Today was the official opening day of the Yang Manor's flowing feast.
People came and went, making it exceptionally lively.
Almost all the servants in the manor were incredibly busy.
After Zou Feng finished washing the ingredients, he immediately had to go outside to serve dishes.
This allowed him to rarely enter the inner courtyard.
The banquets in the inner courtyard hosted local gentry and Martial Artists from Huixin Martial Hall.
Huixin Martial Hall was the Martial Hall that Yang Qianqian had joined.
As soon as Zou Feng entered the courtyard, he couldn't help but feel his heart palpitate, as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
Logically, this shouldn't be the case, as no one present would target him, a small servant serving dishes.
Could it be that Huixin Martial Hall, as a renowned Righteous Path sect, cultivated a Cultivation Technique containing righteous Qi, which clashed with his Five Poison Palm?
After all, Righteous Path and evil are irreconcilable, and evil Cultivators are, at least on the surface, not tolerated by Righteous Path Martial Artists.
It was normal for some metaphysical reactions to occur in one's state of mind upon encountering them.
But it was also his own lack of strength; if he had Cultivated a formidable evil Qi, then those Martial Artists would be the ones suffering "aura suppression" now.
Thinking of this, Zou Feng became even more discreet, not even raising his head, focusing solely on serving dishes.
He was afraid of being noticed by those Martial Artists.
However, he was overthinking it; in the eyes of those Martial Artists, a small servant serving dishes was equivalent to a tool that moved on its own.
Only two female Martial Artists, seeing his handsome features and good looks, glanced at him a few more times.
As a result, they were teased by their Senior Brothers nearby.
"Two Junior Sisters, you must be truly hungry..."
"If you really like him, just tell Qianqian, and take him back to use!"
Then there was a burst of laughter.
Uh, was I... being flirted with?
Alas, it's not necessarily a good thing for a servant to be too handsome!
Who knows, one day he might be given away by his master to entertain guests...
After Zou Feng finished serving the dishes, he hurried away.
But compared to the frustration of almost being treated as merchandise, what annoyed Zou Feng more was that he actually... felt a little anticipation?!
After all, those two female Martial Artists were actually quite good-looking, and their sturdy legs, developed from years of Cultivating martial arts, clearly showed powerful kicking ability...
A moment later, Zou Feng quickly shook off these inappropriate thoughts from his mind.
If he didn't get rid of his lowly status, even if he were sent away, it would only be like leaving a wolf's den to enter a tiger's lair.
As Zou Feng was on his way to serve the next table, the door to the inner hall opened with a creak.
Immediately, a young woman wearing a gold-embroidered martial uniform strode out.
Zou Feng had seen this woman before; she was the master's youngest daughter, Yang Qianqian.
With twin ponytails, apricot eyes, and an oval face, her features were naturally smooth. Yang Qianqian's appearance was excellent, and she had always been a famous beauty in the county.
Now that her martial Dao had entered the ranks, her temperament further enhanced her beauty, immediately making everyone present unable to take their eyes off her.
The next moment, various congratulatory sounds filled the air.
However, Zou Feng suddenly noticed that Yang Yanpeng, the Third Young Master sitting at the corner table, looked at his younger sister with a face full of defiance and... undisguised jealousy.
Zou Feng, of course, knew Yang Yanpeng, his enemy who had ordered him to be nearly beaten to death.
This fellow had also Cultivated martial arts since childhood, but his talent was poor, and he was lazy and gluttonous, so he had achieved nothing.
It was likely hopeless for him to enter the ranks of martial Dao in this life.
Seeing his younger sister so glorious at this moment, it was only natural for Yang Yanpeng to feel jealous, given his personality.
Although Zou Feng didn't want to have any more contact with Yang Yanpeng, he still had to go over to serve dishes at this time.
As he got closer, Yang Yanpeng didn't pay him any mind, but Zou Feng smelled a faint, very unique fragrance on him.
He was certain that he had never smelled this scent before.
But for no reason, he felt that this fragrance made him very comfortable.
He could never have any good feelings for Yang Yanpeng in any way, so this fragrance, could it be...?
Zou Feng had a vague guess, but he couldn't be sure yet.
After quickly arranging the dishes, he turned and left quickly.
Unexpectedly, after only three steps, Yang Yanpeng's sinister voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Your body is quite good, you can get out of bed and work so quickly?"
Tsk, he still noticed...
Zou Feng could only helplessly turn back, bowing his head and saluting, "Thanks to Young Master's great fortune!"
Yang Yanpeng stared at Zou Feng and sneered twice, then ignored him and continued to drink on his own.
Back in the kitchen, Zou Feng still felt his scalp tingling a little.
What he had guessed was probably spot on.
Yang Yanpeng, the Third Young Master of the Yang Manor, was secretly Cultivating some evil Cultivation Technique, just like him.
No matter what evil Cultivation Technique it was, it came with significant side effects.
Yang Yanpeng's recent increasing irritability and worsening personality were very likely due to Cultivating an evil Cultivation Technique.
This guy clearly realized that he had no hope of entering the ranks of martial Dao through normal means, which was why he placed his hopes on unorthodox methods.
And perhaps this was also why Yang Yanpeng hadn't become the target for the transference of the Cultivation's side effects.
This guy was probably also Cultivating some evil Cultivation Technique related to poison.
Slight, not-too-strong toxic side effects should be ineffective against him, which is why he couldn't be chosen.
Of course, this was still just Zou Feng's guess; further verification was needed to determine what was truly happening.
In short, the situation was urgent, and he had to quickly Cultivate the Five Poison Palm to the next stage to gain more security.
And for him to intensify his Cultivation, he would inevitably have to increase the intensity of his exploitation of Li Rui.
Fortunately, the manor had been preparing a flowing feast these days, and various medicinal dishes were indispensable for the banquet.
At this time, the storeroom of the back kitchen was piled high with various medicinal herbs.
As Luo Yong's disciple, Zou Feng now had priority in handling these medicinal herbs.
So he thoughtfully found the herbs that could be used to brew detoxifying medicinal soups and placed them all in conspicuous locations.
Afterward, he would occasionally leave under the pretext of an urgent need, leaving Li Rui alone, creating a good opportunity for him to get things for free.
Li Rui was originally troubled about how to get more of the medicine Luo Yong had sent yesterday.
As a result, this opportunity immediately presented itself, within easy reach.
Li Rui naturally wouldn't be polite.
Of course, normally, he definitely wouldn't dare to be so reckless.
But because of the flowing feast, too many medicinal herbs had accumulated, and as long as they weren't particularly valuable, no one would meticulously check for any missing amounts.
And Zou Feng, seeing Li Rui happily taking things, felt quite relieved.
He was afraid that Li Rui would be too timid and not dare to take risks.
Hmm, since Brother Li took so much, then tonight when he Cultivated, he could go all out without any reservations.
That night, Zou Feng continued to diligently Cultivate the Five Poison Palm in the dark woodshed.
Although Li Rui bore the brunt of the "suffering," he still had to go through the process of Cultivating.
And immersing his hands in "cold water" for half an hour, while striking various poses, was actually quite boring.
However, this time, before he even finished Cultivating, Zou Feng heard footsteps coming from afar outside the woodshed.
Before he started Cultivating martial arts, he would never have been able to hear sounds from such a long distance.
But now, he could calmly put away the urine pot containing the venom and quickly wash his hands.