Chapter 1871 — The Product Launch

Just now, for a fleeting moment, Wei Zhao had indeed felt as though he stood above the heroes of the age, looking down upon every master under heaven—but now, on reflection, he recognized it for what it was: an unhealthy swelling of self-confidence. Had Jiao Yazi not warned him in time, he might well have strayed onto a crooked path without even knowing it.

If he pursued the learning of ever more martial techniques for their own sake, then when he truly faced an enemy, he might not even know which technique to use. Too much deliberation would waste precious time, and he would long since have been struck down and left sprawled on the ground.

"Heh, I was only speaking offhand. It's enough that you remember it." Jiao Yazi nodded.

"By the way—last time, how exactly did I suffer that qi deviation?" Once Wei Zhao had recovered, he had thrown himself straight into cultivation and had not yet found the chance to ask about it.

"You still don't know?" Jiao Yazi was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Neither do I..."

"You don't know either?" Wei Zhao was all the more astonished. "What happened after I fell unconscious—you don't know that?"

"I don't. My connection to the outside world runs through you as its medium. You were unconscious—how could I know what happened?" Jiao Yazi shook his head. "Besides, I can only sense the world outside when you and I actively establish a connection. At all other times, I am sealed off."

"It seems I'll have to ask Little Shu and the others..." After waking, Wei Zhao had asked Yaoyao and Little Shu about his qi deviation, but they had given him only a very brief account of what had happened—that, on Old Man Wei's advice, they had gone to Snow Valley to beg for an Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit. As for the process itself, they had not gone into detail.

Such was the Young Lady's nature: no matter what she gave, she would never put it on display. Wei Zhao knew that although the Ice Spirit Sacred Fruit was not as important to Snow Valley as the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit was to the Ice Palace, it must still have cost them no small price.

It was simply that the Young Lady was cold on the outside and warm within, unwilling to claim credit. What did strike Wei Zhao as strange was that if the Young Lady would not speak of it, Little Shu had said nothing either—she had not brought her gossiping talents into play to recount the whole affair for him.

Wei Zhao supposed the Young Lady must have ordered her to keep silent.

"Never mind that. Tell me what you did before the qi deviation—I'd guess something went wrong at one of the steps..." said Jiao Yazi.

"All right..." Wei Zhao nodded, and recounted in detail to Jiao Yazi everything that had happened before the qi deviation.

"Ah!" Having heard Wei Zhao out, Jiao Yazi gave a somewhat speechless sigh.

"What is it?" Wei Zhao found Jiao Yazi's reaction rather odd.

"Boy Lin, what do they mean by 'haste makes waste'? How many times have I said it before—a towering tower rises from level ground. And you... you actually used other medicines to substitute for the one used in refining the body-tempering draught. It would be a wonder if you hadn't suffered a qi deviation!" Jiao Yazi said with a bitter smile. "How could the Restful Herb be replaced at will? It is the very key to stilling the spirit and calming the mind. But once you replaced it, it could no longer serve that purpose—so was a qi deviation not only to be expected?"

"This..." Wei Zhao's face flushed at once. He had not consulted Jiao Yazi beforehand; relying on his own familiarity with the properties of medicines, he had taken it upon himself to swap out one ingredient—and the result had brought such unforeseen consequences.

"Five years—why did I set you a term of five years back then? It was precisely because I feared you were young, hot-tempered, and unsteady, and so I used the five-year term to restrain you!" Jiao Yazi spoke with the frustration of one whose expectations had been disappointed. "But who would have thought—ten years, and still your impetuous temper has not been worn smooth... truly..."

"It's just that ten years was so long... so I grew a little impatient..." Wei Zhao said sheepishly, face red.

"Next time, when you condense the jade pendant, I hope you won't make the same mistake—otherwise, not only might it fail, but you might refine me out of existence along with it," said Jiao Yazi. "It won't happen again!" Wei Zhao nodded and pledged. "Next time I will follow the instructions strictly in every step."

……………………

The product launch of Doctor Guan Pharmaceuticals was held as scheduled—amid the shock and skepticism of the crowd.

The public could not understand it. Had Doctor Guan Pharmaceuticals not been driven into bankruptcy by the Kang Divine Physician Medical Group? How had it risen again from the ashes? Such comebacks after bankruptcy were not unheard of, but to rise again in less than a month—that was a rare thing indeed.

And so, for precisely that reason, many media outlets attended the product launch of Doctor Guan Pharmaceuticals out of curiosity—and with Xu Shilan present, a good number of entertainment reporters came as well.

Such was the power of a star. Thus the resumption of production at Doctor Guan Pharmaceuticals, together with the launch of new products, drew the attention of media from every quarter. For a time, even the seats prepared in advance were insufficient, and many reporters who had come to cover the event could only stand to the side and look on.

Fortunately, the launch was held in the open air, so it could be seen from the surrounding area as well.

When the Kang family received word that Doctor Guan Pharmaceuticals had reopened and was launching new products, it was within their expectations—yet the speed of it still made Kang the Divine Physician click his tongue in astonishment.

"Father, there's no need to worry too much. Even if Doctor Guan Pharmaceuticals has resumed production and launched new products, they still have no strength to contend with us. They go cheap, we can go cheaper; and our family is an old established brand, while theirs is newly launched—tell me, who will the consumers choose?" said Kang Guifeng upon seeing Kang the Divine Physician's concern.

"Indeed, Grandfather. With the hidden You family's support and their prescriptions behind us, why should we fear that Doctor Guan?" Kang Zhaolong likewise offered reassurance.

But Kang Zhaoming alone had not spoken a word. These past few days he had been rather silent; he had been frightened out of his wits by the strength Wei Zhao had displayed. Right Thirteen had been wiped out, and though the hidden You family had said nothing, they had not sent any other experts either—which left Kang Zhaoming deeply uneasy. He feared Wei Zhao might come knocking at any moment.

After all, he had been involved in the kidnapping of Guan Xin. If Wei Zhao came to settle the score, the first to die would be none other than Kang Zhaoming himself.

"Zhaoming, why so silent?" Kang the Divine Physician looked toward Kang Zhaoming.

"Grandfather... I'm a little afraid... I have a premonition that Wei Zhao will not let this go. He will surely take revenge on our Kang family..." Kang Zhaoming said after a moment's hesitation.

"Oh?" Kang the Divine Physician knitted his brows. "Why do you say that?"

"Zhaoming, what nonsense are you spouting? Our Kang family competes fairly. Even if Doctor Guan Pharmaceuticals competes, it is through normal commercial means. We have the advantage in price and in formulations—how could they possibly outcompete us?" Kang Guifeng shot Kang Zhaoming a glance and rebuked him.

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