The smile on Ye Lingyuan's lips vanished instantly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Zi Linling's smile also shifted, a subtle chill emanating from her.
After another drink, she recounted the events at the Imperial Zi family and the Golden Luan Palace verbatim, omitting only the details about the Sumeru space.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Situ Yunfeng, but who knew who would attract disaster with such matters? She didn't want to drag the Medicine King Valley into it.
Upon hearing her account, Situ Jinglei slammed the table in anger. "Hmph! The Imperial Zi family is utterly unreasonable! Ye Moyuan is a complete coward!"
If Ye Lingyuan hadn't secretly used his law-manipulating power to protect the table, the meal, worth tens of millions, would have been ruined.
However, when Situ Jinglei realized the table hadn't broken from his strike, he quickly recovered.
Though he didn't know whether Ye Lingyuan or Zi Linling had acted, it didn't diminish his gratitude.
Otherwise, with the table broken, they wouldn't be able to eat, leading to extreme awkwardness.
Naturally, Situ Jinglei was also astounded. Regardless of who had intervened, it proved their strength was beyond his comprehension.
Zi Linling smiled and advised, "Uncle, please don't be angry, don't harm your health!"
"As the saying goes, those who bully others will be bullied in return! The Imperial family has dared to provoke me, and if I don't send them a grand gift, I'd be letting them down for their repeated provocations."
Yet, her smile carried an unsettling chill.
Her calm words conveyed a heart-stirring domineering aura.
Ye Lingyuan raised an eyebrow, musing, "Is Lin'er planning to trick someone again? The Imperial Zi family is quite lucky!"
Situ Yunfeng narrowed his peach blossom eyes, thinking, "Little Ling'er's gift is probably not that simple! The Imperial Zi family is likely in for a lot of trouble!"
Situ Jinglei's heart trembled, a flicker of excitement appearing on his face. A sense of thrill rapidly awakened within him.
"Girl Zi, tell your uncle how you want to play, and I'll fully cooperate!"
Situ Yunfeng scornfully remarked, "Old man, you've stolen my words! Don't forget, you've entrusted the entirety of the Medicine King Valley to me now, so if anyone is to cooperate with Lin... Girl Zi, it should be me!"
"You rebellious brat, daring to usurp my authority and undermine me! See if I don't beat you to death, you little scoundrel!"
Situ Jinglei stood up, about to kick Situ Yunfeng.
Seeing the situation turn dire, Situ Yunfeng had already hidden behind Zi Linling, retorting indignantly, "Old man, you're being unreasonable! A true gentleman doesn't resort to violence!"
Situ Jinglei huffed, "Hmph! I'm not a gentleman, so I'll act if I can, and I won't speak if I don't have to!"
Of course, he didn't actually stand up, as Ye Lingyuan had restrained him.
"Uncle, have another drink!"
Ye Lingyuan said, pouring another cup of wine and handing it to Situ Jinglei.
He knew this father and son pair were always like this, and if they were allowed to continue bickering, the matters at hand wouldn't be discussed.
Situ Jinglei glared fiercely at Situ Yunfeng and drank the wine indignantly.
Seizing the opportunity, Situ Yunfeng looked at Zi Linling with a fawning smile. "Lin... Girl Zi, speak! How do you want me to cooperate? How about I directly blacklist them from the Medicine King Valley?"
Hearing this, Situ Jinglei sternly said, "The brat's idea of cutting off the supply is brilliant!"
Then, he turned to Zi Linling with a flattering smile. "Girl Zi, what do you think? Once they're on the Medicine King Valley's blacklist, it means their supply of medicinal herbs and elixirs will be cut off. That should keep them busy for a while!"
Zi Linling was taken aback.
She had initially thought this father and son were merely jesters, but now she realized they were the type to instigate trouble.
Of course, she also knew that the Situ father and son genuinely wanted to help her and Ye Lingyuan get revenge.
Otherwise, what business would these tiresome schemes have with the Medicine King Valley, which had always been detached from worldly affairs?
Therefore, Zi Linling shook her head gratefully. "Uncle, Brother Situ!"
She had intended to call him by his surname, but seeing Situ Jinglei beside him, she added "Brother."
"I appreciate your intentions, but it's best not to involve the Medicine King Valley."
Ye Lingyuan looked at Zi Linling with a smile, greatly pleased with her decision.
After all, they didn't want to suppress the Imperial Zi family, but rather...
Situ Jinglei's face darkened again. "What? Are you being polite with Uncle? Afraid the Medicine King Valley will be implicated?
"Hmph! It's not that I look down on the Imperial Zi family, but I truly do look down on them. With their capabilities, they wouldn't dare do anything to the Medicine King Valley!"
Situ Yunfeng didn't contradict him this time. Instead, he chimed in, following Situ Jinglei's lead. "Lin... Girl Zi, our Medicine King Valley has stood for a thousand years without falling precisely because we have our foundations. So, you and Ah Yuan can proceed with confidence; the Medicine King Valley is your backing."
A gleam flashed in Ye Lingyuan's eyes. He had long expected the Situ father and son to make such a decision.
Zi Linling was deeply touched. Situ Yunfeng was her friend, and his unconditional trust and support were understandable.
However, Situ Jinglei, whom she had only met today, was still so resolutely standing by her side. Regardless of whether it was out of love for Ye Lingyuan, this sentiment was profound.
She, the Ghost Hand Poison Doctor, had saved countless people in her life and had many followers, but how many treated her with sincere devotion?
Therefore, she accepted the Situ father and son's sentiment and would certainly keep it in her heart.
With that thought, Zi Linling chuckled and said, "Uncle, Brother Situ, that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
The Situ father and son looked at her in unison, puzzled.
Zi Linling unconsciously rubbed her temples. "I meant playing the pig to eat the tiger!"
The Situ father and son looked utterly bewildered and asked simultaneously, "What does that mean?"
Zi Linling smiled slyly. "Brother Situ, have you forgotten? I am also an alchemist?"
Situ Jinglei looked at Situ Yunfeng in surprise, as if questioning the truth of this matter.
It wasn't surprising he was shocked; a junior alchemist at the age of twelve was unprecedented.
However, if he knew Zi Linling was already a senior alchemist, just like him, what would he think? Su Dan Novel Network.
Situ Yunfeng nodded, his face a picture of bitterness.
Every time this topic came up, he became as dejected as a frost-bitten eggplant.
After all, Zi Linling was not just an alchemist, but one capable of refining the extremely difficult Marrow Cleansing Pill.
Of course, he didn't know that Zi Linling could also refine the thousand-year-lost Tendon Sculpting Pill!