Chapter 121: The Secret Fan of a Hundred Flowers (3000)

Upon entering the Fire Hall alongside the Hall Master, Jin'er found that this branch occupied a vast space with numerous gates, living up to its reputation for scale.

Once inside the main hall, the Hall Master invited Jin'er to take the seat of honor and had tea served. Only then did he cast a deep look at his ethereal, otherworldly young Sect Master and ask with hesitation, "I wonder if there is anything I can do for you, Sect Master, now that you have come to the Fire Kingdom?"

Jin'er smiled inwardly, thinking he had hit the nail on the head. However, as the dignified Sect Master, she felt a bit embarrassed to start asking for things immediately upon arrival.

"I was just passing through and didn't originally intend to stop," she said, pausing to glance at him sideways. Seeing the tension on the Hall Master's face, she decided not to tease him further. "Since I am here, I simply wanted to see how your progress is coming along."

Hearing this, the Hall Master breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing her looking around in silence, he promptly dismissed the others, leaving only his capable subordinate and Yuan Zhao. Shi Yuan, sensing that they were about to discuss internal matters, tactfully excused himself to wait outside.

Jin'er was pleased by his awareness. With no outsiders present, she turned to the Hall Master and asked, "How is it going? Regarding the intelligence network I asked you to establish, and the prophecy of the Wood Kingdom, has there been any progress?"

The Hall Master frowned slightly, looking troubled. "I am incompetent. Although the intelligence organization is established and has completed a few scattered deals, there has been no progress on the Wood Kingdom prophecy."

Though disappointed, Jin'er had expected this. That matter was shrouded in mystery, and with the primary figures long gone, it was difficult to uncover anything, let alone in such a short span of a few months.

With that thought, she picked up her teacup, blew away the foam, and took a light sip.

The Hall Master, fearing their young Sect Master was displeased, added hastily, "Please rest assured, Sect Master, we will do our best to investigate as quickly as possible!"

Jin'er set down her cup and nodded. "Very well, do continue to put forth your best efforts. I have other matters to attend to and must depart; I won't stay long today." She stood up. "By the way, I have used up all the medicine I brought with me on this journey, and I don't have time to prepare more. Do you have any spares here?"

The Hall Master was stunned for a moment, then quickly recovered, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, we have plenty. Please, follow me, Sect Master."

Jin'er followed with a calm expression, though she was dancing with joy inside.

Heh, in truth, there was another reason she hadn't pursued punishment for the Hall Master’s brother: his appearance had naturally led her to be welcomed into the Fire Hall. By transitioning in this manner, no one would suspect she had come specifically to scavenge for supplies.

Although as Sect Master, everything under the sect belonged to her, her rise to power had been sudden and lacked established prestige. Being unfamiliar with her subordinates, asking for poison so abruptly would have diminished her stature.

Unknowingly, Jin'er was led to their storehouse. It appeared to consist of three rooms, housing different categories of items. At the Hall Master's command, the guards opened the center room, and the three of them stepped inside.

It was a spacious room filled with row upon row of cabinets, each containing various bottles and jars neatly organized by category.

"Please take whatever you need, Sect Master," the Hall Master said respectfully.

Jin'er nodded with a smile and began to browse, selecting what she required. The Hall Master was clearly mesmerized by her smile, and it wasn't until Yuan Zhao nudged him that he snapped out of it, clearing his throat to hide his embarrassment.

After a quick sweep, Jin'er gathered over twenty bottles of various poisons and antidotes, along with a small pouch of poisoned needles, all packed neatly into her bundle.

"That will do," Jin'er said, tying her bundle. She turned to look for Yuan Zhao and the others, only to find the Hall Master missing. Just as she grew curious, the Hall Master strode back in, holding a long, narrow box.

"Sect Master, this is a treasure recently offered by a new disciple. It is the 'Hundred-Flower Secret Fan,' crafted by the Gold Kingdom's greatest artisan. It is exquisite in appearance and ingeniously rigged with hidden mechanisms that can fire over a hundred poisoned needles. It is exceptionally rare. Given your heavenly beauty and peerless martial arts, this fan is a perfect match for you." He presented the box to her.

Intrigued and flattered by his praise, Jin'er opened the box to reveal a fan that felt smooth and translucent. At first glance, the material—neither jade nor stone, but a crystalline, milky white—captivated her.

She flicked the fan open, revealing a semi-transparent surface that was neither paper nor silk. It was delicate, durable, and bore finely etched, colorless floral patterns that shimmered with a warm, elegant luster.

Seeing her delight, the Hall Master smiled. "If you do not find it beneath you, please accept it, Sect Master."

Since he had put it that way, refusing would seem ungrateful. She thanked him and accepted the gift with genuine pleasure.

After leaving the storehouse and returning to the front hall, Jin'er bade farewell to the Hall Master and his men, accompanied by Shi Yuan.

Once they were gone, the Hall Master turned to his subordinate and ordered, "Send a message by carrier pigeon. Tell Commander Bai that the Sect Master is in the Fire Kingdom."

After he left, Yuan Zhao asked, "How could you bear to give her that treasure?" He knew well that the fan was a priceless, one-of-a-kind item the Hall Master had spent great effort to acquire.

The Hall Master smiled. "What is there to regret? Isn't it a perfect match for her? Should we keep it for ourselves, a bunch of old men? She is our Sect Master, and our lives are tied to her. It is never wrong to treat her well."

Just then, a disciple ran in. "Sect Master, the Sect Master just returned and asked me to give this to you."

The Hall Master looked at Yuan Zhao in confusion, then took the small vial. He removed the stopper and poured a black pill into his calloused palm. Both men stared, their eyes widening in shock and excitement.

The Hall Master sniffed the pill; it carried the familiar scent of the daily antidote, but with other, unfamiliar notes.

"Did she say anything else?" the Hall Master asked, his voice trembling with anticipation.

"She said that she liked your gift very much, and she believes you will like this very much as well."

"Hahahaha!" The Hall Master roared with laughter, overcome with emotion. He patted Yuan Zhao on the shoulder. "See? I told you, it's never wrong to treat her well."

Yuan Zhao was both envious and regretful, though he grumbled, "Is the Sect Master too kind? She traded the antidote for the Lethal-Life Powder for just a fan..."

The Hall Master ignored him, still laughing. The result was beyond his expectations. Had it been the previous Sect Master, he would never have parted with such a treasure, but with her, he had felt compelled to give it. Having received the promise of the ultimate antidote, he felt his loyalty—if not entirely sincere—now anchored by the hope of survival. He had resolved to be fully devoted to her.

On the road, Jin'er toyed with the exquisite fan, her mood soaring. It was truly beautiful, a masterpiece even without considering its lethality.

She fanned herself and turned to Shi Yuan. "What do you think? Is it beautiful?"

Shi Yuan, walking beside her, turned his head. He was so struck by her smile that he found himself breathless, struggling for a moment before managing to choke out the word: "Beautiful."

Jin'er noticed him staring at her rather than the fan, and felt a sudden, awkward flutter. She bit her lip and turned away, pretending to be nonchalant, though she thought to herself: *Judging by his expression, I fear that word wasn't meant for the fan...*

Upon returning to town, they retrieved their horses and rode straight for the Imperial City, arriving at the palace before nightfall.

Dusty and tired, she returned to the Bright Moon Palace, where she saw a familiar silhouette standing among the flowering trees, gazing into the distance. He saw her at the same moment and began to walk toward her.

Jin'er smiled, her heart warming. Not wanting him to walk too far, she ran toward him.