Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 509 - 511 Sister Control

Chapter 509: Chapter 511 Sister Control

Tiannan City also had several Chinese medicine shops, and Song Xiaodong went directly to the most famous one, Tong Ren Tang.

The herbal medicine selection here was the most comprehensive. Song Xiaodong managed to obtain everything he needed, although the age of the ginseng and such was much inferior, with the oldest being only twenty years.

Song Xiaodong didn’t just purchase the highest quality twenty-year-old ginseng, he also bought some of other ages. He needed to verify something: to see if the difference in age would bring any variation in effects.

As for things like Thousand-Year Ginseng, they seemed to exist only in legends. There was no specific record in the herbal compendium about any medicinal properties changes between it and regular ginseng.

All these ingredients were expensive. Song Xiaodong had spent over a hundred thousand in one go. Even though he was not short of money, this type of expenditure made him realize for the first time that preparing medicine was definitely a very costly affair. It wouldn’t be something an ordinary person could afford, especially considering the uncertainty of success.

Having prepared all these ingredients, Song Xiaodong needed to conduct some practical research.

The booklet said that refining these elixirs required a Pill Furnace and mastery over a strict heat control, but Song Xiaodong believed that was just because ancient technology was not advanced, and a Pill Furnace was merely a heating device better suited for controlling temperature than ordinary pots. Nowadays, with the multitude of heating devices available, there was absolutely no need for a Pill Furnace.

It’s not like in some fantasy or xianxia novels where one needs the ’true fire of Samadhi’ to refine anything.

So, Song Xiaodong thought about it and called He Wenbai directly, asking him to arrange a laboratory for his use.

He Wenbai agreed immediately. Song Xiaodong rarely sought him out, so He Wenbai was determined to help even if it was difficult. Moreover, such a request was not hard for him since their hospital had doctors engaged in scientific research, and a laboratory was essential for them.

He Wenbai soon called back and arranged for the laboratory to be in the hospital. If any additional equipment was needed, the hospital would assist. He could start on Monday.

Song Xiaodong was quite satisfied with this efficiency and greatly appreciated He Wenbai’s help.

When Song Xiaodong returned home, Xiao Yingying had already come back. Seeing the items Song Xiaodong brought, she widened her eyes and said, "Brother Dongzi, you aren’t going to refine an elixir for breakthroughs, are you?"

Song Xiaoru, looking at these items, was also very curious. This was the first time she had seen Song Xiaodong bring these kinds of medicines home.

Song Xiaodong couldn’t help but laugh and said, "This time you’re quite on point. I do want to refine a medicine that can enhance my abilities."

Xiao Yingying’s eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "Wow, that sounds fun! If I take it later, could I directly form a foundation and then start cultivation?"

Song Xiaodong’s expression darkened and he said, "You’ve been reading too many novels. Although this is about making medicine, I believe it’s supposed to be a kind of stimulant that activates human potential. The exact effects are unknown, and it’s not as fantastical as you describe."

"Oh... I see," Xiao Yingying pouted, clearly a bit disappointed.

Song Xiaodong shook his head and said, "You, stop fantasizing about such ethereal things."

Xiao Yingying stuck out her tongue and said, "People gotta have dreams, right? If you don’t have dreams, how are you any different from a salted fish? Just like you, Brother Dongzi, don’t you dream of having three wives and four concubines, and being happily surrounded by them?"

Song Xiaodong burst out laughing, stretched out his arms, and wrapped them around Song Xiaoru and Xiao Yingying’s shoulders, grinning as he said, "I’ve already achieved that, so I don’t need to fantasize anymore."

Song Xiaoru’s face turned red instantly, and she said somewhat frantically, "You little rascal, what nonsense are you talking about, are you asking for a beating?"

Normally, Xiao Yingying, being the clever girl she was, should have immediately sensed something off about Song Xiaoru’s reaction, except she didn’t know that there was no blood relation between Song Xiaoru and Song Xiaodong, so she didn’t think in that direction at all.

Then she said with a smile, "You’re also right, Sister Qingqing, if you replace Sister Xiaoru, you’re indeed surrounded by both sides now."

Song Xiaoru had already brushed off Song Xiaodong’s hands and was nervously watching Xiao Yingying, but upon noticing that Xiao Yingying showed no peculiar reaction, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief and said, "You little rascal, you’re getting more and more out of line, even daring to tease your sister, really unthinkably mischievous."

Song Xiaodong’s action had just been a reflex and he hadn’t thought much about it, but Song Xiaoru’s nervousness made him realize that his behavior actually provoked her, so he quickly said with a grin, "In my heart, a wife and a sister, they are the same, they are both the most important women in my life, both need my constant embrace and protection."

Even though Song Xiaodong spoke in a playful tone, Song Xiaoru could still feel the sincerity in his words, which warmed her heart. It seemed she had overthought things, so perhaps she had overreacted as well.

Although the two had almost clashed, fortunately, no harm was done, and what mattered most was that Song Xiaodong still respected and loved her like a real sister. Dwelling on that evening’s event was actually being overly petty.

"Well, just your sweet talker all day long, no wonder Qingqing and Yingying like you so much," Song Xiaodong’s tone also lightened suddenly.

Song Xiaodong immediately felt the shift in Song Xiaoru’s mood, and once again stretched out his hand to embrace her shoulders, saying, "This isn’t just lip service, it’s truly how I feel in my heart, and something I’ll strive for my whole life."

Xiao Yingying, moved, leaned on Song Xiaodong’s shoulder and said, "Brother Dongzi, I will definitely love you for a lifetime too."

Song Xiaoru, also feeling warm inside, said, "Just focus more of your thoughts on Qingqing and Yingying; you don’t need to spoil and pamper me so much, I still have to get married someday."

"Get married..." Song Xiaodong turned his head to look at Song Xiaoru, a slight quirk in his gaze.

"What? Can’t I get married? Do you want me to remain an old maid my whole life?" Song Xiaoru glared at Song Xiaodong.

Song Xiaodong chuckled awkwardly and said, "Not hiding anything from you, sis, I really can’t bear the thought of it. Just thinking about my sister walking away with another man, it just doesn’t sit right with me."

"Hey, what kind of attitude is that? You can find a girlfriend, marry and bring a wife home, but I’m not allowed to get married?"

"Well... when I marry, I’m bringing someone into our home, still being with my sister, but if you marry, you’ll be leaving me, so of course I can’t bear that."

"Pfft!" Xiao Yingying burst out laughing and said, "Sister Xuanxuan was right, Brother Dongzi, you really are a sister complex."