Moreover, Chen Xiong wasn't just thinking about picking out medicinal herbs for Xu Ke. He was also considering something else. If Xu Ke truly gave Yang Shoukang some kind of inspiration, wouldn't it be a waste not to ask for a few herbs?

Hearing this, Yang Shoukang raised an eyebrow. "You're paying for them, right?"

"Of course!" Chen Xiong replied with a beaming smile, though his mind was on other things.

"Alright, then!" Yang Shoukang nodded and turned to Xu Ke with a smile. "Dr. Xu, is there anything you'd like?

"You saw my treasure vault the last time you visited. I know you didn't take anything because you were worried I'd be taking a loss.

"This time, don't worry. I won't lose out. Someone else is footing the bill, so feel free to take whatever you want."

Xu Ke couldn't help but laugh. Yang Shoukang is clearly trying to fleece Chen Xiong!

Chen Xiong was momentarily stunned. He was no fool; in fact, he was an incredibly shrewd man. He'd have to be an idiot not to read between the lines of Yang Shoukang's words. He immediately understood. Xu Ke has been to Yang Shoukang's treasure vault. Yang Shoukang offered him herbs, but Xu Ke refused. And now Yang Shoukang plans to swindle me!

Chen Xiong instantly flew into a rage. "Old Yang, that's not very decent of you!

"How much do I have saved for my coffin? And you're planning to swindle it from me?"

Yang Shoukang scoffed. "Oh, cut it out. With your constitution, you could live another hundred years without a problem. Coffin money? More like your secret stash of spending money."

Chen Xiong slammed his hand on the table. "No way! It's fine for me to buy three herbs, but you have to gift one yourself."

"If you don't, you're a punk."

Yang Shoukang shot back defiantly, "Fine! I'll gift one!"

Breaking out in a nervous sweat from their argument, Xu Ke quickly interjected, "Grandpa Chen, Elder Yang, please, let's just drop it.

"I don't need any medicinal herbs at the moment, so how about we just forget about it for now?

"If I ever need something, I can just get it then!"

Once he realized Chen Xiong's old friend was Yang Shoukang, his interest in the treasure vault plummeted. I thought I was going to draw from a mysterious treasure chest, but it's just picking from a selection I've already passed on. There's no fun in that. Besides, if I insist on getting something now, it would be a disservice to Chen Xiong... Yang Shoukang offered them for free, and I refused. But now I'm going to take three just because Chen Xiong is paying? That doesn't feel right at all.

Hearing this, Chen Xiong and Yang Shoukang glanced at each other. "Are you sure you don't want anything?" Yang Shoukang asked.

Xu Ke nodded. "I looked last time. There's truly nothing I need."

Hearing this, the two men hesitated for a moment before finally letting it go. Yang Shoukang said, "Alright, then. When you need something next time, or when I get new inventory, I'll let you know."

He knew that Xu Ke really didn't need the herbs, and forcing them on him would just be a waste.

"Sounds good," Xu Ke agreed with a smile.

...

After dinner at Fengming Pavilion, Xu Ke returned to Junyue Residence. He needed to call Ki Qinyin and ask about the trial. This sudden 'job' is a truly unexpected development.

Back at Junyue Residence, Xu Ke set aside the Gale Dart and the Green Dragon Essence Bead he had acquired that morning, then dialed Ki Qinyin's number. The call connected almost instantly.

"Dr. Xu, what can I do for you?" Ki Qinyin's cheerful voice came through the line.

Xu Ke chuckled. "Madame Yu, don't you think you should have notified me about such a major event?"

"What event?" Ki Qinyin asked, playing dumb.

"The Northern Dragon Guard's trial has already started. Were you planning to keep it from me?" Xu Ke asked, shaking his head.

"You already know about that?" Ki Qinyin sounded genuinely surprised. It had only been two days since she returned to the Northern Border from Jiangnan, and the official announcement about the Seasoned Envoy had only just been made. How did Xu Ke find out already? That information traveled way too fast!

Xu Ke replied, "I wouldn't have known if I hadn't run into Captain Xia."

"Captain Xia? You met Xia Wenfeng? Did he really go to console you?" Ki Qinyin asked, her surprise growing. "Then was the part about matchmaking true, too?"

"...It's true," Xu Ke admitted.

A peal of loud laughter erupted from the other end of the line. "I really thought he was just making up an excuse!"

Then, Xu Ke clarified, "Actually, I didn't meet him because he came to console me. He had gone to see Elder Yang, the Grandmaster of the Medical Path, to ask him to look after the talented youths during their trial. I just happened to be there, and that's how I found out."

Ki Qinyin had a moment of realization. "Oh, so that's what happened!

"That Xia Wenfeng, he's really something else. To think he'd arrange for a doctor for those kids in advance.

"Here in the Northern Border, they all scold me for being careless, for losing the Seasoned Envoy Pass and misplacing a talent like you.

"I didn't expect him to be so meticulous in carrying out my orders.

"Not bad. I was planning on sending him to work at a landfill, but I guess I'll let that slide..."

Xu Ke broke out in a cold sweat. He coughed twice. "Captain Xia really scolded you in the Northern Border?" He was shocked. He hadn't expected Xia Wenfeng to not only blame Ki Qinyin over his situation but also dare to chew her out for losing the Seasoned Envoy Pass.

"He really did," Ki Qinyin said with a laugh. "The internal atmosphere in the Northern Dragon Guard is very open. We're encouraged to argue as fiercely as we can before Kang An makes the final decision.

"Strictly speaking, there's no hierarchy here. We're all just comrades-in-arms."

It dawned on Xu Ke. "That's actually a great system," he said admiringly.

"So, what do you say? Ready to come to the Northern Border and fight alongside us?"

"No, no..." Xu Ke thought for a moment before quickly shaking his head. "I don't want to go to the landfill."

"I was just joking. I wouldn't actually send him there," Ki Qinyin said, laughing. Her tone then became serious. "I was originally going to tell you about this when the young ones were about to leave for Tianhai.

"But since you already know, I might as well explain everything now.

"You aren't mad that your sister and brother-in-law set up this task for you without telling you first, are you?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Xu Ke shook his head. "Of course not. As long as the paychecks are on time, I'm happy to take on any work you have."

Ki Qinyin laughed. "Well, you'll have to come to the Northern Border to collect that salary."

Xu Ke fell silent for a moment. "...Just hold onto it for me, then."

Ki Qinyin brought up him coming to the Northern Border in every other sentence. It was starting to make Xu Ke feel like he owed her an apology. After all, Yang Shoukang was just complaining to me that she wouldn't let me go to the Northern Border... It's clear he was wronging her.

Ki Qinyin chuckled. "The mission we gave them this time is very simple: find the Seasoned Envoy Pass and bring it back to Tianhai.

"But in reality, the mission is a pretense.

"With their level of skill, the chances of them taking the pass from you are extremely low—unless you voluntarily hand it over, of course."

Xu Ke remained silent, but his silence was an affirmation. It wasn't arrogance that made him so sure. It was confidence born from his own strength. Not a single one of them is a match for me.