkable was that each needle was moving on its own without any breeze. Duan Tang found this quite surprising. Although Ah Cheng had told him about the previous incident, witnessing it firsthand still left him amazed. The water in the bathtub had become muddy due to the mixture of the medicinal herbs and the impurities exuding from Duan Yuntian¡¯s body. A thin layer of sweat was on An Yiqing¡¯s delicate nose, not from stuffiness but seemingly from her intense focus. Chapter 34 - 34 34 An Yiqings Illness ?34: Chapter 34 An Yiqing¡¯s Illness 34: Chapter 34 An Yiqing¡¯s Illness Forty minutes passed, and An Yiqing began to remove the silver needles one by one. Duan Yuntian¡¯s complexion was much better than before, regaining the healthy ruddiness that a normal person should have. She gently pricked an acupoint on Duan Yuntian, and the previously sleeping elder slowly woke up. ¡°Elder Duan, how do you feel?¡± Duan Yuntian only felt a sense of relaxation that he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time. There was always a feeling of suffocation and pain in his chest, as if a heavy stone was pressing on him every day. Now that feeling was completely gone, and his body felt exceedingly light. The unease in his heart had now settled completely. ¡°I feel a lot lighter all over. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve felt this breathability. Girl Qing, I really owe you one!¡± Duan Yuntian was very excited, nothing like his imposing manner at the Muyun Society. He was now completely like a kind elderly man. An Yiqing smiled at his words, her language full of teasing, ¡°You¡¯d better not get too excited and forget what you promised me. You need to keep a calm mindset. If you don¡¯t cooperate, I might just stop treating you.¡± ¡°You little girl dare to threaten me? Hahaha! I¡¯ll listen to you, old man!¡± Duan Yuntian liked An Yiqing¡¯s easygoing attitude. Everyone else was always tiptoeing around him like a mouse around a cat, and although his grandson Duan Tang was not afraid of him, he was rather mature for his age. An Yiqing¡¯s little threats and teasings delighted him and gave him the joy of being surrounded by loving grandchildren. An Yiqing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at Duan Yuntian¡¯s hearty words. This Elder Duan was quite like her master in temper. If the two of them met, they might actually become friends. After the heat dissipated slowly, Duan Tang opened the room door and called in the servants to clean up, then the three of them moved to the living room to chat. An Yiqing checked on Duan Yuntian again, and the treatment had a very good effect, just as she had predicted. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. Why don¡¯t you stay here for a simple meal?¡± Duan Tang looked at the sky and said to An Yiqing, as if afraid she would refuse, he brought up his grandfather, ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, grandpa will feel like he¡¯s neglected you.¡± Immediately, Duan Yuntian understood his grandson¡¯s thoughts. Haha, Ah Tang really did have a good eye. ¡°Right! Girl Qing, you must eat here before going back. You¡¯ve come all the way here to treat me, if you don¡¯t even eat dinner here, people will laugh at this old man if it gets out,¡± Elder Duan was very enthusiastic about matchmaking for his grandson, Ah Tang taking a liking to someone was as rare as a blooming iron tree, quite extraordinary! Looking at the act-putting Elder Duan, An Yiqing smiled helplessly and nodded in agreement. Seeing An Yiqing consenting, Duan Tang was very pleased, and a few traces of clouds parting for the sun appeared on his fine face. ** The dinner went splendidly, with both host and guest satisfied. Duan Tang was happy to host, and An Yiqing was also very content with the meal. After dinner, Duan Tang did not insist further and had a driver take An Yiqing back to school. ¡°Stop looking already, the car¡¯s out of sight.¡± Seeing his grandson standing motionless, watching the direction in which An Yiqing had left, Duan Yuntian teased, ¡°Hurry up and marry that granddaughter-in-law for me! Hmph, rascal!¡± With that, he hummed a tune and swaggeringly returned inside, leaving Duan Tang standing at the entrance with a full head of black lines. ** The next day at noon, just after finishing class and returning to the dorm, An Yiqing received a phone call from Gu Yelin. She blinked her clear aqua eyes¡ªher heart was acting up again... ¡°I¡¯m at your dormitory building. Grandpa asked me to bring something for Tingting.¡± ¡°Uh, Tingting isn¡¯t here.¡± As she heard Gu Yelin¡¯s deep, pleasant voice, An Yiqing¡¯s face, quite embarrassingly, turned red again. Wuu¡ª(>_ Gu Yelin, of course, knew that Gu Tingting wasn¡¯t there, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to use that as an excuse to see her. ¡°Then come down and take it up for her.¡± ¡°Uh... okay.¡± An Yiqing bit her red lip hesitantly before agreeing to come down. Her heart, however, started beating even faster. She definitely had an incurable disease, right... No sooner had An Yiqing walked out of the dormitory than she saw Gu Yelin. He wore a black shirt with subtle patterns, sleeves slightly rolled up to reveal strong forearms, matched with black casual pants and a pair of custom-made black leather shoes. His entire figure was devoid of any flamboyant decorations aside from a silver watch. Yet this seemingly ordinary and simple outfit was worn with a unique nobility and elegance. Girls from the dormitory couldn¡¯t help but walk past him, yearning for his approval, but he stood there with his eyes downcast and body erect, keeping himself aloof from the mundane world. An Yiqing stared somewhat dumbfoundedly at Gu Yelin, who seemed to shine like the sun no matter where he stood. Even with his chilly and stern air, he couldn¡¯t hide the proud enthusiasm within. He was like a wolf king in the snowy night, seemingly indifferent and ruthless yet with a fiercely passionate side. Gu Yelin had spotted An Yiqing the moment she emerged. Seeing her dazed expression fixed on him, the pleasure in his eyes deepened, feeling for the first time that his face was somewhat useful. ¡°How¡¯s the injury?¡± Gu Yelin stepped forward, carefully examining An Yiqing, and asked. ¡°Cough, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± An Yiqing hadn¡¯t expected to be caught staring at him and felt awkward, coughing to cover up her nervousness, ¡°What is it that you¡¯ve brought for Tingting?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush for that. I came today because I need to talk to you about something.¡± Third Young Master Gu certainly didn¡¯t plan on seeing the young lady just to send her away. ¡°I have a friend who is sick, and I would like you to take a look.¡± ¡°Uh, I can do that.¡± An Yiqing agreed without a second thought, and then she felt foolish... Shouldn¡¯t she have acted a bit more shy?... Weird, why should she feel shy?... Master, your cherished disciple is beyond help! If Gu Yelin knew about An Yiqing¡¯s wandering thoughts at that moment, he would have found it both amusing and bewildering, probably wishing he could pry open her little head to see if there was anything other than medical knowledge in there. ¡°The case is a bit complex. Let¡¯s have lunch, and we can talk about it while we eat.¡± So it¡¯s clear that Third Young Master Gu never engages without preparation, right? He timed his visit perfectly for the lunch hour! ¡°Um... well, let me treat you today.¡± An Yiqing felt that Gu Yelin had not only taken her out for a meal a few days ago but also considerately accompanied her to the hospital, so it was only proper to return the favor. Uh, that¡¯s the plan. ¡°Okay.¡± Gu Yelin certainly knew An Yiqing¡¯s intentions, and he was more than happy to go along with it, delighted by the young lady¡¯s thoughtful gesture. Chapter 35 - 35 35 I Believe in You ?35: Chapter 35 I Believe in You 35: Chapter 35 I Believe in You Gu Yelin chose the place, and naturally, it couldn¡¯t be lacking. It was a standard quadrangle courtyard, with no sign at the door, yet the vehicles parked in front were all top luxury cars. An Yiqing followed Gu Yelin into the courtyard and felt the pure old city charm. Unlike the one Tang Lin had taken her to last time, this quadrangle had a more humane touch. The courtyard was not large, and there weren¡¯t many rooms; it was without much noise and clamor. Occasionally, one could hear the sound of waiters in embroidered jackets and long pants, with small caps moving around in the hall, and the crisp sound of beaded curtains colliding as they fell. As soon as Gu Yelin set foot inside, someone notified the owner. Shortly after, an elderly man came out from the inner hall. ¡°Has Third Young Master Gu arrived?¡± The old man¡¯s face was kind, and although his eyes seemed murky, from time to time, a sharp glint flashed through them. His back was a bit hunched, his hair half gray, and the wrinkles on his face revealed the hardships he had faced in the past. Gu Yelin took a few steps forward, his expression slightly respectful, as he nodded slightly, ¡°Old Master Zhang.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been here for some days, and you didn¡¯t think to check on this old man,¡± Old Zhang was about to tease Gu Yelin a bit when he saw the girl beside him. Surprise flickered in Old Zhang¡¯s eyes; Third Young Master Gu had never brought a woman here before, ¡°Third Master, who is this young lady?¡± ¡°Old Zhang, her name is An Yiqing,¡± Gu Yelin gave a simple introduction to Old Zhang, well aware that the old man in front of him understood quite well, ¡°Qing, this is Old Zhang.¡± ¡°Hello, Old Zhang,¡± An Yiqing greeted him with a smile, polite yet not submissive. Old Zhang looked at the girl in front of him. Her appearance was stunningly beautiful, her demeanor graceful yet not worldly, her gaze firm and clear. His heart silently nodded in approval; such a girl was certainly not mediocre. Third Young Master Gu had a good eye. ¡°The young lady is quite impressive. You, boy Gu, should treat this young girl well. I, the old man, won¡¯t intrude on your excitement. Don¡¯t be polite with this boy; he has plenty of money,¡± Old Zhang instantly accepted An Yiqing as one of his own. He liked the girl; she had the right spirit. An Yiqing nodded with a smile, finding Old Master Zhang to be quite refreshing. She wondered if it was her good fortune or something else that all the elderly people around her were so open-minded. Old Master Zhang exchanged a few words and then went back inside. It was better for an old man like him not to meddle in young people¡¯s affairs. Gu Yelin led An Yiqing into a private room. To call it a private room was actually just an enclosed partition. The entire room felt cozy and intimate, with several water ink screens adding an ancient charm to the room. Gu Yelin and An Yiqing ordered a few dishes and then sat down. The table in the room wasn¡¯t big, just enough for four people. An Yiqing sat quietly, and the man across her considerately poured her a cup of fragrant Longjing tea. The transparent tea water was held in a lustrous white teacup, and the slightly curled tea leaves slowly sank to the bottom, filling the room with a fresh aroma of tea. ¡°Old Zhang is a descendant of Imperial Chef Zhang Manlou from the Imperial Palace and also a good friend of my grandfather,¡± Gu Yelin gently placed the teacup in front of An Yiqing and took the initiative to tell her about Old Master Zhang¡¯s background. An Yiqing blinked her eyes in surprise, her mouth slightly open. She knew about Zhang Manlou, a famous top-tier imperial chef from the previous dynasty. However, after some imperial court changes, he gradually withdrew from society. It was said that even an incomplete recipe left by Zhang Manlou could sell for a sky-high price, and many people in the martial arts world had made a name for themselves using the title of ¡°descendant of Zhang Manlou,¡± but their authenticity was unknown. An Yiqing naturally believed Gu Yelin¡¯s words and knew that Old Zhang was indeed a true descendant of the Zhang Family. ¡°Do others know about Old Zhang¡¯s identity?¡± ¡°Only a very few people know, and Old Zhang finds his identity burdensome, so he rarely mentions it,¡± Gu Yelin patiently answered every question An Yiqing had. ¡°Then why are you telling me all this?¡± An Yiqing looked at Gu Yelin, her eyes showing confusion. Did he really trust her that much? Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes were focused as he looked at the conflicted young woman opposite him. His thin lips parted slightly, and the words he said were soft yet firm, ¡°I trust you; you deserve my trust.¡± An Yiqing was somewhat shocked inside. They hadn¡¯t interacted much, yet he trusted her so much. It felt really good. Gu Yelin was actually a bit nervous inside; he feared his straightforwardness would scare away the small white rabbit. But to his surprise, An Yiqing quickly calmed down and then gave him a big smile. This smile was clean and clear, with the unique warmth and radiance of a young girl. Gu Yelin¡¯s gaze was fixed on the smiling girl in front of him, and the heat barely concealed in the depths of his dark eyes was suffocating, as if once this passion erupted, it could never be retracted. It would either ignite her or destroy her, so persistent, so pure. An Yiqing really liked this pure trust. She was a simple person. After seeing so much deception in the world, she actually preferred straightforward people and things. Gu Yelin¡¯s unconditional trust had caught her eye, entered her heart, and then slowly took root and blossomed beautifully. It must be said that, in some ways, Gu Yelin and An Yiqing were very much alike. Equally persistent and firm, equally ruthless and merciless, and at the same time... both could give up everything for someone worth it. From this moment on, An Yiqing felt she genuinely understood the man before her, profound and unfathomable. He was lonely and cold, yet hot-blooded inside. He would only give his affection to those worthy of it. At this moment, something between the two seemed to have changed. It was a bit ambiguous, a bit pure. The dishes at Old Master Zhang¡¯s place were not served quickly, and only after Gu Yelin explained did An Yiqing understand that Old Zhang, in his pursuit of perfection, demanded his disciples to not cut corners with ingredients and techniques. So indeed, from harvesting to cooking, the process did require some effort. But good things are indeed worth waiting for. When An Yiqing tasted the first dish, she felt that the food she had eaten before, although rich in flavor, lacked the spiritual energy of Old Zhang¡¯s place. A successful dish should also be lively. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Gu Yelin looked at An Yiqing¡¯s expression; even though he knew the answer, he still wanted to hear her elaborate. ¡°Hmm, the dishes here are spirited. This is the most delicious meal I¡¯ve ever had. I think I won¡¯t have an appetite for anything else after today,¡± An Yiqing¡¯s eyes sparkled with satisfaction, dazzling as stained-glass. Upon hearing An Yiqing¡¯s response, Gu Yelin¡¯s thoughts became certain. From then on, Old Master Zhang had a mysterious disciple who never cooked for the public because everything he did was for the woman he loved. Chapter 36 - 36 36 Treating Ye Feng (1) ?36: Chapter 36: Treating Ye Feng (1) 36: Chapter 36: Treating Ye Feng (1) The dishes were ready, and Gu Yelin began to carefully serve An Yiqing. An Yiqing felt a bit embarrassed by his attentiveness. She glanced at Gu Yelin¡¯s empty bowl and placed a chopstick-full of bamboo shoots into it, ¡°You should eat too, don¡¯t just take care of me.¡± Gu Yelin stared at the bamboo shoots in his bowl for a moment. He had always been a heartless person, never having someone serve him a meal before¡ªnot because there was no one, but because no one dared. Third Young Master Gu¡¯s iron-fisted decision-making had always marked him as an emperor among the strong. In everyone¡¯s eyes, he was invincible. However, today, a clear and gentle girl appeared, as if she knew he was also flesh and blood, undaunted by his harsh and cold aura, simply caring for him. This warmth felt foreign, but it slowly melted Gu Yelin¡¯s heart and blended his feelings for An Yiqing into it, merging with his flesh and blood. ¡°What kind of illness does your friend have?¡± An Yiqing hadn¡¯t forgotten the real reason for the meal and asked responsibly. Gu Yelin put down his chopsticks and thought for a moment before answering, ¡°Two years ago, he was injured by a bomb and has since been confined to a wheelchair. Renowned experts from home and abroad have looked at him, but there has been no improvement.¡± ¡°Hmm, bring me to see him when you have time, but we need to assess the situation after an examination,¡± An Yiqing didn¡¯t make any promises, fearing that if she spoke too confidently now, Gu Yelin would be even more disappointed should she fail to cure his friend. ¡°Okay,¡± Gu Yelin seemed to understand An Yiqing¡¯s worries and reassured her, ¡°I believe in your medical arts, don¡¯t feel pressured. Even if you can¡¯t cure him, neither he nor I will be disappointed.¡± An Yiqing smiled softly and nodded, feeling an invisible understanding and warmth between them. ** On Saturday, Gu Yelin appeared on time at 8:30 am below An Yiqing¡¯s dormitory building. It had only been a day and a night since their parting, but to Gu Yelin, it felt as if a year had gone by. Eating, sleeping, and working, his mind was filled with An Yiqing¡¯s radiant face. He was deeply addicted¡ªonly An Yiqing was his antidote. The place Gu Yelin was heading to was a high-end residential area located in the city center, where many business elites working at renowned companies lived. In the golden location of the first ring, such high-end residential areas could be traded at sky-high prices, only affordable to those who were not short of money. Gu Yelin had briefly spoken to An Yiqing on the way. The man¡¯s name was Ye Feng, and he was a dear friend of Gu Yelin. Two years ago, during a mission, he was paralyzed by a nerve toxin and delayed, causing him to be blown away by a bomb. After relentless treatment, his leg was saved, but he was doomed to stay in a wheelchair forever. For Ye Feng, who used to be agile and highly skilled in martial arts, this was undoubtedly a massive blow. Although he didn¡¯t say much, the hopelessness in his eyes was unmistakable. For the past two years, Gu Yelin had been searching for a cure for Ye Feng but to no avail. He was quite surprised when Gu Tingting showed him the post from Xuan University¡¯s forum. It felt as if an invisible red thread was pulling him toward meeting An Yiqing¡ªshe must be the one who could heal Ye Feng. Gu Yelin parked the car and took An Yiqing in the elevator to the nineteenth floor. The door was opened by a woman in her forties who seemed to be a hired housekeeper. ¡°Young Master Gu is here? Come in!¡± The housekeeper warmly greeted him upon seeing Gu Yelin. She must be familiar with him since he often visited Ye Feng. When the housekeeper saw the girl behind Gu Yelin, she looked a bit surprised, but she didn¡¯t ask any questions. She knew it was better not to inquire into the affairs of someone evidently of no ordinary status. ¡°Where¡¯s Ye Feng?¡± ¡°Mr. Ye is in the bedroom. Recently, as the summer turns to autumn, his leg has started hurting again. Ah!¡± The housekeeper sighed regretfully. Such a young and handsome man¡ªhow is it that he cannot stand up now! Chapter 37 - 37 37 Treating Ye Feng (2) ?37: Chapter 37: Treating Ye Feng (2) 37: Chapter 37: Treating Ye Feng (2) Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes slightly sank as he had recently been busy with the homicide cases in Xuandu City, he indeed neglected that it was the time of seasonal change. For two years, Ye Feng¡¯s legs would suffer unbearable pain during such times, and being a man who would rather bite the bullet in silence, he naturally wouldn¡¯t say anything to anyone, and everyone had no choice but to comply with his temperament. An Yiqing sensed a hint of melancholy in Gu Yelin¡¯s mood and felt somewhat stifled in her heart. It seemed she didn¡¯t quite like him being so unhappy... Hmm... She definitely had to cure that Ye Feng. In fact, the seemingly slow-witted beauty had also started to catch on a little bit. Gu Yelin knocked on the bedroom door and, with An Yiqing, entered the room. The bright and spacious bedroom was simple and elegant, with a dominant deep blue color that conveyed a low-key and calm ambiance, just like the owner of the room. Several firearms and blades were displayed in the room, and An Yiqing could tell at a glance that these items were real. In front of the large French windows, a figure sat in a wheelchair with his back to the door, warm sunlight filling the room yet seeming unable to dispel the icy desolation on his body. The man in the wheelchair turned his head at the sound. He had a wheat-colored complexion and appeared to be over one meter eighty in height, with neat and refreshing short hair and eyes that were sharp and resolute yet carried a trace of melancholy. Even after two years in a wheelchair, he still looked fit and strong. This man was Ye Feng, Gu Yelin¡¯s close comrade-in-arms. ¡°Boss, why are you here?¡± Ye Feng¡¯s icy gaze grew warmer as he saw Gu Yelin at the door, but he looked obviously surprised when he saw An Yiqing standing behind Gu Yelin, ¡°Who might this be?¡± ¡°An Yiqing, I¡¯ve brought her to treat your leg,¡± Gu Yelin didn¡¯t beat around the bush; he knew Ye Feng didn¡¯t need that kind of unnecessary sympathy. Ye Feng was surprised; the girl in front of him looked delicate and exceptionally beautiful, with a fresh and clean aura that was quite unique, but treat his leg?... Ye Feng naturally trusted Gu Yelin unconditionally, but the idea of a girl who seemed to be less than twenty years old being able to heal his leg was a bit far-fetched. However, Ye Feng was a straightforward man, so since the boss had found her, he believed in her. An Yiqing greeted him and went straight to the point to begin the examination without any pretense. Ye Feng raised his eyebrows at this; the girl was indeed quite direct. An Yiqing¡¯s delicate hand gently rested on Ye Feng¡¯s pulse, feeling it carefully, and then moved to his leg, tapping and probing continuously, at times frowning, at times in deep thought. Soon, she came up with her diagnosis. Yet, to ensure the best therapeutic effect, she also specially employed her vital energy to slowly scan Ye Feng¡¯s body. Indeed, her conclusions were confirmed; the leg¡¯s meridians were completely severed, and the bones had not healed correctly. It could be said that, apart from the outer layer of skin, all internal components of Ye Feng¡¯s leg were damaged. To An Yiqing, Ye Feng¡¯s condition did not seem particularly severe; modern medicine could not cure it simply because of insufficient understanding and precision regarding meridians. Healing such injuries wasn¡¯t difficult, but it would entail great suffering. First, the severed meridians had to be sutured back together, and the Medicine Sect¡¯s Medical Arts were profound and comprehensive, naturally providing unique methods for reconnecting meridians. However, suturing meridians could not be done using any anesthetic, and the patient must have a strong and resolute will; otherwise, the pain might prove too much to bear before the procedure was complete. Moreover, before suturing the meridians, there was another painful task to be done. Since Ye Feng¡¯s bones had not healed properly, to avoid any long-term complications, they must shatter his leg bones completely and reset them. Whether it was breaking bones or suturing meridians, the pain involved was not something ordinary people could endure. Chapter 38 - 38 38 Zhang Yu Sheng ?38: Chapter 38 Zhang Yu Sheng 38: Chapter 38 Zhang Yu Sheng An Yiqing, without any concealment, told Gu Yelin and Ye Feng the diagnosis and the treatment method. Most people couldn¡¯t bear such pain, and it required Ye Feng to make his own decision. When Ye Feng heard An Yiqing say that his leg could be healed, his heart was as shocked as if it had been struck by waves. He didn¡¯t feel like An Yiqing was exaggerating her abilities; after all, someone recommended by Gu Yelin was certainly trustworthy. Moreover, upon hearing those incredible treatment methods, Ye Feng felt not fear but a surge of excitement. Pain didn¡¯t frighten him; he could endure any sort of pain. He only hoped he could return to normal, fight side by side with his boss and his comrades, and convince his brother to give up the idea of becoming a madman for medicine! He yearned for a life full of iron and blood, not to sit in a wheelchair, wasted away. I accept the treatment,¡± Ye Feng agreed to An Yiqing¡¯s harsh treatment plan without any hesitation. ¡°Good. Then next weekend, we will start with the first bone-shattering session. I will give you some herbal bath prescriptions in the next few days, you need to take two baths a day, each for an hour and a half, to minimize the pain from the bone-shattering and the suturing of the meridians.¡± An Yiqing deeply admired Ye Feng¡¯s decision, as most people would choose a comfortable life in a wheelchair when facing unimaginable pain. Men of iron like Ye Feng deserved everyone¡¯s admiration and truly were worthy of being Gu Yelin¡¯s life-and-death comrades. Gu Yelin was in high spirits, not having felt this relaxed in two years. The prospect of Ye Feng¡¯s leg healing was a wish shared by everyone. The surprise and hope this girl, who he held dear, had brought today was an expected yet still joyful event. He would not doubt the promises made by An Yiqing. He believed in her, unconditionally, without reason. After saying goodbye to Ye Feng, An Yiqing and Gu Yelin went to the pharmacy to select the herbal materials needed for the bath. It was the same old story; there were too many fakes these days, and turnips passed off as ginseng could be found everywhere. An Yiqing didn¡¯t trust brands; she only trusted her own eyes. ¡°Where do you want to go next?¡± ¡°Hmm... Do you know where in Xuandu City I can buy raw jade stone materials?¡± An Yiqing pondered for a moment, then decided on the plan for what to do next. The matter of registering the company needed to be expedited, and with her ability to see through objects with Inner Breath, An Yiqing was quite at home in jade, antiques, and medicine. On hearing this, Gu Yelin¡¯s eyebrows raised. Was this little woman thinking of gambling on stones? Did she like that? Well, in the future, he could acquire more top-quality raw materials for her. And so it was that, in the days that followed, every time An Yiqing saw the piles of raw materials, like small hills, in her warehouse, she would show a smile of happiness mixed with helplessness. ** At the largest raw material market in Xuandu City, the figures of a man and a woman stood out at the entrance. The girl was somewhat baffled; she was sure she had intended to come alone, so why was this man following her? An Yiqing was quite conflicted. She had merely inquired about the location of the raw jade market, and this man, Gu Yelin, under the pretext of the area being too complicated, had brazenly driven her here. Not only that, but he also righteously declared that the market was unsafe due to the mixed crowd and that she needed a bodyguard. The corners of An Yiqing¡¯s lips twitched incessantly, unable to stop. Damn it! As an Ancient Martial Artist with profound Inner Breath, would she be bullied in the raw jade market?! In Gu Yelin¡¯s view, thick-skinned pursuit was essential when courting a wife. With so many wolves drooling around his little white rabbit, he¡¯d prefer to stick by her side every moment if possible. This was the largest raw jade market in Xuandu City, a favorite haunt for jade stone enthusiasts. Though it was called a market, it was actually a very large warehouse. The layout within the warehouse was orderly, stacks of jade stone raw materials lying on the ground as if they were free for the taking. Push carts filled with raw materials moved up and down the aisles, handled by customers and managers. Whenever someone proceeded to the Stone-Cutting Table, a crowd would gather around, some thrilled and excited, others downcast and dejected. ¡°One cut makes you poor, one cut makes you rich¡±¡ªthis was the allure of gambling on stones. Win and you could earn ten to a hundred times your investment, becoming rich overnight; lose, and you could be destitute, everything gone. An Yiqing and Gu Yelin¡¯s appearance was already eye-catching, and coupled with their refined and distinguished demeanor, they stood out even among the piles of stones at the raw jade market. However... as the crowd observed the pair casually picking through raw materials as if they were choosing cabbages, everyone shook their heads, deeming them rich naifs with no real knowledge of the trade. Naturally, An Yiqing didn¡¯t care about the strange looks from those around her. Gu Yelin, whose submissive husband nature was gradually surfacing, never paid any mind to what others thought. The pair seemed quite content under the gaze of onlookers, whether those gazes were filled with admiration or mockery. An Yiqing¡¯s special Vital energy began to circulate, her eyes turning even more dazzling and captivating. Through the surface of the ordinary-looking stones, she could clearly see something deeper within. Gu Yelin noticed the change in An Yiqing and his eyes deepened in color. How could this little woman¡¯s aura be so strange? If An Yiqing knew what Gu Yelin was thinking at that moment, she would be greatly shocked. Even her master had never sensed her special Vital energy. It was precisely because this Vital energy masked her true Ancient Martial Artist¡¯s Inner Breath that Duan Tang had been unable to detect that she was an Ancient Martial Artist. Just how abnormal was Gu Yelin¡¯s power that he was able to detect what even a cunning old fox like Ye Chenghong had not? Of course, Gu Yelin had no intention of telling An Yiqing about his discovery. It was her secret, and he wouldn¡¯t ask unless she chose to tell. His role was to protect her, and even if she could turn stone into gold, in Gu Yelin¡¯s heart, not even one of An Yiqing¡¯s fingers was less precious. An Yiqing was selecting raw materials at a surprisingly fast pace, as casually as if they were mere stones. Gu Yelin pushed the cart behind her, watching the little woman in front pile the raw materials on the cart as if they cost nothing, without so much as a frown, seemingly convinced that whatever An Yiqing did was right. The onlookers bled inwardly at the sight of the raw materials piling up on the cart. Which family¡¯s profligate offspring was this! Who buys raw materials like that?! As if they were buying cabbages?! Zhang Yusheng had been preoccupied with troubles regarding Zhenbaozhai recently. He had been frequenting the raw jade market every day, hoping to come across a piece of raw material that could turn his fortunes around. After checking out many places, he felt a little disheartened. Setting aside the risks of betting on stones, he dared not gamble his last savings on any piece given the amount of debt he owed. While he was hesitating, his attention was drawn to a girl before him. She was pretty, but her actions were somewhat laughable. The moment she set her sights on a raw material, she would pretentiously pat it, and then the handsome man by her side would load it onto the cart. Their movements were smooth and practiced, as if the raw materials were free. Chapter 39 - 39 39 Gambling on Stones ?39: Chapter 39: Gambling on Stones 39: Chapter 39: Gambling on Stones When Zhang Yusheng discovered that the girl had her eye on a piece of rough jade worth at least five million, he became somewhat restless. This girl, about the same age as his sister lying in the hospital bed, carried herself with an extraordinary demeanor and had a clean, clear gaze, far from what one would expect from a spendthrift. After thinking it over, Zhang Yusheng decided he¡¯d better go and give her some advice. ¡°Miss, it¡¯s better to buy less rough jade. Not every piece will reveal green,¡± he cautioned. An Yiqing looked up at his words, facing a man with a square, upright face and a bright, intelligent gleam in his eyes, which were direct and steady, not flickering. An Yiqing found this man quite interesting. Judging by his attire, he should be successful in his career, yet the exhaustion and dejection on his face indicated he was currently facing difficulties. Here was a man who, despite his own uncertain situation, still kindly warned her; such genuine concern was rare nowadays. ¡°Zhang Boss, let the young lady buy what she wants. You can barely keep yourself afloat, and you¡¯re thinking about others?¡± the stall owner, seeing his duck about to fly away, couldn¡¯t help but grow anxious. This Zhang Yusheng really was something, owing debts and not paying them off, yet coming here to play the good Samaritan. Zhang Yusheng, looking at the approving or mocking expressions of those around him, clenched his hands tighter, his face turning crimson. In recent days, he had experienced the fickleness of human relationships. When he was successful, everyone fawned over him, but now that he had fallen on hard times, he understood what was real and what was fake. Although Zhang Yusheng was furious, he didn¡¯t just walk away. He didn¡¯t want the girl, about the same age as his sister, to be deceived. Even though the girl¡¯s clothing indicated she was no ordinary person, the rough jade she had chosen was worth over ten million, a significant sum for any family. ¡°Young lady, not every piece of rough jade will reveal green. It¡¯s best to be cautious in your selection. The ones you¡¯ve chosen amount to over ten million, it¡¯s too risky,¡± he advised. An Yiqing roughly understood the man before her from the idle talk around them. Zhang Yusheng, the renowned owner of Zhenbaozhai in Xuandu City. Zhenbaozhai dealt in jade, and Zhang Yusheng himself was quite capable. He started from scratch at twenty-three and built Zhenbaozhai step by step with his exceptional talent and eye for quality. However, sentiment has its downsides. Being too brilliant led to betrayal by his partner and lover, who not only took all his money but also left him in debt of fifty million. What Zhang Yusheng resented most was that they had also harmed his own sister. The memory of his sister lying in a pool of blood after being hit by a car filled him with an insatiable desire for revenge! Looking at the middle-aged man, roughly thirty-five, in front of her, An Yiqing smiled gently and said, ¡°Thank you for the reminder, sir, but I trust my own judgment.¡± Hearing An Yiqing¡¯s words, the crowd snickered. Zhang Yusheng grew even more anxious, ¡°Miss, over ten million is not a small sum, you should think it over more carefully.¡± ¡°Zhang Boss, the lady herself isn¡¯t concerned about the money, why pretend to be kind? Have you given up on repaying your debts to play the philanthropist instead?¡± Someone blurted out the sarcastic remark, eliciting laughter from those nearby. An Yiqing gave the speaker a cold look, chilling him to the bone. This girl¡¯s gaze was eerily strange! ¡°I appreciate your intention. But Mr. Zhang, one must believe in miracles, like you should believe that good people will eventually be rewarded,¡± she insisted. Her words struck Zhang Yusheng¡¯s heart one by one. He stared blankly at the young girl before him, believing in miracles? An Yiqing¡¯s face overlaid with the image of his sister¡¯s pale features. If miracles existed, he didn¡¯t ask for wealth or status, only that his sister would wake up! An Yiqing, observing the man whose eyes were reddening in front of her, nodded silently to herself. Compassionate and righteous, even in the depths of hardship, he still preserved the heart of a noble child ¨C this Zhang Yusheng was commendable. While Zhang Yusheng was mired in sorrow and indecision, An Yiqing had already paid for the rough jade she¡¯d selected. Originally, Gu Yelin had intended to pay, but An Yiqing insisted that if he did, then any jade that resulted from the cutting would belong to him. Gu Yelin was somewhat helpless and let An Yiqing pay by herself. He knew she had her principles, well then, he would find her more top-quality rough stones in the future. ¡°The total is eleven million. Will you be paying in cash or by card?¡± The owner of the rough jade stall section in Xuandu City, Boss Wang, viewed An Yiqing as nothing more than a pretty face without a brain. The girl had picked out five pieces of rough jade, three of which were inferior products from the waste stone area, only pricey due to their size. Boss Wang was secretly delighted; eleven million was no small sum¡ªhe had made a fortune! By the time Zhang Yuksheng realized what was happening, he slapped his thigh in regret. Alas! The gamble on stones was too complicated, and this girl was bound to suffer a loss! ¡°Let¡¯s go, Boss Zhang. Let¡¯s see what good stuff can come out of the eleven million!¡± Stall owner Boss Wang saw An Yiqing heading toward the Stone-Cutting Area, and, with a face full of mockery, dragged Zhang Yuksheng along to watch the excitement. In the midst of being pulled, Zhang Yuksheng was dragged by Boss Wang to the front of the Stone-Cutting Table. Many people were gathered around, some who knew the ins and outs of the situation and wanted to watch the excitement, and others who had come upon hearing the commotion to watch the stone-cutting. The crowd grew larger, congesting the area around the Stone-Cutting Table. Fortunately, Gu Yelin¡¯s presence was so commanding that it prevented these people from daring to come any closer. ¡°Which master do you want to cut the stone?¡± An old man in a gray vest, holding a big palm-leaf fan, gave An Yiqing a sidelong glance¡ªa spendthrift who pretends to understand but does not! An Yiqing ignored the old man¡¯s attitude. She approached Zhang Yuksheng and asked, ¡°Boss Zhang, can you cut stones?¡± Zhang Yuksheng hadn¡¯t expected An Yiqing to ask him and, upon hearing the query, he casually replied, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s part of the job.¡± ¡°Then please cut the stone for me, Boss Zhang.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Zhang Yuksheng was somewhat incredulous. He couldn¡¯t quite see through this girl; she didn¡¯t seem as harmless as she looked on the surface. An Yiqing confirmed with a nod, ¡°After the stone is cut, I will pay the labor fee at market rate. Please do me this favor, Boss Zhang.¡± ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s not about the money!¡± Zhang Yuksheng quickly waved his hands to explain, but seeing the girl in front of him whose mind was made up, he finally gave in with a helpless nod, ¡°Sigh, alright! But, miss, be prepared. It¡¯s normal for the rough stone not to reveal any green. Don¡¯t be discouraged.¡± An Yiqing looked at Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s simple and genuine concern and couldn¡¯t help but give a gentle smile. Her judgment was not bad; indeed, Zhang Yuksheng was a man of integrity. Gu Yelin had been following An Yiqing closely, but hadn¡¯t made any decisions for her. He knew this little woman was not a canary in a cage; what he needed to do was to accompany, protect, and assist her. He was aware of An Yiqing¡¯s plan, and Zhang Yuksheng seemed decent; Gu Yelin silently nodded to himself. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t allow someone with ill-intentions to stay close to this little woman. Zhang Yuksheng removed his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his blue shirt. His physique wasn¡¯t like that of most entrepreneurs, corpulent and well-fed. The way he moved the stones showed that he was someone who exercised and labored regularly. An Yiqing nodded in approval; being able to maintain such self-control was indeed commendable. Chapter 40 - 40 40 Gambling on Stones (1) ?40: Chapter 40 Gambling on Stones (1) 40: Chapter 40 Gambling on Stones (1) Zhang Yusheng selected a piece of rough stone the size of a football. This stone was gray and white, pockmarked and uneven, with no moss or pine flower on its surface, showing no characteristic signs of having jade inside. The people around all laughed when they saw this stone. Those with a bit of knowledge knew that the most promising rough stones were those with a skin black like lacquer, with white chalky bands that were prominent, with pine flowers on the chalk, scabs on the skin, mist beneath the skin, and a clear, dry color. The gray and white stone in Zhang Yusheng¡¯s hand didn¡¯t seem promising at all. Zhang Yusheng ignored the laughter of the crowd, focusing intently on the stone before carefully drawing several lines on its surface. An Yiqing nodded, showing that, for someone who couldn¡¯t see through it as an ordinary person, Zhang Yusheng¡¯s actions were sufficient to demonstrate his capabilities. Zhang Yusheng picked up the stone-cutting machine and carefully cut along the lines he had drawn. One cut down and all that was revealed was stark white stone! ¡°Tsk! You think this piece of crappy stone could produce green? Is he sick in the head?¡± someone in the crowd said mockingly, as if happy to stir up trouble. ¡°Go away! It¡¯s his money, he can spend it how he wants, what¡¯s it to you?¡± Zhang Yusheng looked worriedly at An Yiqing, considering that, although the piece of rough wasn¡¯t expensive, it wasn¡¯t cheap either. He was a bit worried that the young girl wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the disappointment. However, he saw that the girl in front of him had maintained a sweet smile from the beginning to the end, not showing a hint of panic even when the stone revealed only whiteness, as if everything was under her control. ¡°Continue cutting. Do it the way you think is best.¡± Noticing Zhang Yusheng¡¯s concern, An Yiqing felt a warmth in her heart. Zhang Yusheng, looking at An Yiqing¡¯s gentle and indifferent smile, felt his worries slowly disappear. It was as if this girl possessed a kind of soothing magic; in her presence, it seemed like endless possibilities existed. Zhang Yusheng steadied himself, ignoring the mocking words around him and calmly continued with the stone cutting. He chose his spot and made a clean and decisive cut. Then he was stunned, muttering incredulously, ¡°Green! It really showed green!¡± The newly cut window revealed a hint of green, leaving everyone in disbelief. Could this worthless stone really produce jade?! Zhang Yusheng switched from cutting to grinding, little by little extracting the jade from within the rough. When he rinsed the extracted rough with a splash of water, the true appearance of the jade was unveiled before the crowd. The jade was a yellow-green color with a delicate texture, crystal clear, and free from any impurities. ¡°It¡¯s Old Pit High Ice Species Huangyang Green! It¡¯s actually Old Pit High Ice Species Huangyang Green!¡± ¡°Good heavens! This is truly full of vigor! Has Boss Zhang just walked into some incredible luck!¡± ¡°What Boss Zhang? That jade belongs to the little girl standing next to him.¡± ¡°What?¡±... The crowd of onlookers instantly erupted into chaos. The revelation that a piece of worthless stone had produced Old Pit High Ice Species Huangyang Green stunned everyone. Word of mouth spread the news swiftly, and as the tale grew more impressive, more and more people came to observe. As the person directly involved, Zhang Yusheng found it unbelievable. Though not a jade gambling expert, he had amassed quite a few valuable experiences over the years. He had encountered turning trash into treasure before, but he had never encountered such a high-quality jade coming from such a useless stone. Zhang Yusheng stared dumbfounded at An Yiqing, whose delicate face still wore a gentle smile, lacking the surprise and excitement that ordinary people would show, as if all this were within her expectations. Zhang Yusheng felt An Yiqing was increasingly mysterious. To face such precious jade with composure, this girl was certainly no ordinary person. Chapter 41 - 41 41 Gambling on Stones (2) ?41: Chapter 41 Gambling on Stones (2) 41: Chapter 41 Gambling on Stones (2) ¡°Boss Zhang, give me a price for this piece of jade¡ªI¡¯ll buy it!¡± Seeing a business opportunity, the bosses couldn¡¯t stay still. Zhang Yuksheng was now in deep debt, and there was no better time to negotiate. Don¡¯t blame them for kicking a man when he¡¯s down¡ªit¡¯s every man for himself after all. So, the difference between people will always be there. ¡°The jade is not mine; it belongs to this young lady. I¡¯m just helping her cut the stone,¡± Zhang Yuksheng quickly explained to everyone, with not a single thought of claiming the treasure for himself. He had his own principles when it came to integrity, and though he desperately needed money, he absolutely would not take ill-gotten gains! An Yiqing was very satisfied with Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s behavior. Although the High Ice Species Yellow Seedling Green wasn¡¯t rare, it could still sell for about eight million. If Zhang Yuksheng were to claim it for himself at that moment, without any witnesses or proof, even if she was in the right, she would have no way to argue it. ¡°Pretty lady, name your price!¡± The crowd became restless as they were set on making a deal. ¡°Simple, highest bidder gets it. Transfer only, no cash,¡± An Yiqing glanced over the crowd, taking in everyone¡¯s thoughts. ¡°One million! I¡¯ll take it!¡± ¡°Pah! You have the nerve to offer one million! Beauty, three million!¡± One after the other, people in the crowd started bidding, and An Yiqing couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly, her smile fading slightly from her face. ¡°Gentlemen,¡± a pleasant but chilling voice arose, ¡°do you really think you can fool me with an offer of three million?¡± ¡°Young lady, one must not be greedy. Your jade might be of the High Ice Species, but it¡¯s small, and Yellow Seedling Green is nothing out of the ordinary. Offering you three million is already quite generous!¡± The man who had offered three million spoke discontentedly, thinking the young girl had just gotten lucky with finding the jade and now fancied herself as an expert! Zhang Yuksheng standing to the side was fuming, indignant that a bunch of grown men were trying to cheat a young girl. He was about to speak up for An Yiqing, but she raised her hand to stop him. ¡°Sir, my piece of jade might not be a rare color, but when it comes to luster and texture, it is top-notch. A ring face of High Ice Species Yellow Seedling Green on the market is already going for hundreds of thousands. My jade is only worth three million? Do you really think I¡¯m young and easy to swindle?¡± An Yiqing¡¯s voice was not loud, but each word seemed to weigh heavily on the hearts of those present. Those with crooked ideas were shocked; the young girl turned out to be an insider, and unmistakably someone who had done her research on jade! They had misjudged her! Those who had been stirring up the bidding earlier fell silent, their schemes laid bare by a young girl. They felt extremely embarrassed. ¡°We will start again, highest bidder wins,¡± An Yiqing said nothing more, aware of the principle of leaving room for reconciliation when doing business. After the twists and turns, no one else had any devious ideas. Following some competition, the jade was sold to a renowned shop for 8.5 million. An Yiqing was quite content with the price. Her estimate had been eight million; now she had earned an extra half a million. Hmm... that could be used for some good eats. Flip the table! Qingqing, can you be a little more ambitious? Half a million! That¡¯s a whole half a million! You could buy a small apartment in a second-tier city with that money! And you are actually considering spending it on, food?! The people around her naturally had no clue about An Yiqing¡¯s wandering thoughts. But Gu Yelin, looking at the girl¡¯s sparkling eyes, had a few guesses. The corner of his mouth twitched; this would-be wife was too easy to provide for, and too easily deceived. Chapter 42 - 42 42 Gambling on Stones ?42: Chapter 42: Gambling on Stones 42: Chapter 42: Gambling on Stones An Yiqing, upon receiving a transfer message of 8.5 million, had her clear eyes brimming with smiles. She turned to Zhang Yusheng and said, ¡°Thank you for the hard work, Boss Zhang. Could you please cut open the second piece of rough for me?¡± When Zhang Yusheng saw An Yiqing effortlessly lifting up a rough stone weighing about thirty catties, he couldn¡¯t help but suck in a breath of cold air. The girl looked frail, but in person, she was quite the contrary. He hurriedly took the rough from her, fearing An Yiqing might accidentally drop it on herself. ¡°Boss Zhang, cut along the lines I¡¯ve drawn and then grind it with the abrasive wheel. Be careful,¡± An Yiqing instructed as she marked a few lines on the stone with a marker pen. Zhang Yusheng listened attentively and did not underestimate her due to her young age. However, not everyone around shared the same sentiment. Although the girl seemed knowledgeable, what could she possibly know at such a young age? The last stone was just a stroke of luck, they thought, and now they were curious to see what she could manage this time. It must be said that a person¡¯s thinking dictates their perspective. Those who dismiss grapes as sour when they can¡¯t eat them will forever live in envy and scorn. Zhang Yusheng, following An Yiqing¡¯s instructions, picked up the stone-cutting machine and made a cut. A streak of purple light instantly poured forth, with florets drifting in a shallow purple hue on a crystal clear jade base, adorned with faint orchids. The texture was delicate and translucent, and the dignified purple, like a noble lady of high birth, revealed its unique mysterious charm! Violet! It was a High Ice Type Floating Orchid Violet! To think that uncovering a football-sized piece of Huangyang Green was already a surprise. Violet is scarce and High Ice Type Violet is even more of a rarity. In the market, a golden-mounted High Ice Type Purple Violet pendant could sell for an astronomical price, and the piece of Violet that Zhang Yusheng had just cut was about the size of a large bowl¡¯s mouth! Such a piece of Violet could sell for at least twenty million! Zhang Yusheng was stunned! The onlookers¡¯ jaws dropped! ¡°Holy smokes! High Ice Type Floating Orchid Violet! Good Heavens! I can¡¯t believe this!¡± ¡°Quick, give me my medicine, my heart is troubling me!¡± ¡°Make way, make way, let me see, step aside!¡± Everyone was shocked and in disarray. When had such top-quality jade become as common as cabbage, where any random piece of rough could reveal a piece of Violet! The way people looked at An Yiqing began to change slowly. Not to mention the girl¡¯s eye for quality, the luck of consecutively uncovering two pieces of top-grade jade was unmatched by ordinary people. Pah! Who said she was mindless? Not only does she have a mind, it works better than any of theirs! ¡°Miss, are you selling this piece of Violet? I¡¯ll buy it, and I¡¯m telling you, no one better compete with me!¡± ¡°Back off! Can you even afford it? Don¡¯t create trouble! Out of my way!¡± In the end, amid the noise and commotion of the crowd, An Yiqing sold the piece of Violet for an impressive twenty-three million. Zhang Yusheng felt somewhat numb. The two pieces of jade that were cut had been picked by this girl from the rejected stones, and their combined price was less than one million. In the blink of an eye, their value had skyrocketed thirtyfold! Stall owner Boss Wang was green with regret. How had he not noticed these two pieces of exceptional rough in his pile of rejected stones? He had mistaken jewels for fish eyes. He had actually sold two pieces of jade rough worth over thirty million for less than a million! But no matter how much Boss Wang regretted, the two pieces of jade already had their owners, and An Yiqing was the biggest winner. Looking at the string of zeros on the text message, An Yiqing was very happy now. However, the effect she wanted had not yet been achieved. The main event of the day was just beginning! ¡°Could you please help carry this stone to the Stone-Cutting Table?¡± An Yiqing politely asked the staff, patting the last rough stone she was going to unveil. Everyone ¡°wow¡±ed and the place erupted into excitement. The stone An Yiqing was about to unveil was the large rough stone bought from Boss Wang¡¯s family for a high price of 6.5 million! 6.5 million, even for the wealthy, is no small sum. No matter how rich one is, spending that amount still hurts a little, right? If that 6.5 million could earn a return, one could be satisfied. But if it turned out to be for naught, that would be truly tear-inducing! In such a scenario, not to mention the onlookers, even Zhang Yuksheng, who had just unearthed two pieces of top-grade jade, felt a bit jittery. This wasn¡¯t one of those worthless stones from before; this was a real investment of 6.5 million! Actually, this is the thrilling part of jade gambling. Winners always want to win more, and losers are forever hoping for a comeback. One cut could break you, another could make your fortune. With the first cut, you might be worth millions, but with the second, you might lose it all! An Yiqing remained calm and collected. She gently patted Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Boss Zhang, you have to believe in miracles.¡± Her voice was soft, but it struck Zhang Yuksheng like a wake-up call. Yes, the girl in front of him had already carved out two top-grade jades; she herself was a miracle, and he should believe in her! ¡°Miss, you tell me, how should I cut it?¡± Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s spirits lifted and he rolled up his sleeves eagerly, appearing ready to try. Seeing Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s rejuvenated spirit, An Yiqing felt reassured. One should not fear failure; the real fear is not daring to start over. Zhang Yuksheng had adjusted quickly; his mental strength was impressive. ¡°Boss Zhang, this time we don¡¯t need the Stone-Cutting Machine to cut, just use sandpaper to grind it slowly,¡± she instructed. Zhang Yuksheng was somewhat surprised at her words. The rough stone weighed at least a hundred pounds, and its large size was evident; if anyone else had asked him to rub such a large stone with sandpaper bit by bit, Zhang Yuksheng would have thought they were joking with him. But he believed this girl¡¯s words! Zhang Yuksheng did as An Yiqing instructed, holding a large piece of sandpaper and rubbing it carefully against the stone. Amid the stunned gazes of the onlookers, the originally dark stone gradually revealed a glint of green. Seeing this, Zhang Yuksheng quickened his pace, yet remained steady as he rubbed open a larger window, and poured on a handful of clean water. A dazzling, rich green light burst forth as if splitting the clouds to reveal the sun! What kind of green was this? Rich and enticing, crystal clear! No words could describe such beauty! Old Pit Glass Type Imperial Green! Just from one window, everyone present could ascertain that it was Old Pit Glass Type Imperial Green! No one spoke, and the surroundings centered around An Yiqing fell utterly silent, as if even their breathing had lightened. Zhang Yuksheng steadied himself, his trembling hands becoming even more careful. Half an hour felt like a century to those watching. Zhang Yuksheng finally unveiled all the jade, and by then, he was exhausted and drenched in sweat. Exhilarating! He had never felt as thoroughly elated as he did today. Under Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s careful polishing, the large piece of jade finally revealed its true face. Chapter 43 - 43 43 A Sensational Debut ?43: Chapter 43 A Sensational Debut 43: Chapter 43 A Sensational Debut Old Pit Glass Type Imperial Green! At least eighty pounds of Old Pit Glass Type Imperial Green! The atmosphere around was eerily tense to the extreme. Not a single person spoke, yet one could feel a boiling point about to erupt. ¡°Hiss!¡ª¡ª¡± A gasp, like a boulder breaking the surface of still water, instantly set off towering waves of shock. ¡°The, the, the Old Pit Glass... Glass-type Imperial Green!¡± ¡°Old Huang, pinch me, I must be dreaming, I¡¯m actually seeing such a huge piece of Emperor Green!¡± ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°Old Fu, does it hurt?¡± ¡°No... no, it doesn¡¯t hurt, I must be dreaming!¡± ¡°Ouch! Of course you¡¯re not hurting! He pinched me! Both of you are fools!¡± For a moment, the crowd was either crying or excited, some even sought death. This was not an exaggeration; premium jade indeed has such allure. Some jade enthusiasts spend their entire lives without the fortune to glimpse such a piece. ¡°Where is the Emperor Green? Where is the Emperor Green?!¡± At that moment, a loud voice approached from afar, the urgency in the speaker¡¯s voice was clear. An elderly man in his seventies, dressed in vintage attire, was being helped through the crowd by a young man around twenty-five years old, struggling to make his way to the front. ¡°Quick! Quick! Emperor Green!¡± The elder panted heavily, his face flushed red, and as he stared wide-eyed at the enormous piece of jade in front of him. Step by step he walked up to the jade, his wrinkled hand tremulously caressing the jade¡¯s translucent and enchantingly vibrant green form. His murky eyes were filled with excitement. What a stroke of luck! What a stroke of luck! In his lifetime, he had actually seen premium Emperor Green! Even if he were to die at this moment, he would have no regrets! Noticing the elder¡¯s unnaturally flushed complexion, An Yiqing quickly stepped forward, drew a Silver Needle, and quickly punctured the elder¡¯s body, ¡°Old sir, these are all worldly possessions, please take care of your health.¡± ¡°Oh dear old gentleman! Knowing you have high blood pressure, why not keep it under control? If something happens to you, my skin wouldn¡¯t be spared by the old lady!¡± The young man by the side hurriedly came up to support him; this old man was really reckless. The septuagenarian did not pay attention to the young man; instead, he turned to look at An Yiqing. He had been too excited just now; if it had been another time, it would have gone wrong long ago, but this young lady had stabilized him with just one needle. Looking back at An Yiqing, with her exceptional beauty and extraordinary demeanor, hiss¡ªsuch a promising youth! ¡°Girl, thank you for saving me just now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite, old sir. As beautiful as jade is, it is still an external possession. Please take care of your health,¡± An Yiqing replied with a slight smile, always having a particular fondness for the elderly. The septuagenarian shook his head helplessly and said, ¡°Alas, I was obsessed. Such a large piece of premium Emperor Green is indeed rare to see. By the way, who does this jade belong to?¡± ¡°Elder, this piece of jade belongs to me.¡± The septuagenarian looked at An Yiqing with some disbelief and asked, ¡°Did you carve it out?!¡± An Yiqing nodded indifferently. ¡°What a clever girl! To be able to extricate such a large piece of top-quality Emperor Green also shows strength!¡± The septuagenarian wanted to talk more with An Yiqing, but the people around became impatient. ¡°Miss, are you selling this jadeite?¡± ¡°Yeah, miss, you¡¯ll make a fortune if you sell this jadeite. Just sell it.¡± Those present weren¡¯t short of money, and while such a large piece of Emperor Green was expensive, it certainly wasn¡¯t beyond their means. ¡°Miss, I¡¯ll offer ten billion!¡± ¡°Scram! Ten billion for such a big piece of jadeite? Are you out of your mind? Miss, I¡¯ll offer fifteen billion!¡± ¡°Twenty billion!¡± The septuagenarian¡¯s robust voice rang out, startling everyone. Who exactly was this old man, bidding twenty billion without even batting an eye? At that moment, the young man beside the elder took out a business card from his chest pocket and politely handed it to An Yiqing, ¡°This is Ma Tianci, Chairman of the Xuanjin Yu Jade Association, and the price is negotiable. We hope to find a place to talk this over.¡± As soon as the young man spoke, everyone was shocked! This old man was the famous Chairman of the Jade Association, Ma Tianci?! That¡¯s a really big shot! No wonder he offered twenty billion without blinking an eye, only heaven knows how rich the Jade Association is! This girl is really lucky, not only did she extract three pieces of top-quality jadeite, but she also caught the attention of the Jade Association Chairman. An Yiqing looked down at the business card in her hand and put it away carefully. She looked up into Ma Tianci¡¯s eyes, filled with anticipation, and said with a smile in her eyes, ¡°Sorry, Old Ma, I¡¯m not selling this piece of jadeite.¡± Ma Tianci was greatly surprised, and everyone looked at An Yiqing as if she were a fool. That was twenty billion! Some people work themselves to death for a lifetime and can¡¯t earn one billion, yet she refused to sell! An Yiqing ignored the strange looks from the crowd; her eyes calmly swept over the surroundings, and she spoke with lightly parted red lips, ¡°My Yuyuanzhai will be opening next Saturday in the Xuandu Antique Market, and this piece of Emperor Green will be displayed in the hall as our store¡¯s treasure. Everyone is welcome to come and support us.¡± This was the real reason An Yiqing had come here today; she had always had this plan, but just lacked an opportunity to make a name for herself. Today¡¯s Emperor Green gave her that chance. With the Old Pit Glass Type Imperial Green as the store¡¯s treasure, from this moment on, the reputation of Yuyuanzhai was thoroughly established! No one had heard of Yuyuanzhai before, but that didn¡¯t matter. From tomorrow on, the rumor that the owner of Yuyuanzhai had consecutively solved two pieces of high-quality jadeite and one piece of top-quality Emperor Green would spread throughout the entire circle. By then, it would be hard for Yuyuanzhai not to become famous. This young girl, though young, was quite shrewd. The people present had different thoughts, but all of them showed welcoming smiles and expressed that they would surely visit. ¡°Old sir, please honor Yuyuanzhai with your presence when it opens. I¡¯ll make sure you have a great time,¡± An Yiqing did not forget her manners; this Old Master Ma was worthy of her respect. ¡°Good! Good! I¡¯ll certainly be there! You¡¯d better take good care, miss! This Emperor Green is of the finest quality; take very good care of it,¡± Ma Tianci kept repeating, as if worried something might happen to the jadeite. Words from the heart can inspire unintended actions. The Chairman of the Jade Association personally attending Yuyuanzhai¡¯s opening? Wow! It seems this Yuyuanzhai is going to be quite something! An Yiqing chatted with Ma Tianci a bit more, then as she showed no intention of continuing to solve stones, everyone dispersed. Although people had left, the name of An Yiqing and her Yuyuanzhai resounded throughout the jade industry! If anyone was to regret this event the most, it had to be the stall owner, Boss Wang. Initially thinking he could outwit the young lady, he sold the raw material at a high price. He thought he had made a profit but hadn¡¯t expected her to extract a piece of top-quality Emperor Green. That was worth twenty billion! Enough to last him a lifetime without any worries! The prize that should have been his flew into someone else¡¯s hands. How could he be reconciled! Boss Wang¡¯s eyes darted around as a plan formed in his mind. Chapter 44 - 44 44 Punishing the Wicked Boss ?44: Chapter 44: Punishing the Wicked Boss 44: Chapter 44: Punishing the Wicked Boss An Yiqing and Gu Yelin bid farewell to Ma Tianci, and with them leading the way by car, they instructed the staff to follow behind with the jade. The place An Yiqing intended to visit was a stronghold of the Medicine Sect nearby. Calling it a stronghold, it was actually a pharmacy. Mainly, it was operated by Bai Wuchang to gather intelligence. ¡°We have a tail,¡± Gu Yelin glanced at the rearview mirror. In addition to the staff¡¯s cargo truck following them, there was an inconspicuous tail. Through the mirror, An Yiqing saw it and smiled faintly, knowing the journey wouldn¡¯t be smooth sailing. With such a large piece of top-quality Emperor Green, it was no surprise others had the idea to make a crooked move. ¡°Take the back roads and head to a less crowded area to deal with them.¡± Gu Yelin turned the steering wheel and took a secluded side road. The cargo truck behind them hurried to keep up. Boss Wang¡¯s plan was to ambush and steal the jade halfway through. His family had relatives involved in the underworld, so it was no problem to find some thugs. Boss Wang secretly followed An Yiqing and Gu Yelin and was thrilled to see them going deeper into isolated territory. Even the heavens seemed to assist him; this road was sparsely populated and without any cameras, meaning there was no worry about leaving evidence behind. Boss Wang immediately ordered his driver to speed up and block the road ahead of An Yiqing and Gu Yelin¡¯s car. When Gu Yelin and An Yiqing saw Boss Wang exiting the vehicle, they understood what was happening. Someone had reneged on their deal! Boss Wang was actually somewhat worried. He knew that these two individuals before him were either rich or nobility, especially the man with the handsome stature. He had considered what to do if he offended a big shot, but with two billion in temptation, Boss Wang decided to take the risk. ¡°Boss Wang,¡± An Yiqing stepped out of the car with a smile, her eyes cold and mocking, ¡°are you here because you¡¯re worried that thieves might have their eyes on us?¡± Boss Wang forced out a laugh¡ªhe understood the implication in An Yiqing¡¯s words all too well. Everyone knew who the ¡°thief¡± was. ¡°Girl, the jade is rightfully mine. I¡¯m willing to pay you back the five million and you return the jade to me, how about it?¡± Boss Wang brazenly declared with conviction. ¡°Boss Wang, the deal was clear: payment for goods. Since I purchased the raw stone, the jade that comes from it naturally belongs to me. Surely, you can understand such a simple concept, can¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Pah! Girl, be careful not to bite off more than you can chew at such a young age. I¡¯ll give you six million; hand over the jade quickly! Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for not being nice.¡± Boss Wang tore off his last shred of decency, threatening viciously. ¡°Not being nice? I would like to see how you¡¯re going to be not nice!¡± An Yiqing retorted, and before Boss Wang knew it, a delicate scent wafted through the air, and a dainty jade hand clutched his throat! ¡°Ah, ah, you...¡± Boss Wang¡¯s face turned crimson, and his eyes, wide with horror, stared at the girl in front of him. Was she even human? When had she come over? Seeing their boss in danger, the dozen or so thugs behind Boss Wang had no choice but to charge forward reluctantly. They had no other option; Boss Wang was a relative of their own boss, and if they didn¡¯t save him, they would be in deep trouble when they got back! That¡¯s when Gu Yelin made his move. His already icy gaze grew sharper. His figure was as agile as a cheetah, and the outline of the powerful explosive force hidden within his body, wrapped by his clothes, was faintly visible. His defined muscular lines were enough to make any woman¡¯s blood race. There was no suspense; before the loafers could even react, Gu Yelin swiftly ended the battle, which lacked any suspense from the outset. The two delivery workers sitting in the truck were stunned. This man and woman were not only good-looking but also incredibly skilled! Were they watching a martial arts film? A dozen or so thugs lay on the ground groaning, but Boss Wang had no time to care about them. His face, pinched by An Yiqing, had turned blue and purple, his eyes rolled back as he seemed on the verge of death. Just then, An Yiqing let go, and with a ¡°smack,¡± she violently threw Boss Wang to the ground. Boss Wang regretted everything; he had never been in such close proximity to death. The moment his throat was seized, he thought he saw a pair of black wings unfurl behind this seemingly innocent and clear-eyed girl. This girl who appeared so simple and pure was actually a ruthless God of Slaughter! Lying on the ground, he struggled to breathe fresh air, but he heard An Yiqing¡¯s voice ring out: ¡°Boss Wang, I¡¯ve taken the jadeite. If you¡¯re not satisfied, come find me at Xuan University, and remember, my name is An Yiqing!¡± My name is An Yiqing! My name is An Yiqing! My name is An Yiqing! ... Long after An Yiqing and Gu Yelin had left, those words still echoed in the minds of the thugs. They were stunned. Was her name An Yiqing? Was she really An Yiqing?! Was she the same An Yiqing mentioned in the Muyun Society¡¯s underworld orders?! The thugs were nearly in tears, even their boss was in no position to help himself, and now that they had offended An Yiqing, they only saw a dead end ahead! After hearing the cursing and explanations from these thugs, Boss Wang also realized he might have truly offended someone untouchable... However, whatever happened to these people was of no concern to An Yiqing. They were merely spices in the bland stew of life; who would let a single fly ruin their entire lives? Having delivered the jadeite to the Medicine Sect Foothold, it was now past three in the afternoon. Gu Yelin naturally seized the last chance to spend time with An Yiqing and used dinner as an excuse to monopolize another hour of her time. He wished he could package this little white rabbit and take her home to cherish behind closed doors. Alas, given the current circumstances, it was merely a fantasy for Third Young Master Gu. ¡ª¡ªI am the little foodie divider line¡ª¡ª The next day, An Yiqing arrived early at the antique market. Zhenbaozhai, specializing in jadeite and other precious stones, was considered a major player in the antique market. Its owner, Zhang Yuksheng, was a genius who started from scratch at twenty-three; with his own talents and opportunities, he made a name for himself in the jade industry. Unfortunately, he had the misfortune of trusting the wrong people. His significant other and his so-called friend had conspired against him, not only taking all his wealth but also causing his sister to fall into a coma. Many veterans in the jade industry shook their heads in pity, lamenting the waste of Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s talents. Now, a comeback seemed incredibly difficult for him! An Yiqing came today specifically for Zhang Yuksheng. After yesterday¡¯s contact, she had already planned to recruit Zhang Yuksheng. He was not just talented, but also had integrity; such a person in ancient times would certainly have been a fiercely loyal and gallant general. An Yiqing inquired around and soon located Zhenbaozhai. At that moment, a dramatic scene was unfolding within Zhenbaozhai. Chapter 45 - 45 45 Subduing Zhang Yusheng (1) ?45: Chapter 45 Subduing Zhang Yusheng (1) 45: Chapter 45 Subduing Zhang Yusheng (1) ¡°Boss Zhang, you promised to pay back the fifty million you owe me today. Why are you still trying to weasel out of it?¡± The burly leader pushed Zhang Yuksheng roughly, almost causing him to stumble and fall. He steadied himself with a chair nearby. Even though he was being bullied, one could still sense his iron resolve: ¡°The money was borrowed by Jia Ming. The debt has a debtor¡ªgo find him.¡± ¡°Pah! You think you can fool me? Your name is clearly written on this IOU. I don¡¯t care; whoever signed it pays it back!¡± The burly leader shook the IOU in his hand, his eyes fierce and round. Zhang Yuksheng felt a surge of anger within him. If he hadn¡¯t been too trusting back then, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen into the trap set by his ex-wife, Chen Shuhua, and his friend, Jia Ming! He had always treated them with sincerity, but to his dismay, they had already been deceitful and were now treating him like this! ¡°I really don¡¯t have the money right now. Please wait some more; I¡¯ll pay it back when I can.¡± ¡°Damn it! Wait for you to have money?! Your sister is on her deathbed right now; if you had money, you would¡¯ve taken her to the hospital long ago! Since you¡¯re not paying up, don¡¯t blame me for being rude. Boys, smash everything! Whatever is valuable, smash it!¡± The burly leader also felt aggrieved; unable to find Jia Ming, he could only go after Zhang Yuksheng for the money, and to top it off, he was penniless. Seeing this, Zhang Yuksheng hurriedly attempted to intervene, but the men who had come were all brawny practitioners, and Zhang Yuksheng was no match for them. Far from stopping them, he was knocked to the ground and viciously kicked several times. Zhang Yuksheng felt as if his insides had shifted from the pain. He heard the sound of things being smashed and struggled to get up. But in vain, the pain was too intense, and despite struggling for a long while, he achieved nothing. Was heaven intent on destroying him? Zhang Yuksheng felt bitter and resentful in his heart. He had talent but had met with the wrong people. Now, with his sister bedridden and the jade in the shop his only way out, even his last hope was on the verge of being destroyed! Tears filled Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s eyes as he clenched his teeth, trying to get up. Suddenly, he remembered what the girl he met yesterday had said, ¡°You have to believe in miracles; you have to believe good people get rewarded.¡± Hah, could he really witness a miracle? ¡°Stop!¡± As Zhang Yuksheng struggled, a pleasant and firm voice rang out. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it silenced everyone present. Zhang Yuksheng strained to look up at the girl standing in the doorway, slim and graceful. Sunlight sprinkled over her, making it seem like Zhang Yuksheng was looking at a pure angel. He would never forget this brilliant moment in his life, the moment of his redemption, his rebirth. ¡°I¡¯ll pay back the money Boss Zhang owes!¡± The declaration astonished everyone; they were stunned by An Yiqing¡¯s words! Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at An Yiqing. What did she just say? Paying his debt? How could that be possible? He opened his mouth to speak, but Yiqing¡¯s calm and decisive voice cut through, ¡°This is money I¡¯m lending you, and you¡¯re going to pay it back with your life!¡± Pay it back with his life? Zhang Yuksheng stared in shock at the girl, puzzled by the meaning of her words. ¡°You¡¯re going to pay it back? Can you even afford it?¡± The men looked skeptically at An Yiqing, dressed simply, somewhat in disbelief. Did this girl... have fifty million? An Yiqing pulled out a check from her bag, scribbled a few strokes, and handed it to the burly man: ¡°This is fifty million, redeemable at any bank in Xuandu City. Leave the IOU and don¡¯t come here causing trouble anymore. Should you change your mind, you¡¯ll end up like this table!¡± With a wind-accompanied slap, her jade hand struck, and ¡°Bang!¡±, a sturdy Eight Immortals Table split instantly! ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± The burly men gasped in shock, taking several steps backward, their eyes wide as they stared at the now fractured table. If such force were to land on their bodies... Shivering, they looked at An Yiqing with fear in their eyes. Chapter 46 - 46 46 Subduing Zhang Yusheng (2) ?46: Chapter 46 Subduing Zhang Yusheng (2) 46: Chapter 46 Subduing Zhang Yusheng (2) ¡°Take the check and leave the note behind,¡± An Yiqing, still holding the check in her left hand, did not lower it and patiently repeated what she had just said. The leader of the thugs shivered, respectfully took the check, nodded his head repeatedly in agreement. Then he put down the note and ran off with his men. ... ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± Zhang Yuksheng struggled to his feet, looking at the girl sitting in front of him with a complex expression. ¡°Because of your integrity, because of your talent,¡± An Yiqing did not hide it, believing that honesty was the best respect for the other person. ¡°If you pay back the money for me and then expect me to risk my life for you, please go back. I, Zhang Yuksheng, may be in a tough spot, but I won¡¯t accept charity without principles.¡± An Yiqing looked at Zhang Yuksheng with admiration. If he had sold himself today for fifty million, she would have really looked down on him. ¡°The choice to stay or leave is yours. You are talented and a man of loyalty, so I have set my sights on you. I won¡¯t force you into anything if you trust me, I will give you the chance to take revenge, I will give you a future that others will look up to.¡± The opportunity was there, it was a question of whether he was willing to take the gamble. Shocked by An Yiqing¡¯s steadfast gaze, Zhang Yuksheng recalled the words this girl had said the day before. Was this the miracle she had spoken of?... Why was this girl so confident? ¡°I want to know on what grounds?¡± An Yiqing responded with a confident smile, her delicate face lighting up with a dazzling brilliance, her lips parted slightly, her voice firm: ¡°Because I can cure your sister¡¯s illness!¡± An Yiqing¡¯s words exploded in Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s head like a thunderclap on a clear day, his voice trembling: ¡°Fine, if you can heal her, I will be loyal to you, and I will never betray you in this lifetime!¡± Zhang Yuksheng could not have imagined that today¡¯s decision would bring him to such an unattainable height. He could not have foreseen how important this girl would be to him for the rest of his life! Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s life was about to change! ¡ª¡ªThe Foodie¡¯s Divider¡ª¡ª That same afternoon, an anxious Zhang Yuksheng brought An Yiqing to the hospital. Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s sister, Zhang Yufeng, had been turned into a vegetative state after being hit by a car due to the machinations of Jia Ming and Chen Shuhua. The diagnosis was that unless a miracle happened, she would remain in an unconscious sleep for the rest of her life. Currently, Zhang Yufeng was being kept alive on a lifeline of IV fluids, but the medication was expensive and Zhang Yuksheng could no longer afford the costly medical bills. An Yiqing followed Zhang Yuksheng to the ward, a private room where the girl on the bed was thin and pale. She was about the same age as An Yiqing, not stunningly beautiful, but with clear eyebrows and pretty eyes, very comforting to look at. The vivacity between her eyebrows made her otherwise soft face seem vibrant; she must have also been a determined and unrestrained girl. An Yiqing instructed Zhang Yuksheng to close the door of the room and began her careful examination. In An Yiqing¡¯s view, Zhang Yufeng¡¯s condition was not particularly serious. The car accident had caused severe organ failure, and her brain had experienced a strong impact. One injection would be enough to wake her up, but her body would indeed need some time to recover. ¡°How is it?¡± Seeing An Yiqing rise up, Zhang Yuksheng asked anxiously. ¡°Her condition is not serious; one injection will wake her up.¡± Upon hearing An Yiqing¡¯s words, Zhang Yuksheng was cleary incredulous. His pupils contracted and his lips trembled slightly, even his voice carried a careful tremor: ¡°Are you serious... that Xiao Feng can get better?¡± As if in disbelief, Zhang Yuksheng suddenly stepped forward and grabbed An Yiqing¡¯s arm. Chapter 47 - 47 47 Heartache ?47: Chapter 47 Heartache 47: Chapter 47 Heartache An Yiqing nodded firmly. She did not pull away from Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s grasp. The excitement and disbelief touched her deeply, this kinship... An Yiqing thought, somewhat lost in thought. ¡°Bang!¡± Without another word, Zhang Yuksheng dropped to his knees with a thud, his fists clenched, eyes brimming with tears, ¡°Miss, if you can cure Xiao Feng¡¯s illness, Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s life is yours!¡± An Yiqing frowned. ¡°Get up! A man¡¯s knees are precious, only meant to kneel to the heavens, the earth, and his parents! What do you think you¡¯re doing right now?! I will treat your sister¡¯s illness; there¡¯s no need to offer your life in exchange. From now on, just work hard for me!¡± As she spoke, she extended her palm, and Zhang Yuksheng felt as if a current of air had lifted him to his feet. This girl was indeed no ordinary person; there was hope for Xiao Feng! ¡°Go and take care of the discharge procedures right now, I need to find a new place to administer treatment.¡± The hospital was a place with too many prying eyes. If it became known that she had cured a comatose patient so quickly, she would never have peace. Zhang Yuksheng, now utterly obedient to An Yiqing, didn¡¯t hesitate and hastily ran out of the ward to handle the paperwork. The discharge process wasn¡¯t troublesome. The hospital staff all knew that given Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s situation, it would only be a matter of time before he couldn¡¯t hold on, but they hadn¡¯t expected it to come so soon. Poor girl, they thought, sighing. Zhang Yuksheng carried Zhang Yufeng out of the hospital with An Yiqing, hailed a taxi, and after they got inside, An Yiqing closed the door and asked, ¡°Where do you live?¡± Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s cheeks reddened, and he hesitated, ¡°I sold the house to pay for Xiao Feng¡¯s treatment. Now, I¡¯m staying in Zhenbaozhai by myself.¡± Realization dawned upon An Yiqing; she had been insensitive. After pondering for a moment, she decided to arrange for Zhang Yufeng to temporarily stay in an apartment under the Medicine Sect Industry. Her body needed rest and recuperation, and staying in Zhenbaozhai was inconvenient. Hmm, it seemed necessary for her to buy a house; having her own place would always make things much more convenient. The apartment wasn¡¯t far, just a half-hour¡¯s drive away. Of course, this was also thanks to the taxi driver¡¯s skill; everyone knew that taxi drivers always drove their cars as if they were rockets. ¡°I will begin the acupuncture now, and no matter what happens to your sister during the process, you must not interfere. Otherwise, it will all be for naught.¡± As soon as they settled in, An Yiqing began the treatment. She hoped that this girl, who made her feel so comfortable, would recover quickly. Zhang Yuksheng nodded vigorously; as long as his sister could get better, anything was acceptable. Seeing this, An Yiqing felt relieved. She pulled out a brocade pouch from her person, laid it out on the table, and the glittering silver needles and the knives with their cold sheen were revealed. The room was quiet, save for the ticking of the clock and the sound of gentle breathing. Today, Zhang Yuksheng truly widened his horizons, witnessing such extraordinary silver needles and miraculous needling techniques for the first time. His admiration for An Yiqing grew immensely. He had no doubts that his sister would get better; this girl could create miracles! When An Yiqing ceased her movements, Zhang Yufeng¡¯s body was already filled with silver needles. An Yiqing pressed her palm against the roof of Zhang Yufeng¡¯s head, where there were no needles, and her vital energy began to circulate. Gradually, Zhang Yufeng¡¯s body started to tremble, from a slight quiver at first to an intense shaking. Amazingly, no matter how much Zhang Yufeng¡¯s body shook, not a single needle fell from her. Zhang Yuksheng was deeply moved as he watched his sister¡¯s reaction. To him, any movement was far better than lying on the bed motionless! About ten minutes later, Zhang Yufeng¡¯s body steadily calmed down. An Yiqing withdrew her vital energy and while removing the needles, said, ¡°After I remove the silver needles, your sister will wake up. However, she will only regain consciousness and recover her senses. It will take some time before her body fully recovers. You two will stay here in the coming days; it¡¯s conducive to her rest, and you can take good care of her.¡± Zhang Yusheng listened to An Yiqing¡¯s instructions, his eyes brimming with gratitude. This girl had not only given him a new lease on life but also saved his sister. In this lifetime, he, Zhang Yusheng, would never betray her! Not long after the Silver Needle was completely removed, Zhang Yufeng¡¯s eyelids twitched, and under Zhang Yusheng¡¯s hopeful gaze, her eyes slowly opened. ¡°Brother...¡± Zhang Yufeng felt as if she had slept for a very long time. In her dreams, it seemed she could hear her brother¡¯s crying, as well as the sinister laughter of Chen Shuhua and Jia Ming, that shameless couple. She desperately wanted to wake up, desperately wanted to tear that despicable pair to pieces, but she could never move. ¡°Xiao Feng, you¡¯re finally awake!¡± Zhang Yusheng heard Zhang Yufeng¡¯s weak calling and broke into tears of joy. His hands trembled as he tightly held her emaciated hand. ¡°You¡¯ve been in bed asleep for more than two months now, Xiao Feng. What would your brother have done if you hadn¡¯t woken up? It¡¯s so good! You¡¯re finally awake!¡± Zhang Yusheng was so excited he was almost incoherent, merely expressing his emotional state over and over with tears streaming down his face. Gradually regaining clarity of thought, Zhang Yufeng remembered¡ªit was before she was hit unconscious by a truck, and then she knew nothing. Two months? She had been asleep for two months? ¡°Xiao Feng, here¡¯s what happened...¡± Zhang Yusheng calmed down a bit and slowly recounted the recent events. As soon as Zhang Yufeng woke up, An Yiqing quietly slipped out of the bedroom, thinking it best to leave the siblings alone at such a time. She sat absentmindedly on the balcony sofa, somewhat dazed. The sibling bond between Zhang Yusheng and Zhang Yufeng made her envious¡ªit was an emotion she had never experienced. To her, the word ¡°kinship¡± was all too foreign. In her nineteen years of life, even though her master treated her as his own, he couldn¡¯t provide the sort of motherly love and familial affection. An Yiqing wasn¡¯t a fragile or sensitive person, but faced with the touching familial love between the Zhang siblings, she couldn¡¯t help feeling envious... Lost in her thoughts, An Yiqing was startled when her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Having not seen An Yiqing for a while, Gu Yelin felt that something was missing. Eventually, he couldn¡¯t resist calling her, wanting to hear her voice, but he sensitively detected that the girl¡¯s mood was somewhat downcast. Hearing Gu Yelin¡¯s deep, pleasant voice, An Yiqing was stunned. Was it him? This man, it seemed, would always appear when she was helpless... ¡°Hmm... Nothing much.¡± An Yiqing didn¡¯t want to show her vulnerability and answered evasively. ¡°Where are you?¡± Gu Yelin didn¡¯t press further, he had his ways of knowing everything about her. ¡°I¡¯m in an apartment, treating Zhang Yusheng¡¯s sister.¡± An Yiqing did not explain why she was with Zhang Yusheng, as though she subconsciously sensed that Gu Yelin would understand what she wanted to do. Having heard An Yiqing¡¯s words, Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes flickered. He understood why the little lady was feeling low. When he thought of her all alone, witnessing the enviable sibling affection of the Zhangs, his heart ached involuntarily. His cherished one shouldn¡¯t be like this; she should have the very best. Chapter 48 - 48 48 Heartwarming Gu Yelin (1) ?48: Chapter 48 Heartwarming Gu Yelin (1) 48: Chapter 48 Heartwarming Gu Yelin (1) They said a few sentences, and An Yiqing hung up the phone. At this moment, the bedroom door opened, and Zhang Yuksheng walked out. He felt a bit apologetic for having been so overwhelmed with excitement that he had momentarily forgotten about his savior. Zhang Yuksheng scratched the back of his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry, I was too excited just now.¡± An Yiqing looked at the man who had just cried, and smiled lightly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I understand.¡± Zhang Yuksheng smiled sheepishly, ¡°Miss, I told Xiao Feng everything that happened. Xiao Feng said she wanted to properly thank you.¡± An Yiqing followed Zhang Yuksheng into the bedroom, where the girl lying on the bed turned her gaze upon hearing them and met a pair of clear, tranquil eyes. Zhang Yufeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat, she had never seen such a beautiful girl before, not only in terms of appearance, but her temperament and inner qualities also radiated a serene and beautiful tranquility. This girl, who seemed not of this world, was their savior. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zhang Yufeng steadied her spirit and her lips lifted into a genuine smile. Her face should have been beautiful, but her heroic eyebrows added a touch of womanly boldness that did not concede to men. Zhang Yufeng gave off a very androgynous feeling, with a delicate and fair complexion, yet also possessing the poise and composure of a man. An Yiqing¡¯s red lips curved up, revealing a warm smile, and she said, ¡°You have a good brother.¡± Her voice was soft and gentle. Zhang Yufeng stared at the gentle and serene girl in front of her, the one who had changed her and her brother¡¯s lives. Such a girl would probably possess all the beauty in the world. An Yiqing chatted with the Zhang siblings a little longer before planning to leave. Just then, the doorbell of the apartment rang. Having reached the entryway, An Yiqing felt a moment of confusion and then opened the door. Outside the door, a man with a tall posture appeared before her. He was wearing a dark blue sportswear tracksuit and his hair was slightly damp, plus he was breathing a bit heavily, clearly showing that he had rushed out in a hurry. An Yiqing froze there. Why... had he come? Yes, the person who had come was Gu Yelin! After hanging up the phone, Gu Yelin quickly found An Yiqing¡¯s location, and had not even changed his clothes before he hurriedly drove over. He did not want his treasure to endure heartache alone. His treasure should be the happiest and most blessed. He wanted her to know that even without her parents, he would always be there. ¡°I¡¯ve come to pick you up,¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s handsome black eyes focused intently on the little woman standing dazed before him, his gaze full of warm tenderness. An Yiqing stared blankly at Gu Yelin, feeling as if something inside her had burst through the soil and began to spread wildly. ¡°Miss An?¡± Zhang Yuksheng naturally recognized Gu Yelin. The man¡¯s cold and domineering aura from their brief encounter yesterday had left a deep impression, and he certainly would not forget such an extraordinary man. Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s voice brought An Yiqing sharply back to her senses. She blinked her eyes, trying hard to suppress her racing heart, ¡°I must go now. I¡¯ll come back in a few days. Take good care of your sister.¡± Declining Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s insistence to see her out, An Yiqing and Gu Yelin walked one after the other into the elevator. ¡°You... why have you come?¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t in a good mood, I was worried,¡± he replied. ¡°Thump! Thump!¡± Hearing Gu Yelin¡¯s straightforward expression, An Yiqing¡¯s heart started pounding uncontrollably, she could even hear the sound of her heartbeat. She didn¡¯t understand what was wrong with her, it seemed that whenever she was with Gu Yelin, her heart would act abnormally. And why did hearing his words make her feel so... happy? Chapter 49 - 49 49 Heartwarming Gu Yelin (2) ?49: Chapter 49 Heartwarming Gu Yelin (2) 49: Chapter 49 Heartwarming Gu Yelin (2) ¡°Ahem, uh... I¡¯m fine, all fine now.¡± The usually composed An Yiqing stuttered uncharacteristically. Seeing the shy little woman, Gu Yelin felt extremely happy, even his voice softened a few notches, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re fine. Where else are you going? I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± ¡°Go, going back to school...¡± Her face was already blushing furiously~(>_<)~ ¡°I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Having said that, without waiting for An Yiqing to react, Gu Yelin dominantly took her soft and boneless hand and walked out of the elevator. An Yiqing¡¯s face had turned as red as a tomato, but she didn¡¯t struggle; stiff-limbed, she let Gu Yelin lead her away. Between them flowed an unnamed affection, warm and in harmony. That evening, An Yiqing suffered from rare insomnia. She tossed and turned in bed, her mind filled with Gu Yelin¡¯s doting and warm dark eyes. An Yiqing suddenly sat up, aggravated, and fiercely ran her fingers through her hair. What sickness was this that she now suffered from? Why had she never come across similar symptoms? She needed to consult her master! Uh! She must cure this problem of blushing and heart fluttering! ** With her mind occupied by these thoughts, An Yiqing was somewhat distracted during class on Monday. She had even forgotten about her appointment with Evildoer Bai. As for Bai Yiming, his mood had been exceptionally good since early that morning, his flamboyant red attire made his already enchanting look even more irresistible. Plus, his captivating eyes would make any woman unable to resist such a debonair man. However, Evildoer Bai¡¯s good mood only lasted until four in the afternoon. This girl hadn¡¯t called him even once throughout the day, showing no awareness of her guilt for injuring his arm. Bai Yiming sat on the sofa with his phone, his face gloomy, teeth gritting audibly as he thought and finally decided to call An Yiqing. ¡°Hello?¡± Bai Yiming took a deep breath and said nothing. ¡°Hello? May I know who is speaking?¡± Bai Yiming took another forceful breath; great, she hadn¡¯t even saved his number! ¡°Weird... Why is there no sound?¡±...Beep beep... Just as Bai Yiming was about to speak, he heard the busy tone of the call ending. Evildoer Bai¡¯s face darkened further, his teeth almost crushed, his breathing getting louder. He felt that one day this girl would be the death of him! After hanging up the phone, An Yiqing didn¡¯t think much about it. She always felt like she had forgotten something today, but what was it? Just as she was clueless, her phone rang again with the same number. An Yiqing frowned, just answering the call when she heard Bai Yiming¡¯s gnashing voice, ¡°Miss An, have you forgotten about today¡¯s auction?¡± An auction? Her innocent eyes blinked, ah... She finally remembered what she had forgotten today. ¡°Ah... Mr. Bai, hello. I¡¯ve been a bit busy these last few days, sorry about that.¡± It was her fault, so she took the initiative to apologize. Perhaps it was the girl¡¯s earnest attitude in admitting her mistake that made Bai Yiming feel like he had punched into cotton. Wasn¡¯t it in the script for this girl to stubbornly refuse to admit her fault, then he, in heart-wrenching anguish, accuse her of being untrustworthy? Bai Yiming massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on; it seemed he always lost his composure in front of this woman. ¡°Get ready. I¡¯ll come to pick you up shortly.¡± After hanging up, An Yiqing blinked helplessly. This Bai Yiming was a bit like Tang Lin, both aloof and haughty. Chapter 50 - 50 50 Arrogant Bai Yiming (1) ?50: Chapter 50 Arrogant Bai Yiming (1) 50: Chapter 50 Arrogant Bai Yiming (1) ¡°Qingqing, are you going out again?¡± Gu Tingting and Ruan Xue had rarely encountered An Yiqing in the dorm these days. She was simply too busy, if not treating patients, then on her way to treat patients. Today, An Yiqing had finished her schedule with Duan Yuntian ahead of time. Gu Tingting and her friend had thought An Yiqing would finally be able to spend some quality time with them, but after she received a phone call, it seemed she was about to head out again. ¡°Mm, accompanying someone to an auction.¡± Upon hearing this, Gu Tingting¡¯s heart sounded the alarm, and her large almond-shaped eyes lit up with the shine of imminent threat! ¡°Who are you going with to the auction?¡± ¡°Bai Yiming.¡± An Yiqing did not conceal the truth; in her heart, Bai Yiming was indeed ¡°someone else.¡± Gu Tingting was taken aback. It¡¯s hard to guard against a thief within one¡¯s own ranks! She thought she had kept a watchful eye on all the hungry wolves at school, only to find out that Bai Yiming, that dead man, was actually getting involved! That bastard! ¡°Qingqing, how come you¡¯re so close with Bai Yiming all of a sudden?¡± Gu Tingting continued to probe for information. ¡°He came to see me the other day, uh... and I accidentally dislocated his arm. Plus, with you getting angry at his date during your birthday and driving her away, adding up new grudges and old, he insisted I accompany him to the auction.¡± ¡°Drove away his date?!¡± Gu Tingting¡¯s eyebrows shot up, and she placed her hands on her hips, ¡°Pfft! It was all because Zhang Lin that green tea bitch was stirring up trouble for no reason! Qingqing, don¡¯t go with him, you haven¡¯t spent time with me and Xiao Xue in days.¡± Gu Tingting whined and rolled around, wishing she could tie An Yiqing to her side. An Yiqing was rendered both amused and exasperated, ¡°He¡¯s already on his way here. And after this, he and I will be even.¡± Seeing that the situation was unchangeable, Gu Tingting pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. Well done, Bai Yiming, a man should not covet his friend¡¯s wife! How dare he try to move in on a brother¡¯s territory! Obviously, Miss Gu Tingting has unreservedly included An Yiqing into the Gu Family circle~¨r(¨s¨Œ¨t)¨q ** An Yiqing hadn¡¯t dressed up elaborately, she was simply wearing a plain white dress with a light blue cardigan thrown over it. A simple blue belt cinched her slender waist, making her appear even more ethereal and serene. In the north resides a beauty, matchless and standing alone. A single glance could topple the city, another could shake the nation. When Bai Yiming saw An Yiqing emerging from the dormitory, these lines involuntarily popped into his head. The beauty before him stood tall and elegant, her skin like creamy jade, bright eyes and pearly teeth, her lips a natural crimson, and a gaze that was clear and warm. Her hair reached her waist and fluttered in the wind. As An Yiqing walked closer, Bai Yiming suddenly felt a pang of panic. What would his life be like if such a beautiful person didn¡¯t belong to him? An Yiqing looked puzzled at the man who was lost in thought, waving her hand in front of him, and tentatively called out, ¡°Mr. Bai?¡± Bai Yiming snapped back to reality. Tch! Since when did he, Bai Yiming, lack self-confidence? He had always flitted through the throng of admirers untouched like a leaf gliding through flowers. Fear was not an emotion that should be in his dictionary. ¡°Hey, girl, are you really wearing just that to go with me to the auction?¡± Bai Yiming theatrically scanned her from head to toe, feigning displeasure. ¡°I think this is quite nice. Mr. Bai, I¡¯m merely repaying the favor for your injured arm, not here to glam up your event. If you want someone flashy and stunning, please seek someone else,¡± An Yiqing, although good-natured, was sharply tongued. To be honest, she wasn¡¯t too keen on going out with this man who reeked of women¡¯s perfume. Bai Yiming, confronted with An Yiqing¡¯s slightly disdainful look, felt his forehead vein throb¡ªwhy did she always seem to dislike him? Chapter 51 - 51 51 Arrogant Bai Yiming (2) ?51: Chapter 51 Arrogant Bai Yiming (2) 51: Chapter 51 Arrogant Bai Yiming (2) ¡°Get in the car!¡± Although his tone was brusque, Bai Yiming still considerately opened the car door for her. The drive was silent except for Bai Yiming¡¯s flashy red Ferrari speeding down the road. ** Right after An Yiqing left, Gu Tingting immediately borrowed Ruan Xue¡¯s phone to call Gu Yelin. Her own phone was still being held by Third Brother, wasn¡¯t it? Gu Yelin was at the Hongci Base when he received the call. Hongci, a renowned secret organization of Xuandu City, belongs to the nation yet isn¡¯t fully under its control. It can be said that this organization operates outside the realm of national law¡ªa unique entity. Gu Yelin, as the organization¡¯s leader and founder, is the reason Hongci isn¡¯t wholly state-owned. It is said that tall trees catch much wind, but before absolute power, all schemes and tricks are but passing clouds. The base of Hongci is located in Xuandu City. Many mercenaries and assassins from abroad have tried to probe its location, only to return disappointed. To this day, aside from the personnel within Hongci, even the upper echelons of the government remain unclear about the specifics within the base. Today, the base was conducting a three-day intensive and fully enclosed training session, and naturally, Gu Yelin, as the big boss, could not be absent. After ending the call with Gu Tingting, Gu Yelin remained silent, and those around him could distinctly feel his aura growing colder. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold light flickered in his pupils. If one observed carefully, they would notice his displeasure through his slightly pursed lips. The little white rabbit could only be his, even the Heavenly King couldn¡¯t snatch her away! ** Huifeng Auction House, a famous auction center in Xuandu City. Today¡¯s auction would be held here. As the decorative lights came on and neon shone brilliantly, a stream of luxury cars constantly arrived at the entrance of the auction house. The people coming and going were all dazzlingly dressed. ¡°Shh! ¡ª¡ª¡± A flashy red Ferrari sports car beautifully drifted to a stop at the entrance of the auction house. ¡°Show-off!¡± Dressed in white, An Yiqing stepped out of the car, mumbling complaints under her breath. That guy Bai Yiming treated the sports car like an airplane, zooming recklessly down the road. Although she wasn¡¯t carsick, she couldn¡¯t help but feel uncomfortable. Bai Yiming gave An Yiqing a roguish smile and casually handed the car keys to the attendant. He had done it on purpose¡ªwho asked her to stand him up? If An Yiqing knew what Bai Yiming was thinking, she¡¯d surely roll her eyes. Could this man be any more childish? After Bai Yiming got out of the car, the crowd at the entrance of the auction house couldn¡¯t help but turn their eyes towards him. Bai Yiming, the well-known Young Master Bai of Xuandu City, was famous far and wide. The only successor of the third generation of the Bai Family, one of the five major families, he was showered with love and adoration. Besides being a playboy, Young Master Bai was also ambitious; a rare talent who was exceptionally ruthless in the business world. Seeing his grandson growing more outstanding by the day, Old Master Bai was grinning from ear to ear daily, and the entire family was at Bai Yiming¡¯s beck and call¡ªexcept when it came to his marriage. Old Master Bai and the other elders were at a loss. Bai Yiming was excellent in every way, except he was too much of a playboy, cruising through the world of women unscathed. Bai Yiming¡¯s father was so worried about this issue; he was going gray. He considered himself a true romantic, forever devoted to his wife. How could he have fathered such a philandering son? No sooner had this question come to the fore than Bai Yiming¡¯s mother got angry, and his father suffered. Bai Yiming took the chance to flee. Chapter 52 - 52 52 Auction (1) ?52: Chapter 52 Auction (1) 52: Chapter 52 Auction (1) The crowd at the auction house saw Bai Yiming and reflexively glanced at the woman by his side. Wow, Young Master Bai¡¯s taste has lightened up today! But this time, the woman is indeed a rare gem! ¡°Young Master Bai, it¡¯s been a while since we last saw you!¡± The tobacco company¡¯s Boss Chen saw this important figure and hurriedly came forward to say hello. If he could serve Young Master Bai well, then his good days were ahead. Bai Yiming didn¡¯t speak, but simply smiled and nodded. Seeing that Bai Yiming didn¡¯t reject him, Boss Chen¡¯s eyes lit up. Seeing Boss Chen not getting the cold shoulder, everyone around became eager. Young Master Bai was in a good mood today, so they could also get a chance to make an impression! An Yiqing observed everyone¡¯s expressions and slightly lowered her gaze. She was well aware of the ways of the business world. Although Bai Yiming was flirtatious, he didn¡¯t lack the proper demeanor. This man might seem frivolous, but he was also a strategist behind the scenes. ¡°What are you thinking about, little girl? Let¡¯s go in,¡± Bai Yiming saw An Yiqing in a daze and nudged her with his elbow, signaling her to enter the venue on his arm. An Yiqing certainly knew what Bai Yiming meant, but knowing was one thing; she wasn¡¯t accustomed to physical contact with the opposite sex, let alone a man who reeked of women¡¯s fragrance, which she disliked even more. ¡°Mr. Bai, I¡¯m not very comfortable with physical contact with the opposite sex. Your usual tactics with other women can be spared for me.¡± Boss Chen beside them took a cold breath. Hiss!¡ªWho is this girl? To reject Bai Yiming so boldly! Absolutely ignorant of the ways of the world! Boss Chen looked on with a bit of regret. The girl was good, but it was a pity she had offended Young Master Bai. However, to his greater surprise, Bai Yiming was not only not angry but even chuckled apologetically. ¡°Okay, okay, it¡¯s my fault. How dare I compare you with those women?¡± Bai Yiming¡¯s red lips curled up, his bewitching black eyes shining with charm, full of helplessness in his gaze, ¡°You¡¯re sharp-tongued, little girl! Let¡¯s go!¡± He then patted An Yiqing¡¯s shoulder and led her into the entrance of the auction house. An Yiqing didn¡¯t say anything after hearing this, but her opinion of Bai Yiming had changed quite a bit. Hmm, this person wasn¡¯t so unreliable after all. The two walked side by side into the Huifeng Auction, and although Boss Chen appeared calm, he was quite astonished. He had to pay close attention to this girl; for Bai Yiming to treat her in such a way, her identity must be extraordinary. Entering the hall of the Huifeng Auction, the first thing that caught An Yiqing¡¯s eyes was the lush red carpet. The hall was dominated by red, different from the luxurious decorations style of many auction houses, Huifeng Auction House favored an antique theme. Antique vases, famous calligraphy and paintings were everywhere, with a red carpet embroidered with subtle patterns underfoot that felt soft and comfortable. The seating was arranged in a fan shape, with imported leather sofas that were stylish and comfortable to the touch. Since it wasn¡¯t starting time yet, only the auctioneer was preparing on the central stage in the hall. By this time, quite a few people had already taken their seats, but the front two rows were still fairly empty. As soon as Bai Yiming entered, all eyes in the room instantly focused on him. And when they saw An Yiqing by his side, the men¡¯s eyes were filled with amazement. They had seen many beautiful women, but one as ethereally beautiful as this girl, only she stood before them. Where had Young Master Bai found such a treasure? Some of the socialites and rich young ladies present were not so pleased. Not only did this woman attract all the men¡¯s attention upon entering, but what made them even more upset was that the person who brought her was Bai Yiming. Although they were aware of Bai Yiming¡¯s flirtatious nature, his admirers could hardly tolerate such a remarkable woman appearing by his side. People in the venue had different thoughts, but Bai Yiming didn¡¯t care, nor did An Yiqing pay any heed. They found seats in the first row and sat down. The staff attentively offered them two beautifully crafted catalogues, containing all the treasures to be auctioned today. Chapter 53 - 53 53 Auction (2) ?53: Chapter 53 Auction (2) 53: Chapter 53 Auction (2) The album was exquisitely made, complete with a brief introduction. An Yiqing simply flipped through it, finding nothing more than jewelry and jade articles that, in her eyes, were rather unremarkable. She knew that even a random rice bowl from the Medicine Sect was worth much more than these items. Bored, she idly leafed through the album, until she reached the last page, which featured a large ¡°?¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± An Yiqing asked with some curiosity. Bai Yiming looked at it and explained with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s a rule of the Huifeng Auction, to keep the final auction item a mystery. It will only be revealed during the auction.¡± The moment An Yiqing heard this, her interest was piqued. This auction house did have some curious features, ¡°Then do you know what today¡¯s finale treasure is?¡± ¡°I heard it¡¯s a Furnace Cauldron.¡± Because Bai Yiming wasn¡¯t too concerned, he hadn¡¯t inquired in detail. He looked at An Yiqing¡¯s sparkling eyes and teased her, ¡°Do you like that?¡± ¡°Hmm, I think it¡¯s quite interesting.¡± ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll bid for it and give it to you,¡± Bai Yiming offered without a second thought, then he himself was stunned. Was this what they called spending a fortune for a beauty...? An Yiqing, on the other hand, hadn¡¯t thought that much into it. She waved her hand, ¡°Thank you for your generosity, but I have enough savings to buy these things.¡± She preferred to secure the things she liked on her own rather than rely on a man to get them. Bai Yiming was a bit surprised to hear this, raising an elegant brow. He didn¡¯t believe that An Yiqing was naive or brash, so if she said she could afford it, it must be true. But wasn¡¯t she an orphan? Where did the money come from? Bai Yiming¡¯s dark eyes narrowed as he stroked his chin, pondering. This girl definitely had something up her sleeve! ¡°Qingqing!¡± As the two exchanged casual conversation, a hearty female voice came from the doorway. An Yiqing turned her head to see, and to her surprise, it was Shen Feng. ¡°Qingqing, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here!¡± Shen Feng was pleasantly surprised. She hadn¡¯t planned on coming today, but her brother had dragged her here. Although she was initially unhappy, she unexpectedly ran into An Yiqing, whom she got along with well. ¡°Xiao Feng, Shen Long.¡± Shen Long was somewhat astonished. How come An Yiqing was with Young Master Bai? Could it be that they were...? Having taken a seat in the second row, Shen Feng chattered away with An Yiqing. Meanwhile, exclamations of surprise from women started to drift in from the entrance. An Yiqing looked over to see a figure, elegant and free, entering her field of vision. The man was tall and well-proportioned, dressed in white, his graceful and handsome features accentuated. With a scholarly and fair face, his eyes carried a warm smile, and his lightly curved red lips, he looked like a heavenly being straight out of an ink painting, gentle and detached. That man was Duan Tang! ¡°Today really is a coincidence, meeting you this afternoon and bumping into you again here in the evening,¡± Duan Tang said, delighted to see An Yiqing. Owing to her treatment of Duan Yuntian, An Yiqing was actually able to see Duan Tang every day. She, too, was curious; the Muyun Society was so large, yet why did this man seem to have so much free time? ¡°It seems today¡¯s auction is quite the event, even you¡¯re here.¡± Duan Tang smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m just here to show face, that¡¯s all.¡± Then he turned to Bai Yiming and nodded as a sign of acknowledgment, ¡°Young Master Bai.¡± ¡°Family Head Duan and this girl?¡± Bai Yiming was taken aback. How did this girl know everybody everywhere? Duan Tang was no simple character! ¡°Friends through life and death.¡± Hearing such an ambiguously warm explanation from Duan Tang, Bai Yiming felt a twinge of acidity in his heart. Why were there so many romances around this girl? Chapter 54 - 54 54 Medicine Cauldron (1) ?54: Chapter 54 Medicine Cauldron (1) 54: Chapter 54 Medicine Cauldron (1) The auction officially began, and the auctioneer, clad in a professional suit, took to the stage with a smile to present the first item of the day¡ªthe Heart of the Ocean! As the auctioneer vivaciously recounted the legend of the necklace, An Yiqing sat on the sofa, somewhat bored. She was only interested in jade stone antiques and medical texts; these shiny, glittering items didn¡¯t appeal to her. ¡°I¡¯ve found out who was following us that day,¡± Duan Tang whispered into An Yiqing¡¯s ear, somewhat closer now, his heady scent of fresh medicinal herbs intoxicating her. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°People from the Canglang Sect. Our two families have always been mortal enemies, but I didn¡¯t expect them to dare make a move at this time,¡± Duan Tang always felt there was something strange about the matter. ¡°Did you find out whose orders they were acting on?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t find out. That¡¯s what is so strange about this. It¡¯s as if someone has deliberately covered their tracks, severing all clues.¡± Hearing Duan Tang¡¯s words, An Yiqing fell into deep thought. She wasn¡¯t concerned about the feuds between sects; what troubled her more was the lifeless way the men in black had moved that day, which was clearly indicative of being controlled by drugs. And their skills were strange¡ªeven though it was ancient martial arts¡¯ Inner Breath, she always sensed a hint of discord. ¡°I will handle this matter. You should go out less these days; Xuandu City is not very peaceful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I can¡¯t beat them, I can still bring them down with poison.¡± At the sound of An Yiqing¡¯s light tone, Duan Tang¡¯s lips twitched. How could he have forgotten how ruthless this girl was when she took action? Bai Yiming was not deaf; of course, he overheard the private conversation between An Yiqing and Duan Tang. Friends in life and death? Hmph! What was that worth! This girl was the one who twisted his arm! She had to take responsibility for him! ¡°Little girl, my arm has been hurting these past few days,¡± Bai Yiming said with an odd intonation. ¡°Let me take a look,¡± An Yiqing said, raising an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled. Her bone-setting technique was very good, and several days had passed¡ªby all accounts, it should have been healed by now. Her delicate, boneless little hand grasped Bai Yiming¡¯s wrist, pressing gently, the soft touch causing a hint of redness to appear on Bai Yiming¡¯s face. Duan Tang caught the expression on Bai Yiming¡¯s face, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, lips curving with a hint of mockery, ¡°Young Master Bai must be feeling uncomfortable not only in his arm, I suppose?¡± ¡°Heh, thank you for your concern, Head Duan, but I¡¯m not the only one feeling uncomfortable in these times,¡± Bai Yiming retorted. An Yiqing looked at the two men bickering across the void, the corner of her mouth twitching. Why did she feel like she was the third wheel? As Duan Tang and Bai Yiming exchanged verbal daggers in the air, their back and forth served to kill some time for An Yiqing. ¡°Next up is the star treasure of this auction! Please welcome our hostess to the stage!¡± The auctioneer on stage invited up the final highlight item with great enthusiasm. Two hostesses in evening dresses gracefully placed a black brocade box on the display stand and opened it; an antique Furnace Cauldron slowly came into view. The cauldron wasn¡¯t small, about the size of a basketball. Its entire body was pitch-black, revealing no particular splendor. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, this Furnace Cauldron was discovered in a cave. The material is peculiar¡ªextremely hard¡ªand despite our attempts, it remains undamaged. This cauldron can concentrate heat and the cold, occasionally emitting a humming sound. Its origin is unknown. Bidding starts at five hundred thousand¡ªlet¡¯s begin now!¡± An Yiqing maintained a calm demeanor, but her heart surged with tumultuous waves! She had felt a resonance with the Furnace Cauldron the moment it appeared, and after activating Vitality Clairvoyance, she was astounded! The cauldron appeared pitch-black, yet in An Yiqing¡¯s eyes, it was emitting endless golden light, with countless runes inscribed within¡ªit was clearly a top-notch Medicine Cauldron! She had to win it! If she used this cauldron for Alchemy, the results would be unparalleled! Chapter 55 - 55 55 Medicine Cauldron (2) ?55: Chapter 55 Medicine Cauldron (2) 55: Chapter 55 Medicine Cauldron (2) An Yiqing was shocked inside, but her face showed no sign of it. She calmly listened to the bidding, and although the origin of the Furnace Cauldron was unknown and its exterior was plain, its unique material still attracted quite a few wealthy collectors with a taste for the exotic. In the blink of an eye, the price of the Furnace Cauldron had soared from five hundred thousand to two million! That a plain-looking black Furnace Cauldron could fetch two million was beyond what the Auctioneer had expected! ¡°Two million, this gentleman has offered two million, is there any higher bid? If not, this Furnace Cauldron will belong to this gentleman! Two million once! Two million twice! Two million¡ª¡± ¡°Three million!¡± A pleasant voice suddenly interrupted the Auctioneer¡¯s final call. The Auctioneer was excited, three million? A full million increase directly! The gazes of those present shifted to An Yiqing, who had raised the bid, some surprised, some mocking. This young lady was not only beautiful but also extraordinarily wealthy. A three-million-bid for an obscure Furnace Cauldron, should they praise her or laugh at her? Yiqing didn¡¯t care about the stares of the crowd; how could ordinary people know how precious the Furnace Cauldron was? With this Medicine Cauldron, many of her unimaginable troubles would be solved. Without any suspense, An Yiqing ultimately acquired the Furnace Cauldron for three million! In this auction, even though billions were spent on gold, silver, and jewels, the real winner, if one had to be named, was none other than An Yiqing! ¡ª¡ªFoodie¡¯s dividing line¡ª¡ª Lately, Zhang Lin always felt uneasy. The few hired goons, including Yellow Hair, hadn¡¯t been in touch with her, and they weren¡¯t answering her phone calls either. This worried her; had something gone wrong? No, it couldn¡¯t be! That dead girl was powerless and insignificant, just an orphan. Yellow Hair and his gang were more than enough to handle her! The thought of An Yiqing being humiliated by Yellow Hair and his gang brought a twisted smile to Zhang Lin¡¯s face. Ever since Bai Yiming dumped her, not only had she not received much money, but she had also been ridiculed by others in her circle. Although the women around Bai Yiming never lasted more than half a month, she was the only one who had such a short stint! It was all because of An Yiqing, that bitch! If not for her, why would Young Master Bai fob her off with just a one-million check? Now, not only had she lost the support of Young Master Bai, but she had also been reduced to being a mistress to a nouveau rich to secure her current status! How could she endure such a downfall! After several days of anxious waiting, Zhang Lin finally got a call from Yellow Hair today! ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s done, meet at the usual place tonight, cash on delivery,¡± Yellow Hair said calmly over the phone, betraying no emotion. After hanging up, a sinister smile appeared on Zhang Lin¡¯s face, which slowly turned into an eerie laugh: ¡°Hahaha! You slut! Let¡¯s see how you keep pretending to be so pure and chaste now! Hahaha!¡± ... That night, Zhang Lin arrived at the place Yellow Hair had mentioned, as agreed. It was a deserted building, located in an industrial area on the outskirts of Xuandu City. Zhang Lin had chosen this place to avoid the paparazzi, as being photographed with social misfits would ruin her pure image. The time Yellow Hair had set was rather late, at 8:30 PM. Although nightlife had just begun at this hour, the desertedness of this place was still quite unnerving. Zhang Lin drove a rented sedan to the building; she had told no one, including her assistant and agent. ¡°Where¡¯s the stuff?¡± Zhang Lin asked urgently upon seeing Yellow Hair. Chapter 56 - 56 56 Punishing Zhang Lin (1) ?56: Chapter 56 Punishing Zhang Lin (1) 56: Chapter 56 Punishing Zhang Lin (1) ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡± Zhang Lin opened the suitcase she brought, revealing stacks of enticing red banknotes neatly arranged inside. Lowering his head to check the money, all were genuine. The men wearing duckbill caps, including Yellow Hair, exchanged glances, their expressions hinting at something sinister. ¡°Take the money and give me the stuff!¡± Zhang Lin felt uneasy, fearing that something else might go wrong. ¡°Give you the stuff?¡± Yellow Hair, standing in the shadows, spoke in a deep voice, the tone somewhat suppressed, ¡°You bitch, you almost cost me my life!¡± Yellow Hair took a few steps forward, grabbed Zhang Lin¡¯s long hair, yanked it violently, and viciously knocked her head on the ground! ¡°Ah! Let go of me! ¨C What are you doing?!¡± Feeling the excruciating pain in her scalp and forehead, Zhang Lin let out a hysterical scream. ¡°You whore! If it wasn¡¯t for my luck, I would¡¯ve been killed because of that An Yiqing! It¡¯s all your fault, my body is in so much pain!¡± Yellow Hair and the others kicked her repeatedly, as if they wanted to vent all the pain of the past few days onto Zhang Lin, ¡°You stinking bitch! If I can¡¯t have peace, neither can you! Bring out the stuff! We might not dare touch An Yiqing, but let¡¯s have a taste of this bitch!¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s heart jolted with fear; what were they planning to do? Struggling to lift her head, she vaguely saw, through the blood, someone setting up a video camera. ¡°No! You can¡¯t do this! How much money did An Yiqing give you? I¡¯ll double it!¡± Zhang Lin, looking at Yellow Hair and his group approaching as they undid their pants, her eyes filled with terror. Yellow Hair and his group, with their lust taking over, had no intention of listening to her nonsense. They had suffered fear and pain over the past few days, and today they were determined to get their revenge on this woman! ¡°Ah! ¨C Get away from me! No! ¨C Get off! Get off! -¡± In the heavy darkness of the night, the tearing of clothes, Zhang Lin¡¯s piercing shouts, and the panting and lewd laughter of several men, merged into an ugly, desperate scene! ** The morning air was fresh, but an obscene odor still faintly lingered in the abandoned building. Torn pieces of clothing were scattered everywhere on the empty concrete floor. Zhang Lin lay naked and motionless, her body bruised and battered, the filth beneath her revolting, her face a bloody mess from handprints. Her gaze was lifeless, but after a moment, her pupils moved weakly like those of a puppet as she struggled to get up, wrapping the torn clothing around herself, piece by piece. She still had hope. She had to find Yellow Hair and his gang; she could give them money! As long as they return the tape to her! She could endure being violated by several men, but she couldn¡¯t let the recording get out! Her reputation, status, wealth, she couldn¡¯t give them up! Zhang Lin took slow, staggering steps out of the building, her bent footsteps leaving marks on the ground, like the lice that infested her glamorous clothes. ¡ª¡ªFoodie Divider Line¡ª¡ª ¡°Hello? The footage is ready.¡± ¡°Hmm, take it to Xuan University and give it to her.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Young Master Gu, we¡¯ve followed your orders and made Zhang Lin get what she deserved. Please, no more torture for us!¡± Yellow Hair clutched his chest in pain while holding the phone. Ever since they were inexplicably knocked out and taken captive a few days ago, they¡¯d been living a nightmare. Only later did they find out that their captor was none other than the infamous Third Young Master Guh! ¡°Leave Xuandu City, and after today, never appear before her again.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, understood!¡± Yellow Hair hurriedly nodded in agreement. In the early morning ¡°Xiao Bai, how¡¯s the situation with the turf?¡± Chapter 57 - 57 57 Punishing Zhang Lin (2) ?57: Chapter 57 Punishing Zhang Lin (2) 57: Chapter 57 Punishing Zhang Lin (2) ¡°Junior Uncle, the land you¡¯re interested in belongs to Fenghua Real Estate. Their boss is notorious in the circle for being difficult to deal with, so it¡¯ll take some effort to purchase that land.¡± Bai Wuchang conveyed the information he had gathered over the past few days to An Yiqing through the phone, sparing no detail. ¡°Give me a brief on Fenghua Real Estate.¡± ¡°Yes. Fenghua Real Estate is a leading pioneer in the domestic real estate industry, and it¡¯s a subsidiary of the Bai Group.¡± ¡°It¡¯s part of the Bai¡¯s? The Bai Group owned by Bai Yiming¡¯s family?¡± ¡°Yes, one of the top five families¡ªthe Bai Family¡¯s Bai Group.¡± ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll take care of this matter.¡± As soon as An Yiqing hung up the phone and stepped out of the dormitory building, she saw Yellow Hair and his group, their faces the color of wax. ¡°Miss An!¡± The distressed Yellow Hair looked like he was on the verge of tears. He had been waiting there early on but was warned by Master Gu not to disturb An Yiqing¡¯s sleep, so he reluctantly stood there with a swollen face, drawing the gaze of passing students. Why are these people here? An Yiqing frowned. ¡°Miss An, Young Master Gu sent us to bring something to you.¡± ¡°Gu Yelin?¡± How did he get mixed up with these people? An Yiqing was somewhat surprised. ¡°Right, Young Master Gu. The task he entrusted us with is done. This is a USB drive; Young Master Gu said this contains evidence that will drag Zhang Lin¡¯s reputation through the mud.¡± Yellow Hair quickly handed the USB drive to An Yiqing with both hands, ¡°Miss An, I¡¯ll be leaving now. Goodbye!¡± Watching Yellow Hair¡¯s hasty retreat, An Yiqing blinked her innocent eyes. Was she really that scary?... ** An Yiqing slipped the USB drive into her jacket pocket, hmm, she might as well give him a call. As if telepathically connected, as soon as An Yiqing picked up her phone, it started to ring. She glanced at the name on the screen, her eyes shimmering. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± I miss you so much... This was Gu Yelin¡¯s innermost thought. ¡°Hmm, I know.¡± Listening to Gu Yelin¡¯s deep and pleasant voice, An Yiqing¡¯s face involuntarily blushed, ¡°The thing you gave me, I¡¯ve received it, this is...?¡± ¡°What Zhang Lin planned to use against you, I just let her have a taste of her own medicine.¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s voice was somewhat icy. ¡°Uh...¡± But she had said she would handle this herself, An Yiqing had the words on the tip of her tongue, yet found herself unable to speak them. ¡°The affair was too dirty, I did it for you. The rest is up to you.¡± Of course, he knew of this little woman¡¯s pride; he didn¡¯t want her to see him as a domineering man. An Yiqing¡¯s heart felt a touch of sourness; this man always seemed to be so thoughtful. ¡°Why?¡± Why was he so good to her? Why did he do everything for her? ¡°One day, you¡¯ll understand.¡± He was waiting for the day she would love him back, waiting for her to realize it on her own. An Yiqing felt a strange sensation, as if something was breaking through the soil, spreading and growing rapidly. She found the feeling both unfamiliar and desirable. ¡°Regardless, I still want to say thank¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say thanks!¡± Before An Yiqing could finish, Gu Yelin interrupted her, displeased. The little white rabbit needs to be tamed; why is she still so polite? ¡°Uh...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be busy these next few days, take care of yourself.¡± After hanging up the phone, An Yiqing stood there, staring blankly. Why was this man always so overbearing? Hmm... why did she find him somewhat adorable? ¡°Qingqing, what are you thinking about? We¡¯re going to be late for class!¡± Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting each grabbed one of her hands and started pulling her forward. ¡°Hmm...¡± If she couldn¡¯t understand it, best not to think about it. Her ¡°illness¡± seemed quite severe; her master certainly needed to cure her. Chapter 58 - 58 58 The Outcome for Zhang Lin ?58: Chapter 58: The Outcome for Zhang Lin 58: Chapter 58: The Outcome for Zhang Lin That morning, after An Yiqing issued a few commands, the entertainment industry boiled over like a pot of scalding water, instantly bubbling with excitement. ¡°Exclusive News! Pure Jade Maiden Zhang Lin¡¯s Scandalous Videos Exposed!¡± ¡°Shocking Scoop! Jade Maiden Sect Leader Zhang Lin¡¯s Private Indiscretions Revealed!¡± ¡°New Generation Jade Maiden Zhang Lin Turns into a Woman of Desire?! Is She Jade? Or is She Desire?¡± Major entertainment media outlets, after viewing the USB drive sent by an anonymous sender, keenly sniffed out the peculiar stench of the affair. However, they weren¡¯t concerned with the oddities; they cared only for circulation! After finalizing plans, each publication quickly swapped out today¡¯s headlines to feature screenshots from the video, with Zhang Lin¡¯s sensitive areas pixelated, but her facial expressions and bare body easily suggestive of the intensity of the encounter. In an instant, Zhang Lin became hot news, completely on fire! ¡°Smash!¡ªCrash!¡ª¡± In a high-end apartment, Zhang Lin fiercely threw the remote at the television screen, ¡°Ahh!¡ª How could this happen?! Bastard! How could they do this to me?! Ahh!¡ª¡± ¡°Slap!¡± A harsh slap landed on Zhang Lin¡¯s bruised face, ¡°Shut your mouth! You create such a mess and still have the nerve to curse others!¡± Her agent was nearly bursting with rage. Although Zhang Lin was arrogant and wilful, she usually obeyed. The agent hadn¡¯t expected her to cause such a disaster this time! ¡°Let me tell you, no one can save you now. You better think hard about who you¡¯ve crossed!¡± Who had she crossed? Wasn¡¯t it just Yellow Hair and his group? It had to be! It had to be them! ¡°Sister Huang, listen to me, I only crossed a few hoodlums. They must have sold the video to the media to make money!¡± Zhang Lin clutched at her agent¡¯s arm and urgently explained. Sister Huang was her only savior now; as long as they insisted she was framed, there was still a chance to turn things around! ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll believe you one more time. I¡¯m going to call¡ª¡± ¡°Ring Ring Ring¡ª¡± Her agent began to speak but was interrupted by her ringing phone. She quickly answered the call. ¡°Director Zhang? Ah, this whole thing¡¯s fake. Our Zhang Lin has always been straightforward; how could she be involved in such a scandal?¡± ... ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Director Zhang, we can proceed with the movie as planned. There¡¯s absolutely no issue with Zhang Lin.¡± ... ¡°What?! This can¡¯t be! Even if Zhang Lin is embroiled in this, negative publicity can still boost her fame! Hello? Director Zhang? Hello?¡± Just as the agent was about to call back, her phone rang again, ¡°President Xu? What? Terminate the contract?! Hello? Hello? President Xu?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± With a bad feeling, Zhang Lin rushed to ask after the agent hung up. ¡°What¡¯s going on? You have the nerve to ask what¡¯s going on?!¡± The agent was seething with anger, ¡°I just got calls from Director Zhang and President Xu saying they want to cancel the contract, and you¡¯re no longer needed for the film!¡± ¡°How can that be?! Even with this scandal, I still have my fame! I¡ª¡± ¡°Fame my ass! Do you really not know or are you just playing dumb? Right now, there¡¯s a powerful force behind the scenes blacklisting you! Every director and boss in the circle has been informed¡ªany films, TV shows, or commercials involving you are to be immediately blacklisted! I¡¯m done; you¡¯re on your own now!¡± With those fierce words, the agent slammed the door shut as she left. A powerful force? A total blacklist? Who exactly was it? Who was out to get her? Zhang Lin slowly collapsed to the floor, her face turned deathly pale, her pupils dilating, and her gaze gradually growing empty. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, she scrambled to grab her phone from the bed and made a call. ¡°Yellow Hair, you tell me, who set me up like this?!¡± Only Yellow Hair was directly involved; he must know the specifics! ¡°Why are you still calling me? Zhang Lin, I¡¯m telling you, An Yiqing is someone you can¡¯t afford to offend! Your downfall today is entirely your own doing! I¡¯ve been dragged into your mess and now I¡¯m packing up to hit the road. Stay the hell away from me in the future! Bah!¡ªBeep Beep¡ªBeep Beep¡ª¡± An Yiqing is someone you can¡¯t afford to offend! You can¡¯t afford to offend! An Yiqing! It¡¯s you again, you bitch! If I¡¯m going to die, we¡¯re going down together! If you thought I¡¯d suffer alone, you can forget about living too! ¡ª¡ªLittle Foodie¡¯s Divider¡ª¡ª Indeed, it was An Yiqing who had given the order regarding Zhang Lin¡¯s predicament. Originally, she had planned to deal with this woman after getting through this busy period. However, since Gu Yelin had put so much effort into it for her, she naturally couldn¡¯t disregard his kindness. Thus, a plan for an anonymous exposure and a comprehensive blacklist began with An Yiqing¡¯s delicate hands. As for the so-called backing force, it was naturally the Medicine Sect. This was the part An Yiqing liked the least; she was using the power that belonged to her master, not the connections and energy she had created herself. This was somewhat frustrating to An Yiqing, who always held herself to high standards. Although her solo effort to clean up the Medicine Sect, earning everyone¡¯s allegiance, was a display of her abilities, she preferred everything she had to be of her own making. But An Yiqing was a woman of action, and whining was not in her nature. After indulging in a great meal, her mood brightened. However... hmm... it seemed it wasn¡¯t as delicious as the one the man had taken her to at Old Zhang¡¯s... Bai Group Bai Yiming, dressed in a red leisure suit, had just entered the lobby when he heard the whispered conversations around him. ¡°Who would have thought Zhang Lin looked so innocent, but she¡¯s so loose in private. It¡¯s just...¡± ¡°Tsk, how many clean women are there in the entertainment industry? They all sleep their way up!¡± ¡°Hey hey, have you heard? Zhang Lin was with Young Master Bai for several days before this.¡± ¡°Stop with the nonsense! I¡¯m telling you, the exposure of Zhang Lin is because she offended the daughter of a powerful figure from Xuan University!¡± ¡°...¡± At those words, Bai Yiming¡¯s devilish dark eyes flashed, offended someone from Xuan University? As if recalling something, he dialed a number: ¡°Find out the recent situation of Zhang Lin for me.¡± Within half an hour, several documents were faxed to Bai Yiming¡¯s office, documenting Zhang Lin¡¯s recent activities, including everything she had done to An Yiqing. Bai Yiming, seated in the CEO¡¯s chair, usually charming and seductive, now had eyes cold as ice, his red lips pressed into a tight line. His hand, holding the documents, turned white from the intensity of his grip. Good, very good. So much had happened in these past days! Attempted to hire someone for rape?! ¡°Smack!¡± The stack of documents was slammed onto the desk by Bai Yiming. Chapter 59 - 59 59 Fight ?59: Chapter 59 Fight 59: Chapter 59 Fight The next day at noon, An Yiqing returned from Duan Yuntian¡¯s place and had the driver stop the car at the entrance of Xuan University. ¡°Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Cao; please be careful on your way back.¡± An Yiqing stood outside the car, politely saying farewell to the driver. ¡°Miss An, you¡¯re too polite. Go on in.¡± The driver, Uncle Cao, smiled and waved his hand. This girl had always been polite and warm, truly a good child. Watching An Yiqing take steps toward the school gate, he turned his head with a smile, only to suddenly see a figure dressed in all black and wearing a mask, sneakily rushing toward An Yiqing with something in hand. ¡°Miss An! Be careful!¡ª¡± Uncle Cao saw the figure getting closer to An Yiqing and shouted just as the person raised their hand! ¡°An Yiqing! Die!¡± In a flash, An Yiqing quickly turned and struck out with her palm. The powerful inner breath created a barrier with the palm wind, forcefully knocking back the bottle and liquid in the air! ¡°Snap! Crash!¡ª¡± ¡°Sizzle!¡ª¡± ¡°Ah!¡ªMy face! My face! Ah¡ªHelp! My face!¡± It was actually sulfuric acid! The liquid in the bottle turned out to be sulfuric acid! More and more people were gathering around the school entrance, all whispering among themselves, yet no one dared to step forward. That was sulfuric acid, highly corrosive concentrated sulfuric acid! A single drop could disfigure you! An Yiqing looked indifferently at the woman writhing in agony on the ground. She had sensed the person¡¯s approach long ago, waiting until now to see what the other¡¯s purpose was. She thought of many people who were hostile to her, but never expected that it would be her! Zhang Lin! This woman she had never regarded seriously! ¡°Miss An, are you alright? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°How are you? Are you injured?¡± The first voice, naturally, belonged to Uncle Cao, the driver. He found it terrifying; if that sulfuric acid had been splashed on Miss An, hiss¡ªit was too vicious! He had to inform the Family Head and the master! And the other anxious voice turned out to be Bai Yiming! He had come today to apologize to An Yiqing; after all, Zhang Lin¡¯s incident had implicated her. He hadn¡¯t expected that upon his arrival at the gate, he would witness such a dangerous scene! His heart seemed to stop in terror, and he crazily ran over. Thank goodness! Thank goodness! She was okay! Bai Yiming felt as if the brief five minutes had been an agonizing eternity. In that instant, his mind was full of regret; if it weren¡¯t for him, she wouldn¡¯t have faced such resentment! ¡°Why are you here?¡± Seeing Bai Yiming emerging suddenly, An Yiqing was quite surprised. Although she considered him a bad influence, she didn¡¯t hold a grudge against Bai Yiming because of Zhang Lin¡¯s actions. ¡°You¡¯re not hurt, right? Didn¡¯t get splashed with acid?¡± Bai Yiming, looking worried with his handsome brow furrowed, said, ¡°No, I¡¯m taking you to the hospital, you need a thorough check-up!¡± While saying this, he grabbed An Yiqing¡¯s wrist intending to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± An Yiqing deftly broke free from Bai Yiming¡¯s grip, ¡°I am a doctor myself; there¡¯s no need to go to the hospital. I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a doctor?...¡± ¡°If you¡¯re concerned about me, Young Master Bai, please take care of this woman for me.¡± An Yiqing felt somewhat exasperated, uh, why were all the men around her so abnormal? Once Bai Yiming was reassured the girl was fine, his gaze turned icy. He lowered his head to look at Zhang Lin, who was writhing on the ground, his originally beautiful eyes growing even darker. ¡°Heh!¡± A trace of a chilly smile curled on his exquisitely alluring lips, ¡°Such matters should naturally be handled by the police. Call them, we¡¯ll wait for the police ¡®uncle¡¯ to arrive.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s lips twitched. This guy was too cunning. If the matter was dealt with privately, Zhang Lin could at least maintain a shred of dignity. But by handing her over to the police, it meant all procedures would be transparent. Moreover, with this man fanning the flames behind the scenes, mainstream media would surely scramble to report on it. In this day and age, netizens are the toughest crowd; with the lewd video exposure followed by the sulfuric acid attack, Zhang Lin¡¯s life was completely ruined! Tsk tsk tsk, so vicious! An Yiqing inwardly praised. The police were quite efficient, arriving in less than half an hour with sirens blaring. Following them, naturally, came the ambulance for treatment. ¡°Make way! Everyone, make way!¡± A few police officers paved a path through the onlookers, with the stretcher-bearing medics close behind. ¡°How is the injured person?¡± The lead medic rapidly pushed through the crowd and upon seeing Zhang Lin on the ground exclaimed, ¡°Hiss!¡ªHow severe?!¡± This was serious disfigurement, such a sin! A perfectly good face was completely ruined! ¡°What exactly happened here?¡± The leading officer frowned; even accustomed to dealing with murder cases, the sight of such a horrifically damaged face was still uncomfortable, ¡°You two, go take statements from the eye-witnesses. Who called the police?!¡± ¡°I did.¡± Bai Yiming emerged from the crowd, his tall and attractive stature and his enchantingly seductive appearance causing a series of exclaims from the women in the crowd. So handsome! The officer turned and shot a glance, hey! How could it be this big shot? ¡°Young Master Bai? What are you doing here? I didn¡¯t notice just now, my apologies!¡± The leading officer, Officer Zhao, slightly bowed with a respectful face and a touch of flattery in his tone. ¡°This woman was trying to harm my friend.¡± Officer Zhao broke into a sweat hearing Bai Yiming¡¯s simple statement. Young Master Bai¡¯s friend?! This woman was trying to harm Young Master Bai¡¯s friend?! Was she tired of living?! ¡°Carrying out such a conscienceless act in broad daylight, utterly unforgivable!¡± Officer Zhao wiped the sweat from his forehead, and with a smile said, ¡°Please be assured, Young Master Bai, we will handle this fairly and firmly combat such cruel crimes!¡± ¡°Good, that¡¯s right. I¡¯ll take note of this. Keep up the good work.¡± Upon hearing Bai Yiming¡¯s promise, Officer Zhao¡¯s eyes lit up. That was a promise from Young Master Bai! Bai Yiming was backed by the highly esteemed Bai Family! His good days had finally arrived! After the police and medics took Zhang Lin away, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed. However, An Yiqing, the campus beauty of Xuan University, had once again made a strong impression! It turned out that An Yiqing was not only skilled in medical arts but was also a master of martial arts! Such a goddess inspired admiration in countless men and women! Tang Lin, Gu Tingting, and others who were often in contact with An Yiqing were also dug out. Still, the most exaggerated were the stories about the campus goddess and various handsome men that were being eagerly discussed in the gossip circles... Chapter 60 - 60 60 Waiting for Him ?60: Chapter 60 Waiting for Him 60: Chapter 60 Waiting for Him ¡°Ahem, little girl, it was my fault you got dragged into this mess.¡± After ushering Driver Uncle Cao away, An Yiqing slowly walked into the school gate with Bai Yiming trailing behind her eagerly. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this incident behind. However, Young Master Bai, you should really avoid such pesky admirers in the future. Even though you¡¯re young and vigorous, it¡¯s still best to take it easy,¡± An Yiqing warned Bai Yiming with a double entendre. Watching the girl¡¯s slender figure, Bai Yiming scratched his nose in embarrassment. The girl was still so sharp-tongued; doesn¡¯t she know a man can¡¯t admit to being unable to do it? ¡°Alright, alright, it¡¯s my fault this time. I promise I¡¯ll change,¡± Bai Yiming let An Yiqing prod with her soft knife and hurriedly assured her, ¡°This time consider it a favor you¡¯re owed. Whenever you decide what you want, I¡¯ll be ready to deliver it with both hands.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s eyes twinkled as she thought of a plan. She gave Bai Yiming a gentle smile, her little face shining radiantly. But Young Master Bai always felt that this little girl was somewhat like a sly fox... ¡°Since Young Master Bai has made a promise, naturally, I can¡¯t dismiss your kind intentions.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s smile grew brighter, eying Bai Yiming like a lamb ready for slaughter, ¡°There¡¯s a piece of wasteland on the eastern side of Xuandu City I¡¯ve taken a liking to. However, the land is owned by Fenghua Real Estate. I hear it belongs to Bai Group. What do you say, Young Master Bai?¡± Bai Yiming¡¯s forehead throbbed, so this girl was waiting for him here? ¡°Little girl, if I hadn¡¯t come to find you today, were you planning on setting this trap for me to fall into?¡± Bai Yiming crossed his arms, his dark eyes filled with amusement. ¡°Hmm...¡± An Yiqing tilted her little head, ¡°With Young Master Bai¡¯s charm that attracts countless women like moths to a flame, since the fire has spread to me, I naturally can¡¯t forfeit such an opportunity.¡± The corner of Bai Yiming¡¯s mouth twitched; not only was this girl sharp-tongued, but she was also very cunning! ¡°Sly little thing! If you want that piece of land, then take it!¡± Although he was annoyed, Bai Yiming still indulged An Yiqing¡¯s wish. ¡°Young Master Bai, I would never take it for free; we should follow the market price. However, giving me a ten percent discount wouldn¡¯t be too bad,¡± An Yiqing smiled slyly like a cat, then waved at Bai Yiming, ¡°I¡¯ve reached my dorm, Young Master Bai, I won¡¯t see you out.¡± Watching the girl¡¯s cheerful and relaxed figure depart, Bai Yiming smiled helplessly, sly little girl! ¡ª¡ªThe little foodie¡¯s dividing line¡ª¡ª Night, quiet and silent, in some corners, fearful and bizarre things were unfolding... ¡°Don¡¯t come over! Stay away!¡± The man¡¯s face contorted strangely with fear. ¡°Tap¡ªtap¡ªtap¡ª¡± From the unseen shadows, someone seemed to approach the man step by step, the footsteps even and slow, but they hammered into the man¡¯s heart with each drop. Who in the world is this person?! He must be someone sent by the mysterious figure! It must be! With difficulty, the man staggered backward, his wounds torn open, dripping blood continuously. His panting was heavy and frantic, his pupils contracting violently with fear and despair. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t come closer! I¡ªI don¡¯t know anything! Let me go, please! I don¡¯t know anyth¡ªah!¡± A strange dark shadow whizzed by, bringing with it a chilling and eerie breeze, and the decaying scent hidden in the air. ¡°Thud!¡± The man¡¯s body stiffened as it crashed hard onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of unidentified dust. Then, his skin rapidly began to wither; his face turned pitch-black, and eyes were wide open. In the last moment of his life, his eyes captured nothing but terror... The darkness continued to spread throughout the night, with horrifying things happening in every corner... ¡ª¡ªThe little foodie¡¯s dividing line¡ª¡ª ¡°Tsk tsk, Xuandu City is getting more and more unstable! Murder and arson right under the feet of Tianzi, that¡¯s so crazy!¡± Ruan Xue, eating breakfast in the canteen, lifted her pretty eyebrows and commented sarcastically as she watched the news on TV. ¡°Eat your food! All these things, yet they can¡¯t shut you up!¡± Gu Tingting immediately grabbed a bun and stuffed it into Ruan Xue¡¯s mouth. ¡°Mmm¡ªmmhmm¡ª¡± Ruan Xue struggled for a while, finally managing to yank out the surprisingly large bun from her mouth, ¡°Gu Tingting, dammit! Are you itching for a fight?!¡± ¡°My grandpa isn¡¯t home!¡± Gu Tingting rolled her eyes. Ruan Xue only knew how to say that crude phrase, and it had already worn out its welcome. An Yiqing, sitting across from them, shook her head helplessly at the sight. These two seemed like eternal enemies from a past life, bickering wherever they went, and as an innocent party, she was always caught in the crossfire. ¨r(¨s¨Œ¨t)¨q But... another murder in Xuandu City? She recalled Gu Yelin and Duan Tang mentioning it briefly last time, but apparently, due to the Qin Family¡¯s people scrambling for credit, Gu Yelin didn¡¯t intervene much in the matter. But now that it¡¯s on TV, it seems like the Qin Family¡¯s performance was indeed lacking. As long as it doesn¡¯t endanger the people around her, these events don¡¯t concern her. The laid-back An Yiqing couldn¡¯t anticipate that trouble would find her that very afternoon. ¡ª¡ªThe little foodie¡¯s dividing line¡ª¡ª Gu Family Mansion ¡°Three more murders occurred last night. The Qin Family can¡¯t cover it up anymore. Ye Lin, what do you think?¡± In the quiet study, sat a vigorous old man who, despite his half-white hair, did not show his age and appeared more like someone in his fifties. This man was the renowned Old Master Gu, Gu Zhongyi! And sitting to his right was Gu Yelin¡¯s father, Gu Weijun. ¡°The higher-ups will soon revoke the Qin Family¡¯s decision-making powers.¡± Gu Yelin, dressed in a black shirt and trousers, looked dignified and aloof, ¡°Only ¡®Red Thorn¡¯ can resolve this now.¡± ¡°Hmm, good,¡± Gu Zhongyi nodded his approval, proud of his grandson, ¡°The chief has already called me today, and he¡¯s entrusting the matter to you.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Gu Yelin responded without saying much, maintaining his usual reticence. ¡°However, because this matter is particularly strange, I¡¯m considering asking for help from the Medicine Sect. I¡¯ll call the Sect Leader shortly, hoping the old fellow will come out of seclusion. ...¡± For some reason, upon hearing Old Master Gu mention the Medicine Sect, Gu Yelin couldn¡¯t help but think of An Yiqing¡¯s radiant face. He wondered how she had been these past few days... Chapter 61 - 61 61 Old Friend Calls ?61: Chapter 61 Old Friend Calls 61: Chapter 61 Old Friend Calls Ye Chenghong was somewhat surprised when he received Gu Zhongyi¡¯s phone call. For years he had been living in seclusion, and these old buddies had purposely refrained from contacting him. Why today, though... ¡°Old Gu, what wind brought your call today?¡± There were very few people who could call out ¡°Old Gu,¡± and Ye Chenghong was one of them. ¡°Elder Ye, it¡¯s been many years since I saw you. Sigh...¡± Hearing Ye Chenghong¡¯s voice made Gu Zhongyi somewhat nostalgic; time really did make people old. The last time he had seen Ye Chenghong was over a decade ago. ¡°Did you call me just to listen to your whining?¡± This old man was becoming more whiny the older he got. Wasn¡¯t he a forthright bloke in the past? ¡°Pah!¡± Any bit of melancholy that Gu Zhongyi initially had vanished with Ye Chenghong¡¯s comment, ¡°Me, whining?! When I was at war in my younger years, you didn¡¯t even know where to hide! Daring to say I whine!¡± ¡°Hmph, I won¡¯t stoop to your level of simple-mindedness!¡± Ye Chenghong snorted, but his eyes were filled with mirth, ¡°Spit it out! What do you want?¡± Ye Chenghong lay back in his rocking chair, casually crossing his legs, looking incredibly relaxed with the sound of his tea slurping annoying Gu Zhongyi. ¡°Have you heard about the recent murders in Xuandu City?¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm, I¡¯ve heard a thing or two.¡± Ye Chenghong exhaled through his nose, looking supremely carefree. ¡°The bunch of incompetents from the Qin Family have left behind a mess that my grandson has to clean up, sigh, I feel so pitiful as an old man! Can¡¯t be of any help to my grandson~ Sigh!¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm~¡± Ye Chenghong continued to play the role of the grand old man. Gu Zhongyi ground his teeth; if it weren¡¯t for needing your help, old man, I¡¯d have shot you already, you damn old geezer! ¡°Look, with our many years of friendship, you wouldn¡¯t refuse to help a brother in need, would you?¡± ¡°Hmph, depends on my mood!¡± Ye Chenghong acted with mock arrogance. ¡°Cough, how about... you return to Xuandu City to help me... and my grandson?¡± Gu Zhongyi finally stammered out his purpose for calling today after much hemming and hawing. ¡°Oh?... Help you?...¡± Ye Chenghong took a big breath, ¡°Nope!¡± Gu Zhongyi was nearly choked by Ye Chenghong¡¯s big breath. Angrily shouting, ¡°You damn old man, are you coming back or not?! If you don¡¯t come back soon, I¡¯ll blow your head off with one shot!¡± ¡°What are you yelling about? What are you yelling about?¡± Ye Chenghong continued to breathe heavily, ¡°Although I¡¯m not coming back, my disciple is in Xuandu City; I¡¯ll have her help your grandson.¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Gu Zhongyi was taken aback, soothing his chest, ¡°Your disciple? Can she handle it?¡± Ye Chenghong frowned on hearing this: ¡°What do you mean by that? I¡¯ll have you know, Old Gu, Girl Qing is my treasure! If you and your grandson dare to bully her, this old man will poison you to death!¡± Daring to doubt his beloved disciple? To hell with them! ¡°Okay, okay, it was just an offhand remark. No need to get worked up! I¡¯m just worried she¡¯s young and lacks experience!¡± ¡°Get lost! It¡¯s not like giving birth, what experience does it need! If you don¡¯t trust her, forget it! I don¡¯t want my precious disciple to be overworked anyway!¡± This Old Gu really needed a good dressing down for his cheek. ¡°No, no, no! I trust her, how could I not?¡± Gu Zhongyi hastily placated, realizing Elder Ye was becoming less reliable with age, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, this is a matter of life and death. There¡¯s a meeting at Hongci Base in a few days, and all the parties involved need to be there to discuss matters. Have your disciple come too.¡± ¡°Hmph, you know it¡¯s a matter of life and death?¡± Ye Chenghong snorted but didn¡¯t say much more. He had been bickering with Old Gu for more years than he could count, ¡°I¡¯ll tell Girl Qing in a bit. Where and when is it?¡± ¡°Saturday, Tianyi Group, give the secret code at the front desk, and someone will be there to meet.¡± After hanging up, Ye Chenghong sat in the rocking chair, deep in thought. The Medicine Sect¡¯s secret report had specifically mentioned the recent bizarre murders, but since the Qin Family had always held the initiative, they didn¡¯t push further. Girl Qing had also been up to who knows what the past few days; not even a single phone call from the little ingrate! As Ye Chenghong was grumbling to himself, the phone rang again. He looked at the caller, well now, what¡¯s going on today? ¡°I had just finished talking to Old Gu when your call came through. What¡¯s with the wind today?¡± ¡°Ha ha ha! Elder Ye, it¡¯s really been too long since I¡¯ve seen you. Missed you terribly!¡± The voice on the other end was aged yet still potent. ¡°You sure know how to talk better than Old Gu!¡± Ye Chenghong sipped his tea, nodding satisfactorily, ¡°State your business.¡± ¡°Sigh, Elder Ye! Lately, Xuandu City is really not quiet!¡± The voice on the other end of the phone sighed helplessly, ¡°There have been successive deaths among the major powers, with up to two leaders of the Muyun Society having been murdered. Not only were the deaths gruesome, they were also particularly strange. It was as if they had their lifeforce sucked out by demons. My grandson Duan Tang has been incredibly busy lately. I¡¯ve run out of options, hence the disturbance.¡± Indeed, the caller was none other than Old Master Duan, Duan Yuntian! Gu Zhongyi, Duan Yuntian, and Ye Chenghong had been close friends for many years, but due to one being in the jianghu, one in politics, and one in seclusion, their contact was not close. However, some friendships are not forgotten with time. ¡°I know about it. Old Gu called earlier about the same thing.¡± Ye Chenghong furrowed his brow; deaths like being sucked dry by demons? This situation was truly bizarre. ¡°I guessed as much. His grandson¡¯s Hongci Base just took over this mess, and they have a secret meeting this Saturday. Duan Tang has also received the notice.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll send my disciple to help. The girl is now far stronger than I was in my day.¡± ¡°Very good! That¡¯s a relief!¡± Duan Yuntian nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, ¡°Then I can rest assured. When can you come back to Xuandu City? It¡¯s been so many years since all of us old buddies got together. Sigh.¡± Ye Chenghong felt nostalgic as well: ¡°Nineteen years. We¡¯ve all gotten old! Sigh... By the way, how¡¯s your health?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, the usual issues that come with age, but nothing serious. I can still pull my weight for a few more years.¡± Duan Yuntian didn¡¯t tell Ye Chenghong about his heart condition; now that it could be treated, there was no need to trouble an old friend. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. So many years have flown by... Really...¡± As Ye Chenghong and Duan Yuntian were lamenting how time flies, An Yiqing was in her apartment giving Zhang Yufeng his second acupuncture treatment. Chapter 62 - 62 62 The Shocking Code ?62: Chapter 62: The Shocking Code 62: Chapter 62: The Shocking Code ¡°Recently, pay attention to your diet and eat some light foods. Your body still needs a while to recover, Brother Yusheng, please hire medical care to help Xiao Qing with her rehabilitation. Her condition is not bad, and she should be fully recovered in no more than two months.¡± After removing the Silver Needle, An Yiqing began to carefully instruct. ¡°Yes, Miss, I will follow all your instructions,¡± Zhang Yusheng was now totally obedient to An Yiqing¡¯s orders. An Yiqing felt somewhat helpless, ¡°Brother Yusheng, just call me Xiao Qing.¡± ¡°Miss, you saved my life as well as Xiao Feng¡¯s, and you are also my boss. It would not be proper to call you by your name. I cannot do it.¡± Zhang Yusheng hastily waved his hands to refuse, as he revered her for saving his life. Seeing that Zhang Yusheng insisted on this, An Yiqing let him be. She turned her head to look at the girl lying on the bed, ¡°Xiao Feng, rest well. Your brother and I will go out to talk for a bit.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the girl on the bed, Zhang Yufeng, responded obediently with a nod, her eyes showing a slight movement. Lounge ¡°Miss, all the procedures for Xuanjin Yu Jade have been completed. The name of Zhenbaozhai has also been changed to Yuyuanzhai and is ready to open for business at any time.¡± Zhang Yusheng respectfully stood behind An Yiqing. ¡°Mhm. You¡¯ve worked hard these past few days.¡± An Yiqing admired internally¡ªZhang Yusheng really was talented, having managed to handle everything she had arranged in just a few days. An Yiqing took a bank card out of her purse, ¡°Here¡¯s five million. Equip yourself well, buy a car, get some presentable clothes. The general manager of Xuanjin Yu Jade can¡¯t lose face. Use this money as necessary; if it¡¯s not enough, come to me for more. Next Sunday, Yuyuanzhai will be open to the public, and Xuanjin Yu Jade will also start operating discreetly, so you¡¯ll be busy then. There¡¯s not much going on these few days; spend some quality time with Xiao Feng.¡± Zhang Yusheng accepted the card with both hands, feeling inexplicably moved. Although the Miss said it was to keep up appearances, he knew she was worried about him overexerting himself. Zhang Yusheng opened his mouth, but the myriad of words in his heart turned into only four, ¡°Thank you, Miss!¡± After leaving the apartment, An Yiqing had just gotten into a taxi when her phone started ringing. She looked at it, and her clear eyes lit up with joy. ¡°Hello? Master?¡± ¡°You little ingrate, it¡¯s been several days, and you couldn¡¯t even make a call to me!¡± Ye Chenghong¡¯s grumbling voice came through the phone. ¡°Master, your disciple is wrong; please don¡¯t be angry,¡± An Yiqing¡¯s eyes curled with a smile as she coaxed Ye Chenghong, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy treating people lately and haven¡¯t had a moment¡¯s rest. I neglected you.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s more like it,¡± harrumphed Ye Chenghong, ¡°Don¡¯t just think about being busy; your health is the most important. Eat an extra bowl or two with your meals, you¡¯re already thin, you¡¯ll become nothing but skin and bones if you starve.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Listening to Ye Chenghong¡¯s careful instructions, An Yiqing¡¯s eyes narrowed into a small arch, ¡°You also take care of your health, Master. Without me around, you must eat on time, drink less fruit wine and more health tea.¡± ¡°I know, you little nag!¡± Ye Chenghong said, but he remembered all of her admonitions by heart, ¡°I called you today because there¡¯s something important.¡± ¡°Master, please tell me.¡± ¡°Xuandu City has been restless recently, with several murders happening. Are you aware?¡± ¡°I know a bit about it.¡± An Yiqing didn¡¯t tell Ye Chenghong about the last incident with Duan Tang, so as not to worry the elderly man. ¡°The Qin Family was originally in charge of the investigation, but a group of incompetents only made things worse. The higher-ups have already stripped the Qin Family of their authority and have entrusted the ¡®Red Thorn¡¯ to investigate the incident. Coincidentally, the person in charge of ¡®Red Thorn¡¯ is the grandson of an old friend of mine, and he called asking me for help.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, and what is it you suggest, Master?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided to have you go to ¡®Red Thorn¡¯ to assist in the investigation. I¡¯m old and can¡¯t be bothered with such nuisances anymore. I¡¯ll leave these troublesome matters to you young folks.¡± ¡°Uh, Master, you¡¯re not old,¡± An Yiqing frowned in dissatisfaction, ¡°With me around, you¡¯ll surely live to be a hundred years old. I¡¯ll handle the matter well; please be at ease.¡± ¡°Good child,¡± Ye Chenghong nodded with satisfaction, his precious disciple was always so docile and understanding, ¡°The time is set for Saturday morning at nine o¡¯clock, the location is in front of the reception at Tianyi Group, and the signal is...¡± After hanging up the phone, An Yiqing was covered with black lines on her head. Who the hell came up with this bizarre signal? Too ridiculous! ¡ª¡ªFoodie Separator Line¡ª¡ª Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye, and Xuandu City had been comparatively peaceful for the past couple of days. It seemed as if the figures hidden in the shadows had taken note of ¡®Red Thorn¡¯s¡¯ reputation and their actions were not as unabashed as before. An Yiqing took a taxi to her destination. Tianyi Group was not well-known amongst the wealthy in Xuandu City, being only a medium-sized enterprise in terms of financial power; there was scarce news available about this group online, and the whole enterprise seemed low-profile and ordinary. An Yiqing entered the lobby of the first floor, where white ceramic tiles covered the ground, clean and grand. The entire first floor was dominated by white, giving off a bright and airy feeling. Hurried white-collar elites carried the hustle and bustle of the city with them, and even upon seeing an extreme beauty like An Yiqing, they only had a moment of astonishment before they hurried by. An Yiqing walked to the reception desk in the lobby, where a young woman with a pretty visage was responsible for welcoming visitors. ¡°Hello, miss, how can I assist you?¡± After hearing the young woman¡¯s words, An Yiqing felt her forehead thumping violently. She opened her mouth, looking extremely conflicted. ¡°Miss?¡± The pretty receptionist reminded An Yiqing with a hint of confusion. ¡°Ahem, excuse me.¡± An Yiqing, feeling embarrassed for the first time, coughed lightly, took a deep breath, and though her cherry lips parted, the words that came out were astonishingly absurd, ¡°I need to take a shit, could you tell me where the men¡¯s restroom is?¡± Flip the table! Who designed this ridiculous signal? Could it be even more ridiculous?! She was being asked to say she needed to take a shit, and she had to specifically inquire about the men¡¯s restroom! The men¡¯s restroom! The pretty receptionist obviously froze upon hearing this, the corner of her mouth twitching involuntarily. Damn it, the Boss¡¯s code was simply peerless. One listen and you¡¯re laughing, amirite?! ¡°Please follow me.¡± Barely holding back her laughter, the pretty receptionist led An Yiqing through several turns until they arrived at a secluded room with a sign that read ¡°Warehouse¡± on the door. ¡°We¡¯re here, someone is waiting inside for you. I hope you have a pleasant experience, miss.¡± Chapter 63 - 63 63 Identity Revelation ?63: Chapter 63 Identity Revelation 63: Chapter 63 Identity Revelation An Yiqing pressed her hand against her throbbing forehead. Was she supposed to be in a good mood? A good mood for taking a crap? Or for cleaning up the warehouse? She really was curious about who the person in charge of ¡°Red Thorn¡± actually was. As An Yiqing opened the door, she observed that the warehouse was not very large and was filled with various office supplies. Clearly, it truly was a warehouse. At that moment, the sound of footsteps came from the inner room, and a man appeared in front of An Yiqing. ... ¡°Is it you?¡± ¡°Why is it you?¡± An Yiqing was surprised, and the red-haired man in front of her was also taken aback. Tan Yulin¡¯s eyes widened; of course, he had seen this girl before; she was the exceptional beauty on whose behalf the boss had become furiously enraged that one time! What was she doing here?! ¡°You, you, you¡ª¡± Tan Yulin stuttered in shock, pointing at the girl. ¡°I am from the Medicine Sect.¡± An Yiqing, at this moment, had a full head of metaphorical black lines. So, it turned out that Gu Yelin was the person in charge of ¡°Red Thorn,¡± the very one who came up with that bizarre secret passphrase! ¡°Boss, boss, boss...¡± Tan Yulin stuttered, unable to articulate a coherent sentence. ¡°He didn¡¯t know, and I didn¡¯t know either,¡± An Yiqing answered Tan Yulin¡¯s unvoiced question. ¡°Gulp!¡± Tan Yulin swallowed his saliva, striving to calm himself down. He took a careful look at the girl in front of him, ¡°Are you the disciple of the Sect Leader of the Medicine Sect?¡± She seemed too young for her role. Could she really manage it? ¡°Guaranteed genuine.¡± Wow! The status of the Medicine Sect truly was exceptional! ¡°Follow me,¡± Tan Yulin nodded his head, having calmed down. If she was from the Medicine Sect, she couldn¡¯t be bad. He took out a strange object from his pocket and handed it to An Yiqing, ¡°As per ¡®Red Thorn¡¯s¡¯ rules, non-members have to be blindfolded when entering the base. I hope you understand.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± An Yiqing nodded in cooperation, putting on the strange object. As it turned out, the object was a special blindfold resistant to any high-tech penetration, but for An Yiqing, who possessed the ability to see through objects, it was just an ornament. However, she had already determined there was no danger here and decided to simply close her eyes and let Tan Yulin lead the way. ¡°Just walk straight ahead, there are no obstacles,¡± Tan Yulin said as he walked. To his surprise, he discovered that there was not a single sound of footsteps following him. It seemed her Inner Breath was so profound that even he couldn¡¯t detect any noise. ¡°We¡¯re entering the elevator now, it¡¯ll be a bit shaky in a moment.¡± An Yiqing only felt Tan Yulin leading her through various twists and turns to a sealed space. It turned out to be an elevator, and An Yiqing steadied herself against the elevator wall as it shook slightly. The elevator seemed to sway back and forth like a swing, the force strong, and she felt as if she were spinning, rising and falling within a spinning top. It appeared that ¡®Red Thorn¡¯ had a certain uniqueness that made it formidable; judging by its defenses and technology, even in Country Jin, such sophistication must be rare. After about ten minutes, the elevator gradually stopped its movement. Fortunately, An Yiqing was in good physical condition; if it had been an ordinary person, they would have been severely nauseated by now. ¡°We¡¯re here, you can take off the blindfold now.¡± An Yiqing slowly removed the blindfold, and there was no painful burst of light. She found herself in a spacious corridor with walls made of special materials, soundproof and bulletproof, with a soft carpet underfoot and gentle lighting all around. It seemed to be a very ordinary corridor, but An Yiqing keenly detected a faint gear noise. It looked like behind this corridor, many deadly traps were hidden. Tan Yulin led An Yiqing for a while until they reached a large door. They went through password entry, fingerprint scanning, retina verification, DNA extraction, and a number of complex security clearances before they passed through several sturdy doors, with An Yiqing finally entering the interior of the ¡°Red Thorn¡± base. It was different from what she had imagined; there was nothing peculiar about it, it resembled a common office building. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the conference room, and everyone who should be here has arrived. The boss is inside,¡± Tan Yulin showed his teeth in a small grin and winked ambiguously at An Yiqing. Inside the meeting room, Gu Yelin sat firmly in the principal seat, while the others sat at the conference table, the room eerily quiet. Everyone expected had arrived, except for the disciple of the Sect Leader of the Medicine Sect. ¡°Humph, General Gu, the Divine Doctor you invited really is a big shot!¡± someone was the first to express their dissatisfaction. ¡°Indeed! He really thinks he¡¯s a Divine Doctor, making us all wait for him!¡± Gu Yelin glanced at the speakers, his dark eyes revealing no emotion, ¡°If you can¡¯t wait, then leave, and handle your own affairs from now on.¡± His deep voice, carrying a trace of ice, swept towards the people. The chatterers immediately fell silent. At that moment, ¡°Creak¡ª¡± a faint sound broke the awkward, icy atmosphere. The crowd looked towards the door at the sound, and saw a slender figure appearing before them. Seeing the girl at the doorway, Bai Yiming, who was drinking coffee, choked; Duan Tang, who had been fanning himself, froze; and even Gu Yelin, who had been cold and aloof moments before, was momentarily stunned. An Yiqing, who opened the door, blinked her eyes, a flash of surprise in her watery gaze. Gu Yelin was expected, but why were Bai Yiming and Duan Tang also here? ¡°Cough, cough, cough, little girl, what are you doing here?!¡± Bai Yiming coughed twice, asking in surprise. ¡°Er, I am the disciple of the Sect Leader of the Medicine Sect.¡± ¡°What did you say?!¡± Bai Yiming raised his voice. What did she just say? ¡°I am the disciple of the Sect Leader of the Medicine Sect,¡± An Yiqing patiently repeated once more. After An Yiqing spoke, the atmosphere in the room once again fell into a strange silence. These people were all influential figures in their own right, and naturally, they had heard of the Medicine Sect, a distinctive existence in Xuanjin. Rumors had it that the people of the Medicine Sect could revive the dead and mend bones, their medical expertise was unimaginably advanced! Especially Sect Leader Ye Chenghong, although he had been in seclusion for many years, his renown still endured. Those who had been treated by Ye Chenghong never forgot his kindness. Hissss¡ªwas this girl really Ye Chenghong¡¯s disciple?! She looked far too young! While everyone had their own thoughts, Gu Yelin stood up and strode towards An Yiqing, his gaze intensely fixed on the girl he hadn¡¯t seen for a week, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy these past days and didn¡¯t have time to see you.¡± ¡°Um, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve been busy too,¡± An Yiqing struggled to suppress her racing heart. She hadn¡¯t seen this man for a week and felt like something was missing. Chapter 64 - 64 64 Asserting Authority ?64: Chapter 64 Asserting Authority 64: Chapter 64 Asserting Authority ¡°Your master is Ye Chenghong?¡± Gu Yelin asked. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s you who came to assist me this time?¡± ¡°Mm, yes.¡± Looking at the little woman in front of him, Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes were tinged with pleasure. He didn¡¯t really care who her master was, but the thought of being able to see her often in the future filled Gu Yelin with happiness. ¡°Girl, I should have realized when you cured my grandfather that you were from the Medicine Sect.¡± As he watched the warm atmosphere between Gu Yelin and An Yiqing, Duan Tang¡¯s clear black eyes flashed with a smile as he gently spoke to An Yiqing. ¡°Mm, I didn¡¯t expect you to be here too,¡± An Yiqing greeted. ¡°Come in, sit next to me.¡± As if he didn¡¯t see Duan Tang, Gu Yelin took An Yiqing¡¯s small hand and pulled her to sit next to him. Behind them, Duan Tang narrowed his eyes, staring at the hands of the two in front and feeling somehow uncomfortable inside. ¡°Little girl, it¡¯s been several days. Did you miss me?¡± Bai Yiming, regaining his senses, seemed to casually glance at Gu Yelin and teased An Yiqing, who had sat down. ¡°No.¡± ¡°But I missed you, what should I do?¡± Bai Yiming propped his chin with one hand, smiling at An Yiqing. ¡°Talking nonsense is a disease that needs to be cured,¡± An Yiqing retorted without holding back. ¡°Ah...¡± Bai Yiming widened his eyes at the girl, finding her really insensitive to sentiment. An Zhihang was here today on behalf of the An Group. Recently, Xuandu City was not peaceful, and even the An¡¯s had suffered casualties. He thought this was just a regular meeting, but he didn¡¯t expect a girl to appear. Looking at An Yiqing¡¯s young face, An Zhihang always felt a special kinship, and from her face, he always saw a shadow of his mother. Who was this girl? ¡°General Gu, is this the Divine Doctor you mentioned?¡± Other people in the room were getting restless. The girl was too young, wasn¡¯t she? ¡°This is An Yiqing, the only disciple of Ye Chenghong, the Sect Leader of the Medicine Sect,¡± Gu Yelin introduced. An Yiqing? Her surname is An too?! An Zhihang was somewhat lost in thought, wondering if this was a coincidence or... ¡°Ah... General Gu, I mean no disrespect, but this lady seems too young, you see...¡± ¡°Hmph! Why put it so nicely?! I don¡¯t care about any damned Medicine Sect! This little lady does look fine, and she might be good enough for the bed, but to let her investigate the murder case of my Canglang Sect is simply delusional!¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes turned fierce, and a powerful aura surged out, pressing heavily against Xiong Tian. ¡°Sect Master Xiong, the little girl was personally invited by Elder Gu. Are you questioning the decision from above?¡± Duan Tang¡¯s gentle smile remained, but his words were icy cold. ¡°Tsk! Sect Master Xiong, do you think ¡®Red Thorn¡¯ is run by your family?¡± Bai Yiming¡¯s teasing gaze mocked him. ¡°Sect Master Xiong, please watch your words.¡± Hearing Xiong Tian¡¯s remark, the usually refined An Zhihang felt a surge of anger for some reason. Xiong Tian was somewhat shocked at this moment. Gu Yelin¡¯s powerful breath made him immobile; he had always sneered at the rumors that Third Young Master Gu, the God of Slaughter, was not to be trifled with. But today, he truly experienced it! Xiong Tian¡¯s face was pale, and his forehead was covered in sweat. ¡°I suppose today Sect Master Xiong intends to leave his life here!¡± Gu Yelin snorted coldly, threatening Xiong Tian with blatant arrogance. Anyone who wanted to bully the little woman had to see if they had the life to live! An Yiqing gently patted Gu Yelin¡¯s arm, stabilizing his emotions. Gu Yelin looked at her, as if understanding what the girl meant, and obediently retracted his aura. Xiong Tian felt like he had just been pardoned, collapsing in his chair and panting hard. Too scary! Gu Yelin¡¯s Inner Breath was so profound! Xiong Tian was shocked. ¡°Sect Master Xiong of Canglang Sect, do you think I¡¯m not capable enough for this responsibility?¡± An Yiqing¡¯s voice was soft and gentle, showing none of the anger that comes with being questioned. ¡°Heh heh...¡± Due to the previous warning, Xiong Tian didn¡¯t speak but chuckled twice. An Yiqing gently stood up, walked slowly to Xiong Tian: ¡°Sect Master Xiong, it¡¯s good to harbor doubts. However, excessive arrogance will surely backfire. Just like indulging too much, Sect Master Xiong must have been unable for several years now, right?¡± An Yiqing made a surprising statement that startled everyone in the meeting room. ¡°Pfft! ¡ª Haha!¡± Bai Yiming couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into laughter; Xiong Tian was impotent? Haha! Offending this little girl and wishing for death would be difficult! ¡°What rubbish are you talking about, you smelly girl?!¡± Xiong Tian was both shocked and angry. Shocked that An Yiqing had instantly spotted his hidden affliction, and angry that she had publicly exposed it. ¡°Sect Master Xiong, there¡¯s no need to conceal it,¡± as if not noticing Xiong Tian¡¯s shock and anger, An Yiqing continued her startling revelations, ¡°Kidney deficiency is not uncommon, and with modern medicine, these are not considered difficult cases. As for Sect Master Xiong¡¯s condition, perhaps it¡¯s because you had too many beauties in your youth that you haven¡¯t been able to perform for more than a decade, tsk tsk, I completely understand.¡± An Yiqing earnestly expressed her understanding, her little face carrying a serious expression. The people in the room all turned red, bowing their heads and their shoulders shaking. Some who were not afraid of Canglang Sect¡¯s power even slapped their thighs and laughed out loud. Duan Tang¡¯s gentle face also took on a hint of mirth; this girl really knew how to stir things up. An Zhihang, looking at An Yiqing¡¯s serious little face, unknowingly had a brotherly affection in his gaze. Even the usually cold Gu Yelin had his sexy thin lips slightly curved up, his eyes indulgently watching An Yiqing make trouble. ¡°Bang! ¡ª¡± Xiong Tian roared angrily, slamming the table and rising, ¡°You pest of a girl, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± With that, he moved to strike at An Yiqing. ¡°You dare!¡± Gu Yelin was enraged at the sight, his Inner Breath swirling as he waved his hand to attack Xiong Tian. At that moment, a streak of silver flashed by, a Silver Needle shot from An Yiqing¡¯s hand, harshly piercing into Xiong Tian¡¯s body. There was a ¡°clang¡± sound, and Xiong Tian instantly collapsed back into his seat, powerless, unable to do more than gasp for air, even blinking was difficult. ¡°Sect Master Xiong, you¡¯re too fiery. Better to cultivate your mind and body for a while,¡± An Yiqing¡¯s red lips curled into a chilly smile, her clear eyes coldly sweeping over everyone present. ¡°Is there anyone else who thinks I am not up to this task? Stand up; let¡¯s have a good chat!¡± Chapter 65 - 65 65 This Corpse Is Somewhat Strange ?65: Chapter 65 This Corpse Is Somewhat Strange 65: Chapter 65 This Corpse Is Somewhat Strange The meeting room was silent, and even the sound of breathing seemed lighter. An Yiqing¡¯s bold move had thoroughly shocked everyone present. Everyone sat with their heads bowed, muttering complaints in their hearts. Have a chat? Who would dare to chat with you? I¡¯ve never seen such an overbearing way to chat... ¡°Since nobody has any objections, let¡¯s begin the meeting,¡± Gu Yelin said, giving An Yiqing an approving look and smoothly taking over the conversation. His treasure should be this domineering¡ªany trouble would be on him! The meeting lasted a full two hours, and no objections were raised again, thanks to the medical skills and prowess An Yiqing had displayed. Instead, it was Gu Yelin¡¯s tactics and strategems that earned everyone¡¯s admiration. ¡°Stay behind for a moment, I¡¯ll take you back afterward,¡± Gu Yelin said, keeping An Yiqing back after the meeting had ended. ¡°Mm, alright. I was just about to check on Ye Feng.¡± ¡°Girl, Grandpa has been doing a lot better recently, and he¡¯s been thinking about you. He said you¡¯ve been too busy these past few days and haven¡¯t had time to treat him. Visit him when you get the chance,¡± Duan Tang said with a gentle expression and a flash in his black eyes. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll visit Grandpa Duan in the next few days.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be taking my leave,¡± Duan Tang said, glancing toward Gu Yelin with an ambiguous tone, ¡°and I¡¯ll trouble Young Master Gu to take the girl back to school.¡± In his voice, it was clear he was treating An Yiqing as one of his own. ¡°Yiqing¡¯s matters are my matters,¡± Gu Yelin replied with a slight dip of his dark eyes, beautifully countering the comment. Sparks flew as their gazes collided in mid-air. ¡°Little girl, remember to think of me. Don¡¯t return too late,¡± Bai Yiming chimed in, seizing the opportunity, his large hand ruffling An Yiqing¡¯s dark, silky hair. As a result, Third Young Master Gu¡¯s face darkened even more, and Family Head Duan¡¯s smile broadened. As for An Yiqing, she rolled her eyes and shook her head, waving off Bai Yiming¡¯s disruptive hand. After sending Duan Tang and Bai Yiming off, only five people remained in the meeting room: Gu Yelin, An Yiqing, An Zhihang, Lin Group¡¯s Chairman Lin Chengming, and the Antique King Qiao Chengchun. ¡°Lao San, I¡¯ll be leaving first, we¡¯ll be in touch later for something important,¡± An Zhihang said, his dark eyes glancing at An Yiqing, his tone distracted. ¡°Alright,¡± Gu Yelin replied, noting An Zhihang¡¯s gaze on An Yiqing, and feeling an odd sensation in his heart. ¡°Miss An, goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± As she watched An Zhihang¡¯s retreating figure, An Yiqing felt a peculiar sense in her heart¡ªwhy did she find this person so familiar? An Yiqing turned her head toward Gu Yelin, ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°He is the third generation eldest son of the An family, An Zhihang.¡± ¡°Last name An?¡± He shares the same surname as hers? ¡°Yes,¡± Gu Yelin replied, his dark eyes flashing¡ªboth shared the surname An? A faint guess crossed his mind. ¡°Uh... Miss An,¡± Lin Chengming and Qiao Chengchun interjected with slightly awkward expressions. ¡°You have something to say, please speak.¡± ¡°I have some health issues and would like to ask for Miss An¡¯s help, if possible...¡± An Yiqing immediately understood, ¡°Here¡¯s my mobile number, let¡¯s schedule a time to discuss in detail later.¡± ¡°Great! Then we¡¯ll take our leave first,¡± rejoicing at the outcome, Lin Chengming and Qiao Chengchun did not linger longer, and quickly bid farewell. After everyone was gone, only Gu Yelin and An Yiqing were left in the meeting room. A warm atmosphere gradually flowed between them. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for a few days, you seem to have lost weight,¡± observed Gu Yelin, gazing at An Yiqing¡¯s delicate face. His little white rabbit was too thin; he needed to fatten her up. ¡°Um, I¡¯m fine,¡± An Yiqing replied with a soft smile, ¡°How¡¯s Ye Feng doing?¡± ¡°The medicinal bath you had him take has been very effective; his legs have been a lot more comfortable these past days.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. We can start the first treatment in a couple of days then. First, tell me about the murder case.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to see the body; then you¡¯ll understand.¡± Morgue Due to official intervention, the recent murder case was no longer merely a personal vendetta. The bodies of the victims were naturally entrusted to ¡°Red Thorn¡± for safekeeping and examination. At that moment, over ten corpses were laid out in the morgue, the ghastly white light causing eye strain, and the air was cold and filled with the decayed scent of rotten flesh. The bodies were covered with stark white sheets, a sight that was somewhat unsettling. However, these were but trivial details to An Yiqing, who was now only interested in a corpse in front of her that had been dissected. ¡°This person¡¯s death is a bit strange,¡± An Yiqing said in a low voice. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Well... it¡¯s always shown like this in Detective Dee.¡± Black lines appeared on Gu Yelin¡¯s forehead, and even the usually composed him was somewhat petrified. This little woman always had the knack to digress; her train of thought was way too scattered. ¡°Giggle...¡± Seeing the helpless expression on Gu Yelin¡¯s face, An Yiqing couldn¡¯t help but laugh merrily. But in a place as eerie as the morgue, even the most heartwarming atmosphere could only seem more sinister. An Yiqing had made the joke to lighten the oppressive ambiance, ¡°No joking now, this corpse died in a rather strange way, as if it was drained by a demon, rapidly aging and withering away. But the most eerie part is that his internal organs were all smashed. I faintly smell medicine on him.¡± ¡°Medicine?¡± Gu Yelin was puzzled; the bodies had been kept in cold storage without having been preserved in formalin, so why would there be a smell of medicine? ¡°Yes, medicine. But the smell is not pronounced.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s delicate little nose twitched, ¡°It¡¯s a bit like the Corpse-Dissolving Liquid I made.¡± ¡°Corpse-Dissolving Liquid?¡± This little woman always had some bizarre concoction. ¡°Mmm, I made it myself. Just one drop can make a corpse completely disappear.¡± She had used Corpse-Dissolving Liquid to deal with a few traitors who stole the Medicine Sect¡¯s secret techniques. It was very convenient, an essential for home, travel, or murder. She currently had a bottle of it. ¡°Bang!¡ª¡± A loud noise rang out as the morgue door was abruptly flung open. A disheveled man with a full beard appeared in front of An Yiqing. ¡°You can make Corpse-Dissolving Liquid?!¡± The man looked at An Yiqing excitedly, his voice trembling. An Yiqing nodded, who might this be? ¡°Can you also do meridian suturing?¡± the man¡¯s bloodshot eyes narrowed dramatically, his face in disbelief. ¡°Yes,¡± An Yiqing nodded again. ¡°Then you¡ª¡± ¡°Ye Hong!¡± The man was about to say something else, but Gu Yelin¡¯s icy voice cut him off. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it outside.¡± Gu Yelin frowned, ¡°Clean yourself up first, and I¡¯ll tell you about Ye Feng.¡± The man nodded vigorously at the words and quickly ran out. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chapter 66 - 66 66 Bone Crushing ?66: Chapter 66: Bone Crushing 66: Chapter 66: Bone Crushing ¡°He¡¯s Ye Hong, Ye Feng¡¯s younger brother. The two brothers share a very close relationship. He was originally the base¡¯s doctor, but since Ye Feng¡¯s accident, he has turned into a medical madman, burying himself in the lab every day to study medical texts,¡± Gu Yelin said unusually much. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell him that I could cure it?¡± ¡°No. I was afraid he¡¯d stir up something else. I didn¡¯t expect him to catch us red-handed this time.¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s brows furrowed, and his eyes also showed a sense of helplessness. ¡°He is also a man of sentiment. Just tell him everything,¡± An Yiqing always admired people who are deeply loyal. ¡°I¡¯ll take your advice.¡± ¡°Red Thorn¡± Office After leaving the morgue, An Yiqing and Gu Yelin returned here. This office was Gu Yelin¡¯s private territory, and others were not allowed to enter without permission. ¡°Knock, knock, knock¡ª¡± Ye Hong knocked on the door and pushed it open after getting Gu Yelin¡¯s permission. ¡°Boss.¡± Ye Hong, now tidied up, greeted Gu Yelin but his eyes glanced towards An Yiqing. ¡°Back to normal?¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s handsome eyebrows raised. ¡°Heh heh...¡± Ye Hong scratched the back of his head a little embarrassedly. ¡°This is An Yiqing, the apprentice of the Master of the Medicine Sect, here to assist us with the murder investigation,¡± Gu Yelin paused for a moment, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you before, but Qing can cure Ye Feng, and your brother has agreed to the treatment.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Ye Hong got a bit excited after hearing this. Yes! Since she can perform meridian suturing, she must be able to cure my brother¡¯s illness! ¡°I can cure Ye Feng. However, the process will be quite painful, so I hope you can be rational about it,¡± An Yiqing told him honestly, believing that as Ye Feng¡¯s brother, he had the right to know the truth. ¡°Yes! Yes. Yes!¡± Ye Feng¡¯s hands trembled as he nodded repeatedly, ¡°I will be rational! I won¡¯t cause trouble! I, I...¡± At the end of his sentence, Ye Feng¡¯s voice choked up, overcome with emotion ¡ª after two years, his brother would finally be able to stand! ¡°Then we¡¯ll start the treatment from tomorrow. I¡¯ll go back to prepare,¡± An Yiqing thought for a moment and then made a suggestion, ¡°If possible, bring Ye Feng to the base for treatment. I just checked the medical equipment at the base and it¡¯s very advanced; Ye Feng would receive better care here.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do as you say,¡± Gu Yelin said without hesitation. Whatever Xiao Bai says goes. ¡ª¡ª The Little Foodie Divider Line ¡ª¡ª The next day, An Yiqing was taken to the ¡°Red Thorn¡± Base early. This time Gu Yelin personally drove to pick her up, not taking that secret passage from yesterday. For Gu Yelin, who is smitten with his wife, he would gladly give her his heart, let alone the small matter of ¡°Red Thorn.¡± The news that Ye Feng could be cured had spread throughout the base yesterday after Ye Hong with his big mouth had told everyone. They were all comrades who had been through life and death together, so naturally, they were thrilled. Today, those who could come back to the base had put aside their work, eagerly waiting for Gu Yelin to bring the Divine Doctor back. Therefore, when An Yiqing entered the base, she saw a group led by Ye Hong eagerly staring at the entrance, with hopeful looks that gave her goosebumps. ¡°Is there nothing else to do?¡± As if sensing the young woman¡¯s discomfort, Gu Yelin¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Heh heh...¡± The red-haired Tan Yulin grinned, showing his pearly white teeth, ¡°Boss, the news that Ye Feng can stand again has gotten everyone a little excited.¡± ¡°Boss, I can¡¯t control them anymore. They¡¯ve all stopped working just waiting for Miss An,¡± sighed the deputy leader of ¡°Red Thorn,¡± Chiang Yi, helplessly shrugging his shoulders. This bunch of troublemakers were harder to handle than each other. ¡°You can watch, but everyone keep your mouths shut tight.¡± Gu Yelin did not want to disappoint everyone, but he sternly warned them. He would not allow anyone to do anything that could hurt the young woman! Treatment Room Ye Feng was brought to the base the previous night, and his mood was now a mixture of complexity and anxiety, as he waited early in the treatment room. The treatment room of ¡°Red Thorn¡± fully reflected Gu Yelin¡¯s wealth and extravagance, with top-notch medical equipment throughout and even the medical staff were all top-notch experts. Because of the special nature of the base personnel¡¯s work, getting injured and bleeding was a common occurrence, and sometimes it even threatened their lives. Gu Yelin had to ensure that his subordinates could receive the best possible treatment, and he never stinted on this aspect. The entire treatment room was made of the most advanced bulletproof glass, with an inner layer that could be opaque or transparent. And today, because of everyone¡¯s anticipation, An Yiqing was about to perform a completely public, blood-soaked treatment drama! An Yiqing did not demand much, only requesting the assistance of two medical personnel: a male doctor with high ancient martial arts skills and an experienced and agile female doctor. An Yiqing donned a green sterile suit and washed her hands with the Medicine Sect¡¯s special medicinal solution. ¡°Ready?¡± An Yiqing looked at Ye Feng. ¡°Hoo¡ª¡± Ye Feng took a deep breath, clenched his fists tightly and nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s start!¡± Admiration shone in An Yiqing¡¯s eyes. Facing the unknown with no hint of panic, he truly was a man of steel. ¡°Lock the operating room,¡± An Yiqing instructed the two assistants, ¡°The surgery begins.¡± Unlike the traditional bone-setting in hospitals, An Yiqing did not rely on any instruments. She slowly circulated her Inner Breath within her body, and the bizarre Vital energy made her eyes shine even more brilliantly. An Ancient Martial Artist?! Is this girl an Ancient Martial Artist?! Except for the red-haired Tan Yulin and a few others who had seen An Yiqing before, everyone standing outside the surgery room was taken aback! They had not felt any Inner Breath fluctuations from the girl, but they hadn¡¯t expected her Cultivation Power to be so profound! Everyone felt a distinct change in the girl¡¯s aura. From a gentle and demure weak girl, she had suddenly become a powerful practitioner with deep internal strength! This An Yiqing was a master of both medicine and martial arts! Inside the surgery room at this moment, An Yiqing had her Inner Breath operating at its peak, her pale hands moving in a bizarre gestural dance. The two assistants felt a gust of wind strike them, ¡°Ahh¡ª!¡± A soul-tearing scream came from the room! Pain! Heart-wrenching, lung-splitting pain! Ye Feng had sustained countless injuries and tasted myriad forms of pain before, but compared to this bone-crushing agony, it was nothing! Chapter 67 - 67 67 Suturing of the Meridians ?67: Chapter 67: Suturing of the Meridians 67: Chapter 67: Suturing of the Meridians An Yiqing was using the Bone Shattering Technique inherited from the Medicine Sect¡¯s Secret Technique, the essence of which is that after the bones are shattered and rejoined, there are no aftermath complications, as if the injury never occurred. However, since this was the Inner Breath Bone Shattering Technique, the pain involved was incomparable to that of ordinary fractures. In the history of the Medicine Sect, many had attempted to use this method to treat bone diseases for patients, yet very few could endure the process. ¡°Can you hold on?¡± Ye Feng gasped fiercely, sweat beads rolling down his pale face, his voice somewhat tremorous: ¡°I can! Continue!¡± An Yiqing nodded slightly upon hearing this, her hands moving faster and faster, and the frequency of the palm strikes increased. Gradually, a fine layer of sweat appeared on An Yiqing¡¯s delicate nose. ¡°What is this technique?!¡± Ye Hong, standing outside of the operating room, had excitement sparkling in his eyes, seemingly unconcerned about his big brother¡¯s endurance. ¡°Heavens! That technique is amazing!¡± ¡°This girl is awesome!¡± The members of ¡°Red Thorn¡± seemed as masochistic as their boss¡ªwhat concerned them at the moment was not whether Ye Feng could bear the pain, but they marveled at An Yiqing¡¯s mesmerizing medical technique. It wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t worried about Ye Feng, but they all understood that those who followed their boss were tough guys. If they couldn¡¯t even bear this little pain, they might as well pack up and go back home! Time ticked by, and from inside the operating room, low, suppressed moans from Ye Feng could be heard intermittently. After An Yiqing delivered the final palm strike, even the two assistants by her side had a fine layer of sweat on their backs. ¡°Take a half-hour break, then we¡¯ll begin suturing the meridians.¡± Bone shattering was just the first step; the most painful part, the suturing of the meridians, had not yet started. An Yiqing pulled out a silver needle and pricked it into Ye Feng¡¯s head, ¡°Take a nap.¡± No sooner had she spoken than Ye Feng closed his eyes and sank into sleep. ¡°How do you feel?¡± As soon as An Yiqing stepped out of the operating room, Gu Yelin approached quickly. He saw the fine sweat on the girl¡¯s nose and couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of heartache. ¡°I¡¯m fine. The bone shattering was very successful. After the meridian suturing, we¡¯ll fix it with a cast. There won¡¯t be any complications.¡± ¡°Take a rest,¡± Gu Yelin said, preventing others from disturbing An Yiqing, ¡°You¡¯ll have to suture the meridians later. Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Mm, okay.¡± An Yiqing felt warm inside. Half an hour later, An Yiqing returned to the operating room. ¡°The upcoming surgery is extremely complex, I need both of you to collaborate fully,¡± An Yiqing gently instructed the two assistants, ¡°One to assist me, the other to control Ye Feng¡¯s body, and constantly monitor his blood pressure and heartbeat.¡± After hearing An Yiqing¡¯s words, the male and female doctors both nodded respectfully. They had witnessed the bone shattering process, and knew that the level of medical skill this girl possessed was beyond their reach. Any discontent they felt about being assistants to their boss had long since dissipated. An Yiqing gently pulled out the silver needle from Ye Feng¡¯s head, and Ye Feng slowly opened his eyes. Miraculously, during the half hour that he had been asleep, he had not felt any pain, and now his spirit seemed much improved. ¡°The surgery is about to start. If you can¡¯t hold on, tell me,¡± An Yiqing¡¯s gentle voice rang in Ye Feng¡¯s ears. ¡°Okay.¡± The human body¡¯s meridian system can generally be divided into the Twelve Regular Meridians, the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and the Central Meridian as described by the Esoteric Sect. Each meridian is intricately intertwined, connected to various organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, and stomach, affecting the whole body with a single movement. Meridian suturing, as the name implies, involves stitching the damaged meridians together. But because the process is too dangerous, and since technology has not advanced to such levels, meridian suturing only exists in legends. Until now, not even the past Sect Leaders of the Medicine Sect have attempted it. An Yiqing, with her extraordinary talent and peculiar Vital energy capable of clairvoyant healing, compensated for the shortcomings of modern science. Instead of needle and thread, the materials for meridian suturing were the Inner Breath Vitality, Condense Qi into Form. This posed a severe challenge even for masters of Inner Breath. ¡°Mm...¡± At the start of the suturing, Ye Feng uttered a suppressed groan. The pain was different from the bone shattering; it was a torment like thousands of ants gnawing at the heart. The burning and pain seemed inborn, like demons intertwining with the soul, unable to be shaken off. With the assistants¡¯ cooperation, An Yiqing cut open Ye Feng¡¯s flesh with a scalpel and, using her unique Vital energy to Condense Spirit into Form under the guidance of her Clairvoyant Eye, slowly stitched the meridians on Ye Feng¡¯s legs together. The male and female doctors widened their eyes in awe at the scene before them; the operating table was covered in blood, and the serene girl was engrossed in the midst of it all. Her right index finger mysteriously emitted a faint white glow, moving through the flesh at a speed indecipherable to the naked eye. What is she doing?! Is this the legendary meridian suturing?! ¡°Is this Condense Qi into Form?!¡± Ye Hong¡¯s eyes widened, emitting an incredulous gasp. ¡°Is this the Condense Qi into Form that only the boss can perform?¡± ¡°Damn! Miss Qing is mighty! My idol!¡± ¡°Hiss¡ª!¡± Amidst the rising and falling exclamations from the crowd, Gu Yelin, who had been watching An Yiqing, unconsciously furrowed his brows. Given the young woman¡¯s current strength, wasn¡¯t Condense Qi into Form too much of a risk? If the surgery dragged on for too long, her Inner Breath would be depleted more and more, and then... Worry flashed in Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes, and his hands, hanging by his sides, clenched more tightly, his tall frame standing rigidly in front of the operating room. ¡°Miss An, how are you doing?¡± The male doctor looked at An Yiqing with some concern. Fifty minutes had passed; normally, this girl¡¯s Inner Breath should have been almost completely depleted by now. ¡°I¡¯m fine, continue.¡± At this moment, Ye Feng felt as if he were becoming numb from the intense pain, the heart-eating agony relentlessly assaulting his nerves. A voice in his mind kept tempting him: ¡°Sleep, and the pain will go away... Just sleep...¡± Ye Feng felt increasingly drowsy, his consciousness seemed to be drifting away... ¡°Ye Feng! Do not sleep!¡± A shout imbued with Inner Breath pulled Ye Feng¡¯s consciousness slowly back! Chapter 68 - 68 68 Autopsy ?68: Chapter 68 Autopsy 68: Chapter 68 Autopsy ¡°You are not allowed to sleep! Think about Gu Yelin and your younger brother!¡± the firm and pleasant voice entered Ye Feng¡¯s ears again, ¡°You¡¯ve been in a wheelchair for two years, and you¡¯re about to stand up! You can¡¯t give up now! Listen to me! The people An Yiqing saves can¡¯t even be taken by Yama Raja! If you dare destroy my reputation, I¡¯ll drag your corpse out and feed it to the dogs!¡± Hearing the cool and gentle voice utter such seemingly vicious curses, Ye Feng gradually became more alert. An Yiqing... An Yiqing... Ye Feng suddenly opened his eyes wide; he had almost just lost his life! ¡°Hold on for ten more minutes, and you¡¯ll be able to stand up!¡± An Yiqing¡¯s indifferent voice continued to distract Ye Feng, ¡°I¡¯ve spent more than half of my Inner Breath to help you sew up your meridians, you must compensate me after you recover!¡± ¡°...Okay. When I¡¯m better, whatever you say... goes...¡± Ye Feng slightly curled his pale lips, and a bit of color gradually returned to his eyes. Hearing Ye Feng¡¯s response, An Yiqing was relieved and quickened the pace of her work, trying to lessen Ye Feng¡¯s pain. ¡°Phew!¡ª¡ª¡± Ten minutes later, An Yiqing¡¯s pale face showed a smile, ¡°Mission accomplished...¡± Before she could finish, the world went dark, and her body slumped down. ¡°Miss An!¡± the female doctor next to her exclaimed in shock and quickly supported An Yiqing. ¡°Qing!¡± Gu Yelin, who was outside the operating room, became extremely anxious upon seeing this, and he gathered his Inner Breath to break open the door of the operating room. ¡°...Don¡¯t come in, I¡¯m fine.¡± An Yiqing, who was slowly regaining consciousness, waved her hand weakly and stood up with the help of an assistant. ¡°How are you?¡± Ye Feng, who was lying on the operating table, looked worriedly at the somewhat weak girl in front of him; she had saved him, yet she had exhausted herself. ¡°Just a bit drained. You go back to your ward and rest well; I¡¯m fine.¡± After speaking, she leaned on the female assistant¡¯s shoulder and slowly walked out of the operating room. Ye Feng gazed at the slender and fragile back of the girl, his eyes filled with complex emotions... ¡ª¡ªLittle Foodie Divider Line¡ª¡ª After leaving the operating room, An Yiqing had a good sleep. When she woke up again, it was already four in the afternoon. In ¡°Red Thorn¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s exclusive resting room, the girl lay quietly on the big black bed. Her snow-white skin formed a stark contrast against the black sheets. The room was very quiet, and a tall man sat on the sofa by the bed. The man¡¯s features were exceptionally handsome, and he exuded an aura of a cold and composed Dark Night Emperor. His dark eyes were intense as he looked attentively at the girl on the bed. ¡°Hmm...¡± A soft moan came from the girl¡¯s cherry lips. Her fair little hand rubbed her bleary eyes, ¡°Um... where am I?¡± ¡°My room.¡± Gu Yelin moved from the sofa to sit by the bed, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Um... I¡¯m hungry...¡± The girl¡¯s eyes, still a little hazy, blinked several times. Hmm, so hungry. ¡°I¡¯ll go get something to eat.¡± Watching the girl¡¯s cute and silly demeanor, Gu Yelin¡¯s sexy lips curved up. The little white rabbit was too adorable; he could hardly resist the urge to devour her. ¡°How¡¯s Ye Feng doing?¡± An Yiqing sat by the dining table, asking while eating. ¡°He¡¯s doing well. The cast has been set, and he¡¯s been moved to a ward,¡± Gu Yelin said in a low voice, ¡°No adverse reactions. Ye Hong is watching him closely. You can rest easy and recover.¡± ¡°Mm, that¡¯s good.¡± An Yiqing nodded her head, ¡°I¡¯ll go see him after eating.¡± ¡°Sure, as you wish.¡± In front of a husband-slave, the wife is always right. ¡ª¡ªEating and eating, munching and munching¡ª¡ª After the meal, Gu Yelin triple-checked that An Yiqing was in no pain before he took her to the ward. At that moment, only Ye Feng and Ye Hong were in the room. Due to the energy loss from the morning surgery, Ye Feng had long since fallen into a deep sleep, while Ye Hong was engrossed in a book on the sofa. ¡°Boss, Miss An!¡± Hearing the voices, Ye Hong looked up and perked up immediately upon seeing An Yiqing and Gu Yelin. ¡°How¡¯s Ye Feng?¡± An Yiqing went to the bedside, checked Ye Feng¡¯s pulse, and then glanced at the monitoring equipment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss An, my brother is in good shape. Listen to how loud his snoring is!¡± Now that Ye Feng was fine, Ye Hong was back to his usual casual self, making faces at An Yiqing to tease his elder brother. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± An Yiqing looked at Ye Hong making faces, cleared her throat, ¡°Cough, just call me Xiao Qing. Miss An sounds awkward.¡± ¡°Ay! Sure thing!¡± Ye Hong was all obedient towards An Yiqing. This one is a Divine Doctor! She¡¯s much higher in rank than an Itinerant Doctor like him! ¡°Er... do you have anything else?¡± An Yiqing felt a bit nervous seeing Ye Hong¡¯s bright eyes. ¡°Heh heh, Xiao Qing...¡± Ye Hong rubbed his hands together uncomfortably, ¡°I¡¯ve always been particularly interested in Medical Arts, but I¡¯ve had no great mentors or friends. What do you think... could we, you know, exchange knowledge sometime? Yes! Exchange knowledge!¡± ¡°Stop the nonsense! Let¡¯s go!¡± Before An Yiqing could respond, Gu Yelin ruthlessly dashed Ye Hong¡¯s hopes. What a joke! If the little white rabbit¡¯s time, already so scarce, was wasted on this Ye Hong, would he even stand a chance of chasing his wife? Third Young Master Gu is majestic and domineering! Third Young Master Gu is dark and crafty~ The next day After recuperating for a night, An Yiqing felt much better. Today, she planned to take a good look at the victim¡¯s body. ¡°You go ahead with your work. I¡¯ll be fine here by myself.¡± An Yiqing spoke softly to Gu Yelin, who had brought her to the morgue. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you. It¡¯s not safe here.¡± An Yiqing couldn¡¯t help but twitch her mouth. Your own territory isn¡¯t safe, Master Gu? The two insisted for half a day, and in the end, the husband-slave Gu Yelin was still defeated by the little white rabbit and obediently went back to his office. It was very quiet in the morgue, and An Yiqing carefully examined several bodies again, her brows knitting tighter and tighter. Strange, why are the symptoms of these bodies so similar to a passage recorded in the Medicine Sect¡¯s Secret Technique? When Gu Yelin came back to the morgue, An Yiqing¡¯s mind slowly formed a nearly complete idea. Chapter 69 - 69 69 Ancient Space ?69: Chapter 69 Ancient Space 69: Chapter 69 Ancient Space ¡°I have a rough idea. However, I still need to verify it.¡± ¡°How do you plan to verify it, and do you need my help?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen similar symptoms recorded in the Medicine Sect¡¯s Secret Technique. What I can confirm now is that these people all died from medicinal poisoning. As for which medicine, I need to prepare an antidote to check. It won¡¯t take too long, the results should be out in a few days.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯ll listen to you. Just tell me if you need help with anything.¡± Master Gu¡¯s nature as a doting husband became even more obvious. An Yiqing declined Gu Yelin¡¯s kind offer to send her back to school because she had to visit the Medicine Sect. Only the Medicine Sect had the ingredients needed to prepare the antidote. ¡°Master, the autopsy results are in,¡± An Yiqing called Ye Chenghong as soon as she returned to the Medicine Sect. ¡°What are the results?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite strange; the symptoms are very similar to those of Soul Devouring Powder as recorded in the Medicine Sect¡¯s secret technique.¡± ¡°Oh? Soul Devouring Powder?¡± Ye Chenghong sounded a bit surprised. Fewer than ten people under heaven could refine Soul Devouring Powder; it seemed that the situation this time was not good! ¡°Yes. Similar to Soul Devouring Powder, but not completely the same,¡± An Yiqing thought for a moment and then continued, ¡°It¡¯s somewhat like a mutated virus from Soul Devouring Powder. As for what it really is, I will need to wait until after I have prepared the antidote to be certain.¡± ¡°Girl, the antidote for such poisons is not easy to prepare, right? It¡¯ll take at least seven days,¡± Ye Chenghong expressed his concern. ¡°Master, I obtained a Medicine Cauldron at the auction. It should significantly shorten the alchemy time. I will try to speed up the process!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Ye Chenghong sounded surprised, ¡°I must take a look at that sometime. Be careful in all things and put your own safety first.¡± After ending the call with Ye Chenghong, An Yiqing gathered the ingredients needed to prepare the antidote. She took the Furnace Cauldron she had bid for a few days ago out of the large bag and examined it closely for the first time. The Furnace Cauldron was about the size of a basketball in diameter, its body jet black with some strange patterns. At a casual glance, it seemed unremarkable, but through An Yiqing¡¯s penetrating gaze, it was a different world. In the eyes of An Yiqing, who could see through objects, the Furnace Cauldron shone with a golden light, its core engraved with dense, strange characters. An Yiqing had seen these characters in the ancient books of the Medicine Sect. They belonged to a language unique to an obscure tribe thousands of years ago, which had now been lost. Ye Chenghong once saw these characters in the Medicine Sect¡¯s antiquarian and learned them out of interest before teaching them to An Yiqing. It took An Yiqing a long time to decipher the characters on the Medicine Cauldron. Then, following the instructions, she cut her finger and let the blood drip onto the cauldron. A flash of white light passed by, and An Yiqing felt as if she was firmly sucked in by a force; the scene before her eyes became increasingly distorted. What¡¯s happening? Her vision blurred, and when she opened her eyes again, An Yiqing¡¯s eyes were full of shock. Where is this?! The sight of an ancient and elegant house entered her view. An Yiqing steadied her mind and walked slowly into the house. The house was not large, with only two rooms. The first room contained four large chests, each bearing the characters ¡°Heaven, Earth, Mystical, Yellow.¡± An Yiqing approached cautiously and touched them, but couldn¡¯t open any. She then proceeded into the second room, a bedroom, with a bed, a desk, a chair, and a book; all were simple and rustic. ¡°Ancient Space?¡± An Yiqing picked up the book on the desk, saw the four large characters on it, and couldn¡¯t help but read them aloud. She slowly opened the book, and suddenly a blinding white light poured out from inside. An Yiqing raised her hand to shield her eyes, squinting slightly. ¡°The descendant of mine, fortunate is the one who comes,¡± a deep and ethereal male voice began to drift slowly through the room. ¡°Who is it?¡± An Yiqing asked in shock. ¡°Descendant, I am the ancient Shennong Shi. This is my Ancient Space,¡± the ancient and profound voice revealed the origin of the Furnace Cauldron, ¡°I have stored all my life¡¯s medical arts here. Alas, many in the world have greedy desires, so I sealed the space within this cauldron, waiting for someone with a pure heart to open it.¡± ¡°Shennong Shi?¡± An Yiqing exclaimed, ¡°Are you the Shennong who tasted all the herbs? Are you still alive?!¡± That would make it several thousand years, wouldn¡¯t it?... ¡°All things in heaven and earth have spirits, and I already entered the cycle of reincarnation long ago. What you see is a spectral manifestation. Since you have opened this place, you must be a person of steadfast heart. There are four ¡®Heaven Earth Mystical Yellow¡¯ chests here, which will open when your strength is sufficient. I hope you will make good use of this place for the benefit of the world.¡± The ethereal voice gradually faded in the room, and An Yiqing stood there, dumbstruck. After a long while, she blinked her eyes incredulously. Was this... like getting a cheat code?! In her nineteen years, An Yiqing had seen many strange things, but the ancient Shennong? Ancient Space? It turned out that all these things actually existed and were not merely legends. An Yiqing quickly absorbed the news brought by Shennong Shi, walked eagerly to the ¡°Heaven¡± chest, and placed her hand on it. With a ¡°pop,¡± the chest she couldn¡¯t open no matter how hard she tried suddenly sprang open automatically. Seeing this, An Yiqing moved to the ¡°Earth¡± chest and placed her hand on it for a long while with no response. Her eyes flickered slightly, realizing that her strength was only sufficient to open the first chest. There were people above her, and in realms she did not know, there were many forces beyond her comprehension. Upon thinking this, An Yiqing felt a fire of ambition ignite within her. The sensation of step-by-step exploration of unknown powers was truly exhilarating! Calming herself down, An Yiqing returned to the ¡°Heaven¡± chest and picked up the first book on it, reading it intently. Time passed, and when she finally finished the last page, An Yiqing was slowly digesting the content within. The timescale in this Ancient Space was different from the outside world; it was currently four to one, meaning four days here were equivalent to one day in the outside world. As the owner¡¯s strength grew, the ratio would increase further. But these were future concerns; what she needed to do now was alchemy. An Yiqing flipped through the medical books in the chest, found the alchemy chapter, and read it with keen interest. With a time ratio of one to four compared to the outside world, she wasn¡¯t worried about not being able to leave. ... After some time, An Yiqing lifted her head from the books. Hmm, it turned out that using the Furnace Cauldron for alchemy was not as simple as she thought. Not only did it require skilled technique, but most importantly, one must also know how to use the Internal Breath Flame. Chapter 70 - 70 70 The Convulsion Inducing Medicinal Field ?70: Chapter 70 The Convulsion Inducing Medicinal Field 70: Chapter 70 The Convulsion Inducing Medicinal Field The Internal Breath Flame is an existence that can rival the Three-Flavors True Fire. The flame is colorless, without temperature, and lacks offensive power, but it¡¯s essential for refining extraordinary medicines. According to the books, only those with pure vital energy can cultivate the Internal Breath Flame. Hmm, who has purer vital energy than An Yiqing¡¯s strange one? Deciding to practice, An Yiqing didn¡¯t hesitate, sitting down on the spot and beginning her cultivation following the technique described in the book. Meanwhile, at the Medicine Sect. ¡°Junior Uncle is back?¡± Bai Wuchang noticed the light in An Yiqing¡¯s room was on and asked curiously. ¡°Yes. Junior Uncle came back in the evening and said she wanted to do alchemy. Then she locked herself up and told us not to call her for dinner.¡± Bai Wuchang nodded upon hearing this, ¡°Okay, be careful, don¡¯t let anyone disturb her.¡± He thought for a moment and then added, ¡°Leave some food for Junior Uncle in the pot to keep it warm.¡± ¡°Understood, Brother Bai!¡± Outside, one day went by, but in the Ancient Space, two days turned into night and then back again. Finally, after sitting quietly, An Yiqing opened her eyes. ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± A pale blue flame burst forth from her fair palm, and then slowly turned transparent. ¡°I¡¯ve done it!¡± An Yiqing¡¯s eyes curved into smiles, her eyes full of laughter. Hmm, now she could refine many extraordinary medicines! With the Internal Breath Flame at her disposal, An Yiqing let go of her worries. She stood up, walked out of the house, and decided to explore the wonders of this space. There was also a sun rising and setting in the space, and the seasons always felt like spring. An Yiqing found a plot of land behind the house, her breath taken away in disbelief. The field itself was not unusual, but what was planted there made An Yiqing have difficulty breathing. It was a field of medicinal herbs! A field of rare medicinal herbs! The entire field was filled with precious herbs such as thousand-year Lingzhi and ten-thousand-year Ginseng that are rarely found in the world! She carefully plucked a thousand-year Lingzhi, ¡°Hiss...!¡± But she sharply inhaled a breath of cold air as another identical Lingzhi quickly grew in the spot where the first one had been plucked. Ni Ma, isn¡¯t a thousand-year Lingzhi supposed to need over a thousand years to grow? An Yiqing¡¯s mouth twitched in astonishment; Shennong Shi was indeed formidable! After the shock, An Yiqing began to jump for joy. This space was an invaluable treasure to her: not only did it contain ancient medicinal books, but also rare treasures. She felt like a fish in water here! Two days passed in the space, and An Yiqing finally finished refining the antidote for the Soul Devouring Powder. Not lingering, she swiftly left the Ancient Space. There were things to do in the outside world, and there would be plenty of opportunities to return to the space. ¡°Junior Uncle! You¡¯ve finally come out!¡± Bai Wuchang let out a sigh of relief when he saw An Yiqing coming out of her room. Junior Uncle had locked herself in her room for an entire day. He was just about to kick down the door. ¡°What time is it now?¡± ¡°Junior Uncle, you went in at this time yesterday and only just came out now.¡± Upon hearing this, An Yiqing¡¯s lips twitched. The space was timeless; she didn¡¯t expect that just sitting quietly for a while would pass so quickly. An Yiqing declined Bai Wuchang¡¯s kind offer to drive her and took a taxi to the Tianyi Group. She didn¡¯t take the same route as Gu Yelin had shown her the previous day. In her opinion, the fewer people who knew about ¡°Red Thorn,¡± the better. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me a call? I would have come to pick you up.¡± Gu Yelin was surprised to see An Yiqing at ¡°Red Thorn.¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s too much trouble.¡± Hearing An Yiqing¡¯s words, Gu Yelin was a bit helpless, ¡°Next time you must tell me. There¡¯s no need for such formality between us.¡± ¡°...Okay...¡± An Yiqing blushed and blinked her eyes, ¡°How is Ye Feng?¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go see him.¡± Gu Yelin looked helplessly at the retreating figure of the young woman. He hadn¡¯t even had a good talk with her before she left... The little white rabbit was so naive. In the hospital room. ¡°Tsk, tsk, brother, it¡¯s all good news lately!¡± Ye Hong sat casually on the sofa, peeling an apple and saying. ¡°Good news?¡± Ye Feng lay immobile in bed, his legs wrapped in plaster casts, but he seemed to be in high spirits. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just?!¡± Ye Hong raised his eyebrows, ¡°Your legs are healed, and the boss¡¯s spring has also arrived.¡± Ye Feng was startled, ¡°The boss¡¯s spring? Who?¡± Ye Hong looked at Ye Feng with disdain and bit a large chunk out of his apple, ¡°You¡¯re the only one at the base who hasn¡¯t noticed! That God Doctor An! I heard from Tan Yulin that the other day, the boss tore a black clothed man with his bare hands for her! Such passion! Tsk, tsk! Love! Spring!~¡± Listening to Ye Hong¡¯s sarcastic sighing, Ye Feng¡¯s expression turned odd. An Yiqing and the boss? Then what about him¡ª ¡°Ye Feng, how are you?¡± A warm and pleasant voice interrupted Ye Feng¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Xiao Qing, you¡¯re here?!¡± Seeing An Yiqing, Ye Hong perked up and clung to her. ¡°I¡¯m very good.¡± Ye Feng quickly composed himself and assessed the girl before him, ¡°Why are you back after only one day? Can your body handle it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s eyes curved into smiles as she approached the bed, reached out with her fair little hand to take Ye Feng¡¯s wrist, and gently felt for his pulse. Feeling the soft touch of the girl¡¯s hand, Ye Feng¡¯s drooping black eyes flickered slightly. ¡°Not bad.¡± After a moment, the girl withdrew her hand, ¡°I¡¯ll give you some healing medicine in a while, you should take it twice a day. It will help your bones and meridians recover faster.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± Ye Feng smiled and nodded, ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°Boss, Xiao Qing just got here, and now you¡¯ve arrived too!¡± Before Ye Feng could say more, he was interrupted by Ye Hong¡¯s loud voice. He looked up to see Gu Yelin walking in, regal and extraordinary, his whole presence dazzling like the Dark Night Emperor. ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± ¡°Hmm, it seems not.¡± Upon hearing Gu Yelin¡¯s question, An Yiqing touched her stomach, ¡°I went back last night and started alchemy right away, and only just finished.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep at all last night?¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s brows furrowed deeper and deeper, wondering how this little woman could neglect to take care of herself. ¡°Hmm, it seems so.¡± Actually, it wasn¡¯t just one night; she hadn¡¯t slept or eaten for four days. An Yiqing silently added this in her mind. Chapter 71 - 71 71 Chef Gus Stir-Fried Pork with Mushrooms ?71: Chapter 71 Chef Gu¡¯s Stir-Fried Pork with Mushrooms 71: Chapter 71 Chef Gu¡¯s Stir-Fried Pork with Mushrooms ¡°Let¡¯s go have dinner. Then rest,¡± Gu Yelin said without a second word, taking An Yiqing¡¯s hand and striding away. To him, people like Ye Feng and Ye Hong didn¡¯t matter at the moment. What was important was taking good care of the little white rabbit. As if sensing the displeasure and worry emanating from the man, An Yiqing offered no resistance. She turned her head and waved at Ye Feng and Ye Hong before following Gu Yelin out. ¡°Ah! Look at our powerful and majestic Boss, spitting the image of a henpecked husband,¡± Ye Hong commented, stroking his chin, then elbowed Ye Feng, ¡°Notice that? Xiao Qing and our leader really are a handsome couple, perfectly matched.¡± ¡°You talk too much,¡± Ye Feng glared at Ye Hong, pulled the blanket over his head, and closed his eyes to sleep. Ye Hong looked puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s with him? Has menopause hit now that his leg has healed?¡± ¡ª¡ªLittle White Rabbit Separator¡ª¡ª Gu Yelin led An Yiqing to the restaurant. ¡°Sit for a bit. It¡¯ll be ready soon.¡± An Yiqing blinked in confusion, watching the man in front of her roll up the sleeves of his black shirt. What was he going to do? Gu Yelin casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing his sturdy arms. He took some vegetables and meat out of the refrigerator and then entered the kitchen. Was he going to cook himself? Could he cook? An Yiqing was somewhat surprised and tiptoed to the kitchen door. Inside the kitchen, the man stood elegantly by the countertop. His sharp and handsome features were sculpted with precision, his cold and appealing eyes concentrated as his distinctively knuckled hands, looking like perfect pieces of art, made the simple act of cutting meat seem noble and graceful. Gu Yelin seemed to feel the girl¡¯s gaze, turned his head slightly, and looked at An Yiqing with a warm expression, his thin lips parting, ¡°It¡¯ll be ready in a bit. There¡¯s smoke in the kitchen, you go sit in the restaurant.¡± ¡°Um... I can help,¡± said An Yiqing, who, despite not being good at cooking, still wanted to lend a hand to this man. But ultimately, after Gu Yelin¡¯s domineering insistence, An Yiqing was still pushed out of the kitchen. In less than twenty minutes, the fragrant dishes were laid out in front of An Yiqing. There was a plate of stir-fried mushrooms with pork and a vegetable soup. The dishes were not complex, but they looked very delicate. An Yiqing¡¯s dainty nose twitched, hmm, it seemed quite good. With her fair hand, she took a spoonful of soup and her eyes lit up unconsciously. ¡°How is it?¡± Gu Yelin asked calmly for An Yiqing¡¯s opinion, a hidden hint of nervousness in the depths of his eyes. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s delicious,¡± An Yiqing took another bite of mushroom, ¡°It tastes a bit like the one at Old Zhang Restaurant the other day, but it¡¯s also very unique.¡± Hearing the girl¡¯s words, Gu Yelin breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that she liked it. After dinner, An Yiqing insisted on washing the dishes. However, the scheming Gu Yelin said there were people in charge of cleaning and maintaining the base. And so, the nai?ve little white rabbit was easily misled. ¡°The antidote is already prepared. I want to go check on it now.¡± ¡°You need to rest now,¡± Gu Yelin somewhat opposed An Yiqing¡¯s obsessive dedication to Medical Arts. ¡°It won¡¯t take much time, I promise, right after the test, I¡¯ll go back to sleep!¡± An Yiqing stretched out her small hand, fervently promising. In the end, Gu Yelin still took An Yiqing to the morgue. The light in the morgue remained bleak, and the stench of decay from the bodies mingled with a growingly dense, strange odor that slowly drifted through the space. An Yiqing lifted the covering from one of the corpses, took out the powdered medicine from her pocket, and evenly spread it over the body. If indeed the poison inside this person was a mutated strain of Soul Devouring Powder, then what followed would be... ¡°Poof¡ª!¡± As expected, a soft noise erupted, and a thick black mist emerged from the corpse, then slowly dissipated into the air. It was as if the soul of the person had been completely extinguished. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s as I suspected, the victim died from poisoning, with the poison being a mutated virus of the Soul Devouring Powder.¡± Soul Devouring Powder, as the name implies, devours the souls of humans. Those poisoned seem as if their essence has been sucked dry, their bodies instantly shriveling and darkening, and they experience hallucinations before death. That explains the terrified expressions on the victims¡¯ faces before they died. Having heard An Yiqing¡¯s explanation, Gu Yelin fell into deep thought. According to the girl, within her master¡¯s knowledge, there were no more than ten people who could concoct Soul Devouring Powder, so... ¡°Do you know who these ten people are?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask my master in a bit,¡± An Yiqing shook her head, pondered for a moment, and continued, ¡°While I may not be able to help you find the person behind the scenes, I can create a type of medicinal powder that will react with the user of the Soul Devouring Powder. That might be of some help to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already helped me a lot,¡± Gu Yelin said with a gentle gaze, appreciating that the girl had already done so much for him. The rest, he would handle. ¡°Er... I¡¯m going to call my master.¡± As if feeling the man¡¯s intense and earnest stare, An Yiqing¡¯s face heated up slightly. She hurriedly made up an excuse to flee the morgue. Gu Yelin watched the girl¡¯s escaping figure, a magnificent smile curling on his lips. ¡°Hello? Master?¡± Having run out, An Yiqing found a deserted rooftop and recounted the whole situation to Ye Chenghong over the phone. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect it to really be Soul Devouring Powder,¡± Ye Chenghong sighed somewhat, the world was becoming restless again, ¡°Girl, you need to be careful. I always feel something is going to happen.¡± An Yiqing didn¡¯t want Ye Chenghong to worry too much, so she faithfully relayed everything about Ancient Space to him. ¡°Ss¡ª!¡± Ye Chenghong inhaled sharply, the matters long recorded in the Medicine Sect antiquarian turned out to be true. But beyond the surprise, he admonished An Yiqing, ¡°You must remember, never speak of this to anyone else. Not even to the people of the Medicine Sect. Qing, you must remember, your master doesn¡¯t seek for you to stand out, he only wishes for you to have a peaceful life.¡± ¡°Mhm... Master, I remember!¡± With Ye Chenghong¡¯s words, An Yiqing felt particularly warm inside. Her master always regarded her as his own, treating her with full devotion. ¡°I know you have good judgment. Don¡¯t force anything; just let things take their course naturally.¡± ¡°Master...¡± An Yiqing seemed to remember something, biting her red lip in consternation, ¡°Master, I think I¡¯m sick.¡± Chapter 72 - 72 72 Zhang Yufeng Heart-to-Heart ?72: Chapter 72 Zhang Yufeng Heart-to-Heart 72: Chapter 72 Zhang Yufeng Heart-to-Heart ¡°Sick? What kind of sickness?¡± Ye Chenghong was somewhat anxious. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve never come across such symptoms in any medical book before.¡± An Yiqing was a bit dejected. ¡°Tell me in detail.¡± ¡°Um... Whenever I see the same person, my heart starts to beat faster, my face gets hot and turns red, um... and there are many other strange feelings.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Ye Chenghong burst into laughter upon hearing this, ¡°Haha! Silly girl, do you also feel like there¡¯s a deer jumping around in your heart sometimes, and occasionally it even feels itchy?¡± An Yiqing blinked, surprised. How did her master know? ¡°Master, what exactly is this illness?¡± ¡°Hahaha! Silly girl! You¡¯re not sick!¡± Good grief! This dense girl has finally gotten a clue! But... ¡°Girl, who do you experience these symptoms with?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Elder Gu¡¯s grandson, your friend. I¡¯ve known him for a while.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Ye Chenghong roared, leaping from the couch. Old Gu! How dare he allow his grandson to seduce his precious disciple! ¡°Girl, I¡¯ve got something else to do, got to hang up.¡± Ye Chenghong hung up the phone in a flurry, seemingly off to settle accounts with Elder Gu. An Yiqing watched the disconnected call, her mouth twitching. What had upset her master so much?... The next day, An Yiqing finished concocting the special powder that could identify the creator of the Soul Devouring Powder by the afternoon. After handing it over to Gu Yelin, An Yiqing¡¯s mission was considered fully completed. ¡°Where to next?¡± Inside the ¡°Red Thorn¡± Office, Gu Yelin quietly watched An Yiqing. ¡°I¡¯m going to visit Zhang Yusheng later to see his sister.¡± An Yiqing thought about it; she had already skipped several days of classes, so she might as well go have a look. ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± The distinguished and mysterious Aston Martin sped along the spacious road, with An Yiqing sitting in the passenger seat feeling a bit conflicted. How had she come to realize that these past few days, Gu Yelin had almost become her personal driver? ¡°You¡¯ve been too busy lately; you need more rest.¡± Watching An Yiqing running around all the time these days, Gu Yelin felt somewhat distressed. He wished he could do everything for her, and that his little white rabbit only needed to eat and sleep. But he knew that this little white rabbit had her pride. ¡°Um, I know.¡± An Yiqing always responded earnestly to those who cared about her, ¡°Oh, by the way, do you know any real estate sellers?¡± ¡°You want to buy a house?¡± Gu Yelin raised his brows; the little lady wanted to buy a house? She might as well move into his home. ¡°Yeah, having my own house is more convenient. I often treat people and it¡¯s quite a hassle to travel back and forth.¡± ¡°How big of a place are you looking for?¡± ¡°A villa, the bigger, the better. It should be peaceful.¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s thoughts gradually took shape in his mind, and he nodded, ¡°I do have a recommendation. I¡¯ll take you to see it when we have a day.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡ª¡ªLittle Foodie Divider Line¡ª¡ª Zhang Yusheng was somewhat surprised to see An Yiqing come to visit them today. The girl had already told him that she¡¯d be quite busy recently, and he hadn¡¯t expected her to remember them like this. ¡°Miss? Please come in!¡± Zhang Yusheng hurriedly ushered An Yiqing inside, ¡°The sun is poisonous at this time of day, why have you come now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already October, it¡¯s fine.¡± An Yiqing smiled, ¡°How¡¯s Xiao Feng doing?¡± ¡°Much better! Xiao Feng can sit up now!¡± Mentioning his sister made Zhang Yusheng a bit excited, ¡°Miss, really, thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, I don¡¯t know what Xiao Feng and I would¡¯ve done!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about these things anymore, Brother Yusheng. We¡¯re all family here, and thanking each other too much is just formalities.¡± An Yiqing smiled gently, ¡°I¡¯ll go see Xiao Feng.¡± In the bedroom, Zhang Yufeng had already sat up when she heard the voices from the living room. Upon seeing the girl entering the room, a warm smile spread across Zhang Yufeng¡¯s face. ¡°Miss.¡± ¡°You stay lying down.¡± An Yiqing hurried forward to help Zhang Yufeng, who was trying to sit up straight, ¡°Take it slow, don¡¯t rush. Within two months, you¡¯ll definitely be able to walk.¡± ¡°I believe you, Miss.¡± Admiration shone in Zhang Yufeng¡¯s handsome and refined face; the miss¡¯s words were always right. ¡°Miss, you two have a good chat, I¡¯ll go buy some groceries. Have dinner here tonight.¡± Zhang Yusheng said while taking his keys and heading out. An Yiqing did not refuse; this was the brother and sister¡¯s kind intention, and she needed to respectfully honor it. ¡°How¡¯ve you been these days?¡± Once Zhang Yusheng left, only An Yiqing and Zhang Yufeng remained in the room. Confronted with the beautiful and serene girl, Zhang Yufeng felt unconsciously nervous, palms sweating. ¡°Pretty good. After sleeping for more than two months, I just feel life has been a bit tedious.¡± She took a deep breath, must not make a fool of herself in front of the miss, calm down! ¡°Just hang in there a bit longer. After you¡¯re completely healed, you can go back to school.¡± Seeming to read Zhang Yufeng¡¯s nervousness, An Yiqing smiled gently, her presence effortlessly imparting a soothing magic. Staring at the gentle girl before her, Zhang Yufeng¡¯s mind went slightly blank, blurting out her innermost thoughts, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to school anymore, I only want to learn skills to properly protect the miss and help my brother take revenge.¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhang Yufeng panicked and covered it, why had she spoken her thoughts out loud?! An Yiqing was a bit surprised to hear this, but then she also understood. After such highs and lows, the lives of Zhang Yufeng and her brother were far from ordinary; it was natural for her to have such thoughts. ¡°I won¡¯t oppose your desire to learn skills.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s voice was gentle, she curled the corner of her mouth, continuing, ¡°The matter of taking revenge for Brother Yusheng, naturally, I as your boss will handle it. If you wish to learn skills, I will arrange it for you. But you must continue your education. I didn¡¯t save you only to let you become a girl who only knows how to fight and seek revenge.¡± Zhang Yufeng waited nervously for An Yiqing¡¯s reaction but didn¡¯t expect to hear such words. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded fiercely. This girl had been so kind to them, and outside of owing her their lives, Zhang Yufeng didn¡¯t know how else she could repay her. ¡°That¡¯s right, after you get better, I¡¯ll help you find a place to study.¡± After enjoying a delightful dinner with Zhang Yusheng and his sister at the apartment, An Yiqing sat for a while before leaving. Chapter 73 - 73 73 Lin Chengmings Request ?73: Chapter 73 Lin Chengming¡¯s Request 73: Chapter 73 Lin Chengming¡¯s Request ¡°Ring, ring, ring...¡± Just as she got into the taxi, An Yiqing¡¯s phone started ringing. It was a strange number. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°God Doctor An?¡± the voice on the other end was somewhat cautious, ¡°I¡¯m Lin Chengming, we¡¯ve met before at the ¡®Red Thorn¡¯ Base.¡± ¡°Chairman Lin, hello.¡± An Yiqing naturally remembered him¡ªthe Lin Group, specializing in electronics, was a well-known large enterprise domestically. ¡°Hello, hello, God Doctor An, a relative of mine has come down with a strange illness, I wonder when you might have time...¡± ¡°Tomorrow or the day after is possible.¡± ¡°Good, good! God Doctor An, how about we meet tomorrow at Yun Assembly Hall? The illness of my family member is somewhat... um... embarrassing to mention...¡± Lin Chengming¡¯s words were hurried, as if there was some unspeakable secret. ¡°I understand. Tomorrow at one in the afternoon, see you at Yun Assembly Hall.¡± ¡°Great! See you tomorrow. Go on with your busy schedule, God Doctor An, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore! Goodbye.¡± After hanging up, An Yiqing¡¯s eyes flickered, and she dialed Bai Wuchang¡¯s number. ¡°Xiao Bai, look into Lin Chengming for me, especially the relatives close to him.¡± In less than twenty minutes, An Yiqing¡¯s email on her phone had loaded up with a lot of information. Lin Chengming, thirty-nine years old, Chairman of Lin Group. His parents were just ordinary high school teachers, but their son was quite promising, having been admitted to the prestigious Xuan University. He and his wife had a mutual affection and got married as a matter of course after graduating from university. Lin Chengming¡¯s accomplishments today couldn¡¯t have been achieved without the help of his wife¡¯s family. Qiu Yichen, the current Deputy Finance Minister of Xuanjin, was his wife¡¯s older brother. Qiu Yichen was very fond of his little sister. Initially, he was against his sister marrying Lin Chengming, the poor boy. However, after getting to know him, he found that Lin Chengming was truly good to his sister and also talented. He only then gave his blessing, no doubt giving the couple a lot of support. However... as An Yiqing read this far, her dark eyes flickered. Although Lin Chengming and Qiu Yichen¡¯s marriage seemed harmonious and loving, Minister Qiu and his wife were not so peaceful. Mainly because his wife, Yang Xuan, was overly dominant. Moreover, there were rumors in societal circles that Minister Qiu had deficiencies in marital relations, leading to spouse discord and constant quarreling. Opinions were divided, and it was unclear what was true or false. Marital deficiencies? Spousal discord? Any rumors were not without basis; surely there must have been some conflict between the couple. It seemed that the relative Lin Chengming mentioned with the health problem was likely this Qiu Yiping. The specifics would have to wait until tomorrow to be revealed. That same night, An Yiqing returned to her dormitory. Because she had not been coming home at night for the past few days, Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting had become extremely resentful. Finally getting An Yiqing back, the three girls naturally had a rowdy time in the dorm, almost bringing the dormitory supervisor in. The next afternoon, An Yiqing arrived at Yun Assembly Hall as planned. Yun Assembly Hall, a gathering place for the wealthy elite of Xuandu City. Unlike Gu Yelin¡¯s Prosperous Haoting, Yun Assembly Hall was popular because it had excellent privacy protection for its clients. That¡¯s why many chose this place for business talks and discussions. Lin Chengming¡¯s choice of Yun Assembly Hall was naturally due to its privacy. Arriving at the appointed room, An Yiqing knocked gently on the door. After a while, the door was opened from the inside. ¡°God Doctor An, you¡¯re finally here! Please come in!¡± Lin Chengming, who opened the door, immediately greeted An Yiqing warmly. An Yiqing nodded. In the room, besides Lin Chengming, there sat a man and a woman. The man, probably in his early forties, about one meter seventy-eight in height, wore glasses and exuded an air of authority from someone accustomed to high positions. The woman appeared younger than the man, with long wavy hair cascading over her shoulders and light makeup on her face, she had the pride of a powerful woman. These two must be Qiu Yiping and Yang Xuan. An Yiqing nodded to herself mentally; it seemed to be as she had anticipated. ¡°God Doctor An, let me introduce you,¡± Lin Chengming enthusiastically ushered An Yiqing to the sofa, ¡°This is my brother-in-law Minister Qiu, Qiu Yiping, and this is his wife, Yang Xuan.¡± ¡°Minister Qiu, Madam Qiu, hello,¡± An Yiqing said with a composed nod. Qiu Yiping hadn¡¯t wanted to come today; after all, such matters are indeed hard to speak about. Yet unable to resist the persistent coaxing and guarantees from his brother-in-law, he and his wife made the trip. Upon first seeing An Yiqing, Qiu Yiping was incredulous. This girl¡ªnot yet in her twenties¡ªwas the Divine Doctor his brother-in-law spoke of? What a joke! However, he was also puzzled. Lin Chengming had never been an unreliable person, could this girl really be special? As soon as An Yiqing spoke, Qiu Yiping was taken aback. This young girl actually knew who he was? Qiu Yiping was not someone who liked to be in the spotlight. Even as the Deputy Finance Minister, he always kept a low profile, shunning socializing. It would be plausible for government officials to recognize him, but this young girl...? Qiu Yiping pondered secretly, glancing at Lin Chengming. Had he told her? Yet when he saw the equally shocked expression on Lin Chengming, he dismissed the thought. ¡°Miss An, how do you know of me?¡± Qiu Yiping usually looked scholarly, but his meticulous nature made him seem somewhat stiff. ¡°For the patient¡¯s condition, naturally, I need to know a little,¡± An Yiqing said with a smile, calmly replying. ¡°Oh?¡± Qiu Yiping¡¯s interest peeked, ¡°Then what is Miss An¡¯s opinion on my condition?¡± ¡°Until the situation is confirmed, I beg you not to make arbitrary guesses.¡± At this point, Qiu Yiping started to believe in An Yiqing¡¯s reputation as a Divine Doctor. The girl had an extraordinary composure, showed no panic in front of him, and had clearly come prepared. Most importantly, she hadn¡¯t made any rash diagnosis because of her reputation as a Divine Doctor. ¡°Miss An, please sit down and talk.¡± An Yiqing sat down gently. From beginning to end, she noticed that Madam Qiu, Yang Xuan, had not uttered a word, just standing beside Qiu Yiping with a stern face; she seemed normal enough, but An Yiqing noticed a trace of dimness flash in Madam Qiu¡¯s eyes when Qiu Yiping was talking to her. Chapter 74 - 74 74 Flawed ?74: Chapter 74 Flawed 74: Chapter 74 Flawed Hehe, interesting. An Yiqing picked up her teacup, took a sip, and used it to hide the laughter in her eyes. ¡°Now tell me about your specific situation.¡± ¡°Uh... Divine Doctor An...¡± Lin Chengming started to speak, seeming somewhat embarrassed, ¡°My older brother-in-law has always been somewhat taciturn, and with this kind of issue... perhaps I should speak on his behalf.¡± ¡°Alright, you go ahead.¡± An Yiqing nodded, it didn¡¯t matter who spoke, it wouldn¡¯t affect her treatment. ¡°It¡¯s like this.¡± Lin Chengming took a drink of water and began speaking slowly, ¡°Seven years ago, my older brother had a serious car accident while he was out. Ever since he recovered, things haven¡¯t been harmonious in the bedroom. At first, we thought it was post-traumatic sequelae, so we visited a great number of hospitals, but to no avail.¡± ¡°What did the doctors say?¡± ¡°Some said it was psychological, others said it was a physical reaction. He took a lot of medicine over the years, but saw no improvement. Sigh!¡± Lin Chengming was also troubled¡ªif it wasn¡¯t for his wife nagging persistently, who would want to deal with such an embarrassing issue? After Lin Chengming finished speaking, An Yiqing didn¡¯t respond. She cast her eyes down, but her peripheral vision stayed fixed on Yang Xuan. This woman¡¯s expression had always been a bit odd... ¡°Madam Qiu, what is your opinion on your husband¡¯s illness?¡± An Yiqing¡¯s question took everyone by surprise, especially Yang Xuan, whose face visibly stiffened. She pulled at the corners of her taut mouth, her eyes flickering, ¡°What¡¯s there to think? If there¡¯s an illness, we treat it, and life goes on.¡± Her tone carried an air of indifference. ¡°Over these years, haven¡¯t you felt lonely, Madam Qiu?¡± An Yiqing¡¯s lips curved into a smile, as if oblivious to Yang Xuan¡¯s unease. ¡°Tsch!¡± Yang Xuan scoffed upon hearing this, ¡°Miss An, you¡¯re still too young. At my age, having a stable life is what matters most; those passions and whatnot are too impractical.¡± An Yiqing smiled meaningfully, then turned to Qiu Yiping, ¡°Minister Qiu, extend your hand.¡± Qiu Yiping cooperated and stretched out his arm, while An Yiqing¡¯s delicate hand lightly rested on his wrist, seemingly taking his pulse but her gaze was still quietly fixed on Yang Xuan. Sure enough, a slight displeasure flickered through Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes. After checking Qiu Yiping¡¯s pulse, An Yiqing had a rough idea in her mind. She sighed softly¡ªlove always manages to blind and bewilder. If such an issue remains unresolved, it could lead to tragedy. An Yiqing pondered her choice of words before speaking, ¡°Minister Qiu, I need to talk to you alone. There are some matters that I need to discuss with you in detail.¡± ¡°Why must you talk alone?¡± Yang Xuan, who had been silent up until now, suddenly spoke up. Her brow knitted, and her whole demeanor exuded a grievance. ¡°Madam Qiu, normally, such a condition is merely a matter of disharmony in bed and poses no threat to life. But I believe you know better than anyone, some issues can¡¯t just be judged on the surface. You might not be aware, but if Minister Qiu delays for a few more years, I¡¯m afraid he might risk his very life!¡± Upon hearing An Yiqing¡¯s words, Yang Xuan¡¯s complexion turned whiter and whiter, eventually draining of all color, ¡°Impossible... It¡¯s just not being able to perform in bed; how could it cost his life?!¡± ¡°Yes, Divine Doctor An, how could not being able to perform in bed possibly risk his life?¡± Lin Chengming was also surprised¡ªcould there be a mistake in the diagnosis? ¡°I need to talk to Minister Qiu alone!¡± Looking at the expressionless Qiu Yiping, An Yiqing repeated her request. ¡°Chengming, Xiao Xuan, you all go out.¡± On hearing Qiu Yiping¡¯s command, Lin Chengming nodded repeatedly and, with a somewhat stunned Yang Xuan, left the room. The room was very quiet as An Yiqing and Qiu Yiping sat facing each other. ¡°Miss An, what do you want to ask?¡± Qiu Yiping was the first to break the silence. ¡°Minister Qiu, I want to ask about your feelings for Madam Qiu,¡± An Yiqing cradled her teacup in her hands, her eyes lowered, the corners of her mouth lifting. Upon hearing this, Qiu Yiping¡¯s hand pouring tea shook, and he paused for a moment, ¡°What do my feelings for my wife have to do with my illness?¡± ¡°Minister Qiu, please tell me the truth.¡± ¡°I love her very much.¡± After hesitating for a moment, Qiu Yiping still spoke his heart. An Yiqing revealed a knowing smile, ¡°Then, Minister Qiu, have you ever expressed your feelings to Madam Qiu?¡± ¡°No.¡± Qiu Yiping shook his head, ¡°Xiao Xuan and I have known each other since childhood, childhood sweethearts. Although she used to be strong-willed, she was always cheerful and optimistic. To complement each other, I reined in my own temper. In my view, after all these years, the need to talk about love between us had long passed. However, I never expected that, at some point, her temperament became increasingly strange, and our relationship worsened. Sigh...¡± ¡°Minister Qiu, if one day, Madam Qiu took a knife to you, would you hate her?¡± Qiu Yiping was taken aback by the question and pondered carefully before murmuring absently, ¡°No. If she really killed me one day, it would naturally be because I wasn¡¯t good enough. I don¡¯t hate her, only worry who will take care of her when I¡¯m gone. She¡¯s too strong-willed and prone to suffer losses...¡± ¡°Bang!¡ª¡± Before Qiu Yiping could finish, a sound at the door was heard. Not yet fully comprehending, he suddenly felt Yang Xuan rush toward him like a gust of wind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! Ah Ping, I¡¯m sorry to you! Wuu wuu wuu... I¡¯m sorry to you!¡± Yang Xuan burst into the room and without a word, knelt down and clung to Qiu Yiping¡¯s legs, crying her heart out. An Yiqing smiled faintly¡ªshe had noticed Madam Qiu had left a small crack in the door. ¡°Xiao Xuan, what¡¯s wrong? Get up, let¡¯s talk properly,¡± Qiu Yiping was somewhat disoriented and just wanted to pull his wife up from the floor. ¡°No! Ah Ping, I¡¯m sorry to you! I don¡¯t deserve to be your wife! I¡¯ve harmed you! I...¡± Yang Xuan cried heart-wrenchingly, her eyes filled with despair. ¡°Let me explain.¡± An Yiqing laughed softly, set down her teacup, and lifted her gaze, ¡°If we¡¯re to blame, truly, no one is at fault here.¡± Chapter 75 - 75 75 In the Name of Love ?75: Chapter 75 In the Name of Love 75: Chapter 75 In the Name of Love Looking at the three people before her with different expressions, An Yiqing slowly said, ¡°Minister Qiu, your personality is woodblock-like, strict, and not good with words; Madam Qiu is strong-willed and independent, and actually, she also doesn¡¯t like to speak much. Some emotions, even if very deep, can be destroyed by the slanderous chatter of the outside world and a lover who doesn¡¯t communicate well. That¡¯s what happened to Madam Qiu. Minister Qiu, you held a high position at a very young age. Naturally, there¡¯s no need to talk about your looks or talent, and there will inevitably be endless gossip outside. Meanwhile, Madam Qiu is just a university professor, who apart from her academic work, feels completely useless. As time went on, your status grew higher and higher, and more and more women wanted to climb into your bed. Madam Qiu obviously couldn¡¯t handle it. So, after that car accident you had, it gave her an opportunity.¡± The room was dead silent, with Lin Chengming and Qiu Yiping listening intently, and Yang Xuan, kneeling on the ground with her face pale, closed her eyes in despair. It was all her fault, if not for her selfish doubt, their relationship wouldn¡¯t have come to this state today. ¡°I¡¯ve examined your body, and there¡¯s actually nothing wrong. However, there is an additional drug in your system, a drug that prevents you from performing in bed. For the first five years, this drug requires a dose every four days to remain effective. And the only person capable of doing this is none other than your wife, Madam Qiu.¡± Qiu Yiping listened dumbfounded to An Yiqing¡¯s truthful narrative, shock written all over his face. He slowly lowered his head, looking at his wife on the ground with a pale face and a complex expression. ¡°Why?¡± Qiu Yiping¡¯s voice was dry and hoarse. Yang Xuan¡¯s eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her lifeless eyes. Her face was devoid of color, radiating a sense of defeat and resignation. ¡°Since we got married, your career went from success to success, and the idle gossip outside increased. At first, I didn¡¯t believe it, how could our relationship of over twenty years just dissipate. But then... one day, a woman with a huge pregnant belly came to the school looking for me and slammed a stack of photos of you two in bed onto my face. She told me that either I divorce you, or I give her three million yuan.¡± Yang Xuan paused for a moment at this point, as if suppressing the humiliation and despair she felt at that time: ¡°In the end, I sold all my dowry and used the three million yuan to send her away. I thought life would return to normal, but after a month, another woman came asking me for a divorce from you. I was on the verge of a breakdown and had lost all reason. Then, suddenly, someone came to me and told me, if you took that drug, you would never be able to consummate a marriage affair, thus would not stray. I knew very well I couldn¡¯t leave you. At that time, it seemed to me that you no longer loved me; rather than let you go to someone else, I preferred you take that drug and stay with me forever.¡± Yang Xuan said all this in one breath, covered her eyes of despair with both hands, tears streaming down through her fingers as her voice became more and more choked up, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the words you said today, I would hate you for the rest of my life, blame you. I¡¯m sorry... it was me... I hurt you...¡± Hearing Yang Xuan¡¯s words, An Yiqing sighed inwardly. The matters of the heart are the most hurtful. ¡°Why have you never asked me about that woman¡¯s affairs?¡± Qiu Yiping never knew the immense shame and pressure his wife had endured in his seemingly smooth career path. He had always thought their love was stronger than anything, so he never declared his love for his wife, but he had neglected her feelings. ¡°Ask you?¡± Yang Xuan sobbed twice, ¡°What good would asking do? The photos were already irrefutable evidence, I was afraid if I asked, you would truly leave me. I don¡¯t want anything else. I only want you to be true to me. I don¡¯t want the money, nor the reputation of being a high-ranking official¡¯s wife. I just want to be with you for our entire lives! I...¡± Before Yang Xuan could finish, Qiu Yiping bent down and embraced her: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xiao Xuan, I¡¯m sorry! I never knew you were in so much pain, it¡¯s my fault for neglecting you! But I can swear to God, I¡¯ve never done anything to wrong you. If I¡¯m lying, let me be struck by lightning!¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯ve found out everything today,¡± Yang Xuan hurriedly covered Qiu Yiping¡¯s mouth, nodding repeatedly, ¡°But still, Ah Ping, I ultimately hurt you. I¡¯m not worthy of you! The person who gave me the medicine said, if you¡¯ve taken it for over five years, you¡¯d be completely incapacitated. I¡¯m the one who hurt you, I deserve to die, I¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Xiao Xuan, look at me,¡± Qiu Yiping raised Yang Xuan¡¯s face with his hand, looking into her swollen, tearful eyes, and said word by word, ¡°If what I am now can keep you at peace for a lifetime, I am willing.¡± ¡°Woo... Wah¡ª!¡± Hearing her husband¡¯s oath word by word, Yang Xuan finally broke down completely, wailing loudly as if to vent all the pain and torment she had suffered over the years. The atmosphere in the room was somewhat oppressive, even the onlooker, Lin Chengming, felt his eyes reddening. ¡°Who says he can¡¯t be healed?¡± A soft and gentle voice quietly sounded. Qiu Yiping and Yang Xuan, who were embracing and weeping, fell silent upon hearing this, staring blankly at the calm girl before them. ¡°Who says it can¡¯t be cured? I can not only heal you but do it without leaving any aftereffects,¡± An Yiqing said with a calm and confident smile. Yang Xuan hurriedly crawled to An Yiqing while kneeling, clutching desperately at the hem of An Yiqing¡¯s skirt, ¡°Miss An! I beg you! Please cure Ah Ping¡¯s illness! He¡¯s still young. He should have a child, he has a promising future, he can¡¯t just be ruined like this. Miss An, I¡¯m begging you. As long as you can heal him, I will do anything you ask!¡± ¡°First, get up,¡± An Yiqing gently helped Yang Xuan rise from the ground. ¡°Xiao Xuan, don¡¯t do this,¡± Qiu Yiping quickly went to Yang Xuan¡¯s side, heartbroken to see his grieving wife, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t care, as long as you don¡¯t despise me.¡± ¡°Ah Ping, I...¡± ¡°Sit down and listen to me,¡± An Yiqing said softly, interrupting the tearful conversation between the couple, ¡°This is not an incurable disease. You both should not be overly mournful.¡± ¡°Divine Doctor An, can my brother really be saved?¡± Lin Chengming, too, was moved by the love between his brother-in-law and his wife. Upon hearing An Yiqing speak, he asked excitedly. Chapter 76 - 76 76 You Heartless Man ?76: Chapter 76: You Heartless Man 76: Chapter 76: You Heartless Man Looking nervously at her, the three people in front of her, An Yiqing nodded and said, ¡°The main symptom of this medicine is to make a man unable to perform in bed. It might seem inconsequential, but over the long term, it could be fatal. I can cure Minister Qiu¡¯s illness, but while I can heal his body, I can¡¯t heal his heart. I ask that both of you make an extra effort to nurture your relationship and prevent the tragedy of the past from repeating itself.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss An is right,¡± Yang Xuan said, her tears flowing again after hearing An Yiqing¡¯s words, ¡°I was too foolish initially, trusting the words of a stranger and hurting Ah Ping. If only I had been more resolute, believed in him more, then none of these things would¡¯ve happened.¡± ¡°No, Xiao Xuan. It¡¯s not your fault!¡± Qiu Yiping tightened his grip on Yang Xuan¡¯s hands, ¡°It was all because I was too focused on my career, neglecting you. If not for failing to provide you with enough security, you wouldn¡¯t have thought to use such methods to keep me. God Doctor An, thank you for your help with my wife and me today. I will remember this kindness in my heart!¡± An Yiqing nodded in admiration; indeed, Qiu Yiping was a man who knew gratitude. ¡°I hope you and your wife will lead a harmonious and joyful life in the future.¡± The girl¡¯s face was graced with a gentle smile, ¡°Even though the disease is curable, the crisis must not be overlooked. Madam Qiu¡¯s acquisition of this medicine was no accident. I urge both of you to think carefully about who might want to harm you.¡± ¡°This...¡± At An Yiqing¡¯s words, Qiu Yiping was stunned. He hadn¡¯t considered this issue. Now, thinking about it, there was indeed something fishy. He¡¯d never committed infidelity, so where could those photos have come from? As for the medicine Xiao Xuan got, who was targeting them? ¡°Many thanks to God Doctor An for the reminder!¡± Qiu Yiping expressed his gratitude earnestly, ¡°Not only did you save our marriage, but you also sounded a warning bell for me. I will definitely uncover this insidious enemy!¡± ¡°Good, when the time comes, please inform me, Minister Qiu. I¡¯m very interested in the origin of this medicine,¡± An Yiqing smiled, her eyes full of meaningful implication, ¡°Let¡¯s end things here for today. Once I¡¯ve prepared the antidote, we¡¯ll proceed with Minister Qiu¡¯s acupuncture.¡± ¡°Thank you for your efforts, God Doctor An.¡± Seeing An Yiqing stand up, Qiu Yiping and his companions quickly rose to their feet, ¡°Where are you headed, God Doctor An? Let me give you a ride!¡± An Yiqing thought for a moment and then nodded. Hmm, a free ride was always better than taking a taxi and more economical. By the time An Yiqing returned to Xuan University, it was already past five in the evening. She glanced at the time with resignation. Ah, Tingting and Xiao Xue are going to nag again. Sure enough, as soon as An Yiqing pushed open the door to her dormitory room and saw the scene inside, a huge bead of sweat slid down her forehead. Inside, Ruan Xue was clad in black leather, her wavy long hair flowing freely, with fiery red lips, her alluring figure strikingly captivating. Gu Tingting wore a black princess dress, her dark hair adorned with a princess hat, looking every bit like a porcelain doll. But oddly, both, one sexy and the other cute, held a black leather whip. To set the mood, Ruan Xue was cracking her whip against the ground with a sharp snap. ¡°Spill it! Where did you run off to all afternoon?!¡± Ruan Xue swung the whip seriously, exuding the air of a queen from on high. An Yiqing couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of her mouth at the sight. What performance were these two putting on now?... ¡°What¡¯s all this about?...¡± ¡°Qingqing, have you decided to leave us?¡± Gu Tingting pouted, her large eyes swimming with aggrievement, ¡°You¡¯re hardly ever home, and you didn¡¯t even come back a few nights ago. Do you have someone else? Wuuu... What about the child in my belly?!¡± The child in her belly? Unfaithful? An Yiqing felt veins throbbing on her forehead as her entire being was thrown into chaos. ¡°Err... I¡¯ve been a bit busy lately...¡± Facing their imposing and aggrieved stares, An Yiqing stammered out an explanation. ¡°Busy with what?¡± Ruan Xue arched an eyebrow, implying she couldn¡¯t be dealt with so easily. ¡°Busy saving people...¡± the poor little wife An Yiqing replied, her head hung low. ¡°Hmm... Saving people is a good thing!¡± Ruan Xue nodded as if it were a serious matter, ¡°But... leaving the two of us to pine away, is that right...?¡± An Yiqing suddenly had a realization, ¡°To make up for your losses, two bottles of honey for each of you!¡± So these two culprits were not after wine but drunken pleasure! ¡°Mm-hmm!~¡± At her words, Ruan Xue and Gu Tingting exchanged a glance, their eyes alight with scheming triumph, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. For today, this queen shall spare you!¡± Looking at their smug expressions, An Yiqing lowered her head and silently sympathized with herself for a few minutes. The perils of poor company! ¡ª¡ªLittle foodie separator¡ª¡ª An Yiqing handed over the antidote, which took two hours to prepare, to Minister Qiu and his wife, and performed a comprehensive acupuncture treatment. The next day, Qiu Yiping and Yang Xuan came to Xuan University in person to express their thanks. ¡°God Doctor An, Ah Ping¡¯s health has been restored! Thank you, God Doctor An!¡± In the cafe?, Yang Xuan tightened her grip on An Yiqing¡¯s hands, tears streaming down uncontrollably. ¡°Yes, God Doctor An, after seven years, my health is finally back! Thank you!¡± Next to her, Qiu Yiping was also somewhat moved. As a man, nobody wants to have such defects. An Yiqing smiled at the emotionally charged couple and simply nodded, ¡°Congratulations. I hope from now on you can live together in harmony and love.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes! We¡¯ll follow your advice to the letter!¡± Qiu Yiping and Yang Xuan nodded repeatedly, ¡°God Doctor An, about the consultation fee... ¡± ¡°The consultation fee is up to you to decide. I don¡¯t insist on it.¡± Some things are naturally more precious than money, like connections or gratitude. ¡°All right! We will not disappoint you!¡± Minister Qiu and his wife assured her with eager nods. The skills and kindness of this young woman were invaluable, and they were sincerely grateful to her. After that, the news of a Beauty God Doctor in Xuandu City slowly spread. Initially, only a few people believed the tales, but as people like Duan Yuntian gradually recovered, the reputation of An Yiqing, God Doctor An, spread like wildfire, becoming widely known to all. Chapter 77 - 77 77 Clues to Ones Background ?77: Chapter 77 Clues to One¡¯s Background 77: Chapter 77 Clues to One¡¯s Background At 8 p.m., on the top floor of Prosperous Haoting, this level did not serve customers, and stepping out of the elevator was a spacious residence. The clean and simple lines of black and white gave the entire room a calm and atmospheric elegance. A huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, a touch of luxury. The warm yellow light illuminated the expansive room that occupied the entire top floor. Sitting on the off-white sofa in the center of the living room were two exceptionally handsome men. One of them wore gold-rimmed glasses with a face as warm and gentle as jade, his silver-gray suit perfectly outlining his tall and upright physique, clearly showing he was a refined elite, with a sense of austere beauty. The other man, however, surpassed the refined one by far. His body was tall and slender, and the black shirt and pants he wore exhibited his wild and explosive sexiness to the fullest. The man¡¯s facial features were sharply defined, almost as if they were sculpted to perfection. His peach blossom eyes were slightly upturned, which should have appeared affectionate, yet held a cold and frosty feel. Beneath his high nose, a set of lips that had led countless women to their doom was slightly pursed. This man seemed like the unreachable Dark Night Emperor, dominating and noble! This man was none other than Gu Yelin! ¡°What brings you to me so late at night?¡± His well-defined hand swirled the red wine in his glass, involuntarily bringing to mind the delicate face of An Yiqing. ¡°I wanted to ask you about a girl named An Yiqing.¡± An Zhihang, who had been restless these past few days, seemed somewhat agitated at the moment. On hearing this, Gu Yelin¡¯s dark eyes flickered, ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°Lao San, are you well-acquainted with her?¡± ¡°Tell me the reason first,¡± Gu Yelin¡¯s voice deepened, clearly carrying a warning. ¡°You¡¯re playing dumb.¡± An Zhihang looked helplessly at his friend. Lao San was always so imperceptible, ¡°You should know that I lost a sister when I was young.¡± ¡°You think Qing is your sister?¡± Gu Yelin lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I always feel an inexplicable sense of kinship when I¡¯m around her,¡± An Zhihang recalled the first time he met An Yiqing, and couldn¡¯t help but be somewhat lost in thought, ¡°Her mannerism is so much like my mother¡¯s, both so warm and genial...¡± ¡°Have you spoken to your uncle and aunt about this?¡± ¡°No.¡± An Zhihang shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t dare tell my mother before I¡¯m certain. You understand; ever since my sister disappeared, her health has been declining... The doctors say if she continues to be so depressed, she may not last much longer.¡± At this point, An Zhihang¡¯s expression turned painful. If it hadn¡¯t been for his birthday that day, insisting on having his parents with him, maybe his sister wouldn¡¯t have gone missing... ¡°This is not your fault,¡± Gu Yelin knew all too well the pain his friend had suffered over the years, ¡°I can tell you about Qing¡¯s background, but until we¡¯re sure, you can¡¯t disturb her.¡± ¡°Okay! I promise you!¡± An Zhihang nodded vigorously, his palms sweating slightly. ¡°Qing is an orphan; nineteen years ago, she was picked up and raised by Ye Chenghong, the Sect Leader of Medicine Sect.¡± With this revelation from Gu Yelin, An Zhihang was overwhelmed with excitement, his face showing eagerness: ¡°If my sister hadn¡¯t gone missing, she would be nineteen years old now!¡± He abruptly stood up and started pacing ceaselessly, ¡°It has to be her! She must be my sister! Nineteen years, exactly nineteen years! Everything fits!¡± Saying that, An Zhihang turned and dashed toward the elevator. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Gu Yelin stepped in his way and reached out to stop An Zhihang. ¡°She¡¯s my sister! Lao San! I have to find her!¡± An Zhihang, feeling agitated, grabbed Gu Yelin¡¯s arm, ¡°She has suffered so much out there, I need to bring her back!¡± ¡°Calm down!¡± Gu Yelin frowned slightly, his breath icy as he firmly gripped An Zhihang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Nothing is certain yet, you are not allowed to disturb her!¡± The pain in his shoulder and the icy breath brought An Zhihang back to his senses. Right, he needed to verify everything first; otherwise, it would be a blow to both the girl and his parents. ¡°Everything is just your conjecture; all has to be backed by evidence!¡± ¡°Evidence?¡± An Zhihang paused, then realized, ¡°Right! When my sister was born, my mother placed a silver necklace on her!¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯ll find a way to help you inquire. But until we¡¯re sure, you mustn¡¯t tell her! Otherwise, we can no longer be brothers!¡± Gu Yelin warned An Zhihang with a cold tone. ¡°You...¡± An Zhihang was taken aback. Lao San seemed a bit off, could it be... ¡°Lao San, do you like her?¡± ¡°No.¡± Gu Yelin put down his wine glass and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, standing with his hands behind his back, ¡°I love her, from the very first moment I saw her I¡¯d decided. With me here, no one is allowed to hurt her, not even you!¡± An Zhihang was shocked as he looked at Gu Yelin¡¯s silhouette. This man, always so cold and heartless, had never shown interest in any woman. Everyone thought this imperial man would live a life of solitary coldness, not realizing he just hadn¡¯t met the right person. Now that he had met that warm and lovely girl, it was natural for him to pour out all his life¡¯s love for her! ¡°I will help you investigate this matter, control your emotions, your aunt can¡¯t take any more blows. Don¡¯t worry about Qing, with me here, she won¡¯t suffer.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you!¡± An Zhihang nodded with conviction, his eyes filled with emotion. ¡ª¡ªFoodie Divider Line¡ª¡ª Saturday, the grand opening of Yuyuanzhai. Since An Yiqing made a splash at the raw material market, her achievements in cutting two pieces of fine jade and a Glass-type Imperial Green weighing eighty pounds spread quickly within the circles. Therefore, the opening of Yuyuanzhai attracted many visitors eager to see the Old Pit Glass Type Imperial Green for themselves. At half past eight in the morning, An Yiqing had arrived at the shop early. Today, An Yiqing forwent her usual simple white dress for a goose-yellow cheongsam. The color of the cheongsam was a tender yellow, not at all making her look old-fashioned but instead revealed her slim figure and pure, spirited vibe perfectly. The craftsmanship of the cheongsam was exquisite, clearly the work of a distinguished family. The dress was hand embroidered with delicate white peony flowers, refreshing and elegant. Chapter 78 - 78 78 Gu Bai Meets ?78: Chapter 78 Gu Bai Meets 78: Chapter 78 Gu Bai Meets An Yiqing¡¯s temperament was naturally gentle, subdued, and her physique was gracefully accentuated in a cheongsam. Her sleek, black hair was meticulously gathered using a White Jade Hairpin, and her delicate face was free of makeup. She appeared as though she had stepped out of a painting, slender and demure, lively and beautiful. ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve arrived?!¡± Zhang Yuksheng, who had been waiting inside Yuyuanzhai, hurriedly approached the girl upon seeing her. ¡°How are the preparations?¡± ¡°Everything is ready,¡± Zhang Yuksheng nodded, ¡°The ribbon-cutting ceremony will commence at nine o¡¯clock on the dot.¡± ¡°Good, go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll have a look around.¡± While An Yiqing was the owner of Yuyuanzhai, she had been quite busy recently and, apart from providing the source of the jade for the store, she left all other matters to Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s management. Today was the first time An Yiqing took a close look at the store¡¯s arrangement. Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s Zhenbaozhai had previously been tastefully decorated, so even though the name had changed, the interior layout had not been altered much. In the center of the hall stood the huge, top-grade Emperor Green jade piece that An Yiqing had unraveled, a whole jade formed naturally, untouched by any carving or processing. As customers stepped into Yuyuanzhai, the first thing that caught their eye was the crystal-clear green, brimming with vitality. Famous calligraphy and paintings that An Yiqing had once collected adorned the walls of the store, which were also carved with intricate openwork carvings, exuding charm. The most significant change from the previous Zhenbaozhai was the jade merchandise in the store. If Zhenbaozhai sold high-quality jade, then Yuyuanzhai had moved up a notch. ¡°Little girl, congratulations, I wish you a prosperous start!¡± An Yiqing had not expected Bai Yiming to be the first to arrive. Today, Evildoer Bai was once again dressed in a flamboyantly red casual suit, a difficult color which he managed to wear with charm and sophistication. His thick, black hair had been carefully groomed, the captivating phoenix eyes and the nonchalant smile at the corner of his mouth. This man had barely walked into the store and already a slew of female staff were swooning. ¡°Thank you. I didn¡¯t expect you to arrive so early,¡± An Yiqing said with a soft smile. ¡°Of course, I had to come early to your Yuyuanzhai¡¯s opening,¡± Bai Yiming quirked his mouth, leaning close to An Yiqing¡¯s face, ¡°Little girl, know that you¡¯ve been on my mind!¡± Upon hearing this, the corners of An Yiqing¡¯s mouth twitched, and she said helplessly, ¡°Young Master Bai, you¡¯re at it again without your medicine.¡± She knew better than to trust him! ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re really breaking my heart. You should know, I¡¯ve never been so attentive to a woman. You¡ª¡± ¡°Save your tricks for charming women.¡± Bai Yiming had not finished speaking when an icy, low voice suddenly sounded at the doorway. An Yiqing was somewhat surprised to see Gu Yelin at the door, ¡°How come you are here? Isn¡¯t the base very busy?¡± ¡°Your affairs are naturally my concern,¡± Gu Yelin appeared a bit travel-worn, likely having just rushed over from outside. He hadn¡¯t even had time to change out of his military uniform. It was the first time An Yiqing had seen Gu Yelin in military attire. He was different from his usual self. Normally, Gu Yelin was arrogant and domineering, like a noble emperor, but in his uniform, he exuded authority and a sense of duty. ¡°Thank you for coming.¡± An Yiqing¡¯s heart warmed slightly seeing the man before her looking travel-worn. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, there¡¯s no need for thanks between us.¡± The tall, imposing figure in deep green moved slowly into the room, bringing with him a chill. The female staff at Yuyuanzhai couldn¡¯t help but stare at the distinguished, godlike man. They were amazed at how impressive the men their young boss knew were. ¡°Lao San, I thought you might not come!¡± Bai Yiming¡¯s dark pupils flickered as he observed the familiar and tacit connection between the two. ¡°I would never miss something concerning Qing,¡± Gu Yelin said, his eyes persistently fixed on the girl before him. An Yiqing blushed under his gaze and cleared her throat uncomfortably, ¡°Would the two of you please come inside and sit in the guest room? It¡¯s too noisy outside with all the people.¡± Gu Yelin and Bai Yiming followed An Yiqing to the guestroom, a place of tranquility and elegance, separated from the outer hall by a screen. The chairs and tea tables made of Huanghuali wood were exquisitely carved, and in one corner of the room stood a small-scale artificial mountain, complete with a bridge over a flowing stream, cloud-capped peaks, and a remote atmosphere. ¡°This is Pre-Rain Longjing Tea I managed to get from my master. Try it,¡± An Yiqing brought out the tea set and poured a cup of the fragrant tea for Gu Yelin and Bai Yiming. ¡°Little girl, this place is quite luxurious. Even the teacups are made of Emperor Green jade,¡± Bai Yiming cupped the teacup from the table, gently swirling it in his hands. Despite his words of amazement, his gaze clearly showed that he was well-accustomed to such luxury. ¡°Yuyuanzhai deals in jade, so naturally, we must use only the best for our customers. It shows confidence,¡± An Yiqing replied with a lazy smile that resembled a relaxed cat, revealing a hint of slyness, ¡°You two sit here for a bit; I¡¯ll go out and take a look.¡± As the hostess of the day, she naturally couldn¡¯t be away for too long. After An Yiqing left, Gu Yelin and Bai Yiming casually sat in their chairs, sipping their tea with eyes lowered, and silence settled in the room for a while. ¡°Lao San, I haven¡¯t seen you around these past few days. I thought you were busy with official duties, but it turns out...,¡± Bai Yiming said softly with a smile, setting down his teacup. ¡°Matters of personal life are naturally more important than official duties,¡± Gu Yelin sat unruffled, his words causing Bai Yiming¡¯s eyes to twitch. ¡°Matters of personal life? Are you certain?¡± Bai Yiming¡¯s voice deepened, losing its earlier jest. ¡°I am certain. I never joke,¡± Gu Yelin firmly placed the teacup on the table, his piercing gaze confronting Bai Yiming head-on, his demeanor open and direct. The room fell silent for a moment, as the eyes of Gu Yelin and Bai Yiming locked in mid-air, shooting sparks, as if crackling with the sound of electricity. After a pause, Bai Yiming chuckled, ¡°Heh, interesting. If that¡¯s the case, Lao San, let¡¯s both rely on our own abilities then.¡± ¡°If that pleases you, stay away from her. But if you¡¯re serious, then let¡¯s indeed rely on our own abilities,¡± Gu Yelin quietly warned Bai Yiming. ¡°Of course.¡± Chapter 79 - 79 79 Yuyuanzhai Grand Opening ?79: Chapter 79: Yuyuanzhai Grand Opening 79: Chapter 79: Yuyuanzhai Grand Opening Yuyuanzhai Hall ¡°Brother Yusheng, have all the invited guests arrived?¡± ¡°Miss, most of them have already arrived. Only President Ma Tianci, whom you invited, has yet to make an appearance,¡± Zhang Yuksheng answered respectfully as he followed behind An Yiqing. ¡°Hmm, no rush, there¡¯s still half an hour.¡± At that moment, a bustle erupted from the doorway, and as An Yiqing lifted her eyes, she just happened to see a graceful young gentleman slowly making his way through the crowd. ¡°My girl, congratulations,¡± Duan Tang said with his habitual gentle and detached smile, still clad in white. ¡°Thank you, Head Duan. Please come inside and sit for a while.¡± No sooner had Duan Tang entered the reception hall than two sharp gazes fell upon him. ¡°It seems I¡¯m late; I didn¡¯t expect Third Young Master Gu and Young Master Bai to arrive before me,¡± Duan Tang said with his indifferent smile. ¡°Actually, Head Duan didn¡¯t have to come at all, so as not to overtax the young lady,¡± Bai Yiming said with a sarcastic tone as he reclined in his chair. ¡°My relationship with the young lady is one of life and death, naturally different from outsiders,¡± Duan Tang replied with a veiled suggestion in his smile. After having just finished receiving guests like Qiu Yiping and Lin Chengming, Zhang Yuksheng felt thirsty and entered the reception hall to drink some water, only to tragically discover that three formidable beings were engaged in fierce combat within. Despite having weathered many crises, the smell of gunpowder and the sparks of hostility in the air frightened him into a cold sweat. ¡°Mr. Gu, Mr. Bai, Head Duan, what is happening here?¡± Zhang Yuksheng asked, wiping the cold sweat off his forehead, the corners of his mouth stiff. It wasn¡¯t that he was too cowardly; it was simply that the aura of these three men was too overpowering. Gu Yelin was inherently cold and detached, and naturally, he did not respond. Bai Yiming, always willful, paid no attention to others. ¡°Manager Zhang, you need not mind us; please proceed as you wish,¡± Duan Tang said amiably, the one to break the ice and speak to Zhang Yuksheng with a smile. ¡°Alright, alright! You all carry on; I¡¯ll be leaving now,¡± Zhang Yuksheng nodded repeatedly and hurriedly left, not wanting to get burned. ¡°Brother Yusheng, what happened to you?¡± An Yiqing asked as she saw the distressed Zhang Yuksheng, her eyes full of confusion. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Zhang Yuksheng replied with an awkward smile: ¡°The auras of those three men inside were just too intense for me to bear.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, they are just paper tigers, not as scary as they seem,¡± An Yiqing said with a shake of her head, seeing the still-terrified expression on Zhang Yuksheng. Hearing this, Zhang Yuksheng twitched the corner of his mouth. Miss, they are only paper tigers in front of you, aren¡¯t they? Doesn¡¯t the reputation of each of these three strike fear into a crowd of people?... ¡°Hahaha! My girl! Ol¡¯ Ma¡¯s here!¡± His voice rang out before his arrival. Ma Tianci hadn¡¯t yet entered when his hearty laughter was heard from afar. An Yiqing¡¯s face brightened with a warm smile as she slowly walked to the door: ¡°Chairman Ma, you are still so robust, we can hear your hearty laughter even inside the building.¡± ¡°Haha! My girl, I¡¯ll first wish you a prosperous business here!¡± Ma Tianci, still in his vintage grey suit, with hair graying, had a much healthier complexion than before. As usual, he was accompanied by a young man in his mid-twenties. ¡°Chairman Ma, please come inside; the Glass-type Imperial Green has been prepared for you to enjoy thoroughly today,¡± An Yiqing gestured for Ma Tianci to enter the store, leading the way while playfully teasing him. ¡°Right, right, my Imperial Green!¡± Ma Tianci quickened his pace, his mind fixated on the giant Glass-type Imperial Green he had been pining for. Today, he was determined to feast his eyes. ¡°Brother Yusheng, could you please bring a chair over?¡± An Yiqing asked Zhang Yuksheng, then turned to Ma Tianci, ¡°Chairman Ma, please have a seat and enjoy, do take care of your health.¡± Ma Tianci nodded in appreciation: ¡°You are very thoughtful, my girl. That¡¯s good.¡± He stroked his chin¡¯s few whiskers, ¡°My girl, in addition to supporting your Yuyuanzhai opening, I also have another matter to discuss with you.¡± ¡°Please speak, Chairman Ma.¡± ¡°Next month, there will be a jade auction in Xuandu City. Although it¡¯s not as grand as the Country Fei Public Disk, it is still one of the top jade events in Xuanjin in recent years. Are you interested?¡± Ma Tianci found An Yiqing to his liking as a junior, and given her noticeable talent, naturally took an interest in her. A jade auction? An Yiqing immediately became interested. ¡°Thank you, Old Ma, for keeping me in mind, I am certainly interested,¡± An Yiqing nodded with composure, her face betraying no excitement, but her reference to Ma Tianci had grown somewhat more intimate. ¡°Hahaha! I knew you would like it, my girl!¡± Ma Tianci laughed heartily, taking a red invitation from the young man beside him and handing it to An Yiqing, ¡°This is the invitation for the jade event; I only have three of these. Take good care of it and I hope you¡¯ll surprise me again when the time comes.¡± An Yiqing took the invitation and smiled lightly: ¡°I will not disappoint you, Old Ma.¡± An Yiqing and Ma Tianci chatted in the store for a while, then Zhang Yuksheng came in to announce that it was time for the ribbon-cutting. ¡°Old Ma, please,¡± An Yiqing said politely, helping Ma Tianci out the door. At that time, Yuyuanzhai¡¯s entrance was laid with a red carpet, decorated with flowers and colorful patterns, with tea and seats already prepared on the platform. In front of the platform were the seats of the invited guests, who had all taken their places. Ruan Xue, Gu Tingting, Ruan Hao, and others were among them. The guests who had arrived earlier, including Gu Yelin, had also stepped out of the store. The surrounding area was crowded with onlookers. Today, Zhang Yuksheng felt proud and was no longer the defeated man from before. Taking a deep breath and looking at the guests, he was determined to take care of everything perfectly for the miss on Yuyuanzhai¡¯s opening day. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!¡± The well-dressed Zhang Yuksheng stepped forward toward the guests, his demeanor calm and composed, ¡°Today is the grand opening of Yuyuanzhai, and I am Zhang Yuksheng, the manager of this establishment!¡± An Yiqing sat among the guests, smiling approvingly at the proactive Zhang Yuksheng upfront. She had not been wrong about him; he upheld his integrity both in adversity and prosperity. Zhang Yuksheng made his speech concisely and effectively, making the introduction of Yuyuanzhai all the more enticing. ¡°Allow me to introduce our ribbon-cutting guest,¡± Zhang Yuksheng began to escalate the excitement, ¡°please welcome the Chairman of the Jade Association, Ma Tianci!¡± Chapter 80 - 80 80 General Gu Cuts the Ribbon ?80: Chapter 80 General Gu Cuts the Ribbon 80: Chapter 80 General Gu Cuts the Ribbon Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s voice had just fallen when everyone present couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. Ma Tianci, the Chairman of the Jade Association, had a resounding reputation, and no one expected he would truly come to support Yuyuanzhai! The owner of Yuyuanzhai was indeed lucky to have formed a good relationship with Ma Tianci, which meant their future business prospects couldn¡¯t be bad! ¡°Lin Group¡¯s Chairman, Lin Chengming!¡± ¡°Deputy Minister of Finance, Qiu Yiping!¡± Ha! The owner of Jade Zhai wasn¡¯t merely exceptional but truly distinguished! Even Lin Chengming and Qiu Yiping had been invited! Everyone knew that Qiu Yiping, Lin Chengming¡¯s uncle, always stayed away from the public eye and never engaged in social interactions within the business community! The crowd was utterly shocked, while Zhang Yuksheng continued to drop bombshells on stage. ¡°Please welcome Third Young Master Bai, Bai Yiming! Chairman of Muyun Group, Duan Tang!¡± ¡°Boom!¡ª¡ª¡± As soon as Zhang Yuksheng¡¯s voice faded, it was as if a bomb had exploded amongst the crowd! Who? Who did he invite?! Young Master Bai, Bai Yiming?! Duan Tang of Muyun Group?! ¡°Hiss¡ª¡ª¡± Everyone present couldn¡¯t help but draw a sharp breath. The owner of Yuyuanzhai actually had such a vast and fearsome network! Bai Yiming and Duan Tang were two of the most awe-inspiring figures in the nation! Duan Tang¡¯s Muyun Society even controlled the entire underworld forces of the Xiluo Continent! It seemed that Yuyuanzhai truly was not to be trifled with! Any competitors in the circle who previously had any crafty thoughts at this moment snuffed out their flames and cut off those little ideas. An Yiqing glanced at the expressions of everyone present, lightly smiling as she lowered her eyes. This was the deterrent effect she had wanted. Anyone thinking of messing with Yuyuanzhai would have to see if they had the ability! However... An Yiqing cast another somewhat pained glance at Gu Yelin by her side. She hadn¡¯t planned on having this man come as a ribbon-cutting guest; after all, a general from Xuanjin appearing publicly at this sort of event was somewhat inappropriate. But he had insisted on taking the stage, claiming he wanted to support her. An Yiqing murmured to herself inwardly but was unaware that she was exuding an aura of happiness. ¡°Hey hey, look at Xiao Qing, she¡¯s practically bubbling with pink bubbles,¡± said Ruan Xue, sitting in the back row and whispering to Gu Tingting as they watched An Yiqing¡¯s silhouette. ¡°Pink bubbles? With whose pink bubbles?!¡± Gu Tingting suddenly felt that her Third Brother was in a precarious situation today. She glanced at Duan Tang, then at Bai Yiming, noticing how scarce the eligible men were; the situation was dire! Looking at the stage, all ribbon-cutting guests had already arrived, except for two vacant spots in the middle. ¡°Please welcome¡ªGeneral Gu, Gu Yelin on stage!¡± The man in military uniform slowly ascended the platform step by step from the guests¡¯ seats. His features were sharp, and his inherently enchanting appearance became even more noble and imposing due to his icy and indifferent demeanor. With every step the man took, the crowd felt as if a lofty emperor was gracing the world with his presence! The atmosphere went completely still, with not a single exclamation, as if they were beholding a legendary figure. General Gu?! The legendary Third Young Master Gu, Gu Yelin, with countless military achievements? The owner of Yuyuanzhai even managed to invite this God of Slaughter?! Hiss¡ª! Utterly inconceivable! Gu Yelin disregarded the astonished expressions around him and walked straight to the front of the stage. This was the impact he wanted. Under his watch, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to bully Xiao Bai. An Yiqing helplessly twitched the corner of her mouth from her seat among the guests; she knew that this man¡¯s appearance would definitely cause a sensation. The whole event was stunned for a full three minutes before everyone slowly started to come to their senses. Zhang Yuksheng then casually cracked a few jokes to lighten the mood, drawing everyone¡¯s attention back. ¡°All ribbon-cutting guests have arrived. Now, please welcome the owner of Yuyuanzhai¡ªMiss An Yiqing onto the stage!¡± Having said this, Zhang Yuksheng led the applause. Amidst the expectant gazes of the audience, An Yiqing slowly stood up, her demeanor poised and graceful. The young girl, dressed in a light yellow cheongsam embroidered with clusters of elegant peony flowers, had her jet-black hair simply pinned up with a white jade hairpin. Her delicate face wore a beaming smile, exuding a refined, warm aura. Most of those present had never seen the true face of Yuyuanzhai¡¯s owner. Upon seeing An Yiqing¡¯s stunning countenance, there was a second of dumbfounded silence. This young girl... was the person behind Yuyuanzhai? She was the one with the influence to invite so many prominent figures? And she had even managed to bring the famed General Gu?! Unbelievable! An Yiqing walked to the stage under the shocked gazes of the crowd, her gentle, clear eyes sweeping over the guests and onlookers. Her red lips parted, and her voice was sweet to the ear, ¡°Welcome everyone to Yuyuanzhai¡¯s opening ceremony. I am Yuyuanzhai¡¯s owner, An Yiqing. Yuyuanzhai is my creation, and I¡¯m new to this field, so I humbly ask for your support. As the owner, I, An Yiqing, hereby promise to everyone that Yuyuanzhai sells only genuine products! If any violation occurs, we will offer a tenfold refund of the amount!¡± These words shocked everyone, especially the insiders present. How many in the jade industry didn¡¯t dabble in fakes? What exactly did this young girl rely on to make such a bold claim?! The opening ceremony, unlike any other, ended perfectly amidst An Yiqing¡¯s mild yet awe-inspiring authority and the amazement of the crowd. From then on, An Yiqing and Yuyuanzhai would command respect throughout Xuanjin! After bidding farewell to all the guests, An Yiqing repeatedly assured Ma Tianci that she would definitely attend next month¡¯s Jade Stone Conference before she finally had a chance to catch her breath. ¡°Little miss, are you free tomorrow? I¡¯d like to discuss with you the plot of land from Fenghua Real Estate,¡± Bai Yiming said with a bewitching smile, glancing at Gu Yelin and Duan Tang next to him, his eyes brimming with triumph. An Yiqing nodded in response, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call you tonight to set up a time,¡± Bai Yiming said, looking even more smug. He lowered his head to gaze at the dazed little girl in front of him, ¡°I¡¯m heading out first. This is your opening gift; don¡¯t even think about refusing it.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± An Yiqing didn¡¯t put on airs; reciprocity was the basic form of respect toward others in the world of business. After seeing Bai Yiming off, Duan Tang, Ruan Xue, and others also left their gifts one after another before taking their leave. However, Gu Tingting cast a hurried glance at An Yiqing before departing.