Ye Lingling: "???"
What had Grandpa just said?
This kid was going to eat the stuff himself!?
Was he already that weak at such a young age?
He actually had to eat Whale Rubber every day to improve his physique, and it wasn't even improving anymore?
He was still a child...
Standing off to the side, Ye Lingling's mind was already racing down a mountain road with eighteen hairpin bends, and the look she gave Wang Xiaoming grew increasingly pitying.
"Just think of it as me liking the taste. Remember to keep stocking it for me in the future, too."
Wang Xiaoming smiled without answering Ye Renxin's question.
This was just a transaction. There was no need to let him know too much.
Otherwise... if everyone found out about this method, how could he keep buying Whale Rubber cheaply?
With that, Wang Xiaoming turned and left the shop.
Ye Renxin shook his head, unable to understand what the boy was thinking.
Still, it was a good thing the stuff wasn't harmful. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sold it to a six-year-old.
To be precise, the child had started buying it when he was five.
He then looked at his granddaughter.
"Lingling, are you going back to the academy later, or staying here with Grandpa?"
Hearing this, Ye Lingling withdrew her gaze from Wang Xiaoming, nodded, then shook her head.
Ye Renxin: "..."
Could he really blame the boy for complaining? Even he, her own grandfather, sometimes couldn't figure out what his granddaughter was trying to say.
Ye Lingling closed the book in her hands, jumped down from her chair, put the book in a nearby drawer, then looked at Ye Renxin.
Ye Renxin understood that expression. His granddaughter wanted to leave.
He took out the bag of Gold Soul Coins Wang Xiaoming had just given him and placed it in Ye Lingling's hands.
"Go on, Lingling. Buy whatever you want. If you don't have enough, come back and ask Grandpa for more."
Ye Lingling took the money bag, put it in her Soul Tool, nodded to Ye Renxin, and left the shop.
Ye Renxin also began preparing to open the shop and see patients for the day.
Meanwhile, Wang Xiaoming was walking home. Whenever he came across something tasty or interesting along the way, he would stop for a moment to take a look.
Now, drawn in by the aroma from a wonton stall, he sat right down.
"Boss, a big bowl of wontons, with extra scallions and cilantro!"
"Coming right up!"
He didn't notice that a little tail had quietly followed him.
Ye Lingling hid behind a stall, watching Wang Xiaoming browse the street ahead, her feelings somewhat complicated.
She didn't know why she had followed him. She couldn't bring herself to say anything comforting, and though she wanted to make him a little happier, she didn't know how.
She could only follow him and think as she went.
"Little miss, looking for something? Feel free to browse. Everything I have here is top quality..."
The stall owner beside her noticed the little girl and spoke up enthusiastically.
Startled by the stall owner's voice, Ye Lingling hurried away in a panic.
But to the stall owner, she had simply ignored him and quietly turned to leave.
The stall owner scratched his head.
"What a strange girl."
But Ye Lingling's hurried departure caught the attention of Zhang San, who was looking for prey by the roadside.
Zhang San was immediately drawn to the little girl's bearing. With a wicked smile, he quickened his pace and stepped directly in front of Ye Lingling, very close to her.
Caught off guard, Ye Lingling nearly ran into Zhang San's back.
She could only turn and walk to the side.
But the thug-like fellow kept playing tricks, repeatedly blocking Ye Lingling's path.
"Well, little beauty, throwing yourself into my arms in broad daylight?"
You're the one blocking my way!
Ye Lingling was anxious, but there was little she could do.
She wanted to turn and leave, but two people who looked like the fellow's accomplices appeared behind her, surrounding her from the front and back.
Seeing this, Zhang San licked his lips. Up close, he could smell a faint fragrance coming from Ye Lingling. He had been with countless women and knew it wasn't the scent of cosmetics.
He had really found a treasure today.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave, little beauty. It's not like we're good people. We just want to play a little game with you."
"That's right. If you don't show my big brother some respect, he'll lose his temper!"
"And don't count on those good-for-nothings to help you. They don't have the guts!"
The men chimed in one after another, sealing her fate on the spot.
Ye Lingling looked around and found it was just as they said.
As her gaze swept over them, everyone pretended not to see... If they offended these little hooligans, the hooligans could take turns harassing their businesses nonstop all day, leaving them unable to work.
She glanced somewhat unwillingly at Wang Xiaoming, who was waiting for his wontons not far away.
It seemed this was all she could do for today.
Seeing no reaction from her, Zhang San and the others all revealed wicked smiles and reached out to take her away.
But the next moment, several white pellets appeared in Ye Lingling's palm, and she crushed them at once.
In an instant, a cloud of white smoke enveloped the spot where the four of them stood.
Zhang San and his two companions were left choking on the smoke.
Ye Lingling seized the chance to slip into a nearby alley, hoping to take a shortcut back to her grandfather's apothecary.
"Cough... cough, you little brat, don't run!"
After charging out of the thick smoke, Zhang San and the others chased after Ye Lingling.
Whatever that little girl had used, it not only made them choke but also stung their eyes!
Damn it, if I catch her, I'll make her cry!
No... I won't stop even if she cries!
Ye Lingling darted through the alleys, looking back from time to time.
But how could she possibly outrun them?
Using their familiarity with the area, Zhang San and the others soon blocked her in an alley, two in front and one behind.
"Little beauty, you've been running so long. You must be tired, right? If you don't want to come back to our place, we can do it right here."
"The boss is right!"
The fellow blocking Ye Lingling's retreat was agreeing with Zhang San when a sudden burst of pain struck him from behind. He was sent flying through the air toward the two men in front.
Both men happened to be focused on Ye Lingling, and the impact sent them flying.
Bang!
"Damn it, Skinny Monkey, why did you come flying at us!?"
"I don't know either, boss! Someone kicked me!"
After rolling over a few times on the ground, the three realized they were in danger and immediately activated their Martial Souls!
One Soul Elder, two Soul Grandmasters, and seven white rings.
A short blade appeared in Zhang San's hand. He was actually a Battle Soul Master.
Ye Lingling also looked toward the person who had suddenly appeared behind her.
It's him!?
Zhang San and the others soon got a clear look at the person who had just attacked them. It was just a little brat?