Fantasy World: Seducing The Heroine At The Start-Chapter 136: Trade a favour

"I’ve been curious", she said softly, "about how the Sword Saint improved his strength so quickly. He was badly injured, and his foundation was broken. Yet a few days later, he reached the peak of the Great Saint Realm. That kind of improvement... is beyond normal."

Her tone was calm, but her eyes gleamed with sharp curiosity. "And then there’s you. Your shop sells items that no one else can replicate. Pills that increase breakthrough success, liquids that temper the body, even soul-nurturing tea that no alchemist in the city can create."

She smiled faintly. "Don’t you think it’s all... rather mysterious?"

Feng Yun chuckled quietly. "Aunt Leng, you flatter me again. The Sword Saint’s improvement is his own fortune — he must have found some old opportunity. As for my shop’s items, they are simply results of long travels and chance encounters. Luck plays a large part."

"Luck?" she repeated slowly, amusement flickering in her eyes. "If all luck produced such miracles, then I suppose the heavens favour you greatly."

Yuexi frowned slightly. "Mother..."

"It’s fine," Feng Yun said, waving his hand lightly, his tone still relaxed. "Curiosity is natural. If I were in your position, I’d probably wonder too."

His calmness made her hesitate for a moment. She had met many young prodigies — arrogant, prideful, easily flustered — but Feng Yun was not one of them. His composure was unnerving, as if nothing could shake his mind.

That alone made her even more certain that there was more to him than met the eye.

After a pause, she smiled and changed the topic. "I won’t press further. I didn’t come to interrogate you."

Her tone softened slightly. "To be honest, I came here to... make a request."

"Oh?" Feng Yun asked, curious.

"I heard you have certain treasures — medicines that can temporarily boost cultivation or improve comprehension. I’ve reached a bottleneck recently. I was wondering if your shop has something that could assist a Saint Realm cultivator like me."

Feng Yun smiled lightly. "Indeed, Aunt Leng, I have some things that might help."

"Oh?" Her interest was clearly piqued. "May I see them?"

Feng Yun nodded and waved his hand. A faint golden light flickered, and two small jade boxes appeared on the table.

Even without opening them, the air instantly grew denser with spiritual energy.

Leng Shuying’s eyes narrowed as she felt the pressure.

"These two", Feng Yun said, gently sliding them toward her, "are the Soul Enlightenment Pill and the Heavenly Meridian Liquid. The first helps stabilise one’s mind and spiritual sea — ideal for a cultivator stuck at a bottleneck. The second strengthens meridians and helps with energy circulation, increasing chances of breakthrough by about twenty per cent."

Her fingers brushed the jade box’s edge, and her expression froze for a brief moment. Even before opening it, she could tell — these were not common goods.

"These are... not things one can buy in this world easily," she said slowly. "Even high-tier alchemists cannot refine something like this."

"Aunt Leng, I don’t want spirit stones; take them as a gift from me.

Leng Shuying’s gaze lingered on the two jade boxes for a long while before she looked up at Feng Yun, her expression unreadable.

"A gift?" she repeated softly. "Feng Yun, these two items are priceless. Even peak-tier sects would pay a fortune for a single one."

Feng Yun smiled faintly. "They’re nothing much to me, Aunt Leng. You helped the Sword Saint during his recovery, and you’ve treated Wang Ruo and me kindly. This is a small gesture of thanks."

Her brows arched slightly. "You’re a very dangerous young man; do you know that?"

"Dangerous?" Feng Yun asked, amused.

"Yes," she said, her tone somewhere between teasing and admiration. "You give away treasures that could start wars, yet you act as though they’re just trinkets. Do you know how many people would kill for one of these?"

"Then it’s fortunate that you’re not one of them," he replied calmly.

Leng Shuying laughed softly — a gentle, melodic sound. "I suppose so." Her sharp eyes softened as she studied him. "Still... you’re too generous. I can’t accept both. It wouldn’t sit right with me."

Before she could say more, Yuexi spoke up, her tone hesitant. "Mother, Feng Yun does things without reason. If he’s offering them, it’s because he means it sincerely."

Shuying turned to her daughter, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Oh? Yuexi, you seem to know his intentions quite well. How interesting."

Yuexi’s face immediately turned a shade of pink. "Mother..."

Feng Yun gave a polite cough, trying not to smile. "Please, Aunt Leng, consider it a token of respect. You can treat it as an exchange — if you find them helpful, perhaps one day you can help me in return."

Leng Shuying’s eyes lit up slightly. "So that’s your plan. Not a gift, but a trade for a favour. Clever boy."

Feng Yun chuckled. "I try."

Her laughter deepened, warm and graceful. "Very well. I’ll accept that condition. In that case..." She picked up the jade box and ran her thumb along the smooth edge. "I’ll take the pill for now."

For a brief moment, the room was filled with quiet warmth — the sound of the pedestrians in the background, the faint scent of incense lingering in the air.

After a pause, Leng Shuying rose from her seat gracefully. "I’ve taken enough of your time, Feng Yun. Thank you for the tea and the gift. Yuexi, let’s not overstay our welcome."

Yuexi stood quickly. "Yes, Mother."

But just as they reached the door, Shuying glanced back, her eyes glimmering with a playful light. "By the way... next time, you should visit our manor. I’m curious to see what kind of young man can make my daughter defend him so quickly."

"Mother!" Yuexi’s voice was almost a whisper, half embarrassed, half pleading.

Feng Yun could only smile helplessly. "If the opportunity comes, I’ll be honoured, Aunt Leng."

Shuying chuckled, clearly enjoying her daughter’s reaction. "Good. I’ll hold you to that."

With that, she left, her long robes flowing like ripples of moonlight.

Yuexi lingered a moment longer. She turned to Feng Yun, her expression softer now, her voice low. "Please don’t mind my mother’s words. She likes to tease, but she means well. She... worries about me."

Feng Yun smiled gently. "I can tell. She’s a wise woman — and a caring mother."

Yuexi’s eyes softened. "Thank you. And... thank you for helping her. She’s been struggling with her cultivation for years."

"I’m glad to help," Feng Yun replied. He was quite satisfied that he was able to trade a favour from someone whom even the sword saint respects.

She smiled faintly, bowed again, and turned to leave.

As the door closed behind her, Feng Yun let out a soft breath.

The faint fragrance of tea and spirit herbs still lingered in the room.

He poured himself another cup of tea and gazed out the window. The sun was already dipping low, streaking the sky with gold and crimson.

His reflection shimmered faintly in the glass — calm, unreadable, like still water hiding deep currents beneath.

"Now that everything’s settled", he said softly, "it’s time to go home."