Peerless Divine Doctor in the City of Flowers
Chapter 195: Li Qiqi Turns to the Dark Side

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Li Qiqi Turns to the Dark Side

Night had fallen, and Li Qiqi and Zhao Jiaqi sat in front of the stone table in the courtyard.

"Jiaqi, was my cooking really that bad?"

"I think... it’s not too bad... after all, you’re new at this... It’s quite an accomplishment to have made it this far..."

Zhao Jiaqi, who had tried a bite of everything just before, remained silent up to now.

Because every time she opened her mouth, she felt like vomiting.

Seeing her discomfort, Li Qiqi rested her cheeks in her hands with resignation, "I really don’t know what’s wrong. Those dishes were all taught to me by the chefs at home, and they even supervised the selection of ingredients, but somehow the taste always comes out strange. They don’t know which step went wrong."

"Oh dear, everyone has their own talents and, of course, their flaws. Maybe cooking just isn’t your thing. I think it’s better to let it go and find a direction that suits you better for your own development."

Zhao Jiaqi, afraid of discouraging Li Qiqi, hurriedly spoke up to comfort her.

After all, she was so young; there were many possibilities for her future.

"But I really can’t find any strengths in myself. Seeing you and Min Yue today made me feel utterly inferior. You are so beautiful and skilled at martial arts, and so capable, yet I can’t even manage to be an observer. If this continues, how could Lin Fan ever like me?"

Fiddling with the hem of her garment, Li Qiqi was full of anxiety.

Especially today, when her sense of defeat was stronger than ever.

"How can you have a crush on a scoundrel like him? Apart from a bit of skill, he’s nothing more than a lecherous guy. It’s not worth it even if you’re paid to take someone like that. How can you not see that and still throw yourself at him?"

Zhao Jiaqi did acknowledge Lin Fan’s abilities.

But when she thought of what he had done to her the first time they met,

She was still furious.

"Jiaqi, don’t talk about Lin Fan like that. He’s really a good person. What you see is just the surface. Alas, I am not good enough in literature or in martial arts; I’m simply not a match for him!"

Li Qiqi rested her cheeks on her hands as she gazed out into the night.

She had never imagined herself to be so utterly useless.

"Qi Qi, everyone has their own shining moment. You can’t compare your weaknesses to someone else’s strengths. Just like I can’t match up to Shangguan Min Yue in martial arts, but when it comes to secret techniques, ten of her couldn’t beat me. It’s all about strengths and weaknesses."

Zhao Jiaqi smiled and wrapped an arm around Li Qiqi’s shoulders.

"So what are my strengths?"

Qi Qi pouted, speaking helplessly.

"You have lots of strengths... like... um... this needs to be discovered slowly. But I’m pretty sure it’s not cooking. Let’s be honest, your cooking skills are more like poisoning someone!"

Zhao Jiaqi had a straightforward personality.

Just the thought of that dinner made her frown.

"Poisoning!"

An offhand comment from Zhao Jiaqi.

But it sparked a light in Li Qiqi’s eyes.

She quickly got up and ran towards her boudoir.

She remembered something.

A topic not even her grandfather had brought up.

She hurriedly returned to her boudoir, knelt on the ground, and pulled out a square box wrapped in red cloth from under the bed.

It had been sent to her while she was studying abroad last year.

Unwrapping the red cloth revealed an iron box underneath.

Upon opening the lid of the iron box, an ancient book, slightly yellowed with age, appeared before her eyes.

"Five Poison Sect Doctrines!"

As she held the ancient tome in her hands, Li Qiqi had not expected that she would open this box for the second time.

The contents must have been sent by her grandmother, whom she had never met.

She had only glanced at it before, and then tossed it aside.

But now, she gently turned the pages.

Perhaps recorded within were her own strengths.

If she mastered these things,

she could become Lin Fan’s right hand.

Then, he would no longer look down on her.

...

In the estate of the Gong Family located on Southwest Mountain,

Gu Changqing was carried back, lying on a stretcher.

His right arm was in a splint, and his face was still deathly pale.

"Dad, quickly ask the elder to come out of seclusion, I want to slaughter that guy!"

Gong Tianao clenched his fists, the veins on his forehead bulging visibly.

Just thinking about Lin Fan’s arrogant face made his blood boil with anger.

"Tianao, sit down. This matter cannot be dealt with impulsively!"

Gong Changjun, the current Family Head of the Gong Family, sat with a face as still as water.

"Dad, are you afraid of the threat from Longya? Don’t forget, the rules of Longya state that they cannot interfere in family affairs. Moreover, this guy even managed to injure Shangguan Qingyun. If we don’t get rid of him, there will be endless trouble."

Gong Tianao’s fists were clenched with resentment.

As long as Lin Fan lived, he found no peace.

"Do you really think Shangguan Qingyun was hurt?"

The old and cunning Gong Changjun kept a stern face.

Even though he was not at the scene, he understood human nature.

"Of course, I clearly saw him spitting blood from the other’s blows, how can I lie to you!"

Gong Tianao spoke with conviction.

Yet Gong Changjun snorted coldly.

"That was Shangguan Qingyun putting on a show for you. You should know how much he dotes on Shangguan Min Yue. He has rejected our marriage proposals many times. If it were not for the elder personally applying pressure, they would not have agreed to the marriage. So how could he just watch her die? He was merely saving face for you by pretending."

"But... but that’s humiliating me... Shangguan Min Yue is going to be my wife, yet that boy saw her naked for nothing. Who knows if they would have... The mere thought sickens me..."

Gong Tianao’s teeth were gritted in fury.

Just the thought of his future wife exposed to someone else,

made him want to kill Lin Fan all the more.

"Tianao, one who aims to accomplish great things must not fuss over small details. You should know how chaste Shangguan Min Yue is; such a thing is impossible. Moreover, have you forgotten why we want to form a marital alliance with the Shangguan Family? What we want is their Three Profound Vessels."

Gong Changjun said with a cold smile.

"Still... it requires her as a person. If she truly ended up with someone else, not under my control, what’s the use of marrying her back home!"

Gong Tianao furrowed his brows.

In truth, he didn’t really fancy Shangguan Min Yue.

The reason he acted like a sycophant over the years was in hopes that her abilities would help him secure his position as Family Head.

But the thought of having to treat her with utmost respect for the rest of his life made him uncomfortable.

"Foolish child, you only see one side of the matter. Know this, once the Three Profound Vessels are consumed, they will grant half of their fortune to the man, which is sufficient to mend your innate deficiencies. Once the two of you are married, and during the consummation on the wedding night, use the family’s Secret Technique to drain all of her fortune. Then, you will be able to enjoy all of her fortune for yourself and even break through to the peak, stepping into the Intrinsic Realm. As for her, she’ll be nothing more than a useless dreg."

Gong Changjun narrowed his eyes, "So remember this, if you can endure for a moment, you can ascend to high places. Besides, you’ve been with dozens, if not hundreds of women. Do you really care about this one? Now take the stuff and come with me to the Shangguan Family immediately. No matter what, we must set a wedding date as soon as possible. Delay could lead to trouble!"