Chapter 64: Reclaiming Elder Equity

For a wealthy and prestigious family like theirs, let alone a million gold coins, even a single tael of silver spent to no purpose would cause a lingering ache in their hearts.

And so, bright and early, all of them had gathered at the family head's residence simply to demand an explanation.

"Even if Leng Qing'er is the most celebrated junior of the Leng family, she cannot be allowed to act so willfully!" They had heard, after all, that such a colossal sum was spent entirely for a single Rejuvenation Pill.

They simply refused to accept this.

Was a mere minor medicinal pill truly worth such an exorbitant price?

Furthermore, it brought no benefit to the clan whatsoever.

Though they were old fogies, they had indeed heard of the Rejuvenation Pill—a high-grade elixir capable of preserving youth and restoring vitality! When all was said and done, it was bought merely for the sake of a face.

They would not reap even the slightest benefit from it.

Listening to the indignant protests of the elders, Leng Yanzhi's face turned ashen, and he rebuked sternly, "Enough."

True to his word, the room instantly quieted down considerably upon his command.

"Do you all feel the estate is not chaotic enough? Qing'er is an outstanding talent among our younger generation. What harm is there in making a slightly larger investment? Is there any need for all your endless petty criticisms?"

Whenever Qing'er made contributions to the family, why had none of these fellows reacted with such intensity?

Besides, Qing'er was not spending their money. These old foxes simply could not bear to see the main branch make even the slightest misstep.

Years ago, when the family received the distress signal sent out by Leng Qing'er and the others, they had hastily dispatched nearby clansmen to assist, only to arrive a step too late.

Both children had been completely fine when they left, yet they had returned nursing heavy injuries. Fortunately, their lives were spared; otherwise, the Leng family truly could not have weathered the blow.

They had thought the matter was over, but someone had leaked the details, maliciously spreading that Leng Qing'er had squandered fortunes at an auction purely for her own selfish desires, resulting in Leng Zimo being gravely injured and ending up with neither the person nor the wealth.

Thus, today's scene had unfolded.

One elder still refused to yield to Leng Qing'er, saying with a sinister chill, "Even the family head cannot be so partial to Miss Qing'er. Excellent though she may be, rules cannot be discarded."

"Indeed, Family Head."

Soon, others chimed in in agreement.

Glaring at them, Leng Yanzhi stamped his foot in fury. Did these people intend to drive Qing'er to her death?

He shouted angrily, "Qing'er has already suffered injuries! What more do you want from her?"

"Family Head, it is not that we harbor animosity toward Miss Qing'er, but the rules of the family cannot be compromised. Therefore, we hope the Family Head will rescind Miss Qing'er's elder equity shares."

"..."

Listening to these cold and merciless words only fueled Leng Yanzhi's rage even further.

Truly a pack of old foxes.

Making such a massive fuss was entirely for the sake of petty gains; didn't they just want to gorge themselves on a larger share of the profits? Was there any need to beat around the bush so extensively?

It had been exceptionally difficult for Qing'er to earn the qualification to join the Elders' Council, and they expected to push her out over a single mistake? They were dreaming.

"Impossible," Leng Yanzhi stated firmly. His daughter had given so much for the Leng family; it was high time she received some returns.

Yet the elders were unwilling to let the matter rest. Having finally found an opportunity to suppress the momentum of the main branch, how could they possibly back down now?

"If the Family Head acts thus, are you not afraid of dissent among the ranks?"

Unsatisfactory voices grew louder and louder, leaving Leng Yanzhi momentarily at a loss for what to do.

At that moment, an ethereal and youthful voice drifted from afar. Leng Qing'er followed the voice as she arrived, and with a trace of suppressed anger, she said, "For the esteemed elders to be so impatient in pronouncing judgment upon Qing'er, I am truly flattered."

"Miss Qing'er exaggerates, we are merely upholding family rules. I believe that even if Miss Qing'er's elder privileges are revoked today, she will one day reclaim them with her own hands."

The elder who spoke cast a haughty, sidelong glance at Leng Qing'er, eager to strip her of her authority as an elder on the spot. In their eyes, what right did a mere female like Leng Qing'er have to sit on equal footing with them?

Instead of anger, Leng Qing'er smiled, a captivating and dangerous glint surfacing on her cold features. "The Second Elder thinks very highly of Qing'er indeed. These elder privileges—Qing'er can lay them down, but..."

Leng Qing'er paused, sweeping her gaze across the crowd before continuing:

"It is just that Master himself mentioned he would be coming to the estate to visit Qing'er. If by then Master learns that Qing'er has been wronged and makes some impulsive decision, it might not end well."

Leng Qing'er's words dealt the final, fatal blow to the crowd. Though they wished to strip Leng Qing'er of her status in the Elders' Council, offending Elder Gong would result in losses far outweighing any gains.

Helplessly, they had to abandon this opportunity, trading the backing of Elder Gong of the Southern Medical Academy for the three million five hundred thousand taels. Though it still pinched their hearts with pain, it was ultimately worth it!

And so, the incident concerning Leng Qing'er came to a close.

As the elders dispersed, only the father and daughter, Leng Yanzhi and Leng Qing'er, remained.

Only then did Leng Yanzhi look at Leng Qing'er with a heavy, earnest gaze and say, "Qing'er, you were indeed far too impulsive this time!"

While outsiders were present, it had been inconvenient for Leng Yanzhi to speak harshly to her. Now that only the two of them were left, a sense of deep vexation welled up in his heart.

Three million five hundred thousand gold coins! In the end, it was all wasted effort like trying to scoop water with a bamboo basket. Anyone witnessing this would feel their heart ache.

Even a family head as seasoned as Leng Yanzhi felt acute agony over such a sum.

"It is Qing'er who has disappointed Father."

The same Leng Qing'er who had just faced down the elders with unyielding arrogance now looked as docile and obedient as a wilted kitten.

"However, Father may rest assured, whatever was snatched from my hands, Qing'er will reclaim it." The aura around Leng Qing'er shifted abruptly.

That night was a dream she could never forget for the rest of her life.

On that day, she had finally managed to win the Rejuvenation Pill she had dreamed of at an auction, only to have it intercepted midway. Not only was the treasure lost, but both she and her brother had sustained severe injuries.

Furthermore, she had encountered His Highness Prince Yu, who possessed the demeanor of a deity—yet it had happened under such circumstances.

Therefore, she could not forget it... and she never would.

Watching Leng Qing'er's fierce and unyielding expression, Leng Yanzhi let out a long sigh and comforted her:

"Do not dwell on it too much. After all, you still have Elder Gong as your master; those old fogies would not dare truly harm you! Just focus on your cultivation, and hopefully, you can enter the academy sooner."

At these words, a warm current swept through Leng Qing'er's heart: "Your daughter understands." Indeed, within this household, she still had her father to rely upon.

"How are your injuries?" Leng Yanzhi asked with concern. "Logically speaking, your cultivation is not low; how could you be left entirely powerless? And Zimo as well—just who on earth did you encounter?" Could it be some reclusive master?

The cultivation levels of Leng Qing'er and Leng Zimo, viewed across the entire Fengyue Kingdom, were virtually at the peak of the younger generation. How could they have been so easily suppressed? He simply could not fathom it.

Leng Qing'er lowered her gaze slightly, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. "I am not certain either, but I can dare swear that person is definitely an alchemist."

"An alchemist?" Leng Yanzhi was deeply shocked. "How on earth did you provoke an alchemist?"

Leng Qing'er shook her head.

"That person possessed a drug capable of draining one of all cultivation. If not for that poison, my brother and I would never have been left completely paralyzed."

It was the first time in her life Leng Qing'er had encountered such a situation. Being left entirely without the ability to fight back in the face of an enemy—that was the greatest threat of all.

Consequently, this incident only hardened her resolve regarding the path of alchemy. Once she too became an alchemist, she would have no trouble mastering supreme arts.

"You mean to say that person poisoned you both, which is why you were restrained?" The family head found it hard to believe. He had thought it merely an ordinary ambush; how had it become entangled with an alchemist?

Ordinarily, a normal alchemist should not bother themselves with juniors. Even if they coveted Qing'er's Rejuvenation Pill, they should not have resorted to outright robbery!

"Are you certain?" The family head's gaze was filled with suspicion.

Leng Qing'er nodded heavily. "My brother can testify to this."

At first, she had refused to believe their assailant was an alchemist, but upon reflection, who else could cause two cultivators to fall prey simultaneously without warning?

With the matter brought to this point, Leng Yanzhi had no choice but to believe it for the time being.

A sinister light flickered in his eyes, a chilling flash of murderous intent passing through them before he regained his composure. "If it truly is an alchemist, our Leng family cannot afford to provoke them. We can only swallow this bitter pill."

The family head's words struck Leng Qing'er's heart like blocks of ice, lingering and difficult to disperse.

Was she simply to swallow this injustice without a word? No, absolutely not. How could she, Leng Qing'er, leave a grievance unavenged?

An alchemist! Hmph! Soon enough, she too would become an alchemist whom others envied!

When that day arrived, no one would ever dare bully her at whim again.

As for those elders of the Leng family, she would deal with every single one of them in due time—not to mention that man in black...!

They should all just wait.

Leng Yanzhi's heavy eyelids suddenly closed, then snapped open once more, clear as still water. "I am going to check on your brother. Come along."

Outside a certain pavilion, Leng Zimo wore a dark cloak, holding a brush and sketching something.

"Brother." Leng Qing'er's voice broke Leng Zimo's train of thought.

Lifting his gaze, he saw Leng Qing'er supporting Leng Yanzhi as they entered. Leng Zimo hastily laid aside what he was holding and scrambled to his feet.

"Father, why have you come?" His eyelids twitched suddenly.

"I've come to see how your injuries are healing. You went out on a trip and nearly lost your life out there—do you find this worthy of all the years I've spent cultivating you?" Leng Yanzhi held nothing back, launching into a thorough reprimand the moment he opened his mouth.

Lowering his gaze, Leng Zimo replied, "It is this son who caused Father worry. It is my fault, but Father must take good care of his health."

Leng Yanzhi sighed.

"Qing'er says the one who ambushed you was an alchemist. Be careful in your actions from now on; if you ever encounter him again, do not engage him in prolonged combat. The methods of an alchemist are not something you or I can handle."

It wasn't that Leng Yanzhi was exaggerating; alchemists inherently possessed such capabilities.

Although their personal combat cultivation might fall short, they could refine various pills that caused cultivators to fall victim without ever realizing it. Thus, ordinary cultivators were generally unwilling to cross paths with alchemists.

Otherwise, the immensely prominent Medical Underworld Valley would not be coveted by so many.

Hearing this, Leng Zimo furrowed his brows. "Yet this son feels it was not quite the same. Though I lost all my cultivation during the clash, I was still barely able to manage a few defensive moves based on instinct and technique."

"During the exchange, I clearly sensed that the person possessed a ruthless drive, striking deliberately at fatal points—something achievable only through years of relentless combat experience."