"Your time is up."
The last ember in the incense burner turned into a wisp of smoke and dissipated. Certain that she wouldn't be able to cure the poison, the man spoke indifferently.
"I'm afraid you'll have to leave on your own..."
Before he could finish, a muffled groan interrupted him.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes followed intently. She reached out and pulled a silver needle from Feng Wuxi's chest, and a mouthful of blood foam immediately spilled from his lips.
After a moment of silence, he circulated his internal energy to regulate his breathing, and the dark color on his face rapidly faded.
Seeing this, the man's eyes secretly widened, then quickly narrowed again.
She had actually resolved the poison!
"Feng Wuxi, how are you?"
Meeting her concerned gaze, Feng Wuxi shook his head and stood up.
"I am fine now."
The poison was extremely potent. Even he couldn't suppress it with his internal energy for even half a moment.
Just now, it was all thanks to Feng Yinwan.
"You saved my life. From now on, whether you want money or secret techniques, it's up to you."
Now that sounded like something a person would say.
Seeing that he had the strength to jest, Feng Yinwan's lips curved upwards, and she secretly felt a sense of relief.
"I told you, you wouldn't die."
She then turned back to the man, her eyes holding a sharp glint.
"The incense in the burner just finished as I was curing the poison. Since it was completed within the allotted time, it doesn't count as breaking the rules. According to what you said earlier, can you tell us about the immortal herb now?"
She was holding onto a bit of a grudge.
She had strong opinions about the rules of the Immortal Medicine Sect!
The man was still in shock and hadn't fully recovered. Before he could speak, a figure appeared from behind the screen.
"Impressive. Your skills have indeed earned my respect."
An old man emerged, also wearing medicinal robes, but his style and craftsmanship were clearly more refined than the man's earlier.
He looked more like the elder the attendant had mentioned.
In an instant, Feng Yinwan understood the situation.
This person had been toying with them. The man from before was a fake!
"We dare not accept such praise. I am young and inexperienced, it was merely by chance. I cannot compare to your sect's many tricks!"
Her tone was clearly insulting.
The old man, however, did not seem angered. He looked at her and chuckled.
"Young girl, you have quite a temper."
"I..."
Feng Yinwan's red lips parted, and just as she was about to retort, Feng Wuxi pulled her to his side.
"This junior doesn't understand the rules. Please do not take offense, esteemed sir. We are here today to sincerely seek the Lingjiang Grass."
Feng Yinwan was still disguised as a man today, yet the other party had recognized her as a woman from the start. Out of caution, it was not advisable to create further complications.
The old man glanced at Feng Wuxi upon hearing him, but his demeanor was clearly not as enthusiastic as before.
"It is you who seeks it?"
"Precisely."
He responded with a very serious expression. The old man nodded but did not relent.
"The Lingjiang Grass is no ordinary immortal herb; it is one of the six secret herbs of our sect. Since you sincerely seek it, what do you offer in exchange?"
"I am willing to offer the entire strength of Wuxi Pavilion."
The Immortal Medicine Sect lacked nothing in money or spirit herbs. The most appealing thing to them from Wuxi Pavilion would be secret techniques.
Unexpectedly, the old man chuckled and shook his head.
"Pavilion Master Feng, I am not interested in the things you mentioned."
Feng Yinwan: !
You had better be! This guy just said that money and secret techniques were all hers!
"Then, according to your esteemed opinion?"
"I have dedicated many years to managing the Immortal Medicine Sect. I am nearing old age and am lacking a successor proficient in both poison and medicine. I wish for this little girl to stay and become my final disciple."
His finger pointed directly at Feng Yinwan!
Feng Yinwan never expected this twist of fate to land on her.
The next moment, she heard the old man continue,
"I have always kept my word. If Pavilion Master Feng agrees, our sect will naturally present the Lingjiang Grass. If not, you two may leave."
He then fell silent, one hand behind his back, his meaning undeniable.
Feng Yinwan's heart tightened. As she was about to discreetly confer with Feng Wuxi, her gaze caught a glimpse of a hidden dark robe behind the screen.
In an instant, her mind froze.
It was the person in black!
They were actually here... it seemed her judgment was correct!
Her eyes darkened slightly, and when she came to her senses, she heard herself reply,
"I am willing to stay."
Before the words were even out, Feng Wuxi gripped her forearm. Without a word, he pulled her and rushed out.
Dragged all the way out of the main headquarters of the Immortal Medicine Sect, Feng Yinwan's mind was brimming with questions.
"Why are you dragging me? I've already taken the poison, wouldn't it be a waste to give up now?"
Feng Wuxi's brow furrowed, and he pursed his lips, "I cannot use you as a bargaining chip."
Feng Yinwan was slightly taken aback, thinking, "Haven't you tricked me enough before?"
"It's not a big deal, is it? I'll just be staying here temporarily. That old man said he wants to train me as his successor, and you know how rich the Immortal Medicine Sect is..."
In her opinion, if she stayed, she could save Feng Yueli, investigate the people in black, and accumulate wealth and medicine – it would be killing three birds with one stone.
Unexpectedly, Feng Wuxi's brow furrowed even tighter upon hearing this, and his gaze towards her was filled with cold anger.
"Feng Yinwan, there are limits to your greed!"
Feng Yinwan tried hard to understand but still couldn't grasp why he was angry.
She assumed the medicine had made him a bit abnormal. She pursed her lips and asked again,
"Then what about the Lingjiang Grass? What do you plan to do?"
They were already outside the gate, and going back would surely be impossible.
Feng Wuxi's eyelids drooped, his eyes darkening for a moment, "I have my ways."
His way was to sneak into the Immortal Medicine Sect's headquarters at night and steal the Lingjiang Grass.
Feng Yinwan didn't know where he got his courage from; her reaction was different.
"Are you sure...?"
That was the Immortal Medicine Sect. Not to mention how difficult it would be to steal the immortal herb, even if they succeeded, they would likely face repercussions in the future.
"I can't worry about that right now."
Feng Wuxi glanced at her, tightened his face mask, and said, "I'll be back."
With that, he leaped down and disappeared into the night.
Feng Yinwan leaned out of the window and shouted a few times, but received no response, so she had no choice but to give up.
...
The Imperial Envoy's Yamen in Yuzhou.
The candle flame in the room flickered as a dark guard landed lightly.
"Your Highness."
Behind the desk, Ye Tinglan put down the memorial in his hand and looked up, "How is it?"
He had been in Yuzhou for several days. Based on the information extracted in Jiangzhou, he had immediately contacted the dark guards in Yuzhou to investigate.
After several days, there should be some news.
Unexpectedly, the dark guard lowered his head even further. "Reporting to Your Highness, my subordinates and I have searched the border thoroughly but have not found any trace of the Princess Consort. Your Highness, are you certain... the Princess Consort is in Yuzhou?"
This statement was indeed overstepping, but they had been assigned to Yuzhou since before and had searched inside and out dozens of times, yet they had not seen the slightest sign of Feng Yinwan.
Behind the desk, Ye Tinglan's handsome face instantly darkened.
"What about the barren lands north of Yuzhou?"
The barren lands to the north were the place of exile for General Feng and Feng Jingyuan.
The dark guard was stunned, "Your Highness means... unauthorized entry into the barren lands is a capital offense. The Princess Consort..."
The next moment, a coercive chill emanated from the opposite side.
"Order people to continue investigating. As for the barren lands, I will go myself."