Over the next few days, Feng Youming almost walked every corner of the city before finally leaving Weiyang City and never returning.
Song Wanníng frowned, quietly instructing people to keep an eye on him, while she herself stayed behind, making no attempt to follow.
She did not know Feng Youming well, but from their two meetings, she could already tell he was a man of unpredictable temperament, his actions erratic and entirely dictated by his mood.
Someone like that…
Song Wanníng closed her eyes, trying to put herself in his place. If she were him, what would be the purpose of such behavior?
Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she snapped her eyes open. There were only two possibilities. Either he was trying to mislead her, or he was playing with her. Her lips curved faintly. For some reason, she felt the second was more likely.
That man just wanted to toy with her. Every place he had visited, she would probably check out of caution, and by the time she had searched several cities only to realize she had been led in circles, she would be furious…
"Heh."
Feng Youming's pettiness was almost on par with hers. If he wanted to play, then she would play along.
And so, in the days that followed, Song Wanníng showed up in every city Feng Youming had visited, like a cat stalking a mouse.
Feng Youming believed his plan was working, mocking her in his heart with every step.
What a fool.
One day, Song Wanníng finally "discovered" his trick and flew into a rage in the middle of a city.
Many cultivators saw her lose her temper and were too scared to make a sound. Hidden among the crowd, Feng Youming watched her in her fury, the mockery in his eyes deepening.
Only when Song Wanníng stormed off did he withdraw his gaze and leave the city.
Still, he did not relax. He went on to several more cities, repeating the same routine until he was certain she had no further suspicions. Only then did he head for his true destination—Huang City.
Huang City lay to the northwest of the main city. Among the many cities, it was one of the most unremarkable. Because the spiritual energy here was thin, few cultivators chose to settle, most simply passing through.
Business in the city was poor, and annual tax revenue was the lowest.
Yet this was the starting point of a top-grade dragon vein.
Upon entering Huang City, Feng Youming immediately went on high alert. This matter could not be leaked, especially not to the Song family. What he did not know was that Song Wanníng had already installed surveillance formations in the remaining cities.
While they could not clearly show every detail of his actions, they could display the general situation within the city.
Such formations were not rare, but maintaining them consumed vast amounts of spirit stones. Ordinary cities could not afford to set them up.
The Song family, however, lacked nothing. Song Wanníng certainly did not mind the cost. Through the formation's image, Feng Youming soon appeared outside a courtyard. He spoke briefly to someone at the door, then went inside for a short while before leaving. He repeated this at more than ten different courtyards.
The more cautious he became, the heavier Song Wanníng's mood grew. It was one thing to spend a month or two diverting her attention, but for him to still be this careful—what exactly was he after?
At last, he stopped before another courtyard. This time, he did not come out for a long time.
Song Wanníng noted the location and waited by the formation for him to reappear. An entire hour passed before Feng Youming emerged, only to head for yet another residence. He repeated this several more times, until Song Wanníng could only laugh in disbelief.
Was this man a weasel in human form?
Too cunning for his own good.
She found his behavior vexing, but truthfully, Feng Youming was just as frustrated. If not for the patriarch's order, he would have handled the matter long ago. The patriarch really was something else. With the Feng family's strength, taking down the Song family was as easy as reaching into a pocket. Why go to all this trouble?
Still, despite his complaints, Feng Youming followed instructions, scattering the Song family's attention bit by bit. When the task was finally complete, he let out a long breath of relief.
The Spirit-binding Nails had been planted. Now, the Feng family could monitor the dragon vein remotely at any time.
Looking at the slumbering dragon whiskers, Feng Youming's eyes glimmered with greed. Once the dragon vein awoke, the density of spiritual energy here would be unimaginable. The entire human territory might benefit.
And the Song family, sitting on such a treasure without realizing it, were fools. All the better. When they broke the restrictions and emerged, this place… would belong to the Feng family.
Now that the Spirit-binding Nails were in place, it was time for his next task. The Song family was currently at the height of their power. He needed to find their weakness and remove them as soon as possible. Otherwise, when the time came, seizing this land openly would not be easy.
The human race was vast, and the Feng family could not afford to make enemies of everyone. They would have to take it by cunning—destroy the Song family first.
Feng Youming left swiftly.
Back in Weiyang City, Song Wanníng sat in her chair and let out a long sigh, both helpless and exasperated.
The man's scheming really had gone to great lengths.
Now that he was gone, all she could do was inspect the places one by one.
She was also worried he might discover the Song family's spiritual vein, so she contacted Mu Yuan again, instructing her to be extremely careful, guard the restriction well, and allow no one near.
But Feng Youming was a Divine Transformation cultivator of mysterious origin. He might have many hidden methods, and the Song family might not be able to hide the vein forever.
She had to move fast and uncover his true purpose.
So Song Wanníng plunged herself into the courtyards, beginning a carpet-style search. Even with a cultivator's patience, she cursed her way through the task, swearing at Feng Youming's ancestors for several generations.
So many courtyards, all to be checked one by one—and she still had no idea what exactly she was looking for. How could she not be frustrated?
Since her rebirth, it had been a long time since she'd faced such a blind search. Yet this was a good reminder. Rebirth only gave her a slight head start. There were still many things she did not know, and she could not afford to grow careless.
She steadied her mind and searched again with renewed focus.
Several days later, she stopped before a rock garden in one courtyard. This was the eleventh residence she had visited. Its owner was a Foundation Establishment disciple under the Song family, who had purchased the property only a few years ago.
When she asked about the rock garden, the disciple said that from time to time, small bubbles of spiritual energy would rise from it.
Strangely, there was no spirit spring beneath it, and nothing unusual could be found nearby, so they had stopped paying attention.
Now, standing there, Song Wanníng's eyes darkened as she saw the bubbles appear.
Pop.
A bubble burst, scattering spiritual energy into the air.