Chapter 335 - 192: Fortune Point Surge_2
Besides, Jiang Feng also wanted to see just what kind of people the treasures in Zhenbei Prison’s underground palace would attract.
Would it be Cultivation Great Powers hidden among the commoners?
Would the experts of the Imperial City mobilize en masse?
"There’ve been countless refugees fleeing north from your region lately. Houses inside and outside the city are full of people. That you managed to find this courtyard is a great fortune indeed."
"You’re right, I’m very satisfied with this courtyard."
Jiang Feng rented a small courtyard from a landlord named Guo, for five years, costing him two taels of silver.
That was an astronomical price.
You should know, when the refugees first entered the city, Jiang Feng sold his courtyard in Chaoyang Alley for only six or seven taels of silver, which was already a great price at the time.
But now, renting a remote courtyard outside the city for five years actually cost him two taels of silver—this would have been unimaginable before.
After sending off Landlord Guo,
Jiang Feng tidied up the house.
He moved in as a hunter, and even gave Landlord Guo two wild rabbits.
After finishing all his chores,
Jiang Feng checked his stats panel.
Name: Jiang Feng
Fortune: 427,759
Cultivation Technique: Yangchun Technique (Proficient)
Skills: Loulan Slash (Perfection+) Wind Palm (Minor Achievement+) Three-legged Body Technique (Minor Achievement+)
Realm: Innate (Ruyi Realm)
Divine Power: Immortality
Jiang Feng found that after escaping Zhenbei Prison and settling near Laojun Mountain at the North City Gate, his Fortune Point actually jumped by over forty thousand.
This was even more terrifying than the Fortune Points he gained from killing Liu Jinhu and Old Demon Child back then.
This showed that Zhenbei Prison truly hid tremendous dangers.
Moreover, his current cultivation was at the Ruyi Realm, and he was still able to gain so much Fortune, which meant the danger was far greater than he imagined.
"Should I hide even farther away?"
Jiang Feng’s first instinct was this.
"It shouldn’t be necessary. If Laojun Mountain wasn’t safe enough, my Fortune wouldn’t have increased so much at once. As long as I don’t try to approach Zhenbei Prison carelessly, I won’t get dragged into trouble."
Jiang Feng had plenty of experience. After carefully analyzing, he felt that Laojun Mountain was the most suitable hiding spot.
"Fine, I’ll stay here and keep watch. I have plenty of time, sooner or later I’ll find out what kind of opportunities are hidden in the underground palace."
Jiang Feng had made up his mind.
If he could seize the opportunity, that would be best.
If not, he could at least watch the show. Either way, he wouldn’t lose anything.
Six days passed in the blink of an eye.
The small village Jiang Feng was living in was called Hippo Village, nestled at the foot of Laojun Mountain, about twenty or thirty miles from the North City Gate.
The village population was originally small, but lately, those moving in were all refugees fleeing north from the South.
Jiang Feng blended into Hippo Village as a hunter.
Like an ordinary hunter, he would rest by day and go out at night, leaving after dark and returning from the mountains at dawn. Every time, he would bring back either a rabbit or a few birds.
Sometimes, if he was lucky, he could even catch a wild boar.
Any meat he couldn’t finish, Jiang Feng would sell. He charged the same prices as other hunters and haggled with villagers like everyone else—his every mannerism was just like a regular person.
Sometimes he would team up with other hunters going up the mountains. If they asked where he came from in the South, Jiang Feng told them Nanfu City. In just a few days, the neighbors nearby already accepted Jiang Feng; everything seemed both calm and harmonious.
Six days passed.
Back in Nanfu City, Han Dong, who had been keeping watch, finally received a letter sent by Bao Longwei.
During those six days, Han Dong led several raids on the Blood Wolf Pack outside the city, trying not to think about Jiang Feng. But she found it—the more she tried not to, the more unsettled she felt.
When the Communication Flying Eagle returned, she rushed to find Liu Yun for the envelope and tore it open in her presence.
The letter began with Bao Longwei offering some words of comfort.
Then, he confirmed that Jiang Feng had suffered a cultivation deviation. His qi and blood had reversed, resulting in death, and he explained everything to Han Dong about the Heaven-Stealing Creation Insights and Jiang Feng’s reading at the Academy—details provided in full.
He also stated he had personally inspected Jiang Feng’s body and had watched with his own eyes as Jiang Feng was sealed in the coffin and buried—down to every detail.
The more Han Dong read, the less she could accept it.
In the end, she crumpled up the letter in her hand.
She knew Bao Longwei wouldn’t make things up. With his confirmation, plus all the things—Jiang Feng receiving the Court’s favor, the grand funeral, and so on—Han Dong couldn’t help but start doubting herself deep down inside.
"Could he really have..."
Han Dong slowly sat down in her chair, and the memories of her interactions with Jiang Feng began replaying in her mind again and again.
Their first meeting.
It was during the Red Lotus Sect rebel faction’s hijacking of the prison.
Jiang Feng had volunteered to remove the Red Lotus Sect young master’s corpse to take the Poison Needle, which left a strong impression on her.
Later, he displayed his strength in front of Li Minhe, which she noticed, drawing Yuan Tiangang’s suspicion.
At first, the two of them were wary of each other.
But sharing a dream of roaming the world with sword in hand, they became friends.
She was used by Jiang Feng several times, and Jiang Feng had saved her several times as well.
They faced enemies together atop White Tiger Mountain.
Then fought Liu Jinhu at Black Iron Mountain.
All these experiences had already engraved Jiang Feng’s presence in Han Dong’s life.
Siblings,
or friends,
the relationship was hard to define.
But when she heard the bad news about Jiang Feng, it hurt as much as when she’d seen Xiao Ran die on Black Iron Mountain.
"Are you alright!"
Liu Yun was worried about Han Dong.
"I’m fine, I just want some time alone."
Han Dong walked out of the tent, dazed and distraught.
An hour later,
One of Liu Yun’s subordinates rushed to report: "Something’s wrong, General Han rode out of the city alone and charged toward the wolf pack."
"Is she crazy?"
"Chirp chirp!"
Liu Yun was shocked,
and hurriedly blew the whistle hanging on her neck,
while running outside the camp.
A hunting falcon swooped down to the camp entrance from above.
Liu Yun leapt up.
She rode the falcon, chasing after Han Dong.
...
"Master Ma, heading into the mountains again?"
"Yeah, the earlier you get in, the more you can catch."
"Could I trouble you for something? If you get the chance, could you catch a live pheasant? My wife is pregnant, I want to give her some extra nourishment."
"I’ll keep an eye out for you."
"Don’t forget, I’m good for it, whatever the price."
Master Ma was heading into the mountains for a hunt, and across the way, Nanny Yang gave her hopes and reminders.
These days in Hippo Village,
not many people knew Jiang Feng.
But the families living next to Jiang Feng all knew he was skilled—basically, every time he went into the mountains, he never came back empty-handed.
He could always catch a rabbit or two, or bring back a pheasant or two.
"Master Ma, let’s head into the mountains together!"
"Wolves are out at night, it’s safer if we look out for each other."
"Master Ma, you don’t mind, do you?"
At the village entrance, three hunters waved for Jiang Feng to join them.
They were the Zhang Family’s Three Brothers from Hippo Village, also hunters, often out in the mountains. In the past, with fewer people and more game in the mountains, the three of them would gather goods and sell them in the city the next day.
Now that more and more refugees were heading north,
there was less and less to be found in the hills.
Yet Jiang Feng could always bring something back from each trip, so they were curious, thinking Jiang Feng had a hidden den in the mountains and wanted to check it out.
"Of course not. With such skilled company, maybe we’ll score a big one tonight."
Jiang Feng smiled,
but sighed to himself.
He saw right through the brothers’ motives.
He secretly blamed himself for hunting so frequently—even if it was just small game, it still drew attention.
"Haha, hope you’re right, Master Ma!"
"Let’s go!"
"Master Ma, which path do you usually take?"
"No set route. Whichever way the birds fly, I head the opposite way."
"Oh, you think the flocks are scared off by big game, Master Ma?"
"Yeah."
They chatted along the way.
The Zhang Family’s Three Brothers were experienced hunters.
Their success relied on experience, guts, and solid skills, while Jiang Feng’s every outing depended on Perfection Realm perception power.
It wasn’t difficult for him to find a few rabbits and pheasants in the hills.
But when going up the mountain with the Zhang Brothers, Jiang Feng acted like them, watching for droppings and big-game hair left on the trail.
"Brothers Zhang, there’s game here,"
Jiang Feng stopped and said.
The Zhang Brothers looked skeptical—they’d been roaming these parts for years, and traps were seldom set in this area; where could there be game?