The Healer Demands Payment!

The group of three quickly flew past the high walls surrounding Xingluo City. The area below them gradually became dark. The long sword cut through the night sky and increased its speed.

Now that they were much closer, Meng Qi could see that the lights were flashing intermittently. Smokes of various colors occasionally flashed under the light’s shadow. They were indeed man-made.

Between the lights’ interval, there was a long sword swiped across. It was obvious that the person was also a sword cultivator.

“Be careful.” Pei Mufeng helped Meng Qi and Sikong Xing get off, then the sword became smaller and finally floated next to him, shining coldly.

“Pavilion Master.” In the darkness, two men in tight brown robes rushed over them. They first saluted Pei Mufeng, then quickly glanced at Meng Qi and Sikong Xing.

“Let’s stay a bit further.” Meng Qi pulled Sikong Xing’s arm and led her to the side. After a certain distance, Sikong Xing exclaimed in a low voice, “Pavilion master? Meng Qiqi, is that Pei Mufeng actually the master of Xingluo Pavilion? That pavilion master who promised to enter the Starfallen Sea for ten years?!” Sikong Xing’s eyes were wide open with astonishment. “He is actually so young.”

“Yeah.” After a bit of hesitation, Meng Qi nodded.

Pei Mufeng didn’t hide his name from them and probably didn’t have any intention to conceal his identity from the beginning. After all, his name was widely-known in Three Thousand Worlds. Not many cultivators, especially sword cultivators, who never heard the name ‘Pei Mufeng.’

“It’s really him!” Sikong Xing turned her head to look at Pei Mufeng. In the dark night, the young man stood tall, straight and steady like a green pine, with a sharp sword gleaming coldly on his side.

There was a glimmer of curiosity and admiration in Sikong Xing’s beautiful eyes. She was about to begin gossiping with Meng Qi when she suddenly remembered something and asked in a low voice, “Meng Qiqi, I heard…Xingluo Pavilion Master negotiated the right to hold the Medical Cultivator Conference in Xingluo City is for a female medical cultivator. Who is that female cultivator?”

“I don’t know.” Meng Qi shook her head.

“Hehe.” Sikong Xing was full of gossip, “To make someone like Pei Mufeng fall head over heel, she must be a stunning beauty, and very strong and kindhearted. I’m very curious.”

Meng Qi shook her head with a smile. She actually liked Sikong Xing. Just like Su Junmo, Sikong Xing was always full of vitality and curiosity. But she wasn’t as talkative or noisy.

The two didn’t wait too long. After listening to the disciples’ report, Pei Mufeng turned around and walked towards them.

“It’s disciples from three sects exchanging pointers. Nothing serious.” He said: “It’s getting late. I’ll send you back.”

Sikong Xing’s curious gaze quickly swept over Pei Mufeng’s face.

“If fellow Daoist is busy, we can go back by ourselves.” Meng Qi cupped her hands. “No need to trouble you.”

“Yes, yes.” Sikong Xing chimed in, “I’m with her. It would be alright.”

Meng Qi nodded towards Pei Mufeng, turned around, and walked towards the city with Sikong Xing. She felt that the situation was not so simple. The five-color smoke she saw earlier looked like a poisonous fog. When disciples of friendly sects exchanging pointers, poison was rarely being used. This was a tacit understanding between the medical cultivators. But since Pei Mufeng said that, she didn’t ask much. Xingluo City was Pei Mufeng’s site. With him here, even if something happened, nothing serious would happen.

When Meng Qi and Sikong Xing returned to Ruyi Inn, the lantern festival was almost over. The streets had become much deserted than before. As soon as they entered the courtyard they rented, they were welcomed by Su Junmo’s anxious look.

“You two finally came back!” As soon as he saw the girls, he rushed towards them. “I’m about to search for you!”

Su Junmo first examined Meng Qi up and down: “Are you all right?”

“What happened?” Meng Qi asked.

“Ah!” Su Junmo nodded. “Do you remember Xue Chengxuan from the Xue Clan?”

“……of course.” Meng Qi was almost speechless. It was only a few days. How could she already forget the person?

“I was drinking with him tonight. Halfway through, a messenger from his sect came over. His youngest sister, who was supposed to arrive today, was kidnapped on the way.”

“Ah!” Sikong Xing asked worriedly, “What happened then?”

“The girl was returned, but she was poisoned.” Su Junmo continued.

“And then?” Sikong Xing asked again.

“I’ve seen Xue Chengxuan’s youngest sister twice before. She is a very lively little girl. It is said that her talents in cultivation and medic are particularly amazing. She is also greatly favored by her father, the current head of Xue Clan. Originally, she was supposed to depart to Xingluo City together with Xue Clan’s head. But I don’t know why, she departed first. In the end, she was poisoned on her way to Xingluo City.” Su Junmo sighed. “I followed Xue Chengxuan to see his sister. As Xue family’s daughter, not only she was powerless against the assailant, she even got poisoned. This is a bit suspicious.”

Su Junmo finally stopped talking. Instead of going on, he looked at Meng Qi and asked: “Meng Qiqi, what do you think?”