Chapter 74: Qin Qin: Are You Courting Death?
Da da da...
The sound of the kitchen knife hitting the cutting board echoed through the kitchen.
That morning, after chopping wood, Wang Baole came into the kitchen to practice his knife skills.
It had been three months since he began learning how to cook under Chu Feng.
During those three months, Wang Baole had led a very fulfilling life. Every day, aside from practicing knife skills, he cultivated the Five Elements Technique.
His master hadn't taught him anything too complicated, just the basics.
Besides knife techniques, he had also learned how to process ingredients.
His favorite technique was the Tendon-Splitting and Bone-Shifting Skill, one of the seven major techniques mentioned by his master in the cultivation manual.
He chose to start with this technique.
Ever since he began using it, his handling of ingredients had become far more efficient than before.
Of course, this technique had its drawbacks—every time he used it, his spiritual energy was heavily drained.
As a result, his appetite had increased drastically. He used to eat only a fifth of the meal meant for three people.
Now, his food intake had caught up with his senior sister's, for which his master even praised him.
"Junior Brother, you're up training so early again."
Qin Qin had just finished cultivating and, as usual, came to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Looking at the pile of ingredients, she didn't quite know what to say.
Ever since her junior brother started learning culinary arts, the amount of food she had to cook each meal had increased significantly.
Which meant she ate more too. If not for her daily cultivation and hard training, she might have started putting on weight.
Wang Baole didn't stop chopping.
"Mm, Master said diligence can make up for lack of talent. I'm not as gifted as you, Senior Sister, so I can only rely on hard work to make up the difference."
Qin Qin wanted to say, 'Actually, my talent is pretty average,' but she held her tongue to avoid dampening her junior brother's enthusiasm.
"Then carry on. I'll prepare breakfast."
Wang Baole nodded and kept working.
He knew his culinary skills weren't good enough to cook for his senior sister yet, so naturally, he didn't offer.
Qin Qin got busy in the kitchen.
Soon, she realized a serious problem: because her junior brother used ingredients to practice every day…
The Miscellaneous Dao Academy's food supplies were nearly depleted.
It seemed she'd have to go down the mountain to buy more.
After lunch, Qin Qin told Chu Feng about the food situation.
After hearing her out, Chu Feng said, "I'll go with you. You're only at the Dao Foundation level—going out alone isn't safe."
"Okay."
Qin Qin nodded.
Chu Feng gave Wang Baole a few instructions and then left the mountain with Qin Qin.
However, instead of heading toward Wendao City, he flew straight toward Yunmeng Swamp.
"Master, aren't we going to Wendao City?"
Seeing they were going the wrong way, Qin Qin asked reflexively.
"The meat in Wendao City isn't fresh and it's overpriced. I plan to source directly from Yunmeng Swamp."
Although Chu Feng had plenty of spirit stones, he wasn't living alone anymore. He needed to be frugal when necessary.
By that evening, the master and disciple pair had arrived in Yunmeng Swamp.
Chu Feng didn't rush to hunt prey. Instead, he first found a cave to settle in.
The main reason was that he had never hunted in Yunmeng Swamp before.
Though he had a map, he wasn't familiar with the terrain, so he needed to study it carefully before choosing a hunting spot.
After the two settled in, night fell.
The night wind blew across the land, carrying a slight chill.
And Yunmeng Swamp at night was far from quiet.
Many nocturnal demon beasts had already begun to stir.
From time to time, various beastly roars echoed from the surroundings.
Inside the cave.
Chu Feng sat cross-legged, eyes closed, resting and preserving his energy. Normally, he would pass the time by pulling out a storybook to read.
But now that a disciple was by his side, in order to maintain his lofty image, he chose a rarely used form of resting.
Qin Qin, meanwhile, sat at the cave entrance, cultivating under the moonlight.
Dozens of miles away from the cave—
A group of cultivators were converging from all directions.
Each of them wore black night garments, concealing their identities even from their companions.
One of the men in black spoke first, "The target tracked by the Ninth Deacon has appeared again."
A burly man in black, voice hoarse, asked, "Are you sure she's in Yunmeng Swamp?"
The man replied, "This disciple couldn't possibly be wrong. Last time she left Wendao City, I failed to react in time, allowing her to return safely to Wendao Academy. Since then, I've kept a constant eye on the Blood Talisman."
The Ninth Deacon nodded slightly. "Well done. Once this task is completed, the sect will reward you, and you'll be promoted to an inner disciple."
"Thank you, Ninth Deacon."
The deacon waved his hand. "Move out. The target has already joined Wendao Academy. We must not fail. If we miss this opportunity, rewards like this won't come around again."
"Yes, sir!"
With a unified response, the black-clad figures melted into the darkness.
Moments later—
Inside the cave, Qin Qin, who had been cultivating, suddenly opened her eyes wide.
She had just sensed a long-lost presence.
Those scum from Dayan Holy Land had returned.
In the past, her first instinct would've been to flee. But now, she was ready to face them head-on.
She took out her ancient zither from her storage pouch.
Inside the cave.
Chu Feng also sensed the presence of over a dozen unfamiliar cultivators.
But most of them were only at the Dao Foundation realm, and he couldn't be bothered to even check.
Just then, a raspy voice came from outside.
"Qin Qin, let's see where you run this time."
As the voice faded—
A dozen figures appeared outside the cave, forming a tight encirclement to block any chance of escape.
Chu Feng's first reaction was: 'That girl Qin has enemies too?'
But he quickly realized—these were cultivators from Dayan Holy Land.
He opened his eyes and looked at Qin Qin, curious to see how the little girl would respond.
She didn't disappoint.
With a cold expression, she parted her lips and said, "Why would I run?"
???
The Dayan Holy Land cultivators were visibly stunned.
In the past, this girl had always fled like a stray dog whenever they chased her.
How had she grown so bold in just a few short years?
The Ninth Deacon sneered, "So it seems you've learned some impressive techniques after joining Wendao Academy. But I've heard you became the concubine of the head of the Miscellaneous Dao Academy."
"If that's true, then that mortal must be hiding a great secret—one that can make cultivators stronger."
"How about this—you tell us the secret. If we're satisfied, maybe we'll give you a chance to run."
The more Qin Qin heard, the colder her aura became. Her heart was already boiling with fury: 'These damn bastards. It's one thing to slander me—but to spread lies about Master?! I'll tear them limb from limb.'
"You're all courting death!"
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