Chapter 16: The Century-old Dragon Musk Grass

After Lin Yang left, Qin Monong took quite some time to calm the storm of emotions that had nearly overwhelmed her. She then returned her secretary’s call.

“President Qin, something’s happened,” said Zhang Qian.

“Speak,” Qin Monong replied, instantly regaining her usual air of authority.

“Dingsheng Group just sent people over to terminate all cooperation. The shareholders seem to have caught wind of this in advance, and now everyone at the company is demanding that you come in and give them an explanation.”

Qin Monong frowned slightly. “What’s the panic? Today is Murong Zhang’s birthday banquet—a lot of people will be there, trying to curry favor, all eyeing that juicy opportunity. Dingsheng Group pulling out at this moment is nothing more than a test of our sincerity, perhaps an attempt to wrangle more favorable terms.”

“And the shareholders…”

“Tell them all to go home. I’ll handle this myself—it’s not their place to meddle.” As always, Qin Monong was forceful, and hung up directly after speaking.

She washed up, dressed, and headed downstairs, just as Qin Yuyan emerged from her room.

“Mom… I’m sorry. I didn’t listen to you and go stay at the hotel. I don’t want to, it’s filthy,” Qin Yiran said.

“You’re becoming more opinionated lately. If you’re so independent, why stay at home at all? Go out and make your own way,” Qin Monong said coldly.

“I was wrong. I won’t dare again. Please don’t be angry, don’t make me leave!” Qin Yiran was startled, clinging to her mother’s arm and pleading.

“This is the last time,” Qin Monong said, walking a few steps before suddenly turning back. “And from now on, dress properly at home. No more wandering around half-dressed.”

“Why?” Qin Yiran wondered—wasn’t this habit learned from her mother?

“No reason. Just do as I say.” With that, Qin Monong went downstairs, leaving Qin Yiran to return to her room and get properly dressed before coming down.

“Hurry back to school.”

“Alright.” Qin Yiran pouted, then suddenly asked, “Mom, can you take me to the Murong family’s birthday banquet tonight? I want to see what it’s like. Several of my classmates are going.”

Qin Monong hesitated, then nodded.

But just before leaving, Qin Yiran said, “Mom, please seriously consider what I mentioned earlier.”

“That’s enough. Mind your own business and stop making trouble for me. I know how to handle my affairs.”

Qin Monong was at a loss for words, and quickly shooed Qin Yiran away.

Once Qin Yiran was gone, Qin Monong went to the basement and roused Wang Huirong, who was unconscious.

“Madam, are you alright? I’m sorry, I didn’t expect Lin Yang to become so formidable.”

Wang Huirong had lost the use of an arm and a leg, leaving her all but crippled.

“Do one more thing for me: find a powerful expert, whatever it costs, and kill Lin Yang!” Qin Monong’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. Although last night had been pleasurable, it did nothing to quell her resolve to have Lin Yang eliminated; otherwise, she’d forever be under his thumb.

Qin Monong would never allow herself to be controlled by another.

“He was able to injure me so easily—he must have the strength of a fourth-tier fighter. To kill him, at least a fifth-tier expert is needed. I can’t understand how he became so strong!” Wang Huirong still couldn’t fathom it.

Qin Monong was equally bewildered. Lin Yang had been blind and useless just yesterday—how had he risen so suddenly?

“That no longer matters. What matters is that I want him dead.”

Wang Huirong pondered for a moment. “I know someone who can do it—he’s absolutely strong enough.”

“Who?”

“Duan Tiande. He’s a disciple of Grandmaster Jiang Haisheng, greedy and bloodthirsty, and immensely powerful.”

“Contact him. Money is no object. Lin Yang should show up tonight—have Duan Tiande lie in wait nearby. As soon as Lin Yang appears, kill him on the spot,” Qin Monong said ruthlessly.

“Yes, Madam—I’ll see it done.”

Qin Monong called an ambulance to send Wang Huirong to the hospital.

“Lin Yang, don’t blame me for being ruthless. I never intended to have you killed before, but you shouldn’t have forced yourself on me and escaped my control, turning my weakness against me. You must die,” Qin Monong murmured, her eyes narrowed.

She drove to the company to handle the fallout of Dingsheng Group’s termination, and prepared for Murong Zhang’s birthday banquet that evening, hoping to negotiate continued cooperation with Murong Yun.

Losing Dingsheng Group as a partner would trigger a cascade of problems and disrupt her plans to expand Xingyao Group into Nandu Province. Their cooperation was vital.

Meanwhile, Liu Chengzhi was making preparations as well. Zhicheng Group was in dire straits; the solution lay in partnering with Dingsheng Group and leveraging the Murong family’s influence to withstand Hong Changhai’s relentless pressure.

Lin Yang left the Qin family villa, got into the Porsche parked roadside, and returned home first, placing all the clothes Murong Yun had bought yesterday into his wardrobe.

He would attend Murong Zhang’s birthday banquet tonight, and couldn’t show up empty-handed.

Lin Yang planned to visit various pharmacies to buy the medicinal herbs needed for his training.

His master, the Medicine Sage, had taught him a set of techniques called the Dragon Elephant Shaking Heaven Method.

This method was fierce and domineering; at its heights, a single punch could carry the strength of ten dragons and a hundred elephants, able to shake the heavens and overturn the seas.

Training required copious amounts of herbs: external medicinal baths, internal supplements, all combined with the method to enhance his power.

The Medicine Sage’s treasure book contained many recipes for body-tempering baths, tailored to different cultivation stages.

Lin Yang visited several pharmacies but still hadn’t found all the herbs—he was missing the final ingredient, the rare century-old Dragon Saliva Grass.

He arrived at the largest pharmacy in Luocheng—Yixin Hall.

Yixin Hall was the most renowned pharmacy in Luocheng, owned by the famous physician Qi Yixin.

“Do you have century-old Dragon Saliva Grass?”

Lin Yang walked in and asked directly.

“Sir, you’re in luck—we have one stalk of century-old Dragon Saliva Grass, just received yesterday. But it’s quite pricey—four million, eight hundred eighty-eight thousand eight hundred.”

The staff noticed Lin Yang’s designer attire and impressive bearing, and treated him with respect.

“If you’re sincere about buying, four million eight hundred thousand and it’s yours.”

It was indeed expensive, pricier than even century-old ginseng.

But Dragon Saliva Grass was the most crucial ingredient in the body-tempering recipe, irreplaceable—no matter the cost, he had to buy it.

Lin Yang took out his bank card. “Let me inspect it. If it checks out, I’ll pay right away.”

“Certainly! Rest assured, Yixin Hall is a well-established name, known for integrity—we never deal in fakes.”

The clerk beamed, anticipating a generous commission.

She quickly had staff bring out the Dragon Saliva Grass from storage.

It resembled a dragon, about a foot long, with intact roots and a strange medicinal fragrance—its quality was indeed excellent.

“Swipe the card and wrap it up for me.”

The staff moved swiftly, packaging the herb after receiving payment.

Just then, a young girl hurried out from the back and said, “That stalk of Dragon Saliva Grass cannot be sold to him!”