Chapter 597: Fei Yong

Qingyu Garden.

"Qingyu grass requires a Spirit Rain spell every three days to encourage tender sprouts to grow…"

"The seedlings of the Three Lives Tree are most vulnerable to pests; they must be inspected daily at dawn and dusk, especially the undersides of the leaves…"

In the new herb field, Meng Tiandong was guiding several young disciples in the art of farming.

Yu Santian and Hua Qing passed by, both worried their roles were being usurped.

Fang Xing had brought out a wicker chair and lounged comfortably upon it, a palm-leaf fan now in hand.

These Qingmu Ridge disciples, though each possessed deep cultivation—none below the Late Sensing Qi stage—had never done farm labor.

At this moment, a red-clad girl stared at her once-pale, delicate fingers now caked in dirt, nearly in tears.

She was a disciple of Sister Hong, named Dong Meier, sweet and charming; not only did the young disciples sneak glances at her, even Yu Santian had stolen several looks.

"Master Fang…"

Dong Meier had appeared beside Fang Xing without notice, presenting her graceful figure: "Are you tired, Master? Your humble disciple has learned a technique to relax the sinews and invigorate the blood—may I try it on you?"

"No need. Here, you needn't flatter me—but rules must still be followed. As a herb garden disciple, you must work the soil. Or would you prefer to be sent back?"

Fang Xing glanced at Dong Meier, his tone cool.

"I dare not. I'm willing to work."

Dong Meier put on a look on the verge of tears, then silently returned to the herb field. The nearby male disciples felt their hearts stir, eager to protect her, wishing to finish their tasks at once so they could rush to help her…

Fang Xing paid no mind to such trivial matters.

"As the autumn wind has not yet stirred, the cicada senses it first… The world holds many clever people, but how many truly know how to avoid disaster and seek fortune?"

"Fei Changnong dared to lay his plans years, even decades ahead—he's clearly clever… though it's equally possible nothing will happen at all, in which case these disciples are simply unlucky; at least they'll still earn contributions in the herb garden, no worse off than others…"

"So it seems he has six or seven tenths confidence."

Fang Xing poured himself a cup of clear tea, utterly calm.

After accepting these disciples, Fei Changnong had delivered confirmed news.

His assignment to Qingyu Garden had been set over a decade ago and was already inscribed on the Golden Register.

The Golden Register had been sealed by the Sect's Yin Spirit True Person—no one could alter it.

Or rather, those with the power to alter it had no interest in such a task.

Thus, Fang Xing had stumbled upon a windfall.

"And… since Fei Changnong entrusted these disciples to me, does that mean he no longer suspects me much?"

"Of course… which sect sends its undercover agents into exile for a hundred years right after recruitment?"

Fang Xing sipped his tea leisurely, preparing to observe how events unfolded.

…

Several months later.

Inside the treehouse.

A paper crane fluttered in, and Fang Xing caught it in his hand.

"Sister Hong? Inviting me to explore hidden realms?"

Fang Xing pondered. There had been no recent reports of conflict between the Killing Sect and the Ten Great Sects—it seemed the rumors had been debunked.

A few of the young disciples left in Qingyu Garden grew resentful, secretly seeking connections to be reassigned.

Fang Xing didn't care at all—in fact, he secretly encouraged them.

After all, the fewer people, the fewer troubles. Why not let them go?

But after thinking it over, he declined.

"Apologies, younger brother—I bear heavy responsibilities and cannot leave lightly…"

He spoke a few words to the paper crane, then swept his sleeve, sending it flying away.

He truly needed to oversee the herb garden, slowly ripening a batch of century-grade herbs to accumulate merit and contributions.

Of course, the greater reason was… he didn't want to leave!

For him, any opportunity or miraculous encounter meant nothing.

Steady, peaceful cultivation was enough to stand atop this world.

"Besides… the Ten Great Sects of Right and Wrong are all homeless dogs, and the Outer Lands are barren backwaters—what opportunities could they possibly hold?"

"To fight and die over some Dao Base or Yin Spirit True Person's cave is to abandon the root for the branches…"

Fang Xing closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.

The paper crane flew a distance, arriving at the Shennong Hall, where a slender, delicate hand caught it.

"Hehe…"

Sister Hong smiled: "Brother Fei, it seems our younger brother Fang is indeed a true cultivator devoted to hard practice."

"He's managed to profit from this…"

Fei Changnong said, expressionless, holding a cup of Spirit Tea.

His invitation was both a test and a temptation.

If Fang Xing could not endure the hardship of this life, and instead craved combat, adventure, and rich merit rewards… if he voluntarily relinquished his Qingyu Garden assignment, wouldn't that be ideal?

"So many covet the Qingyu Garden assignment—it must be true that our Sect is about to go to war with the Blood Shadow Sect…"

Sister Hong smiled: "The outside world still claims the rumors are false; many have lowered their banners. I wonder how many will be kicking themselves later?"

"True or false, false or true—who can say for certain?"

Fei Changnong sighed softly: "I truly admire our younger brother Fang now. Only the wisest and the most foolish remain unmoved… those who remain unmoved are the ones who laugh last. Those who waver midway are merely jokes."

Sister Hong sighed: "With Brother Fang there, at least Meier and the others have a fallback. They complain about the hardship—but I've already scolded them and ordered them to stay in Qingyu Garden. If real war breaks out and the Sect calls for conscription, they'll be crying too late."

…

Outside, chaos swirled, but Fang Xing ignored it all; instead, the few disciples in the valley who had been the loudest in protest had grown quiet, and he sensed something unusual.

Meanwhile, he had been closely monitoring external market prices.

From the fluctuations of large-scale war materials, much could be deduced.

For instance… the Sect's upper echelons had been releasing false and true information to disrupt the market.

"It seems war is still coming—but before it does, they must first consolidate their own territories, control merchants, and sway public sentiment?"

Upon realizing this, Fang Xing became even more discreet.

One day,

A beam of light landed outside Qingyu Garden, revealing Fei Yong's figure.

His aura was deep and stable, accompanied by divine energy—he had forged his Dao Base.

With his Sect's Dao Base disciple token, he entered the valley smoothly and arrived at Qingyu Garden.

"Huh?"

Nothing was as expected!

Just after landing, Fei Yong saw a disciple casting divine energy.

Chiiii!

Thin needles of divine energy pierced through ladybug-shaped beetles.

"This technique of shaping divine energy into needles is rare even among sect disciples—yet he's using it to kill pests here?"

Fei Yong was slightly startled, when a red dress approached—Dong Meier.

Compared to before, this girl had become much more restrained. She bowed gracefully: "Dong Meier greets you, Elder Brother. Might I ask who you are?"

"I've just forged my Dao Base—you wouldn't know me. I'm here to find Elder Brother Fang."

Fei Yong said.

"Elder Brother Fang has been in deep meditation inside the treehouse…"

Dong Meier, ever eager to escape fieldwork, offered eagerly: "Let your humble disciple show you the way."

"Hmm, fine…"

Fei Yong knew nothing of the details—he only noticed the way the other disciples looked at this girl, filled with meaning.

He followed Dong Meier and soon reached the treehouse, bowing respectfully: "Fei Yong greets Elder Brother!"

Seeing this, Dong Meier thought inwardly: "This newly forged Dao Base disciple must be a junior of Elder Brother Fang—there's clear closeness between them…"

"Come in."

At Fang Xing's voice, the treehouse opened a doorway.

Fei Yong stepped inside.

Dong Meier tried to follow, but the trees that had parted instantly shifted back into place. She grimaced and returned to her farming.

…

"I pay my respects, Elder Brother!"

Fei Yong saw Fang Xing dressed in animal hide, yet showed no surprise—he knew this elder of his grandfather's generation always preferred such simplicity, and bowed solemnly.

"Hmm… you've delayed forging your Dao Base until now—that's surprising."

Fang Xing held a young Changqing tree sapling, speaking casually.

"A single Dao Base Pill isn't reliable, so I exchanged for another Dao Base artifact within the Sect… with the power of these two Dao Base artifacts, I finally managed to forge my Dao Base."

Fei Yong replied solemnly.

He always sought stability. With the entire Fei family's backing, accumulating a decade or two to exchange for one Dao Base artifact was not difficult.

"That… is prudent."

Fang Xing nodded, then noticed the black cloth strip on Fei Yong's arm and paused: "This is…"

"My grandmother was never in good health; when she saw I had established my Dao Foundation, she passed away with a smile..."

Fei Yong's eyes turned red.

"Song Yunqian is gone too..."

Fang Xing fell silent, deeply feeling the power of time: "Enough... the dead are dead. We must think of the living. You've now forged your Dao Foundation—I don't know if it's blessing or curse."

"Hm?"

Fei Yong blinked in surprise: "Brother, are you referring to our sect's impending war with the Blood Shadow Sect? Isn't it said abroad that this is just rumor? Many merchants who hoarded artifacts and pills have gone bankrupt—including the Lu family of Poisonous Dragon Hill..."

"Lu Feng did this?!"

Fang Xing almost laughed: "That does sound like his style—greedy for petty gain and forgetting righteousness... but no smoke without fire."

"No smoke without fire?"

Fei Yong thought for a moment, and his expression changed instantly.

If the sect truly plans to go to war with the Blood Shadow Sect, this newly forged Dao Foundation warrior of mine will surely be conscripted!

"Even if our Green Wood Ridge were to go to war, it would be against the Corpse Driving Sect... wait, no—the Corpse Driving Sect is already handled by the Flying Sword Sect..."

Fei Yong suddenly realized something, and sweat immediately beaded on his forehead: "The sect's actions clearly mean they're playing a grand game. If I try to avoid battle, I'll only make things worse. My only choice now is to meet force with force, and water with earth..."

"The fact that you think this way makes you stronger than those who blindly scheme for advantage."

Fang Xing said: "I can still take on one more Qi-Perceiving laborer. If you have any Fei family youths you wish to protect, send one to me."

"Yes!"

Fei Yong rose and bowed, truly sincere in his respect.

This Brother Fang never sought advantage or fought for position, yet he always quietly gained benefit and rose swiftly—he truly carries great fortune!

(End of Chapter)