I, who was turned into a woman by the Jade Maiden Master, want to rebel against the Heavenly Gang.

Ye Qingyun smiled and said it was alright, then took his leave with satisfaction.

As soon as she left, Qin Rufeng immediately summoned Xia Jinghong.

Seeing her fairy's urgency, Jinghong immediately became extremely attentive. "What are your orders, fairy?"

Qin Rufeng said, "I need you to go and buy some things."

Xia Jinghong: "What would you like to buy, Fairy? I'll go right away."

Qin Rufeng: "Bright lights".

Xia Jinghong frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled. But she knew that the fairy's instructions must have a deeper meaning, so she didn't ask any more questions and simply answered "yes" seriously.

Qin Rufeng continued, "Buy me as many as you can. Make sure they're infused with spiritual energy. If they're not, have the seller infuse them with it. I'll pay any amount of spirit stones; I have plenty."

"When others ask, I just say I like it. I say I've made a lot of spirit stones and have nowhere to spend them. I didn't get enough of the Lantern Festival, so I have to buy my own. I'm just carried away and spend money like water."

"Also... buy me a mask." Qin Rufeng continued to instruct, "No need for magic weapons, just enough to cover my eyes."

"Buy some more Zijinqiong incense. It should be a strong fragrance mixed with other precious spices."

"Yes." Xia Jinghong roughly understood the significance of her fairy buying these two items. She didn't dare look directly into the fairy's alluring eyes. Moreover, the fragrance emanating from the fairy was incredibly intoxicating.

Qin Rufeng continued, "Besides that, buy some rouge and face powder, gold and jade jewelry, various precious immortal teas and spirit wines, anti-aging pills, clothes and hair accessories, calligraphy and paintings, and antiques. I don't need the best, just the most expensive. In short, just spend money on me."

Qin Rufeng did this to mislead the public and prevent her purchase of lanterns from arousing suspicion.

She couldn't let Yuan Mengli know that she was trying to become stronger, so she had to create the persona of a rich spendthrift.

Finally, Qin Rufeng specifically instructed Xia Jinghong: "Don't go out too early tomorrow. No matter how things go, come back immediately before evening. It's too dangerous outside, so be extra careful."

Xia Jinghong took the promise seriously and kept it in mind. The next morning, she began Qin Rufeng's extravagant spending plan.

Although Qin Rufeng was in standby mode, she channeled her soul into the soul lamp and used the soul-binding threads to control her body.

Although she wasn't yet proficient and needed Li Qingshi's help and support, this was a good opportunity to practice and improve her skills.

Furthermore, one can cultivate the [Ten Netherworld Fiends Formation] even when the soul is separated from the body. However, this domain formation can only be practiced to expand the domain; it cannot summon vengeful spirits. This is because it would be very dangerous to summon them without providing them with souls to consume.

Qin Rufeng cultivated with increasing diligence. She had a persistent, ominous premonition… the more “valuable” she became, the closer the crisis would be.

Yuan Mengli will relentlessly press forward, and the Crimson Moon Sect will not spare her.

While cultivating, Qin Rufeng was also worried about Xia Jinghong's safety. Her intuition told her that Jinghong's experience a few nights ago was not accidental.

However, Feng Hua was busy searching for rare and precious materials and simply didn't have time for such trivial purchasing matters. Li Qingshi's agility was even inferior to Xia Jinghong's.

In fact, Qin Rufeng's concerns were not unfounded. Xia Jinghong felt someone was watching her after leaving Qingyuefang.

Even though it was broad daylight, I still felt very insecure.

Until she turned a corner and saw the woman in red who had once saved her life again...

"It's you!" Xia Jinghong breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her. "Thank you so much for that night, fellow Daoist."

"It was nothing, just a small favor," the woman in red said. "But it seems you and your fairy are facing quite a bit of trouble."

Jinghong sighed, "I don't care what happens to me, but I don't know when my fairy will be able to break free from Qingyuefang's control."

The woman in red asked curiously, "Isn't she the prized possession of Qingyue Workshop? Why does she want to leave?"

Xia Jinghong: "That is not what my fairy wishes."

The woman in red said, "I heard she's a disciple of the Hehuan Sect."

Xia Jinghong immediately replied, "My fairy only offers her musical skills."

“That’s a bit of a problem,” the woman in red said. “I heard that some important person has their eye on her. Not because of her musical skills, but because of her body.”

"What?! Is that so?!" Xia Jinghong exclaimed hastily. "No one can break the rules of Cangyun City, can they?"

The woman in red said, "It is said that she is someone close to Empress Cangyun."

Xia Jinghong's face immediately turned pale...

The woman in red laughed out loud, "Hehehe, you really are always thinking of your fairy."

"Don't rush. I think those closest to Empress Cangyun should be even more mindful of the rules, shouldn't they?"

"Is that really the case?" Xia Jinghong still looked worried.

The woman in red laughed and said, "Don't worry, hurry up and do your job for your fairy. Anyway, I have nothing to do, so I might as well keep you company. Tell me more about your fairy."

Chapter 157 Inescapable After All

Xia Jinghong's procurement went very smoothly. Soon, news spread that Liu Ruyan, the Qin Fairy of Qingyuefang, was spending money extravagantly and without restraint.

People think she's gotten arrogant, but her arrogance is understandable.

If the previous story of earning three thousand high-grade spirit stones through playing the zither and singing was merely a rumor, its veracity uncertain, then his astonishing success at the Lantern Festival was undeniable. Who wouldn't be overjoyed in that situation?

Liu Qinxian must be very proud of it, right? Otherwise, she wouldn't still be so immersed in the wonderful memories of the Lantern Festival, and would still be buying lanterns at high prices everywhere.

Perhaps she was hoping that she could be as dazzling as she was on the day of the Lantern Festival every day.

According to Xia Jinghong's report, maids from Qingyuefang would come to inquire about all the things she purchased.

To find out what goods had been purchased, the maids used all sorts of tricks. Some offered to help check the goods, while others deliberately befriended Xia Jinghong to distract her and then let her accomplices check them out when they had a chance.

It's clear that although it hasn't reached the point of forced inspection, Yuan Mengli is obviously very concerned about Ru Feng's every move.

Qin Rufeng told Xia Jinghong not to be too "clever" and to let them investigate if they could. He also placed several lanterns on the terrace at night and occasionally invited Shangguan Qingxue to watch them together.

The purpose of this was to lull Yuan Mengli into a false sense of security. Qin Rufeng also got the nicknames he wanted, such as "Golden Strings and Jade Melodies" and "Hands Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold," which praised her musical skills while also teasing her about spending money.

Because of this, Zeng Yuzhen, who always disliked Qin Rufeng, even went to the neighborhood head to complain.

It's said that Liu Ruyan, a mere novice musician, became arrogant and disregarded social hierarchy after gaining some recognition for her instrument. Moreover, she was extravagantly wasteful, spending money like water, which made merchants think Qingyuefang was a sucker, causing the prices of all sorts of goods to skyrocket.

Yuan Mengli simply smiled and let it go. After all, she had taken 70% of the spirit stones Qin Rufeng earned. It would be best if Qin Rufeng spent all the remaining spirit stones she had.

After all, it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. If we keep her hidden away for a while, she won't be able to enjoy the luxuries without the spirit stone flower. She'll naturally agree to sell herself.

Yuan Fangzhu was shrewd and calculating, but she was unaware that Qin Rufeng was diligently cultivating every day.

The Soul-Binding Silk is already second nature to me, and I have complete control over it. As for the Netherworld Ten Fiends Formation, aside from not having actually used it before, I am quite familiar with the process.

Even the [Golden Lotus Emerging from the Earth] technique, which Qin Rufeng found shameful, was being secretly practiced by her. A confrontation and break with Yuan Mengli was inevitable; when faced with a life-or-death situation, what did shame matter?

Xia Jinghong got Qin Rufeng a fox mask, which looked very much like the Japanese "fox mask" commonly seen in the world of anime and manga on Earth.

Qin Rufeng was both amused and exasperated. It seemed her little maid still didn't think she looked like a fox spirit enough. But it didn't look bad on her, so she'd just have to make do for now…

They even bought the most precious "Magnolia Gold Incense" for the incense. The original purpose of making this incense was to mask the fragrance of the Purple Gold Jade.

Cultivators are very concerned about their image. The need for the Purple Gold Jade to guard against the Blood Cloud is itself a sign of insecurity about their own strength. Therefore, masking the fragrance of the Purple Gold Jade makes things less awkward.

This strong fragrance can also largely mask the alluring scent emanating from Qin Rufeng, which certainly reduces a lot of trouble.

However, alluring eyes and a pleasant fragrance are merely superficial manifestations, like wind and fire. Although concealing them avoids a lot of trouble, the inner demons themselves are not diminished in the slightest.

The most obvious change is that Qin Rufeng is practicing her martial arts more and more frequently, which naturally requires her best friends to work harder.

Feng Hua is a heavy-duty truck, so it can withstand the load. Shangguan Qingxue has also practiced the Hehuan Jade Cauldron Technique, so she has no problem with it.

However, they couldn't always be by each other's side. Xia Jinghong was constantly on fieldwork, leaving Li Qingshi, whose cultivation level wasn't high, to serve her. She was visibly growing weaker and weaker...

One day, Xia Jinghong returned a little late and didn't see Li Qingshi. So she had no choice but to enter Qin Rufeng's room without being informed.

Strangely, the room was dark, with only the soul lamp emitting a faint bluish-white light.

Even without the Soul Lamp lit, Qin Rufeng's spirit body emitted a faint white light. Xia Jinghong vaguely saw a miniature version of Qin Rufeng meditating and regulating his breathing inside the Soul Lamp's droplet bottle.

Meanwhile, Ru Feng's true form also sat in meditation, completely still...

Xia Jinghong didn't dare to disturb her, and simply waited quietly. Qin Rufeng noticed her coming in and said, "Jinghong, you're back?"

Xia Jinghong quickly said, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Fairy."

Qin Rufeng asked, "How did it go? Did you retrieve the magic weapon from Elder Ye?"

Xia Jinghong took out the umbrella sword. This magical artifact had already been upgraded by Ye Qingyun. Qin Rufeng couldn't leave Qingyuefang himself, and it wasn't appropriate for Elder Ye to come to his door, so he could only send Xia Jinghong to retrieve it.

Qin Rufeng nodded, only telling Xia Jinghong to put the things aside for now. Then Jinghong talked about the shopping she had done during the day.

There were basically no major incidents. Several hundred lanterns had already been purchased, although it was far less than the scale of the Lantern Festival, it would still greatly enhance the power of Qin Rufeng's vocalizations within a certain range.

Having finished her report, Xia Jinghong was about to take her leave when Qin Rufeng said softly, "Jinghong, come forward..."

In fact, Xia Jinghong sensed something was off about Qin Rufeng the moment she entered the room. However, she would never question her fairy's orders.

So Xia Jinghong got up and stepped forward. When she reached Qin Rufeng, the soul lamp beside her suddenly lit up. Only then did Xia Jinghong realize that Rufeng was only wearing a thin garment. The collar was slightly open, revealing her undulating breasts and deep cleavage.

Xia Jinghong then realized something was amiss in the room. The incense wasn't lit, and the room was filled with the fairy's natural fragrance—a sweet, intoxicating aroma.

Just then, Qin Rufeng slowly removed the fox mask, revealing peach-colored eyes...

A pale, cold light, like liquid mercury, cascaded down her slightly protruding brow bone, condensing into two crescent-shaped ice crystals on her lower eyelids.

Qin Rufeng deliberately hid his face at the boundary of light and shadow, but allowed his peach-colored eyes to be exposed in the ambiguous dimness.

As her heart-shaped pupils dilate slightly with her breathing, they ripple with a pearly sheen, like peach blossoms glistening with night dew falling into a clear pond under the moonlight. Her eyelashes tremble and flutter, as if shaking off starlight.

Flowers in the mist, fire in the snow... hazy yet scorching, the green hue spreading wildly like a tidal wave bursting its banks.

Xia Jinghong was like a mouse being watched by a cat, unable to move at all.

She knew she was now the undisputed prey. But for some reason, her wildly beating heart seemed to be saying, "Come and devour me!"

As she wished...

Qin Rufeng pounced on Xia Jinghong like a fox swooping down on a rabbit. Xia Jinghong was tackled heavily to the ground.

The silken wings, unable to withstand the restraints, slipped and fell, spreading out gently to both sides like the soft light of two full moons. Peach blossoms were in full bloom, and the moonlight was as white as snow.

Another night of ringing bells and cicada chirping...

The next day, Xia Jinghong didn't go out shopping again. Qin Rufeng gave her three days off. Fortunately, the shopping was almost done.

Chapter 158 Oh no, something's happened!

Ru Feng picked up the upgraded umbrella sword and discovered that it had transformed from a cold, sharp iron umbrella into a paper-painted umbrella. But this was merely a disguise. Whenever needed, it could instantly transform into a blade and a shield.

Qin Rufeng could also infuse the transformed sword energy into the ribs of the sharp umbrella. In this way, he could quickly cast the fifth move of the Myriad Swords Technique, "Myriad Swords Return to Origin,"... Yan Qingping's improved version, "Myriad Flower Sword Rain."

There was another matter that troubled Ru Feng. It was what Xia Jinghong had mentioned about the woman in red... that someone close to the Empress of Cangyun City was coveting her.

Could that person be the woman in red herself? But it doesn't quite seem like it. Aren't the people around Empress Cangyun a bit too idle?

Qin Rufeng felt a sense of déjà vu about the woman in red. She had a premonition that she would meet this person sooner or later, and then she would know whether she was friend or foe.

Qin Rufeng cultivated day and night, and could already use the newly learned spells proficiently. He had also accumulated enough spiritual energy, and now all that was missing was the rare and precious materials needed to gather the five elemental spiritual roots.

However, she never urged Feng Hua. She could tell that Feng Hua's mood was getting worse and worse. It seemed that she had a premonition of some kind of crisis and was desperately wanting to obtain the rare treasures, wishing that Qin Rufeng could break through as soon as possible.

Qin Rufeng also sensed the undercurrents. Although Feng Hua always said she was fine when she asked, Qin Rufeng knew that Feng Hua's pressure probably came from Yuan Mengli.

Yuan Mengli... she will not let go of such a powerful familiar as Feng Hua. She will definitely not be content with two curse marks, but will find a way to bind her forever.

Qin Rufeng herself was the same; Yuan Mengli, the head of Qingyue Workshop, would not let her go either.

Since the truth will eventually come out, we can't afford to be passive.

Qin Ruyi O=Yi Qi Wu Jiu Si Jiu Ba Feng had actually made the worst-case scenario plan long ago, which was that Feng Hua would be controlled by Yuan Mengli.

Therefore, she did not reveal to Feng Hua the true purpose of purchasing the lanterns, the Soul-Tethering Silk and the Netherworld Ten Fiends Formation she learned from Cang Shuyun, or the mysterious woman in red.

Seeing Feng Hua exhausted from her daily work, and knowing that he had kept something from her, Qin Rufeng felt guilty. So he could only treat her with endless gentleness, hoping to make amends.

She played the zither and sang for Feng Hua, and also bathed him. As for serving him in bed... well, it's impossible to say who served whom.

Even so, this is already top-tier treatment. After all, Qin Rufeng is now the Qin Immortal of Qingyue Pavilion. Besides Feng Hua, the only other person she would willingly serve is her master.

Feng Hua returned home quite late that day. She had sustained several injuries, but fortunately, they were not serious. She made sure to heal her wounds before seeing Qin Rufeng.

Feng Hua knew in her heart that she was Qin Rufeng's hope for escaping Qingyuefang. Although she wasn't the only hope, as she thought, she was undoubtedly the most important one.

So she always tried to face Qin Rufeng with full confidence. But in reality, she was becoming increasingly uncertain. Yuan Mengli was slowly but surely putting pressure on her, like a frog being boiled in lukewarm water.

Yuan Mengli knew that Feng Hua always slacked off whenever she went out. In fact, it wasn't just slacking off, it was more like "complete slacking off," but she never questioned it. Instead, she made various demands to force Feng Hua to obey her commands in other ways.

For example, there was a time when the Blood Cloud infection was severe at the spirit stone mine in Beishan. Feng Hua said he was going to clear it out, but actually he was going to find something for Ru Feng. As a result, the slaves at the spirit stone mine either died or got infected... the consequences were quite serious, after all, it was a spirit stone mine.

Yuan Mengli said that this matter had already displeased Yunxiao Palace. Because the Cangyun Empress's bounty rewards also need to be effective, Yunxiao Palace is responsible for supervising and distributing the rewards.

Yuan Mengli questioned Feng Hua about what she had been doing, but before Feng Hua could explode, she said that it was Feng Hua's freedom to do whatever she wanted, and she didn't want to restrict her. However, regarding high-profile events like the Blood Cloud Infection at the Spirit Stone Mine, she still wanted Feng Hua to try her best to avoid complaints from the Cloud Palace.

Therefore, when Feng Hua encounters a mission in an important area like a spirit stone mine, she will solve the problem first before helping Qin Rufeng find things.