Chapter 65: Unexpected Joy

"I'm sorry." After half an hour, Qin Feng knelt on the ground, sincerely repenting. "I was speaking recklessly just now. I beg the esteemed senior to forgive us and let us go." Qin Feng was quickly defeated. As soon as the dozen or so Great Strength Golden Gangs surrounded him, he was overwhelmed and ended up with a pig's head from the beating.

His blade technique, when slashing at the Great Strength Golden Gang, was ineffective. The punches from the Great Strength Golden Gang were too much for him to handle. He hadn't even managed a few moves before he was thoroughly beaten.

Originally, Qin Feng hoped his three good brothers would help him, but they were all hanging from a tree, sneaking a peek. What a sight! The three brothers were hanging from a tree!

Qin Feng had never seen such strong scarecrows before. He immediately surrendered, obediently kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy. He knelt without any psychological burden, knowing he'd forget all about it once he left the mountain!

"Weren't you quite arrogant just now? Looking down on us, the Sinoong?" Zhao Xing asked calmly.

"Senior, it was my fault for being blind and speaking without thinking. I was foolish, and I beg the esteemed senior not to hold it against me," Qin Feng pleaded repeatedly.

"Indeed, the Sinoong's duty is to bring blessings to the people, fighting for the people against the heavens. We all hold deep respect in our hearts."

"Senior, he was just confused. Please don't hold it against him."

"That Lingzhi [a type of medicinal mushroom] is only fitting for a virtuous person like the senior!"

The other three hanging people were also thoroughly convinced. They hadn't even seen Zhao Xing before being collected by a few scarecrows. How could they not be convinced?

As for calling this person 'senior,' they did so without any psychological burden. The Sinoong didn't have much combat power. To be subdued by the Scarecrow Technique, how strong must the opponent be? It must be an old master who has been cultivating for a long time.

"You can be released, but do you have any money?"

"Put all your valuables on the ground, and then you can leave," Zhao Xing said, not wanting to waste time with these people. Once they left the mountain, they wouldn't remember anything, so there was no need to worry about revenge.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Qin Feng quickly got up, emptying all his belongings onto the ground. There was no silver, but there were several second-tier talismans and a box of second-tier pills.

The other three were not much different.

Zhao Xing instructed the scarecrows to take the items away, then saw Qin Feng starting to take off his soft armor. He said, "A few paupers... I don't want your weapons and soft armor. Get lost."

The weapons and armor of the Lake City Martial Officer had marks on them. They couldn't be sold, and taking them back to melt down for materials was a hassle, not to mention the price would be greatly discounted.

"Thank you, senior, thank you, senior!" Qin Feng and the others thanked profusely, rolling away.

Fang Jie and Zhou Gang, seeing this turn of events, immediately felt like they had found a way out. They were about to be harmed by these small people, but unexpectedly, a high person appeared and saved them.

"Lake City Martial Officer, Zhou Gang, thank you, senior, for your help," Zhou Gang said, bowing to the surroundings.

"Lake City Martial Officer, Fang Jie, thank you, senior, for your help," Fang Jie also bowed.

Several Great Strength Golden Gangs surrounded them, and a voice followed, "Don't just say thank you. Bring out anything of value."

Since Zhao Xing had already intervened, there was no reason to let them go empty-handed. Whether you are a good person or a bad person, righteous or evil, passing by Zhao Sinoong, you have to pluck a few hairs.

"This..." Fang Jie and Zhou Gang hesitated.

"What, is your life not worth more than those external possessions?"

"No, no, senior, you misunderstood," Zhou Gang said with a bitter smile, taking out a box of pills and talismans. "It's just that we, the Martial Officers, are all poor, with not much money. These things, I'm afraid, are hard to repay the senior's life-saving grace."

"Heh." Zhao Xing looked at them and couldn't help but laugh. Together, they only had four pills for restoring Yuan Qi and two talismans for saving energy on the road, all first-tier, not worth much money.

The valuable items were the weapons and armor, but Zhao Xing didn't want to take those.

He didn't intend to pressure a few paupers and was planning to leave.

Unexpectedly, Fang Jie heard this and thought the senior was dissatisfied, so he quickly said, "We might have another way to repay the senior."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing stopped, wanting to hear what they had to say.

Fang Jie and Zhou Gang exchanged a glance, then said, "Previously, we passed by a mountain cave where there was a spiritual herb. I remember the location and can take the senior there."

"This spiritual herb might not be easy to obtain, right?" Zhou Gang said, "Not to hide from the senior, the cave is the lair of a fierce beast. We knew we couldn't defeat it, so we left, planning to return when we were stronger."

Zhao Xing asked, "Do you know what kind of beast it is?"

Fang Jie hesitated, "Our strength is low, and the beast's roar was terrifying. We didn't dare to go in and check."

Zhao Xing was silent. Zhou Gang and Fang Jie were at the Gathering Essence Fifth Tier and Sixth Tier, respectively. If they were scared off, how fierce must the beast be?

"At least above Gathering Essence Eighth Tier, possibly even Gathering Essence Ninth Tier."

"But if you're afraid of this and that, I won't go up this mountain."

"There's always a scarecrow to scout the way. It's worth a look."

After some consideration, he made a decision.

"It seems being a good person has its benefits," Zhao Xing smiled lightly. "Saving your lives was just a convenient act. If I truly obtain the spiritual herb from that cave, I won't treat you poorly."

"But let me be clear, if you two don't take me there, that's fine. But if you have any other thoughts or are hiding something, don't blame me for turning a good thing into a bad one."

Zhou Gang and Fang Jie felt a chill in their hearts. "We dare not deceive."

"Lead the way," Zhao Xing said, sitting steadily on a vine chair, with Zhou Gang and Fang Jie leading the way with scarecrows opening the path.

Trusting only three parts, even if Zhou Gang and Fang Jie swore oaths, he never fully trusted them, let alone showing his face or getting close.

After walking for about three hours, the mountain path became increasingly steep, surrounded by dense forests, almost requiring a blade to cut a path.

Just as Zhao Xing was gradually losing patience, Zhou Gang in front whispered to the scarecrow, "Senior, it's just ahead."

Fang Jie pushed aside a patch of leaves, and Zhao Xing looked through the scouting scarecrow to see that there was indeed a mountain cave ahead.

"Senior, my heart is racing. I've already sensed the spiritual herb. I wonder if the senior can sense it?" Zhou Gang asked cautiously.

"Hmm, you didn't deceive me," Zhao Xing naturally sensed it too. Even though he was farther away than Zhou Gang and Fang Jie, his strength was greater, and his perception was sharper.

"Senior, we don't expect any rewards. If we can repay the senior's life-saving grace, it would be a great fortune," Zhou Gang said.

He meant he didn't want to stay here any longer.

Zhao Xing understood. "You two don't need to overthink. I keep my word. Since we've reached the place, I have some ointment for treating injuries here. Find a quiet place to heal first."

Zhou Gang and Fang Jie realized he wouldn't let them go, fearing they might leak information. So they had no choice but to agree. Fortunately, the mysterious person didn't make things difficult for them and even sent scarecrows with ointment, which relieved them.

For now, it seemed this senior's temperament wasn't one to turn hostile suddenly.

After assigning two scarecrows to watch over Zhou Gang and Fang Jie, Zhao Xing himself circled to the opposite side of the cave entrance to observe.

"Thump thump~ thump thump~" The closer he got, the faster his heart beat. Zhao Xing understood that there was at least a Middle Grade spiritual herb inside, possibly even stronger than pure Yuan Zhu Fruit!

"Send a scouting scarecrow over to take a look first."

(End of Chapter)