MASTER OF NONE

Walking Money Bag

Chapter 6:

"Big brother, we’ve been waiting here for five days now," one of the hidden assassins hissed, shifting his weight behind the boulder. "There's still no sign of the boy."

The second assassin grunted. "With that brat's pathetic cultivation, I doubt he's even alive inside that meat grinder of a forest."

"Shut up," the leader of the trio snapped, his eyes scanning the treeline. "The client was absolute about this. We ensure the boy is dead, or we make him dead. We wait a few more days to confirm the corpse."

The two reluctantly nodded. Suddenly, the rustling of leaves broke the creepy silence.

From the dense foliage of the Star Beast Forest, Ye Feng stepped out, completely unbothered. Beside him walked Mo Qingxue.

"Surround them!" the leader barked.

In a flash, the three assassins blocked their path. The second assassin laughed maniacally, twirling his twin daggers. "Who would’ve thought the trash was actually still breathing?"

Ignoring them entirely, Mo Qingxue turned her sharp gaze to Ye Feng. "Who are they, Master?"

"Just some old friends," Ye Feng replied smoothly, his expression a dead mask.

"Oho? Looks like the brat picked up a pretty little maid in the woods," the second assassin mocked, leering at Mo Qingxue's pristine white robes. "Big brother, looks like we're going to have some real fun tonight before we collect our pay."

The leader’s eyes narrowed, his survival instincts screaming. Something is wrong. A Star Refining brat survives five days in a Level 5 danger zone and walks out with a high-status woman? "Be careful," he warned sharply. "Something is off."

"Big brother, you're too cautious! Watch me play!" The second assassin burst forward, his body erupting with turbulent spiritual energy. His twin blades flashed violently through the air—a single, blinding streak.

Silence fell. He stood completely still behind Mo Qingxue, his blades frozen.

"Second brother, your aim is looking a bit rusty," the other assassin laughed.

Spurt!

A fountain of blood sprayed into the air as the second assassin’s head slid clean off his shoulders, hitting the dirt with a heavy thud.

The leader gasped, his mind reeling. What just happened?!

His eyes locked onto Mo Qingxue. She hadn't even fully unclasped her sword, yet a single droplet of fresh blood was currently sliding down her pristine steel blade. Did she just... kill an 8th-Stage Qi Refining cultivator in a single breath?

"Second brother!" The remaining subordinate shrieked in grief and rage. Losing his mind, he charged. "You'll pay for that, bitch!"

Mo Qingxue didn't blink. Her sword blurred. A sequence of silver flashes cut through the air so fast it tore a vacuum. Within a millisecond, the charging assassin was sliced and diced, collapsing into nothing but a puddle of blood and shredded meat.

The leader stood entirely frozen, the cold sweat pooling down his back. Two 8th-Stage Qi Refining experts wiped out in the blink of an eye. She has to be at least a Foundation Establishment master! No wonder that brat walked out unscathed.

Mo Qingxue calmly wiped her blade. "So, what will it be? Run, or die?"

If she's a Foundation Establishment master, running is suicide, the leader calculated frantically. Unless... His eyes darted to the emotionless Ye Feng. If I can take the brat hostage, I might live!

With a desperate roar, the leader flung a concealed flying dagger straight at Mo Qingxue's face to distract her, while his body launched like a cannonball directly toward Ye Feng.

He didn't even cover half the distance.

Swish.

Before his hands could even reach out, a microscopic red beam pierced straight through the center of his forehead, leaving a perfect, cauterized hole. The leader's eyes went wide and lifeless as his momentum collapsed, his body crashing face-first into the dirt, instantly dead.

The tiny crimson flash zipped backward, seamlessly dissolving back into Ye Feng’s bloodstream.

"The Pulsar Sword is far more efficient than I anticipated," Ye Feng murmured, inspecting his unblemished sleeve. He turned his dead-white eyes forward. "Qingxue, let's go."

Mo Qingxue stared at the leader's corpse, a profound shock rippling through her core, though she kept her face strictly composed. What absurd speed... she thought, a chill running down her spine. If I had actually called his bluff and attacked him back in the forest while I was weakened... by now, I would have a hole right between my eyes.

After a few hours of brisk walking, the dense trees gave way to heavy stone walls.

"Welcome to Blackstone County," Ye Feng said as they bypassed the outer gates.

Mo Qingxue adjusted her hood, maintaining her role as an attendant. "When are we heading to the Alchemist Association?"

"Not yet," Ye Feng replied calmly. "In about a week, the Association will be conducting their public exam for new alchemists. We will go then."

Mo Qingxue frowned slightly. "You are an alchemist?"

"Not yet. But in a week, I will be."

Ignorant, Mo Qingxue thought, a trace of her noble disdain slipping through her mind. He truly believes the path of alchemy is as simple as cooking a meal.

"Oh, right," Ye Feng stopped in his tracks, turning to her. "I forgot to ask. Do you have any Star Cores on you?"

Mo Qingxue paused. "What do you need those for?"

"If you have them, just hand them over," Ye Feng stated, his voice completely flat, offering zero explanation.

Reluctantly, Mo Qingxue tapped her spatial ring. Light flashed, and she presented a glowing, dense orb radiating powerful energy. "I have a Level 4 Star Beast Core."

"Excellent. Give it to me." Ye Feng took it immediately, swiping it into his inventory to convert into System points.

Mo Qingxue’s hand twitched into a tight fist as she watched it vanish. I had to hunt and battle that wretched beast for three days straight before I finally brought it down, she screamed silently, her inner regal pride weeping. And now it's just gone!

"Good. Let's find an inn," Ye Feng said. Before checking in, he casually stopped by a market stall, purchasing a plain slate mask and a set of clean, unadorned robes to obscure his face.

They finally arrived at the largest local establishment. The innkeeper immediately rushed over, rubbing his hands together. "Welcome, esteemed guests! What can I do for you today?"

"Do you have rooms available?" Ye Feng asked behind his new mask.

"Yes, indeed! Will it be one room or two, and how many nights will you be staying?"

Ye Feng let out a brief, awkward cough. "Two rooms, obviously. We'll be staying for a week."

"Understood, honored guest. That will be four silver coins."

Ye Feng didn't even reach for his pockets. He simply turned his head slightly toward Mo Qingxue. "Pay him."

Mo Qingxue froze, her jaw tightening. Why does it feel like I am being aggressively scammed by a Qi Refining brat?

With Qingxue around, I practically have a walking, high-grade money bag, Ye Feng noted inwardly, a faint, dark amusement brushing his thoughts as she reluctantly placed the silver coins on the counter.

The innkeeper scooped up the silver with a wide grin, gesturing to a nearby servant. "Excellent! She will escort you to your—"

Before the innkeeper could finish, his eyes suddenly darted toward the entrance. His face lit up with an expression of absolute, sycophantic reverence. Pushing past Ye Feng, the innkeeper practically sprinted toward the door.

"Ah! Young Master! What grand wind brings you to our humble inn today?"

A smooth, distinct, and deeply familiar voice echoed through the lobby. "What? Am I no longer permitted to patronize your establishment?"

The innkeeper trembled nervously, bowing repeatedly. "Of course not! We are profoundly honored to have your presence, Young Master Ye Cheng!"

Behind his mask, Ye Feng’s dead-white eyes instantly narrowed into slits of pure, calculated ice.