*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

CHAPTER 61: Eradicating All Trace

Seeing the figures scrambling away hastily in escape, Feng Jiu's lips curled up in a sinister smile.

"Once you step in here, do not dream of going back alive!"

The moment her voice fell, the figure of Feng Jiu flashed into a red blur, like a ghostly spirit cutting through the dark night sky towards the two running figures, the dagger in her hand held in a reverse grip shone with a chilling bloodthirsty gleam. The next moment, the red figure flashed past the two men running for their lives and blood sprayed, the bodies of the two men froze a moment, before falling back into the yard.

'Thud, thud.'

There were no signs a fight had taken place left behind, and the killing had not alarmed anybody. The lives of the four black market mercenaries had been robbed from them under Feng Jiu's hands quietly and silently.....

Facing into the wind, Feng Jiu's eyes were narrowed. She looked at the four dead corpses in the yard and her gaze dimmed.

Mystical cultivators needed to be equipped with martial arts besides cultivating their mystical powers. Only when both aspects are joined together could a mystical Warrior be able to bring out the best qualities and exhibit the greatest power. As for her, her had already reached the early levels of the mystical Warrior stage. And adding that to her high proficiency in assassination and astounding skills martial combat, taking on all these mystical Warriors from this tiny town did not pose a problem for her.

But, if she leaves the town, that insignificant bit of powers would need to be raised up. Otherwise, if she encountered an enemy much stronger than her one day, she would be passively placed at the mercy of others, to be slaughtered as people wished.

Leaping down to land in the yard, she rummaged through the several sets of corpses and only managed to find the same black badge from all of them, and carved into the badges, were the characters that said, "Black Market Mercenary".

"Black Market?"

She muttered softly to herself, searching through her mind for any information about the black market.

But, the previous Feng Qing Ge had obviously seldom come in contact with such places as there was almost no information at all about the black market in her brain.

"Looks like I will have to make a trip to the black market." She curled up her lips into a smile. She retrieved a bottle of liquid from within the Spatial Ring she had previously concocted and poured it over the four dead bodies on the ground.

A sizzling sound could be heard and the four corpses began to bubble and sizzle with light fumes dissipating into the air. The corpses quickly turned into a bloody puddle and soon, all that was left behind were four sets of black clothes lying there in a crumpled heap.....

Next Day

Guan Xi Lin came walking out massaging the back of his neck, feeling rather puzzled why he had fallen into such a deep sleep last night.

He raised his head and saw Feng Jiu practising some soft and willowy style of martial arts and he could not help himself but laugh aloud. "Little Jiu, martial arts are not done like that."

As he spoke, he came to stand beside her and lowered his body slightly to demonstrate a horse stance. He then said: "Look, when practising martial arts, your lower body must be stable, fists tightly clenched, put your strength into your punches, shout out when you throw the punch, and the power from your entire body will be packed into your punch. In this way, there will be strong power behind your punches. If you continue doing it the way you just did, you will fall from just a single punch against your enemies."

At that moment, Guan Xi Lin seemed to have forgotten the day that Feng Jiu had faced against the entire pack of wolves all by herself without a single ounce of fear and did not remember how much like the malevolent God of Death himself she had looked when she stole those lives from them then.

All that he remembered was that she was a girl, a girl merely fifteen years of age, regardless that she had a malevolent side to her, but she was just a younger sister that needed him to protect as an elder brother.

When Feng Jiu heard him saying that, she could not help it but to laugh: "Big Brother. Your martial arts are meant for big men like you, where the emphasis is on power. The martial arts I use, uses the enemy's power against themselves, where mere ounces would lift a ton."

As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to have thought of something and she asked: "Big Brother. I remember you telling me you are practicing your own Guan Family's mental cultivation. Am I right?"

"That's right, it's the Guan Family's mental cultivation method, and in martial arts as well. Little Jiu, you want to learn it? Big Brother will teach you."

She laughed and shook her head. "No, I mean I have a mental cultivation scroll that will be suitable for you." She tossed the Cosmos Sack with its spirit mark already removed over to him.

"In there, is the scroll that you should read through carefully for a period of time. Take a break from your martial arts training for a while and practise this mental cultivation method first."

CHAPTER 62: Underground Black Market

"Little Jiu, you are giving the Cosmos Sack to me entirely? What about yourself?"

Guan Xi Lin opened up the Cosmos Sack and besides seeing a mental cultivation scroll that had the words "Raging Flames of the Dragons and Tigers" written across its cover, he saw that was quite a bit of valuables and money with several other bottles and tins, which made him look up in puzzlement to ask: "Why are you giving me so much stuff?"

He took the scroll out to take a look and his eyes widened up with incredulity. "Heaven Grade mental cultivation! ? I..... I am seeing it correctly right?" For a mental cultivation scroll like this, it was believed that even the royalty of the Sun Glory Country would not be able to possess a single one of these!

It must be known that Heaven Grade mental cultivation scrolls were the most precious treasures among treasures and it would be impossible to find a single scroll in a country ranked as the lowly ninth grade. Then, where had she possibly have gotten it from?

At that moment, the hands holding the mental cultivation scroll were trembling slightly, highly excited and suddenly almost feeling as if it was scorching hot.

To think that he would be so fortunate to be able to see a Heaven Grade mental cultivation scroll! It was just too incredible!

"That's right, it's a Heaven Grade mental cultivation scroll, and it also cultivates strength as well, which suits you just right." She smiled and said: "Your arm makes it impossible for you to train in your martial arts and swordplay now, so stop doing them for a period. Use the time to fully memorise the mental cultivation scroll first, and I'll give you another Heaven Grade scroll for martial arts when the time comes."

The mental cultivation scroll had been found from among the things her Master had handed down to her and she had thought it was highly suitable for Guan Xi Lin, hence she had brought it out.

"Can I really cultivate with this?" His eyes were sparkling as he looked at Feng Jiu.

"Of course." She nodded and said: "If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask me."

"Alright. Then I shall be going back to my room to practise on the mental cultivation immediately." Guan Xi Lin was giddy with joy as he held the scroll in his hands. He couldn't wait a moment longer and he rushed back into his room to begin his cultivation.

Feng Jiu smiled when she saw that and she practised her taichi for a little while longer to loosen up her body before she went back to her room to cultivate as well.

In the subsequent nights that followed, mercenaries from the black market patronised their little yard almost every night and every single one of those mercenaries who came did not ever return.....

And all of this, was completely not known by Guan Xi Lin.

Because, Feng Jiu would use her silver needles to nurse the meridians in his right arm every night, where she would finally trigger his acupoint for consciousness, that made him fall into a sleep till the next day.....

Several days later, Feng Jiu set up a mystifying maze barricade and after leaving some instructions for Guan Xi Lin, she went out through the doors and went towards the black market.

At the same time, the middle aged man who had already been waiting for several days in the inn but still had not received any news was wearing a dark expression on his face. He got up and went towards the black market, cursing as he went: "All of them are such useless trash! They can't even dispose of a single girl!"

When cursing those very words, it was obvious he had cleanly forgotten the fact that he himself had not been been a match for Feng Jiu as well.

The black market, was an underground marketplace. In there, you could find rare and precious herbs, elixirs, weapons and everything a cultivator would need.

In the black market, there was an arena, a stage for battle, a stage where power won you money and earned your a reputation.

And the scattered mercenaries there were usually some escaped convict and fugitives on the run, unable to gain the recognition of any orthodox and legitimate mercenary guilds. In this underground black market, there were some who operated alone, while some were joined in small groups of three or five, and the commissions they received were always some assassination mission that the legitimate mercenary guilds would not accept.

In here, they recognised only money, and worked only for money.

When a man dressed in bright flamboyant red clothes walked into the black market, many of the people within could not hide their stunned and mesmerized stares, showing clearly on the faces.

The man's body was tall and slender, his entire being emanating a kind of sinister allure, the exquisite golden mask decorated with enchanting blooms of red mandara flowers, completely covering over his face, shrouded in a kind of hazy mystery.

What really mattered then, was that no one was able to peerceive his level of cultivation.

Daring to strut into the black market with such swagger, it was impossible he was just an ordinary person without cultivation. And if he was not an ordinary person, then only one other possibility remained.

The person held unfathomable power.....

CHAPTER 63: Qi Gathering Dew

From among the mass of searching and probing gazes, an old man dressed in grey stepped forward and greeted, bowing formally at the waist: "This old gaffer offers his greetings, as the deputy overseer of this place. Surname Zhu. May I know how I can be of service to you Sire?"

Casting her gaze one full round, Feng Jiu retracted her eyes, looking at the overseer before her and said: "Get me a private room, where I will be able to watch the battles in the arena."

Hearing that, the deputy overseer smiled and said: "Will Sire please follow this old gaffer. The arena is further up this way." The old man led the way in front, bringing Feng Jiu to the private rooms on the second level above the arena.

"Will Sire please see if it's satisfactory?" The old man said, opening the windows before he stood on one side.

Feng Jiu stepped up to the front and saw that it was a rectangular arena, surrounded by rows and rows of spectator seats around it on the first level and the second level were all private rooms, where the 0 place, top and bottom was able to hold almost a thousand people.

At that moment in the arena, there were two fighters engaged in battle and the atmosphere was highly intense, the cheers from the crowd one getting louder than the other.

"This place here is a branch market and we only have one arena. Hence, we have only set up a single board of ranking. If Sire were to go to Cloudy Moon City one day, you can pay a visit to our main market there. Only at the main market, will we have three different ranking boards of Mystical, Earth, and Heaven.

Seeing that Feng Jiu was just watching and not saying anything, the overseer continued on smilingly: "If Sire is interested, you can also place a bet on your preferred fighter to win. The payout odds will be one is to ten."

After watching for a while more, Feng Jiu lost interest and retracted her gaze, turning to look at the overseer and asked: "You have an Appraiser here?"

The overseer was surprised a moment and he went on to nod his head. "Yes, may I ask what does Sire need appraised?"

"Medicine."

Hearing that, the overseer's face became a little more serious. "Sire, please wait a moment, while this old gaffer fetches the Appraiser." As he spoke, he bowed before he went out of the room.

The moment the door closed, the overseer looked back thoughtfully towards the room before he left quickly.

After about half a burning incense stick's time, Overseer Zhu returned, having brought with him two other old man. Once through the door, he immediately introduced them to Feng Jiu: "Sire, this gentleman here is our Chief Overseer, surname Dong, while this gentleman here is our Medicinal Appraiser, Old Deng."

The two other men who came in surreptitiously gauged the person in the room.

Seeing him dressed in a full suit of red as he sat by the window, his head propped up by his hand as he watched the ongoing battle in the arena, his golden mask decorated with enchanting blooms of red mandara flowers of Hell, his entire being emanating a kind of sinister allure, but that same allure was somehow tinged with an insurmountable grace and reverence, that made people involuntarily feel a sense of fearful respect.

When the man heard the voice, he turned his gaze over to look at them. Those eyes were deep and and dark like bottomless pools, filled with a sharp glint, and faintly tinged with a lazy indolence in them.

Just based on their assessment of the face alone, the two men knew that the man in red was definitely someone extraordinary.

"Greetings from Dong to Sire. I wonder what kind of medicine would Sire like to have appraised?"

Medicine, it was something only a Master skilled in apothecary was able to concoct. Needless to mention such a small town as this, even in the Cloudy Moon City, they were rarely seen. Hence, when he heard that someone wanted some medicine to be appraised, he had immediately rushed over.

Feng Jiu glanced at them briefly and she went on to pull out a bottle and she gave it to Overseer Zhu standing at the side, and her voice rang out unhurriedly.

"This is a bottle of Qi Gathering Dew. It can allow a person whose mystical powers is completely depleted to instantly gain an explosive boost of three times their usual powers. The effects last for one hour."

"What?" The three people were shocked into saying from the incredulous claim they were hearing.

CHAPTER 64: Battle Arena

"This.... this can really let a person whose mystical powers is completely depleted to instantly gain an explosive boost of three times their powers?!"

Even as an Appraiser of Medicines, there was a slight tremor in Old Deng's voice as he stepped forward to accept the bottle, his heart filled with incredible excitement.

Feng Jiu did not say anything as her eyes had spotted a figure who wasn't unfamiliar to her walking downstairs. Wasn't that the very person she had wanted to seek out?

With her lips curved up, her eyes glinted with a strange mirth as she saw that figure sitting down at a spot in the front row as he called over a person from the Black Market but she could not hear what they were talking about.

The other three people in the room currently had their attention fixed on the bottle of Qi Gathering Dew. The two overseers watched intently as Old Deng slowly opened cap on the bottle and sniffed at its contents but after seeing that he did not take any other action after a long while, Overseer Dong could not help himself but to holler at him: "Old Deng! ?"

Old Deng gave him a bitter laugh as he looked at the two overseers and Feng Jiu who was sitting on the window sill and said: "I am feeling rather ashamed of myself. Even though this old man here is an Appraiser of Medicines, but I have never appraised any medicine like this."

What he meant by those words was that he could not verify whether what Feng Jiu was saying was the truth.

Hearing that, the two overseers were properly stunned, as they had never encountered a situation such as this.

"Who do you think will finally emerge victorious between that young girl and the big guy?" Feng Jiu's voice suddenly sounded, causing the three men in the room to be startled.

With that question the men walked up and looked down to the arena on the first floor. They saw that a young sixteen or seventeen year old girl was fighting a huge brawny man. But the girl was no match for the big man and she had been beaten to be on almost her last breaths, but she was still stubbornly trying to stand up.

Overseer Zhu observed the situation downstairs with just one quick glance and said: "She is merely on the six level of the Warrior stage while her opponent's cultivation is at the second level of the Mystical Warrior stage. Naturally the big man will win, and moreover, the girl is already exhausted and on her last legs of strength, she would not be able to fight any further."

Feng Jiu curled up her lips in a smile and shook her head in disagreement. "No, she will win."

Her gaze fell down onto the girl who was still just as determined to battle and she said: "If you bring that bottle of medicine down and give it to her to drink, that way, the results of the appraisal will naturally come out."

The eyes of the three men lit up immediately. That's right! That method was simple and straightforward. In that way, they will be able to find out whether the medicine was really as amazing as what the man in red had claimed. Moreover, by giving the medicine to the girl in the arena who was already too weak to continue the fight, and she really managed to win, that would be the best advertisement they would be give to the product.

"I'll take it downstairs." Overseer Zhu said, and he immediately rushed to go down, the bottle of medicine grasped in his hand, as he went towards the arena on the first floor.

The Arena

"Hahahaha, little girl, you better surrender quickly! Even if you cultivate for another ten years, you will still not be a match for me." When he thought of the money that he had bet for himself to win would be multiplied ten times, he began to laugh loudly, beside himself with joy.

The young girl spat out a mouthful of blood, her body felt like it had been run over by horse carriages. It was so painful her body was turning numb, and she wasn't able to summon up even the slightest sliver of strength.

But she refused to accept it, she would not accept losing just like this, and did not want to lose in this way!

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand but fell back down, eliciting a wave of raucous laughter from the watching crowd.

"Just give up now! Next match! Next match! Don't waste all our time!" Someone shouted impatiently from the within the crowd.

At that moment, Overseer Zhu came beside the young girl with the bottle of medicine in his hand and said something to her. The young girl then took the bottle from him and without the slightest hesitation, she poured the bottle's contents down her throat.

Just as everyone was feeling highly puzzled at Overseer Zhu's actions, they suddenly saw that a faint red glow was swirling intensely around the young girl's body.

"Wooo! How was that possible!"

CHAPTER 65: Incredulous

A roar of disbelief erupted from the spectators in the entire battle arena, many of them shot up standing from the shock at what they saw, the incredulous swirl of mystical energy surrounding the girl was who had lost all her strength just a moment ago.

That highly visible waving swirl of mystical energy could not be faked!

The imposing aura emanating from the girl's entire being was strongly felt!

But, just a moment ago, the girl not not even been able to stand back up and now, the mystical energy swirling around her was suddenly even more intense than before. If they had not seen it with their own eyes, they really wouldn't be able to believe it.....

At that moment, in the battle arena itself, the girl's eyes was filled with incredulous shock herself, and tinged with sparkling delight and jubilation.

She clenched her hands tightly into fists and when she felt the mystical energy imbued into them, she suddenly lifted her eyes to glare at the stunned big man who was her opponent and said: "The winner hasn't been decided yet!" The moment her voice dropped, her body exploded into movement that was three times faster than her usual as she whirled in an attack led by her fists.

On her fists, the swirling mystical energy congealed, forming into air torrents that howled loudly. As the big man stared in disbelief, a punch struck him, sending him flying a distance of ten meters. That power and the viciousness of that attack caused a loud gasp to sound out among the shocked crowd of spectators.

The atmosphere over the arena tensed up and the high tension would be release them and after a momentary lapse of quiet, the thousands of spectators all stood up together, their applause thunderous, their cheers reverberating deafeningly.....

Compared to the reactions of the entire crowd, Overseer Zhu was even more excited. He glanced one brief moment onto the battle arena where the outcome was about to be decided before he quickly shuffled back the way he had come.

And throughout the arena, regardless whether it was the spectators on the first level or in the VIP rooms on the second level, everyone's faces suddenly revealed a thoughtful expression on their faces when they saw Overseer Zhu leaving quickly, and they all immediately tried to summon an attendant to get them to inquire just what was in that bottle earlier.

In contrast to the bustle of excitement down below, Feng Jiu who was in the private room just above appeared extremely calm. That result had been within her expectation and she was not surprised in the least.

And with that young girl's stubborn refusal to give up and strong urge to continue to fight, it would be strange indeed if she still lost after receiving the boost from the medicine.

And before Feng Jiu's collected and composed demeanor, Old Deng and Overseer Dong were already red faced with suppressed excitement and their eyes sparkled and shone as they looked at Feng Jiu, looking like they had struck gold this time, just as ecstatic and excited.

"Honored Sire, may I ask how much more of that medicine do you have? And how would our honoured Sire like the trade with us to be like?"

When Overseer Dong managed to recover his senses, even his form of address had changed, and his manners had improved tremendously. It must be said that a medicine with such amazing effects would definitely stir up a huge uproar even if it had shown up in the black market within the Cloudy Moon City! Afterall, in a tiny ninth grade country like they were in, a medicine like this was something nobody would have seen before.

Possessing a dose of medicine like this was as good as having another life preserving talisman on the person and even if they came to encounter a strong enemy that they would not be able to defeat, they would still be able to use it to run away in escape. How could that possibly not appeal to people?

"Is this medicine concocted by our honoured Sire himself? Is our honoured Sire a Medical Cultivator?" Old Deng asked, his eyes sparkling with unabashed admiration as he stared at Feng Jiu, his gaze unwavering.

Hearing that, Feng Jiu looked in askance at Old Deng, her voice chill and languid: "It would seem that I do not have to tell you who I am, do I?"

Realizing that he had gone out of line, Old Deng hastily lowered his head in a bow. "I beg that our honoured Sire does not take offense. This old decrepit old man had gotten overly excited and have overstepped the boundaries."

That's right! Can anyone remain calm in this situation! ? The man before his eyes could very well be a Medical Cultivator! Everyone knew that the Sun Glory Country had never ever produced a Medical Cultivator before.

CHAPTER 66: Esteemed Status

Sweeping her gaze over the two men, Feng Jiu then replied: "I have two more bottles of the medicine with me but I intend to sell them only through an auction, and, any information about me, must not be revealed in the very slightest."

Hearing that there were two more bottles, Overseer Dong's eyes lit up and he smiled widely to say: "Although we are operating a black market here, but without your honourable Sire's consent, we will not leak out any details about our honourable Sire, so our honourable Sire can rest assured."

Feng Jiu nodded and said: " Additionally, I need you to help me find a few types of magical medicine."

Her voice paused a moment before she continued: "And when you manage it, I will gift you with a bottle of Qi Gathering Dew as payment for the effort. Of course, the price of the magical medicine will be separate. I will not shortchange you."

The two men's eyes shone brightly as they quickly asked what kind of magical herbs she wanted them to find.

Finally, Feng Jiu asked for writing materials and she wrote down a list of magical herbs that she needed, handing the list over to them thereafter.

"Honourable Sire, when all the magical are gathered, how do we contact you?" Overseer Dong then asked.

Feng Jiu glanced at him and told him: "I will come back here again some days later, you don't have to worry about that." She brushed off her clothes with her hands and stood up, leaving two bottles of the medicine behind, as she began to stride outside.

"Honourable Sire, please hold your step a moment." Overseer Dong called out once, hurrying to come stand beside the red robed man to hand him a black token. "This here is the black market's black token, a sign of esteem, and I would like our Honourable Sire to accept it."

Hearing that, Feng Jiu reached out her hand to take it and she kept it within her sleeve before she continued on her way out.

Seeing that, the two men scooped the bottles of medicine as they hurried to see the guest out. Once they got outside, they saw Overseer Zhu who was returning with a wide smile on his face.

"Greetings to our honourable Sire." Overseer Zhu bowed hurriedly, his demeanor highly excited, and he looked like he wanted to say something but was stopped by a raised hand.

"All of you do not need to see me off, I'll just tour around the place a little by myself." She stopped them from sending her off and immediately widened her stride to walk away.

The three men saw the figure in red disappear around a corner before they retracted their gaze and indicated their intentions to each other before they all returned back to the private room.

"Quite a number of people have already tried to find out from me what was in the bottle?"

Overseer Zhu the said with a zealous expression on his face: "Although they did not say it clearly, but I am guessing they have guessed that it is medicine. Afterall, only a medicinal concoction can possibly give such astounding effects."

"Do not reveal any details about the honourable Sire to anyone and just make the report to the higher ups in secret." Overseer Dong said in a low voice.

"Do we need to send a few people on his tail?"

"No."

Overseer Dong shook his head. "We have no idea of the man's depth but I know for sure that he is a man we cannot offend. If we send men to follow him, we might just incur his displeasure and we stand to lose everything."

At that moment, Old Deng who had not said a single word all this while suddenly spoke: "The magical herbs state on this list would not be that easy to find I'm afraid."

"Hmm? Why is that?" Overseer Dong turned to look at him. As he wasn't to familiar with herbs, he didn't know much about the uses of the magical herbs in that list as well.

"All these, are very rarely seen in our Sun Glory Country and we will have to source them from other countries." Old Deng said looking at the other two men, his eyes betraying his high spirits. "I am certain, that the gentlemen is definitely a Medical Cultivator! Or, he could even possibly be an Alchemist looking into Pill Refinement!"

"What?"

The two overseers exclaimed in shock: "Alchemist! ? That's such a reverential status, is it even possible? Judging from his voice, he should still be very young, how could he possibly be a Alchemist?"

It was known that Alchemists enjoyed an existence riding right at the pinnacle of Medicinal Cultivators. Not to mention a lowly tiny nine grade country, even within a medium sixth grade country, it would be highly difficult to locate one.

And the person the three men were talking about, was at that moment standing right before the black market's mercenary's mission board, studying the various rewards and bounties offered. Her lips were curled up slightly, revealing a slight smile.

CHAPTER 67: Two Powerful Fighters

She had not expected that the bounty for her head had shot up all the way to be the third highest. Tsk tsk, what a surprise!

She was still absorbed in her own thoughts when voices of people talking reached her ears.

"How did that girl in that portrait shoot up into the top three? The bounty has actually reached five hundred thousand! ?"

"You just came back and you must not have been aware. No bounty hunter dares take up that mission now."

"Why is that?"

"Because none of the mercenaries that have taken up that mission had come back alive. In just about two shorts weeks, quite a number of the guys had succumbed to that girl in the portrait."

As the two men conversed, they looked at the flamboyant man dressed in all red and they became curious where one of the men asked: "Is Sire looking to put out a bounty?" Afterall, only the black market mercenaries are able to accept the missions put out on the board.

Feng Jiu turned her eyes back to look at the two men and shook her head with a smile, seeing from out of the corner of her eyes the middle aged man was already walking towards the exit and she walked off to follow behind him.

After she left, the two black market mercenaries looked at each other and said in a low voice: "That man looked like it was his first time here. There was an enchanting air all around him, wonder what kind of a person he is?"

"We don't have to bother who he is. Come, I'll buy you a drink." The other man slapped his companion on the back, and put his arm around his friend as they walked away.

Walking back towards the inn, the middle aged man suddenly stopped in his tracks, and he turned to look behind his back, his brows knitting up close together. He sped up and walked into an alley before he stopped once again and shouted out.

"Who is it? Show yourself!"

A figure in red stepped out, his steps filled with grace. He was dressed in a full suit of bright brilliant red, his black hair held together by a red silk ribbon. But what was slightly different was that the face was hidden behind a golden mask, decorated with mandala blooms, the flowers of Hell.

Staring at the person slowly walking out, the middle aged man's eyes narrowed, an initial guess surfacing in his head, but he quickly rejected it.

[No, it shouldn't be that woman. The man before his eyes was taller than that woman and it couln't be her.]

"It's been some time since we last met."

Feng Jiu's tone was lazy, tinged with mockery and a chilling air of murder.

"It's you!"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, the expression on his face changed slightly and his voice quaked faintly. The sudden instinctive fear he felt made him fall back two steps immediately, and his entire body to tense up in defence. Before the fight had begun, cold sweat was already running down his back.

You can't blame him, a mystical Warrior who was so fearful of a mere Warrior, but as he had fought the girl before and was well aware of her skills. When he thought back to how he had nearly been killed under her hands, and having lost the use of an arm, a unconscious terror had crept in, gripping his heart.

That was the reason why he had gone to the black market to put up a bounty on her, and did not dare confront her directly instead.

Seeing the man's reactions, Feng Jiu could not help it but laughed aloud and said: "If you are so afraid of me, why would you still put a bounty on my head?"

She walked slowly forward, closing the gap between them one step at a time. "I had almost forgotten that a man such as you still existed. Who would have thought, that you would come running to appear right before me again."

The moment she spoke those words, she heard some noises behind her. Her eyebrow lifted as she turned her eyes back to look.

She did not know when another middle aged man and an old man had appeared behind her. Both of them were commanded a strong presence, their gazes sharp and penetrating. A wave of oppressive aura flared out from the two newcomers and the air was filled with a murderous scent, filling up the entire alley.

"Hahaha! You want to kill me? That will depend on whether you possess the capabilities!" The first middle aged man had lost his previous panic and fear and his eyes were now sparkling with excitement at seeing the two men on the other end of the alley.

"Chief Elder, Fourth Elder, this is the person. The one who killed Little Peng!"

CHAPTER 68: Blue Edge Unsheathed

Elder?

Her eyes glinted and she pushed her consciousness outwards in a probe. The other two men were full Master Warriors, having fully completed the levels. No wonder they had been able to appear behind her without her noticing.

Compared to just facing the first middle aged man where victory was certain, these two men, Senior Elder and Fourth Elder were different as they gauged the devilishly alluring figure of Feng Jiu dressed fully in red.

If they had not been told beforehand, they wouldn't have been able to tell that the figure looking like a man dressed in male clothing was actually a girl.

Even the two of them who have seen and experienced much of the world had to admit to themselves that the person before them possessed an energy that was indistinguishable as neither male or female.

And..... it felt so deep it was unfathomable.

With their level of cultivation, they were not unable to see through her levels? What else could you call that but unfathomable?

From the moment they had appeared, they had not seen her exhibit a single trace of shock or fear. The lips that were exposed outside the mask had a faintly sinister smile playing across them, that caused the two of them to have their hearts filled with caution and wariness.

"Just who are you really? Why do you choose to go against our Xu Family?"

The Senior Elder asked in a deep voice, his penetrating gaze staring right at the red figure.

Feng Jiu glanced at the Senior Elder a moment and her tone was quizzical: "Go against you? Come on! It was you guys who have been persecuting me all this time, when have I initiated a fight with any of you?"

She paused a moment and she turned her gaze to the front towards the first middle aged man with a mirthless smile and said: "If not for this Second Master from your family running to the black market to put a prize on my head, how would I even be able to find him?"

"Even so, you killed our Xu Family's Young Master and crippled one of our Second Master's arm. Those are facts that you cannot deny."

"Oh? From what you are saying, when you guys are trying to kill me, I should just extend my neck and offer it to all of you on a platter?" She asked with an eyebrow raised, the faint smile still on her face, but the glint in her eyes was chill and frosty.

The Senior Elder's face darkened and he said with a cold laugh: "Then you can only blame your fate to have offended people you should not go against in the first place! Our distinguished Xu Family with almost a century's standing is not something you can stand up to. If you know what's good for you, surrender yourself to us or....."

"Or?" Feng Jiu curled up the ends of her lips and laughed wildly, and then she asked in a highly inquisitive tone: "Or what? Kill me?"

"Or we'll bring just your head back in answer for our mission!" The Senior Elder spat out, his fingers immediately curling up into claws, showing his high proficiency in the art of grappling and seizing.

"Then let me respond in kind and see how you fare!" She laughed out coldly and her body moved immediately to confront her opponent in battle.

The Senior Elder imbued his hands with thick robust mystical power and grabbed onto her wrist, thinking to twist it backwards, but Feng Jiu was slippery as a snake as she broke free of his grip and reversed her wrist to grasp onto his wrist instead, immediately pulling him forward. His lower body lost balance and he felt a surge of power from her hand still holding onto him, suddenly finding himself being lifted off the ground and thrown back.

The Senior Elder then dispersed his power and fought to find his balance as he flipped himself to land on the ground. His face was dark as he said: "I see that you do know a few moves. A pity, that death will be the only outcome here today!"

"It's really a pity." She nodded in agreement, looking at him with regret and sympathy, as if she had already ascertained that the one who would die would be the Senior Elder.

Her rueful and sympathetic gaze greatly infuriated the Senior Elder and he pulled out his long sword to point it directly at her, roaring out loudly: "Frivolous brat! You shall pay heavily for your condescending manners! Your head is mine to take today!"

The sword's point pointed forward, as thick robust mystical energy flowed from the body like the tide as it surged out, gathering over the sword's sharp edge. In an instant, a malicious aura filled with sinister oppression shot out from the sword! The Senior Elder charged in an instant, bringing with him his terrifying murderous rage as he moved faster than the speed of sound as he charged at the red figure.

'CLANG!'

A long sword glowing blue at the edges blocked his attack before him. The sword clashed against each other, the razor sharp aura from the swords neither giving in an inch. At that same moment, several gasps of shocks sounded as well.

"Blue..... Blue Edge Sword!"

CHAPTER 69: Blue Edge Tastes Blood

'Crack!'

'Clank!'

A loud crack of breaking sounded, the Senior Elder's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the sword glowing blue in her hand before turning to look at the long crack in the sword he held in his hand, and his heart sank.

The next moment, the long sword in his hand broke into two under his opponent's sword's Qi and fell with a loud clatter onto the ground. At the same time, he could not dodge the malicious Qi emanating from the sword in time and he found his entire person suddenly thrown back from his spot.

"Argh!"

He lost his balance and was falling a few steps backwards. Fortunately, the Fourth Elder behind managed to hold him, preventing him from having to fall embarrassingly to the ground.

"How is that possible? It can't possibly be the Blue Edge Sword!"

The Senior Elder stared in disbelief at the legendary sword that was giving out a blue glow held in his opponent's hand. The glow being emanating from it was bright and brilliant! Throughout the lands, only the legendary Blue Edge Sword could glow such a brilliant blue on it own!

Not just him, the Fourth Elder and the Xu Family's Second Master were showing great astoundment on their faces at that moment. However, besides the shock and astoundment, their eyes were also tinged with greed, greed towards the sword of legend before their eyes.

The legendary Blue Edge Sword, it was the legendary sword among legends!

The Blue Edge Sword that had disappeared for so many years had suddenly resurfaced today, and it was right before their eyes. How could they not be excited? How could they resist the urge that grew in their hearts to want to possess it as their own?

The Blue Edge was pointed in a slant towards the ground, its blue glow pulsating, red clothes billowing out as a bloodthirsty aura flared out from Feng Jiu's being.

She stared at the astounded faces and the covetous eyes of the three men, and her lips arced as the corners lifted, to reveal a sinister and chilling smile as she said: "Anyone who lays eyes on this sword, has to die!"

The moment the voice dropped, the red figure immediately swept out like a demon. However, she did not move towards the Senior Elder and the Fourth Elder, but had instead spun back, and with a sweep of the Blue Edge in hand, a malicious wave of the sword's Qi tore through the air.

"Argh!"

The Xu Family's Second Master was caught completely unawares was a slash across his throat!

It was too abrupt for him to defend against, and also..... It had been too fast!

Till the moment of death, his eyes were still staring widely in disbelief. Till death, his heart had still been aggrieved.....

"Second Master!"

The Senior Elder and the Fourth Elder shouted out in surprise as they saw the figure falling over stiffly. It had just been a blink, and their Second Master's life had been taken right before their eyes.

As the sword had moved so fast, so much so that the blood had not flowed out from the throat, till the body fell over and moved the wound on the neck that had taken his life. It was only then that the blood gushed out like a scarlet pillar as it shot upwards, staining the entire area garishly red.....

That was the brother the Head of the House favoured the most, and he was now dead as well..... They really could not imagine how big a rage the Head would be in when they went back.

Seeing the expressions the two men were showing on their faces, Feng Jiu laughed and said: "Do you really think that you will be able to leave here alive?"

From the moment she had drawn the Blue Edge Sword, she had not intended to let any of the three men walk out of this place alive.

[This little alley, will be their final resting place!]

Her eyes narrowed and a cold glint flashed within. Her murderous aura flared and the figure in red immediately rushed towards the two men. She flicked the Blue Edge Sword in her hand and the cold and sharp Qi of the Sword was thrown out, morphing into blades as they flew forward!

"Kill her!"

The two men shouted out in rage. The Senior Elder held his broken sword before him as he charged forward, while the Fourth Elder drew his sword as well to attack simultaneously. With the two of them combining their attacks, the oppressive aura of full Master Warriors instantly pervaded the entire small alley, the air suddenly turning thick and stifling.

'Clank! Schink! Schink!'

As the swords clashed the sharp outflow of Qi and the sounds of sword fighting was incessant. And fear slowly creeped into their hearts as they were slowly engulfed by Feng Jiu's bloodthirsty murderous aura, coupled with her lethal attacks that aimed to kill, delivered with uncanny precision, causing the two men to be feeling overwhelmed and a little flurried.

"No!"

CHAPTER 70: Eliminate all Witnesses

With a cry of surprise, the Fourth Elder who had been pushed back from the furious attack saw before his own eyes before he could even react, the Elder Senior's broken sword being struck and sent flying away, and the Blue Edge with its brilliant blue glow being thrust right into the Senior Elder's chest with a sickening swoosh.....

He could even see the wide eyed disbelief in the gaze of the Senior Elder.

He was looking like he wasn't willing to accept, startled, and refusing to believe that he would die under the hands of an opponent he had slighted and despised.

The Fourth Elder watched as the Senior Elder fell over twitching horribly, his eyes showing he could not reconcile with his fate. The Fourth Elder's heart jumped and he turned his eyes to look at the girl with her red clothes billowing out behind her. He saw her pulling the sword out and looking straight at him. And at that moment, his instinct was screaming at him to run!

Yes! Run!

That was the only thought in his head, and his body had reflexively responded and was about to make his getaway. However, his feet had just taken the first step and that demonic like voice suddenly sounded within his ears.

"I've told you, all who sees the Blue Edge, has to die!"

The moment the icy cold bloodthirsty voice dropped, a flash of red passed, suddenly standing before the Fourth Elder, smiling without a trace of mirth as she stared at the pale face that was twisted up in terror and fear.

"Where do you think you can run to?"

"HYAA!"

He shouted and raised the long sword in his hand while imbuing his mystical Qi into it, before slashing it down towards Feng Jiu.

Seeing that he had nowhere else to run, he had no choice but to fight to the death! Despite that he had been shocked by her strange skills when they had engaged earlier, there were no other options before him. To fight for a chance to live, he pushed out every single bit of the mystical Qi within him in an explosive surge. When the mystical Qi of a full Master Warrior was released, even the sand and dust stirred and lifted off the ground.

"I do not believe that a fully complete Master Warrior such as I, can be defeated by such a wrench!"

He shouted at her, the swirling mystical Qi around his body elevating his speed to its peak. When he struck, his body moved quick like a hurricane, ferocious as a tiger.

In response, Feng Jiu summoned all the mystical Qi within her, bringing it to a surge. Her advantage here was not in mystical Qi, but it was the Blue Edge Sword in her hand, and her fatal strikes delivered with lethal pinpoint precision!

She wasn't about to compete with him in mystical Qi. She only wanted to kill her opponent in the shortest time possible, or else, the ruckus here would soon attract a bunch of cultivators here, and it would be hard for her to get away from here at that time.

The red figure moved in an endless flurry, borrowing from the Blue Edge Sword its unstoppable force, every single stroke of the sword a lethal strike, her technique quick and forceful. Even with the Four Elder with his guard up, he was unable to stand up against the Blue Edge Sword's sharp slashes and Feng Jiu's lethal attacks.

"Time to end this!"

She gripped the sword in two hands at the moment that the Fourth Elder was pushed back, and she pushed all her mystical Qi into the Blue Edge Sword, striking quickly with all her might in a slash right at him.

The Fourth Elder instinctively blocked the blow with the sword in his hand, but.....

'KLANG!'

"ARRGGHH!"

A loud shriek tore through the sky. The sword in the Fourth Elder's hand was slashed right through by Feng Jiu, together with his body, which was sliced in two halves as he fell to the ground.

Feng Jiu's gaze quickly swept over the three corpses on the ground, the Blue Edge Sword in her hand lifting the Cosmos Sacks hanging at their hips. She summoned her Qi and leapt, over the wall in the tiny alley, quickly departing from there.....

Just as her front foot had just left the place, several cultivators immediately poured into the little alley. They had heard the sound of fighting and had come to investigate. But, when they entered the tiny alley and saw the gory scene there, their faces immediately changed colour, and some of them even vomited on the spot, unable to hold it in.

There was no need to be so merciless in killing a person, and the scene in there was really too bloody and gory, and all of them who saw it found it a little hard to stomach.

"The three people who died were Master Warriors!"

A braver elderly cultivator went to check the three people who died and when he realised the level of power they held, he was greatly shocked.

To have been able to kill three Master Warriors, just how powerful was that person! ?

CHAPTER 71: Aggrieved

When the news of three Master Warriors had been brutally murdered, it shocked all the cultivators and even alerted the Pavilion Guards .

Only that the Pavilion Guards are only in charge of maintaining the town's law and order for the common people. For matters regarding the cultivation world, they have no means to intervene, even more so for three cultivators who were at Master Warrior level.

The only thing they could do was to identify the corpses and notify their family of their demise.

However, the news had spread like rapid fire. After all, the death of three Master Warriors in town was not a small matter.

As for these matters, Feng Jiu did not care about it and once she returned to her courtyard, she entered her own space and started cultivating.

The black market mercenaries had withdrew the task of hunting her down so the next few days were very peaceful, and both of them could concentrate on cultivating. A few days later, Guan Xi Lin walked in dejected after he came back from the marketplace after buying some food back.

"Brother?" Feng Jiu felt something was amiss when she saw his forlorn expression. After calling out to him, he still had no response.

"Brother?" She called out to him again and he finally came to.

"Oh, Little Jiu, you called me?" Only after a short while after sorting out his feelings did he flash her a weak smile, but what he didn't know was that this smile looked very forced.

"What happened to you? Did something happen?" She walked towards him and asked with deep concern.

Guan Xi Lin silently lowered his head, holding back his thoughts.

"It's something that you don't want to tell me? Then it's alright, I won't ask any further."

Hearing this, he hurriedly looked up in a fluster and quickly interjected, "No, it's not that Little Jiu! It's just... it's just that..."

He took in a deep breath and looked at her. In a slightly trembling voice, he said: "When I went out to buy something, I heard some news of my family. I heard that my cousin is about to get married."

Having known him all this while, she had never asked him about his past, or about his family. Similarly, he did not about hers. This was the first time that she heard him mention his family.

"Do you want to go back and attend the wedding?"

His hand gently touched his waist where his wound was healing and he had a sad gaze as he spoke with nostalgia. "Little Jiu, did you know? Since the age of six, I've been raised by my Uncle and had been cultivating with my cousin ever since. Although we did not have the same parents, however I've always respected him and always thought of him as my own Brother. Never would I have thought that he would be the culprit that suddenly stabbed me in the back.

"If it was not for your life saving grace, I think I would already be dead. I've always wanted to understand why he wanted to kill me, but once I heard the news, I knew it was because of her."

"Her?" Feng Jiu was stunned.

"Well, the woman that he is about to marry is the third Young Miss of the He family, He Xin Ya. She's the fiancée which my Father had set for me.

Hearing this, Feng Jiu stared at him dumbfounded. What was this? He was literally stabbed in his back by his cousin who also robbed him of his fiancée? She cast him a look of sympathy, this Brother of hers really had quite a sad past.

Looking at his dejected and forlorn expression, she asked him curiously, "Brother, do you like that woman?"

Guan Xi Lin shook his head, "My feelings for her aren't that strong, it's just that knowing that she was going to be my woman since young and hearing that she's about to marry someone else now, moreover that person is my cousin, it leaves a bitter aftertaste. I feel very wronged."

"Hahaha!"

She could not help but laugh out loud. When she saw his helpless and embarrassed expression, she quickly held back her laughter. "Alright, alright, I won't laugh, won't laugh." However that couldn't stop her from grinning widely.

CHAPTER 72: Time to Leave

"Little Jiu, my heart is a complete mess! How can you not comfort me, and even laugh at me?" He looked at her full of grievance but after he heard her laughter, his mood was lifted by quite a bit.

"No, it's just that I've never seen this side of you? I find it very novel, haha..."

She really wasn't lying, although he was handsome, however with his towering figure which could be comparable to a bear's back or a tiger's waist, such a strong physique and yet he showed such an embarrassed yet aggrieved expression, it was such a stark contrast and she couldn't help herself but laugh.

"But how about your parents? Since it was your Father that set your engagement, wouldn't he be against their marriage?" She curiously asked, it wasn't that long ago that she had saved him? Did they really think that he was dead?

Hearing this, Guan Xi Lin's embarrassment quickly dispersed as he sadly said: "I've never seen my Mother before, when I was six years old, my Father found some news about my Mother and he had set out to look for her. However, he's not been back since then, and our family had not received any news, and everyone in the family presumed that he is dead."

He walked to the stone table and put down his things in his hands, as his eyes lit up with vigor and he said in an unwavering tone: "But I don't believe them! In our Guan family history, my Father's talent was the best. I do not believe that he is dead, I've made an oath since young, that I will strive to carve out a name for myself! So as long as my Father and Mother are alive, they will be able to recognize me.

Looking at his serious and determined look, Feng Jiu looked at him with affirmation and nodded her head in approval. That explained a lot, no wonder despite his cultivation level wasn't very high but each of his moves were packed with explosive power which showed that his muscles were very well developed and to have come all this way, it meant that there was a lot of hard work involved.

"Brother, I believe that you can do it!" She patted his shoulders in encouragement. "Practice well. Your talent is not low, your future will definitely be better than your Father."

Once she said that, she smiled deviously. "But Brother, since your cousin is going to get married, how can you not head back to congratulate them? This isn't very appropriate!"

"Huh?" He looked at her, puzzled.

"Well, let me go along with you!"

Anyway, they couldn't stay here much longer, or else if the Xu Family found their way over, how troublesome would that be? Moreover, the her now didn't have the sufficient strength to deal with them, so for now, she still had to keep a low profile and slowly bide her time.

What's more, she also yearned to go back to Cloudy Moon City to have a look.

"Why don't you go and buy a carriage first? I'm going out for a bit and will come back soon." After which, she went back into the room and changed into a man's attire and she put on a mask and headed out.

Guan Xi Lin was surprised when she emerged out of her room as he looked at her dressing. However, he didn't ask anything and just ate a couple of things and left to buy a good carriage for the ride back home.

Feng Jiu came to the black market and there was a girl dressed in black who was standing by the door who bowed deeply when approached.

She only cast her a quick glance and saw her tanned face, with her gaze lowered to the ground and she didn't pay any further attention to the girl as she strode in.

However, at the moment Feng Jiu brushed past the girl in black, the girl lifted her gaze and that pair of eyes flashed a glint that was as dazzling as the stars and her gaze locked onto the red figure that was walking in.

"Are you going to leave?"

In the room, the overseer was asking in an anxious tone. "But we haven't finished collecting all the magical herbs yet."

"Doesn't Cloudy Moon City have a Black Market as well? When you've finished gathering them, you can just send it there." In her hands, she was holding onto the thin crystal card. In it, were the proceeds from selling the two bottles of medicine.

CHAPTER 73: Shocking Words

She really hadn't expected it, that in the end, her proficiency in Medicine would be what helped her the most. But, these are just medicine that she had mixed together into a concoction, but if is was done by an Alchemist of this world.....

When that thought crossed her mind, a trace of a glint showed in her eyes and an idea slowly took shape in her head.

She raised her eyes and looked at Overseer Dong before her and asked: "I saw a young girl dressed in black kneeling outside. She seems to be the one that consumed the medicine the other day?"

"Yes, it's her. She has been kneeling there for two days already and she is actually doing that to meet with Sire here."

"Meet me?" She raised up an eyebrow, feeling rather surprised.

"That's right. She is a rather popular warrior fighter in the Black Market Arena and it is said that she has a brother, but he is rather ill. She has used up all the money she won here on treatment for her brother but all the physicians they had gone to see said that her brother will not have much longer to live."

As Overseer Dong spoke, he saw that Feng Jiu was showing some interest and he continued on to say: "Just two days ago, her brother fell into a coma and all the physicians in town were helpless. She doesn't know what else to do and so she has decided to kneel there, begging to meet Sire. We have promised Sire that we would not reveal any information about you and we had naturally not told her anything. And since then, she had been kneeling there all this time and she wouldn't budge even when we tried to chase her away."

Feng Jiu nodded and did not say anything. After a short while, she left some instructions for the medicine and then got up to leave.

As she strode out through the gates of the black market and passed the young girl, Feng Jiu noticed that the girl was looking at her. Feng Jiu paused a moment mid stride, and cast her a glance before resuming her wide strides to walk away.

The young girl in black turned to stare after the departing figure, and her eyes shone brightly before she immediately got up to follow after.

After Feng Jiu has gone past three streets, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, and her voice rose tauntingly.

"Having tailed me for so long, are you thinking of robbing me?" At the same moment she spoke, she turned herself around.

A figure in black walked out from behind. It was the young girl and she had even smeared her face black. She was staring at the flamboyant figure in red and while biting her lip, she said: "There is the smell of medicine on you. You are the one who concocted the medicine."

Feng Jiu smiled and she crossed her arms in front of her chest, a corner of her lips lifting up in a sinister curl as she said: "And?"

The girl dressed in black looked at Feng Jiu and was silent for a while, before she suddenly fell to one knee and knelt down with her head lowered: "I beg you to save my brother."

Her voice was stiff and cold. Although she was kneeling, her back was however ramrod straight. Obviously, this was not someone who was used to begging people.

The smile on Feng Jiu's face grew deeper but she shook her head: "I refuse."

Immediately upon saying those words, Feng Jiu immediately opened up her stride and continued walking forward.

However, the figure which had been kneeling behind rushed up and this time she knelt at a spot three steps away from Feng Jiu.

"I beg you to save my brother."

The voice was just as stiff and hard, her back just as straight as ever.

When Feng Jiu saw that, it reminded her of the day back in the arena. Those eyes had then been just like a little beast, strong and determined.

"Then you tell me. Based on what should I save your brother?"

"I can help you kill people."

Feng Jiu shook her head: "For killing, there are professional black market assassins."

"I can give you my life."

Feng Jiu shook her head again: "I have no use for your life."

Upon hearing that, she raised up her eyes and looked straight into the eyes of the person before her and asked: "Then what do you want?"

Feng Jiu's gaze looked at the young girl up and down in scrutiny and then shook her head once more as she gave a sinister smile before walking away without saying a word.

Watching the red figure gradually getting further away, the girl dressed in black stood up and shouted: "I can warm your bed!"

Suddenly hearing those words from behind her, Feng Jiu's feet stumbled, almost causing her to smash her face into the ground.

CHAPTER 74: Two More Additions

Feng Jiu turned her head back, somewhat shocked as she looked at the young girl who had her face smeared black and she asked the young girl with uncertainty in her voice: "What did you just say?"

The young girl bit down on her lip as her eyes stared determinedly at the figure in red and said: "I can warm your bed for you."

When Feng Jiu heard those words very clearly this time, she fought to suppress the strong urge within to laugh out loudly and she said teasingly instead: "I would very much prefer beauties. A black faced little lass like you offering to warm my bed and I have to accept?"

When the girl dressed in all black heard Feng Jiu's words, she quickly raised up her sleeve and wiped at her face, revealing her original countenance below.

"I am not ugly." She looked up at Feng Jiu to say.

That's right, the young girl was not only not ugly, she actually possessed highly exquisite features. That was the face of a natural beauty and her intricately fine features combined with her small palm sized face was supposed to exude the allure of an highly enchanting beauty.

However, there was not a tinge of the coy bashful demeanor of a young girl on her, but instead, she exhibited a icy cold and distant front. But that cold front of hers still somewhat exude a certain kind of frosty charm around her.

Besides having smeared her countenance black and dirty, she had also altered the way her brows and eyes looked as well to make herself look less outstanding.

Without having to even look, Feng Jiu guessed that her flat board chest must have been tightly bound with thick cloth as well.

The girl was at least smart enough to hide her outstanding looks, or they might very well have brought her quite a lot of trouble.

Feng Jiu took wide strides to walk back, coming close to the black robed girl. Feng Jiu's gaze was teasing as she asked: "You would really warm my bed?"

"As long as you save my brother, my life is yours to own, what's more this shell of a body."

The girl put up an apathetic front, seemingly highly indifferent. But her body had tensed up due to Feng Jiu's close proximity and her hands that were gripped so tightly told Feng Jiu that the young girl wasn't as indifferent as she was trying to portray herself to be.

Anyway, which girl would not mind warming just any stranger's bed like this? Or even handing over their own life so casually?

Feng Jiu stared at the young girl for a while and the ends of her lips curled up before she said: "Lead the way then!"

"Yes."

The young girl lowered her eyes as she acknowledged, and she got up to lead the way to the place where she lived.

-About one hour later-

Feng Jiu looked at the bare and decrepit house that looked like the slightest gust of wind would blow it over before her eyes. She saw the black robed girl going into the house hastily immediately after opening the door and she followed the girl in right behind her. Once inside, she immediately saw a youth lying upon a sparse wooden board bed.

The robed girl rinsed a cloth with water and wiped the youth's forehead and palms before turning to look at Feng Jiu to say: "This is my younger brother. After taking medicine two days ago, he vomited out blood and suddenly fell unconscious."

Feng Jiu stepped forward and saw that the boy was so thin his chin had grown pointed, his face was pale and completely drained of colour. With just that one look, she reached her hand out and placed her fingers upon the boy's wrist to take his pulse.

Retrieving her hand after a while, she ordered: "Undo his shirt." As she spoke, Feng Jiu pulled out her silver needles.

The black robed girl obeyed and undid her brother's shirt. She watched on as Feng Jiu had seemingly stuck those silver needles carelessly into several acupoints on her brother's body. Her heart leapt up into her throat as she strongly resisted the urge within her to go stop Feng Jiu, fixing her gaze upon her brother's face instead, deeply fearful of any repercussions that might suddenly manifest.

After a rather long while, Feng Jiu retracted the needles and she stood up. "Carry him on your back and come with me." Immediately after saying that, Feng Jiu turned and walked outside.

The black robed girl saw that Feng Jiu was already moving and she hastened to drag her brother onto her back, rushing up to follow closely behind Feng Jiu.

When Feng Jiu got back to the courtyard house, she saw Guan Xi Lin carrying a soft mattress to put into the horse carriage. When he saw Feng Jiu return, he called out jovially: "Little Jiu, what so you think of this carriage? I had specially chosen the biggest one so that you can lie down and sleep along the journey if you need to rest. In this way, it will be more comfortable for you."

When his eyes caught sight of the two other people behind Feng Jiu, Guan Xi Lin's face twisted up in puzzlement as he asked: "What are they here for?"

Feng Jiu smiled slyly and said: "Bed warmer."

CHAPTER 75: The Xu Family's Rage

Guan Xi Lin stared blankly a moment upon hearing that and he found it a little strange. Why had she suddenly brought back two people like this?

"Get on!" Feng Jiu gestured for the young girl to carry her brother onto the carriage.

"Yes." She acknowledged and climbed into the horse carriage.

Guan Xi Lin pulled Feng Jiu to the side and suppressed his voice to ask softly: "Little Jiu, you want to bring those two people to leave together with us? The youth doesn't look very healthy to me! Will that really be fine? Will anything suddenly happen midway?"

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. Let's go!" As she said that, she noticed that there wasn't a coachman and she asked: "Big Brother, don't tell me you intend to drive it yourself?"

"Yup, I can do it. Rest assured, even with just one arm." He grinned widely and ushered her onto the horse carriage quickly.

Hearing him say that, she did not persist in asking any further, and quickly climbed into the carriage.

Guan Xi Lin climbed aboard himself after all of them had seated themselves within and drove the horse carriage towards the outside of the town's gates, setting forth on his return journey to the Cloudy Moon City.....

-On the other side, Cloudy Moon City, Xu Family-

'Bam!'

On the Master's seat, a middle aged man slammed his palm to crash heavily upon the tabletop, suddenly standing up in utter disbelief. He stared angrily at the guard kneeling below him, his voice shocked and chilling.

"What? What did you say? Tell it all to me once more!"

The conqueror's aura and his powerful presence made the face of the guard kneeling below turn deathly pale, cold sweat to break out from his body, and his heart to fill with terror, but at the same time, he had no other choice but to repeat himself again.

"Re..... reporting to Mas..... Master. The Rock Forest Town's Head sent people here to inform us that they discovered three sets of bo..... bodies who were wa..... warriors, and they sus..... suspect that they are from our Xu..... Xu Family.

'Bam!'

The middle aged man fell back into his chair dispirited as he said in disbelief: "How is that possible? How is that even possible? With the Senior Elder's and the Four Elder's powers, how could it be possible that there is anyone in a place like the tiny Rock Forest Town who is capable of killing them?"

The guard kneeling on the ground did not dare to reply and he just remained there trembling in fear.

"Who? Who was it that killed them?" His suddenly bloodthirsty gaze stared at the guard below. "The two guards who accompanied them? Did they come back?"

The kneeling guard answered in a trembling voice and said: "It..... It is not known who killed them. And the two accompanying guards were afraid that they would be punished and has run away."

The Senior Elder, the Fourth Elder and the Second Master had all been killed. If the two of them had come back, the Master's rage was not something that would be pleasant to face, hence, those two people had naturally take the opportunity that they were outside and fled far away.

"Good! Very good!"

His fists clenched up tightly, his insidious voice chilling and bloodthirsty as he said: "Look into it! Investigate into it deeply!"

[His Xu Family was just a mid level family in the Cloudy Moon City. Although their might could not be compared to the Eight Big Families and the Four Big Mights, but they had still managed to hold significant repute in this place. And now, in the short span of less than one month's time, his son had been killed, his brother had been killed, and even the Senior Elder and the Fourth Elder had also been killed!]

[If he doesn't find out who the culprit is, how is he going to be able to swallow this!]

Cloudy Moon City, in a certain courtyard

Dressed in an all black robe, with highly outstanding countenance, Leng Shuang looked on at the figure in the courtyard dressed in her plain white inner clothes, executing a soft and feeble style of martial arts, her gaze looking highly complicated.

Her brother had awoken the other day and that very night, she had kept her promise where she had stripped herself bare and laid upon Feng Jiu's bed. At this moment, she could still remember when Feng Jiu had lifted the blanket and saw her stark naked body, the startled expression of Feng Jiu and the look she gave, helplessly torn between conflicting urges whether to laugh or to cry.

And it was through that time, that Leng Shuang found out that Feng Jiu was female.

But if Feng Jiu did not need her to warm her bed, and wasn't attracted to her beauty, then why did Feng Jiu agree to help her?

But, regardless of the reason, since she handed her life over to Feng Jiu, Feng Jiu would be her Mistress. That was a point, that would not change.

"Leng Shuang, has my Big Brother returned yet?"

CHAPTER 76: Go Knocking Upon the Door

Feng Jiu collected herself as she finished her practice and turned to look at the beautiful young girl standing on the steps. The more she looked at the girl, the more pleasing the young girl became to her eyes.

Leng Shuang snapped back to her senses and walked towards her Mistress. She lowered her head and said respectfully: "Mistress, Young Master has not yet returned."

"He went out so early in the morning and he still has not come back?" Feng Jiu asked, slightly puzzled. She then went on to ask further: "Is the marriage between the Guan Family and the Ke Family happening in three days' time?"

"It is three days later."

Leng Shuang answered and paused a moment before she continued to say: "But when Young Master left, he said he wanted to go back a little earlier and does not wish for Mistress to go with him. He said he will handle this matter himself."

Upon hearing that, Feng Jiu smiled. [He must have been worried that the situation might get highly awkward if she had gone with him. Moreover, in his heart, he still believed that the Guan Family wouldn't really treat him too cruelly and he still strongly believed that his clansmen would not give him the cold shoulder in the face of their self interests.]

[That might be a good thing. Letting him handle it on his own, he will finally realise that people, when faced with their self interests at stake, would be unhesitatingly cruel and merciless even towards their own clansmen.]

[Towards that clan that Guan Xi Lin belonged in, she did not like them a single bit.]

[Whereas for the Feng Family.....]

When she thought of all that she would find out about the Feng Family after she came to the Cloudy Moon City, her heart started to feel rather conflicted.

The people in the Feng Family truly loved and doted on Feng Qing Ge. But, they were completely unaware that the Feng Qing Ge they adored and treasured in the palms of their hands at that moment had actually killed their real daughter.

Leng Shuang looked at the mess of knife scars that crisscrossed over Feng Jiu's face and her eyes flashed involuntarily.

The multiple knife scars filled her Mistress' face in a mess of garish slash marks, the numerous scars completely hiding her original countenance, and what could be seen, were only those heart rending and garish looking scars.

She really could not imagine, just what kind of a person would want to ruin a girl's face so completely? Just what kind of hatred was behind it that would make a person capable of doing this?

When she thought about how defenceless her Mistress was, Leng Shuang strongly resolved to herself, that she would not leave her Mistress' side to protect her every step of the way.

Leng Shuang was obviously completely oblivious to the skills and powers Feng Jiu possessed at that moment, as ever since she had come to serve Feng Jiu, she had only seen Feng Jiu practising that feeble and weak set of martial arts every morning in the courtyard that had absolutely no attack power behind all its strokes.

Moreover, Feng Jiu was also a Medicinal Concoctionist and because of that, Leng Shuang had the preconception that Feng Jiu was only skilled in Medicine and was completely defenceless in terms of her martial cultivation.

Caught up in her own thought, Feng Jiu noticed Leng Shuang's gaze upon her and she turned to look at the girl and asked: "What's wrong?"

Leng Shuang shook her head and lowered her eyes.

Seeing that, Feng Jiu had seemingly gotten a rather good idea of what the girl was thinking as she caressed her own face and said with a smile: "Curious how did my face get so badly disfigured?"

Her voice paused briefly and then she said in a nonchalant tone: "Actually, looking at it now, it has gotten a lot better. In the beginning, even I could not bear to look at myself."

She wasn't too worried about the scars on her face. Afterall, once she managed to gather all the herbs she needed, she wouldn't even need a month before she would be able to restore her face back to they way it had originally looked. What she was more concerned about at that moment was her "free" elder brother she picked up.

The black market had sent news, telling her that the magical herbs she seeked were highly difficult to find, and they had not managed to gather them all as yet.

Every single day that the magical herbs are not completely gathered, it was another day that her big brother's hand would remain crippled, and it would be another day her heart would not find solace. If all those magical herbs really could not be found, then she would have to resort to a barter trade with people who hold possession of those magical herbs she needed.

-At that same moment, Ke Family Residence-

Dressed in a navy blue robe, Guan Xi Lin's handsome features were looking slightly solemn, as he looked at the sweet and pretty lady before him to ask in a stiff tone: "Are you really going to marry my cousin? You agreed to it yourself? Or were you coerced into it?"

CHAPTER 77: Nagging Though

Ke Xin Ya was shocked by Guan Xi Lin's sudden appearance before her.

Everyone had said that he was dead and she had thought he had died. Hence, when he had appeared so suddenly before her, what she felt at that moment was not joy, but shock.

"You..... You are not dead?" Her face was pale, and her voice trembled as she looked at him.

Guan Xi Lin was looking straight at her, his gaze a mix of emotions. He did not know why he had come here. It might have been because his heart had felt it was unfair to him, as he had always thought of her as his lady.

Little Jiu had asked him whether he loved Ke Xin Ya. And he had told her it couldn't really be called love, but it was just that there had always that little bit of liking in his heart. Afterall, having always thought that she would grow up to be his bride since young, they way he gazed at her and the way he treated her all that time had always been different from how he treated others.

But this woman whom he had always thought would become his lady, was now about to marry someone else, and it was even to his cousin. This change, somehow made him feel rather uncomfortable in his heart.

But now, he really wanted to know, whether she was doing it on her own accord.

Having heard the news, when Father Ke and Mother Ke who had hurried over saw the towering figure in their daughter's courtyard, their hearts jumped and their faces changed.

"Xi Lin?"

Guan Xi Lin turned his head around, and saw the two seniors of the Ke Family. He then said: "I came here just seeking one word." Upon saying that, he turned away from them, and looked straight at Ke Xin Ya before him once more.

Seeing her daughter's face turned pale, her gaze shifty not daring to look at Guan Xi Lin, Mother Ke's heart winced and she went forward to hold her daughter in her arms, while she stared at Guan Xi Lin with displeasure in her eyes.

"What do you think you are doing here? Your engagement with our Little Ya has been dissolved. What does it matter to you who our Little Ya marries?"

"Oh, Xi Lin! The engagement was only dissolved after the two Guan and Ke families discussed it together. And as for the marriage between Little Ya and your cousin, it was also decided only after the seniors from both the Guan and Ke families agreed to it as well." Father Ke said with a sigh in his heart as he looked at Guan Xi Lin.

Although he came from good stock, but a pity, he was an orphan and in terms of status and position, Guan Xi Lin could not compare to his cousin in any way.

"And you agreed to it as well?" He was still looking at Ke Xin Ya, persistently asking for an answer.

However, seeing that Guan Xi Lin was forcing her daughter to give him an answer, Mother Ke got angry.

"So what if Little Ya agreed to it? Would being with Guan Xi Ruan be worse than being with you? Why don't you look at yourself and see what you have to offer? Your don't even have both your parents, so how could your status in the Guan Family be comparable to Guan Xi Ruan in any way?"

Mother Ke's words were sharp and tinged with sarcasm as she continued to say: "There's no harm telling you anyway, just to let you give it up completely. The seniors of the Guan Family have told us this. In the selections for the Young Chief from among the members of the Guan Family to be held three months later, Guan Xi Ruan will definitely win to become the Young Chief. That means, that our Little Ya here, will soon become the Lady of the Young Chief, and when Xi Ruan finally takes over as the Head of the Family in future, she will then become the Lady of the Guan Family's Head. If she marries you, what is she going to get?"

Hearing Mother Ke's words, Guan Xi Lin did not say anything. He merely stared solemnly at Ke Xin Ya who was being shielded behind her mother for a while, before he suddenly turned and lifted his foot to walk out without another word.

Father Ke saw his arm hanging limply down the side of his body and he said in shock: "Why does his right arm look as if it has been crippled?"

Mother Ke replied in an unaffected tone: "Why do you bother with what happens to him? Our Little Ya does not have anything to do with him from now anyway."

"I'll go back to my room first."

Ke Xin Ya immediately returned to her room after saying that and after closing the doors behind her, she walked over to the dressing table and sat down. She stared at the wooden hairpin in her jewellery box a moment and she suddenly picked it up to throw it in a basket in the corner of the room.

"I made the right choice. I will not regret this. I will definitely not regret it!"

She discarded the slight tinge of discomfort tugging at her heart and her eyes grew determined. She knew very well no matter how well Guan Xi Lin treated her, he would still not be able to give her what she wanted.

CHAPTER 78: Ghost Doctor Fame

"I'm back."

In the courtyard, Feng Jiu raised her eyes to look over in Guan Xi Lin's direction. Seeing him come back fuming, she could not help but ask him with a smile: "What's wrong? Who stepped on your toes?"

"I went over to the Ke Family's Residence." Guan Xi Lin came to the table and sat down, before pouring himself a cup of water to gulp it down quickly.

"The Ke Family?" Her gaze was surprised as she looked at him. "I had thought you went back to the Guan Family!"

"I won't be going back to the Guan Family yet. I will wait till three months later before I go back there! And in these three months, I will be cultivating in seclusion!"

Hearing that, Feng Jiu was slightly startled as she blinked her eyes in surprise. "What has gotten you so agitated with you just having made one short trip out?"

Guan Xi Lin told her every word that the Ke Family had said to him. He finally proclaimed: "Hence, I have decided. If they want to get married, they can go marry all they want! Anyway, when the Family Clan's selections comes around three months later, I will definitely beat Guan Xi Ruan right into the ground! I will make all of them see, that I, Guan Xi Lin, am not one to be trifled with!"

He must make them all regret it. Not just the Ke Family, but also all the seniors of the Guan Family. They all thought that he was inferior to Guan Xi Ruan, but he will prove to all of them and make them all realize, that Guan Xi Ruan could not compare to him!

Feng Jiu nodded and said: "Mmm, I agree. I had just asked Leng Shuang to make a trip to the black market. Within these three months, I will have your arm recover to become as good as it was."

His heart warmed immediately and he showed a smile on his face to say: "Little Jiu, thank you."

"You are my brother, what is there to thank me for? Alright, you should go back to your room and cultivate! Before your arm recovers, practise the mental cultivation well so that when the time comes, your efforts will then reap much better results."

"Alright. I'll be going back to my room now then." Guan Xi Lin stood up and went back to his room.

The next few days were peaceful but busy. Guan Xi Lin was busy with practising his mental cultivation while Feng Jiu was busy with her martial cultivation and concocting medicine. As their days were well filled up, time passed by in a blink for them.

Unwittingly, they had already come to the Cloudy Moon City for two months.

And, using the barter trade formula, Feng Jiu managed to gather all the herbs she needed in less than a month. She took another two weeks after that and managed to treat her elder brother's arm to achieve a full recovery.

Within these two months, Feng Jiu's name in the Cloudy Moon City had gradually grown, for no other reason, but just because even for people who had never taken a single step into the black market, had heard that a Ghost Doctor had appeared in the Cloudy Moon City. One who not only possessed excellent medical skills, but was also very well versed in the concoction of medicines.

But just like the mythical Sacred Dragon who was shrouded in mystery and never seen, people had only heard of the Ghost Doctor's fame, but was never seen in person.

If anyone within the entire Cloudy Moon City were to know whom the Ghost Doctor was, it would undoubtedly only be the black market's agents. But, the black market was not just any common power. The black market's influence spread throughout many countries and even the Sun Glory Country's ruler had no way of prying open the black market's mouth to reveal the identity of the Ghost Doctor.

Many different powers had come anonymously to seek an audience but they had all been rejected one after another. Even the ruler of the Sun Glory Country who had come forward personally had not been able to see the Ghost Doctor as well.

And it was because of this, that the identity of the Ghost Doctor had become more and more mysterious, which just made everyone even more curious.

-Dawn, Courtyard-

Feng Jiu was coaching Leng Shuang's younger brother, Leng Hua, in Taichi when they heard Guan Xi Lin's voice filled with joy reaching their ears from afar.

"Little Jiu, the peach blossoms in the Peach Blossom Monastery have bloomed. Didn't you say you wanted to go take a look? Let me accompany you to go there today!"

Feng Jiu slowed went back to a rest position and breathed out slowly before turning to Leng Hua to say: "You continue practising."

Only then, did Feng Jiu turn to Guan Xi Lin and said: "Big Brother, I have already asked Leng Shuang to go get prepared and she will be ready in a little while more. But, heh heh, you had better not go."

Immediately upon hearing that he was not allowed to go, Guan Xi Lin became anxious and quickly said: "How can I not go? How can there be just Leng Shuang and you alone on the trip? What if you meet with any trouble?"

CHAPTER 79: Peach Blossoms Blooms in March

Feng Jiu laughed and said: "How will that happen? You know how well skilled Leng Shuang is. Moreover, do not forget that you want to defeat Guan Xi Ruan before the eyes of everyone in the Guan Family next month, so, shouldn't you be spending more time on your cultivation?"

Feng Jiu paused a moment and then continued to say: "What's more, I heard that the scenery at the Peach Blossom Monastery is excellent and I intend to stay there a few days before coming back!"

"Stay a few days?"

Guan Xi Lin was surprised a moment before he said: "But the Peach Blossom Monastery has never allowed anyone any overnight accommodations before!"

Feng Jiu laughed slyly. "They have never done that, but..... Look at what this is!" She pulled out something from the spatial space and waved it before Guan Xi Lin's face.

Guan Xi Lin took it from her hand to peruse it and his eyes widened involuntarily as he exclaimed: "Land deed? The land deed for the Peach Blossom Monastery! ? How..... how did you manage to get that?"

"Last month, someone came to the black market asking to see me. I had initially not wanted to bother with it at first, but when I saw that the remuneration was the Peach Blossom Monastery, I accepted it. So, henceforth, the place now belongs entirely to us."

She grinned and kept the land deed away as she said: "As I currently happen to have some time on my hands recently, I thought of going there to have a look. For one, I will be able to go and appreciate and enjoy the view of the flowers, on the other hand, I will also be able to go take a good look at the place. If I find the place to be suitable, I will just use it as a foothold spot for the Ghost Doctor."

Guan Xi Lin's eyes lit up and he said: "The peach blossoms stretch over a very large area at the Peach Blossom Monastery and the outer perimeter is filled with peach blossoms of various colours. But, even though its name is called the Peach Blossom Monastery, but in reality, it has nothing to do with monasteries in anyway. I have seen it from afar once before, and saw that the courtyards and pavilions within were highly elegant. And I have also heard that the peach blossoms in the places within the inner perimeter where people are not allowed to enter were transplanted from other places and they actually bloom all year round, and that they are more beautiful than anyone can imagine."

Hearing that, Feng Jiu cast a knowing sideways glance teasingly at him and said: "My brother, you seem to know a lot about it!"

Guan Xi Lin scratched at his head and he laughed sheepishly as he said: "I went there with a few friends before and that was how I know all this."

As he spoke, he saw Feng Jiu still staring at him with a wide smile and he waved his hand at her to say: "You guys just go! I won't go with you guys this time. I'll wait till the next trip."

"Mmm. When we've gotten everything ready over there, it will still not be too late for you and Leng Hua to come over." Feng Jiu nodded and glanced over at Leng Hua who was still practising his Tai Chi and she said: "Come over here."

Leng Hua fell into the rest position and he breathed out lightly before he came running over.

"Mistress."

Ever since he awoke, his health had been improving day by day. He, who had found it difficult to even walk a few steps before was now even able to learn Taichi from his Mistress.

Although, he had similarly thought that Tai Chi with its weak and feeble strokes wasn't of much use, but as his Mistress had said that it was good for his health, he had carried on with his practice of it.

Looking at the youth who had put on a little weight over the past two months, Feng Jiu smiled and reminded him: "I will be going with your sister to the Peach Blossom Monastery. You stay behind and nurse yourself back to health. And, also watch over my brother, make sure that he does not goof off."

Leng Hua glanced at Guan Xi Lin beside him and he nodded solemnly as he said: "Yes, I will watch the Young Master."

"Why would I need him to watch me? It will be good enough if the kid can take care of himself." Guan Xi Lin grumbled softly to himself.

Feng Jiu ignored him and went on to say: "One more thing. You must practise your Tai Chi every day and night."

"I will." Leng Hua agreed once more.

At that moment, Leng Shuang came in dressed in a fitting full black suit. When she saw all of them in the courtyard, she came over to Feng Jiu and said: "Mistress, the horse carriage is all ready."

"Mmm. We'll leave after I have a quick change of clothes." Immediately upon saying that, Feng Jiu turned and walked off towards her room.

Leng Shuang turned to her younger brother after that and her gaze softened as she reminded him gently: "I am going out with the Mistress and you take good care of yourself here at home."

Leng Hua nodded and he said worriedly as well: "Big Sister, protect the Mistress well, and do not let anyone bully her."

CHAPTER 80: Feng Mansion's Qing Ge

Upon hearing those words, Guan Xi Lin nodded his head and said: "That's right, you must really watch her closely. Especially for all those lecherous men. Do not allow them to come close to Little Jiu."

The more he thought about it, the more worried he became. "By right, I should go along with her." But a pity, Little Jiu would not allow him to and moreover, he needed to stay at home to cultivate.

Leng Shuang saw the worried expression on his face and said: "Young Master, there is no need to worry. I will make sure I watch the Mistress very closely." Upon saying that, she turned to Leng Hua and said a few more words to him before walking over to stand outside Feng Jiu's door to wait for her to come out.

Not long after, Feng Jiu came out changed into a suit of red as she strode out, and went outside with Leng Shuang. They climbed onto the horse carriage and Feng Jiu said to the two people who had come see them off at the doors: "We're leaving already! Go back inside!"

"Be careful on the roads." Guan Xi Lin said.

Actually, from here to the Peach Blossom Monastery, it was only about four hours by horse carriage and he was acting like they were going far far away, constantly reminding them worriedly like an old mother hen.

Feng Jiu pulled down the drapes over the windows and Leng Shuang who was sitting on the outside asked the coachman to depart and they left on their way to the Peach Blossom Monastery.

- At that same moment, Feng Residence, Crescent Moon Court -

"Little Ge, are you ready? Yi Xuan has been waiting outside for half the day already."

Dressed in black, the towering General Feng was pacing in circles outside, glancing intermittently at the tightly shut doors of the room. When he saw the room doors open, and his precious daughter coming out through them, he hurried himself over.

"What should your father do with you? Ever since Ruo Yun left, you don't even want a maid to serve you, and insists on doing everything yourself. What has it come down to? You are the daughter of Feng Xiao and you do not have to do anything like this. The servants will take care of it all for you properly and as it should be. Listen to your father. Get a personal maid to serve you, if it really still doesn't work out, your father, I will personally pick one from the Feng Household itself."

Feng Qing Ge's eyes were filled with mirth and her ravishly beautiful face was tinged with a playful pout as she grasped his hand in hers.

"Father, do not worry yourself on that. It's just a small insignificant matter. I can do it myself. Moreover, I am the daughter of a gallant general. If I need others to help me with every single little thing, wouldn't people criticise me for being overly weak and useless?"

When Feng Xiao heard that, his heavy brows immediately arched up and his fiery gaze glared while he said: "Who dares to say that! ? Whoever does that, I will definitely teach him a good lesson!"

His voice paused a moment before he continued: "Daughters are supposed to be brought up dainty. And, I have only just one precious daughter, if I do not dote on you or indulge you, who would I go dote in?"

"Alright, alright. We'll discuss about this again. We should hurry to the front hall and not let Big Brother Murong wait for too long." She pulled on Feng Xiao's hand and dragged him towards the front hall.

"So you realise that you've kept him waiting? Then hurry get yourself a personal maid when you come back so she can help you with some things to save you lots of time."

As he grumbled, although his voice was brash and his face stern, but his gaze looking at her was doting.

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll listen to whatever you say. We'll find one when I get back. We'll find one." She agreed hastily.

Feng Xiao finally nodded in satisfaction and revealed a smile: "That's more like it."

In the front hall, Murong Yi Xuan was in a little bit of a daze as he stared into the tea in the teacup he was holding up. Recently, his mind would often suddenly think of the girl dressed in red he saw in the Rock Forest Town.

For no other reason, but just because of that unexplainable sense of familiarity.

He had once suspected that Qing Ge had been switched out but things that only the two of them were supposed to know about, this Feng Qing Ge knew all about them.

Would that mean that he had been thinking too much on it all this time?