Medicine Venerable Cangyun

At her words, Qin Ruoxian's face instantly darkened. She gritted her teeth and asked, "Why?"

"Because I need to visit the Liu Family tomorrow." Ye Yu said with a smile.

Hearing this, Qin Ruoxian felt her vision go black as she stared at Ye Yu in anguish.

That Ye Yu was Liu Ruyan's lapdog was common knowledge. Qin Ruoxian had thought, after seeing how Ye Yu treated Ye Qingwan, that he had finally woken up.

But she never expected him to still go looking for Liu Ruyan.

Ye Qingwan, upon hearing this, wore an expression of "I knew it." This waste was still the same waste; his dog-like nature hadn't changed. Fine then, I'll just wait for you to come begging at my door!

With that thought, Ye Qingwan didn't linger. She called for Ye Qingxuan and Nangong Wushe to head to the palace.

But Ye Qingxuan was staring fixedly at Ye Yu. The way he had just cared for Qin Ruoxian twisted her heart.

Many years ago, when the Great Yan wasn't yet powerful, the Imperial Father once hosted envoys from another kingdom with them.

The Zhou Dynasty was much stronger than Great Yan back then, and the Zhou envoys looked down their noses at everyone.

One day in the rear garden, a Zhou envoy saw the young Ye Qingxuan and, on a whim, released his spirit beast to chase her for sport. The beast eventually turned vicious and attacked her.

Ye Yu, not yet seven years old, rushed out and took the beast's attack for her, nearly losing an arm.

But at the time, Ye Yu didn't care. He forced a smile and said to her, "Second Sister, it's all right. You weren't scared, were you?"

Now those same words were spoken to someone else. The way Ye Yu looked at her no longer held tenderness, only endless disgust.

"Qingxuan, what are you standing around for? Let's go." Ye Qingwan's voice finally pulled Ye Qingxuan from her thoughts. With a heavy heart, she followed Ye Qingwan back to the palace.

"Fine, I guess I was being presumptuous. Go ahead, then." Qin Ruoxian gave a bitter smile and turned to leave.

Situ Guang sighed repeatedly. How could such a strong man be so trapped by love?

Ye Yu reached out and grabbed Qin Ruoxian's hand, frowning. "Where are you going?"

"Mind your own business! Go find your Liu Ruyan!" Qin Ruoxian gritted her teeth, her eyes red, and snapped.

Seeing this, Ye Yu realized she had misunderstood. He quickly said, "You're overthinking it. I'm going to Liu Ruyan to get back the Autumn Water Sword. It's my mother's keepsake. I don't want to leave it with her."

Qin Ruoxian froze, then turned to look at him suspiciously. "Really?"

"Of course. You can have someone check if you don't believe me." Ye Yu shrugged and smiled.

Only then did Qin Ruoxian remember that there was indeed such a thing—she had just forgotten. Embarrassed, she pulled her hand free and said, "I don't care what you're going to her for. It's none of my business. You're just a deposed Crown Prince of Great Yan. My Great Qin doesn't absolutely need you."

Hearing this, Situ Guang's mouth twitched. He screamed inwardly, We do! Great Qin needs him desperately!

He had figured it out by now. With Ye Yu's terrifying combat strength and future potential, the small Azure Prefecture could never hold him!

If they could build a good relationship with someone like this, Great Qin's future was bright! Ninth Princess, don't mess this up!

"So, what do I need to do to join Great Qin?" Ye Yu looked at the proud Qin Ruoxian with a doting smile.

"Hmm... I want you to help Great Qin suppress the Nine Nether Blood Spring." Qin Ruoxian stated.

"No problem." Ye Yu answered without hesitation.

Seeing how quickly he agreed, Qin Ruoxian was startled. She added, "I also want you to help Great Qin win the War of a Hundred Dynasties."

"Fine, fine, whatever you say. Whatever you want." Ye Yu looked at the girl before him, his mind full of the bitter, grief-stricken Qin Ruoxian from his past life when she learned of his death.

Situ Guang, watching Qin Ruoxian rack her brain, quickly interrupted, "How about we find a place to rest first? We can think about these things later?"

Situ Guang was genuinely panicking. Qin Ruoxian's demands were getting more outrageous by the minute. The Nine Nether Blood Spring? That was the place that destroyed Ye Yu's spiritual root.

As for winning the War of a Hundred Dynasties? That was pure fantasy. Even if Ye Yu's talent and combat prowess impressed him, Situ Guang still didn't believe Ye Yu could surpass the prodigies of those super dynasties.

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. I'll tell you the rest when I think of it." Qin Ruoxian lifted her little chin, full of pride, then headed toward the Great Yan Imperial City.

Ye Yu and Situ Guang followed behind.

Once inside the city, Situ Guang rented out an inn. Qin Ruoxian went to rest early—the journey from Great Qin to Great Yan was no short distance. She had nearly drained all her spiritual power to get here so quickly and was utterly exhausted.

"Senior, do you have a hidden injury?" After Qin Ruoxian left, Ye Yu gave Situ Guang a once-over and asked.

"Calling me 'senior'—you're really flattering me." Situ Guang smiled wryly. "This old injury has plagued me for years, and I've never found a way to cure it."

Back then, when Situ Guang broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, it wasn't a natural progression. He had forcibly condensed his Nascent Soul in a rushed, forced manner.

Though he succeeded, it left an incurable hidden injury in his body. Even Cang Yun, the top alchemist in Azure Prefecture and a Rank 6 Alchemist, could do nothing about it.

For the rest of his life, Situ Guang would never advance another step.

"Maybe I have a way. But it might require quite a few ingredients." Ye Yu studied Situ Guang as he spoke.

"You?! Are you serious?" Situ Guang's breathing quickened, his voice trembling.

"Senior, have you ever heard of a pill called the Life Profound Origin Pill?" Ye Yu asked.

Hearing this, the light that had just kindled in Situ Guang's eyes dimmed. Of course he knew about the Life Profound Origin Pill—a Rank 7 Pill. Even Cang Yun couldn't refine it. There wasn't a single Rank 7 Alchemist in all of Azure Prefecture.

And what status did a Rank 7 Alchemist hold? How could he, a mere Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator, ever hope to hire one?

"I know of the Life Profound Origin Pill, but what good does that do?" Situ Guang said with a bitter laugh.

"If the senior can gather the medicinal ingredients, I can indeed refine them." Ye Yu rubbed his chin and said.

"You're serious?!" Situ Guang's eyes went wide as he stared at Ye Yu in disbelief.

Meanwhile, after Ye Qingwan and the other two returned to the palace, they went straight to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Nangong Wushe had wanted to ask something, but Ye Qingwan dismissed him with a sharp rebuke—clearly, his earlier inaction had angered this Eldest Sister.

Ye Qingxuan also returned to her own bedchamber.

Only Ye Qingwan, her face full of fury, was left to return alone to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Yet a familiar figure was already waiting inside, and upon seeing Ye Qingwan, the person exclaimed in surprise: "Eldest Sister!"

"Qingshuang?! Why are you back? Didn't you go to tour Azure Prefecture with your master Cangyun?" Ye Qingwan looked at her third sister, her eyes brimming with delight.