Black Wind Mountain Outpost

At this moment, Jiang Feng and his group were heading west, having already left the town behind.

Looking into the distance, the dark, oppressive silhouette of Black Wind Mountain was already vaguely visible.

Black Wind Mountain was rich in resources, especially in medicinal herbs.

The reason a place as small as Black Water Town could support three medicine halls was entirely due to this mountain.

In their daily lives, many commoners would often enter the mountain to forage for herbs to supplement their livelihoods. However, the mountain held not only herbs but also man-eating beasts; those who went in but never came out were not few in number.

Under the leadership of Fan Qingyang, the group walked and stopped, chatting and laughing along the way. Anyone who knew they were heading into the mountain to collect herbs would think they were out for a leisurely spring outing.

Jiang Feng naturally kept his mouth shut. The Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall wasn't his family's business, he had no spare energy to worry on its behalf, and furthermore, he wasn't the team leader; there was no need to say things that would offend others.

He simply walked quietly at the very end of the line, maintaining the circulation of his Iron Stake Technique while silently adjusting the breathing rhythm of his Exquisite Breathing Method.

Near noon, the group found a shady spot at the foot of the mountain to rest for a while.

Jiang Feng sat in a corner by himself, deliberately keeping his distance from the others. He had tried his best to appear low-key and reserved, but in the end, there were still those who found him an eyesore.

"Yo, Jiang Feng, you don't even forget to cultivate while out collecting herbs, how truly diligent. I wonder what your realm is now? Have you broken through to the second level of the Blood-Moving Realm? Hahaha."

Jiang Feng smiled, replying in a flat, indifferent tone: "Can't help it, I'm a dull person. I can only rely on the 'clumsy bird flying first' method. Unlike you all, who are 'gifted with extraordinary talent,' able to improve your strength while chatting and laughing."

The person who had spoken with sarcasm was instantly choked, his face flushing red with embarrassment and anger.

If he were truly gifted with extraordinary talent, why would he still be an apprentice here?

Yet, he also didn't feel that Jiang Feng had the qualifications to mock him. He was at least at the third level of the Blood-Moving Realm, so what right did Jiang Feng, who hadn't even reached the second level, have to laugh at him?

Thinking this, he stood up and began to curse as he pressed toward Jiang Feng.

"Jiang Feng, did Young Master Wu beat your brain into a pulp? You dare to talk to me like this..."

Jiang Feng opened his eyes at almost the same moment, looking at him coldly.

With just this one glance, the young man couldn't help but shiver, as if he had been targeted by some terrifying beast. His originally arrogant stride suddenly became hesitant, and the words he hadn't finished speaking were forcibly swallowed back down.

Just then, Fan Qingyang suddenly spoke up:

"Alright, stop arguing. We are all people from the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall; we should help each other out when we're out here. I think everyone has rested enough, let's continue on our way."

The young man took the opportunity to back down, shooting a vicious glare at Jiang Feng and dropping a harsh threat before turning to leave: "Jiang Feng, consider yourself lucky today. Watch your mouth in the future!"

Jiang Feng didn't look at this clown again, instead casting his gaze toward Fan Qingyang, who was walking in the front.

To be honest, he was a bit puzzled.

The words just now were completely unlike something Fan Qingyang would say. According to his expectations, Fan Qingyang should have been fanning the flames, inciting the others to attack him in a group, and he had already prepared himself to deal with that.

But the situation had suddenly flipped. This didn't make him relax; instead, it amplified the unease in his heart.

This time, Fan Qingyang isn't just playing small games. He must have prepared a "big surprise" for me.

During the rest of the journey, Jiang Feng maintained a high level of vigilance, even taking the initiative to distance himself from the others in the group.

He quietly tucked the dagger he carried into his sleeve, ready at any moment to deal with any sudden situation that might arise.

As time slowly slipped away, Jiang Feng and his group finally stepped into the outer perimeter of Black Wind Mountain.

The sky had long since darkened, and without the light of day, Black Wind Mountain appeared exceptionally hideous and terrifying. Cold winds whistled through the forest, dead branches and withered leaves rustled, and the entire wilderness seemed to transform into a living mass of black fog, baring its fangs and claws to devour everything in its path.

Finally, before the sky turned completely pitch black, the group arrived at the outpost established by the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall on Black Wind Mountain.

Calling it an outpost was a stretch; it was actually just a patch of reclaimed wasteland with three lonely wooden huts standing on it.

The largest one was a warehouse for storing herbs and supplies, while the two smaller ones were living quarters for people to rest.

Fan Qingyang first led everyone into the warehouse to take inventory of the herbs. According to past practice, they only needed to count out enough of a quota to bring back to the Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall to fulfill their duty.

But this time, after counting, they discovered that not only were the varieties insufficient, but the quantity was also far from enough.

A small, thin apprentice looked at Fan Qingyang with a face full of worry:

"Boss, the herbs aren't enough. With just this little bit to take back, can we even fulfill our duty?"

Fan Qingyang's expression was completely indifferent. He hadn't participated in the inventory at all, his gaze fixed through the window on the forest behind the warehouse, as if searching for something. Hearing this, he just replied casually:

"Since the herbs aren't enough, we'll just go up the mountain to forage tomorrow. Once we've collected enough, we'll head back."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of many turned ugly.

Collecting herbs and foraging for them were two completely different levels of risk. Entering the mountain to forage was something that could truly cost lives. But they didn't dare to say anything more, and could only grit their teeth and accept it.

After leaving the warehouse, it was already late. To have the energy to forage in the mountain tomorrow, everyone began to divide up the rooms to rest.

Fan Qingyang looked at Jiang Feng with a smile, pointing to the two small huts as he said:

"Jiang Feng, this room is larger, so the nine of us will squeeze in here. You're on your own, so go to that small hut over there. Anyway, you lived alone back at the medicine hall, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Jiang Feng was more than happy with this arrangement.

He would rather sleep in the warehouse than stay with this group of people. In his eyes, these guys who followed Fan Qingyang's lead were the greatest source of danger on this trip.

Watching Jiang Feng walk alone toward the lonely little wooden hut, a meaningful smile appeared on Fan Qingyang's face.

Several apprentices nearby who didn't understand the situation couldn't help but voice their confusion:

"Boss Fan, why are we letting that kid Jiang Feng live alone in a room? Our room is big, but nine people is still a bit crowded.

If you don't like him, why not just let him sleep in the empty one? Letting him take up such a big room all by himself, isn't that being too easy on him?"

The person speaking lowered his voice as he went on, because he noticed Fan Qingyang's expression gradually darkening, his gaze becoming icy.

"Is it your word that counts, or mine? If you really want to move over there, I won't stop you. But I'll say this first: if any accidents happen tonight, don't blame me for not warning you."

The man immediately cowered, a fawning smile piling up on his face:

"Boss Fan, what are you saying? How would I dare not listen to your orders? I was just thinking of teaching that guy surnamed Jiang a lesson to vent some anger for you."

Fan Qingyang lifted his chin and gave a light snort:

"Enough, don't say those useless things. Go back and rest. I'll be keeping watch outside tonight. I'll remind you of one thing: the commotion outside tonight might be a bit loud. No matter what sounds you hear, don't come out.

If you see something you shouldn't, be careful that you won't have the chance to open your eyes again in the future."

The others were no soft touches themselves; hearing this, they instantly understood something. The looks they cast at Fan Qingyang involuntarily carried a hint of fear, and they nodded hurriedly in agreement.

"Don't worry, Boss Fan, we sleep like the dead, we definitely won't hear or see anything..."

"Yes, yes, even if we die, we'll definitely die inside the room, we won't step a foot outside!"

The group scrambled to express their stance, fearing that if they nodded too slowly, they would be held in contempt by Fan Qingyang. Watching their fearful expressions, Fan Qingyang nodded with satisfaction.

These few were people he had carefully selected, absolutely loyal to him; no matter what he did, they would obey one hundred percent. If he wanted to make Jiang Feng's identity as a thief stick, the testimonies of these people were indispensable.

Waving his hand to send them back to the room, Fan Qingyang immediately turned around and ran quickly toward the forest behind the warehouse.