Zi Linling smiled and nodded, saying, "Linling greets Valley Master Situ!"
Situ Jinglei stared at her for a moment, then laughed heartily, "Good, good, good! Young Ye has found a good wife!"
Situ Yunfeng pouted and grumbled, "Of course she's good! She was supposed to be your daughter-in-law!"
Situ Jinglei raised his hand and gave him another tap on the head, hopping and scolding, "Look at you, can't even chase a wife, and you still dare to mumble?"
"It's Young Ye's ability to win over Miss Zi! If you have the ability, you can challenge Young Ye to a duel."
"Pfft!"
Zi Linling couldn't help but chuckle.
If it weren't for the hint of affection in Situ Jinglei's eyes, she would have doubted which of Situ Yunfeng and Ye Lingyuan was Situ Jinglei's biological son.
As expected, Situ Yunfeng rolled his eyes and said, "Old man, I was just saying, is it worth you getting so angry? If others didn't know, they'd think Ah Yuan was your real son! Besides, if I could beat him, would I still be waiting until now?"
Situ Jinglei watched Zi Linling laugh and scolded even more vigorously.
"I wish I had a good son like that brat! But alas! I didn't calculate the timing right and only brought back you, you scamp!"
"I say, you scamp, instead of diligently refining pills every day, you just go out and mess around. It's fine if you mess around, but at least find yourself a wife when you do. But you, you act like women are plague gods and avoid them all day!"
"Finally, there's someone you dare to approach, and before I could be happy for a few days, you lost your wife. Why didn't you lose yourself?"
As Situ Jinglei scolded, he raised his hand to tap Situ Yunfeng's forehead again.
This time, Situ Yunfeng was smarter and quickly hid behind Zi Linling.
He rubbed his slightly red forehead and bared his teeth, saying, "Old man, you can scold, but can we not fight?"
Situ Jinglei nodded, "Fine! You come over, and I promise not to fight!"
His expression suggested the opposite of not fighting, it was as if not fighting was impossible.
Situ Yunfeng pouted again and said, "I'd have to be an idiot to believe you! But, old man, just scold a bit to vent your anger. Ah Yuan and Linlin are still here, can you spare me some face?"
Situ Jinglei's nose turned upwards, his anger surging, "Face? Scamp, do you have such a thing? Never mind, never mind, for the sake of Young Ye and Miss Zi, I'll let you off for now!"
"But scamp, from now on, either don't go out messing around, or go mess around and bring back a wife for me, otherwise, I'll break your dog legs sooner or later!"
"And don't bring back just any random unattractive women. At least make sure they're on the same level as Miss Zi, otherwise don't blame me for throwing you out too!"
Situ Jinglei called him a scamp one after another, completely unaware that he was including himself in the scolding.
However, despite his harsh words, the affection in his eyes could not be hidden.
Situ Yunfeng was speechless.
But he was used to it.
Not used to being scolded, but used to this mode of interaction with his father.
Although he was always thoroughly scolded, the father-son bond grew even stronger.
As for Zi Linling, she almost laughed until her stomach cramped, of course, it was all in her mind.
She had always thought that since Situ Jinglei was a high-level alchemist and had lived in seclusion in Medicine King Valley for many years, he should possess some air of a master.
But seeing him today, he was nothing like a master; he was clearly a comical figure!
No, with Situ Yunfeng, they were a comical pair!
She remembered the first time she met Situ Yunfeng and wondered who this silly guy had learned from.
Now, it was obvious. If not Situ Jinglei, then who else? Truly, like father, like son, and like son, like father!
Ye Lingyuan maintained a calm expression, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.
But a hint of a smile in his eyes betrayed his pleased mood.
"Uncle, how about we sit down and have a drink!"
Ye Lingyuan picked up an empty cup from the table, poured a glass of wine, placed it in front of Situ Jinglei, and made a gesture of invitation.
Situ Jinglei saw that Situ Yunfeng had stopped talking back, so he didn't want to continue scolding.
After all, he was his own son, how could he not love and cherish him?
He was about to find an excuse to step down when he heard Ye Lingyuan's invitation to drink.
Situ Jinglei secretly thought, "I didn't dote on this boy for nothing; he knows how to give me an out."
He glared at Situ Yunfeng and said, "Scamp, hurry up and invite Miss Zi to sit down and eat!"
Then, he picked up the wine glass Ye Lingyuan had poured for him, drank it in one gulp, and then smiled, "Young Ye, you are truly a worry-free person, much better than that scamp."
Ye Lingyuan smiled without speaking.
More than ten years ago, he had already grown accustomed to this way the Situ father and son bonded.
To be honest, he was quite envious.
But he never interrupted their dynamic, only offering a way out at the right time.
Situ Yunfeng pouted and whispered to Zi Linling, "Don't think that old man scolds me harshly; he probably brags about me to others in private!"
All four of them were spirit cultivators, how sensitive were their hearing?
No matter how quietly Situ Yunfeng spoke, it was enough to reach Situ Jinglei and Ye Lingyuan's ears.
Ye Lingyuan smiled lightly and remained silent.
Situ Jinglei glared at Situ Yunfeng, his beard bristling, and then turned to Zi Linling, "Miss Zi, now that you're in Medicine King Valley, consider it your home. If you need anything, ask this scamp Yunfeng. Don't be polite, understand?"
Zi Linling smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Valley Master Situ, Linling understands!"
After hearing this, Situ Jinglei deliberately put on a stern face, "Miss Zi, that's not right! You are Young Ye's Princess now. Young Ye calls me Uncle, so why are you still calling me Valley Master Situ?"
Situ Yunfeng gave him a disdainful look, thinking, "The old man's habit of trying to get closer is acting up again!"
Ye Lingyuan's lips curved slightly, and he looked at Zi Linling with amusement.
Zi Linling was momentarily stunned, then subtly glared at the prince, and smiled charmingly, "Since Uncle is so kind, Linling won't be coy. I hope Uncle will take good care of me in the future!"
These two words, "Uncle," made Situ Jinglei overjoyed.
He let out a hearty laugh and said, "Come, let's drink together!"
The four raised their cups and drank.
Situ Jinglei put down his wine glass and said to Situ Yunfeng, "Scamp, Miss Zi is Young Ye's Princess. From now on, you will address each other as brother and sister. No more of those mushy 'Linlin Lingling' names, understand?"
Situ Yunfeng pouted and reluctantly grunted, "Uh."
Seeing that he didn't object, Situ Jinglei continued, "Young Ye, why have you suddenly come to Medicine King Valley?"