Wherever Feng Xuewu went, she was always the brightest and most eye-catching presence. This proved that her status as one of the Three Golden Hairpins among the Great Wilderness Hundred Clans was no empty rumor. Whether in bearing or beauty, Feng Xuewu stood at the very top.
"Yang Chen, it seems your martial cultivation has improved quite a bit again?" Feng Xuewu asked curiously as she walked shoulder to shoulder with Yang Chen.
With her current cultivation, she could not closely discern Yang Chen's exact level. Still, she could tell that his strength had increased, and that he truly was not the worthless good-for-nothing incapable of martial cultivation that Yang Wu and Yang Heng had described.
"Yes, Miss Feng has keen eyes." Yang Chen smiled. "Speaking of which, how is your mother's illness?"
Hearing this, Feng Xuewu broke into a delighted smile. "Thanks to your method, although the spiritual medicinal herbs were somewhat difficult to gather, we managed to collect them in the end. With the prescription you provided, my mother's injuries showed immediate results. Before long, she began to show signs of recovery. I came here today specifically to thank you."
"Your mother is blessed by heaven, and this is her good fortune. I merely offered a method." Yang Chen spoke gently, his words measured and composed.
As for the improvement in Feng Xuewu's mother's condition, it had all been within his expectations. What a joke. If he did not even have that much confidence, then all those years spent studying alchemy and medicine would have been for nothing.
This made Feng Xuewu regard Yang Chen even more highly.
She had not known Yang Chen for very long, but she had seen all the outstanding young talents of the Yang Lineage and her own Lineage. Which person Yang Chen's age was not arrogant, proud, and blind to everything beneath the sky? Someone like Yang Chen, who did not grow arrogant because of his merits and could speak so naturally, was truly rare.
Unconsciously, she began to feel favorably toward Yang Chen. The kind of temperament he possessed was something no one she had ever seen—including her father—could learn no matter how hard they tried.
There was nothing strange about that.
Yang Chen had, after all, seen the great world. To put it bluntly, compared to the place where he had once lived, the Great Wilderness Hundred Clans were as different as a countryside village and an imperial palace. The temperament nurtured by his vision and experience was naturally beyond anything these people of the Great Wilderness Hundred Clans could compare to.
Feng Xuewu smiled sweetly. "You are being too modest. Without your method, who knows what my mother would be like even now? I exhausted myself over her illness, yet for two or three straight years, I achieved nothing. If I had not met you, I truly would not have known what to do about her condition. No matter what, I must properly repay you."
From the bottom of his heart, Yang Chen truly did want some repayment.
However, when he saw Feng Xuewu's filial devotion, he no longer cared much about being repaid and spoke frankly. "Miss Feng's filial heart is sincere. There is no need to mention gratitude. Just consider it that Miss Feng owes me a favor. Someday, I may need to call upon Miss Feng's favor!"
"Then you must keep your word. From now on, you are my little brother. I was not joking just now. If anyone dares bully you, call out to me. As your older sister, I absolutely will not spare him!" Feng Xuewu declared decisively.
Her main purpose in coming today had actually been to acknowledge Yang Chen as her younger brother.
Yang Chen had cured her mother. At first, she had merely wanted to repay him and had not intended to establish such a sibling relationship with him so directly. She had only entertained the thought but did not dare act on it. As someone born into a great Lineage, her status was sensitive, and she had to think thrice before doing anything.
But later, something her father said had made her firm in this resolve.
Her father had repeatedly instructed her that Yang Chen's identity was most likely that of an alchemy physician.
What was an alchemy physician?
At first, she had not understood much. But her father's words later awakened her in an instant.
It could be said that throughout history, the Great Wilderness Hundred Clans had produced quite a few Spiritual Martial Realm experts, and even experts beyond the Spiritual Martial Realm appeared once or twice every century. Yet an alchemy physician might not appear even once in a hundred years. It was not that an alchemy physician was more precious than an expert beyond the Spiritual Martial Realm, but rare things were precious. No matter what, they had to find a way to build a good relationship with Yang Chen.
With an alchemy physician like Yang Chen, if they could establish a good relationship with him or even win him over, it would mean the Feng Lineage had gained a safeguard.
If Yang Chen bore no grudge against them, they had to find every possible way to befriend him.
With her father hinting so heavily, how could Feng Xuewu fail to understand his meaning?
To put it plainly, she did not need to flatter Yang Chen or lower herself before him, but drawing closer to him was indeed inevitable.
And this sibling relationship...
Feng Xuewu parted her red lips and said softly, "Then... call me big sister?"
"..."
Yang Chen looked thoroughly embarrassed. Calling Feng Xuewu big sister still felt somewhat awkward to him. He hurriedly said, "Miss Feng, we are at the entrance."
Feng Xuewu cast Yang Chen a resentful glance, then let out a soft breath and rolled her eyes. In a charming voice, she said, "Fine, then. Yang Chen, come visit the Feng Lineage when you have time. My mother felt a sense of familiarity with you last time and has very much wanted to meet you."
Since the sibling relationship still made Yang Chen uncomfortable, she could only change her approach. Unlike Yang Caidie, who was also one of the Three Golden Hairpins, Feng Xuewu was resourceful and full of wisdom.
She would use another method and bring Yang Chen to her home.
Then, her mother could acknowledge Yang Chen as her godson. Would he not still become her younger brother?
At that thought, a crafty glint flashed through her eyes. She waved her hand. "Big sister will be leaving first. Remember to come visit the Feng Lineage. And if anything else happens, remember to call big sister. If anyone dares bully you, big sister will be the first to refuse to spare him!"
"Certainly..." Hearing this, Yang Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry.
He rubbed his nose, thinking that having two of the Three Golden Hairpins as his older sisters might perhaps be rather nice.
But for the time being, he had no intention of getting involved in the Feng Lineage's affairs, nor did he wish to grow too close to Feng Xuewu. His strength was still insufficient. The most important thing for now was to improve his strength.
"Young Master, you should have seen Miss Feng off," Gu Mingyue said cautiously.
"Ah, you need not concern yourself with this." Yang Chen smiled.
Gu Mingyue felt both happy and disappointed.
As a girl, she naturally found it easy to see Feng Xuewu's affection for Yang Chen. If Yang Chen could seize that affection and climb upward, it would be inevitable for him and Feng Xuewu to end up together. In the future, if her young master married such an excellent woman from the Feng Lineage, would that not be a wonderful thing?
But she was also destined to marry Yang Chen as his concubine. When she thought of this, how could she not feel somewhat sad?
She felt she had no right to be jealous, but there was still some sorrow in her heart.
She was happy because Yang Chen seemed to have no particular feelings for Feng Xuewu, yet she worried because why did Yang Chen not know how to build connections?
As she pondered this, Gu Mingyue suddenly remembered something. "Young Master, right, these two hundred spirit stones—I should return them to you."
"Why are you returning the spirit stones?" Yang Chen was stunned.
Gu Mingyue stuck out her tongue, looking playful and adorable. "Young Master, you gave me the spirit stones earlier only to save face. Mingyue understands. Mingyue would never keep the spirit stones you earned through such hard work for herself. These spirit stones are still yours. Mingyue does not want them."
Seeing this, Yang Chen sighed softly. Gu Mingyue truly was a very good girl. At the very least, she thought of him in every matter. It would have been a lie to say he was not moved.
At that thought, he became even more resolute. "Mingyue, there has never been a possibility of your young master taking back something he has given away. I gave them to you not to save face, nor was it some clumsy scheme specifically aimed at Yang Heng. I had originally intended to find an opportunity to give you these spirit stones."
"B-but I have nowhere to spend so many spirit stones." Although Gu Mingyue was delighted by Yang Chen's words, when she considered the enormous sum of two hundred spirit stones, reason still overcame impulse.
Yang Chen smiled freely. "Who says you cannot spend them? Your young master has never heard of spirit stones that could not be spent. Listen carefully. Take these spirit stones and buy a few sets of clothes. Dress yourself up beautifully. Remember to buy a few sets for my sister as well. If you are buying, buy the best. Spend all two hundred spirit stones. From now on, remember this: as long as I, Yang Chen, am here, I will never let you suffer any grievance!"
"Y-Young Master..." Hearing these words, Gu Mingyue suddenly felt a sting in her eyes, and tears threatened to spill uncontrollably.
Slap, slap...
At last, she could no longer hold them back and burst into loud sobs.
"Young Master, you are truly too good to Mingyue." Gu Mingyue cried until she looked like pear blossoms drenched in rain, her words broken by sobs.
Seeing Gu Mingyue cry like this, Yang Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry. "I told you to dress yourself beautifully, so why are you crying? If you think it is not enough, your young master can give you some more."
"It is enough, enough." Afraid that Yang Chen would be so extravagant again, Gu Mingyue hurriedly said, "It is absolutely enough."
In her heart, she had already sworn an oath.
Even if she had to serve Yang Chen like an ox or a horse for the rest of her life, whatever he asked her to do, she would be willing. Even if Yang Chen one day fell into hardship and obscurity, she would absolutely stay by his side without leaving him, serving as his maid for a lifetime.
And she had to pick out a few respectable sets of clothing for her young master as well.
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