Chapter Forty-Six: Seizing the Opportunity to Extort

A strong presence!

Qin Feiyang halted, his gaze fixed on the man in purple, pupils narrowing.

After entering the room, the man in purple glanced at its arrangement before turning to Qin Feiyang, a faint smile on his lips. “Qin Feiyang, you really are good at hiding, aren’t you?”

“What?” Qin Feiyang’s heart leapt in alarm.

But the very next instant, he appeared like a startled rabbit, eyes darting about the room in panic. “Qin Feiyang? Where is he?”

A frigid glint flashed in the depths of the purple-robed man’s eyes. He replied blandly, “Aren’t you Qin Feiyang?”

Who is this man? Could he truly know my identity?

Countless thoughts flashed through Qin Feiyang’s mind. He turned to the man in purple, feigning terror. “Senior, Qin Feiyang is a wanted criminal pursued by the royal family. You mustn’t speak recklessly!”

“Did I speak recklessly?” the man in purple countered.

“Didn’t you?” Qin Feiyang volleyed back.

“You’re clever, boy, but you can’t fool me,” the purple-robed man sneered.

“Senior, I truly am not Qin Feiyang. There’s a portrait of him on the wanted notices; you can see for yourself. I look nothing like him!” Qin Feiyang insisted anxiously.

“There is such a thing in this world as a Morphing Pill,” the man replied coolly, strolling to the side table and settling himself into a seat, his gaze playful.

Damn it! Could Zhao Shuang’er and Luo Qingzhu have betrayed me?

No, something’s wrong.

This man’s aura is unfathomable—he must be a Battle King!

If he were truly certain I am Qin Feiyang, would he bother talking so much? Clearly not—he would have seized me on the spot.

No, this is a test.

His expression darkened, and he faced the man in purple, hands clasped respectfully. “Senior, I know your strength is formidable, but you can’t falsely accuse an innocent man.”

“Is someone who robbed the Medicine Field of the Pill Hall an innocent man?” the man in purple sneered.

“So you’ve already decided I am Qin Feiyang. In that case, I have nothing more to say. I’ll go to the Pill Hall right now and have them investigate. Once they prove I’m not him, I expect you to apologize to me in public!” Qin Feiyang stated each word with deliberate gravity.

With that, he turned indignantly to leave.

To think I couldn’t trip him up—perhaps he really isn’t Qin Feiyang. The man’s eyes flickered and he laughed. “No need to be angry, little brother. I was only teasing you just now.”

He calls himself ‘This Pavilion’! Qin Feiyang’s pupils shrank. Only the master of the Treasure Pavilion would use such a title! But hadn’t he lost that black-clad brute just before? How did this one find him?

He stopped and turned back to the purple-robed man. “Senior, even as the master of the Treasure Pavilion, you can’t make such jokes. If anyone had overheard just now, do you realize how much trouble you’d have caused me?”

“Yes, yes,” the man nodded repeatedly, smiling. “I was thoughtless. Please forgive me. What should I call you, little brother?”

“Jiang Haotian,” Qin Feiyang answered without hesitation.

“Jiang Haotian?” The man frowned. He’d never heard of this name. With such a quantity of herbs, the owner ought to be at least somewhat well known.

“Where is your family from, little brother? What is your honored father’s name?” the man asked.

“What are you getting at? Are you investigating me?” Qin Feiyang frowned.

“I’m merely curious. Please, be honest,” the man said, words polite but his tone unmistakably threatening.

“While I’m not of the Treasure Pavilion, I know your rules,” Qin Feiyang replied. “First, never ask a guest’s origins; second, never inquire about the source of their goods; third, never follow a guest. As master of the Treasure Pavilion, shouldn’t you set an example? Why are you breaking your own rules?”

The man’s brow arched. “I’m surprised you know our rules so well. But in Black Bear City, I make the rules. If I want you to answer, you’ll answer.”

“Then you’d better kill me,” Qin Feiyang retorted coldly, “otherwise I’ll go to Swallow City and ask the chief pavilion master if a mere branch master truly has such unchecked authority.”

“Seeking death, are you?” The purple-robed man suddenly rose, eyes glinting with menace.

“No, you are!”

Just then, a cold voice cut in.

Two young women entered the room side by side—it was Luo Qingzhu and Zhao Shuang’er.

“What are you doing here?” Qin Feiyang frowned.

“Greetings, Young Mistress!” The man in purple trembled and hastily bowed.

“What?” Qin Feiyang was astonished.

Zhao Shuang’er giggled. “You didn’t know? Sister Qingzhu is the daughter of the chief pavilion master of Swallow Prefecture.”

Qin Feiyang was struck dumb.

There are eighteen prefectures in the Nine Provinces. Each has four major powers: the Prefectural Prince, the chief master of the Pill Hall, the chief master of the Martial Hall, and the chief master of the Treasure Pavilion. These four are peers in power.

Luo Qingzhu’s father, as chief of the Treasure Pavilion in Swallow Prefecture, held a lofty status indeed. No wonder the old man guarding the medicine field had been so respectful—her background was formidable.

Luo Qingzhu’s face was glacial as she looked at the man in purple. “I believe I heard you declare that you make the rules here?”

The man’s heart skipped a beat and he bowed low in supplication. “Young Mistress, I was wrong. I’ll change. Please don’t tell the chief master.”

“And what about my friend here?” Luo Qingzhu asked coldly.

The man turned to Qin Feiyang, full of remorse. “Brother Haotian, I truly apologize for earlier. Please forgive my ignorance.”

“Not so fast. You wanted to kill me just now,” Qin Feiyang replied meaningfully.

The man caught his hint instantly and responded, “I offer you a formal apology and compensation. Will that suffice?”

“Since you’re so sincere, I’ll let it go,” Qin Feiyang smiled.

“Young Mistress?” the man asked, looking to Luo Qingzhu.

“If the aggrieved party has no further complaint, I’ll let it pass as well. You’d best conduct yourself properly from now on,” she said expressionlessly.

“Thank you, Young Mistress,” the man exclaimed in delight, hastily leaving and closing the door behind him. As he left, he shot Qin Feiyang a meaningful glance.

Qin Feiyang withdrew his gaze, looked at the two young women, and shook his head with a sigh. “To think I, a man among men, would have to be rescued by you two women—twice. What a disgrace.”

“What about women? Do you look down on us?” Zhao Shuang’er glared at him.

Qin Feiyang quickly waved his hands, flattering, “Not at all! One of you is a genius, the other the young mistress of the Treasure Pavilion. I’ll be relying on your support in the future!”

“Sweet-talker.” The two girls rolled their eyes at him.

Qin Feiyang chuckled. “Did you come to see me for something?”

Luo Qingzhu replied, “We’re going to Star Moon City soon, and wanted to ask if you’d like to come with us.”

“Why?” Qin Feiyang scratched his head, puzzled, then grinned. “Don’t tell me you both like me?”

“Like you? Look in a mirror!” The two girls rolled their eyes again, turned, and left without another word.

“What does that mean?” Qin Feiyang was baffled.

Oh…so that’s it.

He soon realized their invitation was to look out for him if trouble arose.

Thanks, but I can’t go to Star Moon City. He muttered to himself.

Zhao Shuang’er and Luo Qingzhu had already helped him twice. He didn’t want to trouble them further. More importantly, his future was fraught with danger—the closer they were to him, the greater the peril.

Just then, the man in purple returned, smiling obsequiously. “Brother Haotian, you nearly scared me to death! You know the Young Mistress—why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Qin Feiyang composed himself and replied coolly, “If I’d told you earlier, I wouldn’t have seen your true colors, would I?”

The man forced a laugh. “Brother Haotian, may I have the spatial pouch?”

“Spatial pouch?” Qin Feiyang was puzzled.

“The one holding the Qi Gathering Pills,” the man clarified.

Qin Feiyang withdrew it from his robe, frowning. “Is there something wrong with it?”

“There’s a small issue,” the man replied awkwardly. With a wave of his hand, a beam of white light shot from the pouch.

Battle energy! Qin Feiyang’s brow arched.

Only now did he understand how the man had tracked him here—it was the battle energy!

Upon reaching the Battle King realm and awakening the battle soul, true energy evolves into battle energy, which is closely linked to the battle soul. By storing his battle energy in the spatial pouch, the man could use his battle soul to track its location.

A cold sweat broke out on Qin Feiyang’s back.

Clearly, this man had noticed him three days ago when he first sold the batch of herbs. Yet Qin Feiyang had thought splitting the sales would keep him safe—how naive! There were so many people in this world cleverer than he; who was he to underestimate others?

He must never make such a mistake again—it could cost him his life! From now on, he’d inspect even items from the Treasure Pavilion on the spot, lest he fall into another trap.

This was a sobering lesson: he might outwit his peers, but against the older generation—especially those sly old foxes—he was not yet a match.

Seeing his grim expression, the man in purple thought he was angry. “Brother Haotian, I truly am sorry. Whatever compensation you require, just name it.”

This compensation was no mere apology—the key lay in the word ‘compensation.’

Qin Feiyang’s eyes glinted as he looked up. “One hundred thousand Qi Gathering Pills and one Beast Spirit Pill—no negotiation!”