Keeping Watch

"Oh? So you're an expert cultivator after all. I'm truly honored, truly honored!"

A flicker of surprise crossed Elder Qian's cloudy eyes. He waved a hand. "Since we're both in the know, I'll be frank. Our pavilion has two kinds of spiritual seeds: Red Jade Rice and Jade Grass. Which would you like, young brother? Perhaps Red Jade Rice? Our supply is limited, though, so you can't buy too much..."

In truth, most people who came to buy spiritual seeds wanted Red Jade Rice.

After all, even if they couldn't grow the rice, they could eat it directly to replenish their vitality.

This bait-and-switch had always been the Sihai Pavilion's biggest source of revenue from spiritual seeds.

Unfortunately, Fang Yuan had no interest in Red Jade Rice. He already had more than enough seeds saved at home.

"What use does Jade Grass have?"

He asked at once.

"Hmm? You don't want rice?"

Elder Qian was taken aback, then answered, "Jade Grass is like Red Jade Rice. Both are the lowest-grade spirit plants. It seems many herbivorous Spiritual Beasts enjoy eating it, and it can also improve the soil to some extent..."

In truth, people who came to him were all hoping to buy Red Jade Rice in bulk. They could even get their hands on a share, and the source was obvious. It was simply something everyone tacitly understood.

"Then I'll take some Jade Grass seeds!"

Though he was a little dissatisfied, Fang Yuan still wasn't about to pass them up.

But an image surfaced in his mind: a Flower Fox Ferret with a wrinkled face, munching on grass. For some reason, he couldn't help grinning.

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

The head manager, Qian Fusheng, was greatly surprised, but he still conducted himself with proper integrity. "Jade Grass seeds cost one tael of gold each, with no haggling. If you buy more than fifty, you'll get a discount!"

"That price..."

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

"Spiritual seeds and the like are controlled by the great clans. A Poor Kid like me, with no backing to speak of, can hardly afford to use them..."

As he took out the gold to pay, he sighed inwardly. Even though Jade Grass and Red Jade Rice are both the lowest-grade Spiritual Objects, I'll still draw attention if I keep this up. Next time, I'll have to change my appearance...

That was exactly why he hadn't brought any Spiritual Objects to trade.

A few dozen taels of gold wouldn't stir any greed in a wealthy outfit like the Sihai Pavilion. But what if he had a thousand taels? Ten thousand?

There was no absolute fairness in the world. The only question was whether you could afford the price!

"Very well. Here are your Jade Grass seeds. Please take good care of them!"

After counting the gold, Qian Fusheng quickly brought over a sandalwood box. It was delicately carved and gave off a faint fragrance. Clearly, it was no ordinary box.

"These spirit plant seeds are incompatible with metal. Be sure not to let them come into contact with anything metal..."

Qian Fusheng warned him gravely as he opened the box. The green seeds inside brimmed with vitality, and a jade-green sheen seemed to shimmer across their surfaces.

"Very good!"

Fang Yuan put the box away. As he was taking his leave, he asked, as if casually, "Is there truly no other spiritual land anywhere in Qinghe Commandery? I'm quite interested in how such wondrous places come into being. Do you know anything about their origins, Manager?"

"This..."

Qian Fusheng's expression changed dramatically. He shook his head firmly. "Spiritual lands are favored by Heaven and Earth, formed by the workings of creation itself. Their appearance depends on one's fortune. I, this old man, know nothing of their mysteries!"

"I see!"

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

After he was gone, Qian Fusheng paced a few steps, an odd look on his face. "Xiao San!"

"Manager!"

A screen painted with green mountains and clear waters slid aside on its own, revealing a passage. A figure emerged from within.

"Report this to the sect."

Qian Fusheng sighed.

"It was just a small trade in spirit plant seeds. Is that really important enough to report?"

Xiao San sounded distinctly surprised.

"A few dozen spirit plant seeds are nothing, of course. But he asked about spiritual lands before he left. That's enough to put us on guard. Send someone else to keep an eye on him!"

"Manager, you really do take your duties seriously!"

Another figure emerged from the secret passage. He was a slender young gentleman in a blue robe, with a cat's-eye green stone on his head. His skin was as lustrous as jade, and he was dazzling from head to toe.

He fanned himself with a folding fan. "The sect's a den of foul air and intrigue. It's stifling. The outside world is much more interesting. Even coming out to escort supplies has led me to this little adventure."

"So it's Young Master Qing!"

Qian Fusheng and Xiao San immediately bowed, their manner utterly deferential.

"I'll follow him myself. You two go about your business!"

Young Master Qing stared in the direction Fang Yuan had gone. A hint of mischief surfaced in her eyes, as if something had just occurred to her.

"As you command!"

Qian Fusheng and Xiao San exchanged glances, both looking helpless.

"Hmm?"

After leaving the Sihai Pavilion, Fang Yuan visited a few more shops. His brows knitted almost imperceptibly.

The two Martial Arts techniques he had combined made his Internal Breath first-rate even among Five Stages Warriors. And with Divine Essence far beyond that of ordinary people, he sensed a small tail following him with uncanny clarity.

"Someone's following me? Are they planning to rob me? Over a few spirit plant seeds? Impossible!"

He dismissed the suspicion, then realized what was going on. It seems asking so directly about spiritual lands is taboo... After all, as far as the public knows, Gui Ling Sect is the only one in all of Qinghe Commandery with even a small patch...

No matter how mature his mind was, Fang Yuan had still lived in the depths of the mountains for years. It was only natural that he'd let something slip.

"Still... is the Sihai Pavilion really so well-established? They sent a promising fighter at the fourth or fifth stage just to keep an eye on me?"

Warriors of this caliber were no common sight. Fang Yuan couldn't help being surprised.

At that thought, he turned into a narrow alley and vanished in a flash.

"Hmm?"

Before long, a blue robe flickered into view. Young Master Qing arrived at the mouth of the alley. "He noticed?"

She was skilled and bold, so she neither hid nor hesitated, but went straight in after him.

The alley was very short and ended in a dead end.

"Take this claw, you scoundrel!"

Whoosh!

A shout and the sound of sleeves cutting through the air rang out from behind.

Fang Yuan naturally had no intention of showing mercy to someone with ill intent. He planned to deal with her at once.

"Heh... idiot. Who announces their position before launching a sneak attack?"

Young Master Qing chuckled. Her folding fan snapped shut, and without even looking, she jabbed it behind her. "Swallow Piercing Cloud Strike!"

Thwip!

Though it was just an ordinary folding fan, in her hand it became a genuine blade. It pierced the air with a shrill hiss and plunged into a mass of shadow.

Poof!

The shadow was pierced clean through, leaving a gaping hole. But the awful feeling of having struck nothing suddenly flashed through Young Master Qing's heart.

"Not good!"

She sprang back almost instinctively, using her fan to shield herself.

Unfortunately, one mistake led to another.

Her first attack had missed, and she had already lost the initiative!

Whoosh, whoosh!

Claws tore through the air. Her opponent's attack appeared before her in the very next instant, its fierce gust slamming into her face.

"Good!"

Young Master Qing wasn't alarmed. Her face lit up instead. With steps as light as a lotus dancer's, she retreated several yards in the nick of time and opened up some distance. "Those are fine eagle claws! Even compared to Yu Qiuleng, you're only a little short on skill! Whose disciple are you?"

With Martial Arts like his, he had to be the disciple of some renowned master.

"But your cultivation is still shallow. Your Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt is only at the fourth level, right? I've broken through the fifth stage!"

Young Master Qing puffed out her chest and announced it with a touch of pride.

"Idiot!"

Fang Yuan looked into her eyes, his gaze full of pity and contempt.

Anyone who revealed their trump card at the start of a fight was either supremely confident or a fool.

Unfortunately for her, she was the latter!

"Against a fifth-stage expert, I'll have trouble taking her down without using Black Sand Palm. But only a little trouble!"

Fang Yuan glanced at his Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt proficiency. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Then he let out a long howl and lunged, his hands striking again and again. Claw winds ripped through the air in an unbroken flurry.

"Wait!"

Young Master Qing parried as panic gnawed at her. "There's been a misunderstanding!"

Heavens knew, she had only meant to do some watching and tailing. How had it turned into a fight to the death before she knew it?

And that brat opposite her had turned out to be the sort who would spill blood at the slightest disagreement. She had never seen that coming.

Fortunately... my Internal Breath is far deeper than his. He can't keep up this furious assault for long. Once he's exhausted, I'll be able to...

But just as the thought turned in Young Master Qing's mind, the attack before her suddenly grew twice as fierce!

"Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt—the fifth level! How is that possible?"

In a clash between warriors, even the slightest difference could mean a world of difference. And now her opponent's strength had suddenly doubled!

Her cry of shock had barely left her mouth when his claw winds tore through her defenses. Her body shot into the air and slammed hard against the wall.

"You..."

Young Master Qing went pale and spat out a small mouthful of blood. "You can't kill me..."

"Why not?"

Fang Yuan stepped forward and casually knocked off her headpiece, revealing a cascade of long hair. "Just because you're a... woman?"

"You figured it out?"

Young Master Qing shrieked. Even her voice had grown sharper and clearer.

"Your disguise was so clumsy that only a blind man could've missed it!"

Fang Yuan was utterly speechless. "Who are you? Why were you following me? What's your connection to the Sihai Pavilion?"

"Hmph!"

For some reason, once Young Master Qing's identity had been exposed, she seemed unafraid again. She clenched her teeth and said nothing.

"Oh?"

Fang Yuan cracked his knuckles, then stepped toward her with a wicked grin. "Listen, missy. I'd advise you to cooperate. Otherwise... don't think I won't lay a hand on a woman!"

His attitude only made Young Master Qing more afraid. Tears welled in her eyes.