293: He Qingwan of Baihua Pavilion

[Daily Intelligence Refreshed] (zi hour):

1. [Green Intelligence]: Chen Zeyu, the Deputy Commander of the Shuangwang Town garrison, is an imperial military official on the surface but has actually been a hidden mole for the Yin Demon Sect for twenty years. He uses his position to transmit imperial capital intelligence to the Yin Demon Sect and secretly intercepts and kills passing Martial Artists who are detrimental to the Yin Demon Sect. Cultivation: Late Stage Martial King; specializes in concealment and assassination.

2. [Yellow Intelligence]: As an outpost for the imperial capital, Shuangwang Town gathers informants from all major powers—the Imperial Guard, the Four Major Sects, the Eight Great Clans, and even the Three Demonic Path Sects have moles here. The three largest inns in town, 'Shuangwang Tower', 'Yingbin Pavilion', and 'Tianxia Residence', are backed by different forces.

3. [Blue Intelligence]: In a corner of the East Street night market in Shuangwang Town, there is a middle-aged man selling miscellaneous goods. His stall has an inconspicuous 'Colored Glass Bead' priced at fifty gold coins. Sealed within the bead using a special secret method is the complete Legacy of an Earth Rank Medium Grade movement technique, 'Green Wave Steps'. This Cultivation Technique is suitable for those who Cultivate the water element or possess high agility; when practiced to Major Achievement, one can tread upon waves on the water's surface at extremely high speeds.

After reading the intelligence, Qin Feng's gaze narrowed slightly.

The Yin Demon Sect was indeed persistent. Even with their Sect Master heavily injured and in seclusion and the Sect shrinking its reach, they still had moles planted in key positions. That Deputy Commander Zhao Gang, a Late Stage Martial King specialized in concealment and assassination, was indeed a problem.

“I'll just have to avoid him,” Qin Feng sighed inwardly. It wasn't appropriate for them to cause unnecessary trouble right now; getting into the imperial capital safely and as quickly as possible was the priority.

As for the second piece of intelligence, it was within his expectations. It would be strange if the major powers didn't set up informants in such a strategic bottleneck like Shuangwang Town.

What truly interested him was the third piece—the Earth Rank Medium Grade movement technique, 'Green Wave Steps'!

Xiao Chun had the Earth Rank Advanced movement technique 'Wood Spirit Fluttering Catkins' personally passed down by the Valley Master. Although Ji Ruxue's movement technique was only Earth Rank Intermediate, it perfectly complemented her wind-element talent and was sufficient for now. Xia Ya, however, had always lacked a good movement technique. She specialized in defense, making her movements relatively clunky. If she could have a flexible and swift movement technique like 'Green Wave Steps' to complement her, her combat power would surely increase significantly.

“That's the one.”

Qin Feng stood up and called for Xia Ya and Ji Ruxue. The three of them put on masks and changed into plain clothes before quietly leaving the inn.

The night market in Shuangwang Town was even livelier than during the day. Stalls lined both sides of the street, brightly lit with the constant sound of hawking. There were those selling medicinal herbs, weapons, antiques, snacks... people from all walks of life were there, and everything one could imagine was available.

Following the guidance of the intelligence, Qin Feng quickly found the miscellaneous goods stall in a corner of East Street.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man in his forties with a sallow complexion and a sickly appearance. The goods on the stall were also disorganized—a few pieces of damaged old weapons, several bottles of indistinguishable Medicinal Pills, some dull-colored Ores, and a pile of multicolored glass beads.

Qin Feng's gaze swept over and instantly locked onto that 'Colored Glass Bead'. The bead was mixed in with a pile of cheap ornaments; it was the size of a fist with colored patterns flowing on its surface, looking like a child's toy.

“Boss, how much for this bead?” Qin Feng asked as he casually picked up a rusty short sword nearby.

The middle-aged man lifted his eyelids. “Twenty gold coins.”

“Too expensive.” Qin Feng shook his head, put down the short sword, and picked up the Colored Glass Bead. “And this?”

“Fifty,” the man said lazily.

Xia Ya couldn't help but say, “Fifty gold coins for such a broken bead? Are you robbing us?!”

The man wasn't annoyed either. “Buy it or don't.”

Qin Feng toyed with the bead and said with feigned indifference, “This bead is actually quite nice; my little sister likes these shiny things. But fifty is too expensive. Will you sell it for thirty?”

“Forty, that's the lowest.”

“Thirty-five.”

“Deal.” The man seemed in a hurry to pack up his stall and agreed readily.

Qin Feng paid the money and tucked the bead into his robe. Xia Ya wanted to say something more but was pulled back by Ji Ruxue.

After the three of them left the stall and walked a distance away, Xia Ya finally said dissatisfiedly, “Qin Feng, you spent thirty-five gold coins just to buy a thing like that? Even if you have money, you can't spend it like this!”

Qin Feng smiled. “We'll talk when we get back.”

Returning to the inn room, Qin Feng set up a soundproofing Formation before taking out the Colored Glass Bead.

Under everyone's puzzled gazes, he circulated his True Yuan and, following the method prompted by the System intelligence, vibrated a certain pattern on the surface of the bead at a specific frequency.

*Click.*

With a light sound, the bead split open from the middle. It wasn't solid inside, but contained a roll of silver silk as thin as a cicada's wing!

Qin Feng carefully unfurled the silk. It was densely covered with tiny characters and diagrams of the human body's meridian pathways—it was precisely the complete Legacy of 'Green Wave Steps'!

“This...” Xia Ya's eyes widened. “An Earth Rank Medium Grade movement technique?!”

Qin Feng nodded. “Xia Ya, this technique is suitable for you. You specialize in defense and your movements aren't flexible enough. With 'Green Wave Steps', you can attack or retreat at will. Combined with the defense of the xuanwu position, your power can increase by thirty percent.”

He then looked at Ji Ruxue. “Ruxue, although your movement technique is good, it is a general one after all. Although this 'Green Wave Steps' is only Medium Grade, it has some unique points. You can use it for reference; perhaps it can help your movement techniques advance further.”

Ji Ruxue took the silk and looked closely, a flash of surprise in her eyes. “This technique... is indeed exquisite. Especially the part about treading on waves; it requires extremely precise control of True Yuan.”

Xia Ya scratched her head. “Qin Feng, this is too valuable...”

“We're all on the same side, no need to be polite,” Qin Feng waved his hand. “Hurry and study it. We're entering the imperial capital tomorrow; every bit of strength is another bit of safety.”

The two of them solemnly accepted it and went back to their respective rooms to meditate and comprehend.

---

Early the next morning, everyone packed their bags and prepared to set off.

Just as they were downstairs settling the bill, a commotion suddenly came from outside the inn.

A group of women dressed in pale green dresses walked into the inn. Leading them was a beautiful woman around thirty years old with a gentle temperament, but her cultivation was impressively at Peak Martial King! Behind her followed eight young girls, each with beautiful features and extraordinary auras.

The beautiful woman's gaze swept across the inn and finally landed on Qin Feng's waist—hanging there was a white jade token with the words 'Hundred Flowers' carved on the front.

It was indeed the hundred flowers token!

The woman's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward quickly, giving a graceful bow. “Are you Young Master Qin Feng?”

Qin Feng was startled. “That is I. And Your Excellency is...?”

“I am the Pavilion Master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's imperial capital branch, He Qingwan,” the woman said with a smile. “Yesterday, I sensed the aura of the hundred flowers token appearing in Shuangwang Town, so I came specifically to welcome you. Since Young Master Qin has reached the territory of the imperial capital, why not come with me to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to rest? A Quiet Room has already been prepared for everyone.”

Qin Feng realized what was happening. The Hundred Flowers Pavilion was the female-dominated Sect that he and Xiao Chun had initially joined. Although they had also joined the Medicine King Valley, their identities as Disciples of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion had never been canceled; after all, the Hundred Flowers Pavilion had always treated them well. He had also been carrying the hundred flowers token with him.

He hadn't expected the Hundred Flowers Pavilion's influence in the imperial capital to be so sharp that they could sense his arrival through the token.

Xiao Chun had met He Qingwan once before at the headquarters and recognized her, saying in surprise, “Junior Martial Uncle He! I am Su Yuchun!”

He Qingwan looked at Xiao Chun, a flash of affection in her eyes. “Martial Niece Xiao Chun? You've grown so much! Pavilion Master Yue Long sent a message the day before yesterday saying you were coming to the imperial capital and asked me to take extra care of you. I didn't expect you to arrive so soon.”

She looked at Yan Chi, Xia Ya, and the others behind Qin Feng and smiled. “These must be Young Master Qin's friends? If you don't mind, you can all come to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion together. The imperial capital has been unsettled recently with various forces intertwined. Staying at my Hundred Flowers Pavilion will at least ensure your safety.”

Qin Feng exchanged looks with the others, and they all saw the inclination in each other's eyes.

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion was a Righteous Path Sect with significant influence in the imperial capital. Having their support would indeed save them a lot of trouble.

“Then we shall trouble Pavilion Master He,” Qin Feng said, cupping his fists.

“Young Master Qin is too polite,” He Qingwan smiled. “The carriages are ready, please.”

Everyone followed He Qingwan out of the inn. Outside stood three exquisite carriages, and the ones pulling them were four pure white 'Cloud-Treading Steeds'. These were Profound Rank High Grade Yao Beasts, extremely fast and steady.

Sitting in the carriage, Qin Feng looked through the window at the gradually receding Shuangwang Town.

The moles of the Yin Demon Sect, the informants of various forces, and the imperial capital highway they were about to embark on... the road ahead was still unknown.

But at least for now, they had a good starting point.

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Imperial Capital Branch.

That place might not just be a temporary resting spot, but more likely their first important foothold in the storms of the imperial capital.

The carriage drove onto the highway, galloping toward the imperial capital a hundred miles away.

The imperial capital was just ahead.