"Junior Brother Lin Feng is truly an... 'interesting' person," Jie Feiyuan mused, a sly smile playing at the corners of her lips as she walked down the mountain path. He showed disdain for the spirit herbs I offered, yet was keenly interested in the pill refining insights and formulas... This likely confirms he possesses a substantial stockpile of herbs himself.
Just what method did he use to turn the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane into his personal transport and bodyguard? she pondered, a flicker of envy crossing her mind. Of course, venturing deep into the back mountains with the Thunder Crane would yield plentiful herbs... How utterly enviable...
Though his temperament is rather cold... A trace of pique surfaced. Utterly unmoved by my charms! Is the man made of wood? Even handing over the Misty Creeper Vine felt like a calculated 'transaction'... He's truly baffling..."
As these thoughts swirled, an unreadable light gleamed in her eyes. She instinctively glanced back towards the direction of the back mountains before turning and swiftly disappearing around the bend.
...
Unbeknownst to Jie Feiyuan, moments after she departed, two figures emerged silently from the woods beside the path.
It was none other than Di Xuan and Xue Ziqi!
Xue Ziqi stared in the direction Jie Feiyuan had vanished, confusion written on his face. "Senior Sister Jie came from the back mountains... Could she have... visited Lin Feng?"
Di Xuan's expression was grim. "Obviously!" he snapped coldly. "Look at that smug air about her! She's probably already gotten her hands on the Misty Creeper Vines! Damnation!"
His anger wasn't solely fueled by the potential loss of the vines. The thought that Jie Feiyuan might have employed her 'feminine wiles' – the idea that Lin Feng could have taken any liberties with her – ignited a raging jealousy within him. He yearned to tear Lin Feng limb from limb.
Xue Ziqi gasped. "What?! Senior Sister Jie took the vines? What do we do now?"
"Even if she got them from Lin Feng, it's likely only one or two at most," Di Xuan reasoned, a cold glint in his eyes. "Lin Feng should still have at least one left." His voice turned menacing. "It's best we secure it before he trades it for sect contribution points! Junior Brother Xue, I must accompany Master away for a period starting tomorrow. I can't handle this personally. I entrust it to you. Leave no traceable evidence. And even if you can't get the vine..." His gaze hardened. "...make sure Lin Feng gets a thorough lesson! Understood?"
Xue Ziqi's eyes lit up with fervor, as if receiving an imperial decree. "Rest assured, Senior Brother Di! I will not disappoint you!!"
...
Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of the fresh trouble brewing, Lin Feng closed the door behind Jie Feiyuan and returned to his bedroom.
Trading one Vine of Misty Creepers for roughly ten sets of Qi Condensing Pill ingredients, some pill refining insights, and a few common pill formulas was objectively a terrible deal. Yet, Lin Feng felt little regret over the vine. The insights and formulas were precisely what he needed most right now. Acquiring them directly from Jie Feiyuan saved him significant hassle. Besides, he still had two vines left; parting with one was acceptable.
As for Jie Feiyuan's frequent 'provocative' gestures earlier – he wasn't oblivious. He simply understood the motive. It wasn't his irresistible charm; it was the lure of the Misty Creeper Vines, or perhaps the 'secret' she suspected he held. Anyone who learned he could ride the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane deep into the restricted back mountains would be intensely curious. Jie Feiyuan's probing wasn't surprising.
His willingness to hand over the vine stemmed partly from a desire to satisfy her immediate request and send her on her way. He dreaded the prospect of her prying deeper into his affairs.
Her parting shot – "I'll visit you often" – elicited not excitement, but a dull headache. He seriously considered retreating into the mountains for secluded cultivation to simply avoid her for a while...
...
Darkness gradually enveloped the Spirit Beast Garden. Lin Feng, never one for the communal dining hall, stayed put. He retrieved the newly acquired jade slip containing the pill refining insights and began studying it intently.
Jie Feiyuan hadn't deceived him; the notes within were remarkably detailed. Focusing solely on the section concerning the Qi Condensing Pill, Lin Feng found his understanding deepening significantly.
After absorbing the insights and resolving several previous points of confusion, Lin Feng felt his state of mind was optimal. He retrieved the pill furnace once more, determined to resume his experiments.
Only someone with Lin Feng's 'substantial reserves' could afford such extravagance – relentlessly burning through precious spirit herbs mere hours after learning the basics. Others simply couldn't sustain the 'waste'.
Unconsciously, set after set of herbs became sacrificial offerings to his practice. Failure followed failure. The room filled with the acrid stench of scorched vegetation, strong enough to rouse Xiao Qiu from its slumber. The little creature protested indignantly until Lin Feng pacified it with a mid-grade spirit stone.
Deep in the quiet night, during what felt like the umpteenth attempt, Lin Feng finally performed flawlessly once more. He navigated the intricate preliminary steps smoothly, arriving once again at the critical moment of Pill Condensation.
"Qiu!!!"
A sudden, sharp cry shattered the room's silence and Lin Feng's concentration. His face paled as he watched helplessly yet another plume of black smoke billow from the furnace...
Lin Feng nearly exploded with fury. He whirled around, ready to scold Xiao Qiu, only to find the creature alert, gesturing frantically with its claws towards the outside of the room, its small face etched with vigilance.
"Hmm?" Lin Feng froze, then understood. He held his breath, straining his ears. Faint, almost imperceptible sounds filtered in from outside – definitely not rodents. It was the unmistakable noise of someone... sneaking in!
Rage surged through Lin Feng. The interruption hadn't been Xiao Qiu's fault after all – it was the intruder! The frustration from Jie Feiyuan's earlier disruption, which had ruined a promising attempt, had been simmering within him. Now, a second interruption? This is intolerable! Moreover, anyone skulking around his dwelling at this hour clearly harbored ill intent. Courtesy was unnecessary.
...
Lin Feng recalled the Deep Crimson Molten Flame but deliberately left the furnace out. Instead, he channeled a surge of true essence, activating the Fire Gathering Array within it. He gestured to Xiao Qiu, who leapt into his arms. Silently, he pushed open a side window and slipped out.
He wasn't fleeing. Skirting around the outside of the building, he approached the front. The main hall door stood ajar. Edging closer, he peered inside.
Three shadowy figures were hunched over, rummaging furtively through the storage area on the right – his stockpile of pills for the spirit beasts.
"Pill thieves?" Lin Feng was momentarily baffled. While the quantity was large, those were all useless pills! Who would be foolish enough to steal useless pills? What possible use could they have?
The answer struck him almost instantly. Their goal wasn't to use the pills. It was to frame him! By stealing them, they aimed to leave him unable to feed the spirit beasts!
"Seeking death..."
A cold gleam flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. A chilling sneer curled his lips, though he remained hidden. He had a strong suspicion about their identities. He decided to watch, curious to see what else they might attempt.
Before long, the intruders had gathered most of the useless pills. One gestured silently, and the three figures crept stealthily across the main hall, stopping directly before the door to Lin Feng's bedroom...