Chapter 15: Opportunity

On the massive stone pillar at the entrance to the outer town, there truly was a pattern that would be almost impossible for the average person to notice.

“Xinlian is right here, in the Nebula Inn in this outer town!”

After examining the design, Chu Feng immediately nodded and, together with Little Dao, entered Hengshan’s outer town, searching for the Nebula Inn.

Chu Feng was nothing if not cautious. No sooner had they stepped into the town than he purchased several transformation elixirs—Pill of Changing Appearance, Pill of Altering Aura, and Pill of Modifying Voice. These were all special pills for disguising one’s identity, capable of altering not only a martial artist’s features but even their scent and voice.

With these three miraculous disguises in hand, Chu Feng no longer had to worry about the men from the Terror Sect tracking down either himself or Little Dao.

After a few inquiries on the street, Chu Feng and Little Dao soon found themselves at the entrance of the Nebula Inn.

Just as they reached the door, a young man of delicate features approached Chu Feng.

“Brother, it’s me—let’s talk upstairs!” the delicate-faced young man whispered.

The sound of that voice sent a jolt through Chu Feng’s heart.

This delicate young man was none other than his own sister, Chu Xinlian, in disguise!

“Xinlian, it’s been over ten days since we last saw each other—are you well?” As soon as they entered the east guest room on the second floor, Chu Feng asked Chu Xinlian.

Chu Feng had only this one sister—indeed, only this one blood relative. Though he’d seen the secret marks she left along the journey, he had worried deeply during their days apart.

“I’m fine, Brother. That night, after escaping the Terror Sect, I slipped into the underground waterway and swam downstream until I reached the Sirius River. Leaving marks for you at several junctions, I then crossed the river, boarded a large boat, and, just as we’d agreed, came straight here to the outer town of Hengshan.”

As Chu Xinlian spoke, she swiftly removed her male disguise, revealing a delicate and enchanting face before Chu Feng and Little Dao.

Though only a girl in her teens, living on plain fare and clad in rough garb, Chu Xinlian already displayed the unmistakable beauty of a future great beauty—fair skin, features as if painted, and a pair of lively almond eyes as clear as a mountain lake, impossible to look away from once seen.

If she were to don a proper dress and walk through the streets, she would surely be taken for the daughter of some wealthy family. No one would ever suspect her tragic origins or that she was merely a tea-picking girl.

“Xinlian, as long as you’re safe, Little Dao and I can breathe easy. Now, I’ll go order us a meal—we’ll eat and talk here in the room. It’s been so long since we last saw you, there’s much I wish to say.”

Chu Feng smiled as he spoke.

In this world, the only people Chu Feng truly cared for were his sister Chu Xinlian and his brother Little Dao. Now that both were here, the weight on his heart was finally lifted.

Once the food and wine arrived, the three of them sat drinking and sharing the adventures of the past ten days.

Hearing how Little Dao had suffered torture for her and her brother’s sake, Chu Xinlian was deeply moved. She grasped Little Dao’s hand tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks, unable to speak for a long time.

“Brother, what are your plans now?” After a long while, Chu Xinlian finally asked.

“My plan is this: you and Little Dao stay here at the inn, enjoy good food and drink, and rest. As for me, I must quickly raise my martial strength—the stronger I become, the safer all of us will be.”

Chu Feng continued, “Although the Terror Sect cannot find us for now, simply staying hidden isn’t our path forward. Our only real way out is to defeat the Terror Sect!”

“To defeat the Terror Sect?”

At these words, both Little Dao and Chu Xinlian were shocked.

It wasn’t that they doubted Chu Feng’s abilities, but rather that such words sounded utterly inconceivable. What sort of existence was the Terror Sect? Countless experts, methods cruel and ruthless, and a discipline that sent chills down the spine—it was an entity not to be offended, let alone defeated.

Even if it could be defeated, it was certainly not something one person could accomplish alone.

“Xinlian, Little Dao, don’t be so surprised. There’s nothing in this world that cannot be done—especially for martial artists. With opportunity and strength, anything is possible!” Chu Feng declared with certainty.

Having consumed the bear’s heart, leopard’s gall, python meat, and python gall, the courage and boldness welling up inside Chu Feng were far beyond what ordinary people could possess. What others deemed impossible, Chu Feng clung to with a conviction that nothing was beyond reach.

“Brother, no matter what you decide, Little Dao and I will support you!” Chu Xinlian immediately said.

Thus, as Chu Feng planned, after their meal he left a sum of money for Chu Xinlian and Little Dao to stay at the inn, then departed to seek his own opportunities.

“My storage pouch can produce metallic objects at will. For me, this is a tremendous opportunity to raise my strength. I must seize it and make full use of the storage pouch! Also, that thumb-sized hidden weapon is especially effective in combat, and with the heart-guarding soft armor and red wind boots, these items together will greatly increase my chances of finding good fortune!”

No sooner had Chu Feng left the inn than he silently calculated his prospects.

For martial artists, fortune could take many forms.

Stumbling across a storage pouch was fortune. Being invited to join a team to hunt beasts was fortune. A chance encounter in the wilderness was also fortune.

For martial artists, venturing out in search of fortune was as commonplace as a predator hunting for prey. Whether or not fortune could be found depended on one’s own fate.

Clang! Clang!

At that moment, the sound of drums and gongs rang out from the nearby crossroads.

Many martial artists in the street, upon hearing the signal, immediately gathered around.

Chu Feng, sharp-eyed as ever, saw from afar a group of martial artists in white uniforms assembled at the crossroads. Two were posting notices on the wall, while several others had set up tables and were speaking to passersby.

“Hm? Are these men from the Terror Sect? They move quickly!”

Chu Feng’s heart gave a start. Only days ago, after killing Xiong Gang and Xiong Meng in the forest, he and Little Dao had taken the fastest boat to this outer town—yet men from the Terror Sect seemed to have arrived almost simultaneously, posting wanted notices for his capture. Their efficiency was indeed impressive.

“No, that’s not right! The martial artists of the Terror Sect usually wear black, rarely white. These disciples in white don’t seem to be from the Terror Sect.”

Murmuring to himself, Chu Feng walked toward the crossroads.

Now, Chu Feng no longer felt nervous. Even if these were pursuers from the Terror Sect, he had already disguised himself completely—his appearance, scent, and even voice were unrecognizable. Even a wild beast would have trouble recognizing him face to face.

His sister and Little Dao had likewise disguised themselves, making it nearly impossible for the Terror Sect to find them.

“Excuse me, friend—who are these men in white, and what’s going on here?” Chu Feng asked a middle-aged martial artist in the crowd.

“They’re the fifty-first generation disciples of the Heavenly Mechanism Mu Clan,” the man replied, “and they’re here to buy Purple Crystal Flowers from all the wandering martial artists! Fifty silver coins for each Purple Crystal Flower—the price is truly generous.”

“Buying Purple Crystal Flowers?”

Chu Feng’s heart stirred. He immediately recalled that a few days ago, after slaying Xiong Gang and Xiong Meng in the forest, a girl who called herself Little Li had mentioned that the Heavenly Mechanism Mu Clan was purchasing Purple Crystal Flowers in large quantities, and had even invited him to join her in gathering them.

“Do you know why the Mu Clan is offering such a high price for Purple Crystal Flowers?” Chu Feng asked quietly.

Fifty silver per flower sounded generous, but for Chu Feng, if it was merely to make a little money, it wasn’t worth it. What he needed were external martial secrets and techniques suitable for a third-stage body-tempering martial artist, not money.

“No one knows for sure yet. But you can guess—unless it’s an emergency, the Mu Clan, rich as they are, wouldn’t pay such high prices! Do you know what Purple Crystal Flowers are usually worth? Three silver for one would be considered good. Now they’re paying fifty silver apiece!”

The middle-aged martial artist’s eyes shone with excitement—obviously hoping to make a small fortune from this opportunity.

Clang! Clang!

Two more drumbeats sounded, and a disciple in white, who looked like the senior brother, stepped forward, chest out, as if about to address the assembled martial artists.

“Fellow martial artists, I am Yan Jun, the fifty-first generation disciple of the Heavenly Mechanism Mu Clan. By my master’s order, I am here to purchase Purple Crystal Flowers. As the notice says—fifty silver coins for one flower, and the more you provide, the higher the price. Supply two hundred at once and the price rises to seventy silver each! So, if you have time and need money, now’s the time to gather Purple Crystal Flowers!”

Yan Jun cupped his fists toward the crowd.

“Fifty silver coins for a Purple Crystal Flower? That can’t be serious! If you could get five silver for one, that’d already be something. Brother Yan, can you tell us why the price is so high? What does the Mu Clan want them for?”

One martial artist voiced the question on everyone’s mind, and others quickly chimed in.

Yan Jun had not intended to explain, but seeing so many inquiries, knew he’d have to clear things up. “To be honest, the Mu Clan’s Second Miss has suffered a relapse of an old illness and urgently needs a large quantity of Purple Crystal Flowers for medicinal relief. That is why we are buying them from martial artists at large.”

“What? An old illness? What kind of illness is it?”

“That’s right! I heard the Second Miss isn’t from a branch of the Mu Clan, but comes from the main line in the Imperial City. Her status in the Heavenly Mechanism Mu Clan is extraordinary. If something happens to her, it would be serious!”

“Oh? Does this mean the balance of the Nine Mountains and Eighteen Branches might shift?”

The martial artists immediately began exchanging rumors, and all sorts of gossip spread.

Chu Feng’s heart stirred. The Heavenly Mechanism Mu Clan was not only top-tier in alchemy and medicine, but also famed for their puppets and mechanisms—something that tempted countless martial artists. If he could get close to the Mu Clan, it would be an enormous boon for his strength.

“Friend, I’d like to ask about the Mu Clan—you seem quite knowledgeable. Could you tell me a thing or two?” Chu Feng smiled at a martial artist nearby, who looked every bit the experienced gossip.

“Oh, you want to ask something? Won’t you buy me a cup of tea?” the man replied, grinning.

“Heh, here’s a hundred silver for tea—please accept it!” Chu Feng answered without pretense, handing over the coins in exchange for information.

Such was the custom in the martial world: to hear valuable news, one had to pay a little. Without spending, one learned nothing of worth.