C6 Drugs

Nie Feng couldn't honestly claim he was without thoughts; that would be a lie. The girl might have looked no more than eighteen, but her figure was stunningly well-developed. Her 34D chest heaved, sending Nie Feng's pulse racing.

"Tonight, you take the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor. If you need anything, just call," Nie Feng offered, pulling a blanket from the cupboard and wrapping himself up completely, head included. She was a girl, after all, and there were things he shouldn't see.

Wuh Lingyue felt a wave of gratitude for Nie Feng's consideration. She carefully undressed and slipped under the covers, her gaze lingering on Nie Feng's turned back before she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Sometime later, Wuh Lingyue awoke to a sensation on her face. Instinctively, she grabbed at it, only to find a furry, squealing creature in her hand. Startled, she let out a scream and flung the mouse away.

Nie Feng snapped awake, flicking on the light and instinctively reaching for his pistol. He spotted the stunned mouse in the corner, while Wuh Lingyue huddled in the blanket, her face etched with terror.

The scare had been significant for Wuh Lingyue, not just because of the mouse on her face as she slept, but also because of the ominous pistol in Nie Feng's hand.

With a calm demeanor, Nie Feng stowed the gun and tossed the mouse out the window, saying, "Sorry about that. I've got quite a few mice around here. You get used to it."

"No... it's okay," Wuh Lingyue managed to say, still somewhat in shock.

Nie Feng offered a reassuring smile and settled back to sleep. But Wuh Lingyue lay awake, restless with thoughts. Could this man with a gun be a murderer? Was she in danger?

But that didn't seem right. He didn't come across as a bad person; he had saved her, after all. And he hadn't harmed her since bringing her home. He must be a good person, she reasoned. Yet, why did he have a gun?

Tossing and turning with her concerns, Wuh Lingyue couldn't shake the belief ingrained in her by her simple upbringing: good people didn't carry guns.

Nie Feng, for his part, offered no further explanation. He wasn't worried about Wuh Lingyue running off to call the police. Though he appeared to be in a deep slumber, he was alert to every move she made, ready to wake at the slightest stir.

Since enlisting in the military, Nie Feng had never known the luxury of deep sleep. Whether it was a call to assemble or an enemy ambush, he had to maintain a state of vigilance, even in slumber. This was particularly true now, having recently crossed paths with a mysterious group.

The next morning, Nie Feng awoke early, leaving Wuh Lingyue to her peaceful rest. He freshened up at the Gonggong bathhouse, donned his uniform, and headed out.

Arriving at Flourishing Age, Nie Feng found the place deserted save for the night shift crew. Once they departed, he settled onto a sofa and occupied himself with his phone. In this age of smart devices, Nie Feng clung to the archaic small Spiritual Nexus, passing time with relics like Gluttonous Snake and Tetris.

The tranquility was broken when the security room door swung open, and in strode Zhang Menglin, her long dress swaying. Her face brightened at the sight of Nie Feng. "I knew I'd find you here," she beamed. "Haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Look, I brought you dumplings!"

Zhang Menglin set down a box of steaming dumplings before Nie Feng.

"Uh... Miss Zhang, we have breakfast provided for the security team. I appreciate the gesture, but please, take these back," Nie Feng replied, caught off guard.

"But your breakfast is just plain buns, hardly nutritious. I got these for you early this morning, as a thank you for saving me the other night," Zhang Menglin insisted.

"Well then... I won't refuse your kindness," Nie Feng conceded, deciding that further protest would be overly fastidious. He reached for a dumpling with his chopsticks, ready to indulge.

Just then, his ring emitted a faint glow. Nie Feng's heart skipped a beat, and his gaze upon Zhang Menglin turned icy. The ring's glow was a harbinger of danger, its intensity proportional to the threat. Instantly, Nie Feng knew—she had laced the dumplings with poison.

In a swift motion, Nie Feng seized Zhang Menglin, pinning her to the floor, a dagger now at her throat. "Miss Zhang," he demanded, his voice a frigid whisper, "what's the meaning of this? Poisoning the dumplings?"

"What are you talking about? I can't understand you. You saved me—how could I possibly poison you?" Zhang Menglin stammered, her forehead beading with cold sweat.

"Hmph, still playing dumb? Do you take me for a fool? Speak up or I'll end you!" Nie Feng threatened, pressing the dagger closer to her throat, causing blood to trickle from the wound.

Just then, Bai Fu stepped in front of Nie Feng, his voice booming with anger, "Release the young lady at once, or I swear I'll take your life!"

"Oh, it's you! Dodged my throwing knife the other night, didn't you? Let's see if you can dodge this!" Nie Feng taunted, a handgun now in his grip. Without a second thought, he squeezed the trigger.

The gunshot rang out, the bullet striking Bai Fu's hand with deadly precision. Despite his formidable strength, Bai Fu wasn't quick enough to evade a bullet, and his white robe was quickly stained with his blood.

Nie Feng's intent wasn't to kill, merely to discipline. If he'd truly wanted Bai Fu dead, his sharpshooting skills would have ensured it.

The night shift security guards had departed, and the day shift had yet to arrive. The loud bang echoed through the security room, unnoticed by anyone.

"Grandpa Bai! Nie Feng, how could you do this? Let me go—I didn't poison you, it was only a laxative!" Zhang Menglin exclaimed, her eyes wide with indignation.

Nie Feng paused, realization dawning. Of course, the ring had only glowed faintly, indicating a minimal threat. Had it been actual poison, the glow would have been much more intense.

With this in mind, Nie Feng released Zhang Menglin. She shot him a withering look, helped Bai Fu up, and they quickly left the security room.

"Grandpa Bai, I told you that plan was doomed to fail! Thank goodness his shooting was off, or you'd be dead!" Zhang Menglin snapped.

"No, he never intended to kill me. Do you think a special forces soldier would have poor marksmanship? But we didn't come away empty-handed! It at least proved the kid's got keen instincts, fitting the profile of the Young Master. I just regret involving you and getting hurt in the process. My apologies," Bai Fu said, weighed down by guilt.

"Grandpa Bai, what on earth are you talking about? A young master?" Zhang Menglin's cheeks flushed as she spoke with a hint of shyness.

Nie Feng was actually quite a catch—handsome with impressive abilities. He wouldn't be a bad choice as the man she could entrust her life to. But, he seemed a bit too quick to throw a punch for her liking.

"Still, Nie Feng's level of cultivation seems unusually low. How is he only at the Middle Period of Foundation Building? That doesn't add up," Bai Fu mused, puzzled.

"Grandpa Bai, have you figured out which cultivation technique he practices? Could it be the Dark Night technique?" Zhang Menglin pressed eagerly.

"Miss, I'm hardly omniscient. How would I know his technique? Moreover, he hasn't even started practicing any martial techniques, making it even harder to discern. To confirm if he's the one you're meant to be with, we'll need to keep watching him," Bai Fu explained, his face lined with frustration.

Once Zhang Menglin and Bai Fu had departed, Nie Feng was left alone with his thoughts. Why on earth would that girl slip him laxatives? Was this some twisted version of repaying kindness with malice? And to his astonishment, that old man turned out to be in Zhang Menglin's employ?

Nie Feng had been unable to gauge Bai Fu's level of cultivation, which clearly indicated it was far superior to his own. Zhang Menglin should be safe with Bai Fu's protection. But then, why all the cameras and bombs at her place? Why hadn't the old man confronted the men in black the previous night? And what was the deal with Zhang Menglin being harassed by Zhao Dahai?

The mysterious figures targeting Zhang Menglin suggested two possibilities: they were either unaware of Bai Fu's presence or Zhang Menglin was so vital to them that they'd risk confronting her despite Bai Fu's prowess. If the latter was true, the man Nie Feng encountered that night might have been sent to probe Bai Fu's strength, a move they hadn't anticipated.

So, the burning question remained: what made Zhang Menglin so indispensable to this organization that they'd overlook the protection of such a formidable expert? This thought deepened Nie Feng's curiosity about her.

"Hey, Feng, up bright and early, I see! Oh, and you brought dumplings!" Just then, Little Monkey strolled in.

Nie Feng snapped back to reality with a jolt. He tried to intercept the little monkey, but it was too late—the little monkey had already snatched up a dumpling and begun to devour it.

"Uh, Feng, you're not that petty, are you? Eating a couple of dumplings and you're pulling that pained face?" the little monkey asked, puzzled.

"Nah, it's fine. Go ahead and eat," Nie Feng said, gesturing dismissively.

"Feng, come on, have some. They're delicious—stuffed with shrimp!" the little monkey urged between bites.

"I'm not hungry..."

Before long, the little monkey had polished off the entire box of dumplings, still looking like he could eat more.

"Feng, these dumplings are pretty good. Where'd you get them? I don't recall any dumpling shops around our neighborhood," the little monkey inquired with curiosity.

"I'm not sure myself. They were a gift from Zhang Menglin," Nie Feng replied truthfully.

"What?!" The little monkey's eyes bulged as he leapt from his chair, exclaiming, "Feng, you're telling me Zhang Menglin gave you these dumplings? No way! You won her over in just one day? You've got to spill the beans—how'd you pull that off?"

"Get out of here. She's a wealthy heiress; why would she look twice at a poor guy like me? She just wanted to thank me for catching a mouse for her the other day," Nie Feng said, giving the little monkey an exasperated look.

"I should've guessed. Zhang Menglin always has that aloof air about her. The line of wealthy suitors chasing her stretches to the moon. How could she ever notice us, a bunch of lowly security guards? But her giving you dumplings—that's got to mean she's taken a shine to you," the little monkey mused.

Less than ten minutes later, the little monkey's demeanor took a turn as he cried out, "Ouch, my stomach! Feng, can you cover for me? I need to hit the restroom."

"Go ahead," Nie Feng responded, unfazed.

Clutching his stomach, the little monkey bolted from the security room and made a beeline for the public toilet. It appeared that Zhang Menglin hadn't deceived him; there really were laxatives in the dumplings. But why on earth would she do that?

Was this all just to give him diarrhea as some kind of prank? He had saved her life, after all. The ways of the wealthy were truly beyond comprehension.

The dose of laxatives was certainly substantial. That morning, the little monkey had made no less than fourteen frantic trips to the bathroom, his body practically reshaping itself. Already thin as a rail, he now resembled a stick figure. Observing the little monkey's drained state, Nie Feng couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.

Sprawled on the couch, the little monkey exclaimed with righteous anger, "Feng... Brother Feng, there's definitely something off with those dumplings. That lady is out to get you!"