Upon seeing the well-dressed middle-aged man, the previously grim expressions of the Wan Yao Zhai members unconsciously returned to normal, and their backs straightened. However, their gazes towards Lin Feng still held a hint of awe. After all, in this small Qingshan Town, high-level Dou Shi were rare, especially such a young one—he could be considered a Dou Huang (Battle Emperor).
"Hehe, Master Yao is quite generous; I accept this kindness." Lin Feng chuckled lightly, then changed the subject, "But what does Master Yao think of my suggestion?"
"Hahaha, Wan Yao Zhai naturally accepts Lord Lin Feng's opinion with pleasure." The Wan Yao Zhai Master's expression changed rapidly before quickly returning to a smile.
Lin Feng, with his powerful soul force, saw this clearly but ignored it. A mere one-star Dou Shi; even without using Dou Qi, he could be easily killed with a flick of the wrist, nothing to fear. However, Lin Feng glanced at the cold, cloaked man, his expression shifting, a hint of interest rising in his heart. "This is going to be interesting!"
"In that case, I will accompany Lord Lin Feng. I hope you can come to my rescue if we encounter any danger. The reward will be substantial." Master Yao greeted Lin Feng, then turned to the numerous mercenaries he had hired, saying, "The commission remains unchanged. Please go with peace of mind." "
Yes!" Seeing that no conflict had broken out between the two sides, and hearing Master Yao's words, the mercenaries first breathed a sigh of relief, then responded with great joy.
This was normal. If a conflict had occurred, Wan Yao Zhai would definitely have been annexed by Lin Feng's powerful strength. At that time, Qingshan Town might even have been unified. For them, not only would they have trouble treating their injuries, but they might even lose their lives if they were not careful. Everyone was on edge.
With Lin Feng accompanying them, their safety was greatly increased. It should be known that magical beasts are much more alert than humans. Sensing Lin Feng's strength, they would naturally avoid him. Therefore, this trip could be described as making money while lying down. It wasn't just the hired mercenaries who realized this; some mercenaries who hadn't joined but met the hiring criteria couldn't help but show expressions of frustration. Watching their 500 gold coins vanish was a devastating blow to mercenaries who risked their lives to earn them.
Sunlight filtered through the uneven treetops, casting dappled shadows at the entrance to the Monster Mountain Range.
The mountain range undulated, like a giant dragon slumbering. Dense forests surrounded it, tall and verdant, giving a vibrant feeling, seemingly blocking out the scorching sun and providing a refreshing coolness.
The mercenaries moved cautiously, not daring to slacken their guard.
A faint scent of grass and trees filled the air, occasionally catching a whiff of the pungent smell of monsters. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if telling the secrets of the forest. No one dared to make a sound. Even the powerful Lin Feng remained vigilant, his eyes constantly darting around. The occasional roars from afar instilled a sense of awe.
Near the entrance to the mountain range, they followed the route frequently used by the Wan Yao Zhai for gathering herbs. As they ventured deeper, they encountered traces of magical beasts, further heightening their alertness.
Continuing onward, they encountered various magical beasts, some lurking in the grass, others strolling leisurely through the woods. The experienced mercenaries weren't particularly wary of these docile creatures; as long as they weren't disturbed, there was no need to worry.
After traveling several kilometers along the herb-gathering route, the team continued laterally. After about three more hours, Lin Feng glanced at Qing Lin, who was panting softly beside him, and gestured to He Meng.
This guy was quite adept at handling things; he quickly walked to the owner of the Wan Yao Zhai (Ten Thousand Herbs Pavilion), pulled him aside, and spoke to him, occasionally glancing at Lin Feng. After seeing Lin Feng nod, the owner coughed, drawing everyone's attention.
"Ahem, everyone, you've all had a long journey and are tired, and we're still quite a distance from the herb-gathering site. How about we set up camp here, send someone to scout the area, and make sure everything is safe?" Before the owner could finish speaking, a slower-reacting mercenary was about to object.
Fortunately, his quick-witted companion immediately covered his mouth and gestured for him to look at Lin Feng—or rather, at Qing Lin, who was breathing heavily beside Lin Feng. The man broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly thanking his friend and promising to treat him to some fun "Eighteen Touches" when they got back. Upon hearing this, the two men's expressions immediately became lewd.
While everyone rested, Qing Lin said something to Lin Feng and then walked towards the only girl in the group, a girl in white. At first, she hesitated, but then they heard whispers coming from her. Lin Feng told her it was a secret. (PS: The original novel doesn't explain when Little Fairy Doctor became a physician; for the sake of the plot, we'll assume she is!)
A cool breeze brushed past Lin Feng's temples, stirring his thoughts as he gazed at the Monster Mountain Range. His gaze flickered slightly. "This time, I must obtain the treasures from the cave, especially the flying combat technique and the fragment of the strange fire map. One is what I need now, and the other is essential for my long-term plans. But..." Lin Feng's gaze shifted to the two little figures whispering amongst themselves, occasionally letting out a sweet laugh, making him hesitate.
He knew his strengths: he was well-versed in the original work, giving him a premonition of the plot, coupled with decent talent and good alchemy skills. This allowed him to achieve the status of a Seven-Star Great Dou Master and soon advance to a Fourth-Rank Alchemist at such a young age.
However, his greatest weakness was also quite obvious, such as now, looking at the smiling Little Fairy Doctor. If he had Yao Chen's guidance, or possessed the Burning Technique and the Poison Pill method, he would definitely have taken Little Fairy Doctor in.
After glancing at the two laughing figures again, Lin Feng's eyes gradually hardened. "Fine, at worst, we can secretly seize the Burning Elixir Technique and the Poison Pill Method while Yao Chen is weakened. Besides, without more advanced alchemy skills, his achievements might only reach the Dou Zun level, or even stop at the Dou Zong level. Let's get what we can get right now before worrying about anything else."
After resting for a while, the group finally arrived at the basin where they were harvesting medicinal herbs before sunset. At this moment, everyone visibly breathed a sigh of relief. As mercenaries who had been venturing into the Monster Beast Mountain Range for years, they knew how dangerous it was to enter the Monster Beast Mountain Range at night.
(End of Chapter)