Chapter 423: Life's Major Events Decided in a Word

"You are a girl with ideals; I'm rooting for you."

After hearing this, Zhou You clenched his fist and made a gesture at Qi Fengzi, looking for all the world like he was saying, "I believe in you."

To sum it up in eight characters: her courage is commendable, but her intelligence is lacking.

A Pot Guardian Elder of the Medicine King Sect, one of the seven at the pinnacle of power—if she were as easy to manipulate as she thinks, would she still have the matching prestige? Breaking through to become a Spirit Mushroom Pharmacist in 50 years? Hehehe, based on Zhou You's assessment of her, that's impossible.

Unless she has Zhou You's interface.

Furthermore, the Medicine King Sect is a massive organization with deep-rooted internal power, and the internal relationships, intertwined through generations of reproduction, are extremely complex.

A Pot Guardian Elder is by no means as simple as she appears on the surface; there must be a massive force behind her.

Either one masters the power and tames the forces to become a Supreme Elder in both name and reality, or one is hollowed out by those forces, loses control of power, and ends up a puppet elder with only a glamorous facade.

Thinking of this, Zhou You glanced at Qi Fengzi and shook his head.

"Zhou You, don't think I'm joking."

Qi Fengzi said earnestly, "The Hua Family is also a force within the Medicine King Sect. Our ancestors produced a Spirit Mushroom Pharmacist and served a term as Pot Guardian Elder. Although we have declined in recent years, the foundation is still there."

So that's it; this is your clever plan—you want to borrow the power of the Hua Family.

Unfortunately, as an outsider, even if you become a disciple, don't harbor delusions of usurping the host.

Unexpectedly, the next sentence from her left Zhou You completely shocked... "Young Master, why don't you marry the young lady of the Hua Family for the sake of my future? A marriage alliance is very useful."

Qi Fengzi blinked her large eyes, not feeling at all that there was anything wrong with what she had said.

The next moment, she was poked on the forehead by Zhou You's finger and jumped up on the spot, "Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

While gasping in pain, she explained, "Can't you tell what Hua Youxing's intentions are toward you?"

"I am fulfilling someone's wish and killing two birds with one stone; why are you hitting me?"

"If you talk nonsense again, I'll make you a mute!"

Although Zhou You was smiling when he said this, his gaze was cold. Qi Fengzi shivered at the sight and covered her forehead, quieting down.

She said with some grievance, "I've called you Young Master so many times, can't I just..."

"No!"

Zhou You flicked his finger through the air, "Because of these sordid thoughts of yours, you will apologize to Hua Youxing later."

Qi Fengzi gritted her teeth and held her ground, her gaze not yielding an inch as she stared at Zhou You.

Zhou You didn't blink either, staring fixedly into her eyes.

A moment later, it was Qi Fengzi who conceded, "Fine, I lose. Alright, my plan has an additional step."

"Hua Youxing has been taking good care of me these days; it turns out she has been treating me as your concubine."

Speaking of this, Qi Fengzi smiled triumphantly, looking like a child who had successfully pulled off a prank.

Then, with an "ouch," she was flicked on the forehead by Zhou You again.

"What are you laughing at? Do you really not know what a concubine does?"

Qi Fengzi said indignantly, "I'm from the Qi Family; how could I not know what a concubine does? It's just that it's a bit tiring at night."

She said, "Think about it, Hua Youxing marrying you would surely be as the main wife. As a concubine, I would call her 'Sister,' and isn't it only natural for a sister to take care of her younger sister?"

Heh, you really dare to dream.

Zhou You sneered in silence, wanting to see what kind of plot her little head could conjure up.

Although this girl is smart and ambitious, her sensitivity to interest-based exchanges isn't very high, likely because she hasn't seen much of the world. "Now that I am all alone, even if I return to the Qi Family, I won't have a good end. It's better to follow you; who I marry doesn't really matter, does it?"

Hearing the last half of the sentence, Zhou You felt his fist tighten.

"What does it matter if one is a main wife or a concubine? Being in the Qi Family, I've seen plenty of cases where a favored concubine destroys the main wife. Who gets favored and who suffers depends, in the final analysis, on one's personal value, and using one's beauty to please others is the most worthless means of survival."

"This year I can refine the Silver Tide Whale Swallowing Pill, and in two years I will be a Plant Pharmacist. I can help you advance further on the path of Martial Dao; you won't be able to bear letting me go."

"Hua Youxing manages things well, but her talent in alchemy is limited, and she is the only seedling of her generation. The massive power of the Hua Family will inevitably fall into the hands of you, the son-in-law. Why not let me ascend through your help?"

Hmm, after such rich details and clarified logic, the plan actually seems feasible.

"How can you guarantee that you will definitely become a Spirit Mushroom Pharmacist?"

Zhou You analyzed calmly, "Once you fail to become a Spirit Mushroom Pharmacist, your value will drop significantly. By then, when you are old and your beauty has faded, have you considered what your end will be?"

He didn't forget to remind her, "A concubine has no human rights, only property rights; theoretically, I can dispose of you as I please."

"Hey, I've considered that too. If there's really no hope, I'll just bear you a child. For the sake of the child, and my hard work, I won't end up in too miserable a state."

Hmm! After hearing this "Great Heroine Ascension Plan," Zhou You felt that this child Qi Fengzi's fighting spirit was worth encouraging.

"Remember, this is all your own business; don't expect me to help you."

Qi Fengzi nodded, widening her innocent eyes, thinking to herself that men are just stubborn—hadn't he helped her enough already? Furthermore, without her needing to push, Hua Youxing was already dying to move into Zhou You's house.

Just now, the two of them had been applying medicine to the half-naked Zhou You; what did that mean for an unmarried woman? She gave a shallow smile, "Then can I change how I address you to 'Husband' later?"

As Zhou You walked out of the hidden chamber, he happened to run into Hua Youxing walking toward him, and he wondered how long she had waited to create this "coincidental" opportunity.

"Zhou You, heading back?"

"Yes, thanks to the Young Proprietress's skillful treatment, my body feels relaxed and the stagnant blood is all gone. I'll have someone send over a silk banner another day."

"A silk banner?"

Hua Youxing was puzzled for a moment, then suggested, "The ointment is working well, right? Why not buy some more to take back!"

This was exactly the point Zhou You appreciated about her; no matter how good the friendship was, she never wavered when doing business. She would rather give more discounts than miss any opportunity to promote her goods or services.

He suddenly thought of the suggestion Qi Fengzi had instigated; such a mistress would definitely bring prosperity to her husband and his career.

"Fine, I'll buy some. Can you provide the accompanying after-sales service?"

"What after-sales service?"

"Naturally, it's for you, the doctor, to come over and apply it yourself. My martial arts hall is full of clumsy, big men; don't waste the good medicine."

Two blushes flew across Hua Youxing's cheeks.

Zhou You was stunned for a moment, feeling his mouth go dry. He had never imagined that she could be beautiful to this degree.

Oh no, this is the feeling of falling in love.

That night, Hua Youxing found Doctor Hua and said to him solemnly, "Father, I am going to get married."

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

Doctor Hua liked to read books while twisting his beard; he was so shocked on the spot that he pulled out a few strands of his beard, drawing blood, and then reacted, "Who is the man?"

"Zhou You of the Daqian Martial Arts Hall."

"Hmm, he is barely worthy of you; you may associate with him yourself, and I will inquire about his family background."

(End of chapter)