Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Chapter 34

The adventurer’s guild bustled with energy as Feng Jiao Xue stepped inside. The chatter of adventurers swapping stories and the clink of coins exchanging hands filled the air. She moved with quiet grace. The guild was lively as usual, with adventurers bustling about, sharing stories of their conquests or examining missions on the grand board.

Approaching the counter, she caught the receptionist’s eye. A young woman with a cheerful smile and quick hands, she recognized Feng Jiao Xue immediately.

"Ah, Miss Feng," Lan Yue said, her tone warm with a hint of teasing. "Back already? I see you’ve completed the mission. So how was the first time being an adventurer? Did you have fun~"

"I’m here to get my reward" She simply replied, straight to the point.

"Ah, sure, sure. Your the kiss, don’t tell type. My, my~" Lan Yue purred making Feng Jiao Xue cough slightly. ’How is that related to the situation?’ she thought, brow twitching.

Feng Jiao Xue just nodded, placing her adventurer’s card on the counter.

Lan Yue took it, glancing at it briefly before pulling out a small pouch of coins from a locked drawer. "Here’s your reward. Congratulations on your first time~. Youngsters these days sure are growing fast" she giggles that feigntly resembles the chimes of soft bells.

Feng Jiao Xue’s expression remained cold as she took her card back with a nod but paused when Lan Yue placed a small cage on the counter. Inside was a tiny, vibrant bird with feathers the soft blend between royal blue and black that shimmered like jade. Around its neck hung a delicate bell, intricately crafted with silver filigree and tiny inscriptions that glowed faintly in the light.

Feng Jiao Xue raised an eyebrow. "What’s this?"

Lan Yue handed over a neatly folded note that accompanied the birdcage. "It was left for you by a rather charming young man, a noble, I believe. He said it was for maintaining contact." Her voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "Quite thoughtful of him, don’t you think?"

Feng Jiao Xue took the folded note attached to the cage. The handwriting was elegant, with a familiar refinement that spoke of its writer’s upbringing.

"Jiao Xue,

I hope everything have been going well, Miss Mystery. It sure is hard looking for you. It’s like searching for a spirit. You know they are there but just can’t seem to see them. Everything has been going well on my end. I hope we meet soon regarding certain informations that came to light before the mist. The little fluff ball has no name yet but it has been trained to deliver messages to me and return promptly. If you need to send a letter to someone else, say their name and show their face infront of the bird first. It can search for their magical signature then. I hope to hear from you soon as an ally and friend.

Liang Feng."

"A young shadow flitter, a spirit beast known for their tracking skills" Huang Jin De informed her.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, though a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. Liang Feng, was nothing if not persistent. She studied the bird, which tilted its head and chirped softly, as if sensing her attention.

"A trained messenger bird," she murmured. "How thoughtful."

Lan Yue leaned forward on the counter, resting her chin on her hand. "Resourceful and perhaps a bit smitten, hm? Though I can’t blame him, someone like you must leave quite an impression."

Ignoring the teasing, Feng Jiao Xue turned her attention back to the bird. "A name?" she muses looking at the bird that.

"Ah, he didn’t say," Lan Yue replied with a shrug misunderstanding her meaning. "Looks like naming it is up to you."

Feng Jiao Xue studied the bird for a moment. "I’ll call it Hei Feng." To commemorate the gifter and still give the bird her name in a way.

The bird chirped in approval as if agreeing with the choice.

Lan Yue beamed. "It’s adorable, isn’t it? And that bell. it’s enchanted! It resonates with your spiritual energy, so only you can hear its chime clearly. It’s quite rare."

As Feng Jia Xue simply nodded in acknowledgment and turned to leave, she paused remembering something.

"I need some weapon. Where can I find good ones?" She turned back and asked Lan Yue. Surely, she would know about where reliable ones can be bought.

Lan Yue smiled slyly. "Of course and I’d happily point you to them" her eyes glimmered greedily. "For a price"

"Of course" Feng Jiao Xue replied wryly, slipping 5 gold coins through the counter making Lan Yue beam.

Lan Yue leaned closer, lowering her voice. "There are a few places I can recommend, depending on how much trouble you’re willing to go through. If you’re looking for something straightforward, there’s the Silver Anvil in the market district. Their smith is reliable, and their blades are known for their durability."

She tapped her finger against her chin thoughtfully. "If you want something more... exclusive, there’s the Golden Fang Forge. It’s pricier, but their weapons are crafted with rare materials and often imbued with basic enchantments."

"What about something unconventional?" Feng Jiao Xue asked.

Lan Yue’s lips curled into a sly smile. "Ah, now we’re venturing into the exciting territory. There’s a place called the Black Iron Den—it’s not exactly legal, but they deal in all sorts of rare and unusual weapons. Be prepared to haggle, though; they don’t part with their goods easily."

Feng Jiao Xue tilted her head. "And auctions?"

"Ah, yes! There’s one coming up in a few days, hosted by the Jade Lotus Pavilion. It’s invite-only, but I can pull some strings if you’re interested. We have to support our valued members, you know?" She winked as Feng Jiao Xue blankly looked at her. She knows how this goes. Of course they have to ’invest’ on their adventurers for future prospects. "Their auctions often include legendary artifacts and relics, things you won’t find anywhere else."

Lan Yue’s tone grew more serious. "But be careful, Xiao Xue. Some of these places attract unsavory characters, and not all deals are as clean as they seem."

Feng Jiao Xue nodded. "Thank you, Lan Yue. Your advice is invaluable."

Lan Yue waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, stop. You’ll make me blush. Just don’t forget me when you’re drowning in riches and wielding some legendary weapon, okay?"

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t reply, merely tucking the note into her sleeve and taking the cage. The bird chirped again, its tiny bell jingling faintly. As she turned to leave, a group of adventurers nearby caught her attention.

"Did you hear about Cheng Rong’s party?" one of them said, his voice loud enough to carry across the hall.

"Yeah, they’ve been guiding people into the mist," another replied, excitement tinging his tone. "Treasure hunters, sect disciples looking for their fallen members... they’re making a fortune."

Feng Jiao Xue’s steps faltered slightly. ’Looks like they’re doing well for themselves.’ she purposely slowed down her steps as she passed the guys that where talking.

"Rumor has it they’ve mapped part of the mist," a third voice chimed in. "If that’s true, they are already ahead of us. They’re racking those gold. No one else has dared to venture much around it yet."

She resumed her pace, her expression unreadable. The mist was dangerous, she had experienced it firsthand. If Cheng Rong’s party had indeed found a way to traverse it safely, it would undoubtedly draw attention from powerful figures and ambitious adventurers alike.

Briefly, her mind flashed on Mei Lin, the mist messed her up as badly as it had messed her but, remembering how Cheng Rong stayed by her side and the groups care towards her, she knows that they won’t risk her getting hurt. Mayber they did find a way to traverse through it safely.

By the time she stepped out of the guild, the sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the streets. She glanced at the bird, which chirped once more, as if urging her to move forward.

"Liang Feng, you’ve chosen an interesting way to keep in touch," she muttered under her breath. These types of birds are hard to come by but there is one person known to breed and cultivate them as messenger birds. His practically admiting his identity to her.

"Are you going to do the same?" Huang Jin De asked in her mind, understanding the hidden message the bird has.

Feng Jiao Xue thought about it. "What do you think?"

"Well, I think you should." Yin Xiao replied instead.

"Oh? What do you know? Don’t butt in when the grown ups are talking" Huang Jin De knocked Yin Xiao’s head.

"Ngrough!" Yin Xiao grunted wronged. " Why? Isn’t he Xiao Xue’s friend?"

"I’ll think about it" She replied her gaze flickered toward the horizon.

With the bird’s cage in one hand and her thoughts swirling with possibilities, Feng Jiao Xue headed back to her courtyard. A quiet determination settled over her. The world was moving, and she intended to stay ahead of it.

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