Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Upon hearing Huo Wen’an’s instructions to Uncle Xia, Xu Xingguang didn’t stand on ceremony with Huo Wen’an. She said, "Since you’re giving me the usage rights to that building, I’ll turn it into my personal base."

"How do you want to change it?" Huo Wen’an left it entirely up to Xu Xingguang.

Xu Xingguang said, "I want the top two floors to be a herb repository, the second floor to be a research lab, the first floor to be a workshop and office, and a separate room for a music room."

"When I have some time, I’ll personally design a set of blueprints. When the time comes, just have Uncle Xia find craftsmen to build my Medicinal Material Pavilion. As for the locks and mechanisms on each floor, I’ll make those myself."

A workbase designed and modified by herself would be much more satisfactory to use.

Hearing this, Uncle Xia was worried that the Pilot would find Miss Xu hard to please. But Huo Wen’an just lifted the corners of his mouth slightly, in a good mood, and said, "Whatever you want." Huo Wen’an then told Uncle Xia: "Uncle Xia, gather a capable group of craftsmen to assist the madam with her work."

"Understood."

Ye Mingluo, who was observing their conversation, couldn’t help but click his tongue in wonder, remarking, "A Zui, you’re doomed. You will never escape the five mountains of my master in your life. You’re totally whipped!"

Xu Xingguang would say one, and Huo Wen’an wouldn’t say two. Wasn’t he the decisive and resolute Huo Family Leader?

"Yes, I’m totally whipped." Huo Wen’an smiled gently, effortlessly retorting to Ye Mingluo, "Unlike you, a single, smelly bachelor with no hope."

Ye Mingluo’s face darkened, and he swore he must find a girlfriend soon to escape the misery of being single.

Catching a glimpse of Cheng Yue standing guard outside the door, Ye Mingluo suddenly took large strides over, smiling cheekily as he asked Cheng Yue, "Little Yue’er, do you have a favorite brother? If not, how about giving us a try?"

Cheng Yue was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.

Realizing that Ye Mingluo was teasing her, Cheng Yue immediately rolled up her sleeves, revealing biceps more explosive than most men’s, and gave Ye Mingluo a contemptuous smile, "If Doctor Ye can take three punches from me, I’ll give you a try, even in bed."

Ye Mingluo looked at his own skinny arms and legs, his face darkened, and he turned to leave, complaining as he went: "So fierce, be careful you never get married."

Xu Xingguang was amused by Cheng Yue and Ye Mingluo’s antics, and she led Ye Mingluo upstairs.

Entering the elevator, Xu Xingguang teased Ye Mingluo, "Are you interested in Cheng Yue?"

Ye Mingluo shook his head with little expression, dismissively saying, "How could I be? I like fair-skinned, big-breasted, big-butted women who are adventurous in every way."

As refined as his medical skills were, Ye Mingluo’s standards for choosing a mate were just as superficial.

Rolling up the sleeve of his floral shirt, he pinched the soft flesh on his arm, lamenting, "You saw it yourself earlier; Cheng Yue’s body is even more macho than a man’s, not my type."

"Have you seen her muscles?" Xu Xingguang had only shown him the muscles on her arm.

Unexpectedly, Ye Mingluo nodded, "It was many years ago. At the time, Cheng Yue, accused of treason, was subjected to brutal punishment by the military tribunal of M Country and dumped like garbage by the road, becoming a nobody. I happened to pass by and brought her back to the clinic."

"I’m not bragging, but those subjected to such punishment hardly survive. If it weren’t for meeting me, she would have died next to a trash bin." After finishing, Ye Mingluo was a bit sad, muttering, "This thankless girl, I saved her life, and she wants to punch me."

Learning that Ye Mingluo and Cheng Yue had such a connection, she patted Ye Mingluo’s shoulder, praising him, "Our Luo Luo truly has the compassionate heart of a healer."

Saying this, Xu Xingguang rolled up her sleeve, raising her right arm, and with a slight effort, solid and powerful muscles emerged.

Ye Mingluo was awestruck, "Master, how do you have muscles too?"

Xu Xingguang had only woken up for less than a year, so how did she already have such a fit body?

"If you were like me, running weighted five to ten kilometers every morning and training for an hour, you’d have such a body too." She pinched Ye Mingluo’s soft flesh, jokingly saying: "You’re just too weak."

As a doctor, Ye Mingluo often had a day-night reversed lifestyle when focusing on research.

When relaxing, he’d spend 24 hours online if he could. Not only did he not like exercising, but he also loved eating so much that at 36, he hadn’t gotten fat purely due to good family genes.

If any of his parents had an obesity gene, he would undoubtedly be heavy himself by now.

Feeling a bit down, Ye Mingluo said, "I guess I have to get moving too."

"Cheng Yue and the others practice every morning, I’ll have her train you." Patting Doctor Ye’s soft belly, Xu Xingguang said, "It will take just a year, and she can help you build solid muscles."

Ye Mingluo was tempted but hesitated.

"Will I have to get up early?" He said, "Sleeping in is more comfortable."

"Ye Mingluo, you’re hopeless." Thinking that Huo Wen’an would start his rehabilitation training soon, Xu Xingguang decided, "When we return from the Ying Family, you’ll train with A Zui."

Ye Mingluo instinctively wanted to refuse, but then he heard Xu Xingguang say: "I’m a sucker for good looks, and having an ugly disciple affects my mood at work. Watch out, or I might kick you out."

"I can’t have that!" Ye Mingluo was determined to train with Huo Wen’an and Cheng Yue, hoping to become a mature and reliable elite male doctor soon.

Arriving at the temporary studio with Ye Mingluo, Xu Xingguang pointed to the neatly arranged plates of herbs on the long table and said, "The herbs are there. See how many you can recognize."

Ye Mingluo stepped forward to take a closer look.

On the table were three plates: two white jade plates on the left and a porcelain plate on the right.

The left jade plate held a black seed about the size of an egg, with three tender green sprouts on it, resembling potatoes sprouting from the ground.

The second jade plate contained the dried carcass of a flying insect, blood-red in color with serpent head-like patterns on its wings.

The third porcelain plate held a vine with many small, dried fruit, emitting a fresh scent.

After pondering seriously, Ye Mingluo said, "I recognize the first and second herbs; they are the Eternal Life Fruit and Double-headed Snake Butterfly."

Xu Xingguang tested him further: "And their uses?"

"Eternal Life Fruit is a herb with powerful regenerative properties, suitable for treating those severely burned, helping them shed damaged skin and promoting new growth. Additionally, it can help rejuvenate aging organs."

"The Double-headed Snake Butterfly’s effect is quite similar to the Eternal Life Fruit. When used together, they complement each other."

After accurately stating the answers, Ye Mingluo humbly asked Xu Xingguang for guidance: "Master, what’s the vine in the plate?"

He hadn’t finished reading that copy of Jottings, so he recognized few herbs.

Xu Xingguang told him, "The herb on the third plate is called Spring Vine. Strictly speaking, it’s a sentient being, not a herbal material."

"You mean this thing has intelligence?" Ye Mingluo was taken aback, "Does it think?"

Ye Mingluo had never heard of plants having cognitive abilities.

"Don’t believe it?" Xu Xingguang pointed to a black glass bottle on the table, "There’s some blood in that bottle. Put a few drops on the plate and see."

Curious, Ye Mingluo opened the black bottle, poured a few drops of blood onto the porcelain plate.

Just as the blood landed, the vine, which Ye Mingluo thought was a dried herb, began to twitch. Numerous tiny strands emerged from the small fruit on the vine, rushing wildly to the blood, absorbing it clean in a blink.

Witnessing this, Ye Mingluo felt his scalp tingle, instinctively stepping back, "What is this thing?"

"The plant is called Purifying Vine. Generally, dying organs are mostly hardened, and this thing absorbs the hardened tissues, injecting special regenerative secretions to promote rebirth. If handled correctly, it can become a top-tier herb; if not, it may become a lethal weapon."