Yang Kai stopped dead in his tracks and let out a quiet sigh before turning, a strained smile plastered on his face. "Ah… Brother Feng. I was just… around," he said, eyes twitching as they silently pleaded with Wang Feng to behave.
But Wang Feng wasn't feeling generous.
Feigning surprise, he turned to Hu Mie'er. "Oh, my apologies, miss... I didn't notice you there."
The girl blinked, momentarily startled, then replied shyly, "Hu Mie'er."
Wang Feng nodded with exaggerated politeness. "Miss Hu Mie'er, forgive my rudeness." Then he looked back at Yang Kai with mock disappointment. "Brother Kai, really? You didn't tell me you were out courting such a lovely young lady. And here I was, thinking we were going somewhere together. I guess I'll have to go alone now…"
Hu Mie'er's eyes widened as she realized she was still holding Yang Kai's hand. A deep blush colored her cheeks while Yang Kai frowned in confusion, clearly sensing Wang Feng's mischief but unsure how to counter it.
Just as Yang Kai opened his mouth to speak, Wang Feng raised a hand and turned back to Hu Mie'er, cutting him off.
"Well, I won't intrude on your date, Brother Kai… and Miss Mie'er." He turned fully to the girl, who stood frozen with a flushed face. "Though I should warn you about something important."
Her expression shifted to one of concern, glancing once at Yang Kai's awkward posture before focusing on Wang Feng. "Warn me…?"
Wang Feng leaned in ever so slightly, voice lowered and solemn. "Be careful. I heard from Brother Kai that someone's been stalking him lately—watching his every move."
Hu Mie'er's serious face immediately crumbled into a flustered, steaming blush. Her fingers tightened around Yang Kai's hand as she looked away bashfully, knowing well who this mysterious stalker happened to be...
Yang Kai facepalmed with a low groan, his cheeks burning. He met Wang Feng's gleeful gaze with an expression that screamed: 'You'll pay for this!'
"A-a-alright then… Th-thanks for the warning," Hu Mie'er stammered, quickly tugging on Yang Kai's arm. Without giving him a chance to protest, she whisked them both away into the bustling crowd.
Wang Feng waved lazily after them, suppressing a chuckle until they vanished from sight—then burst into full laughter.
"Hah! That look on his face!" he gasped between wheezes, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. "I can't—huff—believe I pulled that off!"
Gradually catching his breath, he shook his head with a self-deprecating grin. "Why the hell am I getting distracted like this?"
Still chuckling to himself, Wang Feng turned on his heel and dashed off toward the sect, his mind returning to the task at hand.
....
Meng Wu Ya stared at Wang Feng blankly, his expression unreadable.
There was plenty he could say—accusations, warnings, questions—but in the end, he simply sighed and asked with weary resignation, "What is it this time?"
Wang Feng coughed lightly, shifting under the weight of the old man's strained gaze. "Old man, it's not like I want to bother you..." he muttered, voice low with mild embarrassment. "I really didn't have a choice here."
And with that, he launched into his carefully crafted tale.
He told Meng Wu Ya that he had been wandering through the Black Wind Market when he suddenly felt an inexplicable resonance—a mysterious pull tugging at his core. Following that sensation, he arrived at a location radiating intense Yin and Yang energy. And, in what was perhaps the boldest part of his story, he shamelessly claimed to have witnessed a vision: a magnificent Golden Dragon soaring through the sky and an ethereal Ice Phoenix trailing behind it.
Meng Wu Ya listened lazily at first, arms crossed, but his eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of resonance, and gleamed with interest when Dragon and Phoenix entered the tale.
Once Wang Feng finished speaking, Meng Wu Ya leaned forward slightly and said in a neutral tone, "So let me get this straight… You stumbled upon what might be a treasure connected to a Dragon and Phoenix, and now you want me to dig it up for you—right in the middle of the Blood Battle Gang's mine?"
Wang Feng scratched his cheek, averting his gaze. "Uhh… yeah?" he replied with a weak smile, ignoring the exasperation creeping into Meng Wu Ya's voice.
The old man leaned back in his chair with a long sigh, his sharp gaze scanning Wang Feng like one assessing a hopeless addict. "And what makes you think I wouldn't just claim it all for myself?"
Wang Feng met his eyes, expression resolute. "You can take anything you want from the site—whatever you manage to retrieve. But I have to be honest… I don't think you'll be able to obtain anything directly."
For a moment, Wang Feng had considered keeping that detail to himself—to manipulate Meng Wu Ya with false hope. But in the end, he rejected the idea. Considering their relationship and their trust, he thought of that as a cowardly, manipulative and utterly disgusting thing to do. So he told the truth.
Meng Wu Ya paused, his gaze piercing. Then, after a beat of silence, he asked quietly, "And what do you expect me to say to everyone else when they question my actions? You don't honestly think I can stroll in, blow up the Blood Battle Gang's mine, and they'll just accept it, do you?"
Wang Feng exhaled in relief. The fact that Meng Wu Ya was even asking this meant he was seriously considering helping—again. Even though that thought of constant dependency brought a sour taste to his mouth, Wang Feng pressed on.
"You think I don't know how powerful you are, old man?" he said, a flicker of a smile touching his lips. "You could force your way into the Elder Hall and reduce every Immortal Ascension Realm elder to helpless bystanders if you wanted. That's just your strength. Not to mention your... extensive knowledge. Your reaction to things like the Tong Xuan Realm and the Starry Sky… You're not someone from a simple background."
For a brief moment, the air shifted.
Meng Wu Ya's eyes narrowed with deadly focus, and Wang Feng shivered as if a chill had crawled down his spine. It felt like the old man wasn't merely looking at him—but through him, peeling back every layer, as if judging the very essence of his soul.
After a moment of tense silence, Meng Wu Ya relaxed and spoke, "When did you notice brat?", Meng Wu Ya admitted, knowing that the secret wouldn't have last long anyways.
Wang Feng hesitated for a moment, weighing his next words carefully. He considered revealing that he knew more than he let on—about Meng Wu Ya's true cultivation and origins.
"I started having my suspicions back when I first told you about that vision," Wang Feng began slowly, eyes narrowed in recollection. "You were unusually intrigued. Especially when I mentioned things like the Tong Xuan Realm. Your reaction wasn't subtle."
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "But I only confirmed it after hearing what you did in the Elder Hall."
Meng Wu Ya gave a noncommittal hum and casually stroked his beard, appearing unfazed. But the motion froze mid-stroke as Wang Feng continued, his tone light yet laced with hidden meaning.
"And... I don't think you realize this, but I happen to be a somewhat capable Array Master~"
That made the old man's eyes widen in alarm. His expression flickered—shock, then suspicion—before settling into a sharp, calculating gaze. Wang Feng's words had struck a chord, hinting at something Meng Wu Ya was confident no one else knew. No one but Xia Ning Chang and Ling Taixu—and Meng Wu Ya was certain they wouldn't share that secret without his express permission.
Letting out a slow, measured breath, Meng Wu Ya locked eyes with Wang Feng, his voice suddenly firm and laced with caution. "Did you leave a mark at the site?"
Wang Feng's lips curled slightly, the hint of amusement dancing at the edges.
Wang Feng retrieved a small strip of beast hide from his sleeve and calmly infused it with a blend of Yin, Yang, and Earth Qi. The energies danced over the patch for a moment before stabilizing. He placed it gently on the table before Meng Wu Ya.
"You're already familiar with the mine's location," Wang Feng said. "This patch will act as a guide. The Qi I imbued it with will resonate with the traces I left behind at the site—like a beacon."
Meng Wu Ya gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. "Go prepare yourself," he said. "Leave the rest to me."
Wang Feng gave him a grateful smile, then turned to head for the door. Just as he reached it, he paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Old Meng… thank you—for everything so far." His tone was unguarded, sincere.
Meng Wu Ya, lost in silent contemplation, caught the words and gave a dismissive snort. Still, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips despite himself.
Wang Feng's grin widened. "Oh, and one more thing," he added with mock innocence, "just a friendly reminder—the Long Family's second young master has always been a bit... lascivious since birth~."
He slipped out of the hall with a casual wave.
Meng Wu Ya blinked, stunned for a moment—then burst into hearty laughter, his voice echoing off the stone walls. Eyes gleaming with amusement, he muttered, "That little rascal... He's getting shrewder by the day."
.....
Wang Feng arrived at the Black Wind Market and stood silently for a moment, lost in thought. After a brief pause, he turned decisively and made his way toward the trio of pavilions at the market's heart.
Stopping before the Sect's Pavilion, he allowed himself a faint smile, noting the faint chill that lingered in the air surrounding it. "Still cultivating, huh…" he murmured, then rapped his knuckles lightly against the wooden door.
A few moments later, a cold and detached voice floated from within, "Come in."
Pushing the door open with deliberate slowness, Wang Feng stepped into the room, immediately greeted by a wave of icy air. The frigid temperature might have startled anyone else, but it dissipated harmlessly against his naturally elevated body warmth.
Just a few steps ahead, Su Yan sat serenely atop a cultivation mat. Her posture was upright and composed, her gaze glacial yet striking. Though her expression remained impassive, a faint blush betrayed the subtle shift in her otherwise frosty demeanor.
"What do you want, Wang Feng?" she asked flatly, feigning indifference.
Instead of answering directly, Wang Feng strolled to the window and cracked it open slightly, letting in a sliver of the evening breeze. "No courtesy for a guest, Senior Sister?" he said with an amused tilt of his head.
Su Yan's eyes narrowed at his presumptuous tone. "If you've come to fool around," she warned icily, "you'd better leave before I throw you out myself." Her voice was laced with both disdain and impatience.
Wang Feng chuckled softly, unbothered, and met her gaze. "Relax, Senior Sister. I won't be staying long." He turned his eyes back to the window, their depths gleaming with a mysterious light. "Besides… you'll be coming with me later."
Su Yan's eyes narrowed further, suspicion flickering behind her calm facade. Her thoughts churned briefly before she dismissed speculation in favor of clarity. "What do you mean by that, Wang Feng?" she asked, her voice cautious but curious.
Wang Feng stepped away from the window and pulled a chair from the small dining table, settling into it with practiced ease. His eyes met hers once more, playful yet serious. "Let's just say… an opportunity is on the horizon."