Immortal God of War
As Zhuge Mingyang’s phantasmal image dissipated, Qin Yue rose and bowed. "Young Master, we are truly grateful for your help, but you mustn’t offend the Eldest Prince for our sake. Please, reconsider."
Qin Feiyang chuckled. "Don’t worry. Right now, he’s the one afraid of offending me, not the other way around."
"Young Master..."
Before Qin Yue could say more, Qin Feiyang waved his hand dismissively. "My mind is made up."
"This..."
Qin Yue and Qin Xi exchanged bewildered glances.
They truly couldn’t understand. They were mere chance acquaintances; why was this person helping them?
BUZZ!
Almost immediately, the Image Crystal Stone activated.
The phantasmal images of the Eldest Prince and Zhuge Mingyang materialized simultaneously.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Qin Yue and Qin Xi immediately bowed in formal salutation.
Though they loathed the Eldest Prince, their subordinate status was undeniable, and they had no choice but to show deference.
"To have caught Brother Qin’s eye, you two are indeed fortunate."
The Eldest Prince snorted coldly, then looked at Qin Feiyang, his brow furrowed. "Brother Qin, if you truly fancy women, I can send you droves of them. Why are you so set on these two?"
Qin Feiyang laughed. "If I said it was love at first sight, would you believe me?"
"Believe you? I’d sooner believe in ghosts!"
The Eldest Prince rolled his eyes. "Alright, out with it. What’s the real reason?"
Qin Feiyang’s eyes glinted.
He had long anticipated the Eldest Prince would press for details, so he had prepared a response.
COUGH! COUGH!
Clearing his throat with a touch of feigned embarrassment, Qin Feiyang replied, "Their skills are excellent. I appreciate women like them."
"Skills are excellent?"
The Eldest Prince and Zhuge Mingyang exchanged surprised looks.
They hadn’t expected Qin Feiyang to have such... preferences.
The Eldest Prince chuckled. "Since Brother Qin fancies them so much, then I shall reluctantly part with them and give them to you."
Qin Feiyang cupped his fist in a smile. "Then I thank Your Highness."
The Eldest Prince waved a hand. "A trivial matter. We should share a few drinks when you’re free."
"Certainly."
Qin Feiyang nodded.
"Then carry on with your amusement. I will inform the Owner of the Fragrant Moon Tower."
With that, the Eldest Prince deactivated the Image Crystal Stone.
"Haha..."
The moment the Image Crystal Stone went dark, the Eldest Prince couldn’t help but erupt in derisive laughter, his face full of scorn.
However, Zhuge Mingyang, standing beside him, had an uncertain glint in his eyes. He suddenly spoke, "Your Highness, don’t you find this odd?"
"Odd? In what way?" the Eldest Prince asked.
"From what I’ve gathered, this Qin Feiyang isn’t one given to lust. Yet now, he insists on taking Qin Yue and Qin Xi. Isn’t this somewhat peculiar?" Zhuge Mingyang frowned.
"You’re overthinking it."
"Qin Yue and Qin Xi have been at the Fragrant Moon Tower for over a decade. They’ve serviced countless men. Even battle-hardened veterans find their skills irresistible, let alone Qin Feiyang."
"This Qin Feiyang is clearly a greenhorn. Once he tastes carnal pleasures, he’ll naturally become ensnared."
"Actually, this is good. At least it gives us one of his weaknesses to exploit," the Eldest Prince sneered.
Is that really so?
Zhuge Mingyang mused.
He always felt this matter wasn’t so simple.
「Fragrant Moon Tower!」
Seeing the Eldest Prince nod in agreement, Qin Yue and Qin Xi embraced, tears streaming silently.
For over a decade.
They had endured mental torment daily for over a decade, living a life worse than death. Now, finally free, they couldn’t help but weep tears of joy.
Qin Feiyang said nothing, merely watching them quietly.
He could empathize with what the two women were feeling. For all these years, he too had felt as if each day stretched into an eternity of suffering.
THUD!!
A moment later, a knock sounded at the door.
Qin Yue and Qin Xi wiped their tears and smoothed their somewhat disheveled hair, then looked towards Qin Feiyang.
Qin Xi said, "We’ve made a spectacle of ourselves, Young Master."
Qin Feiyang offered a faint smile, looked towards the door, and said, "Come in."
The door swung open.
A man and a woman entered the private chamber.
The woman was the madam.
The man was middle-aged, slender, and dressed in a long white robe. Streaks of white touched his temples, and he carried an air of worldly wisdom.
This man entered the tea room, looked at Qin Feiyang, and cupped his fist with a smile. "I am the Owner of the Fragrant Moon Tower. A pleasure to meet you, Master Qin."
Qin Feiyang nodded with a smile.
The Owner looked at the madam and the two young women. "You may all leave."
"Yes."
The three bowed and departed the private chamber sequentially, closing the door behind them.
The Owner then turned his gaze back and sat opposite Qin Feiyang, chuckling. "I never expected Master Qin to be such an honored guest of His Highness."
A slight glint in his eyes, Qin Feiyang smiled faintly. "It seems the Owner is also one of His Highness’s men!"
The Owner of the Fragrant Moon Tower was momentarily taken aback, then asked curiously, "On what basis do you say that?"
"Only Zhuge Mingyang knows that I am accompanying His Highness."
"Furthermore, His Highness explicitly instructed me to keep this matter confidential. How did you come to know of it?"
"There’s no doubt."
"His Highness must have told you personally."
"Doesn’t that prove you are someone His Highness trusts deeply?" Qin Feiyang said with a light smile.
Hearing this, the Owner stared at Qin Feiyang in stunned silence, then shook his head and chuckled. "With just that, Master Qin, you deduced so much. Your intellect is truly exceptional!"
Qin Feiyang shook his head. "My petty cleverness dares not display itself before the Owner."
"In terms of intellect, among the younger generation of the Imperial Capital, perhaps only Zhuge Mingyang can rival you. So, Master Qin, there’s no need for such modesty."
"And as for Qin Yue and Qin Xi, the Eldest Prince has already instructed that you may take them at any time," the Owner said with a smile.
"Thank you, Owner."
"However, I have one more matter I’d like to discuss with the Owner," Qin Feiyang stated.
"What could there be for us to discuss?" the Owner asked, suspicious.
Qin Feiyang said, "Indeed, there is. I heard you possess a Fifth Grade flame."
"Hm?"
The Owner paused briefly, then nodded. "Many people know this. What about it?"
"To be frank, Owner, I came to the Fragrant Moon Tower this time precisely for this Fifth Grade flame. Name your price," Qin Feiyang said, not beating around the bush and directly stating his true purpose.
"I was wondering why Master Qin would grace my Fragrant Moon Tower today! So, you had an ulterior motive!" the Owner exclaimed, his eyes filled with playful interest.
Qin Feiyang leaned back in his chair, his hands resting on his thighs, calmly watching the Owner of the Fragrant Moon Tower. "Let’s dispense with meaningless words!"
"Since Master Qin wishes to avoid pointless talk, I too shall be direct."
"My attainments in Alchemy, while not comparable to Master Qin’s, still mean I am also an Alchemist."
"Therefore, this Fifth Grade flame, I will not sell it to you," the Owner stated.
"Is that so?" Qin Feiyang smiled indifferently, then produced a Potential Elixir and tossed it onto the tea table.
The Owner’s gaze immediately fixed on the Potential Elixir, a bright light flaring in his eyes.
"Is this enough?" Qin Feiyang asked.
The Owner remained silent, his eyes flickering.
Qin Feiyang produced another, tossing it onto the table. "How about now?"
The Owner still said nothing.
Qin Feiyang chuckled with amusement, then directly took out three Potential Elixirs. "Enough?"
When it was time to be low-key, he would be low-key. But when it was time to be assertive, he didn’t hesitate in the slightest. Since this person refused to sell, then he’d just overwhelm him with Potential Elixirs. It wasn’t like he was short of them anyway. He refused to believe he wouldn’t be tempted.
However, the Owner remained silent.
To be honest, he was indeed moved. Because, no matter how precious a Fifth Grade flame was, its value couldn’t compare to a Potential Elixir. But seeing Qin Feiyang’s nonchalant demeanor, he wanted to see... what was Qin Feiyang’s limit? To put it bluntly: he was being greedy, wanting a few more.
"Still not enough?" Qin Feiyang’s lips curved slightly as he once again took out five Potential Elixirs and tossed them directly onto the table.
That made a total of ten Potential Elixirs.
Though his actions seemed flippant, throughout the entire process, he had been observing the Owner’s expression.
So, the Owner’s indecision and greed were plain for him to see.
Seeing the Owner still showed no sign of speaking, Qin Feiyang smiled faintly. "It seems the Owner truly has no intention of selling the flame. In that case, I won’t impose. Farewell!"
With that, he scooped up the ten Potential Elixirs from the table and strode towards the exit.
What?
This turn of events caught the Owner of the Fragrant Moon Tower completely off guard. Judging by this lad’s earlier attitude, wasn’t he determined to obtain it? Why give up so suddenly?
"Master Qin, please wait," he called out hurriedly, rising to his feet once he recovered his wits.
Trying to play games with me? You’re still too green!
Qin Feiyang sneered inwardly, then turned, looking at the Owner with feigned puzzlement. "Is there something else?"
"I’ve thought it over carefully. The Fifth Grade flame isn’t actually of much use to me."
"And Master Qin is an honored guest of the Crown Prince, and so sincere. If I still refused, wouldn’t I seem too unkind?" the Owner said with a laugh.
"So?" Qin Feiyang asked.
The Owner said, "So, I’ve decided to sell the flame to you."
"Is that the case? Then I must thank the Owner. Here are five Potential Elixirs. Please accept them, Owner." Qin Feiyang produced five Potential Elixirs, walked back into the tea room, and offered them to the Owner.
The Owner was stunned, frowning. "Why five? Weren’t there ten?"
Qin Feiyang wagged a finger. "No, no, no. It was ten just now. But now, it’s only five."
"This..." The Owner glanced at the five Potential Elixirs, then at Qin Feiyang, somewhat at a loss.
"Though I am not lacking Potential Elixirs, I am a man of principle in my dealings."
"If you show genuine sincerity, I will naturally reciprocate with mine," Qin Feiyang said with a faint smile.
"Am I not sincere?" the Owner frowned.
"Did you really think I couldn’t see through you?"
"Your repeated silence earlier—wasn’t it just to make me offer more Potential Elixirs?"
"One shouldn’t behave like that. After all, we both serve the Eldest Prince. Wouldn’t you agree?" Qin Feiyang asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes, yes." The Owner nodded.
But to lose five Potential Elixirs just like that... he found it truly hard to accept.
"Not selling?"
"Then forget it. My funds are a bit tight recently anyway. I’ll just take these to the Grand Pavilion for auction." Qin Feiyang picked up the five Potential Elixirs and turned to leave.
The Owner rubbed his forehead. "Alright, alright, I’ll sell it to you."
He looked quite vexed. If only I had agreed from the start, I wouldn’t have needlessly lost five Potential Elixirs. SIGH! It’s all greed’s fault!
He sighed inwardly, took out an old iron box from his Qiankun Bag, and handed it to Qin Feiyang, saying resignedly, "The flame is inside."
Qin Feiyang opened the iron box, and a palm-sized flame cluster immediately entered his sight.
After the Owner erased the Blood Covenant within, Qin Feiyang handed over the five Potential Elixirs.
Once the transaction was complete, Qin Feiyang didn’t linger. He turned, opened the door, and left.
The Owner watched Qin Feiyang depart, then sighed, shaking his head. Sitting alone in the tea room, he silently gazed at the five Potential Elixirs in his hand, unsure whether he was happy or dismayed.
This kid,
he mused,
he’s as shrewd as an old fox.

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