Li Yuncheng wanted to say more, but was directly interrupted by Ling Chi Yuan.
"Doctor Li, please. My family is still waiting for Doctor Li to save their lives?"
Just then, Li Yuncheng's deep voice sounded again: "Ling Chi Yuan, Feng Ran is now the Regent's Consort. And she has dealt with Lan Xian by virtue of her position as the Regent's Consort. The Lan family is gone because of her. Ling Chi Yuan, if you continue like this, and if you want to win back Feng Ran, I'm afraid you'll have no chance at all."
Li Yuncheng stopped speaking and directly placed a pill in Ling Chi Yuan's hand. If Old Master Ling took this pill, he would wake up tomorrow, barring any accidents.
After giving his instructions, Li Yuncheng vanished from Ling Chi Yuan's sight.
Ling Chi Yuan stood there blankly, his earlier nonchalant demeanor gone. He tightly clenched the pill in his hand, looked at the Lan family not far away, then turned and left without saying anything.
Behind him, the grief-stricken and wailing voices of the Lan family members could be heard.
Subsequently, flames erupted from the Lan family.
Li Yuncheng was in a tavern, drinking wine, leaning back in his chair, looking utterly dejected.
His vision was blurry, and he kept murmuring softly: Feng Ran, if Xuan Yuan Heng hadn't existed, would she have chosen him? Or Ling Chi Yuan?
She looked so much like that person.
That person, whom he hid in his heart, someone no one dared to mention.
A self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips. But that person was killed by his own hands, dying in his embrace.
He cried and shouted, but received no response.
He thought his life would be forever bleak, but when he saw Feng Ran, his world suddenly lit up.
His heart even stirred with excitement.
He thought this was heaven's opportunity for him to atone. But later, he realized it wasn't. After learning everything about Feng Ran, a cold glint appeared in Li Yuncheng's eyes.
He clearly told himself then that that person was not her. Not the person he was looking for.
That person was already dead.
Yet, he couldn't bear to see someone so similar to her living such a miserable life.
"Ling Chi Yuan... Ling Chi Yuan..." He even hoped that Ling Chi Yuan could rescue Feng Ran from her predicament.
He didn't know how much of his words Ling Chi Yuan had truly absorbed, nor did he know how much Ling Chi Yuan would do for Feng Ran.
However, he had said what he needed to say. As for Feng Ran's fate?
That could only be left to fate.
But he selfishly wished that Feng Ran could leave Xuan Yuan Heng and be by Ling Chi Yuan's side.
Feng Ran by Xuan Yuan Heng's side would only suffer endless harm, but Feng Ran by Ling Chi Yuan's side could be well protected.
...
Ling Chi Yuan walked aimlessly, and at that moment, he arrived at a newly opened tavern.
"Young Master Ling, what wind brings you here today? We haven't seen you for quite some time."
Huang Qianqian looked at Ling Chi Yuan, fawning over him with a flirtatious smile.
Ever since Chun Man Yuan was gone, she had fallen to this place.
When she was at Chun Man Yuan, she saw Ling Chi Yuan appear every day. But here, she had only seen Ling Chi Yuan a handful of times.
"Young Master Ling, won't you come in for a bit? We've prepared many things for you today. I imagine Young Master Ling would like them."
Seeing that Ling Chi Yuan showed no inclination to enter, Huang Qianqian became anxious. She stepped forward to look at Ling Chi Yuan, only to find that he didn't dodge. At this moment, she was overjoyed. Her courage grew, and she reached out to touch Ling Chi Yuan's body, but he dodged her.
Ling Chi Yuan threw his fan directly into Huang Qianqian's hand and struck her heavily, saying coldly, "Do you want this hand anymore?"
"Is my shoulder a place for someone like you to touch?"
"It seems you're tired of living to make such a ridiculous move."
"I..." Huang Qianqian withdrew her hand unwillingly. The smile on her face vanished instantly, her eyes filled with displeasure, but she maintained her smile and said lightly, "Young Master Ling, I didn't mean to. I just... just admire and care about Young Master Ling..."
Just as Huang Qianqian was about to continue, Ling Chi Yuan interrupted her coldly. Ling Chi Yuan said frigidly, "There are countless people in this world who admire this young master. If I were to consider everyone's feelings, I would truly be very busy."
"Furthermore, I am not familiar with you, and the scent emanating from you is utterly nauseating."
"Please keep away from this young master, do you understand?"
"Heh, some people truly think that because this young master speaks a few words to them, things are different?"
"Heh, you really think too highly of yourself."
"You are merely someone this young master uses to pass the time when bored. Don't think too much of yourself, do you understand?"
With that, he directly threw a piece of silver on the ground and said coldly, "This is enough for you to eat and drink for a month. From now on, when you see this young master, steer clear. This young master does not wish to see someone who disgusts him." After speaking, Ling Chi Yuan turned to leave.
Ling Chi Yuan left. Huang Qianqian, who had been kneeling on the ground, too afraid to speak, glared fiercely at the spot where Ling Chi Yuan had disappeared.
Her eyes were filled with unwillingness.
Why, why couldn't he see her goodness? She had sacrificed so much for him.
How was she inferior to Feng Ran?
Ling Chi Yuan paid no attention to what had just happened, let out a cold snort, and left without any lingering regret.
Ling Chi Yuan eventually returned to the Ling family.
Upon seeing Ling Chi Yuan, the servant dared not delay and immediately welcomed him in.
"Young Master, Master is waiting for you."
Ling Chi Yuan's face held a hint of coldness as he replied, "Mm, I know."
The servant saw Ling Chi Yuan heading towards his own room, and he quickly said, "Young Master, Master is waiting, you..."
"I'll go after I freshen up."
The servant immediately stood aside, waiting.
After a long while, Ling Chi Yuan emerged. As Ling Chi Yuan came out, the servant's eyes immediately cleared, and he asked with some anticipation, "Young Master is going to see Master?"
Ling Chi Yuan said softly, "Yes, I am."
"Then... shall I accompany Young Master?"
"No need."
The servant hadn't intended to leave, but meeting Ling Chi Yuan's bloodthirsty gaze, he ultimately resigned himself and said nothing.
Ling Chi Yuan walked into the main hall and saw the old master's displeased expression. He took out the pill and said softly, "This is the antidote. Take it, and you will be well by tomorrow."