Huo Qinghe said with a fawning smile, "If the young lady has verified it, please keep the medicinal herbs. I will also report to the young master and Elder Ji."
Zi Linling nodded and said, "The medicinal herbs are fine. Thank you for your trouble, Steward Huo."
Huo Qinghe said respectfully, "You are too kind, Miss Zi. It's not trouble at all. In fact, there's something I'd like to confirm with you."
"What is it?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Zi Linling's eyes.
Huo Qinghe smiled and asked, "May I ask, Miss Zi, are you sure you can cure our young master?"
Zi Linling understood.
Huo Qinghe had been with the Fengyun Business Firm for many years, dealing with all sorts of people daily. He could be considered quite shrewd.
The reason he asked this was likely to weigh the pros and cons.
As the young master of the Ye family, if Ye Liuxing were to have an accident under Huo Qinghe's jurisdiction, he would be held accountable. Given the temper of Ye Wenqing, the head of the Ye family, he might even be made to pay with his life.
However, if the opposite were true and Ye Liuxing was completely cured under his charge, Huo Qinghe would be the biggest beneficiary.
At that time, he could not only return to the Qinglong Empire headquarters but also receive abundant resources, which would lead to his rise in status and boundless glory.
Zi Linling smiled faintly. Although she disliked Huo Qinghe, a man who was so calculating, she was currently focused on refining the Muscle-Sculpting Pills and Marrow-Cleansing Pills and had no time to engage in pleasantries with him.
Therefore, she still nodded and said, "Of course!"
Huo Qinghe looked at her confident demeanor and couldn't help but frown repeatedly.
Who exactly was this woman? How could she speak so definitively? Did she not know that one should not go too far in anything and speak too absolutely, leaving some room for oneself in actions and words?
Moreover, looking at her age, she was only twelve or thirteen. Even if she had started studying medicine from the womb, she couldn't possibly surpass Situ Jinglei, the only alchemist on the Tianyuan Continent!
Unless...
A thought flashed through Huo Qinghe's mind. To confirm his suspicion, he tentatively asked, "May I ask who your master is, Miss Zi?"
He wanted to know if Zi Linling had a more formidable alchemist behind her than Situ Jinglei.
Zi Linling took in Huo Qinghe's expression and, after a moment's thought, understood his intentions.
However, she did not expose him and instead shook her head, saying, "Sorry, I cannot say!"
Huo Qinghe was stunned, clearly not expecting Zi Linling to refuse so directly.
This made him uneasy. What if he didn't gain any benefits but was instead implicated by Zi Linling? That would be a loss not worth the gain.
He said seriously, "Miss, you should know that this matter is of great importance. It is necessary for me to ask for clarification."
Zi Linling said with some displeasure, "Whether you ask or not is your business. Whether I save him or not is mine. Since the medicinal herbs have been delivered, I shall take my leave!"
As she spoke, she lightly placed her hand on the tray in Huo Qinghe's hands. With a slight movement of her soul, the medicinal herbs on the tray entered the Nine Spirits Ring.
As for whether or not to expose the Nine Spirits Ring, Zi Linling no longer cared.
What Zi Linling didn't realize was that the moment she used the Nine Spirits Ring, Ye Lingyuan, who was following her, subtly extended his divine sense to cover her.
Huo Qinghe was surprised. It seemed his guess was correct; Zi Linling did indeed possess a spatial storage bag.
At the same time, a hint of displeasure crossed his face. The reason he had patiently accompanied her with a fawning smile and shown such deference was primarily because Zi Linling had the ability to heal Ye Liuxing.
But now that he had doubts about Zi Linling's abilities, his attitude naturally changed.
Huo Qinghe said coldly, "Miss Zi, the Ye family of the imperial capital is not to be trifled with. You had best act within your means and avoid making things worse."
This statement was clearly a warning to Zi Linling. She could speak with confidence, but if she lacked the ability, she should avoid taking action. Otherwise, if things went awry, the Ye family of the imperial capital would not let the matter rest.
However, as Huo Qinghe spoke, he overlooked Ye Lingyuan, who had come out behind Zi Linling.
A sharp glint flashed in Ye Lingyuan's eyes, and his gaze towards Huo Qinghe also turned unfriendly. He even considered kicking Huo Qinghe out.
Zi Linling glanced at Huo Qinghe calmly and said, "Steward Huo, please set your mind at ease. If even I cannot save your young master, then he deserves to have his aspirations unfulfilled!"
With that, she turned and walked out of the Fengyun Business Firm with Xue Ying.
Ye Lingyuan gave Huo Qinghe a cold look and followed closely behind.
Huo Qinghe's face contorted. He had not expected Zi Linling to be so unappreciative.
He had intended to stop Zi Linling and threaten her, making her retreat. But then he suddenly felt a chilling sensation.
Huo Qinghe looked up to find the source of the coldness and met Ye Lingyuan's gaze, radiating icy air. He froze, confused as to how he had offended this formidable figure.
It was only when he saw Ye Lingyuan following closely behind Zi Linling that he remembered he hadn't offended Ye Lingyuan, but Zi Linling.
Huo Qinghe chuckled bitterly to himself. How could he have forgotten that while Zi Linling couldn't cultivate, she had the powerful backing of Ye Lingyuan?
That's right, and there was also Situ Yunfeng, the young master of Medicine King Valley, and his own young master, Ye Liuxing.
Forget it!
He didn't know who this woman was, but fortunately, there were still three days to investigate.
With this thought, Huo Qinghe immediately went to report to Ji Ran.
Zi Linling left the Fengyun Business Firm and was about to rush back to Luoyu Pavilion when her path was blocked by a figure in purple.
"Bitch, you finally came out!"
Mo Qingcheng's face was ashen. She raised her hand and shot a strand of spiritual energy directly at Zi Linling's face.
"Damn it!"
Zi Linling felt the danger. She intended to use her Flowing Dragon Steps and Flowing Dragon Body techniques, but because Xue Ying was closely following her, she had to abandon that idea.
She couldn't dodge, so she had to endure it with her body.
She couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. What is "extreme joy leads to sorrow"? This is it. It seemed like she would break a few ribs today.
But just then, she noticed that the spiritual energy had completely dissipated three feet in front of her.
"Are you alright?"
Ye Lingyuan stepped in front of Zi Linling, the worry in his eyes not yet faded.
He had just emerged when he sensed a fluctuation of spiritual energy, and its target was Zi Linling.
Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow and, without thinking, casually swatted it away.
Although he hadn't used spiritual energy, his cultivation was still far superior to Mo Qingcheng's by more than a major realm.
Therefore, the spiritual energy was naturally scattered by his palm, returning to its elemental form.
Zi Linling quickly understood that Ye Lingyuan had blocked the attack for her.
For some reason, her mood instantly brightened. She smiled at Ye Lingyuan and said, "Thank you."