It was difficult to encounter someone with such an exceptional spiritual root and extraordinary talent. If any oversight on his part were to cause Zheng Wei any harm, he would be filled with remorse until his dying day.
"Little Xie Brother, what kind of question is that? Seeing Zheng Wei perfectly fine right here, it's obvious he's alright. Can you stop being so jumpy?" Na Mu Zhong looked at Yi Zhi Xie speechlessly, her voice filled with helplessness.
No matter how many years passed, Yi Zhi Xie was still like this.
"Ah." Yi Zhi Xie finally realized. If Zheng Wei had truly encountered any problems, Shen Xiao Yan would have woken him up in the middle of the night. There was no way she would wait until now to say anything.
"This, concern clouds judgment, concern clouds judgment," Yi Zhi Xie scratched his head and said with a hint of embarrassment.
"Mm, I appreciate your concern." Zheng Wei nodded solemnly.
Although Yi Zhi Xie's concern was somewhat difficult to accept.
But regardless of anything else, he genuinely cared about him, which was why he spoke such thoughtless words without thinking. His intentions were good.
Many years later, when Zheng Wei recalled his thoughts at that moment, he felt that his mind must have been acting up.
Yi Zhi Xie wasn't clouded by concern; he was completely a brainless youth.
Although his age no longer qualified him as a youth, his lack of sense was undeniable.
It was a pity that he possessed an elegant face, which always led people to mistakenly believe he was a refined gentleman, as gentle as jade.
"Alas, you can understand my concern."
Yi Zhi Xie was adept at rolling with the punches, displaying his seemingly considerate demeanor to the fullest.
"Oh, I almost forgot. After you ate it, did you have any reactions?"
Yi Zhi Xie, who was feeling self-satisfied, suddenly remembered what he had originally set out to do and quickly continued to ask.
"No," Zheng Wei said curtly. Then he pursed his lips, allowing Yi Zhi Xie to ask whatever he pleased, and said no more.
Unable to extract any information from Zheng Wei, Yi Zhi Xie prepared to shift his focus to Shen Xiao Yan. However, as soon as he met Shen Xiao Yan's gaze, he was blocked by a sharp glance from her.
"Alright, if you don't want to ask, then don't. As long as you're alright, that's all that matters." Yi Zhi Xie shrugged indifferently and then looked at Si Ma Han and Yue Qing Xin. "You two, do you want to eat now? Mu Zhong and I can keep watch for you."
Si Ma Han and Yue Qing Xin exchanged a look. Si Ma Han said, "I'll go first."
Yi Zhi Xie gave him an understanding look. A man who doted on his wife should indeed test the medicine for her, which was commendable.
Although this was not a poison, if anything were to go wrong, it would be far more dangerous than any poison.
Shen Xiao Yan, Yue Qing Xin, and Zheng Wei had also planned to keep watch nearby. However, Yi Zhi Xie stated that a quiet environment was needed, and thus, the three of them were shut out.
Although Yi Zhi Xie said this on the surface, he actually explained it to Shen Xiao Yan through a telepathic message.
The main reason was that if Si Ma Han were to suffer any discomfort, and Yue Qing Xin saw it, she might become excessively worried and would surely be even more nervous when it was her turn to eat later.
Shen Xiao Yan deeply understood this and therefore strongly agreed with Yi Zhi Xie's approach.
Yi Zhi Xie and the other two went to the west side room, while Shen Xiao Yan and Yue Qing Xin stayed in the east room of the main chamber, playing with the four children.
Zheng Wei, on his own, went to the west side room; he intended to cultivate for a while longer.
Yue Qing Xin initially thought that eating such a small amount of something would result in a quick exit.
However, by noon, after lunch and after the four children had taken their naps, there was still no movement from the west side room.
If she hadn't heard any unusual noises from inside, Yue Qing Xin would have gone in to check.
But it was precisely because there was no sound that Yue Qing Xin became even more worried.
"Elder Sister, don't overthink it. Yi Zhi Xie and Shuang Liang are there. Although they say their cultivation has been declining, they are still far stronger than us. It's just a simple spiritual energy absorption; it's nothing," Shen Xiao Yan said, holding Yue Qing Xin's hand to comfort her.
Yue Qing Xin nodded absentmindedly but still couldn't help but worry.
Seeing her like this, Shen Xiao Yan wanted to divert her attention elsewhere.
If Yue Qing Xin were inside and witnessing Si Ma Han in pain, then so be it.
Since she couldn't see anything and was still here, worrying herself sick, it would have been better to have let her in from the beginning.
Shen Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, and a sudden spark of inspiration struck her.
"Elder Sister, I remembered a story. Shall I tell it to you?" Shen Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"What story?" Yue Qing Xin replied somewhat absentmindedly. It was clear that her attention was not yet on the story Shen Xiao Yan was about to tell.
Shen Xiao Yan didn't mind. Once she started speaking, Yue Qing Xin would naturally be drawn in.
"Then I'll begin." Shen Xiao Yan sat up straight and cleared her throat.
Yue Qing Xin placed one hand on the low table and the other supporting her chin, nodding gently. "Mm."
"The story goes like this: There was once a country where men and women were equal, and speech was free. Regardless of gender, people could hold office and engage in trade. Everyone in that country practiced monogamy. There were no multiple wives or concubines, but divorce was permitted. After a divorce, neither party was restricted from remarrying."
"Sister, are you dreaming? How can such a place exist?"
Yue Qing Xin interrupted Shen Xiao Yan as soon as she had finished this part.
Although Zheng Wei and Si Ma Han were exceptionally good men who never thought of having multiple wives or concubines, in this world, unless a man was too poor to afford it, which man wouldn't desire multiple wives and concubines? How could there be a country like the one Shen Xiao Yan described?
"Listen to me finish first," Shen Xiao Yan said with dissatisfaction. It was evident that being interrupted at the beginning of her story made Shen Xiao Yan quite unhappy.
Yue Qing Xin smiled gently and stopped speaking, waiting for Shen Xiao Yan to continue.
"What I'm going to tell you is about a woman in this country..." Shen Xiao Yan continued, a hint of sadness on her face, as if reminiscing.
The woman's name was Yan Yan. Yan Yan married at the age of nineteen to the person she believed loved her the most.
In the first year of their marriage, Yan Yan became pregnant.
She thought her days would be very beautiful, but in reality, they were not. Her husband, after marriage, became even more fond of playing online games...
"What are online games?" Yue Qing Xin interrupted Shen Xiao Yan again, asking in confusion.
"Online games are unique to that country. There's something called a computer, which allows two people, even if they are thousands of miles apart, to still communicate. Except for not seeing each other, everything else is like we are now; you can chat about anything." Shen Xiao Yan explained.
"Oh. Then, Sister, please continue," Yue Qing Xin didn't press further. After the significant impacts of the spatial ring and the Saint Spirit Continent, Yue Qing Xin's capacity for acceptance had already become very strong.
Yan Yan's husband enjoyed playing online games, neglecting Yan Yan.