"That was exhilarating!"

As the 'Lingxi Battle Robe' returned to its normal state, Qing Yue leaped joyfully from Nie Kong's chest, her small face beaming with excitement. Tai Yan emerged alongside her, her fair cheeks flushing pink, exquisitely charming. Although neither of them had been the ones stealing the herbs, the sheer pleasure of the heist resonated deeply within them.

Nie Kong could only shake his head in resignation. "Read the novel 'Otherworldly Medicine King' on Baidu Otherworldly Medicine King Tieba."

In the span of this single day, Nie Kong, the real Li Qian, had encountered six different imposters claiming his identity. These fakes, however, lacked his true strength and skill. While they might initially startle others by their sudden appearance, their actions quickly betrayed them, inevitably leading to brawls and fistfights. Fighting on a mountain peak offered a degree of safety, usually avoiding fatalities. But clashing in the swamp below was incredibly perilous. Nie Kong had personally witnessed two Spirit Masters gathering herbs being thrown into the mire by these opportunists working together. Nie Kong deeply despised those who sullied his reputation; upon seeing them, he dealt with them in the exact same manner as the first five fake Li Qians, ensuring they met a similar fate.

For those encounters that didn't end in death, Nie Kong still severely disciplined the pretenders right in front of the robbed Spirit Masters. He was certain those Masters would spread the word of his actions; perhaps more would risk it the next day, but the number of bandits daring to impersonate him would surely decrease significantly.

A thought crossed his mind, and Nie Kong suddenly looked at Tai Yan, asking an unrelated question: "Tai Yan, did your head still hurt this afternoon?"

"Mmm."

Tai Yan made a soft sound in her nose and blinked hard twice. This was the secret signal between her and Nie Kong: if the feeling of being watched persisted, she would respond this way.

Nie Kong understood immediately. "Then let's head back to Qietian City for a good rest."

"Screech!"

Less than ten seconds later, Nie Kong leaped up, settling onto the back of the Ghost Soul Eagle King, which was spiraling down to land. Tai Yan also shrank her form, hiding within Nie Kong's embrace.

Once airborne, the Ghost Soul Eagle King exerted maximum speed, rocketing away from the 'Forbidden Spirit Swamp' area.

"Brother, the Spirit of Medicine that was watching us this afternoon was different from the one before. It wasn't just peeking when we were about to rob; it has been staring at us the entire time, and its emotion seems even angrier," Tai Yan's delicate voice floated out from Nie Kong's arms after receiving his nod.

"Good!"

Nie Kong couldn't hide his delight, chuckling heartily. "We'll continue tomorrow. Hmm, Ghost Soul did exceptionally well today. Remember, don't cause any deaths."

The Ghost Soul Eagle King let out a triumphant, sharp cackle: "Big Brother, rest assured."

"..."

Before long, Nie Kong and Tai Yan entered Weitian City, with the Ghost Soul Eagle King, as usual, being left outside the city walls. When the pair arrived outside the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, the curses echoing from the tavern opposite grew more intense: "Damn it, are they letting anyone live anymore... Suddenly so many green-robed bandits appeared!"

"That real green-robed bandit is okay. At least he doesn't kill people and will even rescue someone who falls into the mire. Those fakes are different; they rob herbs however they can, never caring if you drown in the swamp! They are truly detestable!"

"Exactly! I and a friend ran into four of those bastards; they almost killed us. It just so happened that the green-robed bandit passed by and saved us. Later, I told him the direction those four cons fled, and surprisingly, the green-robed bandit actually caught them and threw them into the mire right in front of me!"

"Damn, that felt so good! Those scoundrels deserve that kind of treatment!"

"Oh, and that black eagle—even though it doesn't kill, it’s just as hateful as those fake bastards, tormenting people until their souls are scattered!"

"..."

Nie Kong secretly chuckled to himself, never expecting that those counterfeiters would actually earn him praise from so many Spirit Masters. Was this an instance of success coming from an unexpected effort? However, thanks to the chaos those scoundrels caused, fewer Spirit Masters would dare enter the Forbidden Spirit Swamp tomorrow.

Just as Nie Kong predicted, when he, the green-robed bandit, and the Ghost Soul Eagle King began their third raid, the number of people they encountered was nearly cut in half.

The fake green-robed bandits who still dared to defy the odds only encountered two groups. However, they were more vicious than the ones yesterday; fearing exposure, they attempted to murder their victims while stealing herbs. Nie Kong offered no mercy either, plunging them directly into the mire without a word. By the fourth day, the number of Spirit Masters seeking herbs in the 'Forbidden Spirit Swamp' had significantly dwindled, and not a single fake green-robed bandit was sighted.

On the fifth day, human figures in the swamp were sparse. Nie Kong lost the interest to act himself, settling down with Tai Yan on a hilltop to rest, only sending the Ghost Soul Eagle King out to scavenge.

On the sixth day, there was virtually no one in the swamp.

The seventh day was the same...

This scenario perfectly suited Nie Kong's wishes.

According to Tai Yan's innate sensing, starting from the fourth day, the moment they entered the airspace above the Forbidden Spirit Swamp, the feeling of being spied upon would immediately surface. The emotion displayed by the Herb Spirit was almost one of frenzied rage. Unfortunately, despite its anger, the Herb Spirit never revealed itself.

Besides forcing the Herb Spirit to make the first move, Nie Kong had no better solution.

Therefore, even though no more Spirit Masters were entering the Forbidden Spirit Swamp to gather herbs, Nie Kong and the Ghost Soul Eagle King still made their scheduled rounds every day, plucking those rare and precious medicinal herbs.

"Tai Yan, do you still have a headache?"

Lying on a smooth, flat slab of bluestone halfway up the mountain, Nie Kong chewed thoughtfully on a piece of dry grass for a moment before suddenly turning to look at Tai Yan, who lay beside him.

"No more."

Tai Yan tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Brother, I still felt him spying just a moment ago, but about a minute or two ago, it suddenly vanished. I wonder why?" "Read the novel 'Otherworldly Medicine King' on Baidu Otherworldly Medicine King Tieba."

"If he shows up again, hurry and warn me."

Nie Kong felt a knot of doubt in his heart. For the past few days, wherever he went, the Herb Spirit's surveillance followed; the vigilance never ceased until they left the 'Forbidden Spirit Swamp.' Now that the Herb Spirit had abruptly departed, could something else be happening within the Forbidden Spirit Swamp?

For a moment, Nie Kong keenly missed Xiang Xiang. Ever since absorbing the medicinal power of the Dragon Taming Grass, the little creature had been deep in slumber for over three months and still hadn't awakened. If it weren't for the fact that the mental link transmitted no unusual feelings, Nie Kong might have suspected an accident had occurred. If the little one were here, with its superior sensory perception regarding medicinal herbs, it might have tracked the Herb Spirit's whereabouts. With Xiang Xiang and Tai Yan working together, the search would undoubtedly be much easier.

"What a pity!"

Nie Kong sighed inwardly. Suddenly, a thought stirred in his mind, and the will of the Ghost Soul Eagle King transmitted itself: "Big Brother, get up quickly! Something's happening!"

"Oh?"

Nie Kong flipped over instantly. He saw a black speck flashing rapidly high in the sky, descending at lightning speed, its image instantly magnifying countless times in his pupils. Tai Yan also sat up, seeing the sudden appearance of the Ghost Soul Eagle King, and asked: "R Brother, what is it?"

"Don't know yet."

Nie Kong shot into the air. "Otherworldly Medicine King Tieba fast updates shared with you."

Tai Yan and Qing Yue quickly burrowed into Nie Kong's embrace, while the Ghost Soul Eagle King skimmed low, cupping Nie Kong's feet with its talons, and then carried him rushing toward the northwest of the 'Forbidden Spirit Swamp'..."