Trouble

Morning.

Within the dense fog surrounding the Qingfeng Spiritual Land, Fang Yuan nervously watched the cliff.

There, a sneaky white figure crawled forward like a thief, reaching the white beach beside the cold pool. It extended its sharp claws and quickly dug around for something.

"Chirp chirp!"

High on the cliff face, numerous Red-eyed White Birds flapped their wings playfully, leisurely preening their feathers, unaware of the anomaly on the beach.

Before long, the white figure successfully retreated back into the dense fog.

"Haha... Flower Fox Ferret, well done!"

This white figure was none other than the Flower Fox Ferret.

Fang Yuan couldn't bear to part with the Spiritual Fertilizer here, so he had the Flower Fox Ferret repeat its thieving excavation.

After all, the Flower Fox Ferret was small, its fur provided excellent camouflage, and it was incredibly fast. Even if discovered, it had time to escape, making it the perfect choice for the job.

And with Fang Yuan as its accomplice, the efficiency was different.

He took the cloth bag hanging from the Flower Fox Ferret's neck and, looking at the full bag of Spiritual Fertilizer, a look of joy appeared on his face. "Good, one more time, and a season's worth of Red Jade Rice and Spirit Tea will be secured!"

"Coo!"

The Flower Fox Ferret, unwilling to be left out, raised its little paws as if haggling.

"Alright, a bit of Spirit Tea, I know, you'll get your share!"

Fang Yuan's expression was a little awkward. He felt the Flower Fox Ferret had become much smarter, actually learning to negotiate terms with him. Hmph! This trend must not continue!

"Hurry up!"

He glared, and the Flower Fox Ferret flicked its tail and trotted off once more on its thieving journey.

It didn't care what Fang Yuan thought, as long as its conditions were met.

"Such a Spiritual Land... yet it cannot belong to me for now, what a shame..."

Fang Yuan looked at Qingfeng Mountain, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.

He knew, of course, that there were still many good things in this Spiritual Land. But these Red-eyed White Birds were the overlords of the entire Spiritual Land. With them around, he couldn't develop the land at all.

So, for now, he could only focus on the main objective of entering the mountain and obtaining enough Spiritual Fertilizer.

"It's just this Spiritual Fertilizer..."

Fang Yuan looked at the white dots occasionally descending from the cliff, his expression growing more awkward. "Damn it... I never thought that both the Flower Fox Ferret and I are now working as dung collectors!"

That's right!

After a period of observation, Fang Yuan had discovered that the white beach was actually the designated excretion spot for the flock of Red-eyed White Birds on the cliff!

The Spiritual Fertilizer, with its incredible efficacy in promoting Spiritual Plant growth, was actually bird droppings!

This was a discovery that left Fang Yuan speechless and wanting to question the heavens.

Of course, no matter how awkward it was, the promising job of dung collector had to continue.

"However, bird droppings are naturally a highly effective fertilizer. These bird droppings are from an exotic species of Red-eyed White Bird, even a Spirit Bird. It seems reasonable that they have such an effect..."

Fang Yuan, accustomed to farm work since childhood, naturally had no strange thoughts. After a brief divergence of thought, he tallied his current harvest.

Through the Flower Fox Ferret's persistent thievery, perhaps also due to the carelessness of the Red-eyed White Birds, Fang Yuan had reaped a considerable harvest. A full basket of 'Spiritual Fertilizer' was enough for him to cultivate and harvest Red Jade Rice one more time, plus one harvest of Spirit Tea.

Furthermore, he had seized the opportunity to ambush several lone Red-eyed White Birds, feasting on their meat for several meals, finally avenging his previous humiliating escape.

In reality, the true reason was Fang Yuan's greed for the efficacy of the bird meat. In league with the Flower Fox Ferret, they had madly hunted Red-eyed White Birds.

Soon, however, the flock grew smarter, rarely staying outside the cliff. If they did, they moved in groups. The Bird King began frequent patrols of its territory, forcing Fang Yuan to regretfully cease his hunting activities.

To be honest, when he first saw the Red-eyed White Bird King, which resembled a roc with wings spanning over ten feet, he was quite shocked.

That creature was definitely a Spirit Bird, no doubt about it!

Even several of the leader-level White Birds had reached the Spiritual Beast level!

Upon realizing this, Fang Yuan immediately gave up on his plan to control the entire Qingfeng Spiritual Land in the short term.

"Coo!"

The Flower Fox Ferret quickly returned, bringing another full cloth bag of Spiritual Fertilizer. This operation was a great success.

This was normal. Even if this flock of Red-eyed White Birds were as intelligent as humans, which one would specifically watch their excrement, afraid of others stealing it?

"Time to go!"

Carrying the full basket of his harvest, Fang Yuan walked out of the dense fog, looking back at the misty expanse. He uttered a famous line from a dream world: "I will definitely return!"

At this moment, Fang Yuan, who embodied all the resentment of the defeated, was not alone!

"Red-eyed White Birds, just you wait. One day, I will turn this Spiritual Land into my own spiritual field..."

For someone who loved farming, seeing a large area of good land lying fallow was a sin worthy of thunder striking him down.

Even though his harvest this time was abundant, his resentment towards the Red-eyed White Birds was indescribable.

Fang Yuan, filled with resentment but also with greater gains, set off on his return journey.

This trip was a bit smoother than the journey here. As the Secluded Valley came into view, Fang Yuan's mind was already filled with visions of a future abundant harvest of Spirit Tea and Spirit Rice.

But when he reached the valley entrance, his expression changed instantly: "Someone's here!"

The area around the Secluded Valley was a mess, stained with blood, clear signs that someone had been here.

"Judging by the traces, it wasn't long ago!"

Fang Yuan touched a smear of fresh blood on a blade of grass, his eyes deep. He put down his bamboo basket and strode into the Secluded Valley.

"Come out!"

The Flower Fox Ferret sniffed the ground and immediately darted towards the simple dwelling.

Fang Yuan stood before the door of the dwelling and said calmly.

A moment later, there was no response.

Fang Yuan frowned, waved his hand, and the Flower Fox Ferret immediately pounced into the dwelling. It then poked its little head out, looking somewhat confused.

"Hmm?"

Fang Yuan strode inside and saw a person lying on the ground, their face deathly pale, with bloodstains on their chest. He recognized the face.

"Zhou Wenwu of the Zhou Family? How did he end up like this?"

He stepped forward and felt Zhou Wenwu's pulse. "He's seriously injured, but even though he's unconscious, it won't be fatal... But this little brat, to actually flee all the way here so brazenly, does he think I don't have enough trouble already?"

Fang Yuan complained speechlessly, then went to the door.

Just moments ago, the Flower Fox Ferret had alerted him, indicating that another stranger was approaching.

"Who goes there?"

He came outside and immediately saw a man in black, tightly-fitting clothes, with a sinister expression, about thirty or forty years old.

"Eh? You can actually detect me?"

The middle-aged man was slightly surprised, but his arrogance remained undiminished. "I am Song San, the head disciple under Song Zhong, an elder of the Gui Ling Sect. I've been ordered to hunt down the remnants of the Zhou Family. If you know what's good for you..."

"Oh! That remnant is inside the house. Take him away!"

Fang Yuan nodded calmly, causing Song San to choke. The threatening words he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

What was this feeling of 'I haven't even threatened you, and you're already confessing'?

This person in front of him wasn't playing by the rules at all!

Song San felt like his strength was being wasted. He then saw Zhou Wenwu being tossed out as if he were trash. "I merely have a simple relationship with this person as a healer and a patient's family member. You can take him away!"

As far as Fang Yuan was concerned, who were the Zhou Family?

He had saved Old Master Zhou, received his secret manual, and sheltered Zhou Wenxin for a period. He had done everything he could.

And now he was supposed to risk his life fighting powerful experts for his son? Did he have the surname Lei originally?

"It really is Zhou Wenwu!"

Song San stepped forward, identified him carefully, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face. He then turned to Fang Yuan. "Are you the healer here?"

"I only know a little bit of the superficial aspects of Medical Skill..."

Fang Yuan nodded.

"Then you also cured Old Master Zhou's poison before?"

"Poison?!"

Fang Yuan's pupils constricted slightly.

He knew Old Master Zhou had been poisoned with Lover's Intoxication, and Old Master Zhou had also suspected it. But how did this person know?

Unless, it was this faction that was responsible!

"What poison? I don't know anything about it!"

Fang Yuan cautiously stated his position.

'He knows his place and knows when to advance or retreat!'

Seeing Fang Yuan like this, Song San couldn't help but nod inwardly. He knew that if his other fellow disciples had been carrying out this mission, they might have gone easy on this healer, perhaps even forging a good relationship.

People who were so sensible were rare in this world.

Unfortunately, he had encountered Song San, who had just been reprimanded by his master and was in an extremely bad mood. This was purely bad luck for Fang Yuan.

Song San's face darkened, a sinister smile on his lips. "Zhou Wenwu, at the end of his rope, didn't go to anyone else but you. This shows that you must be an accomplice of the Zhou Family!"

As soon as he said this, he saw the young man's expression turn grim.

"I clearly didn't want any trouble..."

Fang Yuan sighed softly. "Why are some people so eager to find death?"

Whoosh!

As soon as his voice fell, his entire body turned into a black shadow, lunging forward with incredible speed. His skin had a dark, metallic sheen, as if he were clad in a suit of iron.

"Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt?!"

Song San had naturally heard of this renowned martial art. Not only had he heard of it, he had even seen Yu Qiuleng use it before.

And looking at the opponent's cultivation, it was at most the third or fourth layer. How could he possibly be a match for a martial artist in the fifth stage?

"You brat, you're looking for death!"

Song San's grin widened, his right hand clenched into a fist, Qi gathering, ready to strike fiercely.

But just then, Fang Yuan's face also broke into a smile: "Idiot, you fell for my trap!"

Mid-air, his stance changed drastically. His claw transformed into a palm, with a black circle in the center. He slammed it down in a flash, the force immense, like a sledgehammer falling.

Black Sand Palm, fifth-layer cultivation!

"You..."

Song San's expression changed instantly. He was sent flying with a single palm strike, spitting blood wildly in mid-air.

"So it was you!"

He lay on the ground, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, filled with regret.

In an instant, he had guessed that this harmless-looking young man before him was the real culprit who killed Song Yujie. Unfortunately, at this moment, he was utterly powerless to send the message out.