On the other side, Du Fan who had left the Black Market was following behind Feng Jiu. He glanced around them and said in a low voice: “Master, the men who were following us seem to have left.”“Yeah.” Feng Jiu answered indifferently. Her thoughts were occupied with other matters. Now that she knew where to find the elixir herbs, she had to make the preparations to collect them. But as for Ze…

She didn’t know how long he would be gone for. If he wasn’t going to return shortly, she would have to go by herself first.

“Du Fan, how far is Shun Yan City from here?” She turned her head slightly and asked.

Du Fan thought for a while when he heard her question before he answered: “The return journey will take half a month’s time. Even if you travel by flying sword, the quickest you can make the journey is eight to nine days.”

He paused, then continued speaking: “Shun Yan City is considered quite close to here. If you want to go to Sky Mountain, the return journey will take one to two months. Sky Mountain is the territory of the Old Man Tianji. It is said to be covered in snow and ice all year round and there are many poisonous beasts and snakes. Even the Celestial Strong Exponents cannot enter without permission.”

“There is another saying, it is said that the Old Man Tianji is proficient in the art of divination and he can glimpse into the secrets of Heaven. He laid down layers of barriers in the sky to prevent the world from stepping in and disturbing him from meditating. I’m afraid it’s not that easy to go up there.”

Feng Jiu listened quietly as she walked along unhurriedly. On their way back, they passed a shop that sold cakes and they went inside to purchase some cakes to take home with them.

Once she was back in the courtyard,  she brought the cakes into the bedroom in the inner courtyard: “Mother,  I’m home. Look, I’ve even brought freshly baked cakes for you.”

Shangguan Wanrong sat up in bed and watched Feng Jiu dressed in men’s clothing walk over. When she approached, she took her hand and indicated for her to sit on the bed: “You’re back so soon? Have you settled all your affairs?”

“I went to the Black Market. I wanted to pay the Black Market Chief a visit but he wasn’t in. I stayed for a while and enquired about the two elixir medicines, then on my way home I bought some cakes.”

She opened the box of freshly baked cakes and took one out: “Try it.”

Upon seeing this, Shangguan Wanrong smiled and stretched out her hand to take the cake. She took a small bite. The light and crispy cake was fragrant and even though she was still recovering from her injuries, she found them delicious.

“It’s delicious, crispy and fragrant.”

“I followed the fragrance of the cakes along the streets to the cake shop.” Her eyes crinkled up as she smiled as she took a piece of cake to eat as she continued talking: “Mother, I have asked the people in the Black Market to deliver a letter to Father so that he won’t be anxious with worry.”

“You have asked someone to send a letter back?” Shangguan Wanrong was startled and asked hesitantly: “Won’t that make your Father worry?”

She smiled and waved her hand: “No, don’t worry. I told him that you are fine and we will go back once affairs on our side are handled. Father is safe and sound acting as the Country Ruler of our Phoenix Dynasty. Our relationships with the neighbouring countries are very good.”

“That’s good.” She relaxed when she heard this and smiled and nodded.

As Feng Jiu ate the cakes,     she raised her eyes and glanced at her: “But Mother,    I am sure that once you return to Phoenix Dynasty and are reunited with Father,   the Shangguan Family will come looking for you. Previously,  when they found out my identity as the Ghost Doctor, they wanted to get on good terms with me! I just ignored them.”

When she heard this, Shangguan Wanrong’s face sank: “You don’t have to acknowledge them, I don’t have such relatives!”