Provocation

"I studied alchemy under a senior for a while, so I know a little."

Yao Feng rubbed his nose and spoke half-truthfully. He had indeed studied alchemy under Elder Wanhuo for some time and knew some basic medicinal principles.

"You're an alchemist?!"

Nalan Yanran looked at Yao Feng in surprise. She knew how rare alchemists were; otherwise, Gu He's status in the Misty Cloud Sect would not be second only to her master, Yun Yun. She had not expected the young man before her to be an alchemist at such a young age!

"More or less. I just haven't taken the assessment yet."

That was true. The Alchemist Guild handled alchemist assessments. This was Yao Feng's first time leaving the Yao Clan, so he had naturally never taken one. Besides, the former Yao Feng had only been a Grade Alchemist, not enough to specifically seek out an assessment certificate.

"You're amazing. You're so young, yet your cultivation is already this high, and you even know alchemy."

A trace of envy and admiration flashed through Nalan Yanran's eyes. They said beautiful women admired heroes, and Nalan Yanran was no exception. Since childhood, she had been a favored daughter of heaven, and none of her peers had ever caught her eye. Yet this young man, who had stepped forward when her life was at stake, was not only extraordinarily handsome, but his talent even surpassed hers. All of it together made her heart flutter with unease as a strange emotion quietly began to grow.

Time passed unnoticed as she spoke with Nalan Yanran. A city gate in the distance gradually came into view. Yao Feng reluctantly fell silent. This was the first time he had spoken with a girl for so long without running out of things to say. Still, as the approaching city gate drew nearer, he turned his gaze toward it, because the familiar mechanical voice had sounded in his mind.

"Ding. Detected that the host has arrived at the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire. Reward: one Qi Breaking Pill."

"A Qi Breaking Pill that can unconditionally allow a Dou Zhe to break through one star. It's finally here."

Suppressing the urge to take out the Qi Breaking Pill and admire it immediately, Yao Feng turned to Nalan Yanran and said:

"Yanran, let's part ways here. We'll meet again at the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

"Eh, you've only just arrived here. Why not stay at my Nalan Family for the time being? Once you're familiar with the place, it won't be too late to find somewhere else to live."

Hearing that Yao Feng was leaving, Nalan Yanran spoke in a fluster.

"No need to trouble yourself. I have some matters to deal with as well, so I won't impose." Yao Feng spoke softly. He was still not used to living under someone else's watchful eyes.

"All right, then. We'll meet again."

Though somewhat disappointed, Nalan Yanran still revealed a smile as she spoke to Yao Feng.

Seeing Nalan Yanran's smiling face, Yao Feng's heart stirred as well. Such a wonderful girl—what a pity Xiao Yan had no chance with her.

The Griffin Beast slowly descended. After the group landed, they headed toward the city gate. Yao Feng turned, just about to bid Nalan Yanran farewell, when a somewhat grating voice came from the gate.

"Yanran, you're finally back. I've been waiting here for you for several hours. I recently obtained a Snowflake Grass and wanted to give it to you, but they said you had left the city, so I specifically waited here for your return."

A slightly pale young man jogged up to Nalan Yanran, holding a medicinal herb with snowflake-shaped petals in his hands. He completely ignored Yao Feng's presence and looked at Nalan Yanran with a smile, his gaze carrying hints of greed and desire.

"Thank you, Young Master Leilei, but I no longer have any use for Snowflake Grass. Please take it back."

As Nalan Yanran looked at the young man approaching her, a trace of disgust flashed through her eyes. If not for their families' relationship, she would not even want to acknowledge this lecherous scoundrel who relied on his family's influence to bully men and women alike.

A chill flashed through Leilei's eyes, but he kept a smile on his face as he said:

"Fine, fine. I'll find even better herbs to give you in the future. But who might this be? Why is he with Yanran?"

Seeing Leilei turn his gaze toward him, Yao Feng helplessly curled his lips. You got rejected, so why are you taking it out on me? Aren't you just asking for a beating?

"What does it have to do with you?!"

Seeing Leilei turn his attention to Yao Feng, the disdain in Nalan Yanran's eyes deepened. She pulled Yao Feng to her side and spoke with clear irritation.

Nalan Yanran's actions made Leilei's mouth twitch. Especially when she grabbed Yao Feng's hand, an inexplicable fire surged into his heart. He had pursued her for so long and had never even gotten within three steps of her. Yet today, she was holding another man's hand right in front of him.

Leilei's face twisted with rage, as though he might explode at any moment. Yet in the end, he forcibly endured it, squeezing out an ugly smile as he extended his hand toward Yao Feng.

"Mite'er Family, Leilei. May I ask this brother's name?"

Seeing Leilei's face turn red, then white, Yao Feng nearly laughed. He was genuinely afraid the man might suffer internal injuries from holding it in. Looking at Leilei's outstretched hand, Yao Feng offered his own and casually said:

"Yao Feng. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you!" A triumphant smile appeared on Leilei's face. He clenched his teeth, and his slightly trembling hand suddenly exerted force, gripping Yao Feng's palm tightly enough that the veins on his hand bulged.

Sensing the force on his palm, Yao Feng tilted his lips and gave a contemptuous laugh. A thread of Dou Qi flowed into his hand, and he applied a little force. A crisp sound of breaking bones rang out.

"Ah—! Let... let go!"

Leilei suddenly screamed. His face twisted in extreme pain as his left hand tightly clutched his right wrist. Looking at his somewhat deformed right hand, his body curled up in agony, and tears even welled in the corners of his eyes. Leilei raised his head to glare at Yao Feng, his eyes full of malice. Although his hand hurt like hell, he still stubbornly threatened him:

"Kid, you're ruthless. But this is the Imperial Capital. Offend my Mite'er Family, and I'll make sure you walk in upright and leave lying down."

"At your age, you're only a two-star Dou Zhe. You don't represent the Mite'er Family."

Yao Feng spoke coldly. The Mite'er Family should be Ya Fei's family. The Mittel Auction House held considerable influence throughout the Jia Ma Empire, but this was merely a spoiled young master. If the Mite'er Family chose to make an enemy of Yao Feng over this, then even for Ya Fei's sake, Yao Feng would make sure they remembered him deeply.

"Leilei, you've gone too far. Move aside immediately, or I wouldn't mind having Elder Ge Ye pay your Mite'er Family a visit."

"Fine, fine. Yao Feng, was it? I'll remember you. Just you wait."

Hearing Nalan Yanran's words, Leilei cursed inwardly. He shot Yao Feng a vicious look, left behind a threat, and staggered off toward the city. Though the Mite'er Family was one of the Three Great Families of the Imperial Capital, it was still no match for the Misty Cloud Sect. But there was no way he would simply let this go.

"Yao Feng, are you all right?"

After Leilei left, Nalan Yanran looked at Yao Feng apologetically. She had not expected something like this to happen because of her before they had even entered the city. She truly did not know what to do.

(Thanks to the generous boss Xing Yiliu for the reward! (☆∀☆) Thank you, boss! Although the assistant ate two thousand words today, I still painfully posted another chapter. I'm jealous of all those people traveling during the May Day holiday. Poor me can only write all alone. ヾ(｡｀Д´｡)ﾉ I'm so mad!)