Chapter 18: Hair Standing on End

The Ice Spirit Flower, even after its spiritual essence had been unintentionally altered by Lin Zhan, would not have its usual blooming period delayed. Just as Wei Qinglong from the Plum Blossom Hall had calculated before, three days later, at dawn, would witness the sharp bloom of three Ice Spirit Flowers.

The next two or three days passed in a flash.

On the night before the Ice Spirit Flowers were to bloom, in a secluded spot within the medicine fields of Red Refining Valley, two men stood side by side atop a small hill—one stubborn and stoic, the other arrogant and prideful.

“Tomorrow morning?”

“Tomorrow morning!”

“I’m leaving both the flowers and the person in your care.”

“Understood, both the flowers and the person are my responsibility!”

“Then off you go…”

“Don’t worry.”

The proud man left first, pondering as he walked, “If I’d stayed a bit longer, I wonder if First Brother would’ve asked me to be the leader?”

The stubborn one remained behind, a hint of melancholy in his demeanor. “Sigh, cold on the outside but warm inside—would it kill you to say a few more words? Clearly you care so much about your brothers, why not express it? I really admire you, Tenth Brother, always pretending to be cool, and now I have to force myself to put on a stern face too. It’s exhausting…”

With that, First Brother rubbed his face, nearly stiff from holding a straight expression for so long.

Tenth Brother had grown closer with everyone, but that didn’t mean he communicated well with them. This scene—First Brother assigning tomorrow’s task, the two exchanging a few terse words—played out often enough. One was cold, the other aloof, causing those like Seventh and Eighth Brother, watching from afar, to break out in a cold sweat.

“Did you see? First Brother’s mouth was twitching the whole time.”

“Heh, and I saw Tenth Brother fidgeting with his sleeve the entire conversation…”

“Let’s go, let’s go, the boss is coming down…”

Tenth Brother did not wait for dawn on the third day. That very night, he arrived at the spot where the Ice Spirit Flowers grew. In the darkness, he saw Lin Zhan’s bright, spirited eyes gleaming atop the ice-cold stone, and nodded with satisfaction before leaping up to join him.

“What’s this? Not cultivating?”

“No,” Lin Zhan replied weakly, “the Ice Spirit Flowers will bloom in a few hours, and I’m weighed down with worry.”

Tenth Brother sat cross-legged, producing roasted meat and a flask of wine from his storage pouch. “Come, eat a little. Don’t worry, I’ve already promised First Brother—I’ll handle everything.”

Lin Zhan’s mind was whirling. Was it possible that Tenth Brother really had a solution to the damage to the Ice Spirit Flower’s medicinal properties? The weight he’d been carrying lightened, if only a little.

But another question gnawed at him. He’d heard from the other brothers that Tenth Brother was always tight-lipped around them, his arrogant face never cracking a smile, his words perpetually half-spoken. Yet, whenever he was with Lin Zhan, they’d talk freely, laugh together, and even joke around at times. That seemed… odd. Very odd.

Back in his hometown, people joked about close brotherhoods, but his own values and inclinations were perfectly normal. If Tenth Brother had some unusual interest, wouldn’t that be awkward? Especially now, seeing him propping his head up and gazing over—it felt distinctly off.

A shiver ran down Lin Zhan’s spine. Best not to drink, he decided. “Senior Brother, I really don’t have much appetite. If you have a good plan, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Tenth Brother chuckled. “I thought you’d never ask. Alright, since you insist… come closer.”

He hooked an arm around Lin Zhan’s shoulders, pulling him near.

The gesture startled Lin Zhan, making his hair stand on end. “Ahem, there’s no one else around, just say it—we don’t have to worry about eavesdroppers…”

A rare flush crept over Tenth Brother’s face, and he looked a little embarrassed. “Alright, here’s the plan. Based on my deductions, Wei Qinglong from Plum Blossom Hall will definitely come to steal the Ice Spirit Flowers when they bloom. Last time, First Brother refused his request—he won’t give up easily. So, all we have to do is wait for him to make his move, then act.”

“So, you want the flowers to pass through his hands first, and then… as for why the spiritual essence of the Ice Spirit Flowers would suddenly drop from a hundred years to less than one, that’ll be his problem to explain?” Lin Zhan immediately caught on.

“Exactly!” Tenth Brother clapped Lin Zhan’s shoulder with a grin.

“But what if Wei Qinglong doesn’t show?” Lin Zhan’s concern was not unfounded. Red Refining Valley was not a place one could enter at will; aside from their own team in charge of watering and tending the fields, there were many patrols standing guard—real Inner Sect disciples, on the verge of breaking through to the Yellow Rank.

“Don’t worry, he’ll come. Relax. If you want, get some sleep. I’ll keep watch for you,” Tenth Brother assured him confidently.

“Alright, I’ll trust you. Worst case, I’ll just report to the Disciplinary Hall and accept my punishment,” Lin Zhan replied, tearing off a chunk of roast meat and chewing heartily.

The two shared a quiet drink, waiting for the Ice Spirit Flowers to bloom.

Wei Qinglong, who had spent years in the Plum Blossom Hall among the odd-job disciples, had more than his own team of brothers—he had a few allies and could still find extra help. So, determined as ever to claim the Ice Spirit Flowers, he had already contacted three cultivators in secret, and together they were poised to strike, determined to teach the Daisy Hall a lesson.

Though these three were only mid-stage Human Rank cultivators—not especially powerful—against Tenth Brother, whose cultivation was sealed, they would be more than enough. No matter how agile he might be, their strength would crush him, leaving no chance for reversal.

“You three hold off those riffraff while my men and I pick the flowers. When it’s done, you’ll all be well rewarded!”

“No problem, it’s a simple task,” the three helpers agreed, donning the blue robes of the labor disciples.

That night, Wei Qinglong, holding a labor hall pass, led his men smoothly through the valley wards—he’d prepared for this, after all. Years of careful planning meant he need not worry about entry.

“Heh, looks like Daisy Hall is guarding the Ice Spirit Flowers pretty closely,” he sneered.

Upon entering Red Refining Valley, he led his group with practiced ease to a small hill overlooking the medicine fields where the Ice Spirit Flowers grew. From above, he could see five Daisy Hall labor disciples stationed in a formation, watching over the fields, and on a block of icy stone near the flowers, someone sat cross-legged, facing the blooms.

With so many eyes, stealing the flowers would be difficult indeed.

But today, Wei Qinglong hadn’t come to steal—he was ready to snatch them openly. In the chaos, as long as he got the Ice Spirit Flowers, Daisy Hall’s disciples would be left shouldering the blame. It was a win-win, especially since all ten or so of his men were disguised, their faces unrecognizable.