Chen Xiao chuckled lightly, offering no further explanation. He then closed his eyes to rest.
As the saying goes, good deeds are rewarded, and Chen Xiao was certainly in luck this time!
If Medicine King Valley truly produced abundant spiritual herbs as Chu Luo had said, then this trip would be absolutely worthwhile for Chen Xiao.
Furthermore, according to Chu Luo, Medicine King Valley excelled in alchemy, and even the life-and-death challenge between the brothers Chu Qingbai and Chu Qingsong was a contest of alchemy skills.
Chen Xiao was also eager to witness their alchemy prowess firsthand, as he himself was a master alchemist.
By evening, the plane landed at the airport in He City.
As soon as they disembarked, a group of people stepped forward to greet them.
Leading the group was an elder with silver hair, wearing a suit of excellent make and material, clearly expensive.
"Young Master, Miss Zhu, esteemed protectors, welcome back!"
The elder bowed slightly, greeting everyone with utmost respect.
As for Chen Xiao, he looked unfamiliar to the elder, so he did not initiate a greeting.
Chu Luo also showed no intention of introducing Chen Xiao to the elder.
Chen Xiao felt the elder looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.
"Young Master, your subordinate has prepared a humble feast to welcome you back," the elder said, looking at Chu Luo with a fawning expression.
At this moment, Chu Luo's demeanor had completely changed.
With his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze was deep, subtly exuding an aura of superiority.
The carefree young doctor from Jiangcheng Hospital had vanished entirely.
"There's no need, Uncle Huang. We need to return to the valley immediately. Please prepare the car." Chu Luo said with indifference.
Although his words were polite, they carried an air of condescension.
A flicker of hesitation crossed the elder's eyes, but it was fleeting. He immediately replied, "Yes, Young Master. Your subordinate will attend to it right away."
It was only then that Chen Xiao finally remembered who this person was.
"Chu Luo, was that elder just now Huang Daozhang?"
Chu Luo smiled and nodded, "That's right, Director Chen, it was him."
A hint of surprise appeared on Chen Xiao's face. "Good heavens, Huang Daozhang, the esteemed chairman of He City Pharmaceuticals, is your subordinate?"
He City Pharmaceuticals was a leading large-scale pharmaceutical company in the country, a Fortune Global 500 enterprise.
And Huang Daozhang was the chairman of He City Pharmaceuticals.
Chen Xiao had seen him once a long time ago, when he was still a university student and Huang Daozhang had given a speech at their school.
To Chen Xiao back then, Huang Daozhang was a truly significant figure.
He never expected that the great figure he had once admired would be so subservient before Chu Luo.
Chu Luo smiled and said, "Director Chen, to be frank, He City Pharmaceuticals was originally an industry of our Medicine King Valley. Huang Daozhang merely manages it on our behalf..."
"So that's how it is."
Chen Xiao finally understood. Huang Daozhang was merely an agent of Medicine King Valley. His current achievements were all thanks to Medicine King Valley, which was why he naturally showed such deference to Chu Luo.
A moment later, Huang Daozhang had the car ready – a high-end luxury MPV, capable of seating seven people.
Just as everyone was about to get into the car, Huang Daozhang suddenly spoke, "Young Master, your subordinate has a humble request."
"Speak, Uncle Huang," Chu Luo said calmly.
Huang Daozhang's expression was filled with apprehension. "Your subordinate has two friends who wish to seek medicine in the valley. May I ask if it would be convenient?"
Before he finished speaking, a young man and woman walked over.
Both of them clearly came from wealthy families, evident from their clothing and their unique noble aura.
Huang Daozhang introduced them, "Young Master, these are the two I mentioned. They are from the Li family of the Imperial City."
The young man cupped his hands towards Chu Luo and introduced himself, "Hello, Mr. Chu. I am Li Xun, and this is my younger sister, Li Cun. We apologize for the intrusion, but our grandfather is gravely ill, and we wish to enter your esteemed valley to seek elixirs. We implore you, Mr. Chu, to grant our request."
Chu Luo frowned and directly refused, "Medicine King Valley is not convenient to enter at the moment. Please return."
Li Xun was taken aback, but he persisted, "Mr. Chu, my grandfather is Li Gang of the Imperial City."
He believed that simply mentioning his grandfather's name would surely make Chu Luo agree.
After all, he was young and not well-known, so it was understandable if Chu Luo hadn't heard of him.
However, his grandfather, Li Gang, was the patriarch of the Li family, one of the five great families of the Imperial City.
As the young master of Medicine King Valley, Chu Luo absolutely had no reason not to know his grandfather's identity!
However, to his utter surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, Chu Luo coldly stated, "I don't care who your grandfather is. As I said, please return!"
Li Xun's expression immediately changed.
Li Cun, however, became furious. "Hmph, you country bumpkin! Haven't you heard of our Li family? You get a little polite treatment and you don't know your place, do you? If you don't let us into the valley today, do you believe I'll level the entire Medicine King Mountain tomorrow?"
As she was shouting, Zhu Xiao'e suddenly walked towards her.
Seeing that Zhu Xiao'e was a woman of similar age, Li Cun paid her no mind.
However, when Zhu Xiao'e reached her, she raised her hand and slapped her.
"Slap—"
Li Cun was instantly stunned. Clutching her face, she looked at Zhu Xiao'e in disbelief. "You, you dare to hit me?"
Zhu Xiao'e's eyes were as cold as ice. "If you dare to disrespect Chu Luo again, I will kill you!"
A killing intent suddenly enveloped Li Cun, terrifying her into trembling.
Seeing his sister being hit, Li Xun was enraged. He pointed at Zhu Xiao'e and cursed, "You scoundrel! How dare you hit my sister? Have you lost your minds?"
Huang Daozhang's legs turned to jelly at the sight.
This matter had originated because of him, and he quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Mr. Li, please calm your anger. Mr. Li, for my sake, please stop this commotion..."
Chu Luo stared at Huang Daozhang, his brow furrowing. He said coldly, "Huang Daozhang, you eat the food of my Medicine King Valley, yet you help outsiders?"
"Young, Young Master, I..."
Huang Daozhang was startled. He thought to himself that he hadn't helped any outsiders.
However, in Chu Luo's view, since the Li siblings had offended him, Huang Daozhang's failure to immediately drive them away meant he was helping them!
"Huang Daozhang, you are old. Starting tomorrow, you will retire to the countryside."
Chu Luo cast one last glance at Huang Daozhang before getting into the car.
"Let's go!"
The car started, and Huang Daozhang desperately chased after it, shouting.
"Young Master, I know I was wrong. Please, Young Master, give me another chance!"
"Young Master, Young Master..."
However, the car had already driven several hundred meters away, and Chu Luo could not hear Huang Daozhang's pleas.
Even if he had heard them, he would have shown no mercy.
Upon returning to this land, he could no longer be himself. He had to become a decisive ruler!