Xiao Fan's brain completely stopped functioning at this moment.
He stared blankly at the girl who had just been following Lu Cheng, looking harmless, petite, and cute.
She just stood there, pointing a slender finger at him with an attitude a hundred times more arrogant than Lu Cheng's.
"No matter how much he offers!"
"I'll offer a million more than him!"
These words, like divine thunder, struck him forcefully on the crown of his head.
He felt as if his hearing, sight, and even his thoughts were completely stripped away in that instant.
The Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner, with his white hair and beard, displayed a range of emotions, from respect for Lu Cheng, to disdain for Xiao Fan, and now to shock at Bai Zhi, changing expressions with remarkable speed.
He was stunned for a full three seconds before he reacted.
He immediately put on an even more enthusiastic smile than before.
"Good! Good! This young lady is quick-witted and has courage!"
The Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner nimbly took out the Millennial Dragon Blood Vine from the specially made glass cabinet, carefully packaged it in an exquisite wooden box, and respectfully presented it to Bai Zhi with both hands.
Xiao Fan stared intently at Bai Zhi, then abruptly turned his head to look at Lu Cheng, who had worn a playful smile the entire time.
He felt like he had been played by this 'dog couple' again!
They were in cahoots!
It was just like last time, the little girl popped out, spouting nonsense, hyping this item as a national treasure, driving up the price, and swindling him out of a large sum.
This time, well, they weren't even pretending; they were directly snatching it from him!
[Mockery +200!]
[Pity +500!]
A series of system notifications frantically scrolled through his mind.
However, this time, Xiao Fan was even too weak to absorb the negative attributes from the Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner.
A deep sense of powerlessness arose within him; why did this man always interfere with his great rise to power?
Moreover, he never acted personally; it was these women around him, as if bewitched by him, who opposed him!
In Lu Cheng's mind, however, a beautiful symphony-like melody resounded.
[Ding! Detected that the Child of Fortune, "Bai Zhi," successfully intercepted the Son of Destiny, "Xiao Fan's," crucial opportunity, and received the reward "Pill God Sachet," triggering a hundredfold return!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the special domain: "pill god domain"!]
[pill god domain: Within your current space, the success rate and quality of all pill refining activities will receive a hundredfold increase!]
At the same time, Bai Zhi successfully completed the mission.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for making the final choice! The special item "Pill God Sachet" has been issued to your system space!]
A surge of uncontrollable pride welled up in Bai Zhi's heart.
She felt like a genius!
She not only successfully thwarted Lu Cheng's scheme to intercept the Son of Destiny but also, without shedding a drop of blood, obtained a divine artifact from this great villain!
This was simply killing two birds with one stone, a flawless plan!
She held the cold black card, swiped it to pay, and then tightly hugged the wooden box containing the dragon blood vine to her chest.
Then, she turned around and walked in front of Lu Cheng.
She puffed out her not-so-ample chest, raised her chin, and looked at him triumphantly with an expression that said, "See? I ruined your good deed. Aren't you angry?"
However, Lu Cheng was not angry; instead, he gently clapped his hands.
"Clap, clap, clap."
He looked at Bai Zhi with an approving expression, like a teacher looking at his most excellent student.
"Not bad, not bad."
"Is this domineering way of crushing people with money an imitation of me?"
"Do you want me to understand the errors in my methods?"
"As expected of a Negative Commentator!"
Lu Cheng's words instantly choked the barrage of sarcasm Bai Zhi had prepared in her throat.
What do you mean, imitating you?
I am upholding justice!
How can I be like a scoundrel like you!
Her small face flushed crimson, wanting to retort but unable to find the right words.
After all, her recent actions were indeed bullying and forced buying and selling.
"You... you devil!"
"It's all because you were dawdling!"
"Do you always buy things so slowly?"
"And you can't even get to the point when you speak!"
"This lady had to step in!"
In a moment of desperation, Bai Zhi could only criticize him from some inexplicable angles.
[Ding! Villain's emotional value +50!]
Hearing the notification in her mind, Bai Zhi's mood improved slightly.
Scolding him was the right thing to do!
However, Lu Cheng merely smiled, and his tone suddenly shifted.
"But, Miss Bai Zhi."
"It seems I never said I wanted this dragon blood vine from beginning to end."
"I'm not a doctor, what would I do with this medicinal herb?"
"What?"
Bai Zhi was completely stunned.
She pointed at Lu Cheng, her voice changing pitch.
"You're lying! You were clearly trying to snatch it from that person just now!"
"I saw it with my own eyes!"
She firmly believed that this must be a lie fabricated by this villain to disrupt her Dao heart!
However, just then.
A voice with a gentle smile came from the inner hall of Returning Spring Hall.
"Of course he doesn't need to buy it."
"The entire Returning Spring Hall is his; he can just take whatever he wants."
Accompanying the voice, a figure slowly walked out.
The person wore an elegant white long dress, with a cold and ethereal aura, like a fairy under the moon, yet her eyes held an unyielding tenderness.
It was Luo Qingyan.
She walked to Lu Cheng's side, and with an utterly natural movement, directly linked her arm through his, gently resting her head on his shoulder.
"Why are you free to come today?"
"Did you specifically come to pick me up from work?"
Lu Cheng wrapped his arm around her slender waist, which could not be spanned by a single hand, and lightly kissed her smooth forehead.
"I missed you, so I came to see you."
This intimate conversation, this disregard for anyone else's presence, seemed to freeze the air in the entire Returning Spring Hall.
The Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner, upon seeing Luo Qingyan, immediately bowed respectfully.
"Divine Doctor Luo!"
This cry of "Divine Doctor Luo" was like a bolt from the blue, striking both Bai Zhi and Xiao Fan simultaneously.
Bai Zhi was utterly dumbfounded.
She looked at the immortal couple before her, then at the medicinal herb she held in her arms, bought with a large sum of money.
So... Returning Spring Hall belonged to this woman?
And this woman, in turn, belonged to Lu Cheng?
Then Lu Cheng just... what did I... do?
I rushed up, spent a large sum of money, and bought his own item from him?
And I self-righteously believed I had thwarted his "scheme"?
Bai Zhi felt her brain turn into a muddled mess.
She held the black card, capable of unlimited spending, in her hand, yet felt no joy whatsoever.
Only an extreme sense of grievance remained, feeling completely manipulated, played like a monkey, with nowhere to complain.
No!
This villain must be doing it on purpose!
He wants to confuse me this way!
To shake my resolve!
I cannot fall for it! I, Bai Zhi, am upright and fear no shadow!
Bai Zhi, in her heart, once again constructed a solid logical closed-loop for herself.
Meanwhile, Xiao Fan's heart was already submerged by overwhelming hatred and jealousy!
Why!
Why did all the beautiful women revolve around this man named Lu!
This Miraculous Doctor, as cold as a fairy, was his woman!
That goddess from the Jiang Family was also entangled with him!
Now, he had finally found a place where he could obtain an opportunity, and it turned out to be a damn den of thieves!
It was Lu Family Manor!
He felt like a peerless clown who had willingly delivered himself to their doorstep!
Lu Cheng wrapped his arm around Luo Qingyan's waist, the smile on his lips growing even wider.
He took Luo Qingyan's hand and, under Xiao Fan's gaze that was almost spitting fire, strode away.
"Let's go, home."
Leaving Xiao Fan alone, disoriented and broken, amidst the rich medicinal scent of Returning Spring Hall.
He felt his worldview, once again, shattered to pieces.
In the Rolls-Royce on the way back.
Lu Cheng was in high spirits, even humming a tune leisurely.
Luo Qingyan nestled in his arms, curiously looking at Bai Zhi, who was curled up beside them.
Bai Zhi, meanwhile, hugged her knees, burying her head deeply, silent, like a defeated little quail, exuding an aura of 'do not approach'.
That evening, at the Lu Family Manor.
To continue welcoming the new member, Lu Cheng hosted a small party by the manor's swimming pool.
In front of Bai Zhi, he and the other women put on a vibrant and sensual... display of affection.
Watching the genuine admiration, dependence, and adoration for Lu Cheng on their faces.
Bai Zhi's worldview was once again severely impacted.
She had originally thought that these women were victims controlled by Lu Cheng's evil methods.
But now it seemed... they seemed... to enjoy it?
Bai Zhi sat on a lounge chair by the pool, watching the absurd yet harmonious scene before her, her pretty face so red it looked like it was about to drip blood.
This villain... how did he do it?