231: Leaving and guarding

In the main hall of the Changqing Hall, Qin Feng and the other four were already waiting quietly.

Li Changqing and Sikong Ye stepped into the hall, their gazes slowly sweeping over the young people before them. After two months, their auras had become increasingly restrained and profound. Standing there, they possessed a steady temperament unique to those who had undergone tempering and rich nourishment, worlds apart from when they first entered Medicine King Valley.

“Decided to leave?” Li Changqing spoke, his voice gentle.

Qin Feng took a step forward and bowed. “Yes, Valley Master. The kindness of Medicine King Valley is great, and we Juniors shall remember it in our hearts. However, a young eagle must eventually leave the nest. The Jianghu is vast, and we Juniors also wish to pursue a higher Martial Dao and complete unfinished business.” He spoke sincerely, neither humble nor arrogant.

Miss Xiao Chun, Xia Ya, and Ji Ruxue also bowed together. Chu Tianhe stood slightly behind them and gave a solemn salute as well. His injuries were now fully recovered, his cultivation had advanced, and his demeanor was composed. Although he held no official post, his status as an 'Honorary Elder' was already recognized and respected within the valley.

Sikong Ye looked at Miss Xiao Chun with a soft gaze. “Xiao Chun, remember, no matter where you go, you are a Named Disciple of Medicine King Valley. The path of Alchemy is endless; do not be slack.” He paused, his voice deepening slightly. “Even more, remember that people's hearts are sinister; one must always be on guard against others.”

“Disciple will keep Master's teachings in mind.” Miss Xiao Chun's eyes reddened slightly as she nodded vigorously.

Li Changqing nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Qin Feng, his tone solemn. “Young Friend Qin, it is good that you travel together and assist one another. The Imperial Capital is the center of the world, full of countless opportunities but also fraught with hidden dangers. You must plan before acting and proceed with extreme caution.” He paused for a moment, as if having made a certain decision, and his voice became a bit clearer:

“The journey ahead is long. To ensure total safety, Junior Brother Sikong and I have discussed and decided to specially dispatch two people to accompany you.”

Just as he finished speaking, two people walked into the hall.

The one in front was a young man around thirty years old with an ordinary face and a warm, peaceful temperament. He wore simple green pharmacist robes and had an unremarkable medicine gourd hanging at his waist, looking like an ordinary herb-gathering pharmacist. However, his steps were steady, his gaze clear and deep, and the aura around him was harmonious and restrained—he was clearly at the Late Stage Martial King cultivation level.

Half a step behind him was a woman who appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her face was elegant, but there was a hint of aloof coldness between her brows. She wore a light pink dress that fluttered even without wind, as if a faint Peach Blossom fragrance lingered around her. Her cultivation was also stable at the Late Stage Martial King level.

“Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom,” Li Changqing introduced them to Qin Feng and the others. “Both are Personal Disciples of myself and Junior Brother Sikong. Besides their decent cultivation, their path of medicine is also excellent.”

“They are even more skilled in combined attack techniques. Working together, they can even contend with an ordinary Early Stage Martial Emperor for a while. On this trip to the Imperial Capital, they will be responsible for handling the trivial matters of your journey and ensuring your safety.”

The man named Tao Yuanyi smiled and cupped his hands to Qin Feng and the others, his attitude modest. “Junior Brother Qin, everyone, I hope we won't be too much trouble on this journey.”

Cold Peach Blossom merely nodded slightly, her cold eyes sweeping over everyone before lingering briefly on Miss Xiao Chun's face as a greeting.

Following Li Changqing's words, Sikong Ye spoke to Tao Yuanyi and the other in a serious tone: “Yuanyi, Peach Blossom, the primary task of this trip is to ensure the safety of Qin Feng, Miss Xiao Chun, Xia Ya, and Ji Ruxue—especially Miss Xiao Chun, there must be no mistakes! You must properly arrange all trivial matters along the way, such as driving the carriage, camping, scouting, and negotiations, so they do not get distracted by them. Can you do this?”

Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom's expressions turned solemn as they bowed together. “Disciples obey Master's command! We will do our utmost to protect our Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters!”

Qin Feng understood clearly. How were these two simply responsible for trivial matters? It was clear that the two Valley Masters were truly worried, especially about Miss Xiao Chun, so they had sent their strongest and most reliable Disciples to accompany them as secret protection. It was called 'taking care,' but it was actually acting as secret guards. This painstaking care was truly moving.

He did not decline and bowed deeply again. “Thank you both Valley Masters for your kind favor. We will be in your care, Senior Brother Tao and Senior Sister Leng.”

Miss Xiao Chun also hurriedly followed suit and gave her thanks.

Xia Ya and Ji Ruxue exchanged a look, having no objection to this arrangement. Having two more powerful 'insiders' at the Late Stage Martial King level traveling along would undoubtedly increase their safety significantly.

Watching this scene, the last trace of concern in Chu Tianhe's heart was laid to rest. With such an arrangement by Medicine King Valley, he could also remain in the valley temporarily as an Honorary Elder with more peace of mind to handle some old matters and serve as another connection for his daughter within the valley.

There were no more words of farewell; everything was understood without being said.

Li Changqing and Sikong Ye personally escorted everyone outside the mountain gate. The morning sun had already risen, gilding the mountains with gold.

“Father, Master, Valley Master, Vice Valley Master, take care!” Miss Xiao Chun turned back one last time and waved vigorously, her voice choked with emotion.

Chu Tianhe nodded heavily. Li Changqing and Sikong Ye smiled and nodded.

Qin Feng gave a final cupped-fist salute to the two Valley Masters and Chu Tianhe, then turned around. Accompanied by Tao Yuanyi and Senior Sister Leng, he led Miss Xiao Chun, Xia Ya, and Ji Ruxue onto the official road leading out of the mountains.

Two carriages, ordinary on the outside but reinforced with Formations on the inside, were already waiting by the official road. Tao Yuanyi and Senior Sister Leng tacitly took the driver's seats of the front carriage, while Qin Feng and the other four boarded the rear carriage.

The carriage curtains fell, and the wheels rolled, crushing the thin morning dew as they gradually moved further away.

At the mountain gate, the figures stood for a long time.

The carriage did not head toward the once-familiar direction of Luoxia Town. Instead, under Tao Yuanyi's driving, it chose a more hidden path leading directly to the official road of the outer province. The people of Luoxia Town would not even know when they left or where they were going.

Inside the carriage, Qin Feng lifted a corner of the curtain and looked back at the outline of Medicine King Valley, which was gradually blurring in the morning mist. In more than two months, the gains had far exceeded expectations. Strength, equipment, Medicinal Pills, knowledge, and even the deep connections and friendship of Medicine King Valley had all become solid foundation stones on their path forward.

Miss Xiao Chun held Little Fire, who had grown another size with faint red-gold patterns appearing under its fur, and leaned quietly by the window. Xia Ya gently wiped her giant shield, while Ji Ruxue closed her eyes to rest, her aura icy and clear.

In the front carriage, Tao Yuanyi drove the carriage steadily, conversing in low tones with Cold Peach Blossom beside him about the route arrangements, his expression composed. This husband-and-wife duo would be one of their most reliable shields during the upcoming journey.

The official road stretched forward, disappearing into the distant mountains and wilderness.

The chapter of Medicine King Valley finally turned its last page on this day, coming to a perfect conclusion.

Volume Closing Remarks:

Traveling west from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Qin Feng and his friends stepped into Medicine King Valley. The events here were extraordinary. Relying on his prior knowledge of intelligence and the sharp sword in his hand, he not only completed three Grade A major tasks and rescued his Master from predicament, but also, through a stroke of Opportunity, assisted the sleeping Sacred Beast Xuanwu in removing an eternal dark injury, witnessing the rare spectacle of its Bloodline returning to its ancestors and ascending to the Sacred position.

However, behind the blessings, dark undercurrents surged. Miss Xiao Chun's 'Myriad Medicine Body' was exposed, but fortunately, with the protection of the Sacred Beast and the safeguarding of the Valley Master, danger was turned into safety. Medicine King Valley gave generous gifts, exhausting its resources: supreme pole pills to stabilize the foundation, Heaven Rank protective gear to wear, and treasures from the vault to take at will. After two months of secluded cultivation, in order to pursue the lower volume of the Daoist Primordial Chaos Art and face the broader Jianghu, despite the immense reluctance to leave, Qin Feng and the others finally had to bid farewell. The Valley Master hid his concern deep within and sent his Personal Disciples Tao Yuanyi and Cold Peach Blossom to follow and protect them in secret.

By now, the deep affection and friendship of Medicine King Valley had turned into the most solid luggage. Now that their wings were full, they should strike at the sky.

The carriage drove out of the valley, leaving the tranquility and gifts behind. Ahead was the core where the Empire's power intertwined, stronger opponents, deeper challenges, and the essential trial grounds for the peak of the Martial Dao.

Volume Four [Journey to the Imperial Capital], the storm begins its journey.