96: Nighttime discussion on cooperation

Another day passed. During the day, Qin Feng spent most of his time in the quiet room to Cultivate and consolidate his Late-stage Grand Martial Master cultivation. Occasionally, he would refine a few batches of qi condensing pill, slowly increasing his proficiency. In his spare time, he would visit Ji Ruxue's room where she was recovering, under the guise of "checking the recovery of her injuries," though it inevitably led to a few verbal spars.

Ji Ruxue's injuries recovered very quickly; the foundation of the Blood-Filled Tower and the efficacy of the Life-Prolonging Pills were not to be underestimated. Now, she could move freely, though her Internal Energy had not yet fully recovered. Facing Qin Feng's occasional "provocations," she had gone from her initial shame and anger to her current state of helplessness, occasionally even snapping back with a retort. A strange sense of "harmony" had formed between the two.

That night, at the zi hour.

Qin Feng received the intelligence on time, and the content on the light screen made his heart tighten.

【Daily Intelligence Refreshed】

【yellow intelligence: Situ Ming, the Vice City Lord of West Lake City, has a cultivation at the Early Stage Martial Emperor level. His grandfather was the Imperial Guard Commander of the previous dynasty, and his Family has been tasked with guarding the west lake treasure for over a hundred years. However, even his Family does not know the exact method to enter the Treasure Trove; their duty for generations has only been to guard it and secretly eliminate anyone attempting to seek it. The fake treasure maps circulating on the market are precisely the traps intentionally spread by the Situ Family to lure the snake out of its hole.】

"Just as I thought!" Qin Feng's gaze was sharp. The Vice City Lord's Manor was indeed a dragon's den and tiger's lair, and there was even a Martial Emperor standing behind it! The difficulty had instantly skyrocketed.

【yellow intelligence: Situ Ming, the Vice City Lord, has placed secret sentries around specific waters of West Lake. These include, but are not limited to: the owner of the "Jinxiu Cloth Store" by the lake (Advanced Grand Martial Master), the blacksmith of "Zhang's Smithy" (Early Stage Martial King), and seven or eight Grand Martial Master level experts disguised as fishermen and vendors. They patrol day and night, closely monitoring any suspicious individuals approaching those waters.】

"There really are ambushes..." Qin Feng's brow furrowed. An Early Stage Martial King and nearly ten Grand Martial Masters—and those were just the guards on the surface. The difficulty of obtaining a Red Opportunity was indeed no small matter.

【Black Intel: Warning! Based on the Host's current strength (Late-stage Grand Martial Master), Ji Ruxue's strength (not fully recovered, estimated at Peak Grand Martial Master), and the enemy's deployment, if the Host and Ji Ruxue attempt to explore the west lake treasure alone, the comprehensive assessment of the fatality rate exceeds fifty percent! It is strongly recommended to seek powerful reinforcements!】

"Holy crap! A fatality rate over fifty percent?!" Seeing that piercing black warning, Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back. Two Grand Martial Masters—even if one of them was close to being a Martial King—would indeed have slim chances of survival when facing a force backed by a Martial Emperor, guards consisting of a Martial King and Grand Martial Masters in the shadows, and unknown traps within the Treasure Trove itself!

"Am I still not strong enough..." He took a deep breath, suppressing the impulse to take a risk alone. The black warning could not be ignored; it was the most severe judgment made by the System based on existing intelligence.

He could no longer hesitate!

He stood up, straightened his robes, and walked straight toward the "Lanyue Tower" where Su Yuetang resided.

The night was quiet, but warm lamplight still glowed within Lanyue Tower. Qin Feng gently knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Su Yuetang's voice came from inside, carrying a hint of alertness amidst her laziness.

"Lord Su, it's me, Qin Feng."

The door opened with a creak. Su Yuetang had clearly been preparing to rest, as she was only wearing a thin silk nightgown that outlined her breathtaking curves, with an outer garment draped casually over her shoulders. When she saw Qin Feng outside the door, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, which then turned into deep delight, her lazy features instantly becoming animated.

"Qin Feng? Coming to see sister so late..." She leaned forward slightly, and a rich fragrance—a blend of floral scent from her bath and the mature aroma of a woman—wafted toward him. Her red lips drew close to Qin Feng's ear as she whispered, her breath as sweet as orchids, "Could it be... you've finally come around and are willing to... discuss life with sister?"

The warm breath brushed against his ear, carrying a teasing itch.

Qin Feng forced himself to remain calm, took a half-step back, and said seriously, "Lord Su, don't play around. I have serious business to discuss."

Seeing his solemn expression, Su Yuetang realized he wasn't joking. She restrained her teasing, stepped aside to let him in, and closed the door behind him. The room was elegantly and warmly decorated, with incense smoke curling softly.

"Oh? What serious business could bring our Great Deacon Qin for a midnight visit?" Su Yuetang gestured for him to sit while she leaned lazily against a soft couch, the hem of her nightgown sliding down to reveal a section of smooth, white calf.

Qin Feng didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "The Blood-Filled Tower assassin I saved a few days ago, Ji Ruxue—you should know about her, Lord Su?"

"Yes, I heard Steward Rong mention her. Why, has she caused trouble?" Su Yuetang arched an eyebrow.

"Not at all. It's just... she seems to possess exact clues regarding the 'west lake treasure'." Qin Feng spoke slowly, watching Su Yuetang's reaction.

"west lake treasure?" Su Yuetang sat up straight, her laziness vanishing as a sharp light flashed in her eyes. "That Treasure Trove that was said to have sunk into the West Lake when the previous dynasty retreated? For so many years, countless people have searched for it to no avail, and it's always been considered a vague legend... Does it really exist?"

Her breathing quickened slightly. As a Tower Lord of the Hundred Flowers Palace, she knew all too well what a Treasure Trove from a previous dynasty could mean—immense wealth, lost Cultivation Techniques, divine weapons, and Sharp Weapons... any one of those would be enough to greatly increase a faction's strength!

"According to her, it does exist, and she knows the method to enter," Qin Feng nodded certainly. "However, according to my investigation, the location of that Treasure Trove is heavily guarded. Not only is it secretly watched by the forces of the Vice City Lord's Manor, but the entrance itself is filled with traps. The risk is too great for just the two of us."

He looked at Su Yuetang with an honest gaze. "So, I would like to invite you to go with us, Lord Su. The three of us will cooperate, and the gains will be split equally based on our contributions. What do you think?"

After listening, Su Yuetang's beautiful eyes gazed intensely at Qin Feng, and a bright, moving smile blossomed on her face. "No problem! Brother Qin Feng, sister is very happy that you could think of her and trust her in the face of such an important Opportunity!"

She stood up, walked to Qin Feng, and leaned down. Her stunningly beautiful face was almost pressed against his, her eyes brimming with emotion and her voice carrying endless temptation:

"Actually... sister's whole self can be yours, so why care about the distribution of a mere Treasure Trove?"

A delicate fragrance filled his nose, and soft, fragrant warmth was right before him. Even with Qin Feng's firm will, his heart couldn't help but race as his blood surged. He quickly circulated the Primordial Unity Qi Art, and a cool sensation flowed through him, dispelling the flirtatious thoughts. He smiled bitterly and said, "Lord Su, I'm talking about serious business..."

"Giggle, giggle..." Seeing his embarrassed look, Su Yuetang let out a pleasant laugh and sat back on the couch, regaining her serious demeanor. "Alright, I'll stop teasing you. I agree to this matter. As for the specific details, we'll discuss them further once Ji Ruxue has fully recovered. What do I need to prepare?"

"Not for now. You just need to wait for the good news, Lord Su. When the time comes, I might need you to go all out to deter any petty troublemakers."

"Don't worry, sister is counting on following Brother Qin Feng to make a fortune!" Su Yuetang smiled charmingly, full of grace.

With the cooperation established, a heavy stone fell from Qin Feng's heart. With a powerful reinforcement like Su Yuetang, a Mid-stage Martial King Peak, he finally had some confidence when facing the forces of the Vice City Lord's Manor and the traps within the Treasure Trove.

He stood up to take his leave and left Lanyue Tower. Behind him, Su Yuetang watched his departing figure, a meaningful smile curling the corners of her mouth.

"west lake treasure... Qin Feng... you really are sister's lucky star. It seems this West Lake City is destined for the winds to rise and clouds to surge because of you."