Chapter 196

The Zhuang Shopkeeper of the Medicine King Pavilion, whose status is lofty, even the reigning Prince Ju Jia yields threefold to him, yet he bestows such great courtesy on Ye Qingran and even calls her "Miss."

Could it be…

Qin Feng shouted incredulously, "Are you the daughter of the Medicine King Gu Gu Master?"

Ye Qingran: "……"

Zhuang Xian: "……"

The Valley Master is the Valley Master's own daughter?

This relationship is so tangled!

Qin Feng regretted it the moment he said those words.

Ye Qingran is Prime Minister Ye's daughter; how could she be the daughter of the Yaowang Valley?

Qin Feng, no matter what, did not dare to speculate that Ye Qingran might be the Medicine King Gu Gu Master. Actually, he couldn't be blamed, because the widely rumored Medicine King Gu Gu Master, the mysterious Ghost Doctor, is said to be a young master. Of course, some say he is an old man. In any case, both versions exist, and the mainstream ones are these two.

Zhuang Xian had long received Ye Qingran's orders to keep an eye on a youth named Qin Feng, but after waiting several months without seeing him, he finally brought the person in today.

Zhuang Xian gave Qin Feng a quick once‑over, then shook his head: "He's a fine prospect, but this poison in his body holds him back." Zhuang Xian, who came from the Yaowang Valley, lacks the medical skill of Ye Qingran, yet even outside, his reputation is enough to be renowned in the region.

Qin Feng's pupils contracted.

He immediately knelt before Zhuang Xian: "Senior, since you can spot the strange poison in me at a glance, your medical skill must be superb; if you can save me, Qin Feng will never forget you!"

Zhuang Xian waved his hand, "I think you're getting a bit too excited. Although I know you're poisoned, I don't have the ability to cure you." The Spiritual Root Poison is not something that can be easily healed.

Upon hearing that, Qin Feng felt his heart cool by half.

He subconsciously thought Ye Qingran had brought him here so that Zhuang Xian could treat him. He never expected that even the Zhuang Shopkeeper of the Medicine King Pavilion was powerless.

Who else can cure his poison?

"Did my lady not tell you that she can help you detoxify?"

Zhuang Xian said in surprise.

Qin Feng was startled, his eyes shocked as he looked at Ye Qingran.

"Miss Ye, can you save me?" His gaze was full of expectation.

"I can save you. However, there is a condition."

Ye Qingran took a light sip of the tea offered by Zhuang Xian, couldn't help but show a look of satisfaction, remarking that the tea from the Yaowang Valley was indeed delicious.

Qin Feng's brows furrowed slightly, "What condition?"

Qin Feng's expression tightened; before Ye Qingran could answer, he blurted out, "Let me state first: if you make me do acts that offend heaven and betray righteousness, I would rather die than agree!"

Ye Qingran lifted her eyes to look at him, then raised the corner of her mouth and laughed, "In your mind, am I such a person?"

Qin Feng was taken aback, shook his head, and let out a sigh of relief. His intuition told him Ye Qingran was not that kind of person; he was merely preemptively ruling out that possibility.

At this moment, Ye Qingran gazed out the window, her eyes briefly distant, as if seeing a far‑off scene beyond the vast cloudy sky outside.

"Zhuang Xian, how are things with the Jiuzhou Second Corps?"

Zhuang Xian hadn't expected Ye Qingran to suddenly mention the Jiuzhou Second Corps; after a brief surprise, he recalled the latest reports and slowly replied, "Miss, everything with the Jiuzhou Second Corps is normal… except a few brothers unfortunately fell during training…"

As he spoke, a hint of pain appeared on Zhuang Xian's face.

Those brothers were the ones he had shared life and death with! When he closed his eyes, those fierce, imposing faces flashed in his mind!

Moreover, they were rare geniuses; to fall like that so suddenly, every time he recalls it, it pains him deeply.

"…Hmm." Ye Qingran replied softly, uncertain whether she was sad or not, "Have their positions been filled?"

"Long Ya has already found some people to replace them; based on the timeline, they should have arrived at the main camp and begun training."

Ye Qingran nodded.

The Jiuzhou Second Corps, the elite school of strongmen she painstakingly founded; each member possesses the ability to take on a hundred opponents alone.

Yet, this is still far from enough!

"Beimingzhou, Dan Valley…" Ye Qingran murmured softly, her hand at her side clenched into a fist, and a deep hatred flashed across her usually clear eyes.

Murderous intent radiated from her slender body, enveloping the entire room; Zhuang Xian's expression changed dramatically, yet he lowered his head and said nothing.

The hatred between the Yaowang Valley and Beimingzhou's Dan Valley can only be repaid with blood. If it weren't for the lady's preoccupation with her own child these years, she would have long ago…

That murderous intent came quickly and receded just as fast.

"Zhuang Xian, prepare for me; I intend to establish the Jiuzhou Second Corps in Xiliang City!"

Zhuang Xian snapped his head up, undeniably shocked. Leng Yue, who had been silently standing beside Ye Qingran, also opened his mouth in astonishment.

Only Qin Feng was completely bewildered.

"Qin Feng, I've thought of a condition. I will cure your poison, and you will stay by my side, for my use."

Ye Qingran's gaze slowly shifted over, meeting Qin Feng's eyes.

Qin Feng's pupils contracted.

To be used by her?

Yet, he has his own path to follow. Moreover, he was once a young master of a prestigious family; how could he willingly be subjugated?

Qin Feng clenched his teeth, his face a picture of turmoil.

Ye Qingran was not angry; seeing his prolonged hesitation, she gave a faint smile, "If I tell you that pledging loyalty to me will grant you a rebirth and a blood‑blade enemy, would you still hesitate?"

A rebirth, a blood‑blade enemy?!

Qin Feng's eyes suddenly brightened at those words, as if ten thousand rays of sunrise were hidden within them.

He clenched his fist, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

The hatred had long seeped into his bones.

Revenge is the sole drive that has kept him alive all these years!

"Continue to live in a muddle, or stand up again—you choose yourself. I'll give you ten counts of time; once you decide, tell me."

As Ye Qingran finished speaking, Zhuang Xian immediately began the countdown.

"I choose to stand up again!"

Qin Feng hardly hesitated.

He was unwilling to continue living like this; even if he grasped only a spark, he would light up the entire night sky!

"Good!" Ye Qingran nodded slowly, "Rest assured, I promise you, at most five years, and I will set you free."

Five years is already enough for her to level Dan Valley!

Five years?

"Good!" Qin Feng firmly agreed.

"In that case, let Zhuang Xian detox you first."

Qin Feng couldn't believe it: "Just like that?"

Ye Qingran raised her eyebrows: "Otherwise?"

As if seeing through Qin Feng's inner thoughts, Ye Qingran lightly curled her lips: "You wouldn't think I'd make you swear a poisoned oath, or have you take poison to restrain you, would you?"

Qin Feng startled. Shouldn't it be like that?

"What if I get my revenge and then regret it?"

Ye Qingran didn't think much of it: "If you regret it, then you regret it."

Someone who regrets so easily, she doesn't want them anyway.

Like those brothers of the Jiuzhou Legion, they once asked the same; some even died without a shred of regret. She, Ye Qingran, still has this confidence!

However, soon, her expression suddenly turned stern: "You may regret, but you may not betray! If you want to leave, speak up, I will let you return to today's state and then set you free. But if I discover you harbor betrayal, believe me, you cannot imagine how miserable you will be."

Her voice was clearly light, like a feather, but to Qin Feng's ears it seemed to come from Jiu You Diyu.

"Even if I die, I will never betray!" Qin Feng's tone was firm as iron. He, too, deeply despised betrayal! Perhaps he would regret, but absolutely could not betray!

Zhuang Xian smiled amusedly at the side.

This kid Qin Feng reminded him of his former self.

But after all these years, he still serves the young lady willingly, doesn't he?

Thus he said to Qin Feng with earnest words: "Kid, you'll understand later." After he felt the strength of this thigh, he would have no possibility of regret, and even want to hold onto it for life, never letting go!

Originally, Qin Feng's poison would have been just a few pills for Ye Qingran. But his poison is in his spiritual root, and it has been delayed for a long time; now he has no cultivation to protect himself, the medicinal power is too strong for him to bear, so he can only gradually endure it through a medicinal bath.

Qin Feng stayed at the Medicine King Pavilion, with Zhuang Xian in charge of his care, and he also became the first member of the Jiuzhou Second Corps.

Qin Feng never imagined that today's decision would affect his whole life. Years later, when he stands at the pinnacle and looks down upon all beings, he will be immensely grateful for his choice today.

Of course, Qin Feng never left the Jiuzhou Legion until his death, nor did he ever leave Ye Qingran.