Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Behind the Scenes

Wei Zhong’s gaze swept over the man before him who just walk in. His brow furrowed.

“…Who are you?” he asked, carrying a tone as though he is the owner of this place now.

Li Feng smiled brightly, and give a formal introduction with a small bow.”This one name is Li Feng, I am an outer disciple from the Azure Moon Sect,” he replied.

Wei Zhong’s eyes furrowed even further as he asked cautiously, “What is your business here?” Even though Li Feng is just an outer sect disciple of the Azure Moon Sect, Wei Zhong still didn’t want to mess with him, after all, the Azure Moon Sect is still the overlord in this region. Even if they were strict with their internal discipline, it didn’t mean everyone could go around and provoking them.

Li Feng smile again, “Oh, it’s my first time visiting Cloudveil City, so I’m just exploring around.”

Wei Zhong scoffed, the sound sharp in the quiet room. “Then I’m afraid you’ve wandered into the wrong place to explore.” His gaze flicked toward Wei Meilin, and a thought seemed to strike him. His lips curled. “Wait… don’t tell me this important meeting you made me wait so long for… is because you were meeting him?”

Wei Zhong started shaking his head and laughed, “Haha, oh Meilin, is this your backup plan? What can an outer disciple like him do? Help clean up the store? Hahaha!” Wei Zhong might have feared the sect’s outer disciples before, but now with him also having a backer, there was no need to be too cautious as long as he didn’t outright attack them. Not to mention this shady-looking guy was probably one of the lowest-rung outer disciples.

Wei Meilin gave Wei Zhong a weird look in response to his mocking tone.

Li Feng didn’t interrupt. He stood there quietly, smiling as though Wei Zhong’s words were nothing more than background noise. He waited for the laughter to die before letting his smile deepen.”Oh… I forgot to mention,” he said, voice light, almost as if the thought had just occurred to him. “I’m also an alchemist.”

The air in the room shifted. Wei Zhong froze mid-smirk, the corners of his mouth stiffening. Even for someone as arrogant as him, the weight behind that title was not something to ignore.

Li Feng’s gaze slid past him toward the woman seated behind the desk.”I’ve heard of Madam Wei’s wisdom and remarkable talent,” he said smoothly, his voice warming with praise. “To guide a clan through such difficult period… with grace, foresight, and resolve, it truly is a rare qualities. Her amazing talent moved this one greatly so why I come here. And I hoped we might discuss a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

Wei Meilin blinked her beautiful eye, the compliment coming from Li Feng catched her off guard a bit. She know that this man was no better than Wei Zhong when it came to … shamelessness perhaps even worse. Yet here he was, speaking with respect, giving her face. Even if she wouldn’t admit it aloud, a woman’s heart was never entirely immune to sincere praise, especially when it came from someone whose profession admire by all and he make her prestige look great.

Wei Zhong’s expression darkened.”Don’t get involved in Wei family affairs,” he said, his voice dropping low with threat.

The warmth also faded from Li Feng’s face. His tone hardened.”Since when,” he stepped forward, the air between them tightening, “does a trash like you have the right to tell me what to do?”

Wei Zhong’s eyes narrowed, but the humiliation had already sunk its teeth in. After a tense pause, knowing staying here any longer is useless. He stand up and turned sharply, his robe sleeves snapping in the air, “Wei Meilin” he said without looking back, “think carefully about my offer… otherwise you will regret it.”

Li Feng watched him leave, a sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth.”Hmph. He dares threaten my people in front of me? He’s seeking death.” Li Feng had already put this guy on his blacklist to get rid of once there is a opportunity. No one dared touch his staff without getting their hands burned.

The tension in the room blow away with Wei Zhong’s departure. Wei Meilin’s shoulders eased, a quiet breath escaping her.

Li Feng’s eyes lingered on that small sign of relief. He stepped closer, and without asking, scooped her up with an ease and settle her side way on his lap again.

“What are you—?” she gasp surprise, but his voice cut in, low and steady.” Just making sure you’re comfortable.” His arm stayed firm around her as he looked into her eyes. “Now Madam Wei … tell me what’s going on.”

Perhaps it was the sudden contrast, from confrontation to this oddly protective presence. Wei Meilin’s guarded expression softened. Like someone who had just been pulled from drowning water, she began to speak. She told him of the mounting losses, the family’s situation, and the pressure closing in from all sides.

Li Feng listened, eyes focused, one arm loosely resting at her soft waist. When she finished, his gaze warmed, almost pitying.”Such a heavy burden… It must have been hard on you Madam. No wonder you’ve been forced into a corner,” he softly consoled her.

Outwardly, he was comforting her; but inwardly, he is celebrating hard.

He couldn’t help but think how fortunate he was to strike first. A woman like this, enchanting, capable, with a body that made men lose reason, if left unclaimed, who knew where she’d end up? Under the control of some old clan elder… or worse, in the hands of that disgusting fellow who had just walked out.

Wei Meilin’s body softened even more in Li Feng’s embrace, as telling her burden to him helped her find some comfort and freed her from suffocating thoughts about the future.

Li Feng, seeing a chance to score something good, took it immediately and gently pushed her face up by her chin, slowly leaning down to kiss her enticing lips. Wei Meilin, who seemed to be in a trance from the relief, didn’t reject him and let Li Feng’s lips touch hers.

After a short while, Li Feng separated his lips and looked at her enchanting face. Wei Meilin’s eyes were misty and her cheeks flushed. As much as he wanted to devour her, spread her legs, and shake his hips to his heart’s content, he know now is the best time to be gentle. He know his patience would be greatly rewarded later.

Suppressing his little brother’s urge, he offered her a soft smile instead. “Let’s discuss how to handle this,” he said gently. “I can refine the pills. But the rest will be up to you.”

Wei Meilin, still wrapped in the afterglow of his sudden gentleness contrasting with the earlier roughness, straightened slightly. Determination replaced the uncertainty in her eyes.”Young Master Li,” she said firmly, “don’t worry. With your pills and help, I’ll make sure the business not only survives, it will thrive.”

__

Meanwhile, Wei Zhong’s steps were heavy as he left the shop, the humiliation still burning in his chest. His expression stayed dark all the way until he reached the edge of Cloudveil City, where the streets grew empty and quiet.

He moved deeper into a run-down district, past collapsed walls and abandoned houses, until he arrived at an old courtyard hidden behind a half-rotted wooden gate. The air was damp and stale.

Inside, in the shade of a broken pavilion, a hooded figure sat cross-legged, his presence faint yet oppressive.

“You’re late,” the hooded man’s voice was calm, but there was weight in it.

Wei Zhong forced a smile, “I was delayed… by Wei Meilin’s matter.”

At the mention of the name, the hooded figure’s head tilted slightly. “And?”

Wei Zhong clenched his fists. “That woman somehow managed to find an alchemist to help her. An outer disciple from the Azure Moon Sect, no less.” His voice still dripped with disbelief. “God knows where she dug him up from.”

The hooded figure was silent for a moment, then asked calmly, “Why would an alchemist agree to help her?”

Wei Zhong’s jaw tightened. “That alchemist claimed it was because her ’efforts moved him.’ Hah! I don’t believe a word of that crap. That bitch probably promised him a lot of benefits to get him on her side.”

A quiet chuckle came from beneath the hood. “And what do you think she promised him?”

Wei Zhong’s expression twisted with anger and jealousy. “What else could it be? That body of hers is her only bargaining chip left.”

The hooded man didn’t comment on the insult, but there was a trace of doubt and curiosity in his tone. “That’s strange… Cultivators from the sect are usually obsessed with pursuing the Dao, they should not be here wasting time on women… much less an alchemist. They’re even rarer, more proud and should be spending their time refining pills, not… playing with someone like her.”

Wei Zhong gritted his teeth. “Exactly! That’s why this whole thing stinks. Maybe there’s something else going on behind the scene.”

They probably could never imagine everything was just a coincidence, Li Feng really just happened to be strolling around, found Wei Meilin’s body hot and enchanting, and on top of that, he happened to need a place to sell his pills too.

The hooded figure tapped his finger on the wooden bench beside him, thoughtful. “If what you saying is true, then she truly paid a heavy price, probably not just with her body for his help. The Wei family’s finances are already stretched thin. You and I know exactly how poor they’ve become. And that also means she won’t be able to keep him for long.”

Wei Zhong’s eyes narrowed. “So… we just have to wait?”

The hooded man’s voice was calm, but his words were sharp. “We will wait… and watch for now. Continue what we’ve been doing. And when that alchemist leaves her side, we will make the move. By then, she’ll have nothing left.”

A slow, disgusting smile formed on Wei Zhong’s lips at the thought of finally getting his hands on this sister-in-law of his, whom he had been dreaming of pushing under his crotch ever since he saw her for the first time.

“Hehe… don’t forget about our deal when we deal with Wei Meilin,” Wei Zhong reminded the hooded figure.

“Don’t worry, we will pay you generously, and Wei Meilin will belong to you. But as per our agreement, all of your ancestors’ belongings will be ours.”

Judging from this, it was already clear that the hooded figure’s target was the treasure belonging to the Wei Family’s ancestors. They wanted to uncover the secret behind the Wei Family’s rapid rise, and Wei Meilin was merely a simple obstacle.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep