Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Huo Wen’an thought for a moment and said, "Black Porridge."

Xu Xingguang: "..."

"Then let’s call it Black Porridge."

Once the snacks were ready, Xu Xingguang went back to her room to dress up. After getting everything in order, she picked up the meal box and asked the butler to take them to the birthday banquet.

The main residence of the Ying family was on another mountain, and Xu Xingguang and her group took two cable cars to reach the gate of the Ying family’s mountain.

A stone gate made of white jade stood there, inscribed with the words "Hundred Medicine Valley". Stepping through this gate was considered entering the realm of the Ying family.

Behind the gate was a flat field of medicinal herbs, and beyond the field rose a mountain, shaped like a vertical cleaver — thin and sharp.

The butler told them, "Captain Huo, Medicine Farmer Star, just go around that ridge ahead, and you’ll see the ancient city of the Ying family. Our Ying family has lived for generations in this Hundred Medicine Valley."

"Please lead the way, butler."

The butler led all five of them across the path through the herb fields, around the Knife Blade Mountain, and suddenly the view opened up. They stepped onto a flat meadow, overlooking a wide basin below.

An old city with a long history, untouched by the outside world, lay nestled in the basin. In early autumn, ripe persimmons hung on trees taller than the houses, presenting an image of abundant harvest.

Standing from a height, overlooking the ancient city below, Huo Wen’an felt as if he had traveled back to ancient times.

Although Xu Xingguang didn’t speak, she shared the same sentiment as Huo Wen’an.

"Dear guests, let’s take the boardwalk ahead into the city."

Entering the ancient city of the Ying family, seeing that the Ying family members were dressed in modern early autumn attire, Ye Mingluo whispered to Xu Xingguang, "I almost thought we had walked into a historical simulation game, but fortunately, these people’s clothing style is just like ours."

Not only were the clothing styles similar, but the small shop decorations within the ancient city, despite their antiquity, sold all sorts of up-to-date modern products.

Seeing Huo Wen’an and the others, the shop owners sitting at their doorsteps drying herbs greeted them with warm smiles and asked the butler leading them, "Manager Da Kai, are these guests who came from afar to celebrate our old lady’s birthday with us?"

Da Kai nodded and told them, "Yes, they’re all esteemed guests, please speak politely."

"Alright!"

An aunt running a grocery store grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from the basket drying at her door, packed them in a shopping bag, and handed them to Xu Xingguang: "Miss, these are sunflower seeds we grew at home, roasted — they’re fragrant, want to try some?"

It was evident that the city’s residents were simple and hospitable. Xu Xingguang nodded her thanks to Cheng Yue, who then accepted the sunflower seeds with both hands and thanked the aunt.

Along the way, other local residents also gave them things.

There were embroideries, medicinal herbs, as well as food and drink.

Huo Wen’an held an ugly orange, said to be good for the stomach, and after eating a few segments, remarked, "This orange tastes good, we should buy some before we leave."

Upon hearing this, the butler said, "Captain Huo, if you fancy anything, just say the word, and we’ll pack it all for you to take back."

"Thank you very much."

Looking up, he saw a six-sided tower towering on the peak of the northern mountain, standing 12 stories high.

"Butler, what is that building?"

The butler looked up towards the peak of the North Mountain, his eyes showing reverence as he gazed at the tower. He said, "That is the Medicine King Tower."

"Medicine King Tower?" Huo Wen’an asked again, "Is there a legend behind this tower?"

The butler respectfully explained, "The Ying family is a noble medical family. Legend has it that over two thousand years ago, there was an incredibly skilled doctor in the Ying family who tasted all the herbs in the world and saved countless lives. He was honored by people as the Medicine King. It is said that the Medicine King Tower houses the life’s work of the Medicine King himself."

"This tower exists to commemorate him."

The butler continued, "Our Ying family has practiced medicine for generations. Those with the strongest talent can learn medicine, and we call them Doctors. Those with lesser talent manage and cultivate our herb fields, and are known as Pharmacists. Those without medical talent are responsible for drying and processing herbs, and we call them attendants."

Embarrassed, the butler scratched his nose and sighed, "I’m one of those without talent, so I can only be an attendant." Looking at the local residents running business on both sides of the street, he added, "They’re just like me, without medical talent."

"When we’re not busy, everyone runs small businesses, staying at home to dry and process herbs. When it’s the season for a large harvest of herbs needing collection, our entire city mobilizes to gather herbs from the fields."