"Is that worthless Liu Yiyi dead yet? If not, get out here! Senior Brother Li says we're taking that Purple Ginseng today, no matter what!"
The arrogant shout rang out from beyond the door, shattering the quiet inside.
Liu Yiyi's face instantly drained of color. "It's Zhang Sheng," she said, her voice trembling. "Li Baode's lackey..."
Chen Yang's brow furrowed slightly.
He had heard of this Zhang Sheng — a lapdog of Pill Hall disciple Li Baode, who used his master's backing to throw his weight around among the outer disciples. Despite only being at the second level of the Qi Refinement Realm, he was more overbearing than many inner disciples.
"He's nothing but a dog Li Baode keeps on a leash," Xiaochunhua muttered under her breath, her eyes filled with disgust. "He spends all day wagging his tail behind Li Baode, and bullying us Menial Disciples is what he does best."
What no one expected was that Zhang Sheng had remarkably sharp ears — he caught every word Xiaochunhua said.
Bang! The wooden door was kicked open, and a tall, wiry disciple stormed in, his face twisted with fury. "You little wretch, what did you just say?"
Xiaochunhua flinched and scrambled behind Chen Yang.
Zhang Sheng grew even more brazen at the sight. He reached out to grab her. "You dare talk behind my back? I'll tear that mouth of yours apart!"
Just as his fingers were about to reach Xiaochunhua, an iron-grip hand suddenly seized his wrist.
Zhang Sheng froze, startled to find that the one who had moved against him was that seemingly ordinary medicine garden laborer.
"Let go!"
Zhang Sheng barked, struggling to break free — but the other man's hand didn't budge an inch.
Only then did he notice the laborer's eyes. They were nothing like the eyes of an ordinary laborer — deep and still, yet carrying a faint, bone-chilling ferocity, like a savage beast that could lunge and maim at any moment.
Zhang Sheng shuddered involuntarily, putting on a brave face despite his fear. "Y-you... do you know who I belong to? Touch me and Senior Brother Li won't let you off!"
Chen Yang stared at him coldly, tightening his grip a little more.
Zhang Sheng grimaced in pain but didn't dare act out again.
Those eyes reminded him of the Demonized demon beasts he had once encountered deep in the mountains — radiating an aura of pure danger.
"Get out." Chen Yang released him, his tone ice-cold.
Zhang Sheng rubbed his reddened wrist and shot the two of them a vicious glare, but didn't dare make another move.
He backed away a few steps, though his mouth refused to yield. "You've got some nerve, medicine garden laborer, shielding that little wretch! Just wait — I'm going to fetch Senior Brother Li right now. We'll see how long you can keep this up!"
With that, he turned and bolted, as if afraid that lingering a moment longer would bring more suffering.
Xiaochunhua watched Zhang Sheng's retreating figure with a worried look. "Senior Brother Chen, this is bad. Zhang Sheng must be going to find Li Baode. That Li Baode always protects his own — he definitely won't let this go."
"It's fine," Chen Yang said calmly. "Take care of Yiyi. I'll wait here."
He walked to the bedside, drew a stalk of Soporific Fragrance Herb from his medicine pouch and waved it gently. Liu Yiyi gradually drifted off to sleep.
Even in slumber, her brow remained tightly knit, as though she were enduring endless pain.
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That pale face made Chen Yang think of the first time he had seen her — a frail young woman washing clothes by a stream, yet with an unyielding stubbornness in her eyes.
Liu Yiyi's past was even more wretched than his own.
At least he had once known Zhao Yanran's genuine affection, however it had ended... but Liu Yiyi had been alone and suffering since childhood, enduring hardship after hardship, and had only barely found a place to call home in the Verdant Wood Sect — only to still face this kind of humiliation.
Since he had taken her as his sworn younger sister, it was only right that he look after her properly.
Chen Yang made a silent vow in his heart: he would never let anyone hurt her again.
About thirty minutes later, the sound of commotion rose outside once more.
This time there was more than one set of footsteps — they were scattered and numerous, clearly a sizable group.
Chen Yang gestured for Xiaochunhua to stay inside, then pushed the door open and stepped out.
In the courtyard stood five or six people. At the front was Zhang Sheng, returned with reinforcements.
Beside him stood a fat, jowly man dressed in Pill Hall disciple robes, a finely crafted Medicinal Cauldron Jade Pendant hanging at his waist. This had to be the so-called Senior Brother Li.
Xiaochunhua peeked from behind the door and whispered to Chen Yang, "That fat one is Li Baode — fifth level of the Qi Refinement Realm. He has a lot of influence among the outer disciples."
Chen Yang gave a slight nod, his gaze calm as he looked toward the arrivals.
Li Baode narrowed his beady eyes and looked Chen Yang up and down, his tone arrogant. "So you're the one who hit my man?"
Zhang Sheng chimed in eagerly, adding fuel to the fire. "That's him, Senior Brother Li! Not only did he protect that little wretch, he even ran his mouth, saying he wouldn't be afraid even if you came!"
Li Baode let out a cold snort. "A medicine garden laborer, acting this brazen? Looks like you don't know what death looks like!"
Chen Yang suppressed the anger rising in his chest and said evenly, "Senior Brother Li, you're being too harsh. Junior Sister Liu is gravely injured and needs rest. I ask that everyone please calm down."
"Rest?" Li Baode sneered. "She's just a Menial Disciple — so what if she got roughed up a little? The real question is you — you dared to lay a hand on my man. Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
Chen Yang's eyes cooled slightly, but he kept his composure. "What kind of explanation does Senior Brother Li have in mind?"
Li Baode swayed his fat head smugly. "Simple. First, have Liu Yiyi hand over that Century Purple Ginseng. Second, you kneel and apologize to my man. Third..." He let out a lecherous grin. "Have that Xiaochunhua inside come out and keep me and my brothers company for a few drinks."
The lackeys behind him burst into raucous laughter, casting lewd glances toward the room.
Chen Yang's fists clenched involuntarily, but thinking of Liu Yiyi's need for rest, he forced his fury down. "The Purple Ginseng was painstakingly cultivated by Junior Sister Liu and is meant to save a life. If Senior Brother Li needs medicinal herbs, I can offer a trade."
"A trade?"
Li Baode looked as though he had just heard the funniest joke.
"You're a laborer — what could you possibly have worth anything? But since you brought it up, I'll humor you. Let's see what you can offer."
Chen Yang reached into his robes and produced a medicine pouch containing several rare herbs he had gathered over time. "Inside is one stalk of Blood Lingzhi, fifty years old, and two stalks of Dewdrop Grass, also fifty years old. That should be more than enough to trade for the Purple Ginseng."
Li Baode's eyes lit up — he clearly hadn't expected this laborer to have such fine goods.
But then his eyes shifted, and greed took over. "Just this? Not enough! I want at least ten stalks of the same quality!"
Xiaochunhua couldn't hold back from inside. "That's extortion! A Century Purple Ginseng is worth three fifty-year-grade herbs at most!"
Li Baode's expression darkened. "Where did this little wretch come from, daring to butt in? Looks like she hasn't been taught a proper lesson yet!"
Chen Yang blocked Xiaochunhua before she could rush out, his gaze growing cold. "Senior Brother Li, there's no need to push things this far. These herbs already far exceed the value of the Purple Ginseng. Why press so hard?"
Li Baode let out a booming laugh, then suddenly lowered his voice. "I'll be honest with you — that Purple Ginseng, precious as it is, isn't worth me making this trip personally. Someone paid a much higher price to send me here specifically for Liu Yiyi."
Chen Yang's heart went cold. He understood immediately.
The faces of Zhao Yanran's three senior brothers flashed through his mind — Yang Tianming's arrogance, Lin Yang's cold cunning, Li Yan's brutality.
Could one of them be behind this?
The thought sent a surge of fury blazing straight to the top of his head.
These people had stolen his wife, trampled his dignity, and now they wouldn't even leave his sworn younger sister alone!
Li Baode saw the shifting expressions on Chen Yang's face and gloated. "Looks like you've figured out who it is. Then you should understand that some people are not the kind a laborer like you can afford to cross. If you know what's good for you, you'd better hurry up and—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Chen Yang's aura had suddenly turned razor-sharp. Those eyes, previously calm, were now like blades tempered in ice, with a faint crimson light flickering deep within them.
A terrifying pressure radiated outward from him, and even Li Baode — at the fifth level of the Qi Refinement Realm — felt his heart clench with dread.
"Y-you..." Li Baode involuntarily stepped back, his face a mask of shock and uncertainty.
This medicine garden laborer... seemed far from as simple as he appeared on the surface...