Feng Fei stood up, stretched, and leaned closer to the head of the bed to take a look. He immediately burst into laughter.
A glistening drop of water clung to the corner of Xue Tuan's mouth, and a dreamy smile graced its face, its eyes crinkling as it seemed to be dreaming of something delicious. One of Xue Tuan's chubby little legs was draped over Ming Feng's stomach, seemingly making Ming Feng a little uncomfortable; its brow furrowed slightly, but then relaxed, a silly grin returning to its lips. Feng Fei covered his mouth and chuckled for a moment, guessing that Ming Feng was probably dreaming that Xue Tuan had given him some kind of favor.
Perhaps they were sleeping soundly, because both Xue Tuan and Ming Feng had adorable blushes on their faces. Feng Fei had to use a lot of effort to suppress the urge to pinch their little cheeks.
The little steamed buns are so adorable!
Feng Fei stared at the head of the bed and grinned foolishly for a while before remembering to wash up first.
As soon as Feng Fei went downstairs, he saw the lively scene in the lobby.
Looking outside in confusion, I realized it was still quite early. Usually, there would be hardly anyone around at this time. Why were there so many people today?
Thinking of this, Feng Fei casually grabbed a waiter who was passing by her and asked, "Has something happened?"
The waiter who was being held back by Feng Fei was probably new to the trade. Seeing that the person holding him was a woman, he immediately blushed and stammered, "Madam, I don't know either. Could you... could you not let go of me..."
Feng Fei was taken aback at first, then noticed that his hand was still gripping the waiter's clothes on his shoulder. He chuckled awkwardly and let go, saying, "Ahem, I'm really sorry."
The waiter hurriedly waved his hand, gave Feng Fei a curtsy, and left in a hurry.
Seeing the waiter slip away quickly, Feng Fei couldn't help but touch his face. Was he that scary?
Thinking it over, Feng Fei walked into the main hall and casually found an empty seat to sit down.
"Sir, what would you like to eat for breakfast? We have everything at Binrugui Restaurant. If you can't find what you're looking for, we can try to get it for you." As soon as Feng Fei sat down, the quick-witted waiter from yesterday came up to him with a friendly smile and said.
Fengfei didn't have any particular cravings, so he just ordered some tofu pudding and meat buns.
The lobby was bustling with activity, and the sounds of conversation drifted into Feng Fei's ears. Gradually, Feng Fei figured out why there were so many people around lately.
This city of Mochou was originally guarded by Yue Jin, a general of the Vermilion Bird Kingdom. The Yue family was a family of loyal and valiant warriors, each a skilled commander and capable border general. However, two years ago, the White Tiger Kingdom secretly invaded and seized Fengdu, and had already encroached upon many border strongholds and major provinces within the country in previous years. The Vermilion Bird Kingdom's demise seemed inevitable. Upon learning this news, Yue Jin wanted to rebel, but was dissuaded by his family advisors. He sent his wife, children, and elderly mother away and then disappeared without a trace. The White Tiger Kingdom then captured Mochou City without firing a single shot.
Now, Mochou City is under the administration of Lu Fei, a soldier from the White Tiger Kingdom. Lu Fei is merely a spoiled brat from a powerful family in the White Tiger Kingdom; his ability to defend Mochou City is largely thanks to his father, Lu Yuan, the Prime Minister of the White Tiger Kingdom. Lu Fei doesn't need to put much effort into the city, because Yue Jin sent away his wife and children along with all his capable subordinates, leaving behind only the common people of Mochou City.
Just when the people were filled with anxiety, they discovered that Lu Fei, who had come to Mochou City, was just a young man who loved to eat and have fun, and they immediately settled down and continued to live their lives peacefully.
The reason Mochou City became so lively during this period was indeed because of the meteor shower three days later. This meteor shower was no easy feat; legend has it that it only occurs once every hundred years, and each time a wondrous meteorite falls to earth, soon after which a wise person or a divine weapon will appear. Regardless of the outcome, it would be a reason for everyone to flock to it. As for why there were rumors that a meteor shower would fall on Mochou City, that was beyond the knowledge of ordinary mortals like them.
Feng Fei nodded curiously, realizing that's how it is. He suddenly remembered that the repair of the ring required a special energy stone, and wondered if the meteorite would be useful. While Feng Fei was plotting to get involved, he didn't notice the two strangely dressed people who had suddenly appeared in the hall.
While waiting for breakfast, Feng Fei suddenly noticed that everything around him had become quiet. He turned around and was immediately stunned.
A man was leaning against the counter, while another man held his waist, both glaring angrily at the shopkeeper behind the counter. They looked as if they wanted to tear the shopkeeper apart and devour him whole.
These two were none other than the Li family's eldest and youngest sons, whom Feng Fei and Yuan Jue had shared a few meals with in Qingfeng Town.
The Li family's two children were still dressed in distinctive and eye-catching attire. At a glance, Feng Fei recognized who was who.
The man leaning against the counter was the younger brother, Li Xiaobao, dressed in a robe with a green background and red floral pattern, and light green trousers. He had a small green fan stuck in his hair, with several green leaves growing from the handle. The man glaring at the shopkeeper was the older brother, Li Dabao, who was still wearing the same red robe with green floral pattern and pink trousers. He had a small sword-shaped ornament in his hair, with a red flower blooming prominently at the end of the hilt.
Feng Fei wasn't in a hurry to go forward and acknowledge her, since she was disguised at the moment, and whether she could be recognized was another matter.
Seeing that it was quite a lively scene, Feng Fei, who had no intention of going forward, simply propped his head up and watched the show.
Last time, Da Bao and Xiao Bao tried to scam her and Yuan Jue. I wonder what tricks they'll use this time. I'm really curious. Feng Fei had a faint smile on her lips, but her eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"Sir, here's your breakfast." At this moment, it was the waiter who had blushed when Feng Fei grabbed him earlier who brought Feng Fei the things he wanted. Feng Fei casually nodded and let him leave, not seeing the waiter's shy face.
"If you Binrugui don't give us two brothers a justice, we'll die right here and make sure you can't make a living in the future!" Li Dabao's words were extremely fierce, which made Feng Fei a little nervous. However, she still didn't understand what was going on, so she could only watch quietly from the side.
"Well, sir, I don't know what happened. Could you explain it to me?" The shopkeeper's attitude was neither humble nor arrogant. Although he looked helpless, he still asked patiently.
"My brother and I ate at your house, and after just one night, my brother is in this state. Aren't we going to come to you for help?!"
"Excuse me, may I ask where you two stayed last night?"
"What does this have to do with you? Just answer me: does my brother's condition have anything to do with you, Bin Rugui?"
"Here's the thing, if the two of you ate at our shop and then left, and the next day you were in this state, and you don't know where you are now, then we at Binrugui can deny all responsibility. What do you think, sir?"
Li Dabao paused, frowning as if considering the method, and seemed not to have expected such an answer, so he stood there stunned.
Upon seeing Li Dabao's appearance, the innkeeper of Binrugui Restaurant immediately gained confidence and straightened his back considerably. "Please leave, sir. I think your brother probably caught a chill outside, which is why he's like this. It would be best if you went to the clinic first."
These words must have enraged Li Dabao, for he slammed his hand on the counter, instantly causing the sturdy wooden cabinet to crack open with several terrifying gaps. This startled the shopkeeper, Bin Rugui, who stumbled back five steps before stopping.
"I slept at your inn last night! Damn it, it's your responsibility, that's your responsibility! Stop with the nonsense! Hurry up and give me the money to take my brother to the clinic!" Li Dabao suddenly became reckless, his explosive energy radiating outwards with his furious voice, causing the surrounding people to quickly move aside. Manager Bin Rugui, who was directly facing this energy, wasn't so lucky; although the counter blocked part of it, he was still injured.
Immediately, cries of grief, screams of pain, and agonizing screams filled the air.
Feng Fei covered her ears and looked at Li Dabao with displeasure.
Li Dabao also seemed to be taken aback by the shopkeeper's reaction. He never expected this person to be so easily frightened. Even if it was his own internal energy, there was no reason for it to have such great destructive power. He hadn't used any force at all; he hadn't even used a single level of his internal energy.
Li Dabao felt utterly wronged. The truth was exactly as he had described. They had arrived at Binrugui yesterday, had dinner, and rested at the inn. But at dawn, they were dumped on Mochou Lake outside the city, and his younger brother was half-dead. They checked their waists and found their money was gone. They immediately concluded that Binrugui had cheated them.
Thinking of this, the impulsive Li Dabao didn't take Xiaobao to the clinic. Instead, he went straight to Binrugui to demand his money and answers. Actually, even if Dabao had taken Xiaobao to the clinic first, he probably would have been kicked out anyway.
Just as Li Dabao was about to threaten the shopkeeper Binrugui again, someone grabbed his shoulder.
Chapter 8 Mochou Lake
Li Dabao couldn't help but turn around, and upon seeing it, he was stunned.
"Yuan..." He was about to speak when the person glanced at him and he swallowed the rest of his words.
"Help your brother and come with me."
After speaking, the man went upstairs, leaving Li Dabao standing there stunned for a long time. It wasn't until Feng Fei came up and patted Li Dabao on the shoulder that he came back to his senses. When he saw the person who had patted him, Dabao's eyes lit up with an amazing light, and without hesitation, he picked up Xiaobao and followed Feng Fei upstairs.
It turns out that the person who first went to restrain Da Bao was Yuan Jue.
Although it's unclear what Yuanjue meant by this action, it's unlikely to cause any problems.
"Waiter," Feng Fei called over a waiter who was close to her and instructed him, "Take all the food on my table upstairs, and also bring an extra portion for five people." As she finished speaking, she didn't forget to give the waiter a bright smile, which immediately made the waiter dizzy with delight.
It turns out that this waiter was the same young waiter who had been pulled aside by Feng Fei, blushing, and who had served Feng Fei dishes earlier.
Back in the room, Yuanjue had already woken up the two little ones, Xuetuan and Mingfeng. Xuetuan was rubbing his eyes, looking like he hadn't woken up yet. Fengfei couldn't help but go over and hug Xuetuan, giving him a kiss before sitting down contentedly to watch how things would develop.
When Mingfeng saw Fengfei come in, she couldn't help but move closer to her, because Yuanjue was radiating coldness as soon as he entered the room!
"Lay your brother flat on the bed."
Li Dabao nodded, then quickly put Xiaobao on the bed, and stood nervously to the side watching Yuanjue.
Yuan Jue stepped forward and placed his hand on Xiao Bao's wrist, his brows furrowing more and more.
Feng Fei, watching from the side, felt a jolt in his heart; it seemed things were going badly.
After a long while, Yuanjue stood up, went to the side to wash his hands, and said to Dabao, "I'll have someone bring hot water up later. You help Xiaobao wash himself properly first, and then you can wash yourself clean later. You two brothers can stay in this room for now. I'll find someone to take a look at Xiaobao later."
Seeing that Da Bao's face was becoming more and more frightened, Yuan Jue paused and took a breath, saying, "You don't need to worry. Xiao Bao is fine. He was just affected by the essence in Mochou Lake. You know that your cultivation methods are different from ordinary people. Those things that naturally restrain you will always affect you."
Hearing this, Da Bao calmed down a little. Indeed, everyone in their sect had something they were naturally afraid of. And the two brothers were most afraid of water; even a cupful would cause their spiritual energy to surge wildly. And this morning when they woke up, his younger brother was half-submerged in Mochou Lake!
Seeing that Da Bao had listened to what he had to say, Yuan Jue nodded slightly and then took Feng Fei, Xue Tuan, and Ming Feng out.
Feng Fei obediently followed them out, and seeing Yuan Jue walking straight out of Bin Rugui's house without stopping, she couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going?"
Without turning his head, Yuan Jue said directly, "Go to Mochou Lake. I sensed something extraordinary about that place from Xiao Bao. Perhaps there are some good things there."
Upon hearing this, Xue Tuan's face lit up with interest, while Ming Feng maintained a faint smile. Only Feng Fei immediately asked, "Then why don't you ask where Xiao Bao is lying? Mochou Lake is so big, how could you possibly find that extraordinary place?"
Yuan Jue suddenly turned his head and smiled mysteriously: "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed."
Feng Fei curled his lip in disdain, but still couldn't resist his curiosity and followed.
Mochou City was built around Mochou Lake, so it wasn't long before Feng Fei and his companions arrived at the lake's edge. Mochou Lake naturally exists amidst towering trees, its waters rippling, layers of mist gently nourishing the surrounding trees. The towering trees carefully encircle Mochou Lake, leaving behind a peaceful haven in the world.
Yuan Jue stood at the front, suddenly closed his eyes, and slightly opened his hands at his sides, and wisps of dark light instantly condensed at his fingertips.
Having known Yuan Jue for so long, Feng Fei had never seen what kind of bloodline Yuan Jue had awakened or what special abilities he possessed. So, seeing Yuan Jue rarely display his skills, he immediately stared intently at him. His gaze was fixed on Yuan Jue, causing Ming Feng, who was watching Feng Fei and Yuan Jue from the side, to shiver. Women were truly terrifying; her own Xue Tuan was still the cutest. Thinking this, Ming Feng moved even closer to Xue Tuan.
Before long, ripples appeared on the surface of Mochou Lake, and a cool breeze blew in from afar.
Suddenly, Yuanjue's eyes snapped open, and he looked to the right front at a grove of trees with branches extending above the water, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.
Feng Fei was extremely disappointed. He had thought he would see Yuan Jue display his skills, but it was just the same old routine, with no earth-shattering spectacle. Before he could even sigh, Feng Fei suddenly found himself flying through the air. Startled, he couldn't help but cry out.
"If you're scared, just hug me!"
A teasing voice rang in her ears, startling the screaming Feng Fei. A quick glance revealed that Yuan Jue's face was less than an inch away! His long eyelashes cast jagged shadows on Yuan Jue's lower eyelids like fans, and his dazzling eyes gazed at her with intense emotion. What was most irresistible were his pink lips. Ah, so close! If she got any closer, she could taste them.
Come closer, come closer!
Feng Fei's mind was completely occupied by this thought, and he completely forgot about his current situation of ascending into the air.
A smile flashed in Yuan Jue's eyes. He was thinking of teasing Feng Fei a little longer when he noticed that Ming Feng Xue Tuan, who had followed behind, had disappeared. He was startled and his expression turned serious.
Feng Fei seemed to sense Yuan Jue's wariness, so she reached out and put her arm around Yuan Jue's waist, pressing her body close to his, and whispered in his ear, "Is something wrong?"
Yuanjue simply nodded without replying, carefully observing his surroundings.
Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared in front of Feng Fei and Yuan Jue, and the two instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes. When they opened their eyes again, Feng Fei saw that they were in a cave surrounded by a curtain of azure water.
The two exchanged a surprised glance, and the words "blessed land" flashed through their minds.
Unexpectedly, the rumor about Mochou Lake being a blessed land is true.
Legend has it that every hundred years, blessed lands and grotto-heavens appear in various parts of the four continents. However, the timing and location of these appearances are unpredictable; sometimes they appear a few years early, and sometimes several blessed lands appear simultaneously, leaving people bewildered. It truly depends on one's own fortune.
It seems that Feng Fei and Yuan Jue are quite fortunate, but they noticed the unusual nature of Mochou Lake and actually managed to find their way in.
They were currently on the outskirts of this blessed land, surrounded by a curtain of azure water with faint shimmering light. This place only had a path forward; there was no path backward. It seemed they had been teleported in.
Although this place seems to be a blessed land, it doesn't mean there's no danger. Feng Fei's cultivation has only just reached the seventh level of the Acquired Realm. If he encounters danger, he'll likely have a very difficult time escaping unscathed. Thinking of this, Yuan Jue's expression became even more tense. He wasn't worried about his own safety, after all, he had awakened a special bloodline and had a life-saving trump card. But Feng Fei hadn't yet reached the threshold of breakthrough, which was truly worrying.
Yuan Jue released his divine sense to probe the only path ahead, and only after confirming that there was no danger did he say to Feng Fei, "Let's move forward!"
Feng Fei nodded and let Yuan Jue lead her forward. At this moment, she was even more worried about Xue Tuan and Ming Feng. She wondered if they would also be dragged into this blessed land.
The light ahead grew dimmer, and Yuanjue gripped Fengfei's hand tighter and tighter.
Suddenly, Yuan Jue stopped and looked around nervously. Then, with a flash of his right hand, a seemingly ordinary stone appeared in his hand. But he threw it away immediately, and the stone turned into dust, emitting bursts of spiritual energy as it struck the rock wall in front of him.