Chapter 33: The Benevolent Xiao Feng
As Xiao Feng and his group ventured deeper into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, they encountered magical beasts more frequently.
Although most of the magical beasts were instantly killed by the combined assault of dozens of mercenaries, a few unlucky ones were still injured by sudden beast attacks.
For example, two mercenaries walking at the front were bitten by Red Ice Snakes hidden among the branches.
The Red Ice Snake is a relatively common first-tier magical beast with ice attributes and contains cold poison.
If a person bitten by a Red Ice Snake is not treated within half a day, the cold poison will freeze their blood, leading to death.
After the group killed the two Red Ice Snakes, the two unfortunate mercenaries bitten by them were promptly sent to the herbal gathering team and handed over to Little Medical Fairy for treatment.
To everyone's surprise, just as Little Medical Fairy was about to remove the cold poison from the two mercenaries, Xiao Feng suddenly stepped forward, took out two first-grade detoxification pills, and gave them to the mercenaries.
Although first-grade detoxification pills are not particularly precious, they can still be sold for hundreds of gold coins.
Under normal circumstances, no one would be foolish enough to give such valuable pills to strangers for free.
But when everyone saw that the two mercenaries recovered after taking the pills from Xiao Feng, they had to admit that such selfless fools indeed exist!
Initially, Mu Li was worried that Xiao Feng might be pretending to be weak while being strong.
Seeing Xiao Feng's benevolence, Mu Li relaxed his guard.
"Are you stupid? I can't believe you don't know how to keep your wealth hidden."
Even Little Medical Fairy was defeated by Xiao Feng's naivety. She secretly kicked him and whispered, "Before we return to Qingshan Town, you'd better stay by my side, or I can't guarantee your safety."
If Xiao Feng were a selfish person, Little Medical Fairy wouldn't risk offending the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to remind him.
Unfortunately, Xiao Feng was a good-hearted person, a rare breed, and Little Medical Fairy couldn't bear to see him taken advantage of.
"…"
Xiao Feng was initially stunned by Little Medical Fairy's words, then nodded without showing any emotion.
In fact, Xiao Feng gave the two mercenaries detoxification pills not out of sheer kindness but to earn merit points.
Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda!
After curing the cold poison of the two mercenaries, Xiao Feng's merit points increased by over a hundred.
Using detoxification pills worth hundreds of gold coins to gain over a hundred merit points seemed like a good deal to Xiao Feng.
As for being regarded as a naive and kind-hearted fool by Little Medical Fairy and the others, Xiao Feng considered it a beautiful misunderstanding.
After several hours of traversing the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Feng and his group finally arrived at the designated herbal gathering area of the Myriad Medicine House. During this time, more than ten mercenaries were attacked by magical beasts, suffering various injuries.
Whenever someone got injured, Xiao Feng would promptly provide healing and detoxification pills, continuously earning hundreds of merit points.
Unaware of Xiao Feng's merit-earning scheme, the others believed he was a selfless benefactor.
Initially, most mercenaries scorned Xiao Feng, thinking his naive benevolence would not last long in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
However, as more mercenaries were healed by Xiao Feng, their attitudes gradually changed.
Apart from a few cold-hearted mercenaries, most who were treated by Xiao Feng felt immense gratitude and shame for having harbored thoughts of killing him for his treasures.
Those who hadn't been treated by Xiao Feng still thought he was a hopelessly naive good person but couldn't help but respect him.
After all, a good-hearted person like Xiao Feng was the ideal teammate every mercenary dreamed of.
Only Mu Li's hatred for Xiao Feng deepened over time.
In Mu Li's eyes, Xiao Feng was already his to claim, so Xiao Feng's treasures were his treasures.
Every time Xiao Feng used healing and detoxification pills to treat injured mercenaries, Mu Li felt like he was wasting his own money, causing him great pain.
If it weren't for the Xiao family's backing, making it unwise to kill Xiao Feng openly, Mu Li would have killed him already.
That is all my money! My money!
"Alright, we have arrived at the herbal gathering area. Everyone can take a rest. You'll need energy to gather herbs."
After resting for about ten minutes, the Myriad Medicine House steward led Little Medical Fairy and her team to gather herbs.
The mercenaries guarding the team split into two groups: one patrolled the area, while the other set up tents.
It was already noon. By the time the Myriad Medicine House finished gathering herbs, it would be dark.
Traveling at night in the Magical Beast Mountain Range was dangerous, so it was better to rest and leave for Qingshan Town the next morning.
To prevent Xiao Feng from being taken advantage of, Little Medical Fairy used the excuse of needing his help to gather herbs, keeping him by her side.
Seeing Xiao Feng sticking close to Little Medical Fairy, Mu Li frowned. He had to find a way to separate them; otherwise, it would be inconvenient to kill Xiao Feng and seize his treasures.
Time passed, and dusk gradually fell, shrouding the entire Magical Beast Mountain Range in darkness.
The Myriad Medicine House team finished gathering herbs, and everyone began to gather around the campfire for dinner.
"Miss, the rice balls are heated."
The maid serving Little Medical Fairy respectfully handed her the heated meat-filled rice balls she carried.
Taking one of the rice balls, Little Medical Fairy handed it to Xiao Feng with a smile, "You've worked hard gathering herbs. Please have a rice ball."
"Aren't you being stingy?"
Xiao Feng feigned dissatisfaction, "You think you can appease me with just one rice ball?"
"Don't underestimate this rice ball. I made it myself with sweet purple crystal rice and top-grade magical beast pork belly. It's delicious."
"Really?"
Xiao Feng smiled, "Then I must taste your cooking."
Xiao Feng unwrapped the rice ball and took a big bite.
"Yum~ Delicious!"
Savoring the fragrance of the rice and meat, Xiao Feng nodded with satisfaction.