DPSDH 35

Chapter 35

The World Medicine Alliance

“Your Highness, from yesterday until now, Zhong Jian still hasn’t sent back any news.”

Qing Yi lowered his voice as he spoke to Prince Jun.

The day before yesterday, Zhong Jian had still managed to send word back, saying that although Miss Fu had encountered some trouble in the mountains, everything was still alright.

But from yesterday until now, there had been no news at all.

“Mm. We wait,” Prince Jun said.

“These past few days, we’ve intercepted more than ten groups of people,” Qing Yi said worriedly. “But the people we stopped were all connected to those few…”

Those few naturally referred to the people powerful and influential enough to oppose Prince Jun openly.

Those people clearly did not want Fu Zhaoning to complete her task and leave the mountain safely.

In reality, the person they wanted to deal with was Prince Jun.

But as for smaller figures—or people who personally held grudges against Fu Zhaoning—they had no clear way of tracking them.

“Isn’t Zhong Jian there?” Prince Jun replied.

Qing Yi wanted to say that Zhong Jian alone might not be able to protect Miss Fu.

But seeing that Prince Jun clearly did not wish to continue the topic, he silently closed his mouth.

The sound of rapid horse hooves approached again.

This time, the newcomers all wore dark reddish-brown embroidered uniforms with black waist belts.

Even their sword scabbards were uniform black designs carved with beast patterns.

Black wrist guards. Black boots.

Even their saddles were black.

They looked imposing and solemn.

“The Dragon Shadow Guards!”

Deputy General Liu and the others immediately changed expressions when they saw them.

Wasn’t it said that the Dragon Shadow Guards would only arrive at Prince Jun’s Residence after the results were announced?

They had originally planned to strip Fu Zhaoning of her qualification before the Dragon Shadow Guards arrived.

If Prince Jun’s marriage became invalid, then he would no longer qualify to inherit the item left behind by the Grand Emperor Emeritus.

But now the Dragon Shadow Guards had actually come to Luoyue Mountain as well.

That made it far harder for them to tamper with things.

“Divine Doctor Li, what do we do now?”

Several imperial physicians quietly lowered their voices and nervously asked Divine Doctor Li.

This was Divine Doctor Li’s first time seeing the Dragon Shadow Guards.

Back then, the Grand Emperor Emeritus had personally established this hidden guard force.

They would not pass to the next emperor together with the throne.

They would only obey the holder of the Zhao Kingdom Imperial Seal.

And right now, that seal was in Prince Jun’s hands.

“Prince Jun truly has something wrong with him! Such a tiny matter, yet he actually summoned the Dragon Shadow Guards. Ridiculous!”

Divine Doctor Li secretly ground his teeth in hatred.

The pressure brought by the Dragon Shadow Guards was so intense that even he hardly dared breathe loudly.

“Please be careful. Are words like that something you can casually say?” the imperial physicians hurriedly warned him.

If Prince Jun or the Dragon Shadow Guards heard him, there would definitely be consequences.

“It’s fine. Even if the Dragon Shadow Guards came, they don’t understand medicine or herbs anyway. Heh…”

Divine Doctor Li smiled darkly.

This was within his professional field.

There were plenty of tricks he could still use.

What was there to fear?

But before he could finish feeling pleased with himself, he saw the Dragon Shadow Guards dismount together and move to stand beside Prince Jun.

Behind them, several more carriages arrived.

From the first carriage stepped down an elderly man dressed in dark blue embroidered robes.

His appearance was understated yet noble.

Everything he wore looked brand new.

In his hand, he even carried a small medicine scale made entirely of gold.

“How did this old fellow end up here too?”

The moment Divine Doctor Li saw him, his expression darkened again.

The others, however, did not dare neglect him.

They quickly stepped forward to greet him respectfully.

“Elder Ji, why have you come as well?”

“Elder Ji, it’s been many days since we last saw you.”

“Elder Ji…”

When Qing Yi saw the old man, he also looked surprised.

“Your Highness, Elder Ji is here too.”

Prince Jun looked over.

Ji Xinwei.

An elder of the World Medicine Alliance.

The World Medicine Alliance controlled nearly eighty percent of the medicinal herb trade.

Moreover, within the alliance were many experts skilled in identifying herbs, locating herbs, and refining medicinal ingredients.

If someone lacked a certain medicine, they could seek help from the World Medicine Alliance.

The alliance could usually find it for them.

Of course, that required both time and a sufficient price.

The Great Elder of the World Medicine Alliance, Ji Xinwei, was especially famous for his vast knowledge of medicinal herbs and his skill in refining them.

Wherever he traveled among the various kingdoms, he received honored treatment.

Many people respected him and did not dare offend him.

Even royal physicians and famous doctors from every nation tried hard to maintain good relations with him.

After all, no matter how superb one’s medical skill was, treatment meant nothing without medicinal herbs.

Ji Xinwei often spent his time buried deep in mountains gathering herbs, digging herbs, and refining herbs.

He rarely appeared in public.

Yet today, he had actually appeared here.

Deputy General Liu and the others all believed Elder Ji certainly had not come because of Fu Zhaoning.

“Lower Moon Valley probably contains many rare herbs, so Elder Ji likely came to gather medicine,” someone guessed.

Divine Doctor Li snorted coldly.

“He’s already such a bag of old bones, yet he still insists on personally entering mountains every day. One day he’ll either fall to his death or get dragged away by wild beasts.”

His grudge against Elder Ji had lasted for many years.

Elder Ji ignored everyone else entirely.

He pushed through the crowd and walked directly toward Prince Jun.

He sized Prince Jun up and seemed slightly displeased by the mask on his face.

“Prince Jun, it’s been over ten years since we last met.”

More than ten years ago, Prince Jun’s people had once gone to the World Medicine Alliance seeking medicine.

The list of required herbs had filled an entire long sheet.

Nobody knew whether this prince had somehow been cursed by bad fortune, because many of the herbs he needed were extraordinarily rare and difficult to find.

It had become the hardest request the alliance had ever accepted.

Even now, they still had not gathered every ingredient.

Still, Prince Jun’s life force was remarkably stubborn.

He had somehow endured until today.

“Elder Ji came this time for…?” Prince Jun asked.

He felt that Elder Ji’s expression toward him seemed a little strange.

There even seemed to be a faint sense of closeness.

One had to know that Elder Ji’s temper was notoriously bad.

He rarely regarded ordinary people highly.

Too many people had tried to get close to him, yet no matter their status, he usually ignored them.

“I’m waiting for my precious disciple!”

Elder Ji lifted his chin proudly.

Prince Jun paused slightly.

“Elder Ji accepted a disciple?”

Everyone else was equally shocked upon hearing the news.

“Elder Ji accepted a disciple? What kind of talented young genius actually caught Elder Ji’s eye?”

Ever since Elder Ji’s eldest disciple had died from illness, he had declared that he would never accept another disciple again.

Countless people had tried sending their younger relatives into the Medicine Alliance to become his disciple, yet every single one had been rejected and disliked by him.

There simply seemed to be nobody he found satisfactory.

And now he had actually accepted a disciple?

“My disciple is very clever, and she suits my eyes perfectly.”

Elder Ji burst into laughter.

“When she comes out, I’ll introduce all of you to her. But in the future, you all better show her a bit more respect. You all know very well that I hate seeing people bully my disciple the most.”

Earlier, he had ignored everyone who greeted him.

But now, the moment he mentioned his disciple, his entire expression changed completely.

Everyone hurriedly agreed.

At the same time, they became even more curious.

Just what kind of person was worthy of such importance from Elder Ji?

“Speaking of which, didn’t the World Medicine Alliance later split apart and produce Tongfu Medicine Hall? Now Tongfu Medicine Hall has branches everywhere across the land. They also control many medicinal herbs. The alliance is no longer as important as before, right?”

Divine Doctor Li always enjoyed opposing Elder Ji.

The moment everyone heard him mention Tongfu Medicine Hall, they all fell silent.

That was because the Situ Family Head who founded Tongfu Medicine Hall had originally betrayed and separated from the World Medicine Alliance.

Over the past few years, Tongfu Medicine Hall had expanded rapidly and constantly tried catching up to the alliance.

The alliance truly had been somewhat suppressed because of it.

“Where did this old dog crawl out from? His mouth smells foul the moment he opens it.”

Elder Ji shot Divine Doctor Li a sideways glance.

“The incense! The incense is almost burned out!”

Someone suddenly shouted.

And at this moment—

Fu Zhaoning still had not appeared.