Hidden Fragrance

"Ye Zhen, have you offended anyone lately?" Sha Fei asked with a serious expression.

"What's wrong?" Ye Zhen frowned.

If one were to speak of those with grudges against Ye Zhen, Ma Hun had already been killed by him in public. Hong Bao could be considered the one who hated Ye Zhen the most at the moment, and because of Fairy Caiyi, the true disciple from Spirit Sword Peak, Fan Chuyu, could barely be counted as one as well.

"These past few days, black-clad Outer Disciples have frequently come to Hundred Pine Peak to inquire about you," Sha Fei said.

"Who?"

"I don't recognize any of them, and there isn't just one black-clad Outer Disciple coming to ask about you!"

"More than one?" Ye Zhen's brow furrowed even tighter. "What kind of information are they asking for?"

"A lot, the topics are quite broad, but in the end, they all circle back to your cultivation. From your performance when you first entered the sect, to when you broke through to the Blood Refining Second Level and Blood Refining Third Level—basically, every Menial Disciple on Hundred Pine Peak who has sparred with you has been questioned. Your two battles with Ma Yuanwu are also key points of interest," Sha Fei said.

Ye Zhen was stunned. "How do you know all this so clearly?"

Hearing this, a hint of pride appeared on Sha Fei's face. "Don't you know who I am! Heh, with the Blood Origin Pill you gave me, my cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, I am the undisputed boss of Hundred Pine Peak. If there's any movement, who would dare hide it from me!"

"By the way, about when did this situation start?"

"Let me think," Sha Fei began to ponder. "About eight or nine days ago!"

"Eight or nine days ago?" Ye Zhen fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

Eight or nine days ago was exactly when Ye Zhen had made a splash on the Martial Arena, killing Ma Hun and defeating Hong Bao with his fists. Ye Zhen understood that he had caught someone's attention.

Who could be targeting him?

The true disciple Fan Chuyu could likely be ruled out; a person of his status wouldn't be so petty.

Could it be Hong Bao? Or perhaps some other interested party who noticed Ye Zhen's rapid rise?

An interested party?

The figure of one such person suddenly flashed through Ye Zhen's mind.

Ye Zhen knew very well that his recent rise had been too fast—in four months, he had gone from a Menial Disciple at the peak of the Blood Refining Third Level to the current second place on the Earth Ranking.

This speed of advancement was still within the normal range; the Qi Yun Sect was not without such people. Anyone with this cultivation speed was undoubtedly a genius with excellent talent. For geniuses like Changsun Ran, having such speed was perfectly normal.

But for Ye Zhen, who came from a background as a Menial Disciple, this speed of rise became very unusual.

Consequently, interested parties had turned their attention to Ye Zhen, wanting to unearth the secret behind him.

Ye Zhen was very clear that under the current circumstances where he had already attracted the attention of interested parties, the best way to respond was to leave Hundred Pine Peak without drawing attention and not go to the Cliff Secret Cave to collect the Marrow Spirit Liquid for three or even six months.

Once those interested parties had kept watch for a long time and felt that there was no secret to be found on Ye Zhen, they would naturally give up, and then Ye Zhen could return to the Cliff Secret Cave.

However, there was no logic in playing the thief for a thousand days, let alone guarding against one for a thousand days.

Moreover, regardless of what happened in the future, Ye Zhen had to go to the Cliff Secret Cave tonight. The Marrow Spirit Liquid had astonishing effects, and since Ye Zhen was going home tomorrow, he had to bring some for his parents.

In an instant, Ye Zhen had a plan for this matter.

Just like his usual visits to Hundred Pine Peak, Ye Zhen chatted with Sha Fei until late. Before leaving, Ye Zhen left a bottle of Blood Origin Pill for Sha Fei.

Stepping onto the winding mountain path of Hundred Pine Peak, Ye Zhen moved with a serpentine gait, traversing the narrow path as if it were flat ground.

While his feet moved casually, Ye Zhen's focus was highly concentrated. He channeled his energy into his ears, listening with full attention to the slightest movement on either side of the path.

Ye Zhen didn't know if anyone was following him today, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

At a bend in the mountain path, the dense Iron Branch Pine swayed in the wind like ghostly shadows, emitting waves of pine-rustling sounds. The moment Ye Zhen reached this spot, his figure suddenly darted out and vanished into the pine forest, leaving only the sound of the wind in the trees.

Not long after Ye Zhen's figure disappeared, a black shadow suddenly appeared at the bend in the path. "Hmph, this kid really does have a secret. He's clever enough, but the one tailing him today is me..."

With a flash, the black shadow also vanished into the pine forest.

On the cliff face, Ye Zhen's figure appeared at the entrance of the Cliff Secret Cave. Before slipping inside, Ye Zhen glanced at the pitch-black forest. The tree shadows were swaying, and there was nothing unusual, yet a trace of unease lingered in his heart.

As he crawled into the Cliff Secret Cave, this feeling of unease grew even stronger.

Inside the Cliff Secret Cave, everything was as usual. Having not visited for nearly ten days, the bamboo tube Ye Zhen had placed by the broken bamboo shoot had already collected nearly half a tube of the cyan Marrow Spirit Liquid.

Ten days' worth of Marrow Spirit Liquid should be enough for his parents to use.

Because of the unease in his heart, Ye Zhen gathered the Marrow Spirit Liquid into his small bamboo tube as quickly as possible and was just about to leave.

Ding!

The loose stones Ye Zhen had placed at the entrance suddenly made a rolling sound, and a black-clad figure slipped into the secret cave.

"Junior Brother Ye, if I were you, I would obediently put down the bamboo tube in your hand." A rather feminine voice rang out.

"Senior Disciple Brother, it really is you?" Looking at the person who had arrived, Ye Zhen's expression showed not the slightest surprise.

When Sha Fei mentioned this matter to him today, Ye Zhen had recalled the warning Jin Yuanbao had given him—Senior Disciple Brother Gu Duozhi seemed to be very interested in him.

Ye Zhen had guessed that the interested party was likely Senior Disciple Brother Gu Duozhi, but he hadn't expected to be right.

The only thing Ye Zhen couldn't quite figure out was that he had been so careful, and had taken extra precautions when coming to the Cliff Secret Cave, so how had Senior Disciple Brother Gu Duozhi managed to track him?

"It seems you aren't stupid either," Gu Duozhi gave a sinister smile. "Junior Brother Ye, if I'm not mistaken, your cultivation, which allowed you to skyrocket from the Blood Refining First Level to the peak of the Blood Refining Fifth Level in five months—a speed comparable to the inner sect's top genius, Changsun Ran—is all thanks to the thing in your hand, right?"

Ye Zhen looked at the small bamboo tube in his hand, and just as he was about to speak, Gu Duozhi laughed again.

"Ye Zhen, don't be in such a hurry to deny it! With your Three Meridians Mid-Grade bloodline talent, although you come from the Ye Family of Jin City, you are from a branch family. The support your family can give you in a year is only one or two hundred silver coins; I'm afraid you couldn't even afford a single Blood Origin Pill, could you?"

"That's right, Senior Disciple Brother, the information you gathered is spot on. The reason my cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds is all thanks to this thing." Ye Zhen shook the bamboo tube in his hand. "However, there is one thing I can't figure out. On the way here, I employed numerous measures to cover my tracks, so how were you still able to follow me?"

Gu Duozhi laughed triumphantly. "I pride myself on my speed, but that isn't the most important factor. The most important thing is that I know every time you go to Hundred Pine Peak, you chat with Sha Fei until very late. I guessed that you spent so much time talking to Sha Fei just to stall for time, waiting for the dead of night to carry out your secretive business."

"Therefore, I secretly planted a scent called Hidden Fragrance on Sha Fei. Anyone who has prolonged, close contact with him will inevitably be tainted by it. Heh, to be honest, Junior Disciple Brother Ye, your Snake-Wandering Steps are truly profound. If it weren't for this Hidden Fragrance leading the way, I really wouldn't have been able to track you down."

"So that's how it is!" Ye Zhen carefully sniffed his own sleeve. After sniffing a few times, he finally caught a faint, subtle fragrance. He had indeed been played.

Secretly noting this down, Ye Zhen's experience in the pugilistic world grew by another notch.

With his doubts resolved, Ye Zhen spread his legs slightly, assumed the stance of the Five Peaks Divine Fist, and shouted at Gu Duozhi: "Alright, Senior Disciple Brother, since you've found me, I have nothing more to say. Who else is outside the cave? Call them in, and let's have a battle together to decide who gets to keep the treasure in my hand!"

"Who else is outside the cave? Ye Zhen, do you take me for a fool? Why would I share such a good thing..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Ye Zhen's expression suddenly turned resolute. Gu Duozhi's expression shifted drastically; he had fallen for Ye Zhen's trap!

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ps: For those young ones who want to see a fierce brawl, throw your recommendation votes this way!