Chapter Sixty-Six: The Granddaughter Caught in the Crossfire

Meanwhile.

Ling Yan entered Cheng Yi’s alchemy chamber.

Cheng Yi set aside what he was working on and asked, “Did you find anything?”

Ling Yan shook his head. “This Jiang Haotian is too wary. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get a single word out of him.”

Cheng Yi’s gaze darkened.

After a moment’s thought, Ling Yan urged, “Senior Brother Cheng Yi, you’re higher-ranked than me in the Alchemy Hall. Why not go invite him yourself? I’m sure he won’t refuse you.”

“Go in person?”

Cheng Yi frowned, clearly reluctant to lower himself so far.

“Senior Brother, for the sake of your future, bowing your head once in a while isn’t such a big deal,” Ling Yan said with a sycophantic smile.

“Take me to him,” Cheng Yi decided after a short pause, finally resolving to meet this man face to face.

…

Inside the room.

Feng Cheng put down his brush and let out a long breath, smiling. “Jiang Haotian, come here.”

Qin Feiyang rose and strode quickly to the desk.

On the table lay four bamboo slips.

Feng Cheng pushed them toward Qin Feiyang, explaining, “These are four medicinal formulas: Healing Elixir, Bone-Mending Pill, Body-Tempering Pill, and Qi-Gathering Pill.”

Qin Feiyang picked them up one by one and read through them carefully.

Each elixir required several ingredients to be refined.

“I’ve already annotated the refining methods, so I won’t go over them again. Just remember one thing.”

“Throughout the entire process of refining, you must not let your mind wander, nor let yourself become impatient or agitated, and absolutely never change the sequence of the steps. Otherwise, all the ingredients will be ruined.”

“And one more thing, the most important of all.”

“Everyone’s mental strength is limited, even if you possess ninth-level spiritual power.”

“In the future, if you find yourself running low on spiritual strength while refining, it’s better to abandon the batch than to force yourself to continue.”

“Because the consequences are severe—it could damage your very soul.”

Feng Cheng cautioned him.

“Damage the soul?” Qin Feiyang was startled, but nodded. “I’ll remember your warning.”

Feng Cheng asked, “Is there anything else you don’t understand?”

“Yes. What about the ingredients?” Qin Feiyang inquired.

Feng Cheng chuckled. “You’ll have to find those yourself.”

“What?” Qin Feiyang froze, frowning. “Doesn’t the Alchemy Hall provide ingredients?”

Feng Cheng teased, “If you’re looking for a wife in the future, should the Alchemy Hall provide one for you? If you want to join a certain house, should we help you too?”

A row of black lines appeared on Qin Feiyang’s forehead. His eyes turned sly, and he grinned. “Elder, do you have a granddaughter?”

Feng Cheng nodded. “I do. Why?”

Feigning seriousness, Qin Feiyang pondered, then said, “Why not let your granddaughter marry me? After all, my talent isn’t low, and I don’t look too bad either. She wouldn’t be marrying beneath herself.”

“Uh…” Feng Cheng was dumbfounded.

“You brat, looks like you’re asking for a beating!” he exploded, grabbing the inkstone off the table and hurling it at Qin Feiyang.

“Elder, do think it over carefully. Your granddaughter wouldn’t regret it.” Qin Feiyang dodged the flying inkstone, seized the four bamboo slips, tossed out a quip, and dashed away.

“You rascal! Just try running!” Feng Cheng stood up, fuming, his beard bristling and eyes glaring.

“Only a fool would stay!” Qin Feiyang bolted out of the room, slammed the door shut behind him with a bang.

“This brat… One day I really must teach him a lesson…”

“But actually, perhaps it’s worth considering… matchmaking the two of them…”

Feng Cheng returned to his seat, lowering his head in thought.

If Qin Feiyang heard these words, he’d probably go bang his head against a wall.

Leaving the main hall, Qin Feiyang soon spotted Ling Yan and Cheng Yi.

“Jiang Haotian, come over, let me introduce you. This is Senior Brother Cheng Yi, the only alchemist in our Black Bear City Alchemy Hall with sixth-level spiritual power,” Ling Yan said, as if greeting an old friend, warmly pulling Qin Feiyang over to Cheng Yi.

“Sixth-level spiritual power!” Qin Feiyang’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced at the two, instantly understanding their intentions, and cupped his fists with a smile. “I’ve long admired your name, Senior Brother. I hope you’ll look out for me in the future.”

Cheng Yi smiled. “We’re all disciples of the Alchemy Hall, no need to be so formal.”

Another smiling tiger, Qin Feiyang thought to himself. With a single glance, he’d sized up the man’s character. Aloud, he asked, “Are you here to see me, or Elder Feng?”

Ling Yan answered for him, “Jiang Haotian, Senior Brother Cheng Yi is here for you. As soon as he heard you’d joined the Alchemy Hall, he rushed over, wanting to have a drink with you.”

I doubt it’s just about drinks, Qin Feiyang sneered inwardly, but nodded. “With such an invitation, how could I refuse? Please, after you.”

Cheng Yi’s smile grew even broader.

Ling Yan had invited him before, but was turned down; yet now, with Cheng Yi’s invitation, Qin Feiyang agreed without hesitation—proof of Cheng Yi’s unique status in the Alchemy Hall.

His vanity thus stoked, Ling Yan felt greatly flattered.

The three of them left the Alchemy Hall, chatting and laughing as they entered a nearby tavern.

Cheng Yi not only had standing in the Alchemy Hall, but was also respected throughout Black Bear City. As soon as they entered, the staff greeted them with great enthusiasm.

Qin Feiyang, however, was not so warmly received.

Along the way, he endured many disapproving looks and muttered criticisms, but he paid them no mind.

His failure to report certain information had, thanks to the three great clans’ deliberate rumors, already become common knowledge in Black Bear City. Some even blamed all those deaths on his head.

Were it not for his current status as a disciple of the Alchemy Hall, and the backing of its three leading elders, the entire city would probably never let him go.

A waiter led the trio toward a private room upstairs.

But just as they reached the stairs, a sharp voice rang out from the main hall.

“Waiter, bring me another pot of wine!”

The voice was familiar.

It was Ling Yunfei!

Qin Feiyang stopped and turned toward the sound, seeing Ling Yunfei slumped drunkenly in a corner, looking utterly dejected.

“Huh, what’s he doing here?” Ling Yan asked in surprise.

“Didn’t he join the Martial Hall with the City Lord’s recommendation? Why is he here drinking alone? Ling Yan, you’re of the Ling family—any idea what’s going on?” Cheng Yi wondered.

Ling family, Qin Feiyang thought, a glint flashing in his eyes.

“I haven’t been home today, so I have no idea,” Ling Yan replied.

“What’s taking so long with the wine? Afraid I can’t pay? Listen here, I’ve got plenty of money!” Ling Yunfei shouted.

“Stop yelling, it’s coming!” grumbled a waiter behind the counter. He grabbed a wine jug, glanced with undisguised disdain at Qin Feiyang by the stairs, then sauntered over to Ling Yunfei.

Cheng Yi smiled. “Junior Brother Jiang, there’s no need to pity people like that. Let’s go upstairs.”

Qin Feiyang nodded.

“Some people withhold the truth, which is despicable. But betraying your friends—that’s even more contemptible. Scum like that deserves no sympathy,” the leading waiter muttered, his eyes filled with scorn.

“Mind your tongue! Are we invisible? Keep that up and I’ll make you regret it!” Ling Yan snapped.

“S-sorry, my mistake—please forgive me!” The waiter stiffened, quickly turning to apologize.

“Just lead the way,” Ling Yan said impatiently.

The waiter dared not speak again, leading them into a private room. “What can I get for you three?”

Cheng Yi smiled. “Bring us your best food and wine—all of it.”

“Yes, right away. Please wait a moment,” the waiter replied obsequiously and left.

“Brother Sheng, come, congratulations on joining the Martial Hall!”

“Brother Sheng, we’re drinking till we drop tonight!”

“Agreed—cheers!”

Laughter erupted from the room next door.

Though the wall muffled the sound, the three still heard it clearly.

“It’s Ling Sheng. When did he join the Martial Hall?” Ling Yan frowned and rose. “Senior Brother Cheng Yi, I’ll go see what’s going on next door. You two chat.”

Cheng Yi nodded.

After Ling Yan left, Cheng Yi smiled. “Junior Brother Haotian, I’ve heard a bit about you already. Be wary of Ling Yan.”

“What do you mean?” Qin Feiyang asked, feigning confusion. So Cheng Yi was playing the empathy card now? Two could play at that game.

He pretended not to understand. “How so?”

Cheng Yi lowered his voice. “You’ve made enemies with the Ling family. They won’t let it go easily. Ling Yan’s efforts to get close to you—he definitely has ulterior motives.”

Qin Feiyang almost laughed.

What an actor.

Anyone less shrewd might have been convinced and opened up to Cheng Yi. But Qin Feiyang wasn’t so naive. He nodded and smiled. “You’re right, Senior Brother. I’ll be careful.”

“Good.” Cheng Yi nodded. “If you ever need help, come to me. I won’t refuse if it’s within my power.”

Qin Feiyang thanked him sincerely. “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Cheng Yi said, “Junior Brother Haotian, there’s something I can’t figure out. Would you mind telling me the truth?”

Finally, here it comes, Qin Feiyang thought with a silent sneer. “Please, ask whatever you wish.”

Cheng Yi asked, “Both elders personally protected you during your test—that’s never happened before in the Alchemy Hall. Your spiritual power must be quite high. Of course, if you’d rather not say, I won’t force you.”

Qin Feiyang laughed carelessly. “There’s nothing to hide. To be honest, my spiritual power is only at the fifth level.”

“Fifth level?” Cheng Yi was taken aback.

What a joke! Fifth-level spiritual power, and the Hall Master offered a hundred-thousand-gold reward? Fifth-level, and both elders personally stood guard? Who would believe that?

“Senior Brother, I’m not lying. It really is just fifth-level. As for the Hall Master’s favor, it’s purely because Elder Feng’s granddaughter and I have a marriage arrangement.”

Qin Feiyang said it all without blinking an eye.

“There’s such a thing?” Cheng Yi was astonished.

Qin Feiyang nodded, sighing. “Let me confide in you, Senior Brother. I don’t even like her, but she insists on clinging to me. There’s nothing I can do!”

“So he’s just an insider with connections. And I wasted so much effort!” Cheng Yi muttered in disdain, though a twinge of envy crept in.

Elder Feng did have a granddaughter—not only beautiful, but an exceptional martial talent. As early as last year, an elder from the Martial King Hall had come to Black Bear City to take her to Yan City.

To be favored by such a young prodigy was any man’s fortune, yet this fool didn’t appreciate it?

Truly, a man blessed beyond his comprehension.

And what was Elder Feng thinking, choosing such a useless wastrel as his grandson-in-law?