Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Got the Herbs!
Zhang Yaqing gazed at Wei Zihuan with disdain. "You should know perfectly well that if you touch me, you wonât be leaving the Zhang Group building. Do you have the guts?"
"Wei Zihuan, you really havenât matured at all over the years. You canât possibly believe that garbage about how itâs glorious to die for a beautiful woman, can you?"
Zhang Yaqingâs voice dripped with mockery. "Trash!"
She couldnât even be bothered to resist. "You were able to enter the Zhang Group because I allowed it. And if I want you to stay here, permanently, it would only take a single word from me."
Wei Zihuanâs face darkened, but his hands stopped moving.
SLAP!
Zhang Yaqing struck him across the face. "Get out right now!"
Wei Zihuan staggered back several steps, his face burning hot as rage flashed in his eyes.
"Is impotent rage all youâre capable of?" she asked. "Someone like you? How can you possibly contend with my Zhang Family? On the strength of your backer alone?"
"Iâm curious, just how blind must your backer be to value someone as talentless and amoral as you."
As she mercilessly ridiculed him, Zhang Yaqing elegantly crossed her legs.
Wei Zihuan touched his stinging cheek and then smiled.
"Excellent! Zhang Yaqing, thatâs more like it! The more you act this way, the more Iâll look forward to seeing you on your knees, begging me for mercy."
He licked his lips. "I hope your tongue stays this sharp. Iâm eager to see the day you beg me to spare your family. I have all the time in the world to play this game with you."
With that, Wei Zihuan strode away.
Zhang Yaqingâs expression instantly turned livid as she stared at his retreating back with utter coldness.
Wei Zihuan is an absolute madman. Keeping him around is a ticking time bomb for the Zhang Family.
Moreover, his words just now implied that his current financial power and strength had already surpassed the Zhang Familyâs, which was why he had the confidence to appear before them so brazenly. This ignited a sense of crisis within her. After all, Wei Zihuan had been with the Zhang Family for so many years; he knew them inside and out. Yet they knew nothing about his experiences over the past few years.
They were exposed while their enemy remained in the shadowsâa tremendous disadvantage.
After a moment of thought, she dialed a number. "I need you to investigate someone for me."
"Who?"
"Wei Zihuan," Zhang Yaqing said coolly. "I want every discoverable detail of his life over these past years."
"Same rules as always," she continued. "Once you find what you can, weâll discuss the price."
"Alright," the voice on the other end replied before she hung up. The two had cooperated for a long time, so their dealings were always straightforward and efficient.
The person she had just contacted was a member of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, an immensely powerful intelligence organization with formidable information-gathering capabilities. All its members were women with special skills, and their leader was an even greater mystery. Of course, it was said that the Hundred Flowers Pavilion also took on assassination missions, though only to kill those who had committed heinous sins. The price was exorbitant because the risks were simply too great.
Having made the call, Zhang Yaqing rubbed her temples and stared blankly into space from her office chair.
ăSix oâclock in the evening.ă
Chen Xiao, Luo Qingli, and Xu Yanran set off together for the celebration banquet. The venue was their usual spot: the restaurant owned by Li Chenqian.
Chen Xiao complained, "I donât know what got into City Governor Li. The food at his sonâs restaurant isnât even that good..."
Luo Qingli laughed. "You wouldnât understand. So many people want to curry favor with him that theyâll eat at Young Master Liâs place whether the food is good or not."
Chen Xiao pursed his lips. "True. Those people donât go there for the food anyway. Even if Li Chenqian served them a platter of crap, theyâd have to smile and call it delicious and fresh."
Xu Yanran shuddered. "Thatâs disgusting. Can you not be so gross?"
"Iâm just telling it like it is," Chen Xiao shrugged.
They soon arrived at the Drunken Immortal Residence. From a distance, Chen Xiao saw Li Chenqian standing at the entrance with a beaming smile, ready to welcome them. The moment Chen Xiao stepped out of the car, Li Chenqian scurried over, his posture exceedingly polite as he gestured for the three of them to enter.
The trio followed him inside naturally. The restaurant wasnât crowded today; instead of bustling, it felt rather quiet and cool.
When Chen Xiao entered the private room, he saw, as expected, Leng Baiyu and Li Buyi already seated inside.
"Mr. Chen, Miss Xu, Miss Luo! Youâve arrived! Please, have a seat!" Li Buyi called out, quickly ushering the three of them to their chairs. He even personally filled their glasses with wine.
Luo Qingli was completely overwhelmed by the honor. She had never received such treatment before. In the past, she wouldnât have even qualified to meet a man like Li Buyi, let alone have the cityâs ruler personally pour her a drink. She knew perfectly well that the only reason she was being granted this opportunity today was because of Chen Xiao. Without him, she was still just an insignificant nobody in the eyes of Li Buyi.
Leng Baiyuâs cool, tranquil gaze lingered on Luo Qingli for a long moment before she raised an eyebrow. "Brat, is this your wife?"
"Senior Sister, this is my wife, Luo Qingli," Chen Xiao said with an awkward smile.
Luo Qingli was taken aback.
This woman, who exudes an imposing authority from her very being, is Chen Xiaoâs Senior Sister?
Leng Baiyu radiated a chilly aura and the iron will of a soldier, leading Luo Qingli to assume she was some high-ranking official. She never would have expected this woman to be Chen Xiaoâs senior sister.
It seems Chen Xiaoâs sect is truly extraordinary. Lu Wushuang is already a heroine at the pinnacle of Yuncheng City, yet this Senior Sister seems even more unfathomable, more mysterious...
She quickly followed Chen Xiaoâs lead. "Qingli pays her respects to Senior Sister."
"Hm, no need for formalities," Leng Baiyu replied, her expression softening slightly.
"Senior Sister, letâs cut to the chase. Did you bring the things I asked for?" Chen Xiao asked hurriedly.
"The Sun Fruit and the Volcano Red Ginseng," Leng Baiyu stated calmly. "I brought both herbs."
As she spoke, two boxes appeared in her hands.
Chen Xiao opened one. A rich, invigorating medicinal aroma washed over him, making him feel instantly refreshed and elated. Inside the brocade box was a Jade Holder, clearly intended to preserve the herbsâ medicinal efficacy for as long as possible by minimizing the loss of their essence. The Jade Holders alone were quite valuable. Leng Baiyu had truly put thought into this.
"Thanks so much, Senior Sister!" Chen Xiao said with a grin as he accepted the herbs.
With the Sun Fruit and Volcano Red Ginseng in hand, only three of the seven main medicines remained: the Bodhi Liuli Heart, Mermaidâs Tears, and the Mysterious Yin Pearl. However, these last three were items so rare they might only appear once in a millennium. Finding all three would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Still, Chen Xiao had already obtained four of the seven main medicines. With only three left, he certainly wouldnât give up. He was determined to find them all, no matter what it took.
He would contend with fate itself!
"Iâve already started looking into the remaining three herbs for you," Leng Baiyu said. "Iâll let you know the moment I have news. However, these items are incredibly rare. I havenât found any leads yet, so weâll probably need your Second Senior Sisterâs help."
Chen Xiao nodded.
"Have you heard?" Leng Baiyu asked again. "Jiang Tianquan and his people were released."
Xu Yanran was stunned, but Chen Xiao and Li Buyi showed little reaction.
Chen Xiao asked flatly, "Senior Sister, you went through so much trouble to find the evidence needed to bring them to justice. And now, right at the finish line, youâve let them go scot-free. I donât understand. Whatâs your plan?"
Leng Baiyu gave a bitter smile. "What plan could I have? I simply had no choice."