18: Treasure Hunt at Wan Hua Lou

With the relief of his injuries being nearly healed and the joy of possessing the Sword Heart and Sword Bone, Qin Feng arrived at the Drunken Immortal Tower.

In the back kitchen, Second Uncle was sweating profusely as he scrubbed a mountain of dishes, his movements carrying a trace of imperceptible fatigue and distraction.

"Second Uncle," Qin Feng called out.

Second Uncle looked up and saw it was him. First, he was delighted, then he put down his work and walked over quickly, pulling Qin Feng to a corner. He lowered his voice, his tone filled with reproach and lingering fear: "Xiao Feng! Where have you been these past few days? I went to look for you several times, but the door was always locked. You haven't been seen for days! I heard that the city hasn't been peaceful lately—Gang fights, Flower Picking Bandits... if something happened to you, I... how could I explain it to your father!"

Seeing the genuine worry and bloodshot eyes of his Second Uncle, Qin Feng felt a warmth in his heart and a bit of guilt. He had already prepared his excuse and lowered his voice: "Second Uncle, I've made you worry. I'm fine. These past few days, I went out of the city with Doctor Chu from Huichun Hall to handle some business and help him out. Doctor Chu found that I... I have some talent for identifying medicinal herbs and medical theory, and he's planning to take me as his apprentice!"

"Really?!" Hearing this, Second Uncle's eyes lit up instantly, and the worry on his face vanished. He patted Qin Feng's shoulder hard. "Good! That's great! Xiao Feng! This is a wonderful thing! Becoming a physician's apprentice is a great way to change your life! It's much better than your Second Uncle scrubbing plates here! You must follow Doctor Chu and learn well. Don't be lazy, and remember to be grateful!"

"Second Uncle, I know." Qin Feng nodded and took out two gold coins he had prepared earlier, pressing them into Second Uncle's rough hands. "This is some allowance my master gave me in advance. Take it, Second Uncle, to help with household expenses. Don't work so hard anymore."

Second Uncle looked at the bright yellow gold coins in his hand and was startled, immediately trying to refuse: "This... this won't do! It's too much! Keep it for yourself. Learning medicine and buying herbs costs money!"

"Second Uncle, just take it! I'm with my master now, so I don't have to worry about food or lodging. If you don't take it, I won't feel right," Qin Feng insisted. He knew his Second Uncle had been living frugally for his sake.

Unable to refuse further, Second Uncle eventually accepted the gold coins with red-rimmed eyes, muttering, "Xiao Feng has grown up, he's becoming successful..."

Having comforted his Second Uncle and settled one concern, Qin Feng set about handling another urgent matter—the valuables the Flower Picking Bandit had hidden in the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

At dusk, as the lanterns were first lit, Qin Feng changed into unremarkable grey cloth clothes and arrived at the most prosperous money-squandering den in Star South City—the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

In front of the building, there were singing and dancing, and the scent of powder and perfume filled the air. Just as he reached the entrance, a heavily made-up madam swayed her hips and approached him, her sharp eyes scanning him. "Oh, Young Master, you look like a new face. Is this your first time at our Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion? Please, come inside!"

"I want heaven character room number three," Qin Feng said directly, trying to keep his tone calm.

The madam's smile stiffened, and she said hesitantly, "Young Master, what a coincidence. heaven character room number three has been booked long-term by a guest, but... but that guest hasn't come for a few days."

Qin Feng knew very well that the "guest" was the Flower Picking Bandit, who had already been executed. He snorted coldly, said no more, and directly pulled out two gold coins, stuffing them into the madam's hand.

With the gold coins in hand, the madam's hesitation instantly turned into a fawning smile: "Oh! Look at my memory! That gentleman did seem to say he wouldn't be coming for a few days! This way, Young Master. I'll have someone clean up heaven character room number three for you right away! And I'll arrange our best girl for you..."

"No need," Qin Feng interrupted her. "Just make sure the room is cleaned. No one is to disturb me without my orders."

"Yes, yes, understood, understood!" Seeing his cold expression, the madam didn't dare say more and personally led him upstairs.

Entering heaven character room number three, a scent mixed with powder and a certain stale air wafted in. The room was luxuriously decorated with brocade quilts and silk curtains. Qin Feng bolted the door and, following the information, walked to the large carved bed and felt around under the bedboard.

Soon, he touched a tiny protrusion and pressed it gently.

With a soft "click," a hidden compartment popped out from the inside of the bedboard.

The compartment wasn't large; inside were several thread-bound books, several porcelain bottles of varying sizes, and a heavy cloth bag.

Qin Feng took the items out one by one.

There were four books in total:

"Flying Leaf Art" (Profound Rank Low Grade Movement Technique)

"Poison Jade Palm" (yellow rank high grade Palm Technique)

"Poison Jade Sword Art" (yellow rank high grade Sword Technique)

"Five Poisons Internal Breath Art" (Yellow Rank Medium Grade Internal Skill)

The cloth bag felt extremely heavy in his hand. Opening it, he found it filled with gold coins! A rough count revealed over three hundred coins!

Additionally, there were several porcelain bottles with labels like "Ultimate Bliss Powder" and "Bone-Eroding Powder," clearly aphrodisiacs and poisons. In the corner of the compartment, there were also several rolls of exquisitely made... erotic art albums.

Qin Feng flipped through the unsightly albums, his cheeks flushing slightly. He spat, "Truly incorrigible!" He then stuffed the filthy items, along with the aphrodisiacs and poisons, back into the compartment, keeping only the four Secret Manuals and the bag of gold coins.

But on second thought, they might be useful. He decided to throw these things into the System space for now.

"This haul is truly massive!" Looking at the Profound Rank movement technique and over three hundred gold coins, Qin Feng's heart raced. Not only had he solved his financial problems, but he had also filled the gaps in his Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, and movement techniques! Although the Internal Skill was only Yellow Rank Medium Grade, it was enough to support his current stage of cultivation.

After properly storing the Secret Manuals and gold coins in the System space, Qin Feng left the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion as if nothing had happened.

Next, he would go to the Huichun Clinic to formally become an apprentice.

Having a stable place to stay, an unfathomable master, and that kind and cute Junior Sister Xiaochun... the road ahead seemed much clearer.