Chapter 11: My Female Lead {Part Two}

The attendant, seeing Feng Chi’s attitude, dared not say more. Nodding and bowing, he withdrew and went to the front hall to deliver the message.

Arriving at the front hall, the attendant respectfully reported to Huo Bu: “Prince Huo Bu, my master is currently cultivating in the secret chamber. She said she won’t be able to see you until after the midday meal.”

Hearing this, Huo Bu felt somewhat displeased. But considering that Weng Tong was the Medicine Pavilion’s master, whom even the King of Yelang treated with deference, he suppressed his irritation. Thus, Huo Bu sat idly in the front hall for nearly two hours. As noon approached, he still hadn’t seen Weng Tong. Growing increasingly unhappy, Huo Bu summoned the attendant and demanded: “What’s going on? It’s been two hours already. Why is your master still refusing to see me? Could it be that she thinks I, a prince of the Grass Sea Tribe, am unworthy of seeking an audience with her, a mere Medicine Pavilion master?”

The attendant was already sweating profusely. He understood clearly that although the Grass Sea Tribe had been conquered and submitted, becoming a subordinate ally of Yelang, Huo Bu was still a prince of his tribe. In terms of status, he was naturally higher than his own master. However, his master, though residing in Yelang year-round, was a cultivator who basically paid no attention to ordinary people in this world. Even the current king had to treat her with respect when visiting. If his master said she was unavailable, then she was truly unavailable. Since she had stated she would meet after the midday meal, she would wait until after the meal. He absolutely dared not disturb her.

The attendant serving in the front hall, seeing Huo Bu’s anger, had no choice but to brace himself and say: “This humble servant will go ask the Phoenix Head on duty. Please wait a moment, Prince.”

Soon the attendant returned to the Medicine Pavilion entrance. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he bowed to Feng Chi and said: “Phoenix Head, Prince Huo Bu is becoming quite displeased. He’s losing his temper in the front hall!”

Feng Chi frowned coldly: “Didn’t I already tell you? He must wait until the master emerges from the secret chamber and finishes her midday meal!”

At that moment, a cool voice came from within the Medicine Pavilion: “What is it?”

Hearing this, the attendant immediately dropped to one knee: “Master, Prince Huo Bu of the Grass Sea Tribe requests an audience in the front hall.”

The cool voice from within the Medicine Pavilion spoke again: “Didn’t your Phoenix Head just tell you that I won’t have time to see him until after the midday meal?” After these words, silence returned to the Medicine Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Feng Chi, standing outside the Medicine Pavilion, felt restless and completely at a loss.

Feng Chi thought to himself: “When did the master emerge from the secret chamber? Did she hear everything about me taking the liberty of delivering that message? But if she heard everything, why didn’t she say anything? Over the years, Feng Chi had come to understand his master’s temperament well – subordinates were not permitted to overstep their authority. Just now, he had presumptuously responded to Huo Bu on his master’s behalf. Yet instead of reprimanding him, his master had complied with his statement, saying she would see Huo Bu after the midday meal. What could this mean?”

The attendant from the front hall, having now received the order from the master herself, quickly withdrew from the Medicine Pavilion and hurried back to the front hall to deliver the message.
Feng Chi stood outside the Medicine Pavilion, growing increasingly uneasy as he reflected: “Huo Bu is, after all, a prince of his tribe. His request to see my Master must involve matters of importance. Yet I deliberately obstructed him due to my personal resentment. Though my Master was aware of this, she offered no reprimand.” Feng Chi knew well that despite her youth, his Master never tolerated dissent in words or actions. What was her intention today? Was she waiting until Prince Huo Bu departed to settle accounts with him?

While Feng Chi wrestled with these thoughts, the Medicine Pavilion’s door quietly opened, and Weng Tong emerged unhurriedly from within.

With an expressionless face, Weng Tong said to Feng Chi: “Go to the dining hall for the meal.” Having spoken, she strode toward the dining hall herself. Following behind Weng Tong with a troubled heart, Feng Chi didn’t know how to explain his earlier transgression of overstepping boundaries. He feared that his Master was displeased by his presumptuous replies on her behalf but was withholding comment, waiting to settle later. Over the past two years, he had witnessed all too clearly how his Master dealt with unruly Shadow Cultivators without warning. The luckiest among them lost their cultivation forever, reduced to ordinary mortals. Those with more tragic fates suffered the Myriad Gu Heart Devouring—a fate worse than death. Recalling this, Feng Chi couldn’t help regretting his earlier misconduct. Abruptly, he dropped to one knee behind Weng Tong and said: “Master, this subordinate overstepped by speaking on your behalf earlier. I await your punishment.” He kept his head bowing, awaiting Weng Tong’s judgment.

Weng Tong let out a soft “hmph” through her nose, her expression placid as she replied: “It doesn’t matter. He can see me anytime; there’s no urgency. Since he seeks an audience, he must have a request. Making him wait is of little consequence. Rise.” Without turning her head, she continued toward the dining hall. Feng Chi stood up, gazing at his master’s slender, elegant back with a peculiar feeling. Today, it seemed his Master had deliberately chosen to let him off or perhaps she intended to teach Huo Bu a lesson by making him wait until after the midday meal. He remembered when he first arrived in Yelang, his Master had been a young girl, yet her actions surpassed those of grown men meticulous and decisive.

Now, five years later, his Master’s approach seemed increasingly measured and adaptable. It appeared she had truly matured, having grown taller with a graceful, slender figure. At eighteen, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, her face growing ever more exquisite yet also increasingly aloof. In these five years, he had almost never seen the corners of her lips curve upward. Feng Chi sometimes wondered: “My Master would surely look equally beautiful when she smiles, just like Young Master Weng Li, whose grin radiates sunshine.” At this thought, Feng Chi unconsciously scratched his head and followed her into the dining hall.

After the meal, Weng Tong walked leisurely to the front hall and instructed the attendant there: “Once Prince Huo Bu has finished his meal, invite him to meet me in the Humble Abode.” She then turned and proceeded to the Humble Abode.

Shortly afterward, Huo Bu arrived at the Humble Abode with a follower, guided by the front hall attendant. As Huo Bu and his follower entered, the attendant cupped his hands and said: “A Li of the Caohai Tribe pays respects to the Master.” Huo Bu himself gave a slight nod to Weng Tong as a greeting.

Behind the desk in the room, Weng Tong was lowering her head reading reports submitted from various regions. She said lightly, “My apologies for making Prince Huo Bu wait. Please have a seat.” Huo Bu walked several steps to the chair nearby and sat down.

Without raising her head, Weng Tong instructed the attendant serving nearby: “Tea.” Shortly after, the attendant brought two bowls of tea, placing them before Weng Tong and Huo Bu respectively.

Huo Bu lifted the tea from the table and took a small sip before finally raising his eyes to look at Weng Tong behind the desk. At this moment, Weng Tong had already closed the report in her hand and lifted her head to gaze toward Huo Bu. When their eyes met, Huo Bu suddenly felt his vision brighten, for what entered his sight was an extremely beautiful woman, appearing to be about eighteen or nineteen years old. Huo Bu felt this woman was truly too beautiful. However, her expression was excessively cold, carrying an untouchable aloofness. She was like a piece of ice, but even as ice, it was ice of ultimate beauty. This was probably the legendary ice beauty! Having lived this long, Huo Bu had never seen such a beautiful woman. Thus, his two eyes stared directly at Weng Tong, unable to look away.

Seeing that Huo Bu remained silent after sitting down and instead stared at her in a daze, Weng Tong’s expression grew even colder. Displeased, she said: “Prince Huo Bu, may I ask what matter brings you to me?”

Huo Bu was completely immersed in the beautiful scene before him, his mind wandering in distant realms, completely forgetting where he was and what he had come to do. His attendant, noticing his prince’s improper behavior, quickly tugged at Huo Bu’s sleeve. Only then was Huo Bu pulled back to reality by his attendant. Realizing his indiscretion, he quickly cleared his throat twice and said: “Well… this time I’ve come specifically to request that if Master Weng has time, could you make a trip to the Grass Sea Tribe to help eliminate some Evil Spirits.”

Weng Tong slightly furrowed her brows and asked: “What kind of Evil Spirits are so troublesome? Normally each tribe has its own shamans could it be that the Grass Sea shamans are unable to handle it?”

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