Pampered Consort:

Chapter 14

Wei Lanying received a message from the Yuan Auction House about a beast tide near Peace City. The news spread quickly, drawing countless cultivators and adventurers to the city. When Wei Lanying arrived, she marveled at the city's walls, marked with the scars of countless battles, yet standing strong and indestructible.

She met with the leaders of the Peace City, including Lord Bai, the intimidating leader of the BaiYue Guild. With two scars marring his face-one below his left eye and the other across his chin-he was a man of few words but immense presence. As a fourth-grade Beast Master, his reputation preceded him. What Wei Lanying appreciated most about him was his straightforward nature; he did not try to flatter her as so many others did.

Deciding to explore the nearby forest for herbs, Wei Lanying ventured alone, The forest was rich with vegetation, but she was on the lookout for rare herbs that could be used in her alchemy. She smiled with satisfaction as she found several seventh-grade herbs that others dismissed as useless, such as the silver grass, which she knew was essential for various potent pills.

The buzzing sound of wings caught her attention, leading her to a Golden honeybee entangled in Paralyzing Vines. These vines were notorious for immobilizing their prey before devouring them. Without hesitation, Wei Lanying drew her fan, slicing through the vines and freeing the bee. Noticing the damage to one of its wings, she quickly retrieved a vial from her space and poured its contents over the injury, watching as the wound healed.

The bee buzzed in gratitude, circling around her.

"Do you know a place where I can find rarer herbs?" Wei Lanying asked, her tone gentle.

The Golden honeybee, intelligent and perceptive, led her deeper into the forest, eventually guiding her to a cave where a serene lake lay hidden. The air inside was warm, but a sense of danger prickled at Wei Lanying's senses. Her breath caught as she spotted the rare fourth-ranked Blue Soothing Jasmine growing by the water's edge. Yet, the true prize was a seven-petaled Pink Lotus, a third-ranked herb known for its powerful cleansing properties.

As she moved closer to the lake, her instincts warned her of a danger. From the depths of the lake, a silver diamond-backed snake emerged, its scales gleaming like polished metal. Wei Lanying quickly assessed the situation; the snake was at the Early-ranked warrior stage, comparable to the last stage of a Foundation cultivator.

The snake's eyes locked onto her, its aura radiating bloodlust. Wei Lanying knew its primary weakness: extreme cold. The snake, with its venom and nearly impervious scales, was vulnerable only to the cold.

"I know you can understand me," she began, her voice steady but firm. At this stage, the snake had enough intelligence to comprehend human speech, though its understanding might be limited. "I am here only for the herbs. If you do not harm me, I will not harm you."

The snake hissed, coiling its body as it prepared to strike.

"Leave!" Wei Lanying commanded the Golden honeybee. The bee buzzed in reluctant obedience before darting out of the cave.

Wei Lanying braced herself, knowing that the battle with the snake would be fierce.

Wei Lanying landed lightly on the rocks, her eyes narrowing as the silver diamond-backed snake reared up before her, its eyes gleaming with a deadly intent. She knew instantly that this creature would fight her to its last breath. With a swift motion, she drew an old sword from her spatial ring.

"Xiao Ming said this sword belonged to the first Master of the ring," she muttered to herself, feeling the weight of the blade. "Ordinary... yet it will have to do."

The snake's first attacks were precise, each strike aimed to kill, but soon, frustration made its movements reckless. The herbs growing in the cave were precious, and Wei Lanying couldn't afford to let them be damaged. Her sword began to glow faintly, the once dull blade sharpening as a chill filled the air. The temperature plummeted, and the snake's movements slowed, its body reacting to the sudden cold.