Chapter 459 Settlement

Congratulations to the player for winning the faction war!

[The system is processing the settlement...]

[Exit countdown: 10 minutes]

"Cough cough... I'm exhausted..."

Upon hearing the game's notification sound, Suo'etu finally relaxed completely, no longer caring about the dirt, and collapsed onto the ground in a state of relaxation.

"Come on, drink your medicine."

Yinzhi sheathed his sword and also took back Leiting, who was eager to acknowledge his father. He walked to Suo'etu's side, knelt on one knee, helped him up, and poured the healing medicine into his mouth.

"Cough..." Suo'etu was choked by Yinzhi's simple and crude method, but thinking that Mingzhu had never received any care from the eldest prince, he felt that it was acceptable.

"Remember to transfer the points to me, and by the way, there's also the service fee."

"Service fee?" Suo'etu looked at Yinzhi in shock.

Yinzhi said matter-of-factly, "What's wrong with me, the eldest prince, asking for a service fee to feed you medicine?"

"You... a prince like you needs such a small service fee?" Suo'etu was incredulous, not understanding how Yinzhi could say it so casually.

"If you're willing to give me more, I wouldn't mind," Yinzhi said with a smile, showing no embarrassment whatsoever. "If you don't, I'll have Mingzhu spread rumors about you—"

"Give."

"Indeed, Mingzhu is still the most useful."

Completely ignoring Suo'etu's sour face, Yinzhi happily collected points.

Not far away, Yinzhen and Yinsi sat up, leaning against each other, drinking healing medicine, completely treating the two of them as if they were food to be drugged.

After witnessing this "deal," Yinzhi couldn't help but exclaim, "My elder brother is really willing to go all out for points!"

"He's already flown out several times, how could he not be willing to risk it all?"

Yinzhi glanced at Yinzhen, who was speaking in a serious tone, and teased, "Fourth Brother, you're a bit cold, but you're also lacking in humor."

Yinzhen nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips, and replied, "Then I'll try even harder."

"Trying to tell lame jokes? That sounds funnier."

Seeing Yinzhi leaning against him and laughing, Yinzhen couldn't help but smile as well. "It's fine."

On the other side of the trees, Zhu Chongba, having retrieved the silk thread, generously purchased many medical supplies and distributed them.

"Since you've all bled, I, the leader, will also bleed a lot."

After saying that, Zhu Chongba thought for a moment, then took out a black notebook and wrote it down: "Wow, I'm really good at talking, that was so clever, write it down!"

Even Yu Linglong, who possessed healing abilities, didn't refuse. After all, she was also injured, but upon hearing his words, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Honestly, what's the point of recording something like this?! It forces her to make excuses in front of others every time. The old story was that it was a record book of major events from the Lingbo Cult's secret techniques, and that the cult leader was a key figure under observation…

She racked her brains for different words for different occasions, so this time, facing eight pairs of bewildered and curious eyes, Yu Linglong smiled gently: "A little post-battle summary."

"oh--"

Everyone suddenly realized what was going on, and no one said whether they believed it or not. But at least no one pressed them for an answer, and even the thoughtful Yu Linglong was touched.

At this moment, the four men, including Yinzhi, who had recovered, walked over.

"How are you? Are you alright?"

"A small problem, easily solved."

Zhu Chongba tossed his hair with a flourish, a contented smile on his face. If you ignored the dirt and dark brown stains on his red robes, he was quite convincing.

"Of course, if Xiao Ba is willing to lend me a hand, then there won't be any problem at all."

It was unclear whether he was genuinely powerless or just using an excuse to contact Yinzhi. But for the sake of cooperation, Yinzhen and Yinzhi exchanged a glance, and then Suo'etu was presented.

Songgotu: "Alright."

Considering that Lingbo Sect had indeed put in a lot of effort, he wasn't incapable of helping others.

"No need, thank you!"

Zhu Chongba straightened up and stood up nimbly.

Soetu clicked his tongue in displeasure. What's wrong? A high-ranking official of the first rank is now complaining about being helped?

The people sitting under the tree also stood up one after another. Lin Daiyu, who was the most perceptive, leaned close to Yinzhi and asked in a low voice, "Are you leaving?"

Yinzhi nodded and led her aside. "Miss Lin, it's fate that we met. Here's a fire-breathing clay figure for you. I hope everything goes well for you in the future."

Lin Daiyu took the clay figure, gently rubbing it with her fingers, and looked at Yinzhi with tears in her eyes: "Thank you, thank you for protecting me all this time, for not abandoning me even in such danger..."

"Since I've worked so hard, after I leave, take my courage with you and take good care of yourself. It doesn't matter where you stay since you've paid money. The Jia mansion is just an inn run by acquaintances. So act like a guest, after all, you're the one paying the bill."

Lin Daiyu stopped crying and started laughing, amused by Yinzhi's simple and straightforward words. Then she put away her smile and nodded seriously at Yinzhi.

Seeing that Yinzhi and Lin Daiyu were having a private conversation, and with little time left, everyone found their guardians to give them some instructions.

After all, I've protected her all the way. Even if we don't have a deep bond, I'm still a little worried.

Looking at Xi Chun, who was stubbornly refusing to look at him with red eyes, Yinzhen felt as if he were seeing himself in his past life when his adoptive mother passed away and his birth mother didn't love him, and he couldn't help but soften his gaze.

Gently patting Xichun's head, Yinzhen instructed, "The shallow kinship is not your problem. You are very good. It is they who are not worthy."

"But you're leaving too..." Xichun looked up and couldn't hold back her tears, but she still stared intently at Yinzhen. Although she initially felt a little resentful that Yinzhen was like her father, her father had never treated her as well as Yinzhen had.

“Everyone will leave,” Yinzhen explained earnestly. “Don’t live for others, live for yourself.”

Can I ignore them, not care about them? Can I get rid of them?

Faced with Xichun's struggle and uncertainty, Yinzhen said decisively: "Sure! As long as you are strong enough, no one will dare to object. When you can make your own decisions, you can do whatever you want... becoming a nun is not an option."

Xi Chun was startled, her eyes darting around: "Who wants to become a nun?"

"There is no best, but nothing is acceptable."

While Yinzhen and Xichun were discussing the issue of becoming a nun, Yinzhi was at a loss when faced with the gentle and somewhat timid Yingchun.

"Um, don't be afraid..."

“I’m not afraid.” Yingchun looked up at him earnestly. “You… are a good person.”

A simple sentence made Yinzhi unable to stop himself from grinning, "That makes me... I really am a good person."

Seeing that he readily admitted it, Yingchun couldn't help but laugh.

The two looked at each other and laughed for a while. Yinzhi tried to be serious and advised her: "You are good at chess. People who are good at chess have their own thoughts and can see things very clearly. I don't need to say more. I don't mean to say that I am not smart."

Yingchun, who had initially become serious, couldn't help but laugh again when she heard Yinzhi's final attempt to make amends. She praised him, "You are very smart and very capable."

Yinzhi smiled and waved his hand: "I know that, but time is tight, so let's not talk about me. Anyway, remember, you should still fight for what you want. Sometimes taking a step back doesn't lead to a brighter future, but rather to others taking advantage of you."

"Your name is Yingchun, and I hope you will welcome your own spring."

Yingchun wanted to say that her name was just something she'd chosen casually after Yuanchun's and didn't have any particularly beautiful meaning. But meeting Yinzhi's sincere gaze, she seemed to gain a newfound courage.

Nodding vigorously, Yingchun choked back tears as she promised, "Okay."

When Suo'etu looked at Jia Cong, he wasn't so sentimental anymore. He picked Jia Cong up and shook him, then put him down and patted his shoulder hard. "Jia Cong..."

Jia Cong, who was almost dizzy from being shaken and nearly knocked over, said: "I'm here."

"Don't be ashamed. I'm also a son of a concubine. So what if you're a son of a concubine? As long as you dare to fight and take risks, even a son of a concubine can make it! Don't always hide in the corner like a mushroom; it won't kill you. You've seen how I fooled your father. He's a womanizer and his health is ruined; he's not very bright anymore. Learn to fool him a little, and get his treatment improved first..."

Soetu rattled on and on, giving Jia Cong no chance to interrupt, trying to cram a whole bunch of political strategies into Jia Cong's head in those few short minutes.

Jia Cong tried to speak several times, but couldn't find the words. Gradually, seeing Suo'etu earnestly offering him advice, Jia Cong couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. He listened quietly, his eyes shining brighter and brighter, like jade breaking through rock layers, and his whole being came alive.

...

[Game over. Welcome back to the results screen.]

[Currently, favorability ratings for Lin Daiyu, Jia Baoyu, Xue Baochai, Shi Xiangyun, Jia Yingchun, Jia Xichun, Jia Tanchun, and Jia Cong are available.]

[Congratulations to player "Refusing Medicinal Cuisine Starts with Me" for achieving 100% favorability with Lin Daiyu and receiving "Crimson Pearl Tears"*1. Lin Daiyu's message: Thank you for your encouragement. From now on, only others will shed tears.]

[Congratulations to player "四是四" for achieving 100% favorability with Jia Xichun and receiving "Xichun's Paint Palette"*1. Jia Xichun's message: "If I take down the Ningguo Mansion, can I call you Dad?" Silence means you agree.]