Chapter 039: Spreading Rumors

“Ah, the chief of Flying Phoenix Ridge is actually a Grandmaster of the Transformative Realm? How come we haven’t heard a word about it?” Ye Hongxiu exclaimed. Typically, when a master of the Transformative Realm emerges in any stronghold of the Great Ba Mountains, it triggers a redistribution of interests in the surrounding area, causing a stir among all the mountain strongholds.

“That’s because she only broke through a few days ago, and I asked her to keep it quiet for now, to cooperate with our Qingyun Stronghold’s plans. So she’s essentially our secret weapon,” Fang Xian explained.

“Husband, is there something you haven’t told me? Is the chief of Flying Phoenix Ridge a man or a woman?” Ye Hongxiu, sensing something amiss, confronted Fang Xian as soon as they returned to their room.

“I never intended to hide anything from you. I came back precisely to tell you. The chief of Flying Phoenix Ridge is named Feng Ling, a core disciple of Hundred Flowers Abyss. Her man died at the hands of soldiers three years ago, leaving her with a son barely half a year old.

But half a year ago, Feng Ling captured a tiger cub—the offspring of the Tiger King. Her son was frightened when he saw it, fell, and struck the back of his head. There was little hope for him. Fortunately, I happened to know how to cure his condition. After I healed her son, she willingly became my woman, and with my help, she succeeded in breaking through to the Transformative Realm.”

Fang Xian hid nothing about his relationship with Feng Ling; it was better to be upfront now than risk misunderstandings later.

“Husband, you found yourself a woman outside, and she’s a Grandmaster of the Transformative Realm? That puts so much pressure on me. If she ever causes trouble, I wouldn’t be able to handle her!” Ye Hongxiu’s concern was not about Fang Xian taking another woman, but that Feng Ling was stronger than her.

“You needn’t worry. Feng Ling has said she doesn’t care about status and won’t compete with you. Besides, you’re seven years younger than her. By the time you’re her age, you’ll probably have reached the Transformative Realm yourself. And with me here, she wouldn’t dare disrespect you; after all, you are my legitimate wife,” Fang Xian reassured her quickly.

“Then let’s set a rule. If you take any more women outside, they must be top-level experts, or have royal status like princesses or imperial descendants. You’re not allowed to pick just any ordinary woman,” Ye Hongxiu nodded and suddenly set forth her terms.

“You’re not angry that I’ve taken another woman?” Fang Xian asked cautiously, sensing that Ye Hongxiu truly wasn’t upset.

“Any capable man has three or four wives; only those lacking ability are left alone. Take my father: if he wanted, he could have ten women by now, but he simply chooses not to. This Feng Ling is a Grandmaster of the Transformative Realm and the chief of Flying Phoenix Ridge. Taking her in will be a great help to you in the future, so I believe you did the right thing,” Ye Hongxiu said matter-of-factly, echoing the common view of their world.

“Rest assured, I’m not the sort to be indiscriminate. Not just any woman can catch my eye,” Fang Xian replied.

Over the past days, Third Uncle has been wandering around the stronghold, trying several times to enter the barracks, but I kept refusing him. About seven or eight days after you left, and only after Wei Qian’an departed, Father told Second and Third Uncles that you’d gone down the mountain for business,” Ye Hongxiu shifted the conversation to recent happenings in the stronghold.

“How’s the training going? After more than twenty days, there should be plenty of breakthroughs, right?” Fang Xian asked.

“Formation drills have been extended to all twelve hundred soldiers in the stronghold. Of the hundred elite in special training, only three haven’t yet broken through to third-rate martial artists. As for second-rate, there are now over seventy,” Ye Hongxiu reported.

“I can now refine the Body-Tempering formula into pills. We can select a second batch for medicinal baths—another hundred, with a slightly wider age range. All third-rate soldiers who didn’t participate before should be included, and we’ll supplement with some promising younger recruits,” Fang Xian nodded.

He’d brought back a large supply of rare herbs and advanced elixirs. The ordinary herbs he’d procured in Qingyang City had already been turned into Body-Tempering and Body-Forging Pills, and now he had over a thousand Body-Tempering Pills on hand.

Compared to medicinal baths, the pills are more effective; a single pill’s effects last three days, during which soldiers undergo intense training to maximize absorption. This greatly strengthens their constitution, after which they need two days’ rest before taking another pill.

The night passed in silence. Reunion after long separation was sweeter than a new marriage, and Fang Xian and Ye Hongxiu only rested at dawn after their exertions. With their cultivation, going three or five days without sleep was no issue; a little less rest meant nothing.

They began selecting the second batch for special training. Those in the first batch who hadn’t broken through remained, while the others switched to intensive training every three days and spent the rest of their time instructing the other soldiers.

For the new batch, Fang Xian adjusted the regimen: after taking a pill and training for three days, the two days of rest were spent in medicinal baths. Of course, “rest” meant lighter training, not no training at all.

Three days later, the King of Hawks caught another carrier pigeon. Fang Xian took out the note and read it with Hongxiu, then sent the bird back outside the mountain.

“Father, Wei Qian’an’s message is that the disciples of the Five Venoms Sect have been located and will soon enter the mountain. We don’t know their intentions,” Ye Hongxiu informed Ye Qingyun over dinner.

“They must have some arrangement. But there’s no need to rush—now that they’ve made their move, the next steps will follow. We’ll just watch and see,” Ye Qingyun nodded.

“Father’s right. We’ll focus on our own affairs and respond to whatever they throw at us with calm,” Fang Xian agreed.

Although he’d left Qingyang City, tales of him had spread with the merchant caravans, official proclamations from the Prefecture, and through Shen Zhongliang’s agents across various industries. More and more people knew about the miracle doctor Fang Xian in Qingyang City, and his reputation grew daily, bolstering his confidence.

“Did you hear? Some say our son-in-law is actually a disciple of the Five Venoms Sect, sent here to spy on us.”

“What nonsense! How could the son-in-law be a member of the Five Venoms Sect?”

“I don’t believe it either, but the Five Venoms Sect Master is the most skilled user of poisons in the world. Why could our son-in-law cure his deadly poison? Maybe the Sect Master sent him here to treat the old chief as part of a plot.”

“That can’t be true. Would the old chief misjudge someone?”

“Exactly. If the old chief didn’t trust the son-in-law, why would he marry the young chief to him?”

“Still, if—just if—something goes wrong, our stronghold could be in real danger.”

“What danger? Everyone knows how good the son-in-law is to us! Who doesn’t know? Are you spreading rumors under someone’s orders?”

As the crowd debated, Erniu happened to pass by and immediately grabbed the soldier spreading the rumor, yelling, frightening him so much that his face turned pale and he stammered, “I just heard it from someone else.”

“Who did you hear it from? Take me to him. Erlai, don’t think I don’t know you. You’d do anything for money. I want to see if you really heard it from someone, or if someone put you up to it,” Erniu snorted, dragging Erlai away.

“Stop right there. Erniu, what are you doing? Are we criminals for speaking a few words among ourselves?” came a voice from nearby—it was Huang Shuhua.

“Huang Young Chief, save me! Erniu wants to kill me!” Erlai cried out as soon as he saw Huang Shuhua.

“Hmph, Huang Young Chief, Erlai is spreading rumors about the son-in-law. I’m taking him to confront those responsible,” Erniu snorted, refusing to release Erlai.

“Erniu, you’re bold indeed, daring to lay hands on one of your own? Let him go,” Huang Shuhua ordered, his expression darkening.

“Are you trying to shield Erlai, Huang Young Chief? If not, don’t get in my way. I’m taking him to the son-in-law to make him explain himself,” Erniu replied, standing his ground.