Chapter 241: Military Tiger Tally

“What, are you scared?”

Seeing Mu Feng hesitate, Murong Xue’s smile grew even brighter. Her big eyes shifted back and forth, as if she was plotting something again.

“Miss Murong, you must be joking!”

Mu Feng thought for a moment, then decisively opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.

The neatly folded letter paper had only two large words – “Take care.” The handwriting was a bit messy, and there were some ink stains on the paper, suggesting it was written in a hurry. However, from the handwriting, it really seemed to be Jing Wushuang’s own writing.

“Take care…”

Mu Feng muttered to himself, then folded the letter again and tucked it close to his body. Those two simple words, “take care,” felt extremely heavy in his heart, more meaningful than a thousand words. “Miss Murong, how has Shuang’er been recently?”

“Well, you would have to ask her that yourself.”

Murong Xue chuckled, paused for a moment, and then continued, “In the eyes of many Poison Sect disciples, she is doing exceptionally well. She was accepted as the sect master’s final disciple, so her status and position are extraordinary. She buries herself in intense cultivation every day, and her skills improve rapidly, making many people envious. But in my opinion, that kind of life is not interesting at all. What’s the use of having high cultivation? It’s nowhere near as exciting and free as the outside world.”

“Alright, I understand! Thank you, Miss Murong. It’s already very late, so you should rest soon!”

Mu Feng nodded. From Murong Xue’s words, he quickly grasped several key points.

As expected, the Poison Sect master, Murong Bi, not only accepted Jing Wushuang as her final disciple but also helped her neutralize the deadly poison of the terrible Demonic Elixir. Because of this, although he couldn’t see Jing Wushuang for the time being, at least he no longer had to worry about her safety. Training within the nearly isolated Poison Sect was much safer than having her by his side.

Feeling secretly relieved, Mu Feng didn’t want to spend any more time entangled with the quirky and clever Murong Xue. He bowed slightly and prepared to leave quickly.

“Wait, Mu Feng. I came all the way to Jiangling Prefecture to deliver this letter for you. Is a simple thank you enough?” Murong Xue’s eyes shifted again as she sidestepped to block Mu Feng’s path. She deliberately, or perhaps unconsciously, straightened her chest, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“Miss Murong, what would you like me to do to thank you then?” Seeing the sly smile on Murong Xue’s face, Mu Feng vaguely sensed something was wrong.

“It’s very simple. Just help me with one very, very small thing. For a talented person like you, it should be easy as pie!”

Murong Xue gave a crafty smile, paused, and then looked at Mu Feng with a grin, saying, “According to the agreement with my mother, I only have one more task to complete, and then I can come and go from the Poison Sect freely without any restrictions. Last time, I brought back the official seal of the Jiangling Prefect. This time, as long as I bring back the Military Tiger Tally of the General of Jiangling, I’ll have finished the task. So, Mu Feng, what do you say? Under the cover of darkness, helping me retrieve the General of Jiangling’s Military Tiger Tally shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”

“What? Steal the General of Jiangling’s Military Tiger Tally?”

Mu Feng exclaimed in shock. Looking at the bold and reckless Little Witch, Murong Xue, he shook his head and gave a bitter smile. At that moment, he finally understood why she was being chased by so many Sky-Reaching Guards when they met at the Hidden Sword Inn.

She had stolen the official seal of the Jiangling Prefect—how could the Sky-Reaching Guards, who watch over the world, possibly let her off easily?

“Well, Mu Feng, a real man shouldn’t be afraid! Just say it—are you going or not?” Murong Xue glared with her big eyes, pressing him for an answer.

“I’m sorry, but I must refuse!”

After thinking for a while, Mu Feng politely declined. “You came such a long distance to deliver the letter, Miss Murong. I truly appreciate it. However, as the Military Governor of the Southern Borderlands, the General of Jiangling is no ordinary general. Stealing his Military Tiger Tally is not only dangerous for oneself but could also cause unrest in the Southern Borderlands, possibly even leading to bloodshed and suffering for the people. Miss Murong, we must be cautious about such things!”

The Little Witch, Murong Xue, was bold and unrestrained, but Mu Feng had no intention of recklessly following her lead.

Compared to the Prefect’s residence, the General of Jiangling’s Manor was even more heavily guarded. The Military Governor of a region—a high-ranking official of the Tongtian Empire—how could his manor be easily entered? The Military Tiger Tally, which commanded millions of troops in the Southern Borderlands, was naturally of utmost importance. It was heavily guarded, with experts stationed to defend it.

Barging in carelessly would be almost like a moth flying into a flame—simply asking for death!

“Hmph, scholars will be scholars. Clearly, you’re too scared to go, yet you make it sound so righteous!”

The Little Witch, Murong Xue, snorted coldly. Looking at the brave, resourceful, and cautious Mu Feng, she wasn’t angry. Her clear, big eyes shifted again, and she continued, “Since you won’t help, I’ll figure it out on my own. How about this—like last time at the Hidden Sword Inn, after I get the Military Tiger Tally, you just help me hold off the pursuers!”

After going in circles, the Little Witch finally revealed her true purpose for this trip.

Delivering the letter to Mu Feng was just a side task; asking him to help steal the General of Jiangling’s Military Tiger Tally was merely an excuse—a strategic retreat to make Mu Feng feel too embarrassed to refuse again. After stating her goal, she turned and left before Mu Feng could respond, disappearing into the dark forest after a few leaps.

“Miss Murong! Miss Murong…”

Mu Feng called out loudly and was about to chase after her to persuade her not to act rashly. Suddenly, he noticed the soil nearby sizzling, releasing wisps of dark energy. All the shrubs, weeds, and tree roots quickly withered, losing all signs of life. Shocked, he immediately stopped in his tracks.

Cunning and ruthless!

Mu Feng shook his head with a bitter smile. Looking at the vast area of land that had become lifeless in the blink of an eye, he had no choice but to let Murong Xue go.

In terms of raw strength alone, the Little Witch, Murong Xue, who had already broken through to the early stage of the Elite Realm, might not be much stronger than him. But combined with her masterful poison skills, it was a different story. If he wasn’t careful, even he could fall victim. Earlier, when the Little Witch seemed to be at a disadvantage, it was only because she was deliberately luring him out and hadn’t yet used her terrifying poison techniques!

“Peach Blossom Calamity… Could it be that the Peach Blossom Calamity Daoist Mayi mentioned refers to this Little Witch?”

Mu Feng fell silent, recalling what Daoist Mayi had said at the Wangjiang Tower.

The Little Witch, Murong Xue, possessed extraordinary poison skills, but the General of Jiangling’s Manor was no ordinary place—getting in was hard, but getting out was even harder. One careless move, and she might not return. Even if she did succeed by some chance, she would definitely be relentlessly chased by a large group of pursuers. Here, far from the Poison Sect west of Jianshui City, where could she possibly run?

Mu Feng’s expression grew somber. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, sensing a strong, imminent danger. Naturally, he recalled the scene from the Hidden Sword Inn, the terrifying Blood-Dripping Heavy Arrow, and the unfathomably powerful man in the blue robe.

“Marquis… just who is that man they call Marquis?”

Remembering the dangerous encounter outside the Hidden Sword Inn, Mu Feng still felt a lingering fear, and his heart grew heavier. Even though his strength had greatly improved now, if he were to encounter that fearsome man in the blue robe again, he still had no confidence in winning.