Shen Xiaoyan's expression turned cold upon hearing this. She reprimanded, "Is this how the Medicine Emperor Valley entertains guests? It seems my status is not high enough to meet the Valley Master. If that's the case, I shall take my leave. In a day, someone of sufficient status will arrive."
As Shen Xiaoyan spoke, she turned around and swept away with a flick of her sleeve.
Seeing Shen Xiaoyan and her companions turn to leave, the two youths looked at Elder Mu for help, their faces filled with bewilderment.
What was going on?
Wasn't it always like this?
Anyone who wished to see the Valley Master had to first meet Elder Wang Yuan.
Over the years, no one had ever gotten angry about this. Why was it different today?
This woman looked beautiful, and her voice was gentle, but why was her temper so fiery?
It made sense, though. For someone of her status, having a temper was understandable.
But they were truly innocent.
Elder Mu looked at the two youths with teary eyes and sighed inwardly.
In fact, most people in the Medicine Emperor Valley were kind-hearted. They had rarely left the valley and thus were unaware of the malice in the outside world.
They followed the instructions of their superiors. Therefore, they were completely confused by Shen Xiaoyan's sudden anger and didn't know the reason.
"It's fine, Yu Ya Tou. Why bother with them? I will accompany you to see Elder Wang Yuan. Consider it a favor to me."
Shen Xiaoyan had no intention of leaving in the first place. If she had truly planned to leave, she would have been hundreds of meters away by now, not just a dozen meters.
Thus, upon hearing Elder Mu's words, Shen Xiaoyan stopped, turned, and pouted at Elder Mu, "Then I am doing this as a favor to Elder Mu. Otherwise, some Elder who appeared out of nowhere, is he worthy of me meeting him?"
As she said this, Shen Xiaoyan raised her chin high, her eyes and face full of disdain.
The two melon-eating youths were still utterly bewildered.
They couldn't understand why Shen Xiaoyan, who was visiting the Medicine Emperor Valley for the first time to seek medicine, was so displeased with Elder Wang Yuan.
Walking slowly behind the two youths, she could also take in the scenery of the Medicine Emperor Valley.
As they walked, although they saw many flowers and trees, none of them were unusual. What was truly astonishing was that medicinal herbs were planted everywhere, even some rare ones.
They were casually grown, and those who didn't know better would have mistaken them for ordinary flowers and plants.
Seeing this, Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but sigh. Indeed, the Medicine Emperor Valley lived up to its name, displaying its extraordinary heritage everywhere.
Having spent some time in the Holy Spirit Continent and received occasional knowledge about it from Yi Zhi Xie and Na Mu Zhong, Shen Xiaoyan naturally had some understanding of the medicinal herbs in the Holy Spirit Continent.
For example, the small path they had just passed, with lush growth on both sides, looked like weeds. In reality, they were spiritual herbs used for cultivation. These herbs, when refined into a liquid and used for cultivation, could provide significant assistance.
These spiritual herbs were rare and hard to find, yet they were everywhere in the Medicine Emperor Valley.
This showed how extraordinary the Medicine Emperor Valley was.
Under such circumstances, the Medicine Emperor Valley was a desirable prize, and it was understandable that the Wang family wanted to seize it.
Understandable, but not acceptable.
One couldn't just covet what belonged to others simply because it was good.
No matter how well the Wang family spoke, they were still selfish individuals.
After walking for another quarter of an hour, the two leading youths stopped.
Shen Xiaoyan looked up. They were standing in front of a tall, sturdy house, built in an ancient style that was pleasing to the eye.
Even standing by the entrance, one could smell the medicinal scent wafting from within, which made everyone feel refreshed.
Shen Xiaoyan thought to herself that although the Wang family was not ideal, they were still part of the Medicine Emperor Valley, and their taste was consistent with the valley's.
As Shen Xiaoyan and the others waited, the two youths entered the house. Shortly after, they emerged and cupped their hands to Elder Mu, saying, "Elder Wang Yuan has invited Elder Mu and the others in. We will be taking our leave."
Elder Mu knew it was their duty and did not detain them, merely nodding for them to leave.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others followed Elder Mu into the house and saw an old man seated at the head of the room.
The old man appeared to be around Elder Mu's age, but his hair was darker and shinier, making him look younger.
Elder Mu smiled gently and said, "Elder Wang Yuan, it has been many years. I hope you are well."
Elder Mu's voice was calm, lacking any hint of the "many years" he mentioned.
Shen Xiaoyan listened to Elder Mu and felt as if the two had met just yesterday.
In contrast to Elder Mu's indifferent attitude, Elder Wang Yuan, seated at the head, appeared somewhat agitated.
His face twitched, and various emotions flashed in his eyes. After a while, he said, "Brother Mu, you were so willful back then, insisting on guarding the mountain gate. You've been gone for so many years, and you haven't even returned to see us. You know, the Valley Master and I miss you dearly."
Although Elder Mu spoke courteously, Shen Xiaoyan clearly felt that Elder Mu was scoffing at his words, though he didn't show it obviously.
But Shen Xiaoyan could sense it. How could Elder Wang Yuan not know?
However, since Elder Mu did not show it overtly, he could not deliberately embarrass himself and could only pretend not to know. What he truly thought was probably known only to himself.
"If not for the distinguished guest who arrived today, I would not have come up. But who would have thought that such a distinguished guest would arrive? To prevent our Medicine Emperor Valley from appearing too impolite, I had no choice but to ascend the mountain."
"I intended to bring the distinguished guest directly to the Valley Master. But who would have thought that after only a century away, I would find out that Elder Wang Yuan is now in charge of the valley?"
"Has Elder Wang Yuan become the Valley Master?"
"Why was there no inauguration ceremony?"
"Even if Elder Wang Yuan prefers to be low-key and not entertain guests, he should at least inform those within the valley. Otherwise, calling you 'Elder Wang Yuan' repeatedly, isn't that an insult to you?"
With each sentence from Elder Mu, Elder Wang Yuan's face grew more and more grim.
If he could, he would have roared right then.
Who else could insult him more?
This old fellow surnamed Mo was deliberately provoking him.
He kept calling him "Elder Wang Yuan" while questioning if he had already succeeded as Valley Master.
Wasn't that to remind him that he wasn't the Valley Master yet?
But so what?
At least, the Medicine Emperor Valley was now essentially under his control. Once the time was right, the position of Valley Master would be within his grasp.
When that time came, he would make this fellow surnamed Mo pay.
Elder Wang Yuan thought this, but his face smiled as he said, "Brother Mu, please don't joke. We have outsiders here. If people don't know, they might think we are not harmonious."
Elder Mu chuckled, "Whether we are harmonious or not is not for outsiders to see. We know it in our hearts, and that is enough."
Elder Wang Yuan now saw that Elder Mu was deliberately trying to annoy him.
He hadn't expected that after so many years, this old fellow was still the same.
Regardless of the occasion, if he was unhappy, he would make sure no one else was happy.
Elder Wang Yuan had grievances he couldn't express and could only quickly change the subject, "Who is the distinguished guest you mentioned? Introduce them quickly. If it's something important, and we've delayed it by chatting here, that would be bad."
Elder Mu rolled his eyes upon hearing this, "If you hadn't insisted on meeting me, it wouldn't have been delayed. Now you're worried about delaying the distinguished guest?"