Chronicles of Daoist Fan

''I don't need to tell you,'' Bina replied. She wasn't willing to share her secret it seemed.

I guessed that her body technique was special. Although I hadn't seen her fight, I made conjectures based on how she moved and acted.

Bina always lurked in the background and didn't like to chat much. Even during this time, when we were sitting face-to-face. Her expression remained the same as she sat silently, her back straight.

''Why did you peek at us that day?'' It was time to break that silence and change her expression.

Bina blinked and looked outside the window. Then she softly said, ''What are you talking about?''

Answering a question with another question, now that was suspicious behavior. I tried pressing with more questions such as ''Why did you even remain there if after seeing us?'' or ''You were aroused right?''

I stopped after she gave me a death glare. Now was not the time to fight here. Bina asked what information I gained from Sheng Yin when we were about to reach my destination. I hadn't thought of anything but I had to say something.

''Sheng Aur is ill,'' I said after a five-second pause.

Bina started asking the specifics but I told her that I would give a full report to Qin Mao instead. She narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything. That mafia boss was also her boss, her job was to monitor me. It was my choice to share my findings with her if I wished but I didn't. Matter closed.

The carriage stopped at CangGong courtyard and I alighted. Surprisingly, Bina did too, making sure that the coachman didn't see her. She was quick on her feet and quickly came beside me as I entered the courtyard.

''Look, I'm not going anywhere, so can you leave me alone for a while?'' I asked, sighing.

''You seem slippery to me. Breaking a leg is possible.''

'Oi oi, woman, I'm only one rank below you now. Don't think you can do anything to me!' I glared at her. She was still thinking that I was the same as a month and a half ago.

''Zuifan! Where had you gone all this while?''

At this moment, Feng Yin came running out of the house. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. This girl had reached the Viscera Purifying stage. She was wearing red clothes and the scent of different herbs lingered around her body.

Feng Yi appeared to be a little worried. I had disappeared for three days but I had ranked up again and still had my signature smile so her attitude reverted to normal. Then her gaze went to the intimidating woman beside me.

A tall body with honed muscles, a face as pretty as hers, short dark hair tied to a ponytail, tattoo on the neck, and those balloons on her chest… Feng Yi was stunned by Bina's appearance.

''Who is she?'' The girl blurted out.

I yawned and replied with just, ''Friend.''

Tired, I wasn't willing to go into details. I told her to give Bina a room and asked about Chunu and Lingling.

''Oh, I forgot to tell you.'' Feng Yi rubbed her hands on her skirt and adjusted her hairstyle, saying, ''They have taken another mission and gone outside of the city. Lingling was asking about you.''

We went inside the house as I stroked my chin. I glanced at her. ''When did this happen?''

''Mmm, just a moment.'' Feng Yi ran inside her room and came back a few minutes later. Her clothes were blotched by medicinal pastes. She was boiling something in a cauldron, a broth that she needed to make a pill, probably.

''About two days ago. They must have returned already but they haven't come here even once after that,'' she informed.

Bina stood there without much change in her expression. I was sure that she preferred to lurk in the shadows. If it weren't for my spirit sense telling me of her presence, I would have already forgotten about her. She was that silent.

'It seems I need to visit the Martial House…' I thought.

I then spent my time looking at the pill Feng Yi was making. She told me it was a simple Rejuvenation pill. The main ingredient was a herb called sun grass. It stored the energy of the sun and the pill made from its leaves could restore the vitality of practitioners to their peak.

This Rejuvenation pill may appear like an apprentice-level resource but it was very useful in prolonged fights. There were minimal side effects because it had a simple recipe with almost no harmful herbs involved.

Bina had been interested in the first fifteen minutes but when Feng Yi took nearly an hour to get the fire right, even I was bored, much less her.

Feng Yi was still a noob, after all, it was no surprise that she would struggle at first, especially in a subject such as alchemy which required extraordinary levels of precision and patience.

I stood up and went to pee. The girl was still working on it, it seemed she was trying to create a batch of them at once. Her whole cloth was covered in sweat due to her remaining near the fire for so long.

When I came back from the toilet, I saw Feng Yi fanning herself and sitting on the floor without a mat. She was tired but had finally managed to make those pills.

''Congratulations,'' I clapped my hands. I never thought this lazy narcissist would do hard work. ''Now you can sell them.''

''No, three out of 8 are inedible. I didn't make any profit after two days of preparation and hours of sweating,'' she replied, frustrated.

''At least you learned some things.'' Bina just came from outside. She had disappeared midway. Looking at me, she waved her left hand. Feng Yi didn't manage to catch that gesture.

It was evening by now and I was hungry. Bina wanted to take me to the stupa, I knew. I had already thought of a whole story to say to Qin Mao.

I was sure that this lie I was about to tell would be uncovered soon with his connections to the Wang clan. I could only rely on Sheng Shao if worse came to worst. That was one reason why I had charmed Sheng Yin.

Before leaving the courtyard, Feng Yi and I had some snacks together. Bina refused anything we gave her and waited for me outside.

''Can you go check on them?'' Feng Yi asked as I stepped outside the house. I was also a little concerned about Chunu and Ling'er now that they had been out of touch for so long.

''Tomorrow,'' I said, ''I will go to the First Sky Martial House and see them.''

My sister was a Viscera Purifying practitioner and Lingling was stronger than ordinary practitioners, so the chances of them getting hurt if they encountered trouble was low.

I had told the fatty to keep an eye on them and inform me if something happened. He and I knew where to meet.

My sister and I haven't talked much these days. The same went for Lingling. I was busy wooing Sheng Yin while they were busy practicing. Sheng Yin would come to this courtyard thrice a week to find me if I didn't appear at the veranda.

She knew about Feng Yi (my oh-so-loyal servant) and also got to meet Chunu, my little (step)sister who had followed me until here. She hadn't seen Ling'er after that day though. I was not Lingling's supposed boyfriend now, after all.

I felt a headache. It was hard keeping all these lies together. Too much drama, too much drama. Shaking my head, I heaved a long sigh. I felt like I might forget my lies at this rate.

We left the CangGong courtyard after that. I didn't know why but Feng Yi kept looking at me until we disappeared from her sight.

The way to Azure Wind Stupa had a straight route from there. As Viscera Purifying practitioners, our walking speed was way faster than normal people's. We could reach our destination in five minutes if we just ran.

The stupa was in another district of Xuahour. The city was divided into four districts based on four directions: north, east, south, and west. Each had its own special building which gave prominence to these districts.

Blood Fang mafia group was a bigger criminal organization that had its members in all four districts. However, other such mafia groups were equal or even more powerful than Blood Fangs.

I had come in contact with the members of independent criminal groups. By independent, I meant not relating to any ruling powers such as the Wang clan. Other powers were acting in this city as well.

For normal people it was safe but for practitioners and cultivators, there could always be an enemy. You could live a good life as long as you didn't seek immediate power or fortune. You must snatch it from the hands of those holding it, there was no easy way.

When we reached the stupa, I stopped. Ten days still remained in that two months' time Qin Mao had given me. If I wanted to, I could delay it till the last day. I also had another reason for coming here.

''I first want to visit the black market,'' I said to Bina.