Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Cheng Yue leaned in to smell the incense and said, "It’s fragrant, quite calming." She closed the lid and casually handed the box to Zheng Lie, saying, "It’s for you. You can give it to Zheng Qin and the others later."

Zheng Lie asked her, "Don’t you want it? It’s rare for girls to refuse such pretty little things, isn’t it?"

The incense burner was elegantly and exquisitely designed, and when the incense was lit, the rising smoke created a beautiful scene. Cheng Yue frowned and said, "My dorm is full of swords and weapons; this thing doesn’t fit in at all."

"Besides, I don’t like these fragrant things. Isn’t Zheng Qin currently getting along well with a girl from the town bar? Let him take it to give away."

"That works too."

At this moment, Ye Mingluo suddenly snatched the box from Zheng Lie’s arms and shoved it back into Cheng Yue’s hands. He said, "You are a girl too, keep it. You’ve worked hard during the day, light a little incense at night to sleep more peacefully."

"Besides, for people like you with high-intensity jobs, it’s easy to have nightmares. This is a good thing."

Cheng Yue was momentarily stunned, then tightened her grip on the box.

Zheng Lie asked Cheng Yue, "So, do you still want it?"

Cheng Yue glanced at Ye Mingluo and quietly said, "I’ll keep it for myself."

"Alright."

Xu Xingguang watched the scene with a smile and walked ahead with Huo Wen’an, suddenly asking him, "When Cheng Yue gets married, will you provide a dowry?" Cheng Yue and the others had signed life-and-death contracts with Huo Wen’an, so they were considered his people.

When Cheng Yue really gets married, Huo Wen’an, as her family, should prepare some dowries.

Huo Wen’an also noticed the feelings between Ye Mingluo and Cheng Yue, but both of them were fools, unaware of their own emotions. "That depends on how sincere the groom is."

"True."

The butler had long been waiting outside, and upon seeing them come out, he quickly greeted them. "Captain Huo, Medicine Farmer Star, Doctor Ye, how was dinner? Was it to your taste?"

"Quite good." Huo Wen’an, having health issues, couldn’t eat spicy food. The butler of the Ying Family was considerate and had specially prepared a few dishes for Huo Wen’an.

Noticing the invitation in Xu Xingguang’s hand, the butler was slightly surprised but then smiled and said, "Congratulations to Medicine Farmer Star on receiving the Hundred Medicines Conference invitation."

Ye Ming quickly waved his own invitation and told the butler, "I got one too."

The butler’s smile deepened, "Congratulations to Doctor Ye as well."

On the way back, Xu Xingguang inquired about the schedule and precautions for the Hundred Medicines Conference from the butler.

The butler shared everything he knew with Xu Xingguang in great detail.

The group listened quietly, and after the butler finished explaining the competition rules, Xu Xingguang pointed to the Medicine King Tower on North Mountain and asked the butler, "The top three winners can enter the Medicine King Tower to study?"

"Yes." The butler said with admiration, "Being able to study in the Medicine King Tower is every Ying Family member’s dream."

"So, will we be staying in the Medicine King Tower for five years?"

The butler nodded, "Typically, it’s five years. Next year should be the same."

Ye Mingluo immediately pulled a long face, "Five years is so long, isn’t it even harder than being in prison?"

"Doctor Ye, you’re joking. Just as eager students want to study at Harvard, every researcher of traditional Chinese medicine wishes to further their studies at the Medicine King Tower. It’s a tremendous honor. How could anyone complain about the hardship?"

The butler almost overtly disapproved of Ye Mingluo for not appreciating the opportunity.

Ye Mingluo frowned, still showing no interest in the Medicine King Tower.

Xu Xingguang asked again, "So, during those five years, is it possible to take leave and come out?"

The butler frowned and said, "As far as I know, those who have had the opportunity to study in the Medicine King Tower have never been willing to take leave."

"Is it that strict?" Ye Mingluo murmured, "If there’s a family event like a wedding or funeral, we can’t attend? That’s too inhumane. While researching traditional Chinese medicine to benefit humanity is important, one’s family is also important."

The butler didn’t answer Ye Mingluo’s question, probably thinking Ye Mingluo lacked ambition and was wasting his potential.

"Heh." Ye Mingluo didn’t care about the butler’s attitude. He proactively walked over to the butler, wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and made a gesture of camaraderie.

The butler shrugged that shoulder, but couldn’t shake Ye Mingluo off.

The butler eventually accepted it.

"Butler." Ye Mingluo, like a pesky candy, stuck to the butler, asking strange questions.

He asked, "Since no one goes out, how do they eat?"

The butler thought for a moment, then shook his head, "I’m not qualified to get close to the Medicine King Tower, so I don’t know. But I suppose there’s a dedicated group of people responsible for delivering meals to them."