âThatâs right.â
âHow can a beggar like you have a pet beast? Who will believe you!â
The people behind Lan Ningâer quickly echoed.
âCharm! It seems like they want to snatch you by force. What should we do?â The little old man looked at the small and cute Charm and pretended to be worried.
âYou have to protect me! I donât belong to this ugly monster.â Charm pouted with some dissatisfaction.?Hmph! Lan Ningâer really dares to have designs on me! She really doesnât know life from death!
âYou little bastard, who are you calling an ugly monster!â Lan Ningâer shouted angrily when she heard that she was actually being called an ugly monster by a fox.
âItâs you! Your heart is black, and your liver is stinky. What are you if not an ugly monster?â Charm asked in return.
âLittle bastard, youâre really courting death. Just you wait. When I obtain you, Iâll skin you alive and make you into a scarf,â Lan Ningâer threatened fiercely.
âJust with you?â Charmâs beautiful purple eyes looked Lan Ningâer up and down, his fluffy little face full of doubts.
âYes, me. Iâm the fifth young lady of the Lan family. Thereâs nothing I canât have once I want something,â Lan Ningâer said with a proud expression on her face!
âIs that so?â A questioning voice sounded from behind everyone. Lan Lieâs group of three were standing at the entrance of the inn with a smile that was not a smile on their faces as they looked at Lan Ningâer.
âBig Brother Leng!â Lan Ningâer immediately called out gently like a different person after seeing Leng Wudi. At this moment, Leng Wudi was the only existence in her eyes. She automatically ignored the other two.
The little old man was a little speechless as he looked at the rapidly changing Lan Ningâer. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. This⦠Was the current Lan Ningâer really the same person as the arrogant, domineering, barbaric, and overbearing Lan Ningâer from before? The difference before and after was a little too big!
Lan Lie, who was completely ignored, walked to the little old man with a face full of guilt. He bowed and said, âElder, you werenât scared, were you?â
âNo. Uh, you are?â The little old man looked at Lan Lie and thought,?Is this kid also from the Lan family?
âIâm Lan Lie, the young master of the Lan family,â Lan Lie explained and looked at the little snow-white fox in the little old manâs arms from the corner of his eye.?Why does this little fox look so familiar??He seemed to have seen it somewhere before, but all foxes appeared to look the same.
âOh! Youâre the young master of the Lan family whoâs about to be replaced!â the little old man said in realization.
âUh! The news spread really quickly,â Lan Lie said helplessly. But it wasnât so easy to replace him. Alas! In fact, he really hoped that his second uncle and the others could succeed! However, he was afraid that they would have worked for nothing in the end.
âBrat, youâre not unhappy, are you?â the little old man said understandingly. Hehe, this kidâs reaction was written all over his face. Otherwise, if others heard him say this, they would definitely turn hostile.
âHow do you know?â Lan Lie asked softly, his handsome face full of curiosity.
âYou didnât turn hostile!â the little old man said with a naughty smile.
âUh! Youâre right. I couldnât ask for more!â Lan Lie said honestly.
âHehe, kid, youâre quite unconventional. I like you,â the little old man said with a chuckle.
âThank you! Erm⦠Elder, is this little fox yours?â Lan Lie thanked him first and then couldnât help asking curiously.
âHeâs mine! Whatâs the matter? Donât have any ideas about him. Heâs too young to make a scarf,â the little old man warned with a wary look in his eyes.
âElder, youâre mistaken. I just think he resembles my friendâs pet beast,â Lan Lie said awkwardly.?Boohoo⦠When did I say that I wanted to turn this little fox into a scarf? I shouldnât be wronged like this!
âAs long as you donât have any ideas about Charm,â the little old man said with relief.
Lan Ningâer, who was ignored by Leng Wudi, turned her head and happened to see Lan Lie talking to the little old man. She roared, âLan Lie, this fox is mine!â
Unfortunately, neither Lan Lie nor the little old man paid any attention to her.
âLan Lie, can we leave now?â Sun Teng urged impatiently.
âOkay, letâs go! Elder, leave this place quickly too!â Lan Lie said and then reminded the little old man.
The little old man grabbed Lan Lieâs sleeve and asked curiously, âWait, brat, where are you going?â
âWeâre going to the medicinal herb exchange meeting,â Lan Lie said. Although the medicinal herb exchange meeting had not officially begun, a number of alchemists had already gathered there, so of course he had to go and see the commotion!
âOh, I want to go there too. Weâre heading the same way.â The little old man planned to rely on Lan Lie.
âThen letâs go together!â Lan Lie said as he glanced at Lan Ningâer.
The little old man nodded, hugged Charm, and left the inn with Lan Lie and the others.
âStop right there! No one is allowed to leave!â Lan Ningâer stomped her feet in anger and shouted from behind Lan Lie and the others. Unfortunately, she was ignored!
After Lan Lie and the others left the inn, they went directly to the medicinal herb exchange venue. At this moment, the entire venue had been set up. Moreover, some alchemists had already entered and were waiting for the medicinal herb exchange meeting to officially begin three days later.
âYoung Master, why are you here?â The person in charge of the venue ran over obediently and respectfully when he saw Lan Lie. Although he was in the second masterâs faction, Lan Lie was the young master of the Lan family after all, so he didnât dare to be disrespectful to Lan Lie.
âSteward Wu, there doesnât seem to be many alchemists coming for the exchange this year!â Lan Lie said knowingly as he looked at the sparse number of people in the entire venue. He had long been laughing in his heart.?Alas! Second Uncle thought that the profits in the exchange would be huge, so he did everything he could and finally obtained the right to manage this yearâs medicinal herb exchange meeting. But he probably wouldnât have dreamed that this yearâs exchange would actually be such a failure. Hehe!?He was really too happy!
âUh! Young Master, there are still three days before the exchange meeting begins! Most alchemists have not arrived yet! Moreover, the exchange will last for more than half a month, so many alchemists are not in a hurry,â Steward Wu explained. In fact, he was also a little puzzled. Logically speaking, Blue Cloud City should have been packed with people by this time in the previous years. But why was it so quiet this year? Apart from some alchemists who came a while ago, these two days should have been the peak period for alchemists to come to Blue Cloud City, but no alchemists entered the city at all.