With Liu Yue's skill level, she shouldn't be unable to distinguish such a difference, should she?
After all, the difference between these two powders was too great...
Moreover, Lin Xiao Tian had just opened the jade bottle, and Liu Yue had seen it with her own eyes. Physicians were not ordinary people; they should be able to tell just by smell!
Wan Hao thanked them profusely and led everyone away from the medical hall. Then he patted Lin Xiao Tian on the shoulder, signaling him to put away the jade bottle.
Compared to other captains, Wan Hao had a much broader perspective. He strived for fairness regarding spoils of war and anything else his team acquired.
As the team members gradually entered the forest, Lin Xiao Tian was responsible for bringing up the rear. Once inside, he found an opportunity to casually toss the jade bottle aside.
Although ordinary demonic beasts were not something Lin Xiao Tian took seriously, it was better to be safe than sorry. The most important thing now was to play the role of a Qi Refining stage cultivator.
It was high noon when the team began to withdraw from the forest.
After a year of working together, the team members' coordination was excellent. They had not only slain many demonic beasts but also obtained a blood crystal.
Wan Hao stared intently at the blood crystal.
"Such a valuable item, and I really don't want to split it equally with the medical hall!"
Wan Hao had said this more than once on the way back.
"Alas! The empire doesn't care about the lives of us ordinary cultivators. They're too busy flattering those physicians! And those physicians are in league with the empire." Zhu Kai sighed.
Seeing his look of deep resentment, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but shake his head. If only he had such resolve towards his "old flame."
"Shh! Keep your voice down. Are you allowed to say things like that?" an old team member quickly covered Zhu Kai's mouth.
There were still three newcomers in the team, and they didn't trust each other completely yet. If they reported this, there would surely be a lot of explaining to do.
Wan Hao narrowed his eyes and ordered the team to halt.
"Everyone take out your personal belongings. We'll check for any damage or losses. This way, I'll know what to replenish for you later!"
The hunting team had never conducted inventory checks inside the forest before. Wan Hao's actions had a hidden purpose!
However, the veteran team members didn't suspect him. They took out their belongings with unspoken understanding, while the three newcomers hesitated slightly.
Wan Hao stood directly in front of them and watched them retrieve their items.
Two of the newcomers complied obediently. Only one of them fumbled for a long time without getting ready.
"Hey! Aren't you going to check the other pocket?" Wan Hao asked expressionlessly.
"Haha, there's nothing much in here."
"Is that so? Let me see!"
The newcomer was startled and quickly retreated a few steps.
"Captain Wan, this is going too far, isn't it? I've never heard of such a thing as checking possessions."
"Checking possessions? That's what you said. I'm here to replenish your supplies, not to check things."
The newcomer's anger flared, "So you're saying you could just rob us, but you're giving an excuse instead?"
"If you're unwilling, I don't mind robbing you!"
Wan Hao was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, while the newcomer was only at the third level. Facing Wan Hao, he had no confidence at all.
But he still refused to comply obediently and instead tried to incite the other team members.
"Are you all just going to stand by and watch? If he dares to do this to me today, he'll do the same to you tomorrow!"
Except for the other two newcomers, no one else was moved.
Lin Xiao Tian also chose to trust Wan Hao. After a year of interaction, he understood Wan Hao. If Wan Hao were greedy, he wouldn't have waited until today to act.
Furthermore, the newcomer in front of him was far too nervous. Checking possessions wasn't a life-or-death matter, so this reaction was clearly suspicious.
Seeing that his incitement had failed, the newcomer actually tried to run into the forest.
But he was no match for Wan Hao. Within a few breaths, Wan Hao had dragged him back.
"Captain, spare my life!"
"Why should you beg for mercy? I'm not going to kill you."
Wan Hao said as he inspected the items.
The next moment, a small jade slip appeared in Wan Hao's hand.
"Memory jade slip? What are you carrying this for?" Wan Hao stared at him.
Memory jade slips had recording and playback functions and were inexpensive, easily obtainable from stores in the empire.
"Just playing with it!"
"Playing? I'm suddenly very curious about what you're playing with. May I see inside?"
"This... this isn't appropriate, is it?"
Wan Hao ignored him and directly infused his mana into the jade slip.
The next moment, a voice emanated from the jade slip.
It was precisely what Zhu Kai had said earlier!
"You do like to play, don't you?" Wan Hao stared into the newcomer's eyes.
"Captain, listen to my explanation."
But his words were cut short before he could finish.
With a swift movement, Wan Hao's blade struck. Only a corpse remained before them.
He never showed mercy to his enemies.
This person had recorded Zhu Kai's voice, clearly intending to report Zhu Kai after they left the forest. Zhu Kai and Wan Hao were sworn brothers, so Wan Hao would never let his brother get into trouble.
As for killing, it was not an uncommon occurrence in this world!
After resolving the trouble, Wan Hao's gaze fell on the remaining two people.
"I, Wan Hao, don't have many skills. I just want to protect my brothers. If you can behave yourselves, I'll go through fire and water without a second thought. But betraying your brothers, this is the consequence!"
The two newcomers nodded nervously, not daring to show any defiance.
The rest of the journey was uneventful.
When Lin Xiao Tian and the others returned to the medical hall, Liu Yue was surprisingly already waiting for them.
"Captain Wan, I'm truly sorry. I made a mistake with the powder I gave Xu Hao earlier. That was actually..."
Liu Yue was about to continue when a figure suddenly appeared before her.
"Xu Hao, you... you're alright?"
Liu Yue was extremely surprised to see Lin Xiao Tian alive and well.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Liu Yue's intense reaction, Wan Hao quickly stepped forward to ask.
"N-nothing."
"It's good that nothing's wrong." Seeing this, Wan Hao didn't press further.
After a brief exchange, Liu Yue departed.
However, after Liu Yue left, Wan Hao's expression turned serious.
After leaving the medical hall, Wan Hao took Lin Xiao Tian away privately.
They traveled in silence until they arrived before a magnificent building. Lin Xiao Tian looked up at the plaque, which bore two prominent characters: "Xue Gong" (Academy).
Wan Hao announced his arrival to the academy guards and then led Lin Xiao Tian inside.
A few minutes later, a person appeared before them.
It was a young woman, fair-skinned and beautiful. Lin Xiao Tian recognized her as Zhu Kai's "old flame," Zhu Yu.
"Instructor Zhu Yu, my brother here has a slight health issue. Please help him. I will provide the payment later," Wan Hao said with a respectful bow.
Hearing Wan Hao's words, Lin Xiao Tian was deeply moved.
It turned out that when Liu Yue had spoken earlier at the medical hall, Wan Hao had already been worried about Lin Xiao Tian's safety. Liu Yue thought she could brush it off, but she had underestimated Wan Hao.
Zhu Yu nodded, her gaze falling on Lin Xiao Tian.
The next moment, she seemed somewhat taken aback.
"Strange, why do you have this kind of aura?"