Huang Quan’s decision to step back from the investigation showed her willingness to consider the larger implications of her actions and respect the college’s rules and discipline. She left without saying anything more, and the dean sighed as he watched her retreating figure.
He couldn’t help but wonder if it was suitable for Huang Quan and His Highness to be together, given their cold and ruthless natures.
Huang Quan stayed true to her word and refrained from intervening in the investigation, leaving the matter entirely to the academy. Even when the students who returned from the training experience visited her, she didn’t inquire about the details. Nangong Mian, on the other hand, met with the dean several times.
One day, as Nangong Mian sat down next to Huang Quan after being called by the dean, he mentioned, “The academy already has a plan in mind.”
Huang Quan looked up at him and responded, “Third brother.”
Nangong Mian reassured her, “I just said it casually. Don’t overthink it.” He wanted to convey to her that they had some leads now, rather than being completely in the dark.
Nangong Mian continued, “By the way, I received news that Qin Yang arrived at the Qin family’s residence in the morning and entered the palace shortly after. If nothing unexpected happens, he will come to the academy tomorrow. Logically, he should have arrived a few days ago. I don’t know why he’s coming today.”
Huang Quan dismissed his concerns, saying, “Don’t worry about him.” She then looked at Nangong Mian and asked, “Are you almost finished with your cultivation?”
Nangong Mian nodded, “Yes.”
Huang Quan suggested, “Since you’re almost done, let’s go practice.”
Nangong Mian agreed, “Alright, I understand.”
After saying that, Nangong Mian got up and left to practice.
As Nangong Mian departed, Huang Quan continued to examine the elixir recipe in her hand. Common elixir recipes were neatly compiled into books and readily available for purchase in the Zhongzhou Continent. However, rare elixir recipes were not openly sold. What’s more, there were many precious elixir recipes that had been lost to time.
Huang Quan possessed the knowledge and skills to refine elixirs, producing the purest concoctions. Nonetheless, she hailed from a different world, and her elixir recipes differed from this world’s. Not only were there discrepancies in the recipes themselves, but also in the availability of medicinal ingredients. Therefore, Huang Quan had been immersed in studying elixir recipes for the past few days. She had memorized all the recipes for common elixirs and was familiar with the required ingredients.
While ordinary elixirs posed no challenge, those coveted elixir recipes remained elusive. Huang Quan contemplated where to find them. Lost in her thoughts, she forgot about Qin Yang.
However…
After reading for a while, Huang Quan suddenly closed the book with a snap.
“I can’t remain in the dark about this any longer,” she thought. “Now that I know, I should go see him. Otherwise, he might come to the academy and disturb my third brother’s peaceful practice.”
Huang Quan quickly left a note on the stone table and departed from the yard.
***
At the Qin Mansion.
“Bang!”
Qin Yang slammed his fist onto the table, shattering it in two, causing the items on the table to crash onto the floor.
The servants in the room fell into an uneasy silence, wisely refraining from expressing their anger.
“The emperor of this mere country doesn’t even take the second prince seriously!” The followers from the Tianqi Empire who had accompanied Qin Yang back were seething with anger. One of them scoffed, “They have no fear of the second prince’s inquiries.”
“They might not fear the second prince, but that emperor dreads provoking the academy,” another remarked.
A third young man sneered and added, “But even if he’s afraid, we certainly aren’t.”
Once he finished speaking, he turned his gaze toward Qin Yang. “Master Qin, please don’t be disheartened. The second prince sent us to assist you in avenging your father. With us here, your father’s murderers won’t escape.”
Qin Yang’s eyes, once filled with rage and malice, seemed to soften a bit as the man reassured him. “I’m grateful to both of you for your help. My father’s vengeance will be obtained.”
