Qian Yun looked at Luan Jiping, but no matter what Luan Jiping asked, he remained silent.
Long Xiao glanced at Qian Yun and asked, "Sister, what was that guy in the white coat just now?"
Luan Jiping pointed at Qian Yun discontentedly and said, "The one who tried to kill him. If you and Elder Xiao had arrived a few minutes later, he would be dead."
Long Xiao kicked the bed and said, "Qian Yun, decide for yourself if you want to live or die. I don't have much patience."
"Kill me. The Master has been incredibly kind to me. I will not betray him."
"Hasn't my sister treated you well? Didn't she save your life?" Long Xiao retorted.
Qian Yun looked at Luan Jiping and said, "Ms. Luan has been very good to me, but I will not betray the Master."
"I'm not asking you to betray him. I just want to know who put the Gu on my sister. I need to find them to remove it."
Qian Yun looked at Long Xiao and remained silent again.
Long Xiao knew that simple interrogation wouldn't make Qian Yun reveal the truth.
After asking a few more questions, Long Xiao said, "Sister, let's go. I'll find a way to remove the Gu from you sooner or later. As for this Qian Yun, I think Long Nian won't let him off."
Luan Jiping didn't understand why Long Xiao said that. She looked at him and stood up, leaving Qian Yun's hospital room with Long Xiao.
Without Qian Yun confessing, Long Xiao couldn't find out who had placed the "Cold Cicada" Gu on Luan Jiping, nor could he ascertain its origin.
After descending from the inpatient building, Luan Jiping said, "Brother, let's take a walk."
Long Xiao nodded. They left the hospital and walked slowly along the road, with Elder Xiao following them at a distance.
After walking for a while, Luan Jiping asked, "Brother, are you trying to get Qian Yun to pass on some information?"
Long Xiao nodded. "Yes. I want Long Nian to know that your 'Cold Cicada' Gu hasn't been removed. Then someone will use it to threaten you."
"You want me to pretend to join forces with Long Nian?" Luan Jiping asked.
Long Xiao shook his head. "There's no need for that. I just want to know who put the Gu on you. To lure out the person who did it and ask them where 'Cold Cicada' came from."
The "Dragon Treasury" originated from ancient times when the names of most plants and animals were different from today.
Through his efforts, Long Xiao had managed to match some current names with their ancient counterparts based on illustrations. However, for rare or now-nonexistent species, the connection was lost.
Those who raise Gu, especially highly skilled practitioners, might know the ancient names of certain insects.
As they walked, they discussed the current situation in Donghai. Luan Jiping informed Long Xiao of many things he was unaware of.
The situation was dire. The influence of the island nation and Long Nian's forces were continuously encroaching on Donghai enterprises. Various forces in Donghai were trying to resist, but with little success.
"If it were a direct confrontation with real weapons, they might not be our match. But they're attacking us economically, and our strength isn't enough to stop their encroachment," Luan Jiping said with worry.
"Don't worry, sister. We'll find a solution sooner or later."
After walking for over an hour, Long Xiao returned to the Lin family.
Since they were moving the next day, Long Xiao packed some personal belongings before resting.
Early the next morning, before the moving company's truck arrived, Lin Shiren's family and other Lin family relatives had already gathered. Over thirty people arrived, making the Lin family villa lively.
Lin Wei heard that Lin Shijie was moving and came along with Old Mrs. Lin. In Old Mrs. Lin's eyes, Long Xiao was a freeloading son-in-law who lived off his wife, and she didn't believe he had bought a large villa.
Seeing so many relatives, Nangong Yue seized the opportunity to show off. She repeatedly praised Long Xiao and the large villa he had purchased.
Everyone thought Nangong Yue was boasting. When the moving company's truck arrived, they watched the workers load the belongings and then got into their own cars to see if Long Xiao had truly bought Manor No. 1 as Nangong Yue claimed.
The convoy majestically arrived at the Mangshan Villa area and was stopped by security at the entrance.
Nangong Yue nonchalantly got out of the car and shouted, "Are you blind? I'm the one moving!"
Nangong Yue visited this place almost daily and boasted to everyone about her son-in-law buying her Manor No. 1. The security guards here knew she was the owner.
"It's Madam Lin moving. Quick, open the gate and let them pass!" the security captain shouted to his subordinates after seeing Nangong Yue.
Seeing the security guards groveling before her, Nangong Yue became even more smug. She haughtily got back into her car and drove into the villa area.
Upon reaching Manor No. 1, everyone in the family began arranging their chosen rooms. The Lin family relatives were now convinced that Lin Shijie's family had truly moved into Manor No. 1.
Lin Xin, who had been telling relatives to come and witness the Lin Shijie family's downfall, felt his face burning.
The villa he bought was not far from Manor No. 1, and it was only about a third of Manor No. 1's size, similar to Lin Xuan's old villa.
Long Xiao had just finished helping Lin Xuan tidy her room and was about to discuss whether they should share a room when he heard Nangong Yue call out, "Long Xiao, go buy groceries."
With over thirty people arriving today, Aunt Ling couldn't manage alone, so Long Xiao had to go buy groceries.
After lunch, Long Xiao went to Lin Xuan's room again to discuss sharing a room.
Lin Xuan gave Long Xiao a glare and said, "No. Although we are legally married, you still owe me a wedding. You can't expect me to become a mother before I've even worn a wedding dress, can you?"
Lin Xuan had a point, and Long Xiao couldn't find a reason to refute it. Long Xiao had promised Lin Xuan he would give her a grand wedding that would shake the entire city, something he couldn't yet achieve with his current capabilities.
Long Xiao increasingly felt the necessity of having strong economic power, as the path ahead would only become more challenging without it.
In the afternoon, Long Xiao went to Xinglin Herb Hall. Ji Yuelan had already sent Luo Yan over that morning.
Long Xiao examined Luo Yan. The lotus within her body was quiet; the five-elemental vital energy had completely suppressed the lotus's power. Only then did he confidently arrange accommodations for Luo Yan.
Luo Yan's facial scar was quite long. The "Scar Removal Elixir" that Long Xiao had refined previously was confiscated by Qian Yun's subordinates during a serious injury. Therefore, Long Xiao first refined the "Scar Removal Elixir."
This time, the "Scar Removal Elixir" was refined without using life-force energy, yielding the same effect as the factory-produced "Scar Removal Elixir."
He took the "Scar Removal Elixir" to Luo Yan's room. Luo Yan was looking in the mirror.
"Luo Yan, stop looking. After using my 'Scar Removal Elixir,' the scars will disappear completely within ten days. You'll be a stunning beauty and won't have to worry about getting married."
Luo Yan turned and glared at Long Xiao. "Who said I'm worried about getting married?"
She snatched the "Scar Removal Elixir" from Long Xiao's hand, her beautiful eyes sparkling. Suddenly, she hugged Long Xiao's arm and said, "Brother Long, why don't I just marry you?"
Long Xiao hurriedly pulled his arm away. "No, no, stop joking. I have a wife. We've been married for several years."
Luo Yan's face fell. She turned and sat in front of the mirror, shouting loudly, "Liar, Brother Long is a big liar."
From the mirror, Long Xiao saw Luo Yan's tears and quickly exited her room.