"Yes!" Jenny nodded in admission.
"The medicinal potency of the Dragon Blood Flower bud has an extremely short shelf life, and my father's condition cannot wait much longer!"
"Alright! I wish you a safe journey!" The smile on Wulin's face was rather forced.
"Thank you!" Jenny fell a bit silent.
"Well then! The Augustus Family in the Eastern Domain Capital — I'll pay them a visit in the future!" Leilin took a sip of flower tea and extended his right hand in a "please" gesture.
"If the sir could come, that would make Jenny the happiest person!"
Jenny's face broke into a smile. "Why not come back with me this time, how about it? My father would certainly love to meet the sir as well!" She glanced at Wulin beside them. "Of course, Big Brother Wulin is welcome too!"
The moment he heard this, Wulin instantly came alive, staring at Leilin with eyes full of anticipation.
"Sorry! I have no desire to travel at the moment!" Leilin refused without the slightest hesitation, causing Wulin's head to droop once more.
At these words, Jenny's expression dimmed. She then bowed politely before gracefully taking her leave.
"What's wrong with you? If you've got nothing to do, get going to work!"
Leilin barked a remark at Wulin.
"Yes, boss!!" Wulin replied listlessly, his entire person looking utterly dejected.
"Heh heh… young people!!!"
Leilin chuckled inwardly.
The Eastern Domain Capital — he would certainly go there. It was not only a political center for ordinary folk but also a gathering place for Wizard schools and factions, concealing even large-scale Wizard markets and the like.
But going there of his own volition and being invited there were two entirely different things.
With his current strength, Leilin was more than capable of charging straight through, but that would inevitably attract unnecessary trouble.
Moreover, until his injuries had fully healed and he had found a reliable method to treat the emotional instability of his warlocks, Leilin preferred not to draw too much attention.
Therefore, quietly entering the Wizard world of the Eastern Domain through the Augustus Family's connections was the most rational course of action.
Through his earlier observations, Leilin had long guessed that Jenny's journey would be anything but smooth. And obviously, she had the same premonition, which was why she had come to invite him along.
He understood deeply that what one cannot obtain is what one cherishes most. That was why he had to wait until the other party had hit a wall a few times and came begging for his help before stepping in — creating just the right impression.
And he even had a ready-made excuse!
Leilin glanced at Wulin, who was sulking nearby, and a faint smile traced the corner of his lips.
A Wizard who had grown weary of the dangers of the Wizard world and had retired to live in seclusion, dragged back into its vortex through his apprentice's entanglements — hmm, that sounded like a pretty good pretext!
As for the age issue? Wizards never judged age by appearance.
Leilin could even adjust his bloodline and endocrine functions to subtly alter his temperament, gaze, and physique, giving himself a few extra years of weathered appearance — enough to fool most Wizards.
…
Jenny's party departed in great haste. Almost as soon as they returned to the small town, they came to say goodbye to Leilin before hurrying on their way once again.
"What's it? Thinking of chasing after them?"
Seeing the carriage gradually fade into the distance while Wulin stood there like a statue, Leilin went over and tossed out a couple more jibes.
Teasing this young fellow every day was one of the few pastimes Leilin had between cultivation and research.
"The Eastern Domain Capital! I'll definitely go there! But not now!!" The flames of hope seemed to burn in Wulin's eyes.
"Boss! No — sir!!! Please train me even harder!!! I want to become a man whose name shakes the entire Eastern Domain! Then I'll go to the Eastern Domain to find Jenny in glory!"
Wulin dropped to one knee, and from his eyes blazed a thirst for power and a fierce ambition!
"Ha ha! Good! I like that look in your eyes! Don't worry, I will certainly 'train' you even more rigorously…" Leilin's smile was thoroughly wicked.
Normally, if things had continued this way, it might well have turned into the classic tale of a small-town youth training hard for years, rising to challenge the Eastern Domain Capital, and winning the hand of a marquis's daughter.
But unfortunately — or perhaps thrillingly — even Wulin himself could never have imagined that his reunion with Jenny would come so soon!
That very night after Jenny's departure, Wulin — who had been tortured and tormented by Leilin the entire day — had just climbed onto his rickety bed to enjoy a well-earned sleep when a frantic knocking jolted him awake.
"Wulin! Master Leilin!" It was a woman's voice, filled with panic, and it was a voice Wulin could never forget even in death.
"It's Jenny!" He sprang up in an instant and flung open the shop's front door.
Outside, Jenny stood drenched in blood. On the ground lay Jemos, but the poor old man had a gaping hole in his chest and several arrows jutting from his back — by the looks of him, he would not survive the night.
"Wulin! Go find Master Leilin! Save…"
The moment Jenny saw Wulin, the tension drained from her face, and she collapsed unconscious.
"Hey — someone tell me what the hell is going on?!" Wulin stared at the soft, limp female body crumpled in his arms, his expression on the verge of collapse.