Chapter 674: 564 Regret, far inferior to Ying Zijin [2 updates]

The steward looked back in confusion, finding Lin Qingjia still sitting in her original spot, holding her coffee cup in a daze.

“Miss Lin, what’s wrong?”

“I thought this Mr. Wen looked quite familiar,” Lin Qingjia quickly came to her senses, “I almost mistook him for someone else, please excuse me.”

She smiled lightly, her eyes clear.

Still that gentle and warm demeanor, without a hint of embarrassment or awkwardness.

Having stayed in the Lin family, a major clan of ancient martial artists that wouldn’t blink at devouring others, and not being a direct lineage family member, Lin Qingjia had long since mastered the art of being all things to all people.

“Familiar?” Adele, who had been following Wen Tinglan for a while and also understood Chinese, asked, “Tinglan, do you know her?”

Wen Tinglan remained calm, “No, I don’t.”

Lin Qingjia pursed her lips, keeping her expression unchanged.

“Mr. Wen certainly doesn’t know me, as Miss Lin has always been in the Ancient Martial World, a closed society,” the steward smiled, “If you’d like to visit, Miss Lin can show you around.”

“She is the eldest miss of the Lin family, with a status among the top in the Ancient Martial World.”

Wen Tinglan’s response was still indifferent, “Very impressive?”

“Not impressive, just a false reputation,” Lin Qingjia interrupted with a slight smile, “There are many things beyond my control.”

“I didn’t bring anything too valuable as a gift,” she took out two sandalwood boxes and pushed them forward, “These are some elixirs I refined myself. If you don’t mind, please accept them.”

“Indeed, they’re not that valuable,” Adele, munching on a lollipop, took a glance and spoke her mind, “I’ve seen much better medicine than yours.”

Ying Zijin had taken her and Wen Tinglan to the Ancient Martial World, to the Ye family’s place.

Naturally, Adele had seen the medicine refined by Ying Zijin.

Ancient Medicine and Alchemy shared some similarities, yet were also quite different upon closer examination.

Though Adele had only been exposed to Alchemy, she could still tell the quality of the pills.

They were far inferior to her sister’s.

“I apologize,” Lin Qingjia’s smile was unchanged, tinged with a hint of regret, “I rushed here and didn’t have any particularly valuable medicine at home.”

“How about this, you can give me an address and I’ll send some medicine over later.”

“No need, we aren’t lacking,” Adele waved her hand, “We’ve met, so we’ll be leaving now.”

Without waiting for the steward to interject, she grabbed the young man beside her and left the cafe.

After a long silence, Wen Tinglan finally spoke again, “Adele, do you think I look like that Miss Lin?”

“Look alike?” Adele stared at him for a while, “I can’t tell.”

She muttered under her breath, “I think all you Eastern people look quite similar, but of course, you’re among the good-looking ones. I have good taste, right?”

The corner of Wen Tinglan’s forehead twitched, his lips pressed slightly downwards, “That’s quite good.”

After all, Adele, a Westerner, was face-blind when it came to Eastern people.

And he was nearly the same.

Even to this day, he thought his two upperclassmen looked alike, but his classmates said they were completely different.

If he had known he would meet Lin Qingjia today while accompanying Adele, he definitely would not have come.

**

The Ancient Martial World.

On her way back to the Lin family, Lin Qingjia was somewhat distracted.

Her hands clenched slightly.

Wen Tinglan had a psychological barrier, and the fact that he had recovered was already a surprise to her, and now he was even able to attend Norton University?

The head of the Taylor family had already filled her in about how formidable Norton University was.

The Operations Department of Norton University was beyond any S-grade mercenary troops.

Lin Qingjia pursed her lips and sighed softly, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable, and inevitably a bit regretful.

The Ancient Martial World’s law of the jungle taught her that connections were everything, which is why she always had to maintain her persona.

But Wen Tinglan’s attitude earlier clearly showed he was unwilling to have any interaction with her.

What a pity.

“Qingjia,” Lin Jinyun put down his book, his tone kind, “Did you meet the prodigy from Norton University that the head of the Taylor family talked about?”

Lin Qingjia nodded slightly, “I did, they’re indeed all young geniuses.”

“How’s the situation?”

“Father, they’re from the Mechanical Department, not much help to us. I didn’t meet anyone from the Alchemy or Astrology Departments.”

“The Mechanical Department, huh,” Lin Jinyun furrowed his brows, “Well, it’s good to make their acquaintance anyway.”

Nuclear bombs could indeed level the Lin family.

But without the guidance of an ancient martial artist, outsiders couldn’t even enter.

Unable to enter the Ancient Martial World, they couldn’t cause any harm to it.

At the moment, students from the Mechanical Department weren’t of much help to them.

Lin Qingjia smiled, “Father is right, connections are important.”

She slightly lowered her head, her eyelashes casting a shadow.

At least Wen Fengmian, no matter what, couldn’t compare to Lin Jinyun.

The Ji Family was just a scientific research family in the Secular World, how could they compete with the Lin Family?

If the Ancestor of the Lin Family were to emerge, they could effortlessly destroy a major city with a population of millions.

Her choice had been correct.

“By the way, the Great Elder is looking for you,” Lin Jinyun added, “After you meet with him, I’ll accompany you to the Ancient Medical Field.”

The several types of herbs Lin Qingjia needed were only available from the Tea Saint.

They must meet with the Tea Saint.

Lin Qingjia excused herself and went to see the Great Elder.

On the meditation cushion, the Great Elder sat cross-legged and lifted his head, “You’ve come, Qingjia, it’s still about your mother. The Ancient Divine Doctor and your Master couldn’t cure her, you know what to do now, don’t you?”

An Roujin was a madwoman, and it was no longer appropriate for her to stay with the Lin Family.

Lin Jinyun had already divorced his wife.

Lin Qingjia spoke up, “In the Imperial Capital, there’s a specialized hospital called a mental hospital, and there are professionals who manage it. We can send my mother there.”

She couldn’t bear An Roujin any longer.

An Roujin, a madwoman, was now hurting people indiscriminately.

An Roujin had schemed her whole life and never expected to end up like this.

“That’s fine,” the Great Elder waved his hand dismissively, “Your mother was originally a commoner; there’s no need for her to stay in the Ancient Martial World any longer. Have the Guard send her to that hospital you mentioned, and pay for her lifelong care.”

“What happens to her from now on will no longer be our concern.”

Lin Qingjia bowed with a fist in hand, “Now that the matter is resolved, Qingjia shall take her leave.”

The Great Elder watched her silhouette and furrowed his brow.

Had Lin Qingjia truly been of the Lin Family, with her capabilities, she could have certainly taken on the role of the Family Head, but she wasn’t one of them.

This, indeed, was a troublesome matter.

No matter how much the Great Elder liked Lin Qingjia, he believed that blood ties were more important.

He thought it over and decided to discuss with the other elders of the Lin Family; it would be best to marry Lin Qingjia off to a member of the Main House.

**

On January 6th, several departments at Imperial Capital University had already finished their exams and were on holiday.

Ji Li’s biochemistry experimental class still had six exams to go.

After settling the matters of the Ji Family, she was able to focus on her studies.

Ying Zijin, carrying meals prepared by Madam Ji, went to deliver them to Ji Li.

After the delivery, she informed Wen Fengmian and then headed to the Ancient Martial World.

She planned to use the month-long winter break to start Closed-Door Cultivation.

But such a short period was probably not enough for her to make a breakthrough to Ancient Martial Grandmaster.

Ying Zijin turned her head, “What do you think about me entering a life-and-death battle? This way, the increase in cultivation will indeed be very fast.”

Hearing these words, Fu Yunshen’s gaze suddenly deepened, “You promised me not to take risks.”

“Just asking,” Ying Zijin propped her head with her hand, “Thinking about how to increase my cultivation faster.”

“Doesn’t Ancient Medicine have a saying about ‘Yin Yang Balance and Harmony’? And don’t the books mention ‘Dual Cultivation’?” Fu Yunshen tugged at his collar with a mischievous smile, “Shall I help you cultivate?”

Ying Zijin shot him a glance, “You’ve been reading too many cultivation novels.”

Such things simply didn’t exist on Earth.

It wasn’t like the Spirit Cultivation World where essence like Spirit Qi existed.

Fu Yunshen propped his head, feeling helpless, “Alright, just teasing you, don’t take it seriously.”

The little girl was getting harder to tease and even liked to reason with him now.

After Fu Yunshen sent Ying Zijin to the Pill Alliance, he went to the Judicial Hall.

The Elders Council and the devoted members of the Judicial Hall were also surprised; why had Ying recently been spending so much time at the Judicial Hall when she used to be unseen for two years?

Ying Zijin collected medicine from the Pill Alliance and returned to the Ye Family.

At this time, there were other people still present at the Ye Family’s home.

Ying Zijin paused momentarily, sensing the fluctuations of Inner Strength.

“Miss Ying,” Ye Ling quickly approached, “They…”

“Are you that Alchemist, Ying Zijin?” The middle-aged man stepped forward, “Let me introduce myself; I am the Guard Captain of the Ancient Martial Xu Family, our Ancestor has two hundred and eight years of Ancient Martial Cultivation.”

With the Ancestor possessing such cultivation, the Xu Family was a mid-sized clan in the Ancient Martial World, on par with the Ling Family.

“Our Family Head is ill and needs a certain elixir, which only Miss Qingxue, Young Master Foo Chen, and you are capable of refining,” the middle-aged man continued, “We ask you to accompany us to the Xu Family; we will provide the herbs.”

Ying Zijin didn’t even raise her head, “Not going.”

“Don’t think just because you refined a pill and have some fame in the Pill Alliance that you are something special. Do you realize how far behind you are from Miss Qingxue?” the middle-aged man frowned, “Young person, it’s better to be humble. Don’t hold yourself so high and mighty.”