Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Seeing that Qin Long was unwilling to budge, the drunken men could only glare viciously at Zhao Dong before turning to leave.

"You may have dodged this once, but you won't be able to hide forever. Offending our young master means certain death for you!"

Outside the room, the drunk immediately dialed the number for the Xiao Family's steward.

"Boss, we saw Zhao Dong!"

"Zhao Dong?" An ominous voice came from the other end of the line. "You let him go?"

"We wanted to make a move, but Qin Long was protecting him, so we didn't dare act rashly," the drunk said, his tone bitter.

"Qin Long? How did he end up getting mixed up with Zhao Dong?"

"No matter. Qin Long has some background, so you were wise not to act recklessly. I will send assassins to deal with Zhao Dong. Do not take matters into your own hands."

"Yes!" The drunk nodded hastily, put away his phone, and quickly left the hotel.

Back inside the private room, Zhao Dong expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for stepping in, Family Head Qin."

"It's nothing." Qin Long smiled wryly and waved his hand, then said with concern, "Doctor Zhao, the Xiao Family is a colossal entity. How did you manage to offend them?"

Grateful for Qin Long's intervention, Zhao Dong didn't hide anything and laid out the whole story.

When Qin Long and the others learned that Zhao Dong, a Loose Cultivator from East Sea, had once fought Xiao Hongtian to a standstill, they were utterly shocked.

However, when they heard that the feud between Zhao Dong and Xiao Hongtian was over a woman, and that Zhao Dong had no intention of giving up, the expressions on Qin Long and Mrs. Qin's faces suddenly stiffened.

The two exchanged a worried glance. They were all too aware of Xiao Hongtian's power and the Xiao Family's profound resources. Now that Zhao Dong was locked in a mortal feud with them, how could he possibly survive? Once he fell, anyone close to him could be implicated. At that thought, the desire to withdraw flickered in both of their eyes.

However, Zhao Dong had just saved Qin Long's life. If they were to back out now, it would be terribly shameless. They were caught in a dilemma.

Zhao Dong was no fool; their hesitation did not escape his notice.

He picked up his wine cup, drained it in one go, and smiled. "You two needn't trouble yourselves. The affair with the Xiao Family is my business alone."

"If you fear being implicated, you may leave now and draw a clear line between us. I won't hold it against you."

"This…" Qin Long's face filled with bitter guilt. After a moment's hesitation, he gave an awkward smile and began to rise.

But at that moment, Qin Yuyan suddenly stood up. "Father! How can you make such a decision?"

"Yuyan, don't be ridiculous!" Mrs. Qin said urgently, grabbing her daughter's arm. "This matter is far too important. It's not something that can be explained in a few words!"

"What's so important? Aren't you just afraid of being implicated and choosing to protect yourselves?"

Qin Yuyan shook off her mother's hand and stepped up to her father. "Father," she implored, "have you forgotten what you've always taught me? We must show gratitude and repay kindness—that a favor like a drop of water should be returned with a gushing spring!

"Mr. Zhao just saved your life! He's the Qin Family's benefactor! If you sever ties with him now, what will others think of our family? How could we face our own consciences?!"

Her voice rang out, each word striking home.

Her speech made Qin Long and Mrs. Qin flush with shame.

Indeed, Qin Long was an upright man and had always taught his children to act according to their conscience. But how could his current actions possibly align with that teaching? How could he face himself?

He clenched his jaw, finally picking up his cup, gulping down the contents, and slamming it onto the table.

"Yuyan, you're right!" he declared. "A person must be true to their conscience! If it weren't for Doctor Zhao, I'd already be dead. I've already died once; what else is there to fear?"

With that, he looked at Zhao Dong, his gaze firm. "Doctor Zhao, it's getting late. Shall we head to the Pill Market?"

Zhao Dong hesitated for a moment, but meeting Qin Long's determined gaze, he finally gave a wry smile. "Alright. Since Family Head Qin isn't afraid of being implicated, I am more than willing to go with you."

"You are being too serious, Doctor Zhao. Please!"

「The Provincial City Pill Market.」

As Lin Qingyun had said, the Pill Market was enormous.

The stalls here weren't as fixed as those in the herb market, but their numbers were far greater.

A glance revealed a two-kilometer-long street packed with stalls, leaving only narrow paths for pedestrians.

"Family Head Qin, I'd like to browse on my own for a bit. How about we meet at the exit later?"

"Of course," Qin Long agreed with a smile.

With that, Zhao Dong parted from Qin Long's group and ventured deeper into the market alone.

Much like the herb market, the stalls near the entrance were mostly ordinary. The deeper one went, the more crowded the stalls became, and the better the items on display. Furthermore, some renowned Alchemy Masters even displayed their credentials at their stalls.

After a while, a stall surrounded by people caught Zhao Dong's attention.

He walked over and noticed the crowd exclaiming in amazement at a golden pill. The pill was not only a pure gold color but also emitted a rich, fragrant aroma. In the sunlight, one could even see fine runes shimmering on its surface.

Pill Runes!

Behind the Golden Core stood an old man with an immortal bearing. Dressed in white with white hair, he stroked his beard with a pleased expression as he gazed at the pill before him.

"Master Qingfeng truly deserves his reputation as a top Alchemy Master in the Provincial City! This Golden Core is perfect in color and aroma, and it even has Pill Runes. It's truly a divine pill!"

"That's right! Master Qingfeng himself said he spent a full forty-nine days refining this divine pill. It can help a cultivator's progress leap forward by a thousand miles a day, and an ordinary person who takes it can extend their life!"

"Ah, what a pity there's only one Golden Core. We might want it, but I'm afraid we can't compete with those rich tycoons!"

Amid the crowd's exclamations were sighs of regret. Even though they couldn't afford it, they were reluctant to leave. After all, just getting a whiff of such a divine pill was a rare treat!

However, Zhao Dong merely glanced at the pill with a hint of disdain. As he was about to leave, his eyes were drawn to a blue pill, carelessly discarded in a corner.

He looked closer and was immediately overjoyed!

He pushed through the crowd and pointed at the blue pill excitedly. "How much for this? I want to buy this one!"

Master Qingfeng followed his gaze and, seeing the pill he was pointing at, said awkwardly, "Young friend, that's a useless waste pill I came across by accident. It has no value."

"If you want a top-quality pill, how about I recommend some others?"

Hearing this, Zhao Dong shook his head decisively. "No. All the other pills here are subpar. I only want the blue one!"

"Subpar?!" His words immediately enraged the surrounding onlookers.