"God Ying." In the kitchen, Ji Li hugged a bowl, with a look of distress, "If you don’t return to Imperial University soon, Professor Zuo Li is going to flip the Ji Family. He’s blocked me several times already, asking if some shameless person in O continent kidnapped you."
Ying Zijin pressed her temples.
She had been so busy that she’d forgotten about Zuo Li.
"Tell him I’ll go back after I rest for a few days."
Ji Li nodded and started washing the dishes.
"Xiao Li." Ying Zijin suddenly stopped, her expression grave, "The bracelet, take it off, don’t wear it."
Ji Li was startled and lifted her left hand, "God Ying, are you talking about this one?"
"Yes, take it off."
Although Ji Li didn’t understand, she still removed the deep green bracelet from her hand and handed it to Ying Zijin.
Ying Zijin held it in her hand, weighing it, "Did you buy this, or was it a gift from someone?"
"My mom and I bought it while shopping, it’s from a jewelry store in Dongdan, my mom often buys jewelry there." Ji Li hesitated, then ventured, "God Ying, this... isn’t like something out of those novels, something those evil fortune tellers use to harm people, is it?"
She couldn’t be blamed.
She was once a bona fide university student, and now she had begun to believe in mysticism.
"It’s not." Ying Zijin furrowed her brows, "But it serves the same purpose; it indeed harms people. This isn’t real jade but a replica made by utilizing various herbs and minerals by practitioners of ancient medicine."
"A replica?" Ji Li was shocked, "But that jewelry store is a domestic luxury brand, my mom and I have shopped there over a dozen times, it couldn’t possibly sell fakes."
"Yes, it must be a fluke." Ying Zijin carefully examined the bracelet, "That jewelry store also doesn’t know what this is. Such replicas are hard to identify even by machines."
"It’s just that this bracelet is unlike ordinary replicas; it has some herbs added that are harmful to the human body. Did you smell a hint of strawberry?"
Ji Li nodded, "The salesgirl said so, claiming it’s naturally fragrant, conducive to sleep, which is why my mom bought me this bracelet."
"It can indeed help with sleep." Ying Zijin spoke indifferently, "Wear it long enough, and you’ll fall asleep—and never wake up. Then, if you go for a medical checkup, the hospital will declare it a peaceful death."
Ji Li broke out in a cold sweat, "It’s that poisonous?"
Ying Zijin didn’t speak, her eyes darkening.
This wasn’t the work of a practitioner from the ancient medical field, but an evil doctor.
It seemed, just as the Tea Saint had said, the evil doctor started making moves again.
Just like Shi Fengyi before, their reach had extended into the lives of ordinary people.
This was also a grave taboo in the ancient medical field.
"Don’t wear this bracelet anymore." Ying Zijin instructed, "Keep hold of this one. Just give Second Aunt a heads-up, but don’t let her know the whole story."
Ji Li took the bracelet Ying Zijin handed her, her fingers still trembling, "This is terrifying."
"Don’t panic, nothing will happen in a few days. It takes three months to take effect." Ying Zijin reassured her, "You can check at the school if anyone else has bought similar jewelry. Let me know if they have."
After speaking, she left the kitchen to call Fu Yunshen outside.
After briefly describing the issue to him, Ying Zijin said, "Commander, the sourcing of all jewelry stores in the capital needs to be investigated."
Such bracelets were mass-produced; if they infiltrated the market, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Alright." Fu Yunshen’s gaze grew solemn, his voice slow, "I’ve already sent someone."
"I’m going to the Ancient Medical World." Ying Zijin nodded slightly, "Just in time, the Pill Alliance invited me to participate in the Level Five assessment."
**
During the Level Five assessment, the participants are allowed to take action against each other.
But the match between Ying Zijin and Meng Qingxue during the winter hunt is now common knowledge in the Ancient Medical World.
Even Meng Qingxue lost to her, would they dare to take action?
Without any suspense, Ying Zijin successfully passed the Pill Alliance’s Level Five assessment.
Having become a Level Five Member, her status and influence saw a new rise.
However, Ying Zijin didn’t pay much attention to these matters; the only thing she cared about was that her share of medicinal ingredients had significantly increased, now on par with the Elders Council.
It was also during these days that the annual training event of the Ancient Medical World began.
Many were sent from the Pill Alliance’s side, and all of the Three Great Ancient Martial Families were present.
Ying Zijin walked up the mountain alongside Foo Chen.
Meng Qingxue coughed, her complexion turned even paler as she spoke in a low voice, "I’ve come to tell you, I don’t have much longer to live, as you can probably see."
Ying Zijin didn’t speak and turned her head away.
Foo Chen frowned as he examined Meng Qingxue, confirming the truth of her statement.
The Ancient Medicine Association observed faces.
When a person was near the end of their lifespan, their facial features would change accordingly.
Dull and lifeless.
"I plead with you," Meng Qingxue managed a strained smile, very bitter, "can you let me have a few good days before I die? Just a few days is all."
"What do you mean?" Foo Chen’s voice turned cold. "The way you’re speaking, it’s like Miss Ying won’t let you have good days. What has she done to you?"
Meng Qingxue ignored Foo Chen, only looking at the girl, her voice even softer, trembling, "I’m really about to die, can’t you... show some compassion?"
The guard, unable to bear it, said, "Miss, let’s go back."
Meng Qingxue pressed her lips together, "No, I’ll go with, I’ve never been on an expedition, I may as well join everyone this time."
The others looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
If something happened to Meng Qingxue on the mountain, what would they do?
But there wasn’t much they could do, the Patriarch Meng had let Meng Qingxue out, what more could be said?
Thus, aside from the Meng Family members and some admirers keeping watch over Meng Qingxue, everyone else kept a considerable distance.
This mountain was an unexplored Solitary Mountain, but precisely because it was so well-preserved, there were many natural herbs on it, some of which even the Tea Saint couldn’t cultivate.
Foo Chen trailed behind Ying Zijin, plucking herbs and learning quite a bit along the way.
He put the unearthed herbs in a bag and trotted forward, "Ancestor, we—"
Ying Zijin suddenly raised her hand, "Stop."
Foo Chen was startled and became alert, "What’s wrong?"
"Stop what stop?" A youth protecting Meng Qingxue scoffed, "You’re not leading the team, why should we listen to you?"
Speaking, he promptly strode forward.
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