Is It Wrong to Bully the Novice Village for System Rewards?

Chapter 184: The Most Dangerous Place is the Safest Place

A short while later. Pill Saint Immortal Market.

Staring at the three large, garish characters for “Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion” hanging above the entrance, Qi Yuan’s mouth twitched. He subconsciously glanced down at the Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Talisman in his hand, then back up at the establishment.

After confirming for the third time that he hadn’t gone to the wrong place, he fell into a heavy, profound silence.

I give up. I actually give up.

After all that detective work, the trail leads straight to a brothel. So, even Spirit Grass visits the red-light district now? Is that how it works?

“Hey there, handsome. Why are you standing out here like a statue?”

A scantily clad woman standing at the door noticed Qi Yuan freezing on the threshold. Assuming he was a greenhorn with the lust but not the guts, she giggled and leaned in, batting her eyelashes aggressively.

“Come on in, don’t be shy. We have plenty of fun things inside. I guarantee you’ll lose track of time and never want to leave…”

Qi Yuan snapped back to reality. Just as he was about to interrupt her sales pitch, a familiar childish voice rang out from the crowd.

“Big Brother! What are you doing here?”

Qi Yuan’s expression stiffened. He turned toward the sound to see a little boy with big eyes and a round face running toward him.

The boy was fair and chubby, with a hint of cunning intelligence dancing in his eyes. It was none other than the Phantom Star Herb spirit, whom he hadn’t seen in months.

The little grass spirit had evidently learned a technique to mask his aura, appearing indistinguishable from a human child. He wore an expensive cloud-patterned brocade jacket and a glittering gold longevity lock around his neck, looking every inch the young master of a wealthy clan.

Seeing his target appear voluntarily, Qi Yuan discreetly slipped the tracking talisman back into his sleeve and feigned surprise.

“What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you here.”

The little grass spirit ran up to Qi Yuan, his face lighting up with genuine joy. “It really is you, Big Brother! Do you like coming here to play too?”

Qi Yuan froze.

What do you mean ‘too’?

Before he could interrogate the brat, the spirit grabbed his sleeve and dragged him toward the backyard of the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

“Big Brother, I have great news! I found Grandpa Ginseng, and I’ve made lots of new friends! Come on, I’ll take you to meet them!”

Qi Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately deduced the identity of the accomplice.

Grandpa Ginseng. The bad influence who led this innocent grass astray!

No wonder they could pull off such a major heist; there was a mastermind behind the scenes. More importantly, how strong was this ‘Grandpa Ginseng’?

Qi Yuan realized he might have oversimplified the situation. If he ran into a terrifyingly powerful old monster, how would he escape?

He felt a flicker of apprehension, but quickly suppressed it. He was already here; he had to see it through. Besides, his relationship with the Phantom Star Herb was solid, so they likely wouldn’t bite the hand that saved them.

Plus, he had the [Spirit Affinity] talent. It automatically boosted his favorability with all non-human entities. As long as he didn’t radiate hostility, he should be safe.

“Good evening, Young Master Xing.” “Oh my, Young Master, your friend is quite handsome.” “Young Master Xing is so well-behaved! Want to sleep in Big Sister’s room tonight?”

As they passed through the halls, the flustered courtesans greeted them with fiery enthusiasm. Clearly, a certain little grass spirit was the darling of the establishment.

Strangely, Qi Yuan didn’t spot Piao Genshuo or Liu Qi on the first floor. Those two degenerates were probably already comfortably ensconced in a VIP room upstairs.

Soon, the man and the grass arrived in a lavishly decorated room in the backyard. Qi Yuan swept his gaze around but saw no one else.

“Where is this?” he asked, puzzled.

The Phantom Star Herb spirit gave a mysterious, smug smile.

“This is the temporary headquarters of the Spirit Grass Clan. Grandpa Ginseng taught me that a cunning rabbit has three burrows. We never keep our nest in one place.”

Cunning rabbit with three burrows?

Qi Yuan’s expression turned odd. “Then why choose a bustling brothel as your base? Aren’t you afraid of being discovered?”

The spirit answered with absolute seriousness.

“Grandpa Ginseng picked this spot personally. He says this is called ‘The Great Hermit Hides in the City.’ The most dangerous place is the safest place.”

“The Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion has the highest foot traffic in the market. No one would ever suspect the Spirit Grass Clan is hiding inside a brothel. Therefore, it is logically the safest place!”

Looking at the little spirit preaching this twisted wisdom, Qi Yuan found himself at a loss for words.

He had to admit… that old ginseng spirit was a genius.

“Big Brother, they’re all underground. Follow me.”

A soft green light enveloped the Phantom Star Herb. He pulled Qi Yuan’s hand, and they sank effortlessly into the floor.

The next moment, they emerged in a spacious underground cavern.

A cool, damp, earthy scent hit Qi Yuan’s nose, immediately followed by a wave of intense medicinal fragrance. This aroma was thick with life force. A mortal breathing this air would likely be cured of all ailments and live to a hundred.

Even as a cultivator, Qi Yuan felt a rush of comfort. His blood circulation accelerated, and his pores opened as if he had just consumed a legendary Ginseng Fruit.

Suddenly, an aged voice echoed through the cave.

“Xing-boy, didn’t I tell you not to run around… Yi? Why did you bring an outsider in?”

The voice was old but not weak; it was resonant and full of vigor.

Qi Yuan looked up to see a short, stout old man sitting on a grand master’s chair. He wore fine silk robes and a marten fur hat, straightening up to scrutinize Qi Yuan.

The old man had a broad face, large ears, and a long beard that reached his chest. His complexion was as rosy and plump as a baby’s. At first glance, he looked like a benevolent, wealthy landlord from the mortal world.

However, his eyes were beady and darted around with a shrewd, street-smart light… and perhaps a hint of lewdness.

The little grass spirit ran cheerfully to the old man’s side.

“Grandpa Ginseng, Big Brother isn’t an outsider! He’s Xing’er’s savior! Last time, if Big Brother hadn’t saved me, I would have been chopped up and turned into soup by that evil woman!”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan stepped forward and clasped his fists respectfully.

“Junior Qi Yuan greets Senior.”

He could confirm one thing instantly: this old ginseng was terrifyingly strong.

Although Qi Yuan couldn’t see through his specific cultivation level, he could sense the vast, ocean-like spiritual power contained within that small, stout body. Plant spirits weren’t known for combat, but with a gap this large, the old man could probably crush him with raw spiritual pressure alone.

“No need to call me Senior,” the old man waved a hand dismissively. “Call me Lord Ginseng.”

Hearing the little spirit’s endorsement seemed to relax the old man. His expression softened.

“For a human, you’re not bad. Being Xing-boy’s savior means you’re different from those demons outside who treat us Spirit Grasses as mere ingredients.”

Just then, several more children—manifestations of various Spirit Herbs—popped out of the soil. They chattered excitedly.

“Scared me to death! I thought the alchemists found us!” “Oh, it’s just Brother Xing’s human friend.” “Since he’s one of us, we don’t need to worry.” “With Grandpa Ginseng here, who needs to be afraid?”

Before Qi Yuan could speak, a flower-headed spirit doll stepped forward, looking very serious.

“I heard humans are monsters! They don’t just refine us into pills; they eat us raw! They claim eating vegetables is ‘healthy’ and ‘good for the body.’ It’s horrifying!”

The other spirit children gasped, looking at Qi Yuan with a mix of fear and accusation.

Qi Yuan froze for a split second, then immediately put on his most sincere expression.

“Rest assured. I have been a picky eater since birth. I am strictly carnivorous. I never touch vegetables.”