Stalking

"Oh? So you're an expert in cultivation as well. My apologies!"

A flicker of surprise flashed in Elder Qian's cloudy eyes. He waved his hand, "Since we're both familiar with this, I'll be direct. This pavilion has two types of Spirit Seeds: one is Red Jade Rice, and the other is Jade Grass. Which one would you like, young man? Perhaps the Red Jade Rice? However, the rice seeds are limited, so you can't buy too much..."

In reality, most people who came to buy Spirit Seeds were primarily interested in Red Jade Rice.

After all, even if the Rice Grains couldn't be cultivated, they could be eaten directly to replenish Vitality.

This deceptive practice, selling dog meat under the guise of sheep's head, had always been the main source of revenue for Sihai Pavilion's Spirit Seeds.

However, Fang Yuan had absolutely no interest in Red Jade Rice, as he already had enough seeds at home.

"May I ask what the Jade Grass is used for?"

He asked immediately.

"Hmm? You don't want the rice?"

Elder Qian was taken aback, then replied, "The Jade Grass, like the Red Jade Rice, is the lowest grade Spiritual Plant. However, many herbivorous Spiritual Beasts seem to like eating it, and it also has some effect on improving soil..."

In fact, people came to him with the intention of making large-scale transactions of Red Jade Rice, and they could indeed obtain some supply. The source was obvious, but unspoken.

"Then I'll take a bit of Jade Grass seeds!"

Although somewhat unsatisfied, Fang Yuan wasn't going to pass it up.

As he thought about it, an image of a wrinkled-faced Flower Fox Ferret chewing on green grass appeared in his mind, and for some reason, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"What? You want grass seeds? Not Spirit Rice?"

Qian Fusheng, the head shopkeeper, was very surprised but maintained his integrity. "Jade Grass seeds are one tael of Gold per seed, no cheating, no haggling. If a customer buys more than fifty seeds at once, there's a discount!"

"This price..."

Fang Yuan's face twitched slightly. For the first time, he felt like a pauper.

"Things like Spirit Seeds are handled by noble families. As a poor fellow with shallow roots, I really can't afford to consume much..."

As he took out Gold to pay, he sighed inwardly, "Even though Jade Grass and Red Jade Rice are the lowest-grade spiritual items, my actions like this are still quite eye-catching. Next time, I must change my appearance..."

It was precisely for this reason that he hadn't brought any spiritual items for exchange.

A few dozen taels of Gold wouldn't arouse any suspicion from the wealthy Sihai Pavilion, but what about a thousand or ten thousand taels?

There was no absolute fairness in the world, only whether one could afford the price!

"Alright, here are the Jade Grass seeds. Please keep them safe, customer!"

After counting the Gold, Qian Fusheng acted quickly and brought a rosewood box. The box was exquisitely carved and emitted a faint fragrance, clearly not an ordinary item.

"The seeds of this spiritual grass are incompatible with metal elements. Please remember not to let them come into contact with anything metallic..."

Qian Fusheng cautioned solemnly. He opened the wooden box, revealing small green seeds brimming with vitality. A hint of emerald green seemed to flash across their surface.

"Very good!"

Fang Yuan put away the wooden box. As he was about to take his leave, he seemed to ask casually, "Within the entire Qinghe Commandery, are there truly no other Spiritual Lands? I am quite interested in the birth and formation of such miraculous places. Does the shopkeeper know anything about their origins?"

"This..."

Qian Fusheng's expression changed drastically, and he immediately shook his head firmly, "Spiritual Lands are favored by heaven and earth, formed by nature. It depends on one's destiny. I, old man, know nothing of their mysteries!"

"I see!"

Fang Yuan strode out of the room. "Then I shall take my leave!"

After Fang Yuan's figure disappeared, Qian Fusheng paced back and forth in the same spot, a strange look on his face. "Xiao San!"

"Shopkeeper!"

Inside the room, a screen depicting green mountains and clear waters automatically slid aside, revealing a passage. A figure emerged from within.

"Report this to the sect!"

Qian Fusheng sighed.

"It was just a small transaction of spiritual grass, and you consider it important intelligence?"

Xiao San asked, clearly astonished.

"Dozens of spiritual grass seeds are naturally not much, but this person's final inquiry about Spiritual Lands cannot help but make one more cautious. Send another person to tail him!"

"You are quite diligent, shopkeeper!"

At this moment, another figure emerged from the secret passage. It was a slender young master dressed in a green robe. He wore a cat's eye green jade ornament on his head, and his skin was as smooth as jade. He radiated an extraordinary brilliance.

He was fanning himself with a folding fan. "The sect is full of corruption and quite stifling. It's more interesting outside. Even escorting supplies can lead to such an encounter."

"It's Young Master Qing!"

Qian Fusheng and Xiao San immediately bowed, their expressions extremely humble.

"I will personally follow him. You two should continue with your tasks."

The Young Master Qing stared in the direction Fang Yuan had left, and a hint of mischief flashed in his eyes as he seemed to recall something.

"As you command!"

Qian Fusheng and Xiao San exchanged glances, a sense of helplessness on their faces.

"Hmm?"

After leaving Sihai Pavilion, Fang Yuan browsed a few more shops, his brow furrowing unintentionally.

The combination of his two martial arts techniques made his internal energy top-tier among Five Stages Warriors. Coupled with his superior Spirit Yuan, he keenly sensed a small tail following him from behind.

"Someone's tailing me? Are they planning to rob me? Over a few spiritual herb seeds? Impossible!"

He dismissed the thought and quickly arrived at an answer: "It seems inquiring directly about Spiritual Land news is taboo... After all, in the entire Qinghe Commandery, only Gui Ling Sect openly possesses a small plot right now..."

Despite his mature mind, Fang Yuan had lived in the mountains for too long and had overlooked something.

"But... is Sihai Pavilion's foundation that deep? To send a skilled fighter at the Fourth or Fifth Stage just for surveillance?"

Such warriors weren't common, which surprised Fang Yuan.

With that thought, he changed direction and entered a small alley, his figure quickly vanishing.

"Hmm?"

Not long after, a flash of green appeared at the alley entrance as the Young Master Qing arrived. "Discovered?"

With great skill and courage, they didn't evade but pursued directly.

The alley was short and soon reached a dead end.

"Villain, take this claw!"

Whoosh!

The sound of tearing fabric came from behind, accompanied by a shout.

Fang Yuan naturally had no pleasantries for those with ill intentions and prepared to deal with them directly.

"Heh heh... Idiot, who announces their position before attacking!"

The Young Master Qing chuckled, their folding fan snapping shut. Without even looking, they pointed behind them: "Swallow Piercing Cloud Strike!"

Ching!

Even an ordinary folding fan became like a true blade in their hands, piercing the air with a ching sound as it plunged into a mass of black shadow.

Puff!

The black shadow was easily pierced with a large hole, but an ominous feeling of miscalculation suddenly struck the Young Master Qing.

"Not good!"

They retreated almost instinctively, using their folding fan to shield their entire body.

However, one wrong step led to another.

Having missed with their initial attack, they had lost the initiative!

Ching ching!

Claws tore through the air, and the opponent's attack appeared before them almost instantly. The wind was fierce, sharp, and utterly ruthless.

"Good!"

The Young Master Qing's face showed delight rather than surprise. Their feet moved like lotus steps, retreating several yards with barely any room to spare, widening the distance. "A good Eagle Claw! Even compared to Yu Qiuleng, it's only slightly inferior! Whose disciple are you?"

Someone with such martial arts must be from a renowned lineage.

"Unfortunately, your skill is still shallow, only at the fourth layer of Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt, right? I'm a master who has broken through Five Stages!"

The Young Master Qing puffed out their chest, proudly announcing.

"Idiot!"

Fang Yuan looked into their eyes, filled with pity and disdain.

Someone who revealed their trump card to the enemy right at the start of a fight was either extremely confident or a fool.

Unfortunately, the latter applied here!

"A Fifth Stage master... without using Black Sand Palm, it will be difficult to take them down, but only difficult!"

Fang Yuan glanced at the proficiency of his Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt, a slight smile gracing his lips. He let out a sudden roar, lunged forward, and unleashed a barrage of claw strikes, the wind from his claws tearing through the air incessantly.

"Wait a moment!"

The Young Master Qing parried the attacks, secretly growing anxious. "There's been a misunderstanding!"

Heaven knew they only intended to conduct surveillance, but how had it escalated into a fight for survival?

And the young man opposite them, with his 'disagree and draw blood' attitude, was completely unexpected.

"Fortunately... my internal energy is far deeper than his. His relentless storm of attacks can't last. Once he's exhausted, I can..."

However, as these thoughts crossed the Young Master Qing's mind, they suddenly felt the opponent's attacks intensify by more than double!

"Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt—Fifth Layer! How is this possible?"

In a battle between warriors, a small difference could mean the world, let alone a sudden doubling of force!

The Young Master Qing's startled cry had barely left their lips before their defenses were breached by the claw wind, sending their body flying high before crashing heavily against the wall.

"You…"

Her face turned pale, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out. "You can't kill me…"

"Why?"

Fang Yuan stepped forward, casually scattering her headdress to reveal a cascade of beautiful hair. "Just because you're a… Woman?"

"You found out?"

Young Master Qing shrieked, her voice becoming increasingly crisp and sharp.

"Such a clumsy disguise, only a blind person wouldn't see through it!"

Fang Yuan was immediately speechless. "Who are you? Why were you following me? What is your relationship with Sihai Pavilion?"

"Hmph!"

For some reason, after her identity was revealed, this Young Master Qing became emboldened again. She gritted her teeth and remained silent.

"Oh?"

Fang Yuan flexed his fingers, his knuckles cracking. He stepped forward with a wicked grin. "Little lady, I advise you to be sensible, or else… don't think I won't deal with women!"

His demeanor, however, caused a hint of fear to surface in Young Master Qing, and tears welled up in her eyes.