After descending the mountain, Lin Xiao Tian pondered for a moment and decided to bring Li Xue home with him.
When they returned, Qin Yu Xiang was visibly taken aback upon seeing Li Xue on Lin Xiao Tian's back. Fortunately, Li Xue was fully clothed by then, and after Lin Xiao Tian explained the situation, Qin Yu Xiang’s expression softened considerably.
Qin Yu Xiang had a naturally kind heart. Upon learning that Li Xue had been bitten by a snake, she proactively offered to take care of her. Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but sigh. Qin Yu Xiang was so kind-hearted that it was no wonder she had fallen for Bai Fen's scheme before. It seemed he would need to remind her to be more careful in the future.
With one more person, Li Xue, at home, coupled with Fang Ying and Fang Yan, the household became lively all of a sudden. Qin Yu Xiang was warm and amiable, quickly striking up a rapport with the two new arrivals.
However, Lin Xiao Tian still harbored some doubts about the sisters, so he also asked Liang Xu to keep an eye on them discreetly.
Having made these arrangements, Lin Xiao Tian took out the collected medicinal herbs, preparing to refine the Longevity Pill again. This time, it was bound to be a success! Lin Xiao Tian declared inwardly.
Two hours later, Lin Xiao Tian emerged from the alchemy room, dusty and disheartened. "I never expected humidity to affect the success of the pill. If I had known, I should have chosen a day with good weather to refine it." Lin Xiao Tian felt a pang of regret looking at the wasted herbs. This meant he would have to venture into the mountains once more. He had initially thought that although the Longevity Pill was difficult to refine, he had some experience now and it wouldn't take too long. It seemed he had miscalculated.
As he stepped out of the alchemy room, feeling dejected, Liang Xu ran up to him. "Xiao Tian, someone is looking for you!" Liang Xu’s expression was serious, which surprised Lin Xiao Tian. He asked, "Who is it?" "They claim to be from the Yang family," Liang Xu replied, adding, "The Hong Nong Yang clan!"
Lin Xiao Tian frowned. His only connection to the Yang family was those siblings. He hadn't expected them to still be around. Lin Xiao Tian wasn't particularly keen on seeing them, but he also didn't want to offend a prominent family like theirs. "I understand, I'll go and see them!"
Before long, Lin Xiao Tian found himself face-to-face with the siblings again. Li Er Niu was standing beside them, suggesting that the siblings had likely been staying at his place after coming down from the mountain. "Xiao Tian, these two are from a Yang family in Hong Nong. After I told them about you, they insisted on meeting you. See, popularity breeds trouble!" Li Er Niu said, using one of the few idioms he knew.
Lin Xiao Tian smiled slightly. Li Er Niu had no idea what the Yang family represented. He looked at the two in front of him and said, "We meet again." "Again?" Li Er Niu was startled.
Lin Xiao Tian didn't want Li Er Niu to get too involved, so he said to him, "Brother Er Niu, you should go back first. We have something to discuss." Li Er Niu wasn't foolish. Seeing the serious expression on Lin Xiao Tian's face, he immediately realized that the matter was not simple. He left, but didn't go far.
"It seems you're quite popular here?" Yang Lin said with a smile. "We're all neighbors, and I'm quite likable." "I'm here to fulfill my promise. Tell me, what do you want? As long as it's within my power, I'll grant it. I, Yang Lin, don't easily owe favors, but when I do, I will always repay them," Yang Lin stated solemnly.
"Xiao Tian, don't worry, we mean no harm. You saved us; we're grateful enough!" Yang Xin seemed to sense Lin Xiao Tian's apprehension and added. The siblings' synchronized act, though neither was particularly formidable individually, was seamless when they worked together.
Lin Xiao Tian thought for a moment and replied, "Since you sincerely wish to thank me, it would be impolite of me to refuse outright." "Haha, I like decisive people like you. Unlike those I've met who clearly want something but feign modesty," Yang Lin chuckled. "Xiao Tian, tell us, what do you want?" Yang Xin prompted.
"I haven't decided yet. Can we defer this favor? I'll tell you when I've thought it through." The siblings were clearly taken aback by Lin Xiao Tian's response. Yang Lin was about to say something, but Yang Xin, seemingly knowing his intention, interrupted him. "Alright, if that's the case, we'll defer it. Xiao Tian, let's add each other on WeChat so we can stay in touch easily," Yang Xin said with a smile.
Lin Xiao Tian nodded, and they exchanged WeChat contacts. "Oh, by the way, Li Xue is still with me, but she's injured and can't return for a while," Lin Xiao Tian reminded them. "Then Aunt Xue can stay here for now. Once she's recovered, she can return to the family on her own," Yang Xin said, looking at Lin Xiao Tian. "Xiao Tian, I'll entrust Aunt Xue to you." "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
Lin Xiao Tian chatted briefly with the siblings, and then they didn't linger. Lin Xiao Tian found a donkey cart and saw them off from the village.
A few hours later, in a Rolls-Royce. After days of travel, the siblings could finally relax a bit. "Yang Xin, why did you stop me?" Yang Lin asked irritably. He hadn't spoken on the donkey cart to avoid being monitored, and now he finally had a chance to question her properly. "Were you planning to give Lin Xiao Tian some money and consider the favor repaid?" Yang Xin asked him.
"Otherwise? I swore upon my family name. I don't want to owe this favor. Besides, those villagers said he was in debt before. Giving money to someone like that would be the most practical. We can afford tens of millions, can't we?" Yang Lin said nonchalantly.
Yang Xin, however, shook her head. "Yang Lin, you're truly simple-minded." Hearing Yang Xin's words, Yang Lin became annoyed. However, seeing Yang Xin's somewhat mysterious expression, Yang Lin grew curious. "Just say what you want to say, don't beat around the bush." Yang Xin smiled faintly. "Don't you find Lin Xiao Tian a bit unusual?"
"He's got some skills, but he just knows how to survive in Black Mountain. That's hardly unusual, is it? Our family isn't without people like him!" Yang Lin said dismissively. "However, near his house, I smelled a peculiar scent." "What scent?" Yang Xin looked into Yang Lin's eyes. "The scent of alchemy!"
"Are you sure?" "Absolutely!" Yang Xin nodded. "Moreover, this scent of alchemy is far more potent than what our elders concoct!"