"Chu Yi, over in that small corner—could that be the antique you're searching for?"
"After all, it seems only the things in that area match the descriptions you gave."
Unlike the earlier moment of insecurity, Lin Yunhan now wore a radiant smile of delight.
She was genuinely happy—after all, being of help to Chu Yi brought her sincere joy.
"Alright, then let's go and have a look."
A flicker of excitement lit up Chu Yi's face.
It hadn't been easy—far from it.
At long last, he was about to lay eyes upon that ancient medicinal elixir.
With that thought, Chu Yi quickened his pace toward the corner.
This time, however, Da Niu and Old Xiao remained rooted in place, not following behind.
This was, of course, by Chu Yi's design—he had his reasons.
He didn't want Old Xiao to see those items.
After all, the piles of seemingly worthless odds and ends were all burial goods looted from ancient tombs by Lin Yunhan's father.
The sale of grave goods was a crime.
It could easily be misunderstood, potentially dragging Lin Yunhan's family into undeserved trouble.
"Chu Yi, it's right here," Lin Yunhan pointed to a cluttered corner, guiding Chu Yi's gaze downward.
What met his eyes was a filthy, chaotic cubicle, filled with all manner of odds and ends—
Discarded drink bottles, strange metal ingots, and a bewildering array of trinkets that dazzled the eyes.
They looked more like handmade crafts than ancient relics.
"Well, I suppose I was overly hopeful."
Looking at the mess on the ground, Chu Yi let out a wry smile.
After all, her father had been a tomb raider for decades—surely he had already anticipated all of this.
Most likely, the antiques were either hidden away or long since sold.
"Chu Yi, what's wrong? Did you not find what you were looking for?"
Lin Yunhan's expression grew tense as she watched Chu Yi search in vain.
"No," he murmured.
Then a sudden realization struck him.
In the original novel, Ye Fan had acquired that ancient elixir not by searching for it, but because Lin Yunhan had gifted it to him as a token of gratitude.
So why was he putting in all this effort?
He could just ask her directly.
Turning to Lin Yunhan, he said, "Do you know if your family has any small antique vials? The kind used to store pills or elixirs?"
Lin Yunhan tilted her head, deep in thought.
A small bottle? The idea rang oddly familiar—she was certain she'd seen one in her room before.
But the memory slipped just out of reach.
Then, after a few minutes—just as her head began to throb with frustration—it suddenly came back to her.
Of course! The small pill bottles were on her father's nightstand.
She remembered it vividly.
When her father had fallen gravely ill, he'd held her hand tightly and instructed her to keep those two small elixir bottles safe.
But she had, somehow, completely forgotten.
A hint of embarrassment rose to her cheeks as she turned to Chu Yi.
"I know where the small antique bottle you're looking for is," she said, before rushing into a back room hidden behind a white curtain.
"Oh?"
A spark of joy lit up Chu Yi's eyes. After a brief moment, he too stepped inside, pulling the curtain aside and entering the room.
But the smile on his face quickly faded, replaced by a grave expression.
For what caught his eye was the figure of a middle-aged man, lying unconscious on a simple bed nearby.
His face was pale, his lips tinged purple—he looked deathly ill.
What's more, Chu Yi could clearly perceive faint wisps of malevolent energy rising from the man's body, curling into the air and subtly altering the feng shui of the room.
Though the autumn wind had not yet stirred, the cicadas already sensed a change.
Having trained in the Republic-era martial art of Bajiquan, Chu Yi's senses had long surpassed those of ordinary men—
He could see what others could not.
"This must be Lin Yunhan's father… Lin Hai," Chu Yi murmured as he approached, eyes fixed on the sickly man.
He understood everything.
This man was indeed Lin Hai—Lin Yunhan's father, an unfortunate tomb raider.
While robbing the tomb of an ancient medical sage, he had fallen prey to a trap left behind, infected by lethal energy that left him in a deep coma.
In the original storyline, Lin Hai served merely as a narrative device—he was cured by Ye Fan after awakening his powers, thus winning Lin Yunhan's affection and securing her love.
"Chu Yi, I found it!"
Lin Yunhan's voice rang with joy as she ran toward him, the faint, delicate fragrance she carried making Chu Yi's heart stir.
"Is this the antique elixir vial?"
Chu Yi suppressed the unrest within him and looked at her calmly.
"Yes, Chu Yi."
Her face beamed as she handed it to him.
"Very well, I'll accept it."
As he studied the ancient vial, covered in intricate Sanskrit-like script, Chu Yi knew without a doubt:
This was the legendary elixir crafted by the ancient medical sage, as described in the novel.
Fighting back a surge of emotion, he calmly took the bottle into his hand, gripping it tightly.
"By the way, Lin Yunhan, did you bring the one hundred thousand yuan I gave you?"
After a brief pause, Chu Yi inquired.
"No… I think I left it in your car," she replied, blushing.
In truth, she had left it there deliberately.
She wasn't a materialistic girl—Sun Lin's thirty thousand had already been more than enough for her.
But Chu Yi didn't know that.
Upon hearing her words, a frown crept across his face.
Left in the car? That wouldn't do.
After a moment's thought, Chu Yi called out toward the door.
"Da Niu!"
"Yes, young master?"
Always alert to orders, Da Niu quickly entered the room.
"Go retrieve five hundred thousand. Bring it here immediately."
Chu Yi tossed him an obsidian-black card.
"No, Chu Yi, it's really not necessary," Lin Yunhan said, flustered. She tried to stop him.
But with his martial prowess, unless Chu Yi allowed it, she stood no chance.
"Be good," he said gently, yet with unmistakable authority.
"I…"
Under the weight of his commanding aura, Lin Yunhan turned into a docile little lamb, her heart fluttering with a strange, sweet warmth.
Ding!
Lin Yunhan's affection toward you has increased by 10%. Current affection: 35%.
Ding!
You have altered the plot. Reward: 1,000 villain points, 2 free attribute points, 5 luck points.
A system notification echoed in Chu Yi's mind, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Shortly after, despite her protests, Chu Yi insisted that Lin Yunhan keep the five hundred thousand yuan.
The gesture left her utterly dazed.
"Chu Yi, are you really leaving already?"
As Chu Yi, Da Niu, and Old Xiao approached the exit, Lin Yunhan's eyes brimmed with reluctance.
"Yes, I have a lot to take care of," Chu Yi replied, his tone calm and emotionless.
"I see… Then, maybe… maybe I could walk you out? Just to thank you for what you did back then?"
Though initially crestfallen, Lin Yunhan stammered out the offer.
She didn't know why, but she just wanted to be near him.
Chu Yi—so domineering and powerful—was intoxicating.
"Well…"
Chu Yi paused in thought for a moment, then nodded.
"All right."
"Yay! That's wonderful!"
Joy blossomed on Lin Yunhan's face. She even made a small celebratory gesture.
But moments later, she realized what she had done and blushed deeply, falling silent behind Chu Yi like a shy bride.
"Oh no… At this rate, I'm going to end up with another mistress,"
Da Niu thought wryly.
"When Young Master goes on his escapades, should I listen to the madam or to him?"
The thought made his head spin with confusion.
Meanwhile, Old Xiao's expression grew serious.
He couldn't understand why Chu Yi favored a girl so far beneath his station.
But he knew—if this girl remained close to Chu Yi—he'd have to show her respect.
"Perhaps I should arrange for her family to receive some compensation…"
A quiet thought drifted through Old Xiao's mind.
Outside the building, the sun was shining gently, the weather pleasantly warm.
Bathed in golden light, the four of them stepped into the street.
But Da Niu grew visibly anxious.
His young master had just spent five hundred thousand yuan on that antique elixir vial—
And now he was tossing it casually between his hands, flipping it into the air like a juggling prop.
Young Master, are you insane?!
Da Niu's forehead twitched.
But Chu Yi only wore a sly, amused smile.
Ye Fan… Won't you show yourself?
Indeed, every motion Chu Yi made was deliberate, calculated to draw Ye Fan out.
After all, this ancient elixir was Ye Fan's key opportunity to rise—
An elixir that could not be bought, no matter the price.
There was no way Ye Fan would remain idle.
And just as Chu Yi expected—Ye Fan was nearby.
From a nearby bookstore, Ye Fan emerged with several test prep books in hand, his eyes filled with determination.
Ever since deciding to take the college entrance exam, he had thrown himself into study.
Having dropped out in his second year of high school, he had a lot to catch up on.
With only a few days until school resumed, he had rushed to buy revision materials.
"Tch… just these few books cost over a hundred yuan…"
Looking at the practice books in his hands, Ye Fan winced.
That was two full days' wages at the electronics factory.