Chapter Twelve: An Assassination in the Dark of Night

On the outer sect where Tianmen Peak was located, safety was at least guaranteed. No one dared to cause trouble here, and everything was as calm as though nothing had ever happened. Lin Feng lay quietly in his small hut for more than ten days, and his injuries had almost fully healed.

“Junior Brother Lin, are you made of iron? If it were me, I’d have to lie in bed for at least two months before I could get up and walk.” During these days, Helian Ruxue had often come to visit Lin Feng, bringing him meals and fruit, her care more thoughtful than even an elder sister’s.

Lin Feng chuckled, “Maybe it’s because I drank that snake’s blood. But I searched through the ‘Bestiary of Mountains and Rivers’ and couldn’t find anything similar. Senior Sister, you’re knowledgeable—what do you think that strange snake was?”

Helian Ruxue smiled faintly. “I don’t know, either. Any immortal beast raised by Elder Rongyangzi must be no ordinary creature. But I suspect it must have eaten many celestial herbs and elixirs, otherwise it wouldn’t have fought you so desperately for that dragon-whisker.”

Lin Feng nodded repeatedly, thinking that his senior sister’s words made sense.

If that snake demon knew in the afterlife what the two were guessing, it would probably be so enraged it would die all over again.

As they chatted and laughed, a small whirlwind suddenly swept in at the door—it was Du Songsong. Looking closely, there was a golden little sparrow nesting atop his messy head, its eyes darting around. The moment it spotted Helian Ruxue, it immediately flew onto her shoulder.

“Hey, Senior Sister, you’re here too.” Du Songsong wiped the sweat from his face, grabbed the teapot on the table, and gulped down a few mouthfuls before wiping his mouth and saying, “Here’s some big news—the Fortune Hall has sent word… Hey, why are you both looking at me like that?”

Lin Feng and Helian Ruxue exchanged wry smiles. She glanced at the teapot and said with a smile, “Junior Brother Du, what’s the news from the Fortune Hall?”

Du Songsong’s face lit up with pride. He counted off on his fingers, “Er, well, you know, in another month, it’ll be the grand opening of the Xuancang Pavilion, a very important festival. This time, to stir everyone’s interest and give more people a chance to see the treasures of our Hundred Flowers Sect, the Sect Leader has decided to refine a batch of Sanbao Agarwood Powder seven days in advance…”

“Sanbao Agarwood Powder?” Lin Feng’s heart gave a jolt, and he repeated the name.

“Yes, don’t interrupt. The Fortune Hall’s task is for everyone to go out and gather alchemical ingredients. Contribution points will be doubled, and the top three will each receive a Sanbao Agarwood Powder as a reward.”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go! The three of us can each get one!” Lin Feng cheered, high-fived Du Songsong, and immediately began gathering his belongings.

Helian Ruxue laughed and shook her head. “You two, wait for me. Let’s meet at the foot of the mountain.”

Outside, the mountain path was already bustling with excitement. Such an opportunity was rare—not to mention the doubled contribution points, even a single Sanbao Agarwood Powder was enough to make most people risk everything.

Sanbao Agarwood Powder, refined from thirteen rare herbs such as Phoenix Grass, Black Medicine, Ground Gall, Black Gel, Stone Dragon, Sea Gold Sand, and Angelica, could greatly enhance a cultivator’s strength during the Qi Refining Stage. It was also particularly effective for breaking through that stage’s two major bottlenecks. However, the ingredients were difficult to find, and the formula was not publicly available, making it extremely hard for ordinary people to refine.

An incense stick’s time later, the three met at the tea stall at the foot of the mountain. According to the acquisition list given by the Fortune Hall, there were ten types of materials to choose from. Collecting herbs was precisely Lin Feng’s specialty; in those neglected mountain hollows and hidden valleys, one could always find delightful surprises.

“Junior Brother Lin, where do you think we should go?” Helian Ruxue held a simple map. Such maps were expensive at the Treasure Hall, made from white carp skin, scented and processed to be waterproof and rot-proof.

Lin Feng studied the blue and red circles marked on the map, pondered for a moment, then pointed to a red mark.

“Falling Immortal Valley!” Helian Ruxue gasped in surprise.

Du Songsong stared at Lin Feng, his eyes blank. “Boss, really? Who dares go there?”

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Don’t be scared by the name. I went near there last year when I was gathering herbs, but didn’t dare go deep alone. Now, with the two of you, even Fallen Spirit Valley can’t stop us!” Lin Feng drank a bowl of mountain tea, pulled out three copper coins from his pocket, and called, “Boss, the bill!”

Helian Ruxue paused, nodded silently, and, noticing the three shiny copper coins on the table, smiled, “Junior Brother, let me pay this time.”

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it…” Du Songsong hurriedly searched his pockets but only managed to find a single copper coin.

Lin Feng grabbed Du Songsong’s wrist, saying, “No! You’ve both been looking after me all this time. It’s only right that I pay for the tea. Senior Sister, we may be poor, but we mustn’t lose our manners.”

Helian Ruxue stared at him for a moment, then finally nodded, picked up her sword, and stood up.

Here and there, fellow disciples walked in small groups through the forest, but when they saw the three of them, everyone avoided them as if they were a plague. Lin Feng was curious at first, but then realized—they were probably afraid of being seen associating with Lin Feng and thus targeted by Nangong Ke’s cronies.

The mountain path grew sparse, fewer people passed by. Once they left Tianmen Peak, it would take three days heading northwest to reach Falling Immortal Valley—just enough time to complete the task, assuming they could gather the required spiritual herbs.

As dusk settled, the three found a clearing beneath a walnut tree and lit a campfire. Du Songsong cleaned two wild rabbits he had caught and handed them to Lin Feng.

“Senior Sister, you probably don’t know—Little Lin here is a master of barbecue. Just wait and try it.” Du Songsong wiped his hands on a broad magnolia leaf, as a makeshift wash.

Under Helian Ruxue’s astonished gaze, Lin Feng skewered the skinned rabbits and expertly rotated them over the fire, sprinkling salt and spices from his pack with practiced ease. The fragrant aroma wafted with the smoke across the mountains, and droplets of golden oil sizzled in the fire, filling the air with delicious scents.

The White Jade Golden-winged Sparrow couldn’t wait any longer, circling and screeching above the fire, its greedy eyes fixed on the meat. Seizing a moment when the cook wasn’t watching, the little thing tried to land on the grill, but Lin Feng caught it in one swift motion. “You silly bird—you’ll burn yourself!”

Everyone burst out laughing. At last, Lin Feng called out in delight, “It’s ready!”

This declaration was like a royal pardon, freeing everyone’s appetites.

The three and their bird companion ate heartily. Afterward, they washed off the dust by a mountain stream, and dusk had fully fallen.

None of them were strangers to camping in the wild. They added extra wood to the fire, sprinkled a circle of anti-poison powder, and slept in their clothes within its protection.

As the flames danced, the deep forest echoed with the calls of birds and beasts. The mountain shadows of Qiyun grew even more ancient and mysterious in the gentle night breeze. After a day’s journey, the three soon drifted into sleep.

Late at night, only the rustling of fallen leaves could be heard. Over the vast starry sky, a thin mist silently crept in.

With the mountain breeze, the last ashes of the fire floated up, extinguishing the final glimmer of light.

In the darkness, a pair of cold eyes silently opened, accompanied by a soft, derisive laugh.

A single clear metallic note rang out, and three streaks of black light flashed from the darkness, scattering leaves and opening a bloody path for this deadly strike.

A flash of brilliance, then silence returned as if nothing had happened.

A shadowy figure glided from the darkness, but as the black scarf slipped, the assassin’s face twitched, his gaze sharp as he retreated three yards in a flash.

“Boss, you were right! Hey, assassin—who sent you?” Du Songsong’s loud voice erupted from the dense treetops, only to be answered by another deadly projectile whistling through the air.

“Whoa! You dare attack again?”

At the same time, Helian Ruxue and Lin Feng, concealed in the treetops, struck simultaneously!

A sword three feet long, its edge shining, swept down with a shower of fallen leaves!

A triple-curved spear, tipped like a plum blossom, darted quicker than a dragon swimming the seas!

A burst of dazzling light exploded overhead. Instantly, the black-clad assassin unleashed a flurry of hidden weapons, clashing against the clear-edged sword with a series of metallic crashes, then flickered away like a kite on the wind, easily dodging Lin Feng’s “Dragon Roams the Golden Sands.”

“Here I come!” Du Songsong shouted, leaping down with his white-bladed saber to join battle.

“Hmph, overestimating yourselves!” The assassin’s voice was hoarse. With a flick of his wrists, two iron hooks, a foot long and gleaming with a poisonous green light, slid from his sleeves.

“Careful!” Helian Ruxue darted along the branches, her sword flashing like lightning as she struck at the assassin’s head.

“Take my spear!”

Lin Feng and Du Songsong shouted, trying to boost their morale, but their skills were too meager—the assassin’s robe remained untouched.

Still, they stubbornly kept him occupied, dividing his attention and leaving the true assault to Senior Sister Helian.

The four battled furiously. Without Helian Ruxue’s fierce offense keeping the assassin pressured, Lin Feng and Du Songsong would have perished long ago.

As dawn broke in the east, the assassin’s movements grew sluggish, while the trio fought with increasing vigor, their coordination flawless.

“Farewell!” The assassin’s ghostly steps suddenly shifted—he appeared behind Du Songsong, iron hooks flashing with venom as he slashed for his back!

“Watch out!” In a heartbeat, Helian Ruxue cried out, her sword cleaving through the air.

A bone-chilling cold washed over Du Songsong. Wind screamed in his ears, and he was too dazed to defend himself. Suddenly, a broad shoulder struck him aside, and he tumbled into the dew-soaked grass.

A scream echoed through the mountains, lingering long after all other sounds had died away. When Du Songsong gathered his wits, he shivered uncontrollably, his arm numb.

The assassin’s left arm had been severed at the elbow, blood spraying as he staggered away, desperate to flee. The hand struck off by the “Asura Woman” still dangled at Lin Feng’s side, the poisoned iron hook buried deep in his back.

“Quick, swallow this pill!” Helian Ruxue produced a Five-Poison Recovery Pellet, forcing it into Lin Feng’s mouth, regardless of its effectiveness.

Lin Feng gritted his teeth and pulled the iron hook from his flesh, making Helian Ruxue’s eyebrows twitch in alarm.

From the torn wound, black, foul-smelling blood spurted—there was indeed deadly poison.

“Little Lin…” Du Songsong scrambled over, his face full of guilt.

“I’m fine! Dig a hole and bury that filthy hook!” Lin Feng managed a weak smile, sweat pouring down his face.

“I’m so useless!” Du Songsong, crestfallen, dug a pit with his saber and buried the thing in silence.

Helian Ruxue kept a close watch on Lin Feng’s condition—assassins’ poisons were often unpredictable, designed to kill in a single strike. Ordinary antidotes were seldom effective.

Both of them were tense, while Lin Feng sat cross-legged, enduring torment as a chill seeped from his wound into his organs, making cold sweat stream down his face and his teeth clench.

Just as the cold poison reached his dantian, the Manjusaka’s red glow flared, sweeping away the chill like a raging wind, erasing it in an instant.

After a moment’s meditation, Lin Feng opened his eyes. Though drenched in sweat, his gaze was lively, no sign of recent poisoning at all.

“You’re alright?” Du Songsong grasped Lin Feng’s hand, hardly daring to believe it.

“I’m fine. Looks like their poison’s no match for our Hundred Flowers Sect’s antidotes.” Lin Feng smiled, brushing it off.

Helian Ruxue blinked, doubt flickering in her eyes, but said nothing. She applied a healing salve to Lin Feng and wiped the sweat from his brow with water from a bamboo tube.

“Thank you, Senior Sister,” Lin Feng said with a smile.

“Junior Brother, you really go all out. Watching you scares me.”

Lin Feng smiled lightly. “If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t have survived.”

Du Songsong blushed, feeling deeply remorseful. Lin Feng had taken a blow for him, and his guilt was immense.

“Daybreak’s here—let’s get moving. The spiritual herbs in Falling Immortal Valley are waiting for us. Let’s hurry before someone else gets them.” Lin Feng shouldered his pack and, with his two companions, set off along the mountain path.

The wound on his back was healing at a remarkable speed.

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