Chapter 125: Unease
Elder He said, “No more nonsense. Let’s go to the Dan King Hall with me.” After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned to Lin Han, and sneered coldly, “So concerned about our disciples, do you want to come to the Dan King Hall for a cup of tea?”
“Hmph!”
Lin Han snorted coldly, turned, and strode ahead to enter the city gate, disappearing at the end of the street.
“What a hypocrite.”
Elder He and Elder Wan exchanged glances filled with ridicule and walked side by side into the city. Qin Feiyang and the others quickly followed.
Seeing this, the two black-armored guards hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. They had intended to mention that Jiang Haotian had yet to undergo a check, but recalling the previous attitudes of Elders Wan and He, they dared not say a word and let it go. After all, rare and precious pills are not something just anyone can concoct. The man’s identity should be above suspicion.
...
Old friends meeting after a long time naturally had much to discuss. Thus, Luo Xiong, Elder Wan, and Elder He walked at the front, chatting and laughing.
Qin Feiyang glanced at the three, then crossed a step to stand beside Feng Linger and whispered, “Thank you.”
Feng Linger replied, “This is the last time I’ll help you. From now on, we owe each other nothing.”
The fat man sidled over with a chuckle, “Sister-in-law, are you planning to break up with Brother Jiang?”
They both glared at him instantly.
Ling Yunfei sighed helplessly, “I tell you, Fatty, you don’t talk nonsense. Can you just keep quiet?”
“Did Fatty say something wrong?”
The fat man looked innocent.
Ling Yunfei snapped, “Nonsense! Didn’t you see them still holding each other in the Dan Hall? That shows their feelings run deep. Sister-in-law wouldn’t just break up with him!”
“That makes sense!”
The fat man nodded.
Qin Feiyang was helpless, and even Ling Yunfei joined in teasing, making it clear this matter would be difficult to clarify.
Suddenly, Elder He turned and looked at Qin Feiyang. “I heard from Luo Xiong that you’re very clever?”
Qin Feiyang was momentarily stunned, then waved his hand. “Not at all. The hallmaster is too kind.”
Elder He said, “Enough with the flattery. I’ll ask you straight: why did Lin Han come to intercept you?”
The fat man immediately raised his hand and shouted, “Fatty knows… no, no, no, I mean, the disciple knows.”
“Hm?”
Elder He frowned slightly, eyes shifting to the fat man with interest. “Tell me then.”
“Lin Han intercepted us for two reasons.”
“First, because of Lin Chen.”
“Second, the Netherworld Demon Flame.”
The fat man adjusted his hair and spoke earnestly.
“Not bad!”
Elder He was surprised. “What’s your name?”
The fat man’s face twitched. “Didn’t the hallmaster just introduce me?”
“Ahem!”
Elder He coughed awkwardly. “I didn’t catch it just now.”
“I think you just didn’t want to remember.”
The fat man muttered discontentedly, feeling quite aggrieved inside. “The disciple’s name is Situ Tianyu.”
Elder He nodded. “Good, good. I’ll arrange a lighter menial task for you.”
“Thank you for your care, Elder.”
Situ Tianyu bowed deeply, grateful to tears, but inwardly he was very disdainful. No matter how light the task, it was still menial work.
“Menial work?”
Qin Feiyang was stunned, then suddenly understood. He nearly forgot that the other two recipients of the spots would have to serve a year of menial duties at the Dan King Hall before officially becoming pill crafters.
Qin Feiyang patted Ling Yunfei on the shoulder with a faint smile. “Still dare to underestimate him now?”
Ling Yunfei shook his head with a bitter smile. This fat man’s intelligence was indeed not simple. The phrase “great wisdom appears foolish” probably described him perfectly.
Yan City was divided into four districts: East, South, North, and West. The royal family resided in the East District, the Dan King Hall in the South, the Martial King Hall in the North, and the Treasure Pavilion in the West. Each of the four major forces guarded one area.
Soon, Qin Feiyang, Feng Linger, and Ling Yunfei parted ways.
“One’s in the South, the other in the North, over a hundred miles apart. Brother Jiang, if you want to see your sister-in-law or have a date, you’ll have quite the run ahead.”
The fat man grinned slyly.
“Why do you have so much nonsense to say?”
Qin Feiyang glared at him sharply. But the fat man’s words reminded him: the distance between the two halls was indeed enormous. At his current speed, even without stopping, a round trip would take a whole day. He couldn’t afford such time.
It seemed urgent to, besides copying the "Return Words Formula," earn gold coins to buy a few image crystal stones. With those, contacting Ling Yunfei would be much more convenient. But the price of the image crystals was troubling.
At that moment, Elder He asked, “Brother Luo, besides Feng Cheng, did anyone else get injured in Zuo An’s attack on the Dan Hall?”
“No,” Luo Xiong shook his head. “It seems he still fears provoking us.”
“When he steps into the Nine-Star Battle Emperor stage, it won’t be him fearing us, but us fearing him.”
Elder He looked worried.
“You’re too slow. Let me fly you there.”
With a wave of his hand, battle energy surged, forming a protective barrier a foot wide that enveloped everyone.
Then the barrier lifted them into the air, like a bolt of lightning streaking swiftly toward the Dan King Hall.
In less than a hundred breaths, a towering stone gate came into view.
The gate stood over ten meters tall, jet black, exuding an ancient aura. On it, the three characters “Dan King Hall” were carved like iron hooks and silver strokes, vigorous and imposing.
Behind the stone gate lay clusters of palaces. The shortest buildings reached over ten meters, the tallest fifty or sixty, rising and falling magnificently.
Beside the gate stood a large hall covering dozens of meters, with white walls and black glazed tiles. It looked plain yet solemn.
Above the entrance hung four large characters: Reception Hall.
Led by Elder He, the group entered.
A middle-aged man in white immediately approached, cupping his hands. “Greetings, Elder He.”
Elder He nodded, whispered a few words into his ear, then led Luo Xiong away from the Reception Hall.
The middle-aged man glanced at the three remaining and smiled faintly. “I’m Wang Yu, Dan King Hall’s steward elder. You may call me Elder Wang or Old Wang.”
“Greetings, Elder Wang.”
Qin Feiyang and the others bowed. As for “Old Wang,” that was just polite speech; calling him that sincerely might offend him.
“Hand me your Dan Hall identity tokens; I’ll exchange them for Dan King Hall tokens.”
Wang Yu led them to a nearby workstation.
After exchanging tokens, Wang Yu said, “Lu Hong, from today on, you’ll stay here as my assistant, receiving visiting guests. Without my permission, no private pill crafting is allowed, for one year.”
“Yes.”
Lu Hong bowed respectfully. As a pill crafter, nothing was more painful than being forbidden to craft pills, but despite her reluctance, she hid it deep in her heart. After all, receiving guests was better than being assigned to clean.
Wang Yu then looked at the fat man. “Situ Tianyu, you’re responsible for managing the herb fields. Remember, no slacking or embezzlement. Anyone caught will be expelled from the Dan King Hall and never rehired.”
“Manage the herb fields?”
The fat man was stunned, then overjoyed—this was a plum assignment! He patted his chest solemnly. “Elder, rest assured, Fatty will faithfully guard every blade of grass and wood in the herb fields.”
“Fatty?”
Wang Yu frowned slightly. “Better break that habit soon, or it will bring you great trouble someday.”
The fat man smiled sheepishly. “Fatty… no, no, disciple understands and will change.”
Qin Feiyang shook his head, amused. The fat man’s habit was ingrained deep; it would be hard to change.
Wang Yu turned to Lu Hong. “Watch here. I’ll take them over briefly.”
“Yes.”
Lu Hong nodded, looking at Qin Feiyang with envy. Although Wang Yu hadn’t yet arranged a place for Qin Feiyang, it was clear he would receive favorable treatment.
“Follow me.”
Wang Yu called Qin Feiyang and Ling Yunfei and headed outside the hall.
Qin Feiyang turned to Lu Hong with a faint smile. “Actually, staying here is also an opportunity. You get to meet many important people. Maybe later, I’ll ask for your help.”
Lu Hong was taken aback. Hearing this, she truly felt this was a good job.
The fat man grinned proudly. “Stinky woman, if you need anything, just come to the herb fields to find Fatty, but for other… physiological needs, don’t come. Fatty can’t handle it.”
Lu Hong was initially touched, but hearing the last part, her face darkened, and she snapped, “You fat pig! I’m going to skin you alive today!”
The fat man’s face changed, and he hurriedly fled.
Qin Feiyang shook his head, smiling, and caught up with the fat man. “Fatty, is Lu Hong really as terrible as you say?”
The fat man waved his hand. “Not really. She’s just a bit snobbish.”
Qin Feiyang said, “So you made up the stories about her having affairs with Cheng Yu and Ji Jin…”
The fat man chuckled. “All Fatty’s fabrications. Though sometimes there’s some ambiguity, she’s relatively pure.”
Qin Feiyang’s face twitched, then said gravely, “For a woman, nothing is more important than her purity. You can’t casually slander others like that anymore.”
The fat man thought for a moment and nodded. “True. I was a bit willful before. I’ll find an opportunity to apologize.”
After taking the fat man to the herb fields, Wang Yu led Qin Feiyang to the Dan King Hall’s council chamber.
The hall was empty.
“Wait here. Don’t wander off.”
Leaving these words, Wang Yu turned and left.
“What does this mean?”
Qin Feiyang frowned. Shouldn’t he be shown the pill crafting room and quarters first? Why come to the council chamber and leave him alone? It felt strange.
Suddenly, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
Could it be because of the Netherworld Demon Flame?
His heart dropped to the bottom of a valley.