Jealousy and Rivalry

"It was still too weak."

Gu Fengchen clenched his fists, deeply aware of the urgency of increasing his strength.

After confirming there were no Magic Cores left to collect, he stored all the Tiger Hound corpses in his Storage Ring, then turned and left the blood-soaked forest.

Those hunks of flesh could be sold for Gold Coins. They could not be wasted!

Actually, if Gu Fengchen had been bolder and dared to venture deeper into the Magic Beast Mountain Range, he would certainly have obtained more valuable Medicinal Herbs and treasures.

But the problem was that Gu Fengchen was rather cowardly. He was the cautious type, and many people would say he lacked the spirit of adventure—so timid he would not even get a bite of warm shit.

However, Gu Fengchen did not care what others said. Growing in the shadows was the true path.

Alchemist Guild.

Inside a warmly decorated maiden's chamber, Xue Mei leaned elegantly by the window, gazing blankly into the distance.

She wore a red qipao that perfectly outlined her graceful figure, voluptuous curves, and willow-thin waist.

Together with her long snow-white hair, she appeared rather bewitching, possessing a breathtaking beauty.

Her lovely eyes blinked as she wondered who knew what.

At that moment, a Fourth Grade Alchemist entered from outside and said with a smile, "Xue Mei, it's getting late. Get some rest early. Tomorrow, your teacher will accompany you to visit this Boss Gu."

"Alright, Teacher."

Qingshan Town was surrounded by towering green mountains and lush vegetation. Several waterfalls cascaded down like silver rivers, kicking up waves of mist before flowing below and gathering into a crystalline lake so clear one could see its bottom.

Inside Gu Fengchen's room at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

Xiao Yi Xian, dressed in a plain skirt, sat beside Gu Fengchen's bed and said seriously, "You have to drink the medicine before I leave!"

"Big Sister Xiao Yi Xian, men and women should keep their distance," Gu Fengchen said with a cheerful grin.

"You're still laughing! You're being far too reckless! There were so many Tiger Hounds—were you insane, taking them on alone?!"

After Gu Fengchen returned from the Magic Beast Mountain Range covered in blood, he claimed that he had been injured and needed to remain in bed to recover.

He knew Xiao Yi Xian was pure-hearted and certainly bad at lying, so he simply deceived her as well.

Of course, Gu Fengchen had not been injured. Even if he truly had been, the Three Thousand Burning Flame Body would have made self-healing easy.

However, so many people had witnessed the number of Tiger Hounds there. Even a Da Dou Shi would certainly have been injured after encountering them.

If he had wiped out that pack of Tiger Hounds without suffering a single scratch, as though nothing had happened, it would surely have caused unnecessary trouble.

In the eyes of outsiders, Gu Fengchen was at most exceptionally talented, perhaps with some hidden background. But he was nowhere near the level of a monster.

If he could keep a low profile, he would do so.

Xiao Yi Xian did not know where Gu Fengchen had been injured, because he was unwilling to let her examine him.

Fine, no examination then. Based on Xiao Yi Xian's experience, it definitely was not a serious injury, but he still had to take medicine to recover faster.

Yet this disobedient Gu Fengchen had his eyes shut and stubbornly insisted that the medicine was bitter, so he would not drink it. He would not die anyway, and he could recover without medicine!

The two remained locked in a standoff, and the atmosphere was deathly silent.

Xiao Yi Xian said nothing more. She merely picked up the bowl of medicine, her expression utterly calm, but Gu Fengchen could practically see the words written across her delicate little face: Darling, it's time to drink your medicine.

Pah, pah, pah. Not Darling—handsome Gu!

"Creak."

At that moment, someone knocked on the door outside, and Gu Fengchen felt as though his savior had arrived.

Xiao Yi Xian paused for a moment before setting down the bowl and heading outside.

Soon, several people entered from outside, with Xiao Yi Xian walking at the front.

She seemed somewhat unhappy, muttering something that sounded like the word "vixen."

Gu Fengchen was utterly confused until he saw the woman following behind Xiao Yi Xian and instantly understood what was going on.

The woman was tall and slender, with clear brows and eyes like an icy spring atop a snow-capped mountain.

She seemed to have dressed up deliberately. Her face bore only light makeup, not overly heavy, and her silver hair fell to her waist, making her appear fresh and lovely. Especially those proud assets of hers—they truly surpassed Xiao Yi Xian, who had not yet fully developed, by several streets.

It was Xue Mei.

Xiao Yi Xian carried a rich Medicinal Aroma, while Xue Mei carried a faint, fragrant body scent. Had she been marinated in cosmetics?

When Xue Mei saw that Gu Fengchen was fine, a hint of a smile and a faint blush immediately appeared on her icy face.

Seeing that smile, Frank, who followed behind her, instantly had only one thought in his heart: This is bad.

Xue Mei stepped forward and said excitedly, "Boss Gu, it's wonderful that you're alright. It's wonderful that you're alright!"

Clearly, Xue Mei had truly been worried about Gu Fengchen's safety. But judging by his complexion, he did not seem to be seriously hurt.

That only made Xue Mei find him stranger. The man before her was not only handsome and formidable in battle, but the many secrets surrounding him also made her intensely curious, giving her the urge to peel away his veil layer by layer.

At that moment, Xue Mei took out a purple card from her Storage Ring and explained, "This is a Purple Gold Card, issued by the Jia Ma Empire. It contains ten thousand Gold Coins. You saved me twice yesterday, so you must accept this."

"Alright, then thank you, Miss Xue Mei."

"Just call me Mei'er." Xue Mei smiled sweetly.

Upon hearing that, Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly. She began plotting in her heart that she could not let this brat keep calling her Big Sister Xiao Yi Xian. This woman was older than her, yet he called her Mei'er again and again. Wouldn't that make Big Sister Xiao Yi Xian sound far too old?

Frank still had only one word in his heart: bad!

"Oh, right. This is my teacher, President Frank of the Black Rock Guild. After learning that you saved my life, Teacher personally suggested coming here to prepare a Medicinal Bath to nourish your Root Bone," Xue Mei suddenly remembered and introduced Frank behind her.

A Fourth Grade Alchemist?

Gu Fengchen raised his brows. Perhaps he knew why this Frank had come.

Would he really be so kind?

The man had probably heard about what had happened to Xue Mei and found it hard to believe that Gu Fengchen had killed so many Tiger Hounds alone, so he had specifically come to take a look.

And this Medicinal Bath?

Was he finding excuses to make him take off his clothes?

But Gu Fengchen was not worried. Unless he actively activated the Taotie Seal on his left hand, no one could see it. As for the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame and the Three Thousand Burning Flame Body, they were both deeply hidden within his body.

Gu Fengchen did not refuse either. He cupped his hands toward Frank and said, "Then I must thank President Frank."

At that moment, outside the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, everyone saw the Alchemist Guild's carriage. The idle mercenaries and villagers gathered around, whispering among themselves.

"Damn, what kind of background does this Gu Fengchen have? First the Great Princess, and now the Alchemist Guild too. Could he really be some mighty outsider?"

"I heard Gu Fengchen killed several hundred Tiger Hounds yesterday, including more than a dozen second-tier Tiger Hounds. Damn, could a mere Dou Shi possibly do that? I'd say Gu Fengchen is definitely a Da Dou Shi!"

"What Gu Fengchen? Call him Boss Gu—no, Lord Gu. You lot, I'm afraid we'll all be working for the Myriad Medicine Pavilion in the future," another lean mercenary said.

Everyone was discussing it, and in everyone's heart, there was now an additional trace of fear and wariness toward the Myriad Medicine Pavilion and Gu Fengchen.