“Senior brother likes the eldest young master very much?” Xiao Man asked carelessly.
“Yes, the eldest young master treats me very well. He is always kind and friendly to everyone. Many people like him. Moreover, the eldest young master has excellent talent. He became a Golden Core cultivator at a young age and mastered superb swordsmanship. It's a pity his birth mother died early, and his stepmother couldn't tolerate him… Ouch!”
Jin Xu clutched his head. “Who hit me?”
“You’ll end up regretting your loose tongue!” Jin Feng emerged from his hiding place. Jin Xu, startled, quickly dodged behind Xiao Man.
“Senior brother Jin Feng, it’s so late, how did you get in? Aren’t you afraid of being poisoned?”
Jin Feng glanced at him. “I heard noises over here, so I came to check. It’s good you’re alright.”
“Since Senior brother Jin Feng is here, why not come inside for a cup of hot tea? Senior brother Jin Xu, you should go back and rest early.”
“Alright, I’ll go back and rest then. If he bullies you, just shout loudly. Master and the eldest senior brother are nearby.”
“Okay.”
Xiao Man invited Jin Feng into the house and brewed a pot of tea.
“Senior brother Jin Feng, please have some tea.”
Jin Feng, seeing Xiao Man in disarray, said, “You should go wash up and change your clothes first.”
Xiao Man did not refuse. She immediately went inside to wash and change into clean clothes before returning to sit opposite Jin Feng.
“I’m troubling Senior brother Jin Feng to come see me so late at night. I appreciate it.”
Jin Feng held his teacup and took small sips. “Judging by your tea-brewing technique, you must not be from an ordinary family, right?”
Xiao Man’s hands paused while brewing tea, then she acted as if nothing happened. “Everyone has secrets they don’t want to share. Is Senior brother trying to pry into secrets others wish to keep hidden?”
Jin Feng frowned. “Not at all, I’m just curious. With your abilities, there’s no need for you to enter the Jin family’s Alchemy Hall. Moreover, the Alchemist Association is even better than the Jin family’s Alchemy Hall. If you truly wish to learn alchemy, it would be better to stay with the Alchemist Association.”
Xiao Man smiled. “Is Senior brother Jin Feng questioning Elder Jin’s intentions?”
“Don’t bring my father into this. My father never overthinks things, which is why he couldn’t stay in the Jin family and insisted on leaving,” Jin Feng said with a cold expression. “But you, upon arriving at the Jin family, incited the disciples of the Alchemy Hall to rebel and then designed the death of Jin Quan. It’s difficult not to believe that you have an ulterior motive for coming to the Jin family.”
Xiao Man picked up her tea and took a sip. “Senior brother, I believe you have some misunderstanding about me.”
“There is no misunderstanding. You indeed have a purpose, but I haven’t discovered what it is yet.” Jin Feng looked at Xiao Man’s face, not missing any subtle expression.
Xiao Man, with her usual demeanor and indifferent expression, asked, “Senior brother Jin Feng, what do you think I can gain by staying in the Jin family?”
Jin Feng frowned. “Power and influence within the Jin family!”
“I am neither a young master of the Jin family nor an elder. How can I seek power and influence within the Jin family?” Xiao Man glanced coldly at Jin Feng. “If you say I seek wealth, as an alchemist, would I lack money?”
Jin Feng was momentarily speechless. “You must have some objective.”
“That’s true. In this life, if one doesn’t have something to strive for, it’s truly a wasted life. So, Senior brother Jin Feng, what do you strive for?” Xiao Man asked playfully. “Do you strive for a dead-end job in the Jin family, or for the esteemed name of the Jin family?”
Jin Feng put down his teacup. “Junior brother, we are talking about you now.”
“What Senior brother strives for in the Jin family might be what I strive for too. May I ask what Senior brother strives for in the Jin family?” Xiao Man ignored Jin Feng’s annoyance.
“I strive for the Jin family’s prosperity and growth.”
“So do I.”
“You, merely an outer disciple, actually have such grand ambitions. You truly impress me.” Jin Feng laughed out of exasperation. A moment later, he rubbed his temples. “I am truly foolish to try and reason with you. In the Jin family, there is no such thing as reason.”
“There is still reason to be found. Look, as soon as the Grand Elder appeared, didn’t the First Elder and Fifth Elder back down?”
“That’s because they couldn’t defeat the Grand Elder and had to back down. I really don’t know whether to call you fearless or foolish.” Jin Feng had a headache. “Jin Yao and Madam Jin are going to the Heavenly Sword Sect soon, but you can’t afford to be careless just because they are leaving. The First Elder and Fifth Elder are still in the mansion, especially since Jin Quan’s death is related to you. You need to be careful.”
“Senior brother has a cold exterior but a warm heart. Many people in the Jin family misunderstand you. Don’t you feel sad?” Xiao Man spoke again as Jin Feng was about to leave.
“What others think of me doesn’t matter. As long as I know who I am, that’s enough.” Jin Feng didn’t turn back. “Aren’t you the same, junior brother?”
Xiao Man lowered her eyes. She was indeed the same. No matter how others viewed her, it couldn’t change her mind. What she had decided, even if the whole world opposed it, she would do her utmost to achieve it.
“Rest well. I merely came to check. You don’t need to feel pressured.” Jin Feng walked to the door. “As long as you don’t do anything to harm the Jin family, I won’t hurt you.”
“Senior brother Jin Feng, what constitutes harming the Jin family?” Xiao Man looked at Jin Feng’s retreating back and asked with a smile, “For example, if the First Elder wants to kill me, and I kill the First Elder in self-defense, would that be considered harming the Jin family?”
“If you have the ability to kill the First Elder, then you are indeed capable.” Jin Feng turned back, a rare smile appearing on his face. “However, be careful. Beware of falling into the First Elder’s hands, lest you suffer a fate worse than death.”
“In that case, I thank Senior brother for the reminder.”
“You’re welcome. I also don’t want to see anything happen to you.” With that, Jin Feng opened the door and vanished into the pre-dawn darkness. Xiao Man flicked her sleeve, and the door automatically closed. She then went to bed to rest. She had to conserve her strength to infiltrate the Jin family head’s courtyard and investigate whether the person confined in the secret chamber was Mo Mo.
Madam Jin, along with Jin Yao and the family disciples, headed to the Heavenly Sword Sect to participate in the gathering of heroes. The Third Elder sent two alchemists, who were well-known figures in the Alchemy Hall. Seeing them, Madam Jin’s displeasure subsided.
Jin Yao glanced at the two individuals and a smile flickered across his lips. It seemed the Third Elder truly favored his young disciple and was afraid for his safety, unwilling to let him out. Well, there would be time in the future to ask for him.
Cheng Ze and Cheng Le watched the Jin family’s procession. Their eyes quickly scanned everyone in the group. There was no trace of Xiao Man.
“Cheng Ze, did you see her?”
“No, did you?”
“Nor did I,” Cheng Le said with a long face. “Cheng Ze, do you think it’s possible she never came to the Jin family at all?”