Stranger Danger

“I will be fine. Thank you for the warning.”

Feng Qingyou said smiling while examining the strange flower before her, “If I’m not mistaken, this is the Green Blossom, isn’t it?”

“You have a keen eye, miss! It is the Green Blossom.”

A hint of astonishment flickered in the old woman’s eyes. She wasn’t expecting Feng Qingyou to recognize the Green Blossom.

A Green Blossom was an extremely rare Stranger that could cure all kinds of poison. Its scent was sweet, but those who smelled it would feel extremely drowsy.

Normally, a Green Blossom could only be found on uninhabited islands. Moreover, their numbers were few enough that they were categorized as rare. That was why not many people were aware of its existence.

This Green Blossom in particular had been carefully nurtured by Lady Hundred Flowers using all kinds of valuable pills and medicine, which was why it was several times bigger than your normal Green Blossom. Its color and shape were slightly different from an ordinary Green Blossom as well. Despite this, Feng Qingyou still recognized it right away. No wonder she was a champion. Her insight and knowledge was a match for her strength.

“They all say that Lady Hundred Flowers is a master at nurturing plants. It is clear that it isn’t an exaggeration,” Feng Qingyou praised. “This is the first time I’ve seen such a massive Green Blossom, and I’m willing to bet that its efficacy is several times stronger than an ordinary Green Daylily. The lady should recover from her poison in just a short time.”

“I’m very glad to hear that, miss.”

The old woman was a bit worried, but Feng Qingyou’s words swept away her worry like a calm, relaxing breeze. “Would you like to head inside and drink some tea while we wait, miss?”

“It’s fine. I’ll just take a walk in the courtyard. By my reckoning, the lady should awaken any moment now.”

After turning down the old woman’s offer gently, Feng Qingyou began walking around the courtyard and admiring the flora.

This courtyard was named the Hundred Flowers Garden. It was where Lady Hundred Flowers nurtured and grew all sorts of exotic plants and the most critical area of the entire island. The Three Sages of Blue Wave had attacked the island before she got to visit it, so this was the perfect opportunity to make up for that loss of opportunity. Besides, she really was interested in the exotic flora.

“Allow me to act as your explainer, miss.” Sensing Feng Qingyou’s interest, the old woman offered to act as her explainer and began introducing all the exotic flora inside the garden.

About a teatime later, while the old woman was introducing a strange plant with leaves resembling the moon and a flower that resembled the sun, Feng Qingyou suddenly turned and looked in the direction of the Green Daylily.

The next moment, the closed flower bloomed and unfurled its inkish green petals. At the same time, an incredibly thick scent washed out and quickly spread to every corner of the garden.

“We need to leave, miss!”

The old woman flinched and backed toward an exit immediately, but Feng Qingyou stayed where she was and explained smilingly, “Don’t worry. While the Green Daylily’s normal scent is poisonous and could put someone to sleep, the scent it releases after it absorbs a poison is not only poison-free, but also clears up the mind and improves concentration.”

It was at this moment Lady Hundred Flowers’ voice came from the direction of the Green Daylily. “You really are quite knowledgeable and wise, Qingyou.”

“Lady! Are you fine now?” The old woman exclaimed with surprise and delight.

“Yes, I am fine. The toxins inside my body have been removed.”

Lady Hundred Flowers’ complexion and expression certainly looked much healthier than before. She then turned to look at Feng Qingyou and said gratefully, “It’s all thanks to you, Qingyou!”

“You’re welcome, lady. It is just my natural responsibility,” Feng Qingyou replied with a smile.

“Qingyou, you’re… not Liunian’s junior, are you?” Lady Hundred Flowers asked after eyeing her for a bit.

“Why do you say that?” Feng Qingyou’s smile grew just a tad mirthful.

Lady Hundred Flowers let out a light scoff. “I know how Liunian is. There is no way he would have a junior as strong as you.”

“Haha… you are pretty wise yourself, lady.” Feng Qingyou chuckled. “It is true that Uncle Feng and I share no blood, but it is also true that he has taken care of me since I was a child. Therefore, I think of him as family in all but blood.”

“Since you’re Uncle Feng’s lover, then you are my senior as well. Therefore, please treat me as you have, lady.”

“Pooh! Who are you calling his lover; that shameless bastard,” Lady Hundred Flowers scoffed, but there was no hiding the red tinge on her cheeks. It made her look almost ten years younger.

Yes, Lady Hundred Flowers was one of Feng Liunian’s lovers when he was young. Feng Liunian was extremely handsome when he was young and as a result had lovers throughout the entire jianghu. Lady Hundred Flowers was one of them.

Despite his many lovers, Feng Liunian wasn’t fickle in love. He never stayed for a single woman, but he always parted ways with them on good terms. The ladies were understandably annoyed as a matter of course, but no one ever hated him to the point where they would want to harm him. In fact, the large majority of them had never moved on and remained deeply in love with Feng Liunian to this day.

Lady Hundred Flowers was one of those women. In fact, she had left her family and secluded himself in Hundred Flowers Island so that they wouldn’t be able to force her to marry. To this day, she was single.

When Feng Liunian heard that Feng Qingyou was planning to visit the four seas, he had requested her to visit Lady Hundred Flowers. That was why they came to Hundred Flowers Island and accidentally stumbled upon this incident. Naturally, neither she nor Ye Qing was going to stand by and watch.

“Is there a grudge between you and the Three Sages of Blue Wave, lady? Do you know why they tried to kill you?” Feng Qingyou asked.

Lady Hundred Flowers shook her head. “We have crossed each other’s paths a couple times in the past, but that was all. Personally, I think they attacked me because they covet my Hundred Flowers Island.”

“The Three Sages of Blue Wave have always been like this. If they find an island or a resource they like, they would make up a random excuse, wipe out the occupants, and claim the island for themselves.”

To her surprise, Feng Qingyou shook her head without hesitation. “I don’t think that is the case this time.”

“Why do you say that?” Lady Hundred Flower asked.

Feng Qingyou explained, “For starters, Hundred Flowers Island and Blue Wave Island have co-existed with each other for a very long time. If they really were planning something nefarious, they wouldn’t have waited until now to try something. Two, your reputation is sterling, and your connection wide-reaching. As ruthless and greedy as they are, the Three Sages of Blue Wave aren’t stupid. To kill you is to make many enemies for themselves. The rewards are simply not worth the risk.”

“You’re saying… that they are acting under someone else’s orders?” Lady Hundred Flowers wasn’t stupid. She immediately figured out what Feng Qingyou was implying.

“That’s right,” Feng Qingyou nodded. “You may not be aware of this, but the Three Sages of Blue Wave aren’t the only ones lurking on the island. There was a fourth Trueman.”

“What?!” Lady Hundred Flowers exclaimed in shock. “Who is it?”

“I don’t know, but he is stronger than the Three Sages of Blue Wave,” Feng Qingyou replied.

“Are you saying that this fourth Trueman is the one who ordered today’s attack?” Lady Hundred Flowers asked.

“No, he is a middle-man at best. I believe that this fourth Trueman is also working under someone else’s orders. A mastermind!” Feng Qingyou shook her head.

“Could it be just a coincidence? Maybe this Trueman just happened to be passing through Hundred Flowers Island?” Lady Hundred Flowers asked.

“It is definitely not a coincidence,” Feng Qingyou declared with surprising certainty. “You messaged many of your friends for help earlier, didn’t you? However, not a single one of them had shown up so far. Don’t you think that’s strange?”

“You’re saying…” Lady Hundred Flowers felt a chill up her spine. “This fourth Trueman blocked my requests for help?”

“That’s right,” Feng Qingyou confirmed.

“This… but… who on earth is trying to kill me?” Lady Hundred Flowers frowned deeply.

“Let’s ask Green Daylily. She might know the answer,” Feng Qingyou suggested.

“Right, right! Green Daylily must know who the mastermind is.” Lady Hundred Flowers nodded and ordered the old woman, “Bring Green Daylily in.”

“As you command, lady.”

The old woman saluted and took her leave. A short while later, she returned with Green Daylily.