At first, he just wanted to join the fun, but he ended up becoming the new spectacle.
Bai Yan was currently sitting in the reception hall of the Canine Tooth Mercenary Group. The two men and one woman beside him were the leaders of the Iron Sword, Canine Tooth, and Blood Dark Flower groups, all at the Dou Master level.
"Iron Sword Leader, Tie Shan, a Seven-Star Dou Master!"
The ordinary man who called himself the Canine Tooth Mercenary Group Leader pointed to the man with a Li Kui style and introduced him, then pointed to the other woman, "Blood Dark Flower Leader, Manni, a Six-Star Dou Master."
Finally, he pointed to himself, "Canine Tooth Leader, Han Wen, a Six-Star Dou Master."
Xiao Feng greeted them one by one. Only when the three of them looked toward him did he speak, "I am not here to make friends."
The three people's gazes sharpened, and Dou Qi began to surge.
"Of course, nor am I here to provoke enemies."
Xiao Feng's demeanor was calm, making it impossible for the three of them to gauge his depths for a moment.
The three exchanged glances. Han Wen smiled and changed the subject, "We won't mention or concern ourselves with your identity or purpose for being here, little brother. However, you deliberately shattered that Bluestone Monument earlier to get our attention, so you must have something you need from us, right?"
After throwing out this question, the three stopped talking, quietly waiting for Xiao Feng to speak first.
Xiao Feng gave a wry smile. Honestly, he hadn't had that many plans; everything that happened was just on a whim.
"I heard you are preparing to venture deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"
The three nodded, but none of them actually responded aloud; that would be too foolish. This question was obviously an opening line, and the focus was naturally on his subsequent words.
Seeing Xiao Feng get straight to the point, the three of them relaxed their breathing considerably.
"I want to know your plan, or rather... your objective."
The three people's expressions clearly changed. Tie Shan put down his wine cup, ready to speak, but Han Wen quickly interrupted him.
His gaze was chilling as he scrutinized Xiao Feng, speaking slowly, "There's no problem with wanting to know the plan, but where is Your Excellency's sincerity?"
"Of course, there is sincerity." Xiao Feng tapped the armrest with four fingers, making a soft sound, his eyelids flickering, "But don't treat everyone like a fool."
Xiao Feng, who had initially just intended to watch the excitement, hadn't spent much thought on this matter, but now, quietly pondering, he understood a few things.
Most mercenary groups near the Magical Beast Mountain Range only do two things: hunting Demonic Beasts to collect Demonic Cores, and searching for medicinal herbs.
If everything they said was true, given their strength as mere Dou Masters, their focus shouldn't be on the central region. Both in terms of strength and needs, the outer region is where they should be looking.
To put it bluntly, with this level of strength, climbing a few extra hills in the outer reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range could be a one-way trip, yet they dare to think about the central region?
After a moment's thought, there seemed to be only one possibility: there was something in the central region that made them willing to risk their lives for it.
That passerby saw things quite clearly, Xiao Feng chuckled inwardly.
The three people's expressions grew colder and colder. How could they willingly allow another person to share something they were willing to risk their lives for?
They had plotted this from the moment they sat down. Now, as the three stood up, they virtually blocked all of Xiao Feng's escape routes.
Xiao Feng remained steady as a mountain, looking at the three with an almost scrutinizing gaze, "I don't need to emphasize the conditions inside the Magical Beast Mountain Range. With three Dou Masters plus a group of Dou Practitioners, even if you pave the road with your lives, do I need to remind you how far you can actually go?"
"Say what you mean directly! Beating around the bush is annoying!" Tie Shan yelled.
Han Wen and Manni exchanged glances, then stared intently at Xiao Feng.
"What if I could ensure you reach the entrance to the central region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range safely?" Xiao Feng started tapping the armrest again, "I could even let you set up camp there and use it as a supply point!"
"That's impossible!" Manni cried out.
"Indeed. It seems you are aware of how high the difficulty is." Xiao Feng laughed, giving Manni a look of approval—this was practically reminding him to make an exorbitant demand. He then leisurely asked, "So, what kind of conditions can you offer?"
The three looked at each other, then walked to the corner and began communicating in low voices.
Xiao Feng looked relaxed, listening to them alternate between arguing a few sentences, then whispering, arguing a few more, then whispering again... After about ten minutes, the three walked back, their faces filled with bright smiles.
Han Wen spoke, "If Your Excellency can accomplish everything you claim, how about the four of us sharing that Divine Treasure together?"
Xiao Feng shook his head, "Trying to trick me with such a vague promise is a sign of your lack of sincerity."
Han Wen frowned, "Then how can you prove that what you are saying isn't false?"
"You are going to the Magical Beast Mountain Range eventually. What is false cannot become true, and what is true cannot become false." Xiao Feng stood up, "If all you have is this empty talk, then let's pretend I never came today."
Manni quickly spoke, "Wait a moment! How about an additional fifty thousand Gold Coins? No, one hundred thousand! If you also lend a hand, we are willing to offer one hundred and fifty thousand!"
Xiao Feng laughed aloud and walked straight toward the exit.
"Tell us what conditions you want yourself!" Tie Shan shouted.
Xiao Feng stopped, "A Medicinal Prescription."
"That's impossible!" the three cried out in unison.
Han Wen continued, "How could we possibly possess something that even Alchemists treat as a treasure?"
Xiao Feng scratched his head, "No, no, no. I mean a prescription for Herbs."
"Medical Prescription?" Manni was confused, "What good is that thing?"
In the eyes of mercenaries, Physicians still hold some status, but Medical Prescriptions are like waste paper to them.
A Medical Prescription only lists the ratios; more details require the Physician to figure out themselves. Some Medical Prescriptions might take years to understand, and no mercenary would spend time on that.
"Twenty Medical Prescriptions, how about it?" Xiao Feng asked.
Han Wen nodded, "It might take some time, but that is not a problem."
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. I'll be staying in town these next few days. Just call me on the day you depart."
Xiao Feng refused the trio's attempts to keep him and left immediately.
Silently, Han Wen flicked his finger, and a streak of Black Light landed on the corner of Xiao Feng's clothes, leaving with him.
After completing all this, Han Wen revealed a smile.
Xiao Feng returned to the inn. He paused at the doorway, turned to look aside, and muttered, "Xiao Linger must have been eyeing this place just now, right?"
"Boss, how much are your Pastries?" Xiao Feng walked over.
"Which kind would the guest like?"
"I'll take a bit of everything."
...When Xiao Feng returned, Xiao Linger was still Cultivating.
Hearing the knock, she jumped off the bed.
"Here." Xiao Feng handed over a large bag of Pastries and Snacks.
Xiao Linger rolled her eyes, refused to take them, and tossed her hair as she walked back.
Xiao Feng didn't mind. He entered the room, closed the door, placed the food on the table, and then pinched out a small, black, watermelon-seed-sized bug from his clothes, "Do you recognize this thing?"
Xiao Linger said nothing, tilting her head to look elsewhere, adopting a posture of ignoring him completely.
Xiao Feng shook his head and walked over, pinching Xiao Linger's chin to straighten her face, placing the bug in front of her eyes, and asking again, "Do you recognize this bug?"
Xiao Linger slapped Xiao Feng's hand away and fiercely said, "If you want to hit me, then hit me! Don't touch me!"
Xiao Feng smacked his lips, thinking, could this girl be an M?
Suddenly, Xiao Linger, who had just looked impatient, snatched the Black Insect, placing it in her palm and examining it carefully.
After a long while, she looked up, stared at Xiao Feng, and asked in a calm tone, "Where did this come from?"
"Someone gave it to me."
"Who? Where is he?" Clear urgency appeared in Xiao Linger's eyes.
"You know him?"
"You..." Xiao Linger widened her eyes, starting at a high pitch, but swallowed the rest of her words after just one syllable. She switched to a calm tone and said, "If you don't want to say, then forget it."
Having said that, she threw the bug onto the floor and stomped on it, crushing it, then stood up and walked toward the door.
"What are you doing?" Xiao Feng held the door shut.
Xiao Linger's face was cold, "Move aside."
"No." Xiao Feng grabbed both of her hands and dragged her back from the door, "They are Dou Masters. What are you planning?"
Xiao Linger stopped struggling, sat there pouting, and tears began to trickle down.
Xiao Feng remained silent. It was rare for this girl to cry; he figured he should let her cry for a while longer.
He poured himself a cup of water, took a sip, and reached out to grab the Snacks he had just bought.
Slap!
Xiao Linger slapped Xiao Feng's hand, snatched the bag of Snacks, hugged it tightly, and shouted at Xiao Feng, "Get lost! These are all mine!"
While shouting, tears plopped down continuously.
Xiao Feng was amused and annoyed, "Why are you crying!"
"None of your business!" Xiao Linger glared at him, "I just like crying! Hit me!"
Xiao Feng rolled his eyes and didn't bother arguing with her.
After a while, seeing that Xiao Linger was crying less, he finally asked, "Did the death of your Adoptive Mother back then have something to do with this person?"
Xiao Linger remained silent.
Xiao Feng continued, "In a few days, a group of people will enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and this person will be among them."
Xiao Linger didn't speak. She picked up the food and lay down on the bed.
"Remember to bolt the door before sleeping." Xiao Feng said, then went to the room next door.
For three consecutive days, Xiao Linger did not step out of the room. Aside from eating and sleeping, she was almost constantly Cultivating.
Xiao Feng did not disturb her. Occasionally, he went out to browse the shops in the small town, and besides daily necessities, he also visited a Weapons Store.
"Is this the strongest armor you have?" Xiao Feng asked, pointing to a piece of Inner Armor.
"Yes, sir."
"Is this the sharpest Dagger you have?"
"Yes, sir."
"How much is it?"
"One hundred Gold Coins in total."
"Can I trade Demonic Cores for it?"
Xiao Feng had almost spent all his Gold Coins, possessing only Demonic Cores and medicinal herbs.
"Of course!"
After exchanging the Demonic Cores for the items, there was still some change left over. Xiao Feng wasn't interested in anything else, so he put away his purchases and Gold Coins and returned.
Back in the room, Xiao Feng handed the Inner Armor and Dagger to Xiao Linger, "You go back to the mountain range first. I'll go with those mercenaries."
Xiao Linger refused to take them, snorted, muttered "Self-important," and then picked up a large pile of things and left.
However, as she brushed past Xiao Feng, she snatched the Inner Armor and Dagger.
On the other side, the three mercenary groups had already consolidated their manpower.
When Xiao Feng arrived, Manni handed him a stack of papers, "Although not many people value this stuff, obtaining so many in a short time cost us a lot. I hope you haven't deceived us, otherwise..."
Ignoring Manni's threat, Xiao Feng smiled and took the Medical Prescriptions, "I hate scams most in my life. Things obtained through trickery and deceit are utterly boring."
"Here's to a pleasant cooperation!" Han Wen said with a smile, waving his hand. The people behind him pushed Carts and set off toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.