172: Chapter 172 Yes, we can talk, I'm convinced!

"Ca-can we talk? I... I give in!"

"Oh? So we can talk now?"

Qin Feng's palm hovered in mid-air, a playful sneer curling the corners of his lips as he slowly withdrew it.

He casually pulled over a chair, sat down beside the bed with a nonchalant air, crossed his arms over his chest, and cast a sidelong glance at her:

"Speak. What do you want to talk about? If you can't offer conditions that satisfy me, this Young Master has plenty of methods up his sleeve."

Zhao Simin took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the humiliation and resentment that threatened to overwhelm her.

A wise person knows not to fight when the odds are against them; regardless of whether one is a hero or not, the first priority is to survive.

She bit her red lips, her voice raspy as she spoke:

"You... you took that foundation establishment fruit... but you are only a Disciple at the Qi Refinement Stage; you have no idea the correct way to consume it..."

"If you swallow it raw, at least seventy percent of its medicinal power will be wasted, and the violent Spiritual Qi might even rupture your Meridians."

Zhao Simin looked at Qin Feng, attempting to tempt him with benefits:

"I possess an ancestral 'Spirit-Locking Void-Swallowing Method' that can lock in over ninety percent of the foundation establishment fruit's medicinal power, allowing you to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage almost perfectly. As long as you let me go, I am willing to give this secret technique to you."

Upon hearing her words, Qin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of contemplation flashing through them.

However, he did not agree immediately. Instead, he looked at her as if she were an idiot and retorted:

"A secret technique? Sounds decent. But I have a question... since eating the foundation establishment fruit directly is such a waste, why not refine it into a Foundation Establishment Pill before consuming it? Wouldn't that be safer?"

Hearing this idiotic question, Zhao Simin instinctively rolled her eyes. Her innate arrogance made her blurt out:

"Idiot! Do you even know what an Alchemist is..."

"Slap—!!!"

However, before she could finish, another resounding slap landed solidly on her already swollen, beautiful face.

Qin Feng rubbed his wrist, his eyes as cold as ice, and calmly spat out two words:

"Say it again."

Zhao Simin was stunned by the blow; the intense pain and humiliation brought tears to her eyes.

She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and finally fully realized the situation she was in. She lowered her posture, and her voice became much more submissive:

"...Junior Brother Qin, what I meant is that Alchemists are one in ten thousand in the cultivation world and are extremely rare."

"And those capable of refining tier-three Medicinal Pills like the Foundation Establishment Pill are at least tier-three Alchemists, who are basically high and mighty experts at the Golden Core Stage..."

At this point, Zhao Simin's tone carried a hint of helplessness and realism:

"With our status and position as bottom-tier members of the Outer Sect, how could we possibly hire such figures? If we tried to force it, we'd likely be slapped to death or have our Spirit Medicine stolen outright."

"Therefore, although swallowing the foundation establishment fruit directly is a bit wasteful, it is the only way out for us bottom-tier Disciples. Even if it wastes some medicinal power, as long as we can reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, it's all the same."

After listening to the explanation, Qin Feng nodded, finding it reasonable.

"That makes sense."

Qin Feng leaned forward slightly, his gaze unscrupulously sweeping over Zhao Simin's voluptuous and alluring body before finally resting on her swollen face. He smiled playfully and said:

"In that case, hand over that 'Spirit-Locking Void-Swallowing Method' of yours, and I might consider... leaving you a way to live."

"No!"

Zhao Simin refused without a second thought. Although she was afraid of being hit, her brain was still functional:

"Once I hand over the secret technique, you'll have even less reason to spare my life. You must first untie these damned vines and let me leave Sunset City. Once I am safe, I will naturally send the secret technique to you via a Jade Slip."

"Let you go?"

Qin Feng sneered, looking at her as if she were a fool:

"Let you go so you can bring reinforcements, bring your Zhao family people, and come back to tear me into pieces? Senior Sister Zhao, do I look like an idiot to you?"

"Then what do you want?!"

Zhao Simin growled through gritted teeth:

"What good does it do you to keep me locked up here? Sooner or later, the Sect and my Zhao family will find out!"

Qin Feng rubbed his chin, his deep black eyes narrowing slightly as he thoughtfully scrutinized the woman lying on the bed, unable to move.

Kill her? It would be a pity, and it would completely infuriate the forces behind her, bringing endless pursuit.

Let her go? That would be letting a tiger return to the mountains, leaving endless trouble behind.

"How about this..."

Qin Feng suddenly gave a wicked smile, reached out to lift Zhao Simin's delicate yet somewhat swollen chin, and said in a teasing tone:

"You follow me, and we become Dao Companions. I will find a way to treat your injuries. In the future, if I have meat to eat, you won't go without soup. How about it? This isn't a bad deal, right?"

Upon hearing the words "Dao Companion," a surge of extreme disdain and disgust welled up in Zhao Simin's heart.

'Bah! A lowly Qi Refinement Stage thief, and he dares to dream of becoming my Dao Companion? It's like a toad lusting after swan meat!'

But on second thought, her current state was indeed terrible. The lightning injuries on her back had penetrated to the bone, and her True Origin was sealed. If she didn't receive timely treatment, she might be left with lifelong disabilities or even a major regression in her cultivation.

'The priority now is to fool this scoundrel. Once my injuries heal and these restraints are removed, I will definitely torture him to death with the most cruel methods!'

Thinking of this, Zhao Simin looked deeply at the man in front of her. A barely perceptible struggle and submissiveness flashed in her eyes as she nodded in agreement:

"Fine. But as a condition, I want you to treat my injuries immediately. I'm in agonizing pain all over and can barely hold on."

Just as she finished speaking, a crisp and pleasant System notification suddenly sounded in Qin Feng's mind without warning.

[Ding! Detected eligible subject for help: Zhao Simin.]

[System issued an emergency mission: Treat her injuries and ensure her full recovery.]

[System reward: One Mysterious Gift Pack!]

The moment he heard the System notification, a burst of irrepressible ecstasy erupted deep within Qin Feng's eyes.

This System really came at the perfect time. Since there was a System mission, and it even included a Mysterious Gift Pack as a reward, the nature of this matter was completely different now.

'System, accept mission.'

Qin Feng silently recited in his mind, then a wicked smile curled the corners of his lips.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stood up, reached out with his thick, powerful hands, and under Zhao Simin's terrified gaze, scooped up her shapely body, which was tightly bound by vines.

"You... what are you doing?!"

Suddenly held in the man's arms, Zhao Simin panicked instantly. Her originally pale, beautiful face flushed with an unusual crimson due to shame, anger, and nervousness as she struggled desperately.

"Doing it."

Qin Feng looked down at the panicked face inches from his own, answering simply and crudely...