For their country, the disappearance of the Medicine Elder was actually good news. It meant China had one less divine doctor, which was a joy for their medical field. So, while they pretended to search for him, they didn’t really care. Cole had already forgotten about it. But when Zhu Yanyi mentioned it, she was slightly stunned. She could only laugh dryly. She certainly couldn’t reveal the truth.
Zhu Yanyi knew Cole’s selfish motives, which is why she brought it up. Yan Aohan had long told her that Cole had sent her ointment back to her country. She wasn’t afraid. When she gave her the ointment, she had predicted she would do this. She didn’t fear their research at all. If they could easily figure out the formula, she would be useless. These ointment recipes were part of the Azure Sovereign Qingdi’s inheritance. The Po-Wu Ointment was not something they could understand. The ingredients weren’t just a few simple herbs. Even if they knew what she used, they wouldn’t know the exact proportions. She always grabbed herbs by hand, without measuring.
Cole couldn’t believe Zhu Yanyi knew her thoughts. But it wasn’t her fault. In the International Medical Association, one needed special contributions to rise in rank. If her contributed ointment achieved a breakthrough, it would count as her achievement, allowing her to climb the ladder. There were seven vice presidents in the association. She was currently ranked seventh. Although all were vice presidents, the power difference between first and seventh was huge. The first had a chance to become president. For her, ranked seventh, waiting her turn was like a fairy tale. So, she needed extra achievements, and Zhu Yanyi’s ointment became her hope.
She had seen her making process and the ointment’s effects. She had also identified many ingredients. But without the specific ratios in the formula, they couldn’t replicate it. Her original plan was to find a way to ask Zhu Yanyi for the formula.
“Mr. Cole, I will not give you this formula. Because you are not a student of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I only teach formulas to those from China who study TCM,” Zhu Yanyi stated directly. “Giving you the ointment was to prove I wasn’t boasting. I can cure this disease. But as for the formula, don’t even think about it.” After speaking, Zhu Yanyi stretched lazily. “Alright, the patients here are mostly healed now. I will pack tomorrow and prepare to return to China the day after. Mr. Cole, I won’t say goodbye to you then.”
Zhu Yanyi’s straightforward and crisp words left Cole momentarily at a loss. In her mind, Chinese people were usually tactful, spoke softly, and were tolerant and generous. Why did Zhu Yanyi have none of these traits?
Zhu Yanyi understood Westerners’ personalities well. There was no point in speaking with hidden meanings to them. Directness was the most appropriate and effective approach. Regardless of Cole’s thoughts, Zhu Yanyi’s directness left her with no desire to bring up the ointment again. She also lost face. She had told her directly that she wouldn’t give the formula. Giving her the ointment was already generous. Could she still ask for the formula? So, Cole truly didn’t know what to do.