"Th-this..." Deng Zimo faltered, his lips trembling slightly as he tried to form a sentence. His gaze flickered between Lin Feng and the attendant, but in the end, no words came out.

Even with his experience, he found himself at a loss in this situation.

Fortunately, Lin Feng stepped forward at that exact moment, his expression composed, as if nothing in the world could shake him.

"I don’t possess a Medicine Master token," Lin Feng said calmly, his tone steady and unhurried, "but can you allow me to directly take the Medicine King examination? I’m a hundred percent confident I’ll pass."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly through the bustling hall. For a brief instant, the entire area seemed to fall into an odd silence.

Then... A ripple spread.

The beautiful attendant standing before them stiffened, her delicate brows knitting together as shock flashed across her eyes.

She had seen many arrogant cultivators before, but this... this was on an entirely different level. Not far away, those who had been secretly eavesdropping could no longer restrain themselves.

"Did he just say Medicine King exam?"

"Is he insane? Even great Medicine Masters wouldn’t dare speak like that!" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Does he even know what kind of place this is?"

Whispers rose one after another, like waves crashing against the shore, each louder than the last. Curious gazes gathered, locking onto Lin Feng as if he had just grown a second head.

The attendant parted her lips, intending to speak perhaps to advise him, perhaps to reject him outright but before any words could leave her mouth, a cold, disdainful chuckle rang out from the side.

"I never thought I’d see monkeys jumping around in the most sacred place of healing." The mocking voice sliced through the noise with ease, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

"To come here and even dare request the Medicine King examination?" the voice continued, filled with ridicule. "Truly laughable. It seems the threshold for entering this place has fallen so low that even fools can wander in."

A young man slowly stepped forward from the crowd, his every movement exuding confidence and arrogance.

He wore a set of pristine purple robes, the fabric smooth and flawless, embroidered with intricate golden patterns that shimmered faintly under the light.

A jade ornament hung at his waist, swaying gently with each step, while a faint medicinal fragrance lingered around him... weak, yet unmistakable.

His sharp features carried an air of superiority, and the moment he appeared, several people instinctively lowered their gazes, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Hey, monkey," the young man said with a cruel smirk, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Lin Feng, "why don’t you kneel and kowtow three hundred times? Perhaps the vibrations might awaken that last flicker of intelligence left in your skull."

A few people nearby couldn’t help but snicker, though most simply watched in silence, unwilling to get involved. Lin Feng slowly turned his head toward the speaker.

His gaze was calm, almost indifferent, yet there was a faint trace of annoyance hidden deep within.

With just a glance, he could tell that this purple-robed youth was no ordinary individual.

Whether it was the quality of his attire, the confident bearing he carried, or the subtle aura surrounding him... all of it pointed to someone of high status, likely a young master from a powerful faction or a prominent disciple within the Medicine Pavilion itself.

Still... that didn’t make him any less irritating. Lin Feng’s brows gradually furrowed.

Why do arrogant young masters always seem to find trouble with me? he thought, a hint of exasperation surfacing in his mind. I’m not trapped inside some cliche novel... or am I?

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt.

He could at least understand Guo Han’s provocation in the past... after all, that lustful man had his eyes set on his women. There was a motive, however shallow it might be.

But this purple-robed youth? There was no connection. No conflict. No reason. He didn’t even have Ye Jian or Ning Xi by his side this time.

Lin Feng’s gaze shifted slightly, landing on Deng Zimo, who was still standing beside him, looking both anxious and awkward.

Surely... it can’t be that this young master has some strange interest in an old man?

The ridiculous thought made Lin Feng pause for a fraction of a second before he inwardly shook his head. Impossible. Even for someone looking to stir trouble, there should at least be a logical reason.

Taking a slow, steady breath, Lin Feng suppressed the stray thoughts in his mind and regained his composure. Around them, the atmosphere had already changed.

More and more people had gathered, forming a loose circle. Some watched with amusement, others with curiosity, and a few with faint sympathy as if they were already anticipating how this would end.

After all, offending someone like the purple-robed youth in a place like this was no small matter. Deng Zimo leaned slightly closer to Lin Feng, his voice lowered to a whisper.

"Young Master Lin Feng... that person... he might be..." But before he could finish, the purple-robed young man let out another cold laugh, clearly having no intention of letting the matter rest.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" he sneered, taking another step forward. "Or did you finally realize how ridiculous you sound?" His gaze swept over Lin Feng from head to toe, filled with naked contempt.

"A nobody without even a Medicine Master token dares to speak of the Medicine King examination," he continued, his voice growing sharper. "Do you think this is some kind of joke? Or are you trying to make a fool out of the Medicine Pavilion itself?" The pressure in the air slightly increased.

Even those watching from the sidelines could feel it... this was no longer just mockery. The young man was clearly intent on making an example out of Lin Feng.

Yet, in the face of all this, Lin Feng remained standing calmly, his posture straight, his expression unchanged. It was as if the ridicule, the gazes, and even the growing tension meant nothing to him.

After a brief silence, Lin Feng finally spoke.

"Forgive me, I didn’t realize this medicine pavilion allowed stray dogs to enter. If you’re finished barking, move aside and please find a different alleyway for your barking. I have no medicine for fools."