Chu Feng had never seen her look so embarrassed.
She must have encountered some difficulty but felt too shy to bring it up.
"The day after tomorrow, Grandmaster Xie from the Xie Family will be hosting a Longevity Banquet at his Vice Minister Mansion. At that time, all the branches of the Xie Family are required to attend. I... I want to ask you to accompany me!"
Teacher Xie’s delicate face was slightly flushed. If she hadn’t exhausted all other options, she wouldn’t have asked Chu Feng for help with such a matter.
Grandmaster Xie held an esteemed position in the Jianyun Dynasty as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, overseeing the Gold Department. To put it simply, he managed Silver and all the major Money Banks across the nation.
This was a lucrative post with immense power.
The Xie Family was a prominent clan, though not as influential as the Hong Family or the Qiao Family—those top-tier aristocratic houses. Nonetheless, they should never be underestimated.
If ranked, the Qiao, Hong, Mo, and Han Families would count as the four elite clans of the Jianyun Dynasty. Meanwhile, the Liu Prince Mansion, the former Sword King Mansion, and the Xie Family were considered first-rate families.
Teacher Xie belonged to a branch of the Xie Family.
The elderly head of the main branch of the Xie Family was the pillar of the entire clan, holding the highest position. When he hosts a grand banquet, all branches of the Xie Family are bound to attend.
It’s likely that many dignitaries from the Jianyun Dynasty will also attend.
Chu Feng decided to tease Teacher Xie.
"To serve Teacher Xie would be my honor. But in what capacity should I accompany you? As a student, it wouldn’t be appropriate! As an ordinary friend, it’s too distant."
Chu Feng scratched his head, pretending to think hard.
"Who told you to attend as those identities? Just follow my lead when the time comes!" Teacher Xie’s delicate face turned even redder; there were things she found hard to say aloud.
She gritted her teeth and scolded, calling her student alternately smart and foolish.
It should already be obvious—what other identity could it be? Of course, it would be as her boyfriend!
"Teacher Xie seems entirely prepared; you must’ve decided long ago. You have to tell me, though, so I can get ready," Chu Feng continued to talk nonsense in a serious tone.
Lin Yuxin’s betrayal had liberated him. Instead of feeling pain or heartbreak, he felt relaxed.
It also helped him realize certain things.
When dealing with women, one shouldn’t be too infatuated or foolish. If you treat her like the Old Buddha, she might treat you like mustard greens—discarded at whim.
From now on, he’d adopt a wanderer’s mindset.
"Boy... friend!" Teacher Xie’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz. She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet Chu Feng’s gaze.
"What did you say? Louder, please; I couldn’t hear you!" Chu Feng had actually heard her perfectly clear but was deliberately teasing her.
Undeniably, every time he provoked Teacher Xie, it brought him joy.
"I said, pretend to be my boyfriend!" Teacher Xie mustered all her courage this time, speaking clearly. However, as soon as the words left her lips, she noticed the sly, mischievous grin on Chu Feng’s face.
"You bastard, you already knew but tricked me anyway!" Teacher Xie, clever as snow, immediately understood everything. She was both ashamed and furious. "I’ll... kill you!"
Terrifying Sword Qi flickered at her slender fingers.
She flexed her fingers, sending bursts of Sword Qi slicing toward Chu Feng. "Swish," one shot directly at him.
However, Teacher Xie clearly held back. She merely wanted to frighten him; even if Chu Feng didn’t dodge, the worst he’d suffer would be minor injuries. Nothing serious.
Chu Feng, now at Ninth Rank Swordsman cultivation, had significantly improved his agility—more than tenfold compared to when he was a Second Order Swordsman.
"Haha, you can’t hit me!"
After dodging effortlessly, Chu Feng laughed aloud as he moved away.
"I’ll be waiting outside Grandmaster Xie’s Vice Minister Mansion the morning after tomorrow. Don’t be late!"
With this parting remark, Chu Feng floated away, leaving Teacher Xie behind, stomping her feet in playful frustration and scolding him indignantly.
Chu Feng was still preoccupied with the matter of advancing to the Sword Master Realm and couldn’t help speeding up his pace.
The Golden Talisman Elixir he had concocted yesterday had already been sent to the auction house for sale. The proceeds were expected to arrive tonight.
Calculating cautiously, the silver he’d accumulated over the past few days should be enough to purchase the necessary herbs.
Due to Chu Feng’s unique circumstances, breaking through to the Sword Master Realm was unusually challenging. The elixirs required were far greater in number than for others.
First, he needed an ample supply of Protecting Veins Elixir.
Next, he needed elixirs to condense Fire Sword Qi, as well as Solid Vein Elixir to stabilize the Fake Sword Vein and prevent catastrophic explosions upon breakthrough.
Additionally, he required several elixirs on hand to deal with unexpected situations.
Altogether, the cost of the herbs alone amounted to an astronomical figure. If you accounted for the auxiliary items, it was almost unthinkable.
Fortunately, Chu Feng’s ability to earn silver was terrifying; even several alchemy factions within the Jianyun Dynasty found him indispensable.
Coupled with his relentless efforts, he had managed to amass the necessary silver in such a short time.
Among the herbs he needed, most were readily available and easy to purchase.
Only the primary ingredient for Solid Vein Elixir remained exceptionally scarce.
After probing various connections and information networks, Chu Feng learned that the Qiao Family possessed the coveted ingredient.
The Qiao Family, a renowned herb clan, controlled over ninety percent of the medicinal herb trade routes within the Jianyun Dynasty.
Rare herbs were almost entirely monopolized by them.
Chu Feng had already investigated the price of that crucial ingredient—it would cost eighteen thousand taels of silver.
Tonight, once the auction proceeds arrived, Chu Feng planned to buy the herb from the Qiao Family.
Once all the herbs were assembled, everything would be much simpler.
Chu Feng simply needed to refine them into the required elixirs, and then he could begin charging toward the Sword Master Realm.
After all, just last night during cultivation, his Fake Sword Vein had shown signs of implosion.
The Fire Sword Qi within it had reached the threshold of what the Fake Sword Vein could endure. It was imperative to break through to the Sword Master Realm soon.
Only upon successfully breaking through could he consume the Solid Vein Elixir and prevent the Fake Sword Vein from bursting.
This would finally free him from his current, nerve-wracking situation.
As he stepped out of the academy’s gates, he noticed a luxurious carriage parked right in the middle of the entrance.
"Who’s the ill-mannered individual blocking the road with a carriage?" Chu Feng grumbled internally, prepared to walk around it.
By nature, he wasn’t someone who caused trouble unnecessarily.
But when trouble found its way to him, he wouldn’t back down either.
For some reason, the carriage looked oddly familiar—as if he’d seen it somewhere before.
"Hmm... Brother Qiao, you’re so naughty!" A coy voice from inside the carriage pierced the air, hinting at playful banter between a man and a woman.
Chu Feng’s brows furrowed. Society’s morals were collapsing; some wealthy playboys and merchants loved to flaunt their affections publicly right outside academy gates.
These types typically targeted impoverished yet beautiful girls.
Alchemy Academy catered primarily to wealthy students—children of affluent families. Consequently, visits from rich merchants and wealthy scions were rare here.