Upon hearing this, the managers of the herb gardens couldn't help but cast suspicious glances, especially those who hadn't been chosen, who voiced their doubts. "Master Li Clan, this matter is indeed somewhat unfair!"
Li Yan's dignified expression turned somewhat cold. She glanced around and said, "Does the Li Clan need you all to set the rules for how we choose Moon Spirit Grass?"
When her smile faded, her dignified and gentle demeanor vanished, and the imposing presence of the Li Clan head immediately emanated, silencing the doubts raised by the managers of the herb garden, who dared not utter a sound for a moment.
However, Lin Changkong was not afraid of Li Yan's coercion. He looked at the seat to Li Yan's left, where there was an elderly man with white hair holding a cane. He was an elder of the Li Clan and had a very high seniority.
"Elder Li He, I'm afraid we'll have to ask you to uphold justice in this matter. After all, if word gets out about this injustice, it will damage the reputation of the Li Clan," Lin Changkong said slowly, his words even carrying a hint of threat.
The elder named Li He frowned. He glanced at Li Yan, then at the tightly closed medicine chest at the Thunderfire Hall, and asked, "What does Pavilion Master Lin think we should do?"
"Open the box and inspect the medicine. If it is indeed the Moon Spirit Grass from the Thunderfire Hall and of even higher quality, then we will naturally be convinced," Lin Changkong said.
Li He's eyes flickered. He vaguely knew that Li Yan favored Thunderfire Hall. Although he and Li Yan had some disagreements over Lineage matters in the past, he wasn't senile. If he opened the box in this kind of setting and it really was just a pile of useless straw, how would Li Yan handle the situation?
As the head of the family, if her reputation is damaged, how can the Li Clan fare well?
So even if he and Li Yan had conflicts in clan affairs, he wouldn't undermine her at this time. However, Lin Changkong's persistence was clearly a deliberate attempt to target Thunderfire Hall, and this matter needed to be dealt with.
So he thought for a moment and said, "Master Lin, please don't be angry. It's just a small matter and not important. How about we talk about the four hundred Moon Spirit Grass for the second half of the year? Can your Golden Gang Sword Hall's herb garden take on that?"
The implication was that they intended to relinquish their share of purchasing 400 Moon Spirit Grass for the second half of the year in exchange for Lin Changkong not pursuing the matter further, so as to avoid an unpleasant situation.
Li Yan frowned slightly. Although she disliked Lin Changkong's meddling, she ultimately did not object, because she knew that the medicine box could not be opened, as there was no mature Moon Spirit Grass inside.
Upon hearing this, Lin Changkong raised an eyebrow slightly. This elder of the Li Clan was indeed cunning and shrewd, actually offering a deal to shut him up.
Four hundred Moon Spirit Grass is indeed a considerable profit.
Lin Changkong was slightly tempted.
However, just as he was about to make a move, a clear, youthful voice suddenly rang out in the living room.
"Wait, I object!"
Many eyes turned to Lu Ming, who stepped forward.
Seeing this, Li Shuang couldn't help but sigh helplessly, "This silly boy really can't tell the situation apart. It's a good thing that his aunt and the elders are trying their best to favor them."
Lu Ming didn't care about her gaze, because how could he sit idly by and watch Lin Changkong consume his share of Moon Spirit Grass? This bastard schemed against them, ruining the mature Moon Spirit Grass in their herb garden. If he were to use them as a stepping stone to eat the remaining four hundred Moon Spirit Grass for the second half of the year, Lu Ming would probably be too angry to sleep tonight.
I think it's best to open the box and inspect the medicine.
Under the watchful eyes of so many, Lu Ming smiled and said.
Li Yan opened her eyes wide, staring at Lu Ming with some anger, wanting to reprimand him, but in the end, her expression turned suspicious. She knew Lu Ming quite well; this young man wasn't as reckless and impulsive as her second uncle. So, why was he stepping forward now? Did he have some kind of backup plan?
Lin Changkong stared indifferently at Lu Ming, wanting to see how this kid could argue.
You think you can conjure up a mature Moon Spirit Grass when it's not fully grown? If you really have that ability, I'll turn this table upside down today...
Bang!
Lu Ming kicked the lid of the medicine box open with one foot.
Many eyes turned to it, and then they saw that inside the medicine box, there were neatly arranged Moon Spirit Grass plants, as white as jade. Most importantly, these Moon Spirit Grass all had four leaves.
Mature Moon Spirit Grass!
A full hundred plants!
boom!
Lin Changkong slammed his hand on the table beside him, unleashing a violent burst of sword energy that instantly turned the table into dust.
Behind him, Xu Xiong was also filled with shock, his eyes fixed on the four-leaf Moon Spirit Grass.
The atmosphere in the living room remained quiet for a few moments.
Li Shuang quickly stepped forward, took out a Moon Spirit Grass from her medicine box, examined it swiftly, and then exclaimed in surprise, "Aunt, Elder, these are indeed mature Moon Spirit Grass, and their quality is excellent. Their medicinal power is several times stronger than any Moon Spirit Grass from any other family present. These are rare, top-grade Moon Spirit Grass!"
She became more and more excited as she spoke. Such high-quality Moon Spirit Grass was a rare find, even if it was only available once a year, but now it was plentiful in the medicine chests of the Thunderfire Hall.
She couldn't help but turn her head, looking at Lu Ming with utter astonishment, and asked, "Did you grow these?"
"Of course." Lu Ming nodded with a smile.
"Master Lin, I wonder if our Thunderfire Hall's Moon Spirit Grass is acceptable to everyone?" Lu Ming looked up at Lin Changkong and asked with a smile.
Lin Changkong's expression shifted constantly. His eyes were like knives as he stared at the Moon Spirit Grass in the Thunderfire Hall. He couldn't understand how these Moon Spirit Grass had been taken out, since the mature Moon Spirit Grass in the herb garden had been looted!
However, no matter how much he refused to believe it, the mature Moon Spirit Grass inside the box was undeniably real.
The managers of the herb gardens present were also astonished by the quality of the Moon Spirit Grass from the Thunderfire Hall. As experts, they naturally understood how rare these Moon Spirit Grass were.
As a result, those who had previously raised doubts all quietly fell silent.
Meanwhile, Li Yan, seated at the head of the table, was also lost in thought, a huge question mark above her head.
What's going on?
Wasn't it said that the herb garden was looted?
She looked at the Thunderfire Hall and the others with a questioning gaze. Could this be a false message spread to mislead others?
But that doesn't make sense either. In previous years, she also collected the Moon Spirit Grass from the Thunderfire Hall's herb garden, but neither its appearance nor its quantity could match the quality of the Moon Spirit Grass before her.
Regardless, this trouble was finally resolved. Thinking of this, Li Yan glared at Lu Ming with a bit of annoyance. This brat, since there were no useless medicines in the medicine box, he didn't even bother to tell her earlier. He made her worry for nothing and almost got extorted by Lin Changkong.
Faced with Li Yan's disapproving gaze, Lu Ming could only offer a smile as obedient as possible to appease her anger.
"Master Lin, do you have any other questions?" Li Yan turned her gaze to Lin Changkong and asked with a faint smile.
Lin Changkong remained silent, his emotions completely suppressed, and said, "Since there's no problem with the Moon Spirit Grass, then I naturally have no objections. However, regarding the Li Clan's need for four hundred Moon Spirit Grass in the second half of the year, our Golden Gang Sword Hall's herb garden can certainly handle it."
"Etc."
But no sooner had he finished speaking than the boy's voice rang out in the living room, "Don't you like to say 'wait'?"
"What are you planning to do now?" Lin Changkong's eyes were icy cold.
Lu Ming gave Lin Changkong a harmless smile and laughed.
"Master Lin, unfortunately, our Thunderfire Hall's herb garden is also interested in purchasing these Moon Spirit Grass."
"Since Master Lin is so fond of rules and fairness, why don't our two families compare the quality of this Moon Spirit Grass?"