Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Sword of Death

Cheng Yi sought out Qin Feiyang with the sole purpose of inquiring about the level of his spiritual power. Now that this objective had been achieved, his interest in Qin Feiyang waned.

Similarly, Qin Feiyang had made this trip to dispel Cheng Yi's suspicions, lest trouble follow him in the future. He knew all too well the kind of person Cheng Yi was—one who never rested until his goals were met.

The conversation between them grew increasingly sparse, and the atmosphere gradually became awkward.

The door creaked open. Ling Yan finally returned.

Cheng Yi asked, "What did you find out?"

Ling Yan replied, "Ling Yunfei gave up his chance to enter the Martial Hall to Ling Sheng."

"Gave up?" Qin Feiyang's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "Though I haven't spent much time with Ling Yunfei, I know enough of his character to suspect this wasn't his willing choice."

"Yes," Ling Yan nodded, making no attempt to conceal the truth.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yi's lips curled into a mocking smile. Looking at Qin Feiyang, he said, "He brought it upon himself, don't you think?"

"Indeed." Qin Feiyang smiled, for he had anticipated this outcome, though not quite so soon.

Suddenly, Cheng Yi slapped his forehead and said, "Ling Yan, I've just remembered some matters I need to attend to. You stay here and drink with Brother Haotian. Brother Haotian, my apologies."

"You have something to do?" Ling Yan was surprised.

Qin Feiyang stood and smiled. "It's all right. I happen to have something as well. Let's meet again when we get the chance."

"Both of you have business? What a coincidence." Ling Yan looked at them, bewildered.

In truth, neither wished to waste any more time. Under Ling Yan's puzzled gaze, both men left the room one after another.

Passing through the main hall, Qin Feiyang glanced at Ling Yunfei. He saw two middle-aged men surrounding him, their expressions hostile.

Ling Yunfei noticed Qin Feiyang, his gaze pleading for help.

Yet Qin Feiyang said nothing, walking straight out of the tavern toward the Treasure Pavilion.

Ling Yunfei felt bitterly disheartened. He did not blame Qin Feiyang, for he understood he had brought this upon himself.

"Ling Yunfei, my patience is running thin."

"If you don't hand it over, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

The two middle-aged men spoke coldly.

Ling Yunfei looked up at them, a fierce glint in his eyes as he roared, "This is my last hope—must you strip me of even that?"

"A bastard like you dares speak of hope? How laughable!"

"Not killing you is our greatest mercy."

They sneered.

Ling Yunfei stared at them grimly, gritting his teeth. "Fine. I'll give it to you!"

He pulled a bamboo slip from his spatial pouch and slammed it onto the table.

"Smart move!"

"To tell you the truth, before leaving, the patriarch instructed us—if you refuse to hand it over, we are to kill you right here!"

With a cold laugh, they snatched the bamboo slip and strode away.

"Kill me..." Ling Yunfei trembled inside and out, those words echoing relentlessly in his mind.

Gradually, his fists clenched tight, and a chilling light flashed in his eyes.

"If you show no mercy, then don't blame me for showing none in return!"

He muttered to himself, pulled several gold coins from his pocket, tossed them onto the table, and quickly left the tavern.

Treasure Pavilion.

VIP chamber.

The Master of the Pavilion sat by the tea table, head bowed in contemplation. Beside him, Li Si stood respectfully.

"I can't figure it out, truly can't."

Suddenly, the Master of the Pavilion rubbed his forehead and asked, "Li Si, do you think Jiang Haotian is really an alchemist?"

Li Si pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "This young man is too enigmatic, impossible to see through."

The Master nodded. "Indeed, I've been in business for decades and seen all manner of people, but this boy is like a riddle—utterly inscrutable..."

Knock!!

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?" Li Si asked.

"Master, Jiang Haotian is downstairs and requests to see you," came a voice from outside.

The Master and Li Si exchanged glances, thinking, 'Speak of the devil.'

Li Si said, "Bring him up at once."

Soon, accompanied by footsteps, Qin Feiyang entered with a smile. "Master, I trust you've been well."

The Master answered playfully, "I've been fine, no need to worry about me. But you—do you realize the situation you're in? Daring to go out alone, be careful you don't end up like a rat, beaten by the mob."

Qin Feiyang replied calmly, "Are you two planning to call in a crowd to beat me as well?"

"Us?" They looked at each other, then shook their heads, laughing.

The Master said, "As businessmen, we don't do things that harm ourselves, and besides, I rather admire you."

Li Si smiled, "Indeed, Young Master Jiang is so shrewd that even we old men feel inferior. If you hadn't already joined the Pill Hall, our Master would surely try to recruit you for the Treasure Pavilion."

Now Qin Feiyang was stunned, shaking his head with a laugh. "Enough idle talk. I've come to buy some medicinal herbs."

"The desk has pen and paper—make a list."

The Master gestured to the writing table.

Qin Feiyang walked over, wrote out his list, and handed it to the Master.

The Master examined it carefully, surprised. "They're ingredients for four different prescriptions?"

"You know the prescriptions?" Qin Feiyang was intrigued.

"Most disciples of the Pill Hall come to my Treasure Pavilion for herbs, so of course I know them. But I don't know the refining process or methods, so knowing the herbs alone is of little use."

With that, the Master handed the list to Li Si.

Li Si asked, "Young Master Jiang, how many sets do you need?"

Qin Feiyang pondered briefly. "One hundred sets each for the Healing Pill, Bone Renewal Pill, and Body Tempering Pill. As for the ingredients for the Energy Gathering Pill, I want as many as you have."

Li Si's face twitched—he was about to empty their entire stock of Energy Gathering Pill ingredients!

"I'll prepare them at once. Please wait a moment."

With that, Li Si left the VIP chamber.

The Master was curious. "Jiang Haotian, be honest—are you really an alchemist?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Qin Feiyang shrugged.

"What level is your spiritual power?" the Master pressed.

Qin Feiyang's eyes flickered, and he grinned mischievously. "If you waive the cost of all these herbs, I'll tell you."

"Get out as far as you can!" The Master rolled his eyes dramatically.

Yet his curiosity had been thoroughly piqued by Qin Feiyang, and he began calculating silently.

An hour passed before Li Si returned.

There were ten thousand sets of Energy Gathering Pill ingredients, worth fifty thousand gold coins. The Healing, Bone Renewal, and Body Tempering Pill ingredients were considered worthless by the Master, so he gave them to Qin Feiyang as a gift.

After settling the account, Qin Feiyang thanked them and left the Treasure Pavilion, returning to the Pill Hall.

"Jiang Haotian, wait!"

Just as he approached the gate of the Pill Hall, ready to enter, Ling Yunfei's voice sounded behind him.

He frowned, paused, and turned to see Ling Yunfei emerging from the shadows.

Qin Feiyang said, "You'd better not say you're here to see me."

Ling Yunfei stood opposite him. "I am here to see you. Please, give me a chance."

"Opportunities aren't cabbages—miss them and they're gone."

Qin Feiyang spoke coolly, then turned to enter.

Thud!

Ling Yunfei suddenly knelt on the ground. "I know you hate me, but I've nowhere else to turn. My chance to enter the Martial Hall and the advanced martial skill were both stolen from me. Now I have nothing, not even enough gold to get by. Please, help me!"

"I don't hate you—I'm disgusted by you." Qin Feiyang said without turning.

"Don't just you, I disgust myself now. Why was I so naive?"

"But I'm unwilling to accept this. Why should what belongs to me be taken away just because they want it?"

"I want revenge. I want them to regret it!"

Ling Yunfei clenched his fists, his face twisted in fury, his entire being exuding a fierce, menacing aura.

Qin Feiyang stopped, frowning. "You could go to Yan City or Xingyue City. With your talent, entering the Martial King Hall wouldn't be difficult—why ask me?"

Ling Yunfei shook his head. "If I could leave Black Bear City, I would've done so long ago—I wouldn't have waited until now."

"Why not?" Qin Feiyang was puzzled.

Ling Yunfei remained silent for a long time, as if burdened by some secret pain.

"This is your last chance," Qin Feiyang said coolly.

Ling Yunfei's gaze trembled; he gritted his teeth. "My mother is in their hands. If I leave, they'll kill her."

"Why would they kill her?" Qin Feiyang raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know."

"For years I've tried to find out, but the Ling family refuses to say a word."

"I've asked my mother too, but she won't tell me. She only said that, to survive, I must learn to endure."

"So all these years, I've been enduring."

Ling Yunfei spoke in anguish.

Qin Feiyang asked, "What about your father?"

Ling Yunfei shook his head. "I've never met him. He died before I was born."

"How did he die?" Qin Feiyang asked.

"My mother said he went to Black Bear Mountain to train, was badly injured by a fierce beast, and died a few days after returning," Ling Yunfei replied.

"Father gone, mother imprisoned, son suppressed—doesn't this seem suspicious?" Qin Feiyang murmured.

His intuition told him the matter was anything but simple.

After a moment's contemplation, he looked at Ling Yunfei. "I need a sword."

"A sword?" Ling Yunfei was confused, not understanding why Qin Feiyang would suddenly say such a thing. "If you agree to help me, I'll buy one for you."

"When you understand the real meaning of those words, come find me again."

Qin Feiyang turned and strode away.

"A sword..." Ling Yunfei wracked his brain, and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him. He shouted, "I'll be the sword in your hand!"

"What I want is not an ordinary sword, but a heartless, cold-blooded, unconditionally obedient killing sword. Can you be that?"

Qin Feiyang's voice echoed from the darkness.

"I can!" Ling Yunfei struggled for a moment, then shouted to the heavens.