“No, as the Valley Master, I cannot stand idly by…” Ye Jinghuai sighed, glancing at Ye Ziling. He worriedly said, “You’ve been sitting here for so long. Go back to your room and rest. Have some tea to moisten your throat. We, your second brother and I, can handle things here.”
“Yes, Ling’er. Your brother and I are here. You should go inside and rest,” Ye Jingxian, standing beside him, also chimed in, chuckling softly.
Just then, he suddenly remembered something, patting his forehead. “Look at me, I forgot. There’s a spiritual message in the room. I didn’t tell you because you were too busy.”
A spiritual message? 138 Reading Net.
Ye Ziling rubbed her temples and stood up. “I’ll go take a look.”
A day had passed. It should be a spiritual message from Ling Xi. She wondered how he was doing now.
Ye Ziling got up and stepped into the room. With a wave of her hand, the light in the air instantly gathered into a few lines of text:
“Today I passed by Yunzhong Ridge. The garden was full of peach blossoms, their fragrance filling the air. When I return, I will surely pick a branch for you.”
A few simple sentences, yet they held a special affection.
Ye Ziling lowered her head, a smile blooming on her lips. She could already vaguely picture Ling Xi supporting his chin, earnestly writing those words.
He had reached Yunzhong Ridge now. If everything went smoothly, he should be back soon, right?
She reached out and retrieved the spiritual message, then continued to grab herbs by the medicine cabinet, diligently grinding them.
Even though she hadn’t slept all night, she felt energetic.
In just two days, a large portion of the capital’s people had recovered. Shops were reopening one after another, gradually returning to their former bustling prosperity.
Ye Ziling was diligently preparing medicine when Ye Jingxian poked her arm, a mischievous grin on his face. “Sister, how are things between you and Immortal Lord Baiyu?”
Ye Ziling’s movements faltered, the light in her eyes gradually dimming. She replied, “Second Brother, you must be mistaken. Immortal Lord Baiyu and I are merely friends.”
“And besides, my heart already belongs to someone else. Please don’t tease me, Second Brother.”
Ye Jingxian’s face instantly turned grim. He dropped his smile and stopped grinding the herbs, his tone becoming somewhat agitated. “…No, Sister, isn’t Immortal Lord Baiyu good?”
“What makes him not good enough for you?”
Ye Ziling didn’t look at him, slowly waving her hand towards him, and said softly, “If Second Brother likes Immortal Lord Baiyu so much, why don’t you marry him?”
She then revealed a faint smile, her eyes full of unrestrained confidence. Ye Jingxian was helpless against her, so he could only stomp his sleeve in annoyance, instantly choked with emotion.
“If I were a girl, I would have married him long ago! Still waiting for you?” Ye Jingxian secretly grieved nearby, lamenting, “Who is the boy in your heart? Is he even half as handsome as Immortal Lord Baiyu?”
Ye Ziling ignored him and continued with her work, then turned and said, “Let’s go eat dinner.”
Baiyu had indeed helped the Holy Doctor Tribe greatly, but there were many ways to repay a debt. Why must it be by sacrificing herself?
Moreover, he was someone her two brothers liked. What did it have to do with her? If they were brave enough, they should go marry him.
That evening, at the dinner table, Ye Jingxian still hadn’t dropped the topic. Taking advantage of Ye Jinghuai’s presence, he couldn’t help but chide, “Ye Jinghuai, you say it. Isn’t Immortal Lord Baiyu good?”
Ye Jinghuai paused, his eyes brightening as he looked at Ye Ziling, who was calmly eating her vegetables. He asked doubtfully, “Speaking of Immortal Lord Baiyu, I do remember something.”
“Sister, how are things between you and Immortal Lord Baiyu?”
“You are not young anymore.”
Ye Ziling put down her chopsticks, raised her eyes, and said frankly, “I never had that kind of affection for Immortal Lord Baiyu. I hope my brothers won’t force me.”
“Furthermore, my heart already belongs to someone else.”
Ye Jingxian almost spat out his food in anger. Unable to persuade Ye Ziling, he could only cast a pleading gaze at Ye Jinghuai, suppressing his anger. “Ye Jinghuai, look at your doted-upon sister. I can’t convince her. You try.”
Ye Ziling remained unmoved, her expression placid.
Ever since their parents passed away, who else would care about her? Who could control her?
Baiyu had indeed helped her a lot, but she only felt gratitude towards him, never any romantic feelings.
Upon hearing this, Ye Jinghuai instead broke into a pleased smile and said calmly, “It’s best if Sister has her own ideas. Here, eat your fish.”
He then smiled faintly and placed a piece of fish into Ye Ziling’s bowl.
“Thank you, Brother.” A faint smile appeared in Ye Ziling’s eyes as she provocatively looked at Ye Jingxian’s exasperated expression, feeling a secret delight.
Ye Jingxian almost choked. He merely grumbled and sighed, “Fine, you spoil her! Do as you please, as long as you can get married and don’t harm me.”
Ye Ziling lazily raised her head, watching the man across from her fuming with pride. She said indifferently, “What about Second Brother? Do you have a woman you fancy? Or suitable marriage prospects?”
Seeing his sister start to retort, Ye Jingxian could only pout. “Alright, alright, I won’t talk about you anymore.”
He then cautiously glanced sideways, probing Ye Jinghuai’s expression, and began praying in his heart that he would take over.
“Sister didn’t mention it, but I just remembered. Second Brother, didn’t Miss Youyan from Aunt Wang’s family take a liking to you before?”
“I see that girl is quite attentive to you. You’re not getting any younger. You don’t concern yourself with the valley’s affairs, nor do you have a proper profession. Why not start a family soon?”
Seeing the topic successfully diverted, Ye Ziling chimed in, “Yes, Second Brother. That girl has feelings for you; you can’t let her down.”
Ye Jingxian crossed his hands and quickly stood up. “I don’t. I have no interest in her!”
“Then why were you forcing me to marry Immortal Lord Baiyu just now? If the knife doesn’t cut you, you don’t feel the pain,” Ye Ziling tilted her head, a faint smile blooming on her lips.
Ye Jingxian sat back down, pouting with anger, and waved his hand, saying, “Alright, alright, I won’t force you. As long as you can get married soon, that’s fine.”
“…”
The next day, fewer and fewer people came to the medical clinic for treatment. After sitting there for the whole day, Ye Ziling stretched her sore arm and closed her eyes to rest for a moment.
After the last patient left, Shuanzi thought they could close up early. Unexpectedly, an accident occurred outside the door.
Outside, a few ruffians had smashed the tables and chairs outside the medical clinic’s entrance. They were clamoring arrogantly at the door, preparing to tear down the clinic’s sign.
“What kind of lousy clinic is this? I think you people are in league with those beasts!” A tall, thin man with a long face stood at the door, hands on his hips, roaring. Behind him followed over a dozen ruffians, glaring at the sign with gritted teeth.
Ye Ziling heard the commotion outside and put down the herbs in her hand, walking out.
“Who is making such a fuss here?” A fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she looked at the long-faced, stout man with a crooked mouth at the door, her eyes filled with icy coldness.
Ye Jinghuai and Ye Jingxian sensed something was amiss and also came out of the room, looking at the group of ruffians holding rough clubs outside the door with confusion.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the long-faced man sneered, his face contorted in a menacing grin. “Is it the antidote your clinic distributed?”
A flicker of doubt crossed Ye Ziling’s eyes. She nodded in response. “And so what if it is?”
“Guards, bring the bodies forward.” The long-faced man waved his hand, and the dozen or so people behind him carried ten corpses forward, arranging them neatly in a row in front of the door.