Chapter 84

"Having said so much, it's time for you to be on your way." The voice of the woman in green suddenly became gentle.

Watching her fair, delicate hand slowly reach out toward him, Zhong Wen suddenly burst into laughter.

"Is it that funny?" The woman in green paused her gesture, looking at Zhong Wen with a puzzled expression.

"I'm laughing because you, Sister, can't recognize a mountain when you see one. Facing the greatest physician in the world, you don't think of seeking treatment but instead want to take my life." Zhong Wen remained calm, showing no sign of fear, "Your injury, though troublesome, is not unsolvable for me."

"What!" The woman in green trembled, exclaiming, "Say that again!"

"I said, your face." Zhong Wen's expression was serene as he spoke clearly, "I can heal it."

The woman in green's delicate eyes stared straight at Zhong Wen, seeing the clarity in his gaze, which showed no hint of deceit. Despite knowing he might be lying, a glimmer of hope still rose in her heart.

For someone as proud and haughty as her, the pain caused by the scar on her face was like being gnawed by a thousand worms, tormenting her constantly. Many times, in the dead of night, she had considered taking her own life.

"Do you know what will happen if you deceive me?" She tried to control the tremor in her voice, threatening, "I will make the people you care about die one by one before your eyes, then peel your skin, extract your tendons, and bind you with stones to sink you to the bottom of the sea."

"I can heal it." Zhong Wen's tone was calm, his voice filled with confidence, "But Sister, you must agree to one condition first."

"If you can heal my face, I will spare your life." The woman in green thought he was begging for mercy.

"No need." Zhong Wen shook his head, "I could have taken your life just now. Sister, don't you know that two Tianlun experts have already fallen to my hands?"

As he spoke, a black stick appeared in his hand. He pointed it at a large rock in the distance with his right hand. A beam of intense light shot out from the top of the stick, accompanied by a deafening roar, instantly shattering the rock. The powerful spiritual energy impact caused the ground where the rock had been to sink deeply, and smoke and dust filled the air.

The woman in green, seeing the black stick in Zhong Wen's hand, tensed up, her face showing shock.

"Just now, while you were distracted, if I had fired at you, what do you think would have happened?" Zhong Wen raised the Divine Fire Gun to his mouth and blew on it.

Actually, the principle of the Divine Fire Gun was completely different from that of guns from his previous life; the barrel did not emit smoke. Zhong Wen's action was purely for show and had no practical effect.

"Unfortunately, you didn't seize that opportunity." The woman in green said coldly, "And there won't be another one."

"Sister, you misunderstood. What I meant to say is..." Zhong Wen said with a smile, "If I just wanted to save my life, I would have blasted you to pieces just now. The reason I didn't is because I'm absolutely confident I can heal your injury."

"Fine, what is your condition?" The woman in green pondered for a moment, acknowledging Zhong Wen's claim.

"If I heal you, please let Sister Shangguan go free and restore her freedom." Zhong Wen said seriously.

"This..." The woman in green, though capricious, was not untrustworthy. Thinking of Nangong Tianxing's instructions, she hesitated.

"Sister, you only promised to protect Nangong's daughter, not that you had to do it in the capital." Zhong Wen, understanding her thoughts, quickly suggested, "Protecting her on Qingfeng Mountain is also fine, isn't it?"

The woman in green: "..."

She knew Zhong Wen's argument was a bit of a stretch, but she couldn't bring herself to refute it.

The desire to restore her appearance ultimately overcame everything.

Looking into Zhong Wen's clear eyes, she nodded as if possessed: "Alright, I agree."

"It's a deal!" Zhong Wen's spirits lifted. He then seemed to remember something and scratched his head, "Sister, there's one more thing I need your help with."

"Are you ever going to stop?" The woman in green frowned, growing impatient with Zhong Wen's constant requests.

"The vegetables I bought earlier spilled. Could you take me back to the village to get more ingredients?" Zhong Wen said, a bit embarrassed.

"Is that all?" The woman in green relaxed, "That's easy."

She put the green veil back on her face, extended her delicate hand, and gently lifted Zhong Wen under his armpit. Zhong Wen felt a gentle force lift him into the air, and he was carried forward at a rapid speed, almost as fast as Lin Zhiyun's sword technique.

"This position is more comfortable." Zhong Wen teased.

Catching a glimpse of the woman in green's stern gaze from the corner of his eye, he quickly closed his mouth.

However, after a moment, he couldn't resist speaking to the woman in green again: "Sister, I still don't know your name."

"Ye Qinglian." The woman in green hesitated for a moment before answering softly.

"Qinglian, pure and untainted by the mire, a beautiful name." Zhong Wen praised, "Sister Qinglian, call me Zhong Wen from now on."

Ye Qinglian's eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness at Zhong Wen's familiarity, but she ignored him.

...

Seeing Zhong Wen and Ye Qinglian climb the mountain together, Nangong Ling's face showed surprise.

After spending a lot of time with Ye Qinglian, Zhong Wen hurried to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

As they passed each other, Nangong Ling suddenly noticed the bloodstains on the back of Zhong Wen's neck.

"Did you attack him?" Her face changed, and she glared at Ye Qinglian.

"What, are you worried about him?" Ye Qinglian's tone was cold.

"If you dare to harm anyone in Piaohua Palace, I will make you wish you were dead." Nangong Ling said coldly.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything to him for a few days."

Ye Qinglian's figure flickered, and she quickly disappeared, leaving Nangong Ling standing in the courtyard, biting her lip and lost in thought.

...

As noon approached, the kitchen filled with the enticing aroma of food, making everyone in Piaohua Palace lose their focus on cultivation. They all gathered in the hall early.

Everyone had already noticed the change in the spiritual energy environment, their faces showing excitement as they whispered and discussed the matter. Even experts like Lin Zhiyun and Shangguan Junyi could feel a significant improvement in their cultivation efficiency. However, the young mistress, Shangguan Mingyue, was not at the table.

Just as Zhong Wen placed the dishes on the table, a series of urgent knocks came from the gate. Judging by the frequency, the visitor seemed quite anxious.

The little girl, swinging her legs, volunteered to open the door.

As soon as the latch was pulled, a slender figure rushed in, stumbling toward the hall.

"Qi'er!" Zheng Yueying exclaimed, seeing the thin, panting youth.

It was Zheng Qiuyuan, the only son of the Golden Saber Sect's leader and Zheng Yueying's younger brother.

"Sister." Seeing his sister, Zheng Qiuyuan's eyes lit up, "It's bad, the Silver Ring Guild is back!"

"What!" Hearing that the Silver Ring Guild had returned, Zheng Yueying's face changed dramatically, "How is the family?"

"Father and the others are fine." Zheng Qiuyuan took the water cup Zhong Wen offered and drank it in one gulp, feeling refreshed. He continued, "Fortunately, Miss Shangguan's subordinates discovered them in time and notified Father to seek refuge at Shengyu Trading Company. Now the entire company is surrounded, and Miss Shangguan and Father are trapped inside. The leader of the attackers is a Tianlun expert. Although the company is protected by a spirit pattern array, it won't last much longer."

"I'll go." Shangguan Junyi stood up, her face serious, "If Yue'er is in trouble, I, as her aunt, cannot stand by."

"Elder Shangguan, I must go to save Father, Mother, and my fellow disciples." Zheng Yueying said urgently, unable to stay out of the matter involving her family.

"Count me in. How can a physician not join a fight?" Zhong Wen said firmly, his gaze sweeping over the others, "The intentions of the attackers are unclear, so we shouldn't all go. Wu Shuang, use your concealment technique to follow us. If Sister Shangguan can't handle it, don't intervene; go directly to the palace to seek help from Palace Master."

"I'll go with you." Nangong Ling suddenly spoke up.

"Sister, you are still in the midst of your cultivation. Fighting now..." Zhong Wen hesitated.

"Don't forget, I have someone 'protecting' me." Nangong Ling glanced at Ye Qinglian, her smile carrying a hint of mischief.

Zhong Wen's face showed realization: "Then I'll trouble Sister Nangong and Sister Qinglian."

Nangong Ling glanced at Ye Qinglian, who remained silent and was not angered by the intimate address "Sister Qinglian," and was greatly surprised.

What did he do?

She couldn't help but speculate...

...

"Miss, this can't go on. The spirit crystals in our warehouse are almost depleted." Manager Wang looked at Shangguan Mingyue.

If anything happened to the young mistress...

Even the usually calm and composed fat manager showed signs of anxiety.

"Uncle Wang, how long can the spirit pattern array hold?" Shangguan Mingyue's delicate fingers lightly tapped the table.

"At this rate, the spirit crystals we have will last for about two more hours." Manager Wang said honestly, "If the attackers intensify their assault, it might be even shorter."

"It's all Zhong Wen's fault for taking Auntie away." Shangguan Mingyue pouted, complaining softly, "Otherwise, I wouldn't need to hide from a mere Third Ring Enforcer."

"Miss Shangguan, please stay calm. I've already sent Qi'er to Qingfeng Mountain to report the situation." It was Zheng Gongming, who had sought refuge at Shengyu Trading Company, speaking. "I'm sure Palace Master Lin and Elder Shangguan won't stand by."

"I hope they can make it in time." Shangguan Mingyue sighed, then her tone changed, "Uncle Wang, the Silver Ring Guild has repeatedly broken the rules. Their actions are no longer those of merchants. Once this is over, it's time to teach them a lesson."

As she spoke, a loud "boom" echoed, and the trading company's main gate was smashed open.

"Spirit Thunder!" Shangguan Mingyue and Manager Wang's faces changed simultaneously.