According to Wanyaozhai's usual practice, before entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range, they would hire mercenaries in town to accompany the herb-collecting team. The local mercenary groups would usually follow them into the forest for protection.
But now, Wanyaozhai had a new master—Ye Feng.
With Ye Feng's strength alone, not to mention the power of Xiao Yixian and Ya Fei, there was no longer any need for hired help. The three of them were more than capable of protecting a small herb-gathering team in the outer regions of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
That morning, over twenty herb gatherers gathered outside Wanyaozhai, preparing for the journey.
"Huh? Wanyaozhai's heading into the Magical Beast Mountain Range again?"
"Looks like it. But that's odd… why didn't they hire mercenaries this time?"
"You must've missed it. About half a month ago, a mysterious man killed Shopkeeper Yao—the former owner. He used to be a bandit. The guy wiped him out in a blink, turned him into a bloody mist—no body left behind. Then he just… took over the place. With that kind of strength, would you still need mercenaries?"
"True… but still, this means we mercenaries are losing another income source."
"Hey, look! It's her—the Little Medical Fairy! She's coming out!"
A small crowd gathered near the gate of Wanyaozhai. Eyes followed as Ye Feng, Xiao Yixian, and Ya Fei stepped out together.
Ever since her identity as a poison master had been exposed, Xiao Yixian felt awkward under their gaze. She kept her head lowered, avoiding eye contact.
Ye Feng noticed her discomfort. Without speaking aloud, he sent his voice directly into her mind using his spirit power.
"Relax. When your Holy Poison Body evolved, I sealed off all spiritual fluctuations with a barrier. No one knows your identity except Ya Fei and me. To them, you're still just Xiao Yixian from Qingshan Town."
Xiao Yixian flinched slightly, startled by the voice in her mind. Then she looked up and whispered, "Thank you."
The memories she had of Qingshan Town were her most precious treasures. She was content living there peacefully and didn't want that to be shattered just because of who she was.
Ya Fei walked to Ye Feng's side. "Master Ye, should we head out now?"
Ye Feng nodded slightly.
Ya Fei turned and raised her hand. "Let's move!"
The team—twenty-eight in total—set off toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range with a strong and confident aura.
To their surprise, they didn't encounter a single magical beast along the way.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Yixian furrowed her brows. After traveling thirty to forty miles into the forest, she finally couldn't hold back.
"That's strange… We've come so deep already, but haven't seen a single magical beast. Isn't that unusual?"
Ye Feng replied calmly, "Any magical beast would sense danger from a powerful being. When we entered, I released a breath of my own spirit power to surround our group. The beasts can feel it—they're avoiding us."
Xiao Yixian gently lifted the curtain, peeking outside. Sure enough, she saw a faint gray halo encircling the team, rippling subtly with energy. That was the aura Ye Feng had released.
"How much farther?" Ye Feng asked casually.
"We're almost there," Xiao Yixian replied.
A few minutes later, she called for the convoy to stop.
"Come with me," she said.
Xiao Yixian hopped down and led Ye Feng and Ya Fei to the edge of a steep cliff.
"Wait… is that White Orchid Fruit?" Ya Fei's eyes lit up as she spotted a small white fruit growing at the cliff's edge.
This particular herb only grew on cliff edges and was favored by birds. Though it was only a low-grade medicinal herb, it was rare, and thus sold for a high price.
"Sister Ya Fei, you know herbs too?" Xiao Yixian asked curiously.
"As an auctioneer, knowing the value of herbs is basic knowledge," Ya Fei replied gracefully. She crouched by the cliff, one hand modestly covering her chest to prevent exposure, while the other carefully picked the White Orchid Fruit.
Afterward, she walked over and presented it to Ye Feng with both hands.
But Ye Feng shook his head. "You found it. It's yours."
He then turned to Xiao Yixian. "The cave is beneath the cliff, right?"
Xiao Yixian nodded.
This trip wasn't just for herbs. Ye Feng was after the rumored treasure cave that Xiao Yixian mentioned. She hadn't originally planned to tell him, but after Ye Feng helped refine her Holy Poison Body, she voluntarily brought it up.
Of course, part of her also wanted to test him.
Though still young, Xiao Yixian had heard old mercenaries say: "Money is the best way to test loyalty." Many relationships, they claimed, were fragile before profit.
Now, to her, this hidden cave was the perfect test to see if Ye Feng could become a true friend.
"Shall we head down?" Ye Feng asked.
"Alright." Xiao Yixian agreed.
Without warning, Ye Feng stepped closer and wrapped his arm around her slim waist.
"Wha—!"
Her eyes widened in shock as she instinctively struggled, but Ye Feng stopped her gently.
"Don't move."
Xiao Yixian blushed and froze.
"What… are you doing?" she muttered.
"We're going down. The cave's beneath the cliff. How else would I take you?"
"You're going to carry me?"
"Of course. You're only at the Dou Ling level. You can't fly yet."
"But I thought we'd use… a rope or something!"
"That's too troublesome." Ye Feng turned to Ya Fei and extended a hand. "Come here."
Ya Fei hesitated, then understood his meaning. Her face turned a shade pink, but she still walked over softly and let him take her waist as well.
Holding both women in his arms, Ye Feng leapt off the cliff and descended smoothly, as if gravity didn't exist.
Whoosh!
"Watch out!" Ya Fei shouted suddenly.
A Rock Snake emerged from the cliff wall, lunging at them!
Xiao Yixian reacted instantly, grabbing a handful of poison powder, ready to throw.
But before she could act, Ye Feng narrowed his eyes. With a flicker of his spirit pressure, the Rock Snake—famed for its incredible defense—exploded into a mist of blood in midair.
"…!"
Xiao Yixian was stunned.
She had only heard that Ye Feng could reduce someone to a mist of blood in a flash. That's how he killed Shopkeeper Yao.
She'd thought it was exaggerated.
But now—seeing it firsthand—she finally realized… some people's strength truly was beyond imagination.
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