After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 38

Inside the quiet room, spiritual energy was thick, and the formation array’s light flowed, completely isolating the inside from the outside. Ye Li sat cross-legged, her mind focused, having entered a deep state of secluded cultivation, concentrating all her efforts on breaking through the bottleneck of the Meridian Condensation Realm, a barrier that had trapped countless cultivators.

However, shortly after she entered seclusion, a small commotion indirectly triggered by her broke out at the foot of Cloud Pill Peak.

The living conditions in the Outer Sect disciple area were far inferior to the Inner Sect. Inside a crowded utility room, Zhao Xiao Yi was carefully putting away a bottle of diluted Cold Marrow Quenching Liquid, a gift from Ye Li. His face was filled with gratitude and excitement. Not only did Senior Sister Ye trust him and guide his cultivation, but she also bestowed such a precious medicinal liquid. He was determined to work harder to repay her kindness.

The several outer sect disciples in the same room couldn’t help but show envy and jealousy. One of them, named Sun Hu, was usually idle and liked to curry favor with Inner Sect disciples but had repeatedly failed. Seeing that Zhao Xiao Yi, this taciturn fellow, had actually connected with the recently prominent Ye Li, he said sourly, “Oh, Zhao Xiao Yi, clinging to a big leg, are we? What good stuff did you get? Take it out and let your brothers see!”

Zhao Xiao Yi was honest but not stupid. He quickly hid the jade bottle in his bosom and shook his head, saying, “No… nothing, just an ordinary body-refining liquid.”

“If it’s ordinary, why are you hiding it?” Sun Hu sneered and stepped forward, trying to snatch it. “Let me see! Maybe you stole it!”

The other two disciples also surrounded them, clearly looking for a chance to take advantage.

Zhao Xiao Yi’s face flushed, and he desperately guarded his chest, “Senior Sister Ye gave it to me! You can’t take it!”

“Senior Sister Ye? Hmph, who knows if you swindled it! Even if it is hers, what good stuff could a newcomer have?” Sun Hu was dismissive and moved more aggressively.

During the tussle, although Zhao Xiao Yi resisted fiercely, he was outnumbered, and the jade bottle was about to be snatched away!

Just then, a slightly thin young man who had been sitting quietly in the corner reading a book suddenly stood up. He looked a bit scholarly, and his cultivation was only at the middle stage of the Spirit Awakening Realm, but his eyes were unusually clear and calm.

“Sun Hu, stop!” The young man’s voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable force. “Taking resources from fellow disciples by force violates sect rules. If this escalates to the Enforcement Elder, none of you will fare well!”

Sun Hu’s actions froze. He turned his head and cursed, “Lin Feng! This is none of your business! Go back and read your trash book! A good-for-nothing who only knows how to study, trying to play the hero?”

The young man named Lin Feng did not retreat. Instead, he took a step forward and said calmly, “Whether I am good-for-nothing is not for you to judge. But I have recorded your current actions with a projection stone. If you don’t stop now, I don’t mind going to the Enforcement Hall immediately.” In his hand, he was holding a low-grade projection stone, faintly glowing.

Sun Hu and the others’ faces immediately changed. They could bully the honest Zhao Xiao Yi, but if they were recorded with evidence and reported to the Enforcement Hall, they would definitely be in serious trouble!

“You… you just wait and see! Lin Feng! Zhao Xiao Yi! You’ll pay for this!” Sun Hu threatened menacingly before slamming the door and leaving with his two followers, crestfallen.

The room immediately fell silent.

Zhao Xiao Yi let out a sigh of relief and quickly thanked Lin Feng, “Senior Brother Lin Feng, thank you!”

Lin Feng shook his head, put away the projection stone (which, in fact, hadn’t recorded anything; he was just bluffing), and said lightly, “It was nothing. However, possessions bring trouble. You should be careful with what Senior Sister Ye gave you and not show it off easily in the future.”

Zhao Xiao Yi nodded repeatedly, “I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother.”

Lin Feng looked at Zhao Xiao Yi, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke, “Xiao Yi, do you often run errands for Senior Sister Ye lately?”

Zhao Xiao Yi honestly replied, “Yes, Senior Sister is very kind and occasionally asks me to run errands.”

A complicated look flashed in Lin Feng’s eyes, appearing to be envy mixed with contemplation. Finally, he said in a low voice, “Senior Sister Ye… is extraordinary. To be able to follow her is your good fortune. Grasp the opportunity, but also be careful and don’t cause her any trouble.” After saying that, he said no more and returned to his corner to continue reading his book.

Zhao Xiao Yi nodded, half-understanding, and took the words to heart.

This incident passed quickly, like a small interlude. But a few days later, when Zhao Xiao Yi routinely went to the Myriad Phenomena Hall to look for certain rare materials for Ye Li, he inadvertently overheard a conspiracy targeting her!

He was pretending to look at something in front of a stall when two disciples dressed in the attire of the Battle Maniac Peak, who didn’t notice this inconspicuous Outer Sect disciple, were talking in low voices next to him.

“Senior Brother Gao instructed us that we must make things difficult for that Ye Li this time!”

“But, Senior Brother, she’s always on Cloud Pill Peak. We don’t have a chance, do we?”

“Idiot! She has to accept missions, right? Find out what her next mission is, and we’ll go ahead and ‘arrange’ things! The West Mountain Abandoned Mine incident was an accident, but this time… humph, find a more concealed place and make her disappear without a trace!”

“But… what about the Enforcement Hall…”

“Don’t worry, we won’t use outsiders this time. We’ll find a few desperados from the ‘Black Den.’ Keep things clean, and who will know it was us? As long as we make it look like an accident or a revenge killing…”

Zhao Xiao Yi’s heart pounded with terror, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back! He kept his head down, not daring to let them discover him. He didn’t dare to breathe until the two walked away.

The Black Den! That was a notorious black market and lawless zone near the sect, full of desperados and shady dealings!

He didn’t dare to delay. He didn’t even bother to look at the items and ran back to Cloud Pill Peak like a madman, wanting to immediately tell Ye Li the news. However, when he reached the small courtyard, he only saw the “Seclusion, Do Not Disturb” sign and the tightly closed formation light!

Senior Sister was in seclusion!

Zhao Xiao Yi felt like cold water had been poured over him. He stood frozen, frantic like an ant on a hot pan! This news was critical and concerned Senior Sister’s life! But Senior Sister was in seclusion, and she absolutely could not be disturbed, or it could lead to cultivation deviation!

What to do? Go to Elder Mu Yun? But how could an Outer Sect disciple easily meet the Peak Master? Even if he did, with no concrete evidence, would the Elder believe him? Go to Senior Brother Han Li or Senior Brother Chen Mo? Could they handle the conspiracy of the Battle Maniac Peak? Would it alert the enemy?

Zhao Xiao Yi was burning with anxiety, yet he realized he was helpless, insignificant, and had no one to turn to!

Just when he was despairing, he suddenly remembered Lin Feng’s calm eyes and his words that day—”Be careful and don’t cause her any trouble.”

Right! Senior Brother Lin Feng! He was always quick-witted!

Zhao Xiao Yi immediately ran back to the Outer Sect disciple dormitory, found Lin Feng reading a book, and, without thinking much, pulled him to a secluded spot and fully disclosed the conspiracy he had overheard!

Lin Feng listened, his clear eyebrows furrowed tightly, and his expression became extremely grave. He paced a few steps in the small room, pondered for a moment, and quickly asked, “Did you hear clearly how exactly they plan to set it up? When will they act? Which faction of the Black Den are they looking for?”

Zhao Xiao Yi shook his head blankly, “I… I was too scared then and didn’t hear too clearly. I only heard them say they would use people from the Black Den and make it look like an accident…”

Lin Feng’s brows furrowed even tighter, “The information is too vague. Reporting directly lacks evidence, making it very easy for them to counterattack, and it will alert the enemy. We must find a way to figure out their exact plan, or… make Senior Sister Ye vigilant before they act, without alarming them and causing them to change their plan to something more hidden and unpredictable.”

He thought for a long time, and a flash of light appeared in his eyes. He looked at Zhao Xiao Yi, “Xiao Yi, go to the Myriad Phenomena Hall again soon. You must act as usual, and even… you can intentionally drop a hint (false) that Senior Sister Ye might come out of seclusion soon and is interested in a certain type of mission. See if you can lure the snake out of its hole and gather more information. But remember, your personal safety comes first! Withdraw immediately if you find anything amiss!”

“I… I should go and get information?” Zhao Xiao Yi was a little afraid.

“There is no other way.” Lin Feng’s eyes were sharp. “This is currently the only way to get more information without alarming the enemy. I will secretly keep an eye on the movements of those Battle Maniac Peak disciples and see who they frequently contact lately. We will work on both fronts.”

Zhao Xiao Yi looked at Lin Feng’s steady gaze, gritted his teeth, “Okay! I’ll listen to Senior Brother!”

In the following days, Zhao Xiao Yi suppressed his fear and followed Lin Feng’s instructions, continuing to go in and out of the Myriad Phenomena Hall and “unintentionally” revealing vague information to familiar stall owners, such as “Senior Sister Ye’s cultivation is progressing rapidly, and she seems quite interested in collection type missions and might be coming out of seclusion soon.”

Meanwhile, Lin Feng utilized all his time outside of class to quietly monitor the whereabouts of the Battle Maniac Peak disciples Zhao Xiao Yi had identified. His cultivation was not high, but he was extremely skilled at observation and stealth, and his mind was meticulous. He could always find unexpected angles and opportunities.

Persistence paid off. On the evening of the third day, Lin Feng finally made a significant discovery! He personally saw the leading Battle Maniac Peak disciple furtively meet with a strange cultivator with a scarred face and fierce aura in a dense forest outside the sect gate. He handed the person a bag of spirit stones and a scroll!

Lin Feng risked getting closer and faintly heard fragmented words like “Miasma Rain Forest,” “three days later,” and “leave no survivors”!

His heart was greatly shaken. He immediately retreated and found the anxiously waiting Zhao Xiao Yi.

“It’s confirmed! The location where they hired the killer is highly likely to be the ‘Miasma Rain Forest’! The time is probably three days from now! The goal is to fabricate an accident and leave no survivors!” Lin Feng spoke very quickly, his face pale but with a hint of excitement. “We must immediately pass the message to Senior Sister Ye! Even if she is in seclusion, we can’t worry about it! This is a matter of life and death!”

“But… but Senior Sister is in seclusion…”

“We can’t worry about that! If Senior Sister blames someone for this, I will bear the consequences alone!” Lin Feng said decisively. He knew deep down that if they missed this opportunity, Ye Li might truly encounter misfortune!

The two arrived at Ye Li’s small courtyard again. The formation array was still tightly closed.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, channeled his meager spiritual energy, and condensed his voice into a single line, piercing the formation barrier. He said gravely, “Senior Sister Ye! Outer Sect Disciples Lin Feng and Zhao Xiao Yi have an extremely urgent matter to report! It concerns Senior Sister’s safety! The Battle Maniac Peak has hired a killer, intending to harm Senior Sister in the Miasma Rain Forest! Time is pressing. We beg Senior Sister to forgive us for disturbing your seclusion!”

The voice entered the quiet room, and Ye Li, who was at a critical juncture of breaking through the bottleneck, slightly frowned.