Dusk was approaching as Ling Fei and Wu Dapang sprinted toward Ling's Medical Clinic.
Ling's Medical Clinic was the most famous clinic in Longtan Town, and a great many people came for treatment every day.
When Ling Fei walked into the clinic's outer courtyard, Elder Ling was no longer in the pharmacy hall.
"Where's my adoptive father?" Ling Fei asked a steward in the pharmacy hall, his eyes filled with curiosity.
Ling's Medical Clinic also employed a few assistants to help out.
"We have guests. Shopkeeper Ling went to receive them," the steward said with a smile.
"Guests?" Ling Fei's brow furrowed.
"It's Young Master Qin Hong of the Qin Mansion," the steward said.
"Qin Hong? What is he doing here?" Ling Fei's brow furrowed again.
"That, I wouldn't know," the steward said with a smile.
Filled with curiosity, Ling Fei headed toward the inner courtyard.
"What's Qin Hong doing here?" Wu Dapang asked on the way, his face full of astonishment.
Longtan Town had a population of 120,000 and was home to several major clans.
These were the Huang Clan, the Zhao Clan, the Wu Clan, and the Qin Clan.
Among them, the Qin Clan was the most powerful, virtually dominating all of Longtan Town.
The clan had produced Innate Realm experts, and many of its members served as Divine Guards in the Great Tang Empire.
Qin Hong was the same age as Ling Fei, having just turned sixteen.
He was also the strongest youth of his age.
He had already reached the Nine Layers of Body Tempering and was destined to enter the Divine Academy, with the chance to become a Divine Guard in the future.
The Qin Mansion was powerful and employed its own Martial Masters, so Qin Hong had no need to go to the Training Ground to practice martial arts.
In a sitting room in the Ling Clan's inner courtyard, Elder Ling was seated in the host's chair while Xue Xi was pouring him tea.
To his right sat a youth dressed in a fur coat and wearing a jade crown.
This youth was none other than Qin Hong.
An old man stood beside Qin Hong.
This was the Qin Mansion's steward, Qin Zhong.
"Heh heh, Elder Ling, look at my young master. He is handsome and distinguished, has already reached the Nine Layers of Body Tempering, and is certain to reach the Innate Realm and become a Divine Guard in the future. It can be said that in all of Longtan Town, no young man can compare to my Young Master Qin Hong." Qin Zhong looked at Elder Ling in the host's seat with a beaming smile and added, "For Xue Xi to marry into our Qin Mansion would be the best possible future for her."
Beside him, Qin Hong raised an eyebrow, a confident expression on his face.
At the same time, his gaze drifted up to Xue Xi, who was beside Elder Ling, and his eyes immediately filled with infatuation.
'In another two years, this girl will undoubtedly blossom into a nation-toppling beauty. Next spring, I'll be heading to the Divine Academy. If I don't make my move now, it'll be too late. Once I'm at the Academy, I can set her up in a residence outside... and then... Haha.' Thinking of this, the corners of Qin Hong's mouth curled into an unconscious smile.
Being stared at like that by Qin Hong, Xue Xi's delicate brows knitted slightly, and a hint of disgust appeared in her beautiful eyes.
Elder Ling, however, remained solemn, his expression betraying no emotion.
He sipped his tea and remained silent for a long moment, as if he hadn't heard Qin Zhong's words at all.
This made Qin Zhong's expression turn awkward.
'This old fool,' Qin Hong thought, his expression turning displeased.
"This is our Qin Mansion's list of betrothal gifts." Qin Zhong's eyes flashed as he handed over a red booklet. At the same time, he said meaningfully, "If you were to become in-laws with our Qin Mansion, it's not impossible that your old ailment could be cured. After all, our Qin Mansion is filled with talented people. Obtaining a Celestial Essence Pill is not a difficult task."
As soon as these words fell, Elder Ling's brow finally twitched.
'It's working!' Seeing this, Qin Zhong celebrated inwardly.
A smile also tugged at the corners of Qin Hong's mouth.
He had long been well aware of Elder Ling's situation. As long as he targeted the right weakness, he didn't believe the old man would refuse.
Hearing this, Xue Xi's frown deepened, and she looked at Qin Hong with utter disgust.
THUD!
And at that moment, Elder Ling moved.
The teacup in his hand landed heavily on the small table beside him.
"Are you asking me to sell my daughter for a pill?" Elder Ling asked in a deep voice, laced with anger.
An inexplicable aura pressed forward with his words.
"This..." The sudden, deep rebuke made Qin Zhong's body tremble involuntarily. He quickly forced a smile and said, "You've misunderstood, Elder Sir. This is merely a small token of my young master's sincerity."
"Uncle Ling, I am completely sincere toward little sister Xue Xi. Why must you refuse? As long as we become family, I will also help little brother Ling Fei reach the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering within two months, allowing him to seize the opportunity for the Divine Academy's selection. That way, he too can have a bright future."
Qin Hong looked up at Elder Ling and said lightly.
Although he was negotiating, his tone was clearly tinged with arrogance and impatience.
"Sorry, but I'll reach the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering through my own hard work. As for your 'kindness,' you can take it back. Little sister Xue Xi will not marry you." Just then, a somewhat cold voice suddenly rang out, causing Qin Hong's brow to wrinkle tightly inside the sitting room.
"Ling Fei!" Qin Hong turned his head and saw Ling Fei striding in from outside the sitting room.
Wu Dapang was with him.
Seeing Ling Fei arrive, some of the anger on Elder Ling's face dissipated.
It seemed this adoptive son could always bring him a sense of relief.
"Brother Ling Fei," Xue Xi's face lit up with joy. Her long eyelashes fluttered as her gaze fixed entirely on Ling Fei.
"Adoptive Father!" Walking into the sitting room, Ling Fei first greeted his adoptive father.
"Greetings, Uncle Ling!" Wu Dapang also hurriedly greeted him.
"Hello, little sister Xue Xi!" At the same time, the fellow couldn't help but steal another glance at Xue Xi.
Xue Xi gave a slight nod but didn't pay much attention to Wu Dapang.
"Little brother Ling Fei, I am completely sincere toward little sister Xue Xi. Furthermore, my Qin Mansion has Bone Tempering Grass and a Thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng, which can help you break through to the Bone Tempering and Blood Refining Realms. That way, you too can secure a spot in the Divine Academy next spring," Qin Hong said, trying his best to maintain a gentlemanly demeanor.
Inwardly, however, he sneered. 'The Divine Academy... this is a rare opportunity. I refuse to believe this brat will give it up.'
One must understand, this was the dream of every Martial Artist!
"We can also help with your adoptive father's illness," Qin Hong added.
'If I can convince Ling Fei, this will be easy.'
'After all, who isn't afraid of death?'
'As long as I persuade him with kind words, I believe Elder Ling will still agree. He's just putting on an act right now.'
"We need nothing!" However, what awaited him were Ling Fei's three terse words.
"Little brother Ling Fei, won't you reconsider?" Qin Hong frowned, a ball of anger rising in his heart.
"In this Longtan Town, besides me, who else is worthy of little sister Xue Xi?" His tone grew heavier, his face filled with arrogance.
"First, I am not your brother, so don't be so familiar. Second, in all of Longtan Town, the person least worthy of little sister Xue Xi is you, Qin Hong," Ling Fei said, his gaze hardening as he spoke each word with emphasis.
His words were completely merciless.
Qin Hong was indeed a talented young man.
The Qin Mansion's foundation was also extremely deep.
However, in Longtan Town, Qin Hong was a well-known playboy.
At the age of fourteen, he had ruined two of the Qin Mansion's maidservants.
At fifteen, Qin Hong had even abducted a commoner girl.
...
And these were only the incidents that were publicly known.
Who knew what else he had done in secret?
How could Ling Fei possibly allow such a sweet and sensible girl like Xue Xi to marry such a person?
No matter what benefits the other party offered, Ling Fei would not even consider it.
"Ling Fei, have you really thought this through? You must understand, if you don't reach the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering and qualify to study at the Divine Academy, you will be stuck in this palm-sized Longtan Town for the rest of your life. Your future will be ruined. Here, you will ultimately be nothing more than an ant, unable to see the vast sky," Qin Hong demanded.
At this point, his tone had become cold and severe.
"Heh, you don't need to trouble yourself with that," Ling Fei said, again emphasizing each word. "First, I, Ling Fei, will definitely enter the Divine Academy. Second, I will reach the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering and the Blood Refining Realm through my own efforts. As for who will end up being the ant, it's still too early to say." The Ling Fei of today was filled with confidence.
'Is this Ling Fei still that same sickly weakling?' Hearing this, Qin Hong's eyelids twitched, and his face darkened.
However, because of the goal of his visit, he still forcibly suppressed his temper.
"Young Master Qin, please leave." At that moment, Elder Ling stood up, giving the order for them to leave.
"In that case, this junior will take his leave. However, I still ask that Uncle Ling give this matter more consideration." Qin Hong cupped his fists and then departed.
Qin Zhong, his face full of anger, hurriedly followed him out.
"That Ling Clan father and son are too stubborn," Qin Zhong grumbled under his breath once he was outside the sitting room.
Their Qin Mansion could blot out the sky with a single hand in Longtan Town. When had they ever been so frustrated?
Qin Hong's face was grim, and he looked extremely furious.
"Young Master, should we teach them a lesson?" Qin Zhong asked.
He had wanted to lash out back in the sitting room.
But since Qin Hong hadn't said anything, he, a mere servant, couldn't take matters into his own hands.
"No rush," Qin Hong said.
"Why?" Qin Zhong asked, a suspicious look in his eyes.
"That Elder Ling was likely an Innate Realm expert in the past. He only retired here after suffering a grievous injury. Although his flame is now sputtering, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. If we anger him, we'll all die with him. Before spring comes, my older brother will be returning from the Divine Academy for a visit. At that time, we won't have to fear this old codger not yielding," Qin Hong said sinisterly. This was precisely why he had been holding back.
"The Young Master is truly thorough in his planning." Hearing this, Qin Zhong's eyes lit up. "When that time comes, they won't have any room to negotiate at all."
The Qin Mansion was powerful.
However, its geniuses had all left, and those who remained were ordinary figures.
Therefore, the strongest Martial Artist currently in the Qin Mansion was only at the Nine Layers of Body Tempering.
Even if someone had touched upon the Innate Realm, they were still a step away.
"There has never been a woman that I, Qin Hong, have set my sights on and failed to obtain. Hmph. That girl Xue Xi will be my plaything sooner or later," Qin Hong said in a low voice, his gaze savage.