“What did you say? The Li family is withholding our inhibitors?!”
At the military headquarters, it was time for several legions to receive their inhibitors, but there was a delay. When they inquired, they received a vague response that the production of inhibitors was insufficient this month.
Insufficient? That’s nonsense!
A bit of digging revealed the truth: only the Third Legion of the Ruan family, the Fifth Legion of the Shui family, and the Sixth Legion of the He family didn’t receive their supply. The other legions received less than usual.
The Li family didn’t dare to withhold inhibitors from all legions. If they provoked the entire military, they wouldn’t be able to handle the backlash.
It didn’t take long for everyone to realize what was going on—they were playing tactics here!
It was an obvious scheme targeting the Ruan family.
He Feng was furious. He grabbed his weapon, ready to storm the Li family estate.
“Damn it! The inhibitor contract was signed with the entire Imperial Army! And now they think they can just stop providing it? I’ll blow them up!”
“Marshal, please calm down. Violence won’t solve the problem.”
He Feng: “Who says? My fist is big enough. Beat them up until they’re scared, and let’s see if they dare withhold it again!”
“Maybe we should talk to Marshal Ruan and figure out what to do next?”
“Yes, yes, let’s go to Marshal Ruan.”
He Feng reluctantly calmed down, but his eyes still held a blazing fury. “I’ll remember this!”
He Feng went to find Ruan Xiao, and when he arrived at the Ruan residence, he realized that Shui Shishi was also there.
At that moment, they all wore grave expressions.
“The Li family is trying to force us to take sides, and the aim is likely that mutated kumquat tree of yours,” Shui Shishi was the first to speak.
He Feng’s expression was still furious. “Ha! Do they think they’re entitled to every mutated plant in existence?!”
Ruan Xiao’s eyes were dark and cold. “First, let’s figure out how to solve the inhibitor issue.”
“The research institute? But they don’t have that many inhibitors.”
“The Li family has the main supply of inhibitor materials.”
Ruan Linzhan added, “We could buy materials for the inhibitors from mercenaries, but as for skilled people to make the inhibitors…”
Ruan Xinglan said, “I can reach out to a few contacts, but it won’t be nearly enough. And Edelweiss is hard to find; the mercenaries might not be able to gather much quickly.”
He Feng’s brows knitted tightly. “Does this mean we’re really going to be at their mercy? Once they do this, it’s only a matter of time before it happens again.”
Ruan Fengsi’s face was fierce. “No way!”
This feeling of being held hostage was unbearable.
They had the mutated kumquats, but there weren’t enough of them.
The Li family was aware of this, which is why they dared to threaten them so openly.
Because Edelweiss, the main ingredient in inhibitors, is rare and only the Li family has the capability to cultivate it in large quantities. Additionally, the Li family has the most pharmacists in the entire Star Beast Empire.
“Dad.”
Ruan Shu pushed open the door to the study, timidly poking her little head inside.
“Dad, may I come in?”
Her appearance instantly quieted the tense atmosphere in the study.
Clutching a pink mushroom in her arms, she nervously asked in a soft, polite tone.
“Come in.”
Seeing her, the expressions of everyone in the room softened, and the urgency seemed to dissipate a little.
Ruan Shu closed the door gently and took small steps to her father’s side, not glancing at Shui Shishi or He Feng, asking quietly.
“Dad, is Edelweiss a mutated plant?”
“Mm.”
Ruan Xiao nodded, lifting the small child to sit on his lap.
“I… I overheard your conversation.”
Ruan Shu nervously fidgeted with her fingers, trying hard to look less timid in front of the unfamiliar people, though her trembling eyelashes and shaky voice gave her away.
But no one laughed at her.
“Could we… go find the Edelweiss ourselves?”
Shui Shishi looked at the little girl and spoke gently.
“Edelweiss grows in the cold, snowy mountains, and it’s difficult to find. Even if we send people now, it might be too late.”
Ruan Shu lowered her head, poking at the cap of the pink mushroom in her hands.
“Chirp?”
“We might be able to.”
Ruan Shu’s soft voice echoed alongside the little mushroom’s noise.
At this, He Feng and Shui Shishi finally noticed the small mushroom the little girl was holding.
He Feng was stunned. “What’s that?”
Shui Shishi’s eyes widened slightly. “Pink Maiden Mushroom!”
Her voice rose in surprise.
Then, seeing that none of the Ruan family members looked surprised, the two began to wonder if it was some kind of realistic toy.
“That’s a very lifelike toy.”
Ruan Xiao looked over calmly and replied, “It’s not a toy.”
He Feng: “What?!”
Shui Shishi’s pupils contracted.
“Chirp!”
The Pink Princess Mushroom leapt onto Ruan Shu’s shoulder, standing tall so that the two could get an even clearer view.
“Dad, I’ll go help you find the Edelweiss.”
The little girl tugged at her father’s sleeve, looking up with a serious expression.
She had a vague sense of her own abilities, especially her attraction to certain mutated plants. Although she wasn’t sure if she’d succeed, she wanted to help her dad however she could.
“Dad, let me try, please?”
Apart from the Ruan family members, He Feng and Shui Shishi were completely lost.
“What does Shu mean by this?” He Feng asked.
Ruan Xiao glanced at his father.
Ruan He nodded.
Ruan Xiao replied, “Didn’t you want to know where that mutated kumquat tree came from?”
He Feng straightened up. “What, are you willing to reveal the location where you found it?”
Ruan Xiao gently patted his daughter’s head and casually dropped a bombshell.
“The mutated kumquat was cultivated by Shu.”
He Feng: “…”
Shui Shishi: “…”
The two were left speechless, processing this revelation like a rusty machine finally creaking into motion.
He Feng, voice dry: “Did you just say something? No, right?”
Shui Shishi’s expression was equally frozen.
Ruan He, in a booming voice, added, “What’s this about your hearing going bad at your age? That mutated kumquat tree—our Shu cultivated it!”
Pride was clear in his voice as he continued, “Of course, you’re not allowed to spread this information. The Ruan family is sharing this with you both out of trust.”
He Feng: “!!”
Shui Shishi: “!!”
Even veterans like them felt overwhelmed by this enormous ‘surprise.’
Then both of them looked at Ruan Shu with wide, astonished eyes.
Under the intensity of their gazes, Ruan Shu shrank back into her father’s embrace.
Ruan Xiao concluded, “This month, I’ll go to His Majesty and request that the research institute prioritize inhibitor supplies for us.”
After all, they had gifted the emperor a precious orchid; surely, he owed them this favor.
The Li family might be able to get away with excuses for now, but once they secured a large supply of Edelweiss…