Doctor Zhao glared at the medicinal apprentice and said angrily, "What if they’re fighting? Do they dare to fight their way here to me?"
His reputation was well-established, and he didn’t get involved in others’ disputes, so others didn’t want to offend him.
But the medicinal apprentice had a mournful expression and said, "Doctor Zhao, those people are from the Lu Family and the Polar Treasure Meeting! These past days, many martial artists from the Lu Family have been seen around Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, presumably to search for Young Master Lu..."
Doctor Zhao suddenly understood; he kept to himself, never venturing outside, never caring about the local situation.
However, he had inquired about the incident in Yuzhou City from the medicinal apprentice after Lu Chen left, so he knew about it.
Now that the Lu Family’s martial artists were getting into fights, could it be that the other party was Lu Chen’s backup?
"Who are the Lu Family fighting?"
He posed the question to the medicinal apprentice but looked toward Lu Chen. Seeing Lu Chen’s deeply furrowed brow, he realized his guess was wrong.
"I recognized them, they’re from the Polar Treasure Meeting!"
The medicinal apprentice said urgently, while Doctor Zhao’s face underwent a drastic change!
"How did the Polar Treasure Meeting end up fighting with the Lu Family?"
He knew not only about the Polar Treasure Meeting but understood their modus operandi as well.
An organization focused on acquiring wealth by any means necessary.
"The Polar Treasure Meeting... what is that?"
Lu Chen, too, had never heard of this organization but faintly felt it must be closely related to Xu Yueru!
"The Polar Treasure Meeting, true to its name, pursues various valuable treasures and then sells them to those in need. Could it be that the Lu Family possesses some sort of treasured artifact?"
Doctor Zhao was surprised, but he no longer suspected Lu Chen.
However, Lu Chen knew that both parties might have discovered his whereabouts!
Carrying the treasured bead, Lu Chen would never let anyone know about it.
He usually wore an eyepatch to cover his left eye.
It was also because the Polar Treasure Meeting did not know where he had hidden the jade pendant, and because the bead was currently black, completely unlike the jade pendant, that he had not been suspected.
The only person who had suspected him, Xu Yueru, died on the spot.
"Doctor Zhao, could I take refuge here for the time being? After all, the grudge between the Lu Family and me..."
"I know, I know," Doctor Zhao nodded, saying, "You can stay here as long as you want; it won’t be too late to leave once the commotion has died down."
He agreed without hesitation and then instructed the medicinal apprentice, "Take Young Master Lu to the study in my underground chamber."
"Yes, Doctor Zhao!"
"Young Master Lu, please follow me quickly!"
The medicinal apprentice might have looked young but acted much like Doctor Zhao’s own butler.
Lu Chen followed him into the main hall, while Doctor Zhao walked to the doorway.
...
"Young Master Lu, aside from me, no one has ever entered Doctor Zhao’s place. If you find it dull, you might as well read some of Doctor Zhao’s books. If there’s any situation outside, I’ll come and notify you!"
The medicinal apprentice said cheerfully to Lu Chen, then left the secret room, locking the door behind him.
Immediately, the place was engulfed in darkness.
Lu Chen was at a loss for words. How could he read books when he couldn’t see his own hands?
Fortunately, he had the treasured bead. Once he lifted the eyepatch, everything around him became clearly visible.
In front of him stood several tall bookshelves.
With a slight circulation of spiritual power, the titles on the books became clear at a glance.
Most were medical texts, which didn’t interest Lu Chen, and he merely scanned them casually.
But suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, his eyes focusing intently on one book.
"Common Spiritual Medicine Identification"!
A thought struck his mind; he had found many spiritual medicines in the mountains, but he didn’t recognize any of them.
Moreover, since he didn’t have a jade case, he’d left them where they were.
Even if he discounted the spiritual medicines from Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, entering the Tianyuan Abyss meant he wouldn’t be ignorant upon encountering spiritual medicines.
Besides, he would eventually break through the Qi Refinement Realm, and at that time, he could use spiritual medicines.
With nothing better to do, he might as well read!
After all, the medicinal apprentice had said he could browse these books!
With this thought in mind, Lu Chen became engrossed.
With no light in the secret chamber, day and night were indistinguishable.
Lu Chen, with his remarkable memory, identified all the spiritual medicines he had encountered in Ten Thousand Demon Mountain in the book.
The last one he found was that purple flower bud with nine leaves!
"Nine Leaf Purple Flower!"
"One of the rare spiritual medicines that can be directly consumed to purge impurities from the body, beneficial for ordinary people, martial artists, and cultivators alike, with myriad benefits and no harm!"
"The only flaw is that it blooms for only a very short period, making it extremely difficult to preserve. From maturity to the fall of the flower, there is only one day!"
Lu Chen’s breathing quickened.
Because according to the description in the book, judging by the state of the flower bud, it seemed it would mature within the next few days!
If he missed this chance, he might find it again in the future.
But for him at the moment, it was an extremely rare opportunity!
"Should I... make another trip back to Ten Thousand Demon Mountain?"
As Lu Chen was hesitating, light suddenly shone from outside, and Doctor Zhao entered with a grave expression, "Young Master Lu, it looks like you’ll have to stay here a bit longer!"