"Lin'er, can you guess what kind of ancient poison this is?"
Ye Lingyuan's eyes held a trace of pity.
Those who appear heartless on the surface are not necessarily so.
Zi Linling said indignantly, "Do you think I'm a deity? Even if you want me to guess, you have to tell me the symptoms of their poisoning first!"
As she said this, she looked at Xue Jing, who was standing beside them, and said, "Speak, what are the symptoms of the poisoned?"
A hint of hesitation appeared in Xue Jing's eyes.
Ye Lingyuan's gaze turned cold, and an imposing aura pressed down on Xue Jing. He said sternly, "The Princess is asking you a question, haven't you heard?"
"Pfft!"
Xue Jing spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and quickly knelt down, saying, "This subordinate deserves death! Your Highness, please forgive me!"
Zi Linling, in turn, held Ye Lingyuan's hand and shook her head at him.
Ye Lingyuan understood that Zi Linling was advising him not to get angry over this, lest it chill the hearts of his subordinates.
A warm current flowed through his heart. He gave Zi Linling a doting smile, then withdrew his imposing pressure.
However, he still warned, "The Princess's words represent my meaning. If you dare to offend her again next time, you will go and receive your punishment yourself!"
Ye Lingyuan's intention was clear: one must not disrespect the Princess!
"Yes! This subordinate admits his mistake!"
Xue Jing's forehead was covered in cold sweat, but he dared not wipe it away.
Zi Linling seized the opportunity and said, "Alright, get up and answer."
"Yes! Princess!"
Only then did Xue Jing dare to hesitate, nor did he dare to question Zi Linling's words further.
He stood up and said, "Reporting to Your Highness and the Princess, the poisoned have a strange smile on their faces, as if they are asleep. After lying for three days, their entire bodies become emaciated, their hair and beards turn white, and then they die silently!"
Could it be...
A look of shock appeared in Zi Linling's eyes, and she asked again, "Will the poisoned wake up during these three days?"
Xue Jing replied, "No! They remain in a deep sleep for three days!"
Zi Linling's heart gained a little certainty, and she continued to ask, "Anyone who sees the smile of the poisoned will be poisoned, right?"
"Yes! Everything the Princess said is exactly right!"
A look of shock appeared in Xue Jing's eyes.
Because everything Zi Linling said was so accurate, it was as if she had witnessed it herself.
Zi Linling gave a bitter smile and said, "I know! 'With one smile, youth fades and years show; entering the mortal world again, a thousand years to bestow.' The poison they have contracted is indeed an ancient and rare poison!"
"What poison is it?"
Ye Lingyuan, Zi Guochang, and Xue Jing asked simultaneously.
"It is..."
"Reporting to Your Highness and the Princess, the Old Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, Situ Jinglei, and the Young Valley Master, Situ Yunfeng, are requesting an audience outside!"
Zi Linling was about to speak when she was interrupted by the innkeeper's announcement.
The innkeeper's voice could not normally reach the Heavenly Chamber, as it was equipped with a soundproofing formation.
However, to prevent unforeseen events, Fengyu Tower had installed a special sound transmission device in a hidden location at the innkeeper's counter.
Of course, this device could only transmit sound from the outside to the inside.
And Situ Yunfeng, as Ye Lingyuan's sworn brother, naturally knew about Fengyu Tower's existence.
Therefore, as soon as he received the news of Ye Lingyuan and Zi Linling's return, he rushed to Fengyu Tower.
This was also because the Azure Dragon Empire had prepared a courtyard for the Situ father and son in Dongfang City to invite Situ Jinglei and him to research poisons and formulate antidotes.
Thus, they were able to arrive in the shortest possible time.
Ye Lingyuan looked at Zi Linling and said, "They've come at a very opportune moment!"
Zi Linling smiled and said, "Isn't that right! Even a performance wouldn't be this punctual!"
Zi Guochang asked in surprise, "Did I hear correctly? Did they say Medicine King Valley just now?"
Zi Linling rubbed her forehead and said, "Father, you've only been away for twenty years! Why are you acting like you've never seen the world?"
Ye Lingyuan's lips curved into a smile, but he remained a spectator, not interjecting.
He had a good sense of proportion; if Zi Linling could say it openly, he would only think it in his heart.
Besides, watching the show was not bad, right?
As for Xue Jing, he couldn't even laugh, and his stomach cramped from holding it in.
Zi Guochang said indignantly, "Lin'er! That's Medicine King Valley! On the Tianyuan Continent, no one dares to refuse them!"
Zi Linling rolled her eyes and said, "So what?"
Then, ignoring Zi Guochang's peculiar expression, she directly said to Xue Jing, "Go and invite Uncle Situ and Situ in!"
"Yes! Princess!"
Xue Jing agreed, quickly retreated, and finally relaxed his taut nerves.
"Heh heh!"
He chuckled in relief and went to greet Situ Jinglei and Situ Yunfeng.
Soon, he brought the two of them into the Heavenly Chamber.
"Uncle Situ! You've arrived."
Zi Linling greeted them with a smile.
"Uncle!"
Ye Lingyuan also greeted them.
He didn't put on airs with those he approved of.
And Situ Jinglei and Situ Yunfeng had helped him during his most difficult times, so they were among the people he approved of.
"Little Ye Zi, Purple Girl, have you been well these past two months?"
Situ Jinglei asked with a hearty laugh.
"So-so!"
"Fine!"
The former was Zi Linling's reply, and the latter was Ye Lingyuan's.
Situ Jinglei shot Zi Linling a look and said, "You call that 'so-so'? You, at the Saint King realm, attracted a lightning tribulation not seen in a thousand years, and turned the four great families upside down. And you call that 'so-so'?"
"Yes, yes! Purple Girl, you're too amazing!" Situ Yunfeng quickly chimed in.
Zi Linling smiled but remained silent.
If these father and son knew that she had also destroyed the forbidden human territory, the Dark Abyss, would they bite off their tongues?
"This is..."
Situ Jinglei looked at Zi Guochang and asked with a hint of confusion.
"My father!"
"My father-in-law!"
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan answered one after another.
"Your father? Your father-in-law?"
Situ Jinglei's surprised gaze shifted from Zi Linling to Ye Lingyuan, then settled back on Zi Guochang, saying, "Could it be..."
Zi Guochang smiled and said, "Valley Master Situ, I am Zi Guochang, and I have long admired your great name!"
Situ Jinglei exclaimed, "You are the former patriarch of the Tianqi Zi family who went missing twenty years ago?"
Zi Guochang nodded and said, "Indeed!"
Situ Jinglei quickly and affectionately took Zi Guochang's hand and said, "It is truly a pleasure to meet my in-law here!"
"In-law?"
Everyone present, except for Zi Guochang himself, gaped and froze.
Ye Lingyuan, the king of jealousy, looked at Situ Yunfeng with ill intent and sneered, "Situ, have your guts grown hair? Are you tired of living?"
Situ Yunfeng shivered and jumped up, saying, "I didn't! Ah Yuan, you've misunderstood..."
Ye Lingyuan sneered and remained silent.
Situ Yunfeng became anxious and roared at Situ Jinglei, "Old man, what in-law? What nonsense are you spouting! If you want to get your son killed, just say so!"