Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 306 - 203: Turning in Wages

Chapter 306: Chapter 203: Turning in Wages

His eyelids twitched but didn’t open. Instead, he let the person manipulate a blade over his face as they pleased.

A small hand smeared a somewhat sticky and cool liquid all over his cheeks, while the other hand holding the small knife began to slowly scrape away, little by little removing the traces on the man’s face, as well as his vicissitudes.

The stubble and accumulated dust were all removed, restoring Jiang Feng to his former delicate young face, but compared to two years ago, the immaturity and rawness on his face had completely faded, his facial features now pronounced, and his body had grown taller as well.

After grooming his face and wiping it with a warm towel, the woman who ambushed him earlier finally put away the knife with satisfaction.

"With such an appearance, he can be considered handsome, with a face like fine jade, just a bit of grooming and he exudes a heroic air. Although the young master was handsome years ago, he always carried a bit of childishness. Now, even that childishness is gone."

"He’s more mature and manly than before, but that girl Lu Luo really knows how to slack off. It seems she hasn’t taken good care of you on the road, as one can tell by your current state that it’s been a while since you’ve been groomed."

"It’s just unexpected that as a Direct Disciple, the young master is still so busy, setting off again within a few days. It’s important to relax appropriately, young master."

The man with closed eyes let the corners of his mouth curl up slightly upon hearing these words.

In fact, he knew who it was the moment those small hands touched him.

The delicate figure of Su Yi remained as usual, clad in a light, breathable black gauze shawl, with a finely made bellyband underneath. There’s no need to avoid anything on this mountain where only women live, especially in one’s home.

To be precise, it was in Jiang Feng’s home.

Considering the status and experience of the sisters Su Yi and Lu Luo, they naturally wouldn’t have their separate courtyards at the top of Swordmaster Peak. Typically, Outer Disciples reside at the foot of the mountain or around the Main Peak, but these sisters were an exception.

They lived within the compound of Jiang Feng’s Courtyard.

When Liu Tangxi brought the sisters back to the sect, she made it clear that there was a shortage of people to serve tea and water to her junior brother. In other words, these two were the servants Liu Tangxi found for her junior brother.

Though it may not sound nice to speak of, the benefits they received were undeniable. They not only escaped from the impoverished borderlands but also had the opportunity to learn from Liu Xianzi.

Despite being busy with all sorts of menial tasks, just having that position was enough for countless people to break their heads over. Thus, these sisters truly seized their opportunity.

After wiping away the stains from his face with a towel, the refined beauty began to press her strong fingers on various acupoints on the man’s head. The mental method that both sisters cultivated leaned towards "wood"—denoting renewal and nurturing effects—making it especially suitable for Alchemy.

Jiang Feng’s accumulated medicinal effects within his body could be refined so quickly largely because of that period when Su Yi would serve him every night. Of course, it wasn’t anything strange, but rather, while Jiang Feng meditated and rested at night, she would also sit behind him.

Using her Spiritual Energy to continuously refine the residual medicines within the man’s body was one reason why Jiang Feng’s Cultivation Realm advanced so swiftly. After all, those two Scarlet Pills were genuinely Mid Grade Elixirs.

If one only discusses theory and ignores any side effects and risks of dying, taking one pill would be enough to allow an ordinary person with absolutely no cultivation base to complete the entire process from zero to Foundation Establishment.

"Yes, Sister Su Yi is right."

"After finishing this task, I plan to return to my hometown and... what nonsense, after wrapping up this matter with Yan Fengchun, I plan to retreat within the Mountain Gate to cultivate for a while, preparing at least somewhat for the Nine Peaks Martial Arts Competition."

"I’ve been busting my humps outside every day, and I guess I’ve done enough work for the next year. With such achievements, I should be able to coast for quite a while, not to mention the treasures I’ve gotten my hands on."

"As usual, Sister Su Yi, please hold onto this Qiankun Bag for me. If you see anything you like when you have some free time, feel free to buy it, maybe grab a few more magic treasures."

"If you score well at the Nine Peaks Martial Arts Competition, I’ll ask senior sister to make you official and join the Inner Sect. Although there are rules set by the master, having the title of a nominal disciple is definitely not a problem."

Enjoying a massage, he placed the quality-looking Qiankun Bag beside him.

Su Yi didn’t show any surprise at this sudden salary handover. She just smiled slightly and took the Qiankun Bag, clearly this wasn’t the first time.

Every time Jiang Feng went out to work, he would be gone for at least one to two months. Since he reached Mid Grade Foundation Establishment, he’s been wandering outside often. He can’t sit still, and he always packs his schedule during these travels. Every time he returns to the sect, he brings back quite the haul.

In this respect, he is actually the opposite of Liu Tangxi. Jiang Feng isn’t the type to care too much about wealth. There is a saying that spent gold can be earned back, but he does make sure to keep whatever he earns, or what he gets from defeating and looting his opponents.

Liu Tangxi, on the other hand, is of a higher realm and has the kind of disposition that wouldn’t bother to glance at a ground full of Gold Coins even after killing someone. She truly transcends ordinary worldliness.

Of course, now that she has reopened the Mountain Gate to accept disciples, she might have to change her lofty strategy. Those things she usually thinks of little value might become quite useful to her disciples.

"It really is just like you to trust me as always. If I could really join the Inner Sect smoothly, us sisters would owe you so much that not even pledging our lives would be enough; we would have to serve you like oxen and horses for three lifetimes to repay this debt."

Her eyes were full of mirth, not because she was greedy or because there was something she wanted in the Qiankun Bag.

In fact, since Jiang Feng had given her these things, she had barely touched them, using some Spirit Stones only to exchange for herbs, mainly to improve Miss Lin’s physique and increase her Spiritual Energy circulation.

The reason for her happiness was simple: trust.

In Jiang Feng’s eyes, if your own people aren’t trustworthy, who else can you rely on? Su Yi was originally assigned to the border for ten years. As the Shopkeeper of the Ethereal Violet Pavilion, her daily tasks were to manage finances, keep the books, and teach the girls various arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

He had no qualms about entrusting his savings to her. Every time he finished a job outside, he would hand over all the spoils of war and rewards from the sect to Su Yi for safekeeping, telling her to spend as she pleased without having to report to him.

"Oh? Really? Then I won’t be polite."

He laughed heartily, and he wasn’t reserved in front of Su Yi and Lu Luo. He would say whatever was on his mind, and Su Yi would just chuckle lightly. If she could serve such a capable and considerate master from now on, she was sincerely willing to do so for a lifetime.

However, just to be cautious, Su Yi decided to ask one more question.

"Speaking of which, young master, you had an incident last time when you traveled with Yan Fengchun. You should be more careful this time."

"I have seen the Thousand-Mile Jade. Memory can’t be faked. It’s genuinely a Peak of Core Formation, we can’t lose against this with four of us."

"But..."

"Don’t worry. It’s not like this Demon General is suddenly going to turn into a Nascent Soul while fighting us, hahaha."