Chapter 21: The Road to Haosi City

Feng Rong, though rarely seen in public, was the undisputed leader of the Hantian Alliance.

To the martial world, the Hantian Alliance carried immense weight, and the title of “Alliance Leader” carried even more. If something were to happen to Feng Rong, it would be as if the Eastern Sea had lost its stabilizing pillar, or if a piece of the legendary Heaven-Mending Stone had been gouged out.

As long as Feng Rong lived, even if the world were teeming with villains, no one would dare to act out of turn. But what if… something had actually happened to her?

That was the only logical explanation for why someone like Feng Yun’ai—a woman who looked like a celestial being in white and seemed to have a thousand tangled connections to Feng Rong—would suddenly appear in this desolate, sand-choked wasteland.

Feng Yun’ai would never admit it. As of now, no rumors had leaked from the Central Plains’ martial world. She could simply insist that this woman was making wild guesses.

Meeting her gaze, Feng Yun’ai asked coldly, “Are you hoping she has come to harm?”

“How could I? It is merely a deduction,” Sang Chencao sneered. “If the Hantian Alliance and the Central Plains fall into chaos, I certainly wouldn’t be the one to benefit. Why would I hope for her downfall?”

Feng Yun’ai set down the prescription, her mind already tracing Wen Lanxin’s path.

If Wen Lanxin wasn’t here for the Water-Marsh Fragrance but for the Hero Recruitment Meet, she would have to travel from the Listening Moon Sand River to Cloud City. To do that, she would have to pass through Haosi City and Zhuyu Town.

Between these two locations lay a vast mountain range that took a full day to traverse on foot. To reach Cloud City, any traveler would have to stop and rest in those two places.

Feng Yun’ai repeated her demand, her voice frigid. “I want to see Wen Lanxin.”

Sang Chencao laughed again, her composure unshakable. “She isn’t here, so how do you expect to see her? I told you before, I have no idea where she went.”

After a brief silence, Feng Yun’ai reached for the sword on her back. “What if I use this sword to lure her out?”

Sang Chencao’s eyes narrowed slightly. “So, you did know this sword belonged to her.”

This time, Feng Yun’ai had no way to argue.

“You came specifically for Wen Lanxin. It just so happened that Hu Cheng died, and his body was riddled with needle wounds,” Sang Chencao said with a cold laugh. “That certainly saved you the trouble of finding an excuse to look for her.”

Feng Yun’ai remained silent, her grey eyes appearing vacant and hollow.

“Let me teach you something,” Sang Chencao offered with mock generosity. “If you want Wen Lanxin to know her sword is in your hands, simply carrying it around is useless. You need to spread the word.”

She paused, her voice dripping with hidden meaning. “When you were at the Yao Yao Inn, you didn’t even show the sword on your back. You surely didn’t think the sword and Wen Lanxin shared some magnetic attraction, did you? That she would just sense its location out of thin air?”

The mockery in her voice was blatant. Feng Yun’ai’s brow furrowed slightly.

Suddenly, Sang Chencao’s expression shifted to a forced tenderness. she reached out and gently touched the center of Feng Yun’ai’s brow. “Oh, don’t frown. You aren’t nearly as beautiful when you scowl.”

Feng Yun’ai leaned back to avoid the touch, clearly displeased by the woman’s lack of boundaries. “I only stayed at the Yao Yao Inn because the sandstorms were too heavy to travel,” she said coldly.

Sang Chencao pretended to believe her, nodding. “That makes sense. The inn was crowded those few days specifically because the wind and sand forced everyone to stay.”

“Indeed. If not for the storm, I wouldn’t have stopped there either,” Sang Chencao agreed.

“Did you know from the beginning that I was here for Wen Lanxin?” Feng Yun’ai asked suspiciously. “How could you tell?”

Sang Chencao arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t. It’s just that your appearance is truly out of place in this sea of sand, and I’ve always had a penchant for beautiful, peculiar people and things.”

Glancing down at the desk, Feng Yun’ai picked up the unfinished prescription, folded it, and tucked it into her robes. She turned to leave. “I am going to Haosi City. You are coming with me.”

Being under the other woman’s control, Sang Chencao had no way to refuse. She simply said, “Don’t blame me for not warning you—Wen Lanxin likely left Yellow Sand Cliff two days ago. She might not be in Haosi City anymore. She’s probably moved on already.”

Feng Yun’ai reached back and touched the hilt of the sword. The metal was biting cold, making her palm go numb.

The sword was naturally frigid; she wondered if it was due to the toxins imbued within the blade. If it weren’t for that, it wouldn’t be capable of freezing a person’s internal organs.

Even though Feng Yun’ai practiced a cultivation technique of extreme cold, even she could barely withstand this chill. That was why she kept the sword wrapped and strapped to her back rather than holding it in her hand.

She couldn’t help but wonder: what kind of technique would Wen Lanxin have to master to be able to hold this sword for any length of time?

With that thought, she shot a sharp look at Sang Chencao. Remembering this woman’s habitually hot body and internal energy, she felt even more certain that Sang Chencao shared a deep connection with Wen Lanxin.

Sang Chencao allowed the cold gaze to wash over her, turning away with leisurely grace. “If we’re going to Haosi City, we should leave early. The sun is setting. Any later and we’ll have to deal with tigers and wolves on the road.”

Having said that, she walked to the window and leaned out to look down. Though her frame was slender, it concealed a wellspring of power.

Rather than a venomous snake, she was more like a bow—a bow humming with lethal intent.

Sang Chencao suddenly looked back and smiled. On anyone else, a beauty mark beneath the eye would look flirtatious and tender; on her, it only felt eerie.

Even though she had sealed the woman’s acupoints, Feng Yun’ai did not dare lower her guard. She followed the other woman’s gaze.

“I don’t know why Wen Lanxin built this bamboo building so high. Carry me down,” Sang Chencao said smoothly. “My energy is blocked because of you, after all.”

Unable to read the woman’s mind, Feng Yun’ai stepped forward cautiously. Even as she carried Sang Chencao out of the building, her body remained tense.

The snake pit had been burned, but many snakes had managed to crawl out. The lush greenery now rustled with movement, punctuated by occasional hissing.

Feng Yun’ai let go of Sang Chencao, her hand already resting on the short blades at her waist. After all the recent skirmishes, she only had a few blades left.

Fortunately, the snakes didn’t dare approach Sang Chencao. They lingered nearby for a moment before slithering away.

Their horse was nowhere to be seen. It was only when they walked closer that they found it—the horse had been bitten by a snake and was now lying motionless in the grass.

Feng Yun’ai felt the bite wound on the horse’s leg, her heart leaping into her throat. Without a horse, it would be difficult to leave Yellow Sand Cliff.

Sang Chencao clicked her tongue and stepped forward. She nonchalantly lifted the horse’s hoof to inspect it, then pulled a pill from her waist. “Crush this and apply it to the wound. The venom will be neutralized in no time.”

Feng Yun’ai didn’t take it immediately. She stared at the woman’s palm for a long time. “I thought you did this on purpose,” she said coldly. “To trap me here so I would be bitten by venomous snakes as well.”

Hearing this, Sang Chencao burst into laughter. She leaned over, her face coming very close as if she were examining a fascinating toy. “How did you grow up to be like this?” she asked playfully. “So cautious and guarded, yet so quick to reveal your inner thoughts. It’s as if you’ve never dealt with people before.”

Feng Yun’ai’s expression instantly turned icy.

“Here. If you don’t neutralize the venom now, don’t even think about leaving Yellow Sand Cliff tonight.” Sang Chencao shook her palm, the pill rolling around and nearly falling to the ground.

Feng Yun’ai took the pill and crushed it in her hand. The ripple of emotion in her grey eyes was barely visible. “If I find Wen Lanxin, you won’t stop me?”

“Why would I?” Sang Chencao arched an eyebrow. “First of all, you aren’t Feng Rong; how could you possibly hurt Wen Lanxin? Second, I actually want to see for myself… whether Wen Lanxin lives or dies in the end.”

This was completely contrary to Feng Yun’ai’s understanding. In her eyes, if the two were master and disciple, they shouldn’t be so indifferent toward each other.

The powder was applied to the horse’s leg. Perhaps out of pain, the horse thrashed a few times before slowly calming down.

Feng Yun’ai was convinced this woman was malicious and heartless, but it turned out the medicine was real. Before long, the horse opened its eyes and actually struggled back to its feet.

“Well?” Sang Chencao stood straight, watching the horse with her hands behind her back.

Feng Yun’ai met her with silence.

After a moment, Sang Chencao’s eyes curved into crescents. She laughed in a dark, snake-like tone. “But there was only one pill. If you’re the one who gets bitten next, I won’t be able to save you.”