Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8457: Enemy (1)

With a smile on his face, Zhao Hai lifted his cup and addressed Feng Zhongxin, "Thank you, sir. Cheers!" Following that, they touched their glasses together before downing the contents in a single swallow. The flavor of the liquor proved merely passable, yet far from unpleasant. It was little surprise that it enjoyed such widespread popularity.

Feng Zhongxin set his cup aside and reached for the jug once more. He refilled Zhao Hai's glass and went on, "There are just the two of us left in our family. Our parents were once lone cultivators. At age twelve for me and ten for my brother, they ventured out on a task and vanished forever. We brothers stuck together through thick and thin. Last year, while I secluded myself in cultivation, my brother unknowingly signed on with Fang Weijia's crew. He set off with them and never made it back. Upon emerging from seclusion, I've been digging into the incident. Several months back, I uncovered the truth at last. Since then, I've shadowed Fang Weijia's band, seeking a chance for vengeance. But they stayed incredibly cautious. They stirred up chaos across multiple markets, employing all sorts of tricks to lure folks into their ranks. Every cultivator who departed on missions alongside them simply disappeared. Naturally, such deeds couldn't stay concealed indefinitely. Plenty of rogue cultivators focused on trading in those markets recognized their faces. And yes, we're well aware of just how formidable they truly are."

Feng Zhongxin lifted his cup anew and shared another toast with Zhao Hai. He then placed it down and spoke gravely, "It was from those contacts that I learned of Fang Weijia and his crew. I'd trailed them in the past, though I never risked getting too near. I had no clue what they were up to, but their vigilance was ironclad. At the start, I managed to keep pace, yet once they plunged into the blood sea, I lost their trail entirely, dooming my efforts time and again. I figured revenge lay forever out of reach, yet here you were, heading out with Fang Weijia this round."But you emerged alive. That instantly clued me in that you might have slain Fang Weijia, though certainty escaped me, so I probed you to confirm if you'd truly ended him. Your response seals it—it's fact. I'm overjoyed. You've avenged my brother, and for that, my deepest thanks."

Zhao Hai regarded Feng Zhongxin with a grin and replied, "No need for thanks. Truly. Fang Weijia and his lot sought my demise, so I claimed theirs in turn. Nothing extraordinary about it. I must admit, they'd picked the wrong target this time." He hoisted his glass toward Feng Zhongxin, who mirrored the gesture, and they emptied them swiftly.

Feng Zhongxin lowered his cup and topped off another for Zhao Hai. He then inquired of Zhao Hai, "Sir, if I may ask, how exactly did you dispatch them? Over a dozen strong, they wouldn't fall easily." His eyes gleamed with eager curiosity as he watched Zhao Hai.

"Nothing special," Zhao Hai chuckled. "They simply had no idea I wield poison so effectively. That's how I took them down." Though his smile held steady, Zhao Hai remained inwardly wary. Feng Zhongxin's tale rang true on the surface, yet Zhao Hai sensed hints of deception. Still, he couldn't yet determine if Feng Zhongxin's feud with Fang Weijia was genuine or merely a ruse against him.

A light of understanding dawned on Feng Zhongxin's face at Zhao Hai's explanation. "Ah, I get it. Cheers, then—another round." He lifted his glass once more. Zhao Hai grinned and did the same, and they drank deeply. Afterward, they dined and conversed casually. Before long, the jug ran dry.

Having polished off the jug, Feng Zhongxin moved to summon more, but Zhao Hai politely refused. Unwilling to press, Feng Zhongxin nodded and said, "Very well, we'll call it a night on the drinks. Let's meet again soon. I'm lodged at Huibin Inn—where might you be staying? Should time allow later, I'll seek you out for more talk."

Zhao Hai smiled back and responded, "Fine by me. I'm at Pengju Inn. Brother Feng, drop by there anytime. Oh, and apologies—I neglected to introduce myself earlier. My family name is Nie, given name Xiao. Feel free to call me Nie Xiao. Should you ever need a hand, just come find me."

Feng Zhongxin grinned. "Excellent, excellent. I've wandered solo for ages. If an opportunity arises down the line, let's team up. It'll be good to have backup. Cheers." With those words, he rose and exited the tavern alongside Zhao Hai. Outside, they parted ways amicably—Zhao Hai heading to Pengju Inn, Feng Zhongxin to Huibin Inn.

Upon reaching Huibin Inn, Feng Zhongxin entered his quarters. Barely settled, a knock echoed at the door. He approached and swung it open, admitting a line of figures who quickly crammed the modest sitting area. A scholarly man in his forties among them asked, "Well? Did he do it?"

Feng Zhongxin affirmed with a nod. "Indeed, he confessed. He took out Fang Weijia and the rest. Which means the item they've guarded all along likely ended up in his hands. To claim the Ghostwind Bandits' treasure, our path runs straight through him." His voice carried a heavy weight.

The room hushed at his words. After a tense pause, one spoke up, "So, what's your take? You seemed downright thrilled sharing drinks with him today. Planning to buddy up?" The tone dripped sarcasm, betraying clear distaste for Feng Zhongxin's camaraderie with Zhao Hai.

Feng Zhongxin met his gaze steadily and intoned deeply, "We all harbor grudges against the Ghostwind Bandits. Our elders fell to their blades, our family heirlooms plundered by them. We could've risen as sect or clan heirs, yet here we scrape by as rogue cultivators. I know the bitterness gnaws at us all, fueling our hunt for the Ghostwind Bandits' hoard. With their final 'heirs' now slain, every lead points to Zhao Hai."If he grows wary of us, snatching those treasures becomes impossible. And should the great powers catch wind of this, our woes multiply. Caution is key. My suggestion: befriend him first, then maneuver him off Blood Lake Island when the moment's ripe. This is Blood Slaughter Sect turf—we can't clash here, or they'll crush us all."But lure Nie Xiao beyond the island, and the Blood Slaughter Sect's reach falters. Then we seize him, wring out the treasure's location, or soul-search him outright. Anyone see fault in this?"

His proposal silenced the group anew. One ventured, "No offense taken. Stick to the scheme. Once you draw him from Blood Lake Island, we'll move. Our combined might should handle him easily."

"Caution above all," Feng Zhongxin warned. "If he truly wiped out Fang Weijia and his crew solo, his power demands respect. You all know well how tough they were—no small feat to fell them. If he's that capable alone, he's a force to reckon with. Oh, and he mentioned excelling at poison, claiming that's how he ended Fang Weijia and the others. When we strike, watch for that."

Feng Zhongxin's caution stunned them briefly, then drew nods all around. The scholar declared, "Understood. Dealing with this Nie Xiao won't be simple. Here's the plan: stock up on antidotes and gear. Zhongxin, keep building rapport with him. Bide your time, then join him on a mission. Once off Blood Lake Island, we pounce."

Feng Zhongxin nodded firmly. "Got it—I'll handle the approach. But it'll demand patience. I need to earn his full confidence first. He doesn't quite buy in yet. We can't force it; it has to unfold gradually." He sensed Zhao Hai's lingering doubt, hence his emphasis.

The scholar replied gravely, "No rush—we've endured years already; days more won't break us. Take these next few to connect without raising alarms." Feng Zhongxin agreed, and the scholar addressed the rest, "Beyond antidotes, keep tabs on Nie Xiao: his contacts, his movements. If he links with others, identify them. Also, verify Fang Weijia and crew are truly gone—don't let that fellow deceive us."

Affirmations rippled through the group. The scholar assigned duties and ushered them out. Once alone, Feng Zhongxin shut the door. He sank into a chair in the sitting room and let out a heavy sigh. Truth be told, he quite liked Zhao Hai and hated turning foe, but fate left no choice. As he'd noted, they were survivors nursing old vendettas against the Ghostwind Bandits. Those raiders had rampaged unchecked, obliterating sects without mercy. Yet total annihilation eluded them—some lineages endured through hidden scions and legacies. These avengers had cloaked their identities for years, fixated on retribution. The Bandits' downfall dashed their hopes, but birthed fresh puzzles: Where hid the looted spoils? Had no heirs truly survived? Such questions sparked their probe.