"We can join forces, but when it comes to anything we find on the Wild Province Battlefield-or even in the Old God Ruins-we each claim it by our own ability."
"Of course." Gu Qingfeng nodded. After a pause, he added,
"In your fight in the arena, Xu Zhiyuan had a follow-up move ready with his saber as he retreated. Your saber's momentum suppressed it before he could unleash it. But if you face Qin Wangchuan, be careful. His saber techniques also have a follow-up move, one that's almost impossible to counter."
"Thank you for the warning."
"Here's some information our sect has gathered on the Wild Province Battlefield and the Old God Ruins. You can use it as a reference." Gu Qingfeng handed Zhao Feng a scroll of documents.
"Thank you."
After taking his leave, Gu Qingfeng pushed open the door and left the teahouse, his footsteps gradually fading along the alley's stone-paved path. Zhao Feng sat alone by the window and sipped the tea remaining in his cup. In the quiet alley outside, the cat had vanished. All that remained at the foot of the wall was a faint mark bleached pale by the morning light.
When he emerged from the Pinewind Teahouse, morning light slanted down over the eastern mountain ridge, gilding Primordial City's streets and buildings with an even layer of warmth. As he walked back to the Halfway Mountain Inn, he thought over Gu Qingfeng's proposal.
By the time he returned to the Halfway Mountain Inn, Su Qingwan had returned as well.
She placed two small porcelain bottles on the table. Their mouths were sealed with wax, and a narrow strip of paper was pasted to each bottle, bearing a few words written with a fine brush: "Azure Nether Valley · Ling Shuang."
"Ling Shuang came