Lin Changheng was enjoying himself and instantly grasped the commandery princess's meaning.
Then he could not help giving her a surprised look. She was as clever as ice and snow were pure.
"Brother Lin, a single hint was all you needed. You truly are brilliantly clever. I admire you immensely."
Pressing her red lips together, Tantai Feiyue praised him with a smile. Yet Lin Changheng caught a hint of teasing in her words. If his grasping things "with a single hint" made him "brilliantly clever," then what did that make the person who could guide someone so brilliantly clever?
In terms of wit alone, was she implying... that she was riding on top of me?!
This little minx!
Lin Changheng feigned anger and was just about to do something to administer a little "punishment," but Tantai Feiyue deftly drew back, elegantly left her seat, and slipped out the door.
Only her clear laughter lingered, like pearls falling onto a jade platter.
"Brother Lin, our conversation today has been a delight. Let us meet again beneath the west window..."
The night surged in, obscuring her from his departing gaze, while Lin Changheng pondered the words with which the female cultivator had enlightened him.
Middle-grade Pill Dao?
Perhaps there really was a way now...
Lin Changheng had intended to find a chance to visit the General Affairs Hall and ask about it.
Instead, he received a piece of news.
Xu Fugui had returned to the clan.
Returning now? The fighting on the front lines hasn't stopped. If Fugui has withdrawn, he must be injured or crippled... I hope it's only the former, and he's merely recovering.
Thus, Lin Changheng decided to make time to visit Fugui first.
"How is Fugui?"
Xu Fugui's eldest son, Xu Yongcai, respectfully ushered Lin Changheng inside and led him to the room, where he saw Xu Fugui recuperating in bed.
"Brother Lin!"
Xu Fugui grew immensely excited at the sight of Lin Changheng. He waved his hands wildly and struggled to sit up.
"Don't."
Lin Changheng set down the gift basket of spirit fruit he had brought and held him down, keeping him from moving about.
Xu Fugui could only obediently remain lying down, though he kept thanking him.
Curious about his attitude, Lin Changheng asked a few questions and learned what had happened.
At the time, the Xu Family and the Chen Family had fought until tempers truly flared outside the valley. Xu Fugui had taken an unconventional approach to combat, sneaking around to ambush and kill two fourth-level Qi Refining cultivators of the Chen Family.
Unexpectedly, a sixth-level Qi Refining old man from the Chen Family had set his sights on him and furiously pursued this sneaky ambusher.
Xu Fugui had been startled. With no intention of fighting him, he immediately picked a direction and ran.
He remembered that two sixth-level Qi Refining cultivators of the Xu Family should have been in that area.
Instead, he found only ground plowed over by magic artifacts and spells, without a single soul in sight.
The Chen Family old man caught up as well, approaching with a vicious grin.
With no other choice, Xu Fugui had faced him head-on. Until they fought, he had not known; once they did, he got a fright.
After taking just two or three blows head-on, Xu Fugui felt his chest tighten and his breath shorten. His blood surged, and he could no longer hold out.
This bastard was too strong!
There was no way to escape now, but continuing to fight would only lead to death.
Gritting his teeth, Xu Fugui stuffed a pill into his mouth and plunged headfirst into the valley's poisonous miasma.
He vanished immediately.
The Chen Family old man had also let the heat of the moment go to his head. He swallowed a pill and followed him in.
The chase continued inside for a long time.
Now, lingering fear and relief at having survived a calamity appeared on Xu Fugui's face. "If I hadn't had the potent [Miasma-Dispelling Pill] Brother Lin gave me to keep me going, I'm afraid I really would have perished in there. Though I'm badly injured now, I did at least preserve this little life of mine."
"Oh?" Lin Changheng had not expected that a willow planted without intent would grow into shade.
"Heh, but that old bastard wasn't as lucky as me. Though he also got out of the poisonous miasma instead of dying inside, it entered his body. He'll have plenty of suffering ahead."
"Who knows? His cultivation might stall, or even regress because of the poison! That certainly helped me vent my anger."
Xu Fugui looked smug, then turned solemn. "That's why I must thank Brother Lin for saving my life."
Lin Changheng looked at Fugui and smiled. "All right. Once you've fully recovered, I'll see just how you intend to thank me."
Unexpectedly, Xu Fugui suddenly called out "Han Ling" several times.
Soon, a smiling young wife with the modest grace of a girl from a humble household walked in. "Husband, did you call for me?"
"Go fetch what I told you about earlier."
"All right." Xu Hanling turned and went back out.
Lin Changheng watched the couple's exchange in some confusion. Before long, Xu Hanling returned carrying an exquisite little wooden chest and set it on the table.
"Brother Lin, open it and have a look."
Xu Fugui bared his teeth in a grin, winking and raising his eyebrows at Lin Changheng.
"All right, let's see what fine thing it is."
Lin Changheng never dragged his feet. He rose at once, nodded to Xu Hanling as she turned to leave, and reached out to open the chest.
He had barely lifted the lid a crack when an extremely faint scent of blood drifted into his nose.
Lin Changheng's keen senses detected it immediately.
Judging by its distinctive scent, it seemed rather like [Rockmountain Tortoise] essence blood.
Could it be...
He immediately lifted the lid all the way.
Essence blood had been sealed inside, filling the chest almost to the brim.
A glance revealed nearly thirty bottles!
"Brother Lin, what do you think?"
Xu Fugui's laughter came from beside him.
"Excellent. Then I'll accept it."
Lin Changheng smiled. He genuinely needed this, so there was no reason to decline or stand on ceremony.
Only the two of them remained in the room, yet Xu Fugui still lowered his voice. "I've never mentioned this to anyone, including my wife, concubines, and children."
"That was thoughtful of you, Fugui. But how did you obtain it? Did you happen to find a nest, or do you have another source?"
Lin Changheng pressed him for details.
He particularly hoped it was the latter, which would mean a new source rather than merely the fixed quantity of essence blood before him.
"No. During frontier reclamation, we discovered a nest of [Rockmountain Tortoises], and our clansmen killed them all. We originally intended to let the stationed forces of the sects, aristocratic clans, and some powerful Foundation Establishment lineages at the 'Mutual Trade Post' take them, but I found an excuse and bought them with Spirit Stones before they could."
Xu Fugui told him the truth.
Lin Changheng nodded slightly. "You did mention the 'Mutual Trade Post' to me before."
It was a gathering place for cultivators on the border of the Savage Wastes, where they could rest and trade.
Xu Fugui said, "There's something you don't know, Brother Lin. The 'Mutual Trade Post' is far too bustling now. Ninety percent of the gains from frontier reclamation pass through it. It isn't that they use their power to force anyone. Rather, these forces have joined together to form an entire supply chain, from pill refining to artifact forging, from talisman crafting to formations, from spirit food to enchanted robes. Everything of that sort is covered."
"What's even more remarkable is that, as long as cultivators and lineages engaged in frontier reclamation supply the corresponding main materials, they not only receive Spirit Stones, but can also buy a corresponding quantity of magic artifacts, pills, talismans, and so on made from those materials at a ten-percent discount."
"Whew... they can even do that?"
Lin Changheng was astonished by this strategy as well. This would not only allow frontier reclamation to sustain further frontier reclamation, but also keep almost all the spirit materials, spirit herbs, and other harvests from flowing elsewhere, drawing everything into the great powers' nets!
Moreover, cultivators could also profit, gaining a double return beyond their frontier reclamation merits. Their enthusiasm was bound to soar.