*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

CHAPTER 161: I Want to Annul the Betrothal

Feng Jiu could not help herself but laugh. Her gaze then swept over the eight men looking at her and she continued to say: "I'll accept the command token then. As for all of them, wait till I'm free and we'll see." Immediately after her voice fell, she turned herself around and walked outside.

Coming back to the Feng Residence, Feng Jiu busied herself with getting rid of the people Su Ruo Yun had left behind within the manor. In just three short days, she reshuffled everything within the Feng Residence and tidied the whole place up. And in these same three days, the condition of Feng Xiao's body was also gradually recovering.

It was early morning on this particular day that Feng Jiu was practising her Tai Chi when she saw Leng Shuang walking towards her. "Mistress, the Third Prince has come and asked to see you. Old Master wants you to make a trip there."

Feng Jiu retracted her stance and blew a breath out before she said: "Got it. I'll go over after getting myself a change of clothes." Feng Jiu was already walking towards her room as she spoke when she suddenly stopped in her tracks to ask: "Right, how is my brother doing at the black market these past few days?"

"Young Master is doing well. Mistress does not have to worry, I have already left instructions with the black market."

"Mm, that's good." Feng Jiu then nodded her head and went into her room to change before bringing Leng Shuang with her as she went out to the main hall at the front.

- In the Front Hall -

"Yi Xuan, this old man knows you're really an outstanding young man and I am most satisfied with who you are. But Little Feng has already told me her wishes and as her grandfather, I would naturally not be able to say anything much against that. Hence, I thought I should first tell it to you today and I'll then make a trip to the palace one of these days to make the situation clear to the ruler for him to annul the engagement."

Hearing that, Murong Yi Xuan looked at the Old Patriarch and said: "Grandfather Feng, don't go to the palace yet. Let me speak to Qing Ge first and we'll then discuss about this again!"

[The other day, he had been the one who wanted the engagement annulled and now, she was instead the one who wanted to call off the betrothal. Was it because he had not been able to recognize her and that had angered her?]

"Grandfather."

A voice came in from outside. Murong Yi Xuan turned his head behind and with that one glance, his eyes narrowed slightly.

A girl in white was walking in with the light behind her, that graceful bearing and her elegant presence made her entire being look as beautiful as a Heavenly goddess. But, when he saw that face on her, the earlier mesmerization he felt faded away till there wasn't a single trace left.

That was a countenance that was completely filled with long scars, so disfigured her original looks could no longer be identified. The skin upon that face had been almost completely ruined, looking so horrifying. Even as he saw it, his heart could not help but quiver and wince.

There was a sort of wincing pain, a sense of pity, mashed up together with shock and astoundment.

He had never known that her face had been disfigured to such a complete extent.....

"Little Feng, you're here."

When the Old Patriarch saw her, his eyes narrowed up and he immediately broke into a wide smile. He then stood up and looked towards Murong Yi Xuan and said: "The two of you should have a good chat!" After saying that, he walked out of the place.

"Qing Ge, let's get married!" He spoke his intentions for having come here as he looked at Feng Jiu.

Hearing that, Feng Jiu cast a glance at Murong Yi Xuan and said: "Didn't my grandfather already tell you that I want to call off the engagement?" She went over to the main seat and sat down, as the servant brought in tea for her.

"I do not mind that your countenance has been disfigured." He had thought that Feng Jiu was calling off the engagement because her face had been ruined. Afterall, the previous her had been so highly reliant on him and the kind of feelings he had for her, couldn't be so easily severed just because she said so.

Hearing those words, Feng Jiu laughed. "I think you misunderstood. I am not seeking to annul the betrothal because my face has been disfigured, but because I discovered that I do not love you, and that is the reason why I am calling off the engagement."

Her voice was indifferent, her demeanor gracefully languid, not showing the slightest trace of unease or inferiority with her completely scarred face presented before Murong Yi Xuan's eyes.

"I do not believe that."

His gaze was steadily fixed upon her. "I do not believe that you do not love me. We shared so many years having such strong feelings for each other, how is it possible that you can suddenly stop loving me just because you said it?"

Feng Jiu glanced at him queerly and said: "Didn't you want to call off the marriage as well? How is it different from this?"

CHAPTER 162: Settle it with Fists

"That's not the same." His eyes held deep emotions as he gazed straight at her. "That was because she was Su Ruo Yun and not you."

"Pfft!"

She burst out with a stifled laugh in scorn, her lips curling up in a sneer. "Which man doesn't like beautiful women? Don't tell me that you were not mesmerized when you saw me back at the Plum Blossom Forest? Were you not surprised and delighted when you saw me in the streets then? If men's words are believable, pigs will then find trees climbable."

"Qing Ge....."

Feng Jiu took a sip from her tea and stood up, to come right before Murong Yi Xuan. "I am definitely going to break off the engagement and I am not here to discuss it with you but am merely informing you about it, so that you can at least be prepared." Immediately after her voice fell, she called out: "House Steward, see the guest out!"

The steward outside came in and said to Murong Yi Xuan: "Your Highness, this way please."

Murong Yi Xuan was silent and after gazing at her another moment, he said: "I will go seek medicine to remove those scars for you. I will let you see that my heart towards you has never changed." Finishing what he wanted to say, he then opened up his stride to walk out.

Feng Jiu shook her head, sighing in her heart. [A pity, that Feng Qing Ge that loves you is dead. However much you do, it will be of no use.....]

After that, she walked out from the front hall and went towards the courtyard at the back. When she saw the Old Patriarch and her father chatting while enjoying tea, she called out to them: "Grandfather, Father."

"Qing Ge, I heard that Yi Xuan came. How did the chat with him go?" Feng Xiao asked with concern. Seeing that badly disfigured face on his daughter, his heart wrenched up with bitter pain.

[His daughter, and her face destroyed like this.....]

[That was all due to his failure as a father who did not protect her well, causing her to go through so much suffering.]

"He's left. Grandfather, find a good time to go talk to the ruler about it and have the betrothal annulled." Feng Jiu said as she came to the table and sat down, and then turned to Feng Xiao. "Father, is your body still feeling unwell in anyway?"

"Not any longer. Father is fine and my body is recovering very quickly." Feng Xiao said with a wide smile, not wanting Feng Jiu to worry.

"Mm, you have to continue taking your medicine." She said with a laugh. She accompanied the two men and chatted with them in conversation for a while, before she returned back to her own courtyard.

Not long after she stepped into her courtyard, Leng Shuang came walking in.

"Mistress....." She was just about to open her mouth to speak when Leng Shuang saw a man in a blue robe wandering about just outside the courtyard, and the words at the tip of her tongue suddenly stopped.

Inside the courtyard, Feng Jiu followed Leng Shuang's gaze and saw that blue robed man turning his head here and there to peer all around. Seeing that, her brows creased up together. "What are you doing there?"

"Heh heh. Was too idle and am just looking around." He said with a grin, his gaze staring straight at Feng Jiu's unveiled face, his heart slightly startled.

He had heard that the Young Miss had removed her face veil after coming back here, revealing her disfigured countenance as she wandered about in the Feng Residence the entire day. He had not believed those words then and he just realized that it had been true.

"Too idle?" The corners of her lips curled up slightly and she looked at the blue robed man like she was almost smiling. "Now that you mention it, the bunch of you have not acknowledged your Lord!"

"Young Miss wants us to recognize you as our Lord? Heh heh, that might be a little tough." The blue robed man was candid with his words, not bothering to be too polite.

"Mistress." Leng Shuang went close to Feng Jiu's ear to whisper a few words, and then retreated away.

After hearing Leng Shuang's words, Feng Jiu's eyes flashed with a dark glint. Her gaze fixed upon the figure of the blue robed man but her words were spoken to Leng Shuang: "Mm. Go reply to them and say that I've agreed."

"Yes." Leng Shuang immediately left after acknowledging.

Feng Jiu then strode forward and came right before the blue robed man. Without any warning, she threw out a punch.....

CHAPTER 163: My Lord! Stop Hitting Me Already!

"Oww!"

Caught off guard, the blue robed man was hit right in his eye with the sudden punch thrown by Feng Jiu, quickly retreating backwards as he covered his eye with a hand.

"Young Miss, why would you hit me?"

Feng Jiu smiled evilly at him: "Don't you all deal with things with your fists? Since you delivered yourself right up to me, and I just happen to feel an itch on my hands, I thought I would use you to scratch my fists a little." Immediately after her voice fell, the figure of Feng Jiu flashed in place and suddenly hurtled forward.

Seeing that, the blue robed man put down his hand from his eye and said: "Since that's the case, then Young Miss must not blame me for being discourteous!" This time, he did not dodge, but had instead charged forward, throwing his fist viciously out straight at Feng Jiu.

But against all expectations, the punch thrown out was caught in a grip by Feng Jiu in one hand, his other hand engaged in a furious exchange of strokes with Feng Jiu. The sounds of fists striking each other crashed resoundingly, with an occasional grunt from pain mixed in between from him. He made the slightest miscalculation and he suddenly felt his entire body being lifted up into the air, to crash back heavily onto the ground where he found himself being pinned down.

'BAM!'

"Ugh!"

The loud crash from the heavy fall was accompanied by his groan as they sounded together. His entire body was being pressed into the ground and he didn't even know how and what kind of position she had twisted his arms up into but just found himself suddenly becoming limp and lacking any strength to struggle in her grip. Before he could even catch his breath, he saw the fist diving straight at him once again, startling him so much he immediately shouted out in a panic: "Not the face!"

'Bam bam bam bam!'

"Argh! Why are you only aiming at my face! ? Not the face! Don't hit my face! Arggh....."

Hearing the commotion, the guards in the Feng Residence thought something might have happened and they hurried over to have a look. Who knew that they would see the highly revered Feng Guard being pinned to the ground and being mercilessly pounded upon! ? Instantly, one by one their eyes flared wide open to stare incredulously, unable to believe what their eyes were seeing.

[How was it possible for the Young Miss to be able to overpower a leading officer of the Feng Guard? The Feng Guard must be holding himself back against the Young Miss right?]

"Oof! My stomach! Argh! No! Stop hitting me! My Lord! My Lord! Stop hitting me already, My LORD! I YIELD....."

The moment the sound of that scream trailed off and he found the knee jabbed painfully into his stomach finally lifting, he immediately heaved a long breath in relief, his entire body finally able to relax. But just as that breath was leaving his body and he had completely let down his guard, another hard punch was driven straight into his abdomen without mercy, causing his body to curl up like one well cooked prawn, half his breath suddenly stuck within him, unable to be expelled, which caused his face to turn a bright red shade.

"I..... have..... called..... you..... my Lord..... Why are you still..... hitting me....."

Feng Jiu stood up and dusted her clothes off as she looked smilingly at the man whose face was all black and blue and his body tightly curled up upon the ground to say: "The last punch is a free lesson to you from your Lord here. Before the danger is completely eradicated, you must never relax your guard. Only when you feel the pain, will the lesson then stick."

Watching the figure that was now dusting her hands off as she walked towards her room, the blue robed man winced as he clenched his jaws tightly to endure the pain while he struggled to climb to his feet, miserably limping alone while he slowly made his way back.

When the other men of the Feng Guards saw the blue robed man slowly limping in, their eyes uniformly registered absolute shock. One of the men stepped forward and asked with great curiosity: "What happened? You just went out for a short while and you return here beaten up all black and blue like this?"

"Who did it? In this manor, who else but the Old Master and the Family Head would be able to beat you up to such an extent?"

"Oww..... Can all of you not ask me anything about it now? Can't you see I'm all covered in bruises? Quick, help me sit down first, the pain is really killing me."

The blue robed man then grabbed at the arm of the man before him and leaned his entire weight upon the man as he said: "My sacrifice today has been great, but it's all really worth it."

"What really happened?"

The several men crowded around the badly battered up blue robed man. Seeing the handsome face that the blue robed man had always been so proud off now transformed into a pig's head , someone among them could not help but burst out laughing.

"That person had been really vicious with his strikes! All aimed right at your face! Hee hee, these injuries will definitely not subside within these three to five days."

CHAPTER 164: Will be Leaving

"Ain't that right! I've already said to not hit the face but every single punch was all aimed only at my face! That was just too vicious."

The blue robed man became agitated and it tugged at the wounds on his face. He gasped, drawing in a deep breath: "I limped every single step on my way back here and the servant girls in the manor were all covering their mouths as they sniggered at me, forcing me to shield my face with my sleeve the entire way. I really do not have the face to see anyone now."

"Could it be that your injuries were given to you by Guan Xi Lin? It couldn't be. His powers are not a match for you. Then it's the Old Master?" One of the men tried to guess, seemingly very intrigued by it.

Hearing those words, the blue robed man's mouth curled slightly, to reveal a smirk in glee: "I knew that all of you would not be able to guess it correctly. Because, I myself had not expected it in the least which led me to become such a painful example. Oww, it really smarts."

He tugged at the white robed man's sleeve and said: "Fan Lin, bring me some ointment will you? The pain is really killing me."

"Tell us everything first or you can apply the medicine yourself." The white robed man, Fan Lin immediately sat down, refusing to budge.

Seeing that, the blue robed man then said helplessly: "It's the Young Miss who did this. Her strikes were really lethal! And, let me tell you....."

His voice fell a few notches softer: "She possesses great power and employs strange moves. Definitely stronger than you and me."

As he spoke, he pointed at the bruises on his own face. "See these? If I had the slightest bit of power to resist, I will never have allowed my incredibly handsome face that had mesmerized millions of ladies to be beaten up so badly to look like a pig's head."

Everyone was well stunned hearing those words. "Young Miss? She was the one who beat you up into such a state?"

"Otherwise, who else in this manor would you think possess such capability?" He then said with a pout: "I've said it before right? Our Young Miss is definitely not a simple person and all of you didn't believe me. That's right, I had already addressed her as my Lord but just did not take an oath."

"You accepted her as your Lord?" All of the rest of the men were rather surprised. He had just gone out for a little while and he had suddenly acknowledged a new Lord?

"That's right. I did. I acknowledged her. Hey! Now go fetch the medicine and help me apply it!"

Fan Lin stood up and glanced at the several other men who were deep in thought before he walked towards the inside of the house to fetch the medicine box to treat the blue robed man's wounds.

That very night, Feng Jiu came to her Grandfather's room.

"Little Feng, Leng Shuang told me in the evening that you have something you want to tell me. What is it?" The Old Patriarch was sitting at the table as he looked at Feng Jiu to ask.

Feng Jiu lifted the teapot on the table and poured out two cups of tea before she said: "Grandfather, the black market asked for me to help them. The airship they sent to pick me up should reach here tomorrow. My trip this time will take at least several months and I will need to trouble Grandfather to look after things here in the manor."

"Sent an airship to pick you up?"

The Old Patriarch became rather excited: "Is it those magical flying artifact? That is not something an ordinary country could possibly possess. Could it be that the country you are going to on this trip is a country that is above the sixth grade?"

Feng Jiu shook her head: "I haven't got the chance to ask them that yet and I do not know much about it. I was thinking whether I should tell Father about my identity as the Ghost Doctor? So that he won't get so worried when I'm away for a few months."

"No need no need. Your Father shows everything he is thinking directly upon his face. If you tell him the secret will surely be leaked. And if he happens to have a few more drinks with others and happily blurts it all out, I guess the entire Cloudy Moon City will then know about it."

The Old Patriarch waved his hand dismissively and said: "Don't worry, when that happens, I will tell you Father that I sent you out for some intensive cultivation training and will not come back so soon."

Hearing her Grandfather, Feng Jiu could not help but smile and say: "Grandfather, are you sure you're not talking about yourself?"

"Kek kek, impossible! Your Grandfather remains sober even after a thousand cups! It's just that I will sometimes become muddleheaded and I'm afraid that I will forget some things." Upon bringing that up, the old man was suddenly feeling a little helpless.

CHAPTER 165: Fighting to Get There!

Feng Jiu laughed lightly and said: "You don't have to worry about that. Grandfather, look here." She pulled out three bottles and placed them on the table.

"What are they?" The Old Patriarch picked them up and sniffed at them. He only knew they were medicine, but he didn't know what kind of use they had.

"These are Mind Revitalizing Pills that I specially developed for Grandfather and just by taking them for a period of time, Grandfather's forgetfulness should be cured very soon."

"This..... This can really be cured?" The Old Patriarch asked Feng Jiu, looking rather shocked.

"Mm. Grandfather's condition isn't really very serious and once you finish these doses, you should already have more or less recovered." Feng Jiu said with a smile. After informing the Old Patriarch about a few more things, she sat with her Grandfather for awhile more before she went back to her own courtyard.

Before daybreak the next day, Feng Jiu brought Leng Shuang with her and left the manor quietly, making their way towards the black market.....

And when the sun rose, the eight Feng Guards came to the courtyard seeking Feng Jiu but could no longer find any sign of her. They had thought that she had just merely gone out for awhile and they did not give it much thought. Who would have known that this missed opportunity then resulted in becoming several months.

When a highly luxurious airship came sailing in through the skies of the Cloudy Moon City, it became like almost the entire Cloudy Moon City erupted in activity. Even the ruler, Murong Bo in the Imperial Palace sent people out to go find out what was happening.

It must be known that the Sun Glory Country itself was not able to get an airship and countries who were able to own an airship were at least of the sixth grade and above, or were highly mighty powers before they could possess magical flying artifacts like that.

After they managed to acquire the news, the palace guard hurried back to report. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the airship has stopped before the main doors of the black market and it is said that it was sent here to pick up the Ghost Doctor."

"Pick up the Ghost Doctor! ?"

Murong Bo asked in shock, his entire body immediately shooting to his feet as he shouted out at the same time: "Ready my horse!" [He had still not gotten the chance to ask for medicine from the Ghost Doctor, so how could he possibly let him leave just like that! ? Moreover, if he leaves, when will be ever be back! ?]

Upon hearing the news, Murong Yi Xuan was startled as well. [Ghost Doctor? Is it that sinister and devilish man wearing red clothes he saw on that night?] Murong Yi Xuan quickly snapped back to his senses and took wide strides to go outside.

[He needs to go seek medicine! To get miracle medicine that can rejoice scars and restore one's countenance!]

- Feng Residence -

Feng Xiao was in a great hurry as he went rushing out. The steward saw that and he quickly went up to block him and ask: "My Lord! Your body still has not completely recovered! Where are you intending to go! ?"

"Didn't you see that airship just now? I heard that it was sent here to pick up the Ghost Doctor. I need to hurry over to the black market and ask for miracle medicine that is able to help Qing Ge remove her scars!"

Pushing the steward out of his way, Feng Xiao continued his way outside. Without even turning his head, he instructed: "If Old Master asks about it, just tell him I'll be back very quickly."

"My Lord! My Lord! Haiz, the few of you over there! Hurry up and follow the Lord! I'll go inform the Old Master!" The steward quickly summoned the several Feng Guards to go chase after Feng Xiao, while he ran inside towards the courtyard at the back.

"What? He went running to the Ghost Doctor to seek medicine?" The Old Patriarch asked, his eyes widening as his face filled with shock.

"That's right! And the Lord's body still has not fully recovered! The Lord ran out just like that and your old servant really wasn't able to stop him." The steward said worriedly.

"Quickly! Go bring him back here!" The Old Patriarch shouted, and then felt that having the men go there would still not bring Feng Xiao back. Hence, he got up and strode outside while he said: "Ready the carriage. On the double!"

While one by one they were all rushing towards the black market, in a plush private room in the black market, several men sat, sizing up one another.

"I had not expected that the Ghost Doctor would actually be such a peerlessly magnificent Young Master, your reputation precedes you but nothing like meeting you in person."

The middle aged man who had come to pick Feng Jiu up said in a deep voice, his face all smiles as he looked at Feng Jiu who sat with her back reclined, a little surprised at how outstanding the person before his eyes was.

CHAPTER 166: Almost Exposed Herself Fully

The ends Feng Jiu's lips curled up slightly into a faint smile: "Having two Grand Spirit Masters and a Foundation Cultivator to come all the way here to pick me up, I'm deeply honoured instead."

Hearing those words, a glint of surprise then flashed within the eyes of the several men in the room. They had not expected that the Ghost Doctor would be able to identify their cultivation levels. But, from his body, they were however unable to detect any cultivation of mystical energy or spirit energy, so how had he been able to determine their powers?

"Ha ha. This is also to show the high regard we, the black market, places upon your esteemed self, and hence, even it's just to welcome and to provide an escort, we would naturally not even dream to be slipshod about it." The middle aged man said with a smile. He clasped his hand over his fist and said respectfully: "It's getting late and the airship is waiting outside. This way please."

The middle aged man extended out a hand towards the door, inviting Feng Jiu to walk in front.

"Mm." Feng Jiu acknowledged curtly and stood up with a flourish of her red clothes, her strides bringing her towards the outside.

Standing guard outside, Leng Shuang was at that moment dressed up as a male, shrouded fully in black, her jet black hair tied up and a mask upon her face. Seeing Feng Jiu come out, she stepped forward to walk by her side, to go down together.

The black market at that moment was already surrounded by a huge crowd of people. They had all heard of the Ghost Doctor's name but had not seen what kind of a man such an entity would really be like. Hence, when that peerlessly magnificent figure in red walked out from inside which mesmerized the entire crowd, the sound of highly raucous cheers immediately erupted.

"The Ghost Doctor! Ghost Doctor! It's the Ghost Doctor!"

Everyone fought to squeeze and push, wanting to go forward, but the area surrounding the airship had the black market's guards forming a protective wall around it and they were all unable to get in.

Guan Xi Lin stood upstairs within the black market and watched Feng Jiu depart and did not approach her as if he went too close to her, her identity might be found out.

"Please." The middle aged man extended his hand out in invitation once again, to invite the Ghost Doctor to board the airship.

"Mm." Feng Jiu acknowledged, and stepped into the airship with Leng Shuang following right behind her.

After the several people have boarded, the airship then lifted up off the ground, to fly up into the sky.....

By the time Murong Bo, Murong Yi Xuan and Feng Xiao came rushing in, they only got to see the airship gradually growing smaller into the distance. In mere moments, it then disappeared among the clouds.....

- Three days later. Night. Green Gallop Country. -

- A hot spring within the mountain behind the black market -

Feng Jiu slipped out of her clothes and removed the mask off her face, stepping barefoot straight towards and into the water, her skin submerging under the water's surface as she waded with her knees bent to find a spot to sit down within the hot spring and spread her arms out to lay them flat upon the slippery stones at the edge of the pool, her head lifted up with her eyes narrowed in sweet blissful comfort.

Three days' worth of pure exhaustion, finally got a reprieve within the calming waters of the hot spring, and it was so soothing and relaxing that it made her a little drowsy.

On the outside of the hot spring, she had already set up a boundary barrier and she had Leng Shuang standing guard outside, hence, she was not worried that someone would come barging in.

Although it was highly relaxing and comfy, she knew she must not soak herself for too long. So, after soaking in the waters for about an hour or so, she prepared herself to get up. However, just as she was about to stand up, through the misty fog brought about by the heat from the hot spring, she could hazily make out the shadowy black figure seemingly running away from something to flash its way in.

This caused her body that had been about to stand up to sink back lower into the water, using the misty fog to cover and hide her modesty.

"Could it be that your distinguished self is hiding from someone?"

The languid voice tinged with a sliver of slight raspiness sounded highly indifferent, its tone kind of leisurely and carefree, like the stranger's sudden intrusion had not shocked at all. And that voice that had suddenly sounded out from behind, had instead startled the black shadow who was plastered against the stone wall and carefully watching outside, instantly causing him to turn his head back to peer warily towards where that voice had come from.

That one glance, immediately caused his good looking pair of sword brows to crease up together.

CHAPTER 167: Red Underpants!

Peering through the fog, he only saw a hazy figure leaning back while seated within the water, barely able to make out a pair of rounded shoulders exposed above the water's surface, and that highly alluring snowy white neck, but the person's countenance could not be seen clearly due to the swirling fog in the air.

But, judging from the calm and composed voice that was tinged with a sort of laziness and had a rather low and slightly raspy tinge, the other party would naturally be male. Afterall, if a woman was faced with this current situation, she would already be screaming her head off.

"Apologies for startling the Young Master."

When the man's voice sounded, Feng Jiu who was in the water suddenly stared in shock, almost crying out in surprise. [Uncle?]

[She was really bumping into him everywhere in this life! She had just arrived in the Green Gallop Country and she's bumped into him once again. But it was clear that he had not recognized her.]

When she realized that, her entire being was fina)lly able to relax as she laid back within the water, to look at the straight backed figure, the ends of her mouth curled up, to reveal a mischievous smile.

"Startled indeed! I had initially thought that it was a beauty that the black market had picked out for me who had come, never expecting that it would be a man who came in instead."

Hearing that, the frown on Ling Mo Han's face grew deeper, his gaze trying to penetrate through the mist to get a clear look at the person, but the words that came out from the person right after immediately caused him to be unable to stop the corners of his mouth from twitching and his face to darken.

"You should be aware that this Young Master here currently does not have a single inch covered under the water and seeing that your distinguished self is staring with a gaze so intense at this Young Master here, could it be possible that you have a preference towards the masculine male species?"

The Young Master is thinking too much into it."

Ling Mo Han's voice had grown stiff but that magnetic and highly masculine voice was still pleasing to the ear.

He was just about to leave the place when he heard the sounds of people searching the area and the leg he had raised to step outside hesitated a moment before he suddenly turned his head back and looked towards the hot spring.

Her mind thinking how she was supposed to stand up, Feng Jiu suddenly saw his gaze turning back towards her and she could not help but be startled. All of a sudden, like he had suddenly thought of something, he stated to take wide strides towards her without waiting for her to say anything.

"Stand right there!"

She shouted out. The fog will no longer block anything at close distances and she was stark naked at that moment. If he came any closer, she would have no longer have anywhere to hide.

Ling Mo Han's feet did not stop with his strides but instead continued on steadily towards the other side as his low and magnetic voice came floating out of his mouth: "Based on my knowledge, this boundary barrier should still have a live door and its right behind the Young Master."

[No kidding! Of course I know that!]

Feng Jiu's eyes were wide as she stared at the figure walking towards her. She clenched her jaw tightly and summoned up her mystical power to scrape the water's surface, sending water droplets to fly straight towards Ling Mo Han in assault.

At the same time, her hand slapped upon the water surface once more, causing a water curtain to spray up. Her entire body then flew out from the water as she pulled out a set of red clothes from the space, as she speedily threw it over her body behind the cover of the water curtain.

But just as the water curtain fell back down into the hot spring, she had just adjusted the red clothes she had thrown over her body. When she turned herself around to land upon the ground, her bare feet slipped upon that wet and slippery stones, causing her to lose her balance as she fell forward.

"Ahhhh!"

Her body was falling forward completely off balance and by instinct, she reached out her hand to grab at whatever could let her steady herself. Who would have known that she would then hear the sound of something ripping. She turned to look in astonishment and that one glance caused her to become hopelessly stunned.

The Uncle's pants had actually ripped at the back, pulled down by Feng Jiu, to reveal a pair of the most devilishly eye catching, underpants.

But, the one thing that she would never have expected was, that the Uncle would actually be such a inwardly passionate man, that would actually wear such a garishly red pair of underpants.....

CHAPTER 168: The Green Gallop Country's Black Market

Ling Mo Han's face was thunderously black when he turned his head back. That one look that Ling Mo Han took, had him seeing a man with highly disheveled hair staring unwaveringly in flabbergasted shock at his underpants, the man looking like he had been struck like lightning, with his mouth hanging wide open and his hand still holding on to the ripped portion of Ling Mo Han's pants.

Seeing that, Ling Mo Han immediately raised a foot and kicked out: "Let go!"

'SPLASH!'

The stunned Feng Jiu was kicked right back into the hot spring and after swallowing a few gulps of the hot spring's water, she flopped about in the water and stuck her head out through the water's surface, and saw that the man who had been standing there earlier was no longer anywhere to be seen.

"Oww... Kicked me again! You just wait and see!"

She slapped her hand on the water in rage, and then walked out from the hot spring. Hearing some sounds of commotion outside, she quickly slipped into a suit of dry clothes and massaged her shoulders as she put on her mask with a darkened face before she went walking outside.

"What's all this commotion about! ?"

Her voice was cold as she shouted in an angry tone.

"Mistress."

Leng Shuang came to her side and said: "They said that someone sneaked into the black market's treasure vault and stole several kinds of miracle medicine. They had pursued that person all the way here and are insisting to go into the hot spring to take a look."

Feng Jiu's icy gaze then stared at the black market guards, her eyes finally fixing upon the middle aged guy leading the others. She raised up her foot and let it whip.

'BAM!'

The middle aged man was caught off guard when he was kicked in his abdomen, his entire body flying out a distance a few steps away. He gasped in pain and shouted out in rage: "What are you doing! ?"

Feng Jiu strode forward and her sharp and icy glare was filled with an absorbing oppression as she looked straight at the man and said: "Who gave you the audacious guts to act so impetuously before me! ? Didn't my attendant here tell you that I was bathing inside?"

"You!" The middle aged man stared angrily at her, but did not dare to do anything to Feng Jiu.

"You're still staring at me? Do you not want those eyes anymore?"

Her voice was so icily cold and her gaze frostily chilling, added with those words, the middle aged man immediately shuddered with fear, instantly lowering his head and did not dare to stare at Feng Jiu any longer.

"Hmph!"

She snorted derisively, and with a flick of her sleeves, she then opened up her strides to go inside.

After the two of them left, the middle aged man then raised his head up with a vicious look in his eyes, the fists under his sleeves tightly clenched up as he said indignantly with contempt in his voice: "A person who came from a lowly ninth grade country and he really thinks he's somebody? When tomorrow comes and if you make a mockery of yourself, I would then really like to see how you will continue with such contemptuous arrogance!"

Back in the room, Leng Shuang saw that Feng Jiu was still fuming with rage. She recalled the sounds she had heard within the hot spring earlier and she immediately fell to her knees in self reproach to say: "Your subordinate has failed in her duties, I beg for Mistress to mete out the punishment!"

Seated beside the table, Feng Jiu poured herself a cup of water and gulped it down, as she waved her hand dismissively and said: "Get up! It has nothing to do with you."

Leng Shuang kept her head lowered and said: "No, your subordinate failed to stand guard adequately which allowed the intruder to sneak inside and disturbed the Mistress."

"Even I will not be a match for that person. No need to even mention you."

Feng Jiu then went on to say indifferently: "Moreover, I wasn't disadvantaged in any way. Instead, heh, I snatched away his pants."

When she mentioned that, a rather strange and queer expression came onto Feng Jiu's face. When she recalled that garishly red pair of underpants, the edges of her mouth could not help but twitch.

Leng Shuang who was kneeling upon the floor could not help herself but raised her head up in shock when she heard that.

"Alright. Have a good rest tonight!" Feng Jiu indicated that she was going to retire and rest, as she poured herself another few cups of water to drink as she thought about things.

Seeing that, Leng Shuang acknowledged and retreated from the room.

- The Next Day -

The middle aged man who had gone to the Sun Glory Country to receive Feng Jiu came to the yard at the hot spring. When he saw the red figure seated at the table and having his breakfast, he walked up with a wide smile upon his face and said with a bow: "Most distinguished Ghost Doctor, our Lord requests to see you."

CHAPTER 169: Please Remove Your Mask!

Feng Jiu acknowledged with a nod and seeing that she was already a little full, she put down her chopsticks and wiped the corners of her mouth before walking over towards the man to say: "Let's go then."

"This way please." The middle aged man was highly respectful in his actions, because he knew that the person before him was no ordinary person, hence he must definitely not offend him in the slightest.

If it was said that he had been someone who came from a backward ninth grade country, but even when he saw the airship for the first time, he had not been the least bit surprised, like he had been so used to seeing flying artifacts, something that did not arouse the slightest curiosity in him.

Moreover, after he came to the Green Gallop Country, he had only displayed grace and high composure, never once inviting the least bit of ridicule or contempt from anyone.

The middle aged man brought Feng Jiu to the main hall out front and after announcing that the Ghost Doctor has come, he said to Feng Jiu: "Will the esteemed Ghost Doctor please come in?"

Feng Jiu walked inside but Leng Shuang was stopped to remain outside.

The eyes of the several people within the main hall turned their measuring gazes upon the figure dressed in flamboyant red that had just entered without disguise, some of them tainted with contempt and disdain, some probing and judgemental.

And at the same time that they were looking at her, Feng Jiu's gaze swept fleetingly over the people within the hall as well, and then stared fixedly upon the person seated upon the main seat in that place.

That was a middle aged man, dressed in a black brocade robe as he sat steadily with his legs wide open, a highly commanding presence exuding from his body, and his pair of piercing eyes were at that moment staring straight at Feng Jiu.

"Will your distinguished self please take a seat." The middle aged man seated upon the main seat said in a low voice, his hand raised to gesture towards the first seat that was empty on the left.

Feng Jiu curled up her lips in a smile and walked straight up front and came to the first seat on the left. She was just about to sit down and a force pushed the chair away.

Seeing that, she threw her glance at another middle aged man on the lower left and saw the man revealing a highly taunting gaze. She unconsciously showed a smile upon her face and a mystical power surged out from her palm, pulling the chair that had been pushed backwards returning back to its original position as she sat down with great composure.

'Creak!'

The sound of a heavy creak sounded and right after that, the chair below the middle aged man on the bottom left side of the hall suddenly flipped and the man fell unceremoniously to sit onto the floor, letting out a cry of surprise.

"AHH!"

The other men saw that and they could not hold themselves back from showing a stifled smile upon their lips, where they then quickly averted their eyes.

When the middle aged man saw that, his face flushed red as a beetroot, humiliation turning into rage and he began shouting at Feng Jiu as soon as he stood up: "Do you know who I am? What audacity! How dare you play tricks on me! ?"

Hearing that, Feng Jiu who was leaning back languidly upon her chair turned her eyes onto him and said: "Although I do not know who you are, but without having to guess you are someone from the black market. It is always said that people that comes through your door should be treated as a guest, so what now? Is this the kind of attitude you have always treated your guests with?"

"You!"

"Medical Cultivator Lin, the Ghost Doctor is right. Once past the door, he's a guest and you must not be rude."

The middle aged man upon the main seat had spoken and his low voice was filled with authority, causing Medical Cultivator Lin who was still filled with rage from humiliation to not dare say another word.

At that moment, the other people then spoke up: "Chief, look at him still wearing his mask, like he does not dare face people. I really wonder about his origins. How can we truly trust a man like this?"

"That's right, Chief. No matter what, we can't possibly bet the entire Green Gallop black market's reputation for this year all upon this one man. Look at that slovenly and lazy demeanor of his, and I am guessing that he's not even matured enough. How can a person like this shoulder such a heavy and important responsibility?"

The middle aged man upon the main seat looked at Feng Jiu, his gaze fixed upon that mask with blooms of red Spider Lilies as he asked: "I wonder if the esteemed Ghost Doctor would remove that mask of yours and show us your real countenance?"

CHAPTER 170: His Identity?

"I seem to recall that it was all of you that invited me here to help?"

Feng Jiu smiled mirthlessly as she gazed at the men and said: "How had it now been turned to seem like I am not given a choice whether I want to help?"

She dusted off her clothes and stood up to say: "Since you cannot believe in me, then you can find someone else better to do it! Truth be told, in regards to this matter, I am not really interested."

Immediately after her voice fell, she did not wait for the men to say anything but just strode towards the door.

"Will the esteemed Ghost Doctor please hold your step?"

The man on the main seat spoke and the guards outside the main hall immediately moved to stop the person. But they had just come to stand in her way for a moment when they were sent flying with a flick of Feng Jiu's sleeves.

"Scram!"

A cold shout sounded, and the two guards fell to the ground with a grunt.

The several men within the hall quickly shot to their feet when they saw Feng Jiu's sudden attack on the guards. One of them shouted in rage, pointing angrily at her to say: "Guards! Arrest that wildful kid at once!"

"All of you hold it!"

The middle aged man upon the main seat shouted with a booming voice, which made all the guards surging forward to quickly retract their arms and turn to look at the man. Even the other men within the hall turned to face him as well.

"All out!"

The middle aged man came walking over, and shouted to the guards surrounding the place before he turned to face Feng Jiu and said apologetically: "Esteemed Ghost Doctor, do not misunderstand. That is not what I meant."

"It's just that the competition this time is truly of utmost importance to us. The Green Gallop black market has consecutively lost for the past three years and we really cannot afford to lose another time. Moreover, the top has sent word down, that if we are to lose again this year, my position as the Chief here would come to an end. Hence....." The middle aged man said with a bitter smile.

"Chief Ke."

Feng Jiu looked at the man and said: "The reason I had initially agreed to come help, was only because of the black market's reputation. But having come here, Chief Ke has caused me great displeasure. If you still deem to seek my assistance, then, we will have to talk about remuneration."

Chief Ke was taken aback a moment but he went on to nod his head and said: "That is but natural. As long as you win this year's competition, I will definitely not treat the esteemed Ghost Doctor shabbily."

Hearing that, Feng Jiu then showed a satisfied smile. "When will the competition for miracle medicine be held?"

"It's three days later."

Feng Jiu made her way back inside and said: "Then tell me everything about it! So that I can understand it better."

"Of course, of course." Chief Ke said upon hearing the highly confident tone of the Ghost Doctor, his heart greatly relieved. He then explained the Miracle Medicine Grand Meet in detail to the Ghost Doctor.

- Three Days Later -

That day, was the day Medical Cultivators from all over the Green Gallop Country would come compete. As the Medical Cultivators that the Green Gallop black market sent had consecutively lost for the past three years, hence, this year's Miracle Medicine Grand Meet was of grave importance to them.

When Feng Jiu rode the Flying Beast Chariot and arrived at the venue, the summit of Mount Green South, she saw that the mountaintop was already filled with people.

For those who were participating in the grand meet, they were allowed to land directly at the summit to avoid the densely packed crowds of people below.

Climbing down from the Flying Beast Chariot, Feng Jiu's sharp eyes spotted a familiar figure sitting upon a seat in a highly conspicuous position upon the stage. Seeing that, a glint of puzzlement subconsciously flashed in her eyes and she pointed with her chin to ask Chief Ke beside her.

"Who is that senior uncle with the big bushy beard?"

"Big beard..... Uncle?"

Chief Ke was rather taken aback and he followed Feng Jiu's gaze to look. His gaze then fell upon a tall and wide chested man with a rather reserved demeanor. With that one look, he could not help but break into a smile and shake his head while he said: "The esteemed Ghost Doctor has just come to the Green Gallop Country for the first time and it is only natural that you will not know. That person's identity is anything but from a simple background."

"Oh? Why makes you say that?" Feng Jiu asked curiously.

CHAPTER 171: Uncle Ling!

"His surname is Ling, named Mo Han. He's the Green Gallop Country's most famous teacher at the Starry Cloud Academy. The origins behind his identity is highly mysterious and he is an Immortal Cultivator, his cultivation rank having reached the Golden Core. A more important point is that he's merely twenty five years of age and so you can address him as Reverend, or Senior, but calling him Uncle, hahaha..... I think very few people would call him that!"

"Only twenty five years old?"

The expression on her face became rather strange and she said: "Twenty five years old and why would he want to keep that big bushy beard for? I had thought that he would be at least thirty five!"

"Haha. That is why I said the origins behind his identity is kept highly mysterious, as no one has seen his real countenance before."

Chief Ke said with a laugh, his gaze upon Ling Mo Han as well. "I had not thought that he would come here. I'll be going over to pay my respects later. Would the esteemed Ghost Doctor like to go with me?"

"A mysterious teacher from the Starry Cloud Academy?"

Feng Jiu nodded looking like she realized something and it was not know what she was thinking. When she heard that Chief Ke was going over to extend his greetings, she had immediately smiled and said: "Of course! A powerful entity like that, it would naturally be highly beneficial to make his acquaintance."

Hence, Chief Ke led Feng Jiu to go towards the side Ling Mo Han was at.

And when they appeared before him, Ling Mo Han immediately noticed the eye catching figure of the man dressed flamboyantly in red. He was no stranger to that suit of red clothes and that mask with the red spider lilies as he remembered that those items had been placed at the side back on that night in the hot spring.

When he recalled that night's event in his mind, his penetrating gaze fell upon that man, carefully examining the figure.

That night, due to the misty fog in the hot spring, he had not been able to see clearly. But, that highly disfigured face had been imprinted clearly within his eyes and at that moment, he had to admit to himself that the red clothed Young Master was as dazzling as the sun in the sky, his demeanor devilishly graceful, especially that pair of highly clear eyes tinged with smiles, completely unforgettable.....

But..... Looking at that pair of eyes, why did he feel that they looked somewhat familiar?

"Teacher Ling, it's been a long time and I did not expect to be able to see you here. I am greatly honoured." Chief Ke had quickly stepped forward and clasped his palm over his fist with a bow, to offer his greeting with a smile.

Hearing that, Feng Jiu could not hold back her laughter. If Chief Ke had only known that the thief who appropriated those highly prized miracle medicine of his was this bearded uncle before his eyes, he wouldn't be feeling that "honoured" at this moment.

"I see it's Chief Ke." Ling Mo Han stood up to return the greeting by clasping his hand over his fist, his gaze then swinging over to Feng Jiu and he asked: "And this is...?"

"Haha. He is the Medical Cultivator our black market has invited to participate in this year's Miracle Medicine Grand Meet. This..... Erm, he's called the Ghost Doctor." Chief Ke said sheepishly, as he did not know what the Ghost Doctor's name was at all and he was suddenly at a loss how he was supposed to make the introduction.

"Uncle Ling."

Feng Jiu called out that form of address in a crisp voice, her gaze brilliantly filled with a bright sparkle, a crafty glint in them, the corners of her mouth holding back a rather infuriating smile, her demeanor like they were on familiar terms as she said: "If Uncle Ling feels that Ghost Doctor is too much of a mouthful to say, then just call me Ghostly and it will be fine."

Hearing her call him Uncle Ling, Ling Mo Han unconsciously stroked at the beard under his chin as he stared thoughtfully at the red clothed Young Master before his eyes, the expression on his face filled with bewilderment and confusion.

"Uncle?"

He had kept his beard for a long time but no one had ever addressed him in that manner. But for the tricky little lass he had met back in the Nine Entrapment Woods, she had kept on addressing him as Uncle everytime she opened her mouth then and now this red clothed Young Master was doing the same thing. Could it be that he really looked that old?

Feng Jiu's gaze narrowed and she split her mouth into a smile: "That's right! I am only fifteen this year. I heard that Uncle is already at a grand old twenty five! That is a whole decade older than I am. What else should I call you but Uncle?"

"Fif..... Fifteen?" Chief Ke standing beside Feng Jiu suddenly stared with his eyes bulging wide, his face in complete shock.

C172 What Are You Doing! ?

Chief Ke could not help himself but looked at the Ghost Doctor before his eyes from head to toe, sizing him up. He wasn't able to see the Ghost Doctor's face clearly but from his demeanor and mannerisms, the man should at least have to be over twenty years old already! Who would have thought that he would suddenly claim himself to be only fif..... fifteen! ?

At that moment, he could not help but suspect whether it was right for him to stake the entire Green Gallop black market's reputation upon this man!

As Chief Ke was suddenly finding his forehead covered in a layer of cold sweat, Ling Mo Han was staring deeply at Feng Jiu as he knew that the other party had recognized him, fully aware that he had been the dark robed intruder who had sneaked into the hot spring that night.

Another middle aged man strode over to them, his gaze sweeping disdainfully over the flamboyantly red figure of Feng Jiu before he turned to Chief Ke and said with a sneer: "Fifteen?"

"Haha, Chief Ke. From where have you dug up such a little kid who still had not been weaned off from his milk? Doesn't the black market have anyone else? Do you really have to resort to using a bumbling kid to come take part in the Miracle Medicine Grand Meet? Aren't you afraid that you will only end up completely shaming and humiliating the black market you belong to?"

When Chief Ke heard those words, his swung a sharp and dignified gaze upon the middle aged man and said impolitely: "I do not seem to recall that the affairs of the black market is of any concern to this gentleman here!"

"Haha, the black market has lost for three consecutive years and I must say I can understand how Chief Ke must be feeling."

The middle aged man then looked tauntingly at Chief Ke and then pulled a young man of about eighteen or nineteen years of age forward, to put on a fawning smile towards Ling Mo Han as he said: "Teacher, Ling, this is my youngest son....."

He had not even managed to finish his words when he was suddenly interrupted.

Ling Mo Han did not even look at the father and son pair, his gaze fixed only on Feng Jiu as he said: "Young one, the Miracle Medicine Grand Meet has not yet begun. Why don't you take a walk with me?"

"Sure." The corners of her mouth curled up in a smile and she turned to Chief Ke to say: "I'll be back when the meet begins."

Chief Ke stared in surprise at Ling Mo Han and then turned his gaze onto Feng Jiu before he replied: "Sure sure sure. Go right ahead."

Watching the two people, one dressed in black and one in red walking to the other side, he started to question himself within his heart. [The two of them knew each other?]

"What relationship do you have with the black market?"

Ling Mo Han asked as he looked at the red clothed youth who was a few notches shorter than he was, his brows creased together. It was little wonder the youth had addressed him as Uncle. Standing together, the youth did indeed look like a kid still not fully grown.

"It's just as you have seen. They invited me here to help them. They want me to win back the top position for them." Feng Jiu said casually, finding herself a rock before she sat herself upon it.

His eyes were deep like an ancient lake as he gazed probingly at the red robed youth before him and he then asked: "Have I seen you before?"

Hearing him say that, Feng Jiu looked at him, her faintly smiling gaze tinged with a glint of tease. "Uncle, are you still wearing those red underpants?"

The instant her voice fell, her eyes shone hungrily like a wolf as she looked at him with a filthy gaze, smiling as she said: "Actually I like red too. Look, I wearing all red myself."

Those words made Ling Mo Han suddenly feel a highly wicked chill. Especially when the youth's gaze was staring so blatantly at him like a hungry wolf, which just made him feel highly uncomfortable.

He thought to himself in his heart: [This youth couldn't possibly have that kind of undesirable habit would he?]

"Uncle Ling? What's wrong?"

It was not known from when Feng Jiu had leaned her body over to come right before him, already almost sticking to his chest as she asked her questions.

"What are you doing! ?"

Ling Mo Han's face turned chilly and he immediately moved himself back a few steps.

"I didn't do anything!" Feng Jiu exclaimed innocently.

His face darkened as he stared at the youth, his voice deep and low as he berated in a stone cold tone: "A man should act just like a man should. Like what you are doing now, it's absolutely scandalous!"

CHAPTER 173: Miracle Medicine Grand Meet

Seeing him walk away with a flick of his sleeves, Feng Jiu began laughing softly and she stepped up with light steps to follow behind. But before she could get close, Feng Jiu was stopped by Chief Ke who came approaching her from the front.

"My little Ghost Doctor brother, the grand meet is about to begin. Come over here quickly so I will tell you a little about your opponent." Chief Ke said, gesturing for her to go over to where several Medical Cultivators from the black market were gathered.

Seeing that, Feng Jiu immediately kept her smile away and followed Chief Ke to go to the spot where the Medical Cultivators were. She then listened to Chief Ke introduce her to the names and proficiency levels of several other Medical Cultivators on the opposing side a distance away as he pointed them out, and he told her about their individual areas of expertise as well.

Roughly about an hour later, when everyone was still making their final preparations, the eight judges from the Medical Cultivators Guild announced that the Miracle Medicine Grand Meet had officially begun.

The first stage was an elimination round and the Medical Cultivators themselves did not need to personally step up to compete. The contest would be based on the level and type of medicine that the Medical Cultivators presented up to them. All the medicine would be judged by the eight judges and given either a passing or failing grade, and the elimination decided from there.

"Success Joy Medical Store, Pain Killer Compound, too common, fail!"

City South Ruan Family, Gas Dispersing Fluid, unevenly concocted, taste too overpowering, fail."

"Compound Medical Guild, Blood Clotting Medicine, effects slow and inferior, fail."

Hearing the eight Medical Cultivators from the Medical Cultivators Guild announcing the participants failing one after another, the people standing below were becoming more and more nervous. Actually, the things they had presented up for the contest were medicine that they had thought would be able to make the grade. But when they were placed in the hands of the orthodox Medical Cultivators, they were thought to be so highly picky that they were failing everything, so strict that their hearts were all lodged within their throats, afraid that the medicine they presented up would fail to make the mark as well.

After the sweeping first round, the almost a hundred Medical Cultivators from various places who had rushed all the way here had only thirty people left who advanced to the next stage. Those that managed to get a passing grade were mainly powers or families of higher repute from different places and among them, was a teacher of Medicine from the Starry Cloud Academy.

"My little Ghost Doctor brother, with the kind of medicine you are capable of producing, the only person that would be able to compete with you will only be that teacher of Medicine from the Starry Cloud Academy, and that elderly old man from the Herb Guild."

Chief Ke gestured and then continued to say: "The teachers teaching Medicine in the Starry Cloud Academy had never taken part in the Miracle Medicine Grand Meet in the past years and it is not known where they had taken part this year. As for that old man from the Herb Guild, he has taken the first position for the past three years. He is a Honorary Medical Cultivator of the Herb Guild and he is a seventh level Medical Cultivator."

"What about the Medical Cultivator from the Starry Cloud Academy? What level is he?" Her eyes flashed, as an idea formed in her head.

It was said that it was extremely hard to gain admittance into the Starry Cloud Academy. But, if she were to go in there as a Medical Cultivator to take on the position of a teacher, wouldn't that give her even more freedom to peruse the books in the Starry Cloud Academy's library?

"The Medical Cultivator emblem he wears on the front of his chest shows that he is a third ranked Grand Medical Cultivator, his medical proficiency above even that of the old man." After saying that, Chief Ke could not help but let out a sigh, already feeling that it was no longer possible for them to win this year.

If there was only that seventh level Medical Cultivator here, it would have been slightly better, but alas, the teacher of Medicine from the Starry Cloud Academy had come as well, which had completely stoppered their way forward. It looks like his position as the Chief was about to come to an end.

"My little Ghost Doctor brother just needs to try his best. Faced with a third ranked Grand Medical Cultivator from the Starry Cloud Academy, it wouldn't be humiliating to lose afterall."

When Feng Jiu heard that the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, to reveal a faint smile as she said: "We've not even competed! How do you know we'll lose?"

"Now, we will proceed with the second round's assessment. Will the thirty Medical Cultivators who were selected please come onto the stage?"

The words that floated down from the stage caused everyone within the surrounding crowd to go silent. They saw a long table placed upon the stage that was filled with a huge messy pile of herbs and the thirty Medical Cultivators who advanced came walking out from the crowd, to walk towards the stage.

Feng Jiu who was walking up to the stage suddenly felt a force pushing her from behind, and her entire body fell, falling off the stage.....

CHAPTER 174: Atrocious!

The red clothes billowed and everyone only saw a flash of red upon the stage and a figure falling from off with a cry.

"Arrh!"

One of the Medical Cultivators fell wretchedly to the ground, and was scratched by the sharp rocks upon the ground. And as he fell and landed badly, with that fall, the Medical Cultivator could not stand back up.

While up upon the stage, a young looking Young Master stood resplendently with his red clothes fluttering gently, his mask of red spider lily blooms reflecting eye catching brilliant rays of light. People could only see the faint vestiges of a smile at the corners of his lips and feel a sinister yet mesmerizing presence exuding from the man's body as his slightly disdainful gaze glanced at the miserable looking middle aged Medical Cultivator who had fallen wretchedly off the stage who was sitting upon the ground.

Seated up upon the stage, Ling Mo Han watched the entire scene, his deep and penetrating black eyes glinting darkly at that sinister and mesmerizing figure when the figure suddenly turned around without any warning and the figure's eyes just stared right into his sharp and incisive ones.

And it was at that moment that the sharp glint faded from his eyes and he just remained seated quietly, his face stoic, his body straight and upright.

Feng Jiu glanced at him in surprise, thinking that the Uncle was also a person who masked himself deeply. She could be considered to have encountered him many times but with every encounter, she had always been able to see a different side to him. That had inevitably made her think, just what kind of a person would he truly be?

The people on the stage just threw a cursory glance upon the Medical Cultivator who had fallen off and did not bother with him after that as they went to take their proper places upon the stage. That middle aged Medical Cultivator had discreetly shoved the red clothed Young Master and quite a number of them had seen it. Hence, when he was kicked off the stage by that red clothed Young Master, no one kicked up a fuss about it.

Meanwhile, the face of the Family Head of the clan that that Medical Cultivator had been from immediately darkened and with a wave of his hand, he ordered: "Take him off the mountain!"

He gazed malevolently at the red clothed figure but knowing that the other party was the black market's candidate, they did not dare to do anything against him so blatantly in front of everyone.

A middle aged man standing next to the messy pile of herbs then issued a prescription to each of the participants and said in a low voice: "Pick out the herbs written down upon the list and the first ten people to come up here with the complete list of herbs will advance to the next round while the rest will be eliminated. Begin!"

The moment his voice fell, all the Medical Cultivators up on the stage immediately began looking through the list they held in their hands while they snatched for herbs upon the table. When the teacher from the Starry Cloud Academy finished picking out the herbs and came walking out, he could not help but to glance beside him, to sweep his gaze over the red clothed Young Master carrying the herb basket and his brows immediately pinched together.

Feng Jiu turned her head slightly, and flashed a smile at him. In just moments, after ten people advanced and the rest were eliminated, they immediately went on into the final round of the competition. They were to concoct medicine on the spot, and the rarest and highest grade one would win.

Looking at the herbs numbering several tens in kinds and variety, Feng Jiu immediately began concocting her medicine. The way she carried out her concoction was rather different from others, and even if other people were looking at how she did it, they would not be able to learn it.

Because, it was done just like modern time experiments, processing and refining layer by layer, to finally produce a finished concoction. When she finished with her concoction, she walked over and brought the bottle of green coloured liquid to the eight judges from the Medical Cultivators Guild and placed it right before them.

"Please appraise."

"This is medicine? What a beautiful colour." A female judge about thirty years of age among the judges exclaimed in surprise when she saw the half filled bottle of medicine in the transparent jar, thinking it rather inconceivable.

"Pretty and graceful elder sis, this is indeed medicine, I do not deceive one so young and the elderly."

The female judge blinked at Feng Jiu, her mesmerizing smile and her clear and mirth filled eyes causing the thirty odd year old Medical Cultivator to blush a slight pink, her face burning slightly.

Watching all that, Ling Mo Han's brows furrowed up together and he thought to himself: [This kid is just downright atrocious!]

CHAPTER 175: Knocked Out and Carried Away

At that moment, Feng Jiu turned her head slightly and looked at Ling Mo Han to asked with a smile: "Uncle Ling, why do you keep staring at me?"

Hearing those words, the lady Medical Cultivator could not hold back her laughter and it spilled forth as the gaze she threw upon Feng Jiu became tinged with gentleness while she asked: "Would this youth here now tell me what kind of effects this medicine has?"

"This medicine here is called the Third Grade Speed Enhancing Fluid. Once a person takes it, it can increase a person's speed by ten folds when he's running away for his life. Even when a mere Spirit User is being chased down by a Spirit Master, once he drinks this bottle of medicine, he would possess the speed needed to escape."

Hearing those words, everyone up above and down below the stage all gasped in surprise, all the numerous pairs of eyes shining covetously at that bottle of green coloured medicine. If it was as Feng Jiu had said, then that bottle of medicine would not just be mere medicine, but would be a miraculous life saving fluid at the most critical of moments!

"Hmph! Preposterous!"

The teacher of Medicine from the Starry Cloud Academy snorted in derision as he came walking over to put his bottle of medicine upon the table and to throw a contemptuous glance upon Feng Jiu to say: "That just outrageously preposterous! I have been dealing with medicines for so many years and I have never ever heard of anything like this Speed Enhancing Fluid. That's just pure utter rubbish!"

"That's true, judging by how old you are already and you're still just a third grade Grand Medical Cultivator, it can be seen how limited the level of your proficiency in concocting medicine is."

Her idle words had instead infuriated the older man so much his face grew red and he pointed a finger angrily at Feng Jiu to say: "You..... You, this disrespectful little wretch! Such sheer arrogance and conceit! Pure ignorance and idiocy!"

"Alright, there's no need to squabble. This bottle of medicine is indeed a highly prized medicine of the third grade."

An old man in the middle spoke up and everyone went quiet. Even the teacher of Medicine from the Starry Cloud Academy stared with his eyes wide as he said: "Chief Yu, have you looked at it properly? That little kid is capable of concocting such a highly prized third grade Medicine?"

Hearing that, Chief Yu became displeased and said: "Old Chen, you are questioning my ability in appraisal now?"

Seeing that his face was looking highly displeased, the teacher of Medicine from the Starry Cloud Academy quickly readjusted his attitude and demeanor and went on to say respectfully: "I do not dare. Chief Yu is the Guild Master of the Medicine Guild and an respected authority in the entire field of Medicine who would naturally be much more knowledgeable and experienced in this domain. I have acted highly inappropriately and I beg for Chief Yu to not hold it against me."

Saying that, he turned to look at Feng Jiu beside him, his gaze looking rather conflicted, unable to make himself believe that he would lose to such a young youth.

Ling Mo Han's eyes shifted slightly and his gaze fell upon the red clothed youth where it then became more subdued.

The black market's Chief Ke had immediately upon hearing Chief Yu's words, suddenly became so overwhelmed and moved that tears almost burst out from his eyes. "It's actually a third grade miracle fluid! It's a third grade miracle fluid right there!" He had initially thought that there was no more hope, but who would have known that he would be met with such an astounding surprise in the end! ? How could he still remain calm at this point! ?

However, it was at that moment that sixteen black robed men suddenly leapt out, with ten among them possessing cultivation levels at the peaks of the Foundation Level with the other six at the Golden Core levels. The moment they appeared, a highly powerful oppression immediately spread throughout the place, encompassing throughout the entire mountaintop.

"Whoa! It's people from Hell's Palace!"

"What! Hell's Palace! ? Run!"

"Argh! Quick! Run! The people from Hell's Palace are here!"

In an instant, the panicked crowd immediately fled in disarray, terrified screams and horrified shouts erupting from all over the mountaintop. Seeing that things had taken a rather bad turn and the enemy's oppressive aura was just too strong, Feng Jiu was the first to leap off from the stage as she shouted: "Leng Shuang! Run and get off the mountain!"

Her voice had just fallen when a powerful surge of oppressive aura washed over her in assault, rendering her entire body frozen. The next moment, she felt pain in the back of her neck and she lost consciousness to fall to the ground.

"Mistress!"

Leng Shuang saw Feng Jiu being knocked unconscious and carried away, completely shocked as she rushed herself forward. However, she possessed highly limited powers in that situation and a powerful wave of energy came bursting towards her, blasting her away completely. When she next turned to look, she could no longer see any sign of her Mistress and those sixteen dark figures.....

CHAPTER 176: Lord of Hell's Palace

Ling Mo Han immediately went in pursuit but then came back not long after and said apologetically to everyone: "They came in too fast and left too quickly. I could already find no trace of them by the time I went out in pursuit."

The people from the Medical Cultivators all shook their heads one by one when they heard that and Guild Chief Yu said with a sigh: "You are not to be blamed. Those people from Hell's Palace have always been highly elusive and possess high power. That youth must have attracted their attention because of his gifted talent in cultivating and concocting medicine."

"What kind of a power is Hell's Palace? Will my Master be in any danger?" Leng Shuang came right before the people and asked anxiously.

The black market's Chief came over and said: "Hell's Palace is holds more might than our black market and it's a power that not even the Starry Cloud Academy or the various Family Clans can afford to provoke. The Lord of Hell's Palace is also a highly powerful entity who is even more elusive. No one knows where the Hell's Palace is really located and for our little Ghost Doctor brother to fall into their hands, I'm afraid that it will only bode ill for him....."

"It's can't be! Nothing will happen to my Master!" Leng Shuang shouted loudly, her eyes gazing frostily at the black market's Chief. "The black market must help me find my Master!"

"Rest assured. We will definitely look into locating your Master's whereabouts." Chief Ke said, not refusing Leng Shuang.

"You can set your heart at ease in regards to that. To my knowledge, the Hell's Palace had recently abducted quite a number of Elixir and Medical Cultivators. Your Master might not be in any danger at all." The Chief of the Medical Cultivators Guild said and then gave out a sigh. It had been a proper and well organized Miracle Medicine Grand Meet to pick out strong talents but those guys from Hell's Palace had to come make a mess of everything.

The incident quickly spread like feathers caught in the wind, making people sigh helplessly while they could only guess whether that red clothed Young Master was still alive or dead.

However, as the darkness of night descended, a dark figure came silently with a few long leaps over the rooftops to come to a courtyard.

"Our respects to Hell's Lord!"

The sixteen black robed cultivators within the courtyard knelt respectfully on one knee and greeted solemnly.

"All rise!"

A low and chilling voice imbued with a powerful oppressive aura rang out. With a billow of his robes, he sat himself down by the stone table. As he turned around to sit, his countenance also came into view.

That was a shockingly handsome face, one looking like that of a celestial being. The features on that face seemed like they had been carefully sculpted by the Heavens, the outline of the face highly distinct like it had been carved out with a knife, cold and unyielding but not reducing the handsome looks in the slightest. Under the strong straight brows, was a pair of eyes filled with a mysterious light, holding in a chilling but alluring sharpness. With one single glance of those eyes, one could not help but lower their heads, unable to meet the sight of those enchanting jet black eyes filled with such oppressive power.

And beneath that highly raised and straight nose, was a slightly thin pair of sexy looking lips, where at that very moment were pressed together, his entire being exuding with a powerful and chilling aura, august and imposing like a celestial deity, a tyrannical air of one who was able to seemingly reign over the Heavens and Earth!

If Feng Jiu had seen him at that moment, he would surely yell out in surprise: "Uncle Ling!"

That's right. The Lord of Hell's Palace, Hell's Lord, was exactly the very same Ling Mo Han that Feng Jiu was familiar with. Ling Mo Han was just an identity he had assumed as a teacher of the Cloudy Brook Academy while on his travels out in the world. The big bushy beard he had on his face was also something that had been carefully treated and stuck on, so real it could easily pass off as the real thing.

"How is the he?" The Hell's Lord asked softly, in a deep voice filled with lazy indolence, tinged with a dominating aura.

"Reporting to Hell's Lord. That kid we brought back is still unconscious and has not awoken." One of the black robed cultivators answered respectfully.

"Watch him carefully. Bring him back to Hell's Palace with me tomorrow."

Hearing those words, the sixteen black robed cultivators were absolutely filled with delight. "The Lord is coming back to Hell's Palace?"

His voice had just fallen when a guard from behind shouted out in shock: "Guards! That kid is trying to escape!"

CHAPTER 177: Clipped Wings Can't Fly

When the sixteen men heard that, they immediately leapt to sail through the air, towards the place behind them.

Seeing that, the Hell's Lord stood up and just as he was thinking to walk to the back, he paused in his steps and rubbed at his chin. Thereafter, he pulled out a half side silver mask and wore it over his face before he strode forward to walk towards the back.

When he came to the back, he saw the red figure tangling with his subordinates upon the rooftop, the dodges carried out at shocking speed and those highly vicious attacks elicited a ripple in his eyes.

Back at the summit, he was knocked out from behind while taken unawares and now that he had his guard up, even two of his subordinates who were Foundation Cultivators were unable to bring him down. It must be said the kid made him look at the young one in a different light.

Unfortunately, having fallen into his hands, escape was no longer possible.

"Oof!"

A black robed man with Foundation cultivation was struck by a kick from Feng Jiu and his entire body fell back a few steps as he clutched at his chest to rub the pain away, while cursing out in a low voice.

"Sheesh! What did this kid grow up eating? That made that leg of his to become so strong!"

Feng Jiu retracted her leg and threw out a punch towards the other black robed man with Foundation cultivation and sneered: "Breast milk of course!"

Hearing those words, the Hell's Lord who was standing below with his hands behind his back lifted the corners of his mouth in an arc so faint it was not highly unnoticeable, his gaze fixed upon that red clothed figure as he ordered: "Capture him."

"Yes, my Lord!"

The Cultivators in the Golden Core stage immediately acknowledged and two men among them leapt flying into the air, their powerful oppressive aura flaring. The moment they struck, they immediately held Feng Jiu in a tight grip.

"Gawds! Not only are you guys bullying me with numbers, you're even torturing the weak! Oww! Stop twisting! That's my arm!"

Feng Jiu cried out, so infuriated she stared fiercely at them. This was the difference in having power, in a world where the powerful reigned.

Even if her powers could be considered to be among the very top in the ninth grade Sun Glory Country, when she's here in a sixth grade country like this, faced with these Immortal Cultivators, she would not be able to even withstand a single strike.

With such powerful enemies before her, she had known that she would not be able to escape, but she had still wanted to give it a try. As expected, the result of her attempt was having both her arms twisted up behind her.

Ouch! Having twisted the arms of others all this while and she had not thought it to be so painful. Not that she was caught in the grip of others, she felt that her bones were almost about to pop out of their joints!

"My Lord. We've captured the fugitive." The two Golden Core cultivators said as they held the fugitive in a tight grip, to come before the Hell's Lord.

Feng Jiu lifted her head and that was when she saw the figure dressed in a suit of dark cloud patterned robe as he stood before her with his arms behind his back. The top half of his face was covered by a silver mask which only exposed the countenance below the nose, revealing those sexy looking lips and that distinct jawline and his cold hard chin. That slender and well toned body, that straight backed and muscular physique with the strong presence exuding from his being made Feng Jiu's eyes light up.

Immediately, she acted just like a recalcitrant and unruly ruffian as she whistled and said in high praise: "What a sexy and highly alluring example of a pretty boy!"

Seeing such blatant hooliganism being shown to their Lord before everyone by such a ruffian, the sixteen dark robed cultivators were stunned and they immediately turned their eyes to steal a quick glance at their Lord, before they hurriedly lowered their heads to hide the uncontrollable smiles that were threatening to spill forth from the slightly lifted corners of their mouths.

[A sexy and highly alluring example of a pretty boy? That was talking about the Lord?]

[That little youth must have tired of living.]

When the Hell's Lord heard Feng Jiu's words, an eyebrow lifted up and a slight arc curled up devilishly upon his lips.

"Sexy? Alluring? Maybe. This Lord here can take it as a compliment.

But, that low and deep voice that was tinged with a kind of magnetic languidity, no matter how one heard it, it seemed to be filled with a kind of deadly danger.

[Comp..... compliment?]

The sixteen dark robed men exchanged glances between each other, the skin stretched taut over their faces as they lowered their heads even deeper.

CHAPTER 178: Getting Along Strangely

At the moment, Feng Jiu was instead rather taken aback as she stared at the man before her while thinking to herself in her heart: [Why does this voice sound so familiar? Could it be that I've met this person somewhere before?]

But that's not possible at all! This man had such an outstanding presence and if she had met him, she would definitely not forget it.

The thoughts were still running through her mind when she suddenly saw the man shoot out a few blasts of Qi and she immediately felt her body go limp as she fell to sit upon the ground helplessly.

"Lock him up. If he manages to escape, I will hold all of you here responsible!" The Hell's Lord said in a suppressed voice. With a flick of his sleeves, he turned and left.

"Yes, my Lord!" The sixteen black robed cultivators chorused respectfully and they immediately pulled up the youth sitting upon the ground.

After her body went limp, Feng Jiu could feel that the mystical energy within her body had been sealed up.

Feng Jiu's heart jumped slightly at that realization and she then said: "My mystical powers have already been sealed by your Lord, there is no need for you to be holding on to me. I can walk on my own. Moreover, with all of you guarding me, how will I be able to escape?"

"Hah! I'll advise you to not even think of escaping. If you try it again, beware that we'll then break your legs!" One of the cultivators threatened as he released his grip upon the youth and said: "Walk!"

Being locked back inside the room, Feng Jiu knew she would not be able to escape in this manner and she no longer thought about that. But only she herself knew that the man had only sealed her mystical powers but had not known of the spirit powers within her. With that, she only needed to find the right opportunity and she might just be able to slip out of their grasp.

But, before that, she seeked to understand why these people had captured her for?

Hell's Palace? She did not remember having offended such a power before!

Early the next morning, Feng Jiu was brought onto an airship by her captors. When the airship left the ground and flew towards the skies, Feng Jiu who had been sitting inside came walking out to see a man seated at the front of the ship drinking wine. She opened her stride wanting to walk over there but was stopped midway.

"Let him pass." The Hell's Lord ordered without even turning his head around.

When Feng Jiu walked over, she sat herself down without asking and picked up the wine flask to pour herself a cup of wine. After taking a sip from it, she asked: "Who is it that you want me to save by capturing me? Or, you just seek my abilities in the cultivation of medicine?"

Although the people were filled with thick bloodthirstiness, they did not seek to kill her, or otherwise, she would not have lived till now. And she guessed that the only thing she possessed that people would yearn for would be her abilities in healing and medicine cultivation.

Seeing her leisurely and carefree demeanor without showing the slightest sign of fear and terror caused a glint of admiration to come into the Hell's Lord's eyes as he said: "You're not afraid that I will have you killed?"

"You would have already killed me if you wanted to. Why would you have waited till now?"

She rubbed at her tummy and asked the guard standing at the side: "Eh, is there anything to eat? Give me some. I have not eaten anything all the way since yesterday."

The guard turned his gaze towards the Hell's Lord and after receiving acknowledgement from the Lord, the guard walked towards the middle of the ship. After a short while, he brought out a few dishes of snacks and placed them upon the little table.

Seeing that he wasn't even wearing his mask and that the youth's completely ruined countenance was fully revealed, Feng Jiu went on to wolf down her food without any sense of propriety. The Hell's Lord's gaze flashed and he then said: "Eat slowly. There's more if that's not enough."

"COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH!"

It would have been fine if he had not said anything. The moment he spoke, Feng Jiu immediately choked from shock, the snacks stuck in her throat refusing to go up nor down, her highly disfigured face turning red from choking.

Seeing that, the Hell's Lord's brows creased up together as he watched the youth thumping himself on the chest while pouring himself a cup of water hurriedly to gulp it down his throat. After the youth managed to catch his breath, the youth then started staring straight at him.

"What?" This kid was acting so very strange.

CHAPTER 179: He Wants to Strip Off My Clothes!

The jet black eyes turned around, to see the several Golden Core cultivators looking at him in startlement. His brows creased together and he swung his gaze upon them. "What are all of you standing there gaping for? You have nothing better to do? Out!"

"Yes, my Lord!"

The Golden Core cultivators answered in a hurry. While they were retreating from the place, they threw a glance at the red clothed figure. They really could not see what was so special about this youth that he could make their Lord speak to him with such gentle words.

After Feng Jiu looked at him for a moment, she then ignored the Hell's Lord and continued to chomp on the snacks. This time, she ate them a little slower and her half lowered eyes were filled with bewilderment. [Why is that voice sounding more familiar the more she heard it?]

[Where had she heard this person's voice before?]

When it became evening, the airship stopped upon a flat piece of land. The Hell's Lord walked down from the airship and Feng Jiu followed right behind him. But then, very soon after, her eyes were blindfolded by some kind of black cloth.

She was led by them to walk all the way. She only knew that it was a long and winding route and her ears heard a number of people respectfully welcoming the Hell's Lord's return.

"Let him have a change of clothes and send him to the medical tower."

After she heard the Hell's Lord's voice sounding in her ears, she was led away by people. After coming into a room, one of the cultivators untied the black cloth covering her eyes and he threw a set of grey robes over to her at the same time.

"Hurry up! Change and then follow me!"

Seeing that the cultivator was just standing there within the room to stare at her, she glared at him with her eyes and said: "Then get out! How am I supposed to change with you staring at me?"

"Both of us are men so what is there that I cannot look at? Hurry up! Quit yapping!" That was a Golden Core cultivator and it was a man just about twenty over years of age. He was one of the sixteen men who had returned here together with them and he was called Grey Wolf.

"I am not used to being stared at." Feng Jiu said with her brows furrowed up.

"Kid, you're being really troublesome! If you still do not change, I'll help you do it!" Upon saying that, he took wide strides to approach her, fully intent on stripping off the kid's clothes.

However, before he could get close, Feng Jiu opened up her mouth and hollered: "ARGH! MOLEST! ARGH!"

The room room was pushed open immediately and the several cultivators poked their heads in to see. When they saw the situation in the room, their eyes glared fiercely as they asked: "Who molested who?"

After one of them stared at the two people in the room, he began to smile slyly as he stared at the cultivator inside and said: "Grey Wolf, I had not thought that you had such a hobby!"

"Get out!"

The Golden Core cultivator's face had turned dark as he stared fiercely at Feng Jiu and he then shouted: "Two more of you come! Strip off that kid's clothes for me!"

Hearing those words, Feng Jiu's eyes narrowed and an icy glint flashed as a smile played out over the corners of her lips. "Strip off my clothes? You can come right up and try."

"Do you think I do not dare?" Grey Wolf strode forward and his hands reached out towards the kid's clothes.

Feng Jiu wasn't about to be polite and seeing him taking a huge stride forward, she immediately stepped in and used Grey Wolf's forward momentum to throw him out. At that same moment, her finger moved slightly at a speed quicker than sound and the cold glint of a silver needle punctured into an acupoint at his hip.

"Oof!"

Caught unawares, Grey Wolf fell to the ground. As rage filled up within him, he clenched up a hand into a fist and was summoning up his spirit power when he heard a cold hard voice sound out.

"Hold it!"

"My Lord!"

When everyone saw that it was the Hell's Lord, they all immediately bowed in greeting.

The Hell's Lord came walking inside with his brows creased up together and his chilly gaze swept over the two people as he asked in a deep voice: "What's going on?"

"I wanted to change and he refused to go out. He insisted that I do it while he stared and he even wanted to strip my clothes off!"

When the words were put in such a manner, everyone would naturally think the worst of the situation and they all turned their eyes to stare at Grey Wolf whose face was burning up red, while the others had expressions of "I see" on their faces.

CHAPTER 180: Hell's Palace's Medical Tower

"My Lord, that was not how it happened." Grey Wolf said quickly.

"Then what?"

Feng Jiu folded her arms across her chest and glanced sideways at Grey Wolf as she said: "You dare to say that you were not staring at me when I wanted to change? You dare to say that you did not try to strip off my clothes?"

"You!"

"Me? What about me? Although my countenance has been ruined, I am however still very picky. Someone like you with a body like a washboard and that pretty boy face really wouldn't be pleasing enough to this Young Master's eyes."

Feng Jiu's face was one of utter contempt and her tone very light. But the words spoken there in that room made everyone fall silent as they all stared at her like she was some kind of monster. Even Grey Wolf was staring at her with bulging eyes, his face stupefied with shock.

The corners of the Hell's Lord's mouth twitched almost unnoticeably as he stared at the youth's bold and aggressive demeanor without displaying the slightest bit of shame. He could not help but to turn his eyes away from the youth and immediately turn to walk out of the room.

"Hurry up and change your clothes!" Grey Wolf said viciously, leaving behind those words as he quickly turned to leave as well.

When the other people there saw that, everyone of them started to look at Feng Jiu with a different gaze, their hearts properly shocked. They had not thought that that young youth would really be hiding a *habit of cutting his sleeve! (Translator Note: lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve

Seeing them leave one by one, Feng Jiu stepped forward to shut the door before she could no longer hold herself back as she broke into a smile. She stared at the grey set clothes in her hands and she brought them inside to quickly change into them before she came back out.

"Follow behind us!" Grey Wolf said with a loathing glance at Feng Jiu before he walking in front to lead the way.

Feng Jiu swept a quick glance outside and saw that the rest of the cultivators were all there. As for the Hell's Lord, there was no longer any sign of him.

Her gaze fell upon the figure of Grey Wolf in front of her, a dark glint flashing very briefly in her eyes. The corners of her lips stiffened as she walked leisurely behind to follow, till they came to a tower that was seven storeys tall.

The thick fragrance of herbs mixed with a variety of other medicines assailed at her nose. Within a rather large yard, many people were buzzing around, some carrying out herbs to be sunned, some grinding up herbs, while some others were sorting out the medicines, everyone carrying out a different task.

Moreover, these people had already become rather used to having newcomers arrive here after a certain period had passed and hence, when a badly disfigured youth came in, many of them had merely lifted their heads to glance once before they continued with their tasks with some not even bothering to look at them at all.

"Old Lin, I'm handing this kid over to you." Grey Wolf shouted and then immediately walked away after leaving his charge behind, not even looking at Feng Jiu at all.

At that moment, an old man dressed in green came walking out from the tower to stop before Feng Jiu as he looked Feng Jiu up and down in a measuring gaze and asked: "What is your name?"

Feng Jiu's face split into a grin and said brightly: "Ghostly."

"Ghostly?" The old man was taken aback for a moment and his brows creased up as he asked: "What do you know? Tell me about it so I can arrange a job for you."

Feng Jiu did not answer his question but instead asked: "What is this place? What do all of you do here?"

"Do not ask what you're not supposed to ask, or you'll not live long!"

Hearing that, Feng Jiu lifted an eyebrow and thought about it awhile: "Then just arrange some odd jobs for me. I would at least still know how to complete some of these odds and ends around here." As she spoke, her gaze looked at the tower and she saw that there were quite a number of people inside as well.

"That place is where medicines are concocted. Newcomers will all just attend to the menial tasks out in the yard here. You can just go over there to sort out the herbs then!" The old man indicated and then turned around to go back into the tower.

Feng Jiu took a look inside and walked over to where the herbs were, observing the surroundings as she sorted out the herbs.

"Eh, how did you come in?" The youth beside her asked in a hushed voice.