Chapter 17 The Zhang Family Dinner
"Teacher, what brings you to my place?"
Elder Yan stood respectfully in front of Xiao Yi, such demeanor if witnessed by outsiders would surely shock them to the core.
Xiao Yi replied indifferently, "I need some medicinal herbs!"
"No problem!"
Elder Yan patted his chest and said, "Teacher, just give me a list, and I'll have Bing Xin prepare it right away!"
Xiao Yi nodded and handed the list he had prepared earlier to Elder Yan.
Without even looking at it, Elder Yan handed the list to Lin Bingxin: "Go to the storeroom immediately and bring everything the teacher needs. If it's not there, get it from other city branches as fast as possible!"
Lin Bingxin shot Xiao Yi a resentful glance before taking the list and leaving.
"Elder Yan, it's time for your medicine!" A white-haired elder came in, carrying a steaming bowl of herbal soup in his hands.
Xiao Yi frowned and asked, "Sick?"
"An old illness, I've been taking medicine but it hasn't improved."
Elder Yan offered a wry smile, pointing to the old man and said, "This is Luo, the alchemist I hired for a hefty sum. He's one of the top ten alchemists in Nanhuang City."
Luo, the alchemist, glanced at Xiao Yi and snorted coldly, slightly lifting his chin with an air of arrogance.
Xiao Yi's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he activated his Star Pupil to examine Elder Yan, then looked towards the bowl of soup, "What medicine are you giving him?"
Luo spoke lightly, "Lung Cleansing Detox Soup. This is a divine medicine personally concocted by me. Can you, a wet-behind-the-ears kid, possibly understand?"
"Elder Yan, Luo may be bad-tempered, but I beg you to calm your anger!" Elder Yan glared at Luo fiercely and respectfully apologized to Xiao Yi.
"Calm my anger? You're about to be killed by this quack!"
Xiao Yi rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Ah?"
Elder Yan was utterly bewildered.
The color drained from Luo's face as he bellowed, "Nonsense, when have I ever tried to harm Elder Yan? He has a fire toxin in his lungs; naturally, the Lung Cleansing Detox Soup is needed. You know nothing, you wild boy, spouting nonsense - be careful, or I'll tear that mouth of yours!"
Xiao Yi sneered, "Fire toxin? If it were a fire toxin in the lungs, it would indeed cause constant chest distress and coughing, and the pain should be the worst when the sun is at its zenith at noon. Yet his worst pain comes at midnight. How would you explain that?"
"This, this..." Luo's face turned from green to white, momentarily unable to respond.
Xiao Yi pressed on, "Using the Lung Cleansing Detox Soup is correct if it were a fire toxin, but what if it were a cold toxin? Introducing cold from the soup would only add poison to poison; continuing with your medicine, he'd be undoubtedly dead within three months!"
Thud!
Luo collapsed on the ground, frightened and frantic, "Spare me, Elder Yan, spare me! It was only a momentary lapse in judgment, please forgive me..."
Elder Yan could no longer be oblivious that Luo had been bought off.
His face clouded over, and he waved his hand, "Take him away and interrogate him severely, find out who's behind this!"
"Yes!"
Luo was dragged away by two Qi Gathering Realm strongmen.
Even now...
He still couldn't believe how this young man, who looked immature, could see through everything at a glance. Recalling his earlier accusations that Xiao Yi was ignorant and inexperienced, he felt his face burning with shame.
Thud!
Elder Yan knelt directly in front of Xiao Yi, "Teacher, I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, please accept my humble bow!"
Xiao Yi waved his hand, "There's no need for such formalities between us. I'll give you a prescription; follow it for a month, and the cold poison in your lungs will be completely purged!"
"Thank you, Teacher!" Elder Yan took the prescription with excitement.
Looking at Xiao Yi with ever more admiration and fervor, Elder Yan couldn't help but be astounded. Such a young person not only possessed extraordinary vision but also terrifying skills in swordsmanship, and now even boasted medical knowledge? Elder Yan marveled, "Teacher truly is a celestial being!"
Before long.
Lin Bingxin entered, holding an antique black Storage Ring in both hands. Elder Yan received the ring and respectfully presented it to Xiao Yi, "Teacher, this is the Storage Ring I specially prepared for you. All the medicinal herbs you requested are inside!"
Bing Xin looked on enviously at Xiao Yi.
This was a Storage Ring!
Only those above the Golden Core Realm could craft it. In the immense Nanhuang City, those who could wear a Storage Ring were few and far between!
Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows and accepted the ring, "I appreciate the gesture!"
"It is my duty!"
After a pause, Elder Yan continued, "Teacher, regarding that list you gave me earlier, we were unable to find the demon core of the Purple-Patterned Blood Python. However, I've had Bing Xin issue a reward for its whereabouts; we will notify you immediately if anyone locates it."
"That's fine, you handle it!" Xiao Yi nodded, about to stand up.
Elder Yan respectfully said, "Teacher, yesterday, young Zhang Ze of the Zhang Family broke through to the Fifth Layer of the Gathering Qi Realm and attracted a heavenly phenomenon. The Zhang Family is hosting a banquet to celebrate and inviting everyone from Nanhuang. Would you be interested in attending?"
He seldom took part in the gatherings of Nanhuang City's major families, but a peerless genius from the Zhang Family that caused a heavenly phenomenon was indeed worth his attention!
"A heavenly phenomenon?"
Xiao Yi was startled, his eyes showing surprise.
Anyone who could attract a heavenly phenomenon was unquestionably a favored child of heaven, a prodigy without match.
Just like Xiao Tianjiaao of the past, whose birth had attracted a heavenly phenomenon and even summoned a fire dragon to acknowledge him as its master.
Such geniuses were rare even in the Great Qian Dynasty, let alone being born in the remote Nanhuang City.
Xiao Yi was also somewhat curious about Zhang Ze, who could attract heavenly phenomena, and said, "I have nothing better to do, so it wouldn't hurt to take a look!"
......
Today, the Zhang family's residence was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
On the streets leading to the Zhang's, one could see carriages coming and going, with all the influential figures of Nanhuang City making personal visits.
"The Zhangs are truly impressive, having given birth to such a unicorn who calls forth heavenly phenomena. In just over a decade, no one in Nanhuang City may be able to contend with the Zhang family!"
"That's not necessarily the case. Fang Jin of the Fang Family is also a true dragon among men. It is said that he is currently undergoing assessments at the Royal Martial Arts Academy in the capital and stands a very good chance of gaining admission."
"Fang Jin of the Fang Family and Zhang Ze of the Zhang Family, these are the two true dragons of our Nanhuang City!"
Along the way, one could hear many powerful individuals discussing the phenomena.
Clearly, the impact of these heaven and earth phenomena was quite significant.
At the entrance of the Zhang family's home.
Zhang Yong and his son were welcoming guests.
"Brother Zhang Ze, you must take good care of me in the future," Chen Tao, the son of Chen Yong, said to Zhang Ze, winking and somewhat ingratiating.
Zhao Xian, the young master of the Zhao Family, nodded at Zhang Ze, neither servile nor overbearing, and then apologized to Zhang Yong, "My father had already entered closed-door cultivation before receiving the invitation and could not come in person. I hope Uncle Zhang will forgive him!"
Zhang Yong laughed, "No worries, Brother Zhao getting that Sword technique and starting to comprehend it immediately is only natural for a cultivator!"
Until yesterday, he was quite envious that Zhao Yu had obtained the Subduing Tiger Sword Scroll.
As for now...
He looked at his son, Zhang Ze, with a face full of pride and self-satisfaction.
What of a third-grade high-level Sword technique?
His son was a peerless genius who attracted heavenly phenomena!
"How come no one from the Fang Family has arrived yet?" Zhang Ze said with displeasure.
Zhang Yong sneered, "The Fangs just lost face in such a big way a few days ago; they probably don't have the nerve to send someone." While he was speaking, his expression suddenly changed, "Xiao Ze, look, isn't that Elder Yan's carriage?"
"Father, it is indeed Elder Yan's carriage!" Zhang Ze's eyes lit up.
The expressions of the guests at the door were all tinged with envy, "Even Elder Yan is coming to the banquet? The Zhang family is truly impressive!"
Zhang Ze and his father wore expressions of pride and hastened to welcome the arrival.
Elder Yan, supported by Lin Bingxin, stepped down from the carriage.
Zhang Ze and his father said respectfully, "We welcome Elder Yan's grand presence!"
"Haha, congratulations, Patriarch Zhang, with such a unicorn, the Zhang family's future is boundless!" Elder Yan said cheerfully.
Zhang Yong said with a smug expression, "It's all thanks to Xiao Ze's own hard efforts! Elder Yan, please do come in!"
Zhang Ze looked at Lin Bingxin with eager eyes, "Bing Xin, please come in!"
Elder Yan waved his hand, "No rush, I am waiting for someone!"
"Hmm?"
Zhang Yong and his son looked at each other in confusion, wondering who had such esteem that Elder Yan would personally wait for them. They didn't feel it was appropriate to inquire, so Zhang Yong said, "Then please, Elder Yan, go ahead to the front where we have prepared tables and chairs."
"Thank you very much!"
Elder Yan smiled and, together with Lin Bingxin, sat down on the chairs placed in front of the residence.
"Who else in Nanhuang City would Elder Yan personally wait for?"
"I heard that the lord of the city was also invited, could it be that the city lord will attend?"
"In the vast Nanhuang City, aside from the city lord, who else would be qualified to have Elder Yan wait in person?"
Amid the murmurs of speculation, the sound of horse hooves clattered from the front, a middle-aged man in a python robe with a figure as straight as a pine approached on horseback. This man exuded a formidable aura, appearing heroic and full of strength, his qi-blood vibrant as the roar of dragons and tigers together.
He was the lord of Nanhuang City, the most powerful man in terms of martial prowess, existing at the Peak of the Divine Ability Realm, Sikong Nan.
"The city lord has arrived?"
"Look, Elder Yan has stood up; it seems he really is here to welcome Lord Sikong Nan of the city!"
As everyone looked on, Elder Yan stood up and walked briskly towards Sikong Nan.
Zhang Ze and the others followed closely behind.
Sikong Nan dismounted, surprised to see Elder Yan personally welcoming him, his face breaking into a smile, "Elder Yan, you flatter me too much!"
However...
Elder Yan just nodded slightly at him and then walked past, turning to a man and a woman not far behind Sikong Nan to respectfully bow, "Young Master Xiao, Madam Xiao, you have finally arrived!"
What?
Sikong Nan's smile stiffened on his face.
Zhang Ze and the others also stopped in their tracks.
All around, everyone was dumbstruck: "..."
Damn!
Welcoming the city lord, my ass!
They were clearly waiting for that young couple!