In a way, Ye Xingnan was unlucky. He had worked his way up to being a B-rank member in The Shadow, but after failing to steal the demonic shen crystal core, he was severely punished by the higher-ups and demoted to C-rank.
If not for his background and connections within the organization, he might even have lost his life.
This time, he received a mission to act alongside Jiang Biyi, which was essentially just to ensure the safety of this young lady.
"Steward[1] Wei." Ye Xingnan gracefully landed and first bowed to the middle-aged man beside him before turning to Jiang Biyi with a pained expression. "Little ancestor[2], not only did you sneak away, but you also slipped ten catty of croton powder into my drink! I nearly died in the latrine!"
"Hmph, that's what you get for tailing me so closely!" Jiang Biyi laughed. "Did you use the chili oil-laced toilet paper I sent you through the innkeeper?"
Ye Xingnan's face turned bright red. "Don't mention it again!"
Chili oil on the toilet paper should already be bad enough right? No, this girl had the audacity to throw firecrackers behind the latrine too, which exploded all over him!
By the time he had cleaned himself up, Jiang Biyi had long disappeared.
When he finally caught up to her, he found her gravely injured and Ling Feng treating her.
Ye Xingnan vaguely remembered Ling Feng, recognizing him as the young man he had seen at the General's mansion. He knew Ling Feng was powerful with formidable perception abilities!
Thus, he only dared to follow from a distance, not daring to reveal himself until Steward Wei appeared and Ling Feng left.
"Ye Xingnan, no matter how much trouble Biyi caused, losing her was your fault." Steward Wei only verbally reprimanded Ye Xingnan as he felt sympathy for him.
This little ancestor had endless tricks up her sleeve, and even he had almost fallen victim to her pranks several times.
"By the way, girl, who was that young man? Do you know him?" Steward Wei asked, looking at Jiang Biyi.
"I don't know. When I saw him, he had just killed the entire Jia family, and then inexplicably saved me." Jiang Biyi blinked her spirited eyes and added, "He's a bad guy!"
"Bad guy? Did he harm you?" Anger flashed in Steward Wei's eyes. "I'll kill him right now!"
"Not that kind of bad guy!" Jiang Biyi quickly said. "Just don't interfere in my affairs with him! Oh, right..."
Jiang Biyi suddenly remembered something, taking out a slip of paper from her pocket. "Uncle Wei, please get the herbs listed on this prescription. I'm still very weak!"
"Prescription?" Steward Wei opened the note. Though he wasn't skilled in medicine, he knew a bit about pharmacology. After a quick read, he nodded. "This seems to be a prescription to restore vitality."
At that moment, Ye Xingnan interjected, "I think I know something about this guy. His name should be Ling Feng. I saw him once during a mission at the Ascendant Eagle General's mansion."
"His name is Ling Feng?" Jiang Biyi's eyes sparkled, and she immediately grabbed Ye Xingnan's arm. "Tell me everything you know about him!"
Ye Xingnan saw the young lady suddenly interested in Ling Feng and chuckled inwardly.Ling Feng, you're in trouble now!
Quickly, Ye Xingnan recounted everything he knew about Ling Feng to Jiang Biyi, though it wasn't much since he had only seen Ling Feng once.
"Alright, girl, it's time for you to return to the sacred land and see the master. Your cultivation isn't sufficient yet. Consider becoming part of The Shadow only when you're older," Steward Wei advised earnestly.
"Bah bah bah, I'm already sixteen! I'm plenty old enough!" Jiang Biyi retorted, but then felt a wave of dizziness. Finally quieting down, she weakly said, "I need to rest. Take me back now."
"Alright, alright!" Steward Wei sighed. Seeing Jiang Biyi in such a weakened state, he thought it best to get her health back on track before returning to the sacred land.
... Naturally, Ling Feng did not know that he had already been targeted by Jiang Biyi. After returning to the city, he quietly sneaked back to the Ouyang family. At dawn, he set off to return to Wenxian Sect.
The next morning, news of the Jia family's annihilation spread throughout the city. For the Ouyang family, this was a great opportunity to elevate their status to one of the top families in Hanwu County.
Especially since Ouyang Jing's return significantly boosted the family's overall strength.
Ling Feng didn't stay long. After having breakfast, he left with Lin Xian'er.
The city gates were under martial law, but such searches were ineffective. Although Ling Feng left many elderly, women, and children alive, they only saw Ling Feng wearing a cloak and couldn't provide much useful information.
Soon, Ling Feng and Lin Xian'er left Hanwu County. After leaving the city, they immediately unfolded their wings of true qi and flew towards Wenxian Sect.
In the Xianzong Mountain range, on Liuxian Peak of Jiuxian Mountain.
Seated on a rock outside the main hall on the main peak, a young girl in red looked into the distance, occasionally resting her delicate hand on her cheek and pouting while muttering to herself, "The sect leader sent a letter saying he would return half a month ago, so why isn't he here yet?"
Naturally, this young girl in red was Su Hongxiu.
Since being transferred to the main peak by Ling Feng, Elder Yao had taken special care of her. In the past six months, she had finally advanced to the first level of the Pulse Formation Realm.
However, she hadn't forgotten her agreement with Ling Feng: if she could refine a third-tier medicinal pill, Ling Feng would take her to Tianwei Academy.
So, over the past six months, she had practically worn out the medical scriptures and pill formulas Ling Feng had given her, practicing daily and constantly seeking advice from Elder Yao.
Her progress was remarkable. Recently, with Elder Yao's accompaniment, she went to the Alchemist Guild in Hanwu County and got certified as a second-grade alchemist.
Now, her success rate in refining third-tier medicinal pills had reached about seventy percent.
This also proved Ling Feng's sharp judgment.
"Hongxiu, ever since you received the sect leader's letter, you've been standing here every day looking out. You're about to turn into a waiting wife stone!"
At that moment, an older girl walked up the path beside the hall. Who else could it be but Jiang Wanqing?
"Senior Sister Jiang." Su Hongxiu blushed slightly, pouting. "Senior Sister, you're always finding excuses to come and check, yet you talk about me!"
"I'm just here to keep you company!" Jiang Wanqing shook her head with a smile. Perhaps she too harbored a bit of hope in her heart, but she knew better that hope was only hope.
At that moment, the bell rang from the mountain's base, and numerous disciples lined the path in welcome. Then, a loud shout echoed.
"The sect leader is back!"
1. Original raw used "总管zong guan" which roughly translates to manager. ☜
2. Copied from google:
The elders can instruct the younger generation at will, without listening to their opinions, let alone listening to their lessons. To use irony to call a child a little ancestor is to complain that the child does not listen to the adults and is difficult to serve/ please.
The little ancestors became synonymous with children who were willful and hard to serve/ please
Ancestors are meant to be worshiped. Saying to people, "I will worship (beg) you as my ancestor" is basically saying, "I beg you, don't be so difficult." ☜