Hearing this, Luo Xiu reached up to touch the Jade Pendant at his neck and asked, "Where have you seen it before?"

When he was very young, his teacher had told him there were only two such pendants in the world—he had one, and Lin Xiyue had the other.

His teacher had also mentioned that the Jade Pendant was connected to his origins.

Therefore, Luo Xiu was extremely interested in what Li Zihan had to say.

Li Zihan slowly stood, smoothing her stockings back up to her knees. "Strictly speaking," she said, "it wasn't the pendant I saw, but the pattern on it."

"The pattern?"

Li Zihan bent down to pick up her bra from the floor. "You've heard of the Henghai Battle, right?"

"I've heard of it, but I don't know the details."

"It was about ten years ago," Li Zihan said. "I was only eighteen. I'd learned some medicine from my family, and, filled with a desire to serve my country, I signed up to be a field medic."

"While I was there, I treated an injured woman. She had a tattoo on her left breast with a pattern identical to the one on your Jade Pendant."

"How to describe it... The pattern looked like a lotus flower, but also like a roaring fire. In any case, it gave off a mysterious and profound feeling."

Luo Xiu asked, "And then?"

Li Zihan smiled. "There is no 'and then.' She left after she recovered, and I never saw her again."

"She was gravely injured at the time; her chest had been pierced clean through. It should have been a fatal wound. But miraculously, she pulled through. It was a true miracle."

"I was assigned to be her primary caregiver, so I remember her—and that pattern—very clearly."

Luo Xiu looked resigned. "After all that, you've basically told me nothing."

Li Zihan laughed. "It seems you care a great deal."

"I'm just very interested," Luo Xiu replied.

"And, by sheer coincidence, her surname was also Luo. From what I gathered, she was a high-ranking officer."

"Once, when we were chatting, I asked her about the pattern. She said it was a clan sigil, a tattoo worn only by members of her family."

Luo Xiu lowered his gaze. "I see... Thank you for telling me this."

He decided he would find an opportunity to look into it.

"Anyway, that's everything I know," she said.

Luo Xiu smiled. "I'm surprised you went to the battlefield at such a young age."

Li Zihan sighed. "It was a moment of youthful passion. If I could do it over, I definitely wouldn't go."

"Was the battlefield that cruel?"

"Extremely." Li Zihan stared into Luo Xiu's eyes. "It was Hell on Earth."

She seemed to drift away, lost in painful memories. "There," she said slowly, "I was captured by a few deserters. I lost my virginity... They tormented me for two days and two nights. After that, I met my boyfriend."

Luo Xiu fell silent.

He had never expected Li Zihan to have endured such a cruel experience.

"Did you get married afterward?"

"No, we broke up. Our families came from different social standings, so our parents couldn't agree. Besides, he knew what had happened to me... and well, he always seemed a bit disdainful. He never said it out loud, but I could feel it."

"Later, even before the Henghai Battle ended, I was discharged. I returned to Sea City and married a man I didn't particularly like, but didn't dislike either."

"He's six years older than me, also a doctor. He works overseas most of the year and only comes home maybe once every six months."

She gave a wry smile. "Such are the bitter realities of life."

Luo Xiu also smiled. "No wonder you're so lonely."

Li Zihan rolled her eyes. "I'm not lonely at all. I go to bars sometimes, you know? I find those young male models—handsome, gentle, considerate, and very skilled. Isn't paying for a night of love a sweet deal?"

"Since I'm already a ruined flower, I couldn't care less about that sort of thing."

"Life is short. If I can't find spiritual happiness, I might as well let my body have some fun."

Luo Xiu gave a dry chuckle. "But you just said you haven't been with a man in two years?"

"So what if I was lying to you?"

She leaned in, staring at Luo Xiu with a mysterious glint in her eyes. "And you're no saint yourself. I barely had to tempt you, and you took the bait."

Luo Xiu rubbed his nose and looked away. "Honestly, I'm the same as you... Life is short, so you should enjoy it while you can. I don't overthink it. The pleasure of the moment is what's most important."

Li Zihan poked his chest with a finger, her voice turning coy. "You're a bad boy, aren't you?"

Luo Xiu shook his head with a smile. "Alright, I've heard your story. I have other things to attend to, so I should be going."

"Let me give you a ride."

"No need."

"It's fine. I have the day off, and I was planning to visit my elders anyway. I only came to the hospital for you."

Luo Xiu shook his head again, refusing.

"I'll just get a taxi."

After leaving the hospital, Luo Xiu took a taxi back to Sea City Riviera to report to Lin Xiyue.

After lunch, he went out again, taking a taxi directly to Wan Yao Hall.

He had come, of course, to discuss the matter of the medicinal herbs with Li Jiuzhen.

"Mister Luo, based on what you've said, you need to enter the Martial Arts Grand Gathering and win it all to get the Scorching Sun Profound Purity Fruit?"

Luo Xiu nodded.

"But the Martial Arts Grand Gathering..." Li Jiuzhen trailed off, his worry apparent.

Luo Xiu naturally understood what Teacher Li was concerned about and smiled. "You don't need to worry, Teacher Li. I'm confident."

"Well, alright then. When the time comes, I'll be there to cheer you on."

"Speaking of which, if someone from our Sea City becomes a Martial Champion, I'll be able to hold my head high as well! Haha."

As he spoke, Li Jiuzhen placed a list on the table. "Elder Brother He and I have managed to find most of the obtainable herbs on your list, but..."

"But what?"

Li Jiuzhen gave a slightly embarrassed laugh. "I'm a little strapped for cash. After all, you're asking for a great many herbs, and without exception, they are all extremely valuable."

Luo Xiu understood his meaning and frowned. "That is a problem."

He then asked, "Teacher Li, what's the fastest way to make money these days?"

Li Jiuzhen laughed. "I'm a doctor, not a businessman. But as far as I know, the medical industry is quite lucrative."

"Take my Wan Yao Hall, for instance. We have customers coming and going all day. Every month, the net profit after taxes is several million, sometimes even in the tens of millions."

"After all, regardless of the era, society will never have a shortage of people needing medicine and treatment."

Luo Xiu nodded slowly in agreement. "In that case, if I started selling medicine, wouldn't I be cutting into your business, Teacher Li?"

Li Jiuzhen chuckled and shook his head. "I'm an old man. My son has passed away, and my only granddaughter is already married. I have no use for so much money. Besides, we could be partners."

"A great idea."

Luo Xiu decided to discuss it with Lin Xiyue when he got back. Since he was seeking all these expensive herbs for her sake, it was only right that she contribute as well.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

A sudden knock sounded at the door.

Li Jiuzhen raised his teacup. "Come in."

The door opened, and a graceful figure walked into the room.

"Grandpa, I have the day off, so I came to see you..."

Her words trailed off as she suddenly froze, her eyes widening as she stared at Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu looked up and his eyes widened in turn.

"Dr. Li?"

He shot a stunned look at Li Jiuzhen. "Teacher Li, is this your granddaughter?"

Li Jiuzhen nodded, smiling kindly. "Her name is Zihan. It's a homophone for 'Zi Han,' which is the name of a medicinal herb."

"Zihan, this is Luo Xiu, Mister Luo."

Luo Xiu awkwardly raised his teacup and looked away, completely at a loss for words.

He truly never expected that the Dr. Li who had helped him collect a 'sample' at the hospital this morning was none other than Li Jiuzhen's granddaughter! After they parted, he assumed he would never see her again, yet here they were, meeting again that very same afternoon.

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