"You just try it, let's see if I can't stop you!"
Hiss!
Watching Li Mubai's reaction, Zheng Jia and the others were completely stunned.
Utterly ruthless.
"Now that the bleeding outside is stopped, we just need to let the inside heal a bit, and you'll be fine."
As Ye Qing spoke, he picked out a relatively large pill.
"Here, chew it thoroughly once you take it. The finer you chew, the faster it absorbs and the better the effect."
Smelling the pungent aroma of Chinese medicine, Li Mubai could already taste the bitterness in his mouth.
"Tell me the truth, is this medicine bitter?"
"Not at all."
"Fine! I'll trust you one more time!"
Li Mubai muttered, then closed his eyes and popped the pill into his mouth.
Without hesitation, he began chewing vigorously!
"Mmm-mmph!"
A violent wave of bitterness washed over him, savagely assaulting his taste buds and nerves!
He was just about to spit it out!
Ye Qing moved instantly, pinching his lips shut!
Li Mubai: "............" @#￥%
"It's fine, it's fine. Good medicine tastes bitter for the sake of healing!" Ye Qing consoled him.
Li Mubai was completely paralyzed; Ye Qing's hand was like a pair of iron pliers, firmly clamping his mouth shut.
Making it impossible for him to spit it out.
He could only thrash around wildly!
However, struggling was completely useless!
He had no choice but to chew a few times and swallow it down.
"Sigh, truly, money is hard to earn and shit is hard to eat. Saving lives really requires full service, even having to feed an uncooperative patient."
Ye Qing couldn't help sighing.
Li Mubai opened his mouth to retort.
Then.
He froze!
As the medicine slid down his throat, it instantly turned into a surging, warm energy that poured into his body, as if rebuilding his fundamental physique and meridians.
What a miraculous sensation.
This!
What kind of medicine is this?!
Closing his eyes, he felt the medicine washing through his body again and again, repairing and fortifying it!
Incredible!
Simply incredible!
As expected of a wonder drug!
His money hadn't been wasted, and his suffering hadn't been for nothing!
Everyone had expected Li Mubai to kick up a fuss for a while longer, but to their surprise, he had closed his eyes and started enjoying it instead.
Then!
"Look!"
Zheng Jia pointed at Li Mubai's body!
Everyone looked over.
And immediately, all their eyes widened in disbelief, utterly shocked by what they were seeing!
Even Han Xue at the side couldn't help covering her mouth.
This!
Right before their eyes, the wounds on Li Mubai's body were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye!
A miracle drug!
This was a divine medicine!
Chapter 22: The Aloof Ice Queen!
Hearing everyone's voices, Li Mubai opened his eyes and looked at his rapidly healing wounds.
Then, the look he gave Ye Qing changed entirely.
This guy really had some tricks up his sleeve!
Even so, he still kept a mental tally of every single time Ye Qing had scammed him earlier!
Nearby, Zheng Jia also witnessed the effects of the medicine.
His heart was filled with awe.
Medicine of this caliber was easily worth the price!
Earlier, Ye Qing had handed over a pill just like this to Yuxin without a second thought.
How on earth was he ever going to repay such a massive favor!
The other team members, having now realized the true value of the medicine, looked at Ye Qing with even greater reverence. Since Ye Qing hadn't hesitated to give such a medicine directly to Zheng Yuxin, if they ever found themselves in a similar situation in the future, surely Ye Qing would treat them the same way!
"Alright, let's head back."
Ye Qing smiled at the group. After all, this trip had yielded quite a harvest!
Just the sixth-grade beast cores alone amounted to three!
Not to mention so many spirit plants, and everything else was just a bonus!
"Let's go, let's go!"
"Back we go!"
"Captain, here, let me help you carry that!"
"Yeah, Captain, you leave the heavy lifting to us!"
"Why should we trouble you with it!"
...........
Voices overlapped as everyone scrambled to help Ye Qing carry the loot.
At this moment, they treated him like the stars surrounding the moon!
Without further ado, Ye Qing asked Zhou Lingxue to drop her transformation state.
As Zhou Lingxue landed and felt her own condition, a surge of pride filled her heart.
She had lasted for so long this time!
At the very least, she could now keep pace with Ye Qing all the way to the end of a battle!
Watching her, Li Mubai frowned. Where had this weapon spirit come from? He had never seen her before!
This combination was truly bizarre!
Extremely bizarre!
Clearly possessing such formidable strength!
Yet!
He had never even heard of her!
No, he would definitely have to look into this properly when they got back!
"Mubai, how are you feeling?"
Seeing Li Mubai's furrowed brow, Han Xue hurried over, her face full of concern.
"I'm fine."
"Look at your brow all knitted up and you say you're fine. Go get checked at your father's military medical room later."
"Alright."
Seeing Han Xue's anxious expression, even though Li Mubai felt completely fine now, he still agreed to her request.
A short while later.
The group arrived at the military medical room.
As for why Ye Qing and the others came along, they were here at the Military Department to exchange their beast cores.
All those raw materials like flesh, blood, and fur could be exchanged for beast cores at the Military Department.
The exchange counter was located right next to the medical room.
After completing the exchange.
"You guys go ahead and rest over here, I'm going to go check on Li Mubai," Ye Qing said, also telling Zhou Lingxue to stay and rest.
"Old... Ye Qing, what are you going in there for?"
Zhou Lingxue asked upon hearing Ye Qing's words, but right as she spoke, she nearly blurted out "hubby" in front of everyone.
She had to change her address on the spot.
The slip of the tongue turned her little face beet red.
"I'm going to check the efficacy of the medicine."
Ye Qing walked toward the medical room.
After all, he still wanted to see Li Mubai's examination results.
To see how well the medicine actually performed.
Seeing Ye Qing follow him in, Li Mubai gritted his teeth, but he couldn't very well throw the guy out now.
At the very least.
The fellow was technically his savior and his creditor!
Sigh!
It was enough to give him a headache!
Thinking about this, Li Mubai instinctively clutched his forehead.
The next moment!
An elegant figure walked in from outside.
"Xiaobai, how are you? I heard you were seriously injured while hunting beast outside!"
"Why are you so reckless, the two of you venturing deep into the jungle to hunt such high-level beasts!"
".........."
Sentence after sentence spilled forth.
Standing nearby, Ye Qing watched the newcomer, and instantly, a glowing status panel materialized before her:
[Name: Li Zijin]
[Height: 173cm]
[Appearance: 99]
[Measurements: E]
[Figure: 99]
[Purity: 100%]
[Transformation: Wooden Bow (E-Grade)]
[Note: The Sun-Shooting Bow of Lost Divinity (SSS-Grade)]
The Sun-Shooting Bow!
This was it!
Ye Qing's pupils contracted violently!
This was the legendary weapon used by Hou Yi to shoot down the suns!
A divine artifact!
He never expected to encounter it here!
Recovering his composure, Ye Qing observed the newcomer.
She exuded the aura of an aloof ice queen, with a slender and graceful figure!
Her brows and eyes were like those of a celestial being!
Yet they carried a chilling frost that kept people a thousand miles away!
What a cold and stunning beauty!
Her slender legs were completely different from Zheng Yuxin's style—these were truly long.
Complemented by her towering curves.
It was no longer fitting to describe her as delicate branches bearing heavy fruit.
It should be delicate branches bearing an abundance of ripe fruit!
As Ye Qing gazed at Li Zijin's long legs, he wondered if those legs would turn into the bowstring or the bow itself when she transformed.
While Ye Qing was lost in thought, the examination results came out.
"Let me see."
Li Zijin said, reaching out to take the report.
Huh?
"There's nothing wrong with you at all!"
Li Zijin declared, then noticed Ye Qing leaning in to look as well.
And who might you be?
Glancing at Ye Qing, Li Zijin took half a step back.
"You are? Xiaobai's classmate?"
"Hello, my name is Ye Qing. Not really his classmate; my club was hunting beasts outside today when we found him at death's door. I just happened to kill the Twin-Winged Silver Tiger and saved him. Then I gave him some medicinal wine and my wonder drug, so I came over to check and see how well the medicine worked."
Ye Qing said, a broad smile plastered across his face.
What?!
Hearing Ye Qing's words, Li Zijin looked over at Han Xue and Li Mubai. Hearing this, Li Mubai gritted his sharp teeth!
This guy really knew how to polish his own halo!
Especially showing off in front of his older sister!
Han Xue nodded, confirming what Ye Qing had said was true!
So that was what happened!
She had only heard that Li Mubai was injured, but she hadn't realized it was such a perilous ordeal!
"Thank you, Ye Qing! My name is Li Zijin, I'm Xiaobai's sister!"
"Think nothing of it, helping a compatriot in distress is our bounden duty!" Ye Qing said, grasping Li Zijin's small hand.
Her hand was soft and delicate, feeling as if it had no bones at all.
At that moment, Li Mubai, who had just stood up from the examination bed, nearly spat out another mouthful of heartache blood upon hearing Ye Qing's words.
You bastard!
You really know how to put a gold-plated veneer on yourself!
Helping a compatriot in distress is your bounden duty?!
Then what was up with you charging me two sixth-grade beast cores?!
For a split second, he wanted to blurt it out, but the words died in his throat.
Too humiliating!
Simply too humiliating!
Given his immense pride, he couldn't possibly say it aloud!
If it were at all possible, he would gladly spend another sixth-grade beast core just to seal Ye Qing's lips!
And keep anyone from ever finding out he got hurt!
But by now, it was a bit too late.
Trapped in this awkward situation, he could only step forward.
"Ahem! You two have been shaking hands for quite a while now, you can let go!"
"Are you ever going to stop holding hands?"
Li Mubai interjected.
With a smile, Ye Qing offered an explanation.
"Ah, apologies. Thinking about what happened today made me drift off for a moment."
"My ass!" Li Mubai roared inwardly!
Though he didn't dare say it out feebly aloud!
This guy was truly a master at playing dumb.
Meanwhile, Li Zijin glanced back at Li Mubai. "Is that any way to talk to Ye Qing!"
"If it weren't for him, you wouldn't even be standing here like this!"
With that, Li Zijin tapped Li Mubai on the head with her finger.
Taking on the tone of an educator.
Leaning against the wall, Ye Qing watched Li Mubai with a smile.
Li Mubai: "........." Ahhhhh!
I! #￥
This guy, this guy!
While he was seething in frustration, a robust figure strode in through the door.
"What's going on here!"
As soon as he entered.
"I heard from Han Xue that you guys ran into a Twin-Winged Silver Tiger out there?!"
An anxious voice rang out!
Turning his head, Ye Qing took a look. Oh!
An acquaintance!
Nobody else!
The newcomer was none other than Li Xiao!
Li Xiao, Li Mubai........
Good grief, father and son after all.
Seeing his father arrive, Li Mubai instantly shrunk back like a deflated balloon.
"Huh? Ye Qing, why are you here too?"
"Dad, you know him?" Li Mubai asked, dumbfounded.
Aside, Li Zijin recounted the story Ye Qing had just told them!
What?!
Li Xiao's pupils narrowed sharply!
He could hardly believe what he was hearing!
This kid!
He actually killed a Twin-Winged Silver Tiger?!
It seemed his primal foundation really hadn't been damaged at all!
And this kind of strength!
Li Xiao had previously thought that fifth-grade was the absolute limit of what he could cut down right now!
Clearly, he was wrong!
Shock flooded Li Xiao's eyes.
And when he heard that Li Mubai had taken Ye Qing's wonder drug and recovered completely,
Li Xiao froze right in his tracks.
Beyond shocked!
This wonder drug must have been what Ye Qing was brewing when he visited Jinling University yesterday!
To think it had such miraculous effects!
This kid!
"Good! Ye Qing, you've done exceptionally well!"
Hearing those words, Li Zijin and Li Mubai both widened their eyes in disbelief. Their own father was actually praising someone?
That really was a sun rising from the west!
"Grandmaster Li, helping a compatriot in distress is our bounden duty!"
Ye Qing repeated.
"Splendid!"
What a magnificent "bounden duty"!
Li Xiao praised, then clapped Ye Qing heavily on the shoulder!
"Well done!"
"I owe you a favor," Li Xiao declared, causing Ye Qing's eyes to light up.
Tsk tsk!
A Grandmaster's favor was no small matter!
Next to them, Li Mubai gnashed his teeth until they clicked!
Chapter 23: Liu Lianmeng, Stop Sleeping and Get to Work!
Right now, he had the urge to march right up and punch Ye Qing in the face!
"Alright, I'll take my leave then, Grandmaster Li. Student Mubai, get some good rest. I'll drop by your school to check on you tomorrow."
Ye Qing said, giving Li Mubai a casual wave.
Li Mubai: "........."
You bastard!
You phrase it so nicely, are you really coming to check on me?!
You're coming to collect your debt!
"Look how much people care about you. Even though you're not at the same school, he's taking time out of his day tomorrow to come check on you."
"You should cherish a friend like that, understand?"
"You should learn a thing or two from him."
"What kind of expression is that? What are you still standing there for! Go see Ye Qing off—ugh, never mind, I'll go! You're truly clueless." After lecturing Li Mubai, Li Zijin dropped those words.
And personally escorted Ye Qing out.
"Ye Qing, thank you so much."
"Think nothing of it."
With a casual wave, Ye Qing departed in style.
Over on his side.
Ye Qing returned.
Seeing that all the beast cores had been successfully exchanged.
He took the high-grade Three-Tailed Snow Deer cores that he could actually use.
The rest of the lower-grade materials were of little use to him now.
"Leave half of these Three-Tailed Snow Deer cores in the club as operating funds, and you guys can split the rest amongst yourselves."
Boom!
Ye Qing's words dropped like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
This!
He was really this generous?
Keep in mind, the vast majority of these Three-Tailed Snow Deer had been hunted single-handedly by Ye Qing!
Yet now, they were being allowed to share in unearned glory!
"Captain, you hunted most of these yourself, we can't accept this!"
"Yeah, Captain!"
"Alright, alright, we're all in this together. From now on, we're one big family, and you guys still need to help me transport the spirit plants back home later anyway."
At Ye Qing's words, everyone readily pounded their chests in agreement.
"No problem, Captain!"
"Haha, we'll definitely help transport them back!"
"Thanks a lot, Captain! From now on, we follow your lead in everything!"
..........
Everyone chimed in.
A short while later, the group returned to campus.
This returning procession naturally attracted a great deal of attention.
They walked with their chests puffed out proudly.
After all, they had just exchanged the carcasses of Three-Tailed Snow Deer and a Twin-Winged Silver Tiger.
Had they dragged those carcasses around campus for a stroll, their turnaround rate would have literally broken the charts.
After depositing the spirit plants inside the villa,
Zheng Jia led the rest back to the club headquarters!
Near the entrance, Zheng Yuxin was pacing back and forth, looking left and right, occasionally standing on tiptoe to gaze into the distance, looking for all the world like a maiden waiting for her returning love!
"They're back!"
Catching sight of the group returning, Zheng Yuxin's face lit up, though she failed to spot Ye Qing among them.
What?!
Panic setting in, she hurried over. "Big brother, where's Brother Ye Qing? Why didn't he come back with you?"
"Look at how anxious you are. Brother Ye Qing went back to rest first," Zheng Jia said, finding his little sister's reaction rather suspicious.
"Oh, oh, I see."
Zheng Yuxin patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
"How was the harvest this time?"
"Magnificent!"
Pulling Zheng Yuxin along, Zheng Jia grinned. "Come on, let me tell you how epic today was!"
Entering the house, Zheng Yuxin listened intently, and a moment later, her delicate hand flew up to cover her small mouth, shock written all over her face.
So strong!
Brother Ye Qing had actually grown this formidable!
At the thought, a blush crept across her cheeks.
Then recalling what her older brother had said about Brother Ye Qing being able to form multiple contracts simultaneously, she thought—and immediately felt like a deflated balloon.
How could Brother Ye Qing ever fancy someone like her?
Even if he could form multiple contracts, he probably wouldn't think much of her!
"What on earth is my little sister daydreaming about?" Zheng Jia asked, noticing her staring blankly.
"N-nothing at all."
Zheng Yuxin hurriedly changed the subject.
Back inside his villa, Ye Qing made his way to Liu Lianmeng's room.
"Mmm... ugh."
Hearing someone turn the doorknob, Liu Lianmeng burrowed deeper under the covers, letting out a sleepy, just-woke-up murmur.
Ye Qing: "............" Good grief, you've really been sleeping this whole time, haven't you?
Swish!
The next moment, Ye Qing reached down and yanked her blanket away!
"Ah!"
Liu Lianmeng woke up with a start, rubbing her eyes as she looked at Ye Qing.
"Time to work overtime!"
"Eh? Right now? Hubby, can we make Sister Zhou work overtime tonight instead?" Liu Lianmeng pleaded with a pitiful expression that left Ye Qing helpless.
Reaching out, he tapped her on the forehead.
"What are you thinking? Get up and start refining pills."
"Oh, oh! Refining pills? Refining pills is fine!"
Liu Lianmeng scampered out of bed in a flash!
Ye Qing: "........" So enthusiastic about alchemy?
Following her out to the courtyard, Liu Lianmeng took one look at the massive pile of spirit plants and froze in place.
This!
That really is a lot!