Almost without realizing it, they had walked several streets. Lin Feng looked up and realized they were near his home. He patted Zheng Kai's shoulder—the man was still lost in sorrow over Luo—and said, "Zheng Kai, it's getting late. Perhaps... we should part ways here? We can talk more next time."
Zheng Kai snapped back to reality, glanced at the moon overhead, and remarked, "Huh? Is it that late already?" He tapped his forehead and smiled at Lin Feng and the others. "Alright, I should head back too. Ending it here today is fine... Oh, Lin Feng, can you tell me where you live now? I'll visit when I have time."
"Haha, certainly. My home is at..." Lin Feng gave his address, then added, "I'll likely be out hunting demonic beasts frequently in the near future, so you might not find me home."
"Oh?" Zheng Kai paused momentarily, as if remembering something. "Right! Speaking of hunting demonic beasts... Tingting and I planned to gather spirit herbs in Seven Peaks Forest two days from now. We also intended to explore that Fire-Tailed Scorpion cave we visited last time. Why don't you join us?"
"You and Kou Tingting have plans? Isn't it awkward for me to tag along? Especially after today... will she even go?" Lin Feng frowned. "Wait, you said Seven Peaks Forest? Isn't there talk about it being dangerous lately? You're still going?"
"We scheduled this days ago. Tingting probably won't back out. And it's not just the two of us—Changgong Xiaojing is coming too. Each of us will have a guard. Even encountering a late-stage Tier 2 beast wouldn't be a problem. With you joining, we'd be even stronger." Zheng Kai elaborated, then continued, "As for the rumors about Seven Peaks Forest... they've died down recently. Today at the Mission Guild, I saw two teams that went in and returned safely. Seems that dangerous 'thing' has vanished. But even if it were still there... if we stumbled across it? We might just deal with it ourselves—rid the people of a menace."
"Oh? Is that so?" Lin Feng hadn't heard the danger had passed. He thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, we'll go together. Can Zhang Fangzhou and the others join too?"
Zheng Kai said, "Of course. More hands make lighter work."
"Great. We'll meet at the Mission Guild in two days. What time?"
"Nine in the morning. Suitable?"
"Perfect. See you then."
"Agreed! See you then!"
…
After parting with Zheng Kai, Lin Feng and his group headed straight home. Lin Feng hadn't anticipated Zheng Kai's group also planning to revisit the Fire-Tailed Scorpion cave. But it wasn't owned by anyone; forbidding others to explore it was impossible. Joining forces with them was fine—if they found treasure, they could split it. With Lin Feng now possessing even top-grade spirit artifacts, such matters seemed trivial.
A night of peaceful cultivation passed. The next day, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion surprisingly delivered a batch of artifacts needing repair. Lin Feng began fulfilling his duties, repairing them all. Knowing he'd soon leave for Seven Peaks Forest, he didn't seek out other demonic beast hunting grounds.
Two days flew by. That morning, Lin Feng, Zhang Fangzhou, and the others prepared early and arrived at the Mission Guild.
…
"Lin Feng! Over here!" Zheng Kai greeted them as soon as they entered. "Follow me. I'll introduce the others."
He led them to a spacious lounge behind the guild hall's right side. Five people were already inside. Lin Feng recognized four of them: besides Changgong Xiaojing and Kou Tingting, there were the two men seen during the Skyblue Grass search—one tall and imposing with a scar on his right temple, the other scholarly and refined. They were Changgong Xiaojing's and Kou Tingting's guards, respectively. Lin Feng now sensed both were Foundation Establishment Level Six.
The unfamiliar man with a square jaw was likely Zheng Kai's guard—an impressive Foundation Establishment Level Seven. Through Zheng Kai's introductions, Lin Feng learned the scarred man was Wei Lie, the refined man Qin Xu, and the square-jawed man Lu Yang. Zheng Kai treated all three with marked respect—they weren't mere servants, but seniors assigned as protection out of concern.
Despite the trio's considerable personal strength and superior artifacts, Seven Peaks Forest wasn't a place to traverse lightly. Any mishap involving them would be unacceptable—hence even Zheng Kai had Lu Yang as an extra 'bodyguard'. Wei Lie and Qin Xu seemed surprised to see Lin Feng. Kou Tingting gave him only a slight nod in greeting. Changgong Xiaojing offered no pleasantries whatsoever, her expression sour, as if owed a vast sum of spirit stones.
Shortly after, the ten-strong group departed the Mission Guild and set off towards Seven Peaks Forest in a formidable procession.
…
Upon entering Seven Peaks Forest, they immediately spotted other cultivator teams. As they ventured deeper, however, the other groups grew distant. By the time they reached Chiyan Mountain, they were alone.
Seven Peaks Forest was vast. Even hundreds of cultivators dispersing within would rarely cross paths. Furthermore, the demonic beasts within the forest seemed to have replenished in numbers, far exceeding what Lin Feng's group had encountered on their return journey last time.
Most they encountered were merely Tier 1 beasts. Intimidated by the large group's presence, they fled long before contact. The occasional reckless beast bold enough to attack was swiftly dispatched. The group deliberately chose an indirect, secluded path.
Kou Tingting and Changgong Xiaojing were the busiest, ignoring beasts entirely, focused instead on foraging for spirit herbs amidst grasses, bushes, and rock crevices—harvesting a considerable yield. Lin Feng's sole objective today was exploring the Fire-Tailed Scorpion cave. He paid little heed to beasts or materials along the way.
In contrast, Zhang Fangzhou and his brothers were unusually active, volunteering to eliminate every beast they encountered.
By dusk, they reached Chiyan Mountain. After a brief rest, they entered the familiar cave.
It was impossible to tell if others had explored it since Lin Feng's last venture. Upon entry, they faced sporadic attacks by lone Fire-Tailed Scorpions—none posed any real threat. Pushing inward, they soon reached the three-way fork.
Continuing deeper, they halted at a bend where a faint red glow seeped through.
Lin Feng announced, "This is where I stopped last time. There should be late-stage Tier 2 Fire-Tailed Scorpions inside—likely multiple. They can ambush from the surrounding cave walls. Everyone stay alert." He hadn't concealed his prior exploration, having informed the group earlier.
Zhang Fangzhou peered cautiously ahead. "That glow... firelight?! Could it be a fire-attributed natural treasure?"
Zheng Kai's eyes gleamed with suppressed excitement and anticipation. "Heh, what does it matter? Let's find out!"