Chapter 23: Jealousy and Strife
Mingyan nodded, distracted.
“What’s wrong? You found the person you were looking for, aren’t you happy?” Huang Feiyan, seeing his absentmindedness, asked with a smile.
“Of course I am. I’m happy I finally know who she is.” Mingyan collected himself, then pursed his lips. “But… Feiyan, she’s also at the Qi Sea Realm, like you?”
“Strictly speaking, she’s stronger than me. She’s at the peak of the Qi Sea Realm,” Huang Feiyan corrected him. “Don’t let her appearance fool you. She’s incredibly dedicated to cultivation. I’m not as diligent as her.”
“…Is she the Yaochi Holy Maiden?”
“Yes. She became the Holy Maiden five years ago. Her cultivation talent is astonishing.” Huang Feiyan nodded again, then tilted her head, a playful smile on her lips. “Why do you ask? Are you interested in her for reasons other than gratitude?”
“I just feel there’s a huge gap between us. I can’t offer her anything of value as repayment for her kindness.” Mingyan sighed. “Perhaps meeting her so soon wasn’t a good thing…”
“What? Is it different from how you imagined your reunion?” Huang Feiyan gestured for him to walk with her, her steps light and graceful. “She’s always been like this, indifferent to anything unrelated to cultivation.”
“It is different… But more importantly, I can’t do anything for her now, can’t repay her kindness.” Mingyan shook his head as they walked side by side. Although Ning Feixuan had told him not to worry about it, saying that seeing him healthy and well was repayment enough… Mingyan was earnest. How could that be considered repayment? A life-saving grace couldn’t be dismissed so easily.
But the vast difference in their strength left him with no opportunity to repay her.
Huang Feiyan knew how much this bothered him. He would likely carry this debt in his heart forever. She smiled gently. “Then cultivate diligently. You’ll catch up to her someday, and then you’ll be able to help her.”
Mingyan nodded. He had embarked on the path of cultivation to repay Ning Feixuan.
“By the way, Feiyan, you asked me earlier about which Sacred Land I’d like to join… What about the Yaochi Sacred Land?”
“That’s not possible. Yaochi Sacred Land doesn’t accept male disciples.” Huang Feiyan shook her head. “Although Yaochi women can marry outsiders, they never accept male disciples. So… no.”
“I see…” Mingyan nodded.
“Alright, I’m going back to accompany Feixuan. Don’t forget to contact me if you need anything.” Huang Feiyan smiled and, after bidding him farewell, entered the inner courtyard.
Mingyan returned to his room in silence.
His goal was clear now… He had to catch up to Ning Feixuan so he could help her. His eyes hardened with resolve, and he closed them, immersing himself in cultivation.
The night passed uneventfully.
Although day and night were essentially the same for cultivators, most preferred to be active during the day. Mingyan opened his eyes and heard a commotion outside. He hesitated, then opened the door and stepped out.
His room was in a secluded corner of the outer courtyard, meant to minimize disturbances. But today was different. He saw many people heading towards the small plaza in the center of the courtyard. Intrigued, he closed his door and followed them.
Along the way, he asked someone, “Brother, is there something interesting happening?”
“Hmm? You don’t know? I heard the Yaochi Holy Maiden arrived at the Huang family yesterday. Today, many people have come to catch a glimpse of her beauty. A few suitors are even fighting over her. We’re going to watch the fun.”
“I see.” Mingyan’s eyes flickered. He remembered Huang Feiyan saying that Yaochi women could marry. Ning Feixuan was beautiful and elegant, with a graceful figure. It was natural for her to have many admirers.
“Those young masters are all quite powerful. The weakest is at the peak of the Yang Tomb Realm, and there’s even one at the early Qi Sea Realm. Their fight for the beauty’s attention should be spectacular. Besides, I also want to see this legendary Yaochi Holy Maiden, renowned as the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Continent. I wonder if she also has two eyes and a mouth… Eh? Brother, you’re quite handsome…”
Mingyan felt increasingly uncomfortable. This person seemed to admire the young masters fighting over Ning Feixuan, but his comments about the Holy Maiden were slightly dismissive. And now he was complimenting Mingyan’s appearance… He was a man… Mingyan subtly distanced himself. He had heard of cultivators with unusual preferences. It was best to be cautious. Even men needed to protect themselves, especially if they were handsome. They could be taken by older female cultivators as companions or by male cultivators with peculiar tastes…
“Hey! Brother, don’t go!”
Mingyan shuddered and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Fortunately, the crowd was large, and he easily lost the strangely enthusiastic man. He reached the plaza in the center of the outer courtyard.
The plaza was vast, seemingly designed for large gatherings and duels. Many people had gathered around its perimeter. Mingyan found a relatively empty spot and watched the two men facing each other in the center.
Both men wore expensive clothes, clearly not ordinary people. One was dressed in blue, with a hair crown, his handsome face expressionless. The other wore white, his appearance refined and elegant, his expression arrogant. They were exchanging words.
“Still stuck at the peak of the Yang Tomb Realm? If I were you, I would have killed myself already.” The young man in white sneered. “I don’t know what kind of trash the Mu family produces.”
“Killing you would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken. Less talk, more action.” The young man in blue gestured dismissively.
Whispers arose from the crowd. “The one in blue is Mu Chong, the Seventh Young Master of the Mu family. I heard he’s the pillar of their current generation.”
“And the one in white?”
“Qin Dongli, the Third Young Master of the Qin family. He’s already at the early Qi Sea Realm. But the most famous young member of the Qin family isn’t him, but his elder brother, Qin Dongting, who’s apparently at the peak of the Qi Sea Realm and considered one of the most outstanding young cultivators in the Eastern Continent.”
Mingyan frowned. It seemed these young masters and holy children were all around the Qi Sea Realm… He still had a long way to go.
“Mu Chong probably isn’t just fighting over a woman. I heard that years ago, Qin Dongting crippled the eldest young master of the Mu family. Although the Qin family apologized, the two families have been enemies ever since…”
“Slaughtering a chicken? A trash family dares boast such things?” The young man in white smiled cruelly. “Do you know how your brother, Mu Bing, begged for mercy before my brother?”
“I only care about how you will beg for mercy before me.” Mu Chong remained calm, but Qin Dongli, enraged, clenched his fists, runes flashing across his body and transforming into bolts of lightning. He dashed forward and appeared before Mu Chong in the blink of an eye, his speed so fast that many didn’t even see him move. Just as everyone thought Mu Chong would be sent flying, Qin Dongli’s fist passed right through him. He had missed.
Qin Dongli was stunned, then felt a powerful force strike his waist. He was sent flying backwards, nearly out of the plaza, but a faint barrier shimmered at the edge, stopping him. He regained his balance, levitated, and looked at Mu Chong, his expression serious. “It seems I underestimated you.”
“Beg for mercy now, and I might spare you.” Mu Chong’s voice was cold and indifferent, but his words were provocative. Qin Dongli’s brow twitched, and he gritted his teeth. “I’ll crush you into the ground and see how you beg, just like your brother!”
A light flashed from Qin Dongli’s Qi Sea, and a spear shot out, flying towards Mu Chong, aiming to pin him to the ground.
The spear passed through Mu Chong’s body, but he remained unharmed, as if he were a shadow, visible but intangible.
“What kind of technique is that?!” someone in the crowd exclaimed. Mu Chong had evaded Qin Dongli’s attacks twice now in this strange, unpredictable manner.
“Could Mu Chong have set up a formation here?”
“Don’t be absurd! This is the Huang family’s territory. How could he tamper with it? It must be some kind of special technique!”
Qin Dongli, uncertain, recalled his spear and landed on the ground, holding it defensively. “You have quite a few tricks up your sleeve.”
“Beg for mercy now, and you might still have a chance.” Mu Chong remained impassive.
“Hmph! Even if you can dodge my attacks with your little tricks, you can’t do it forever! You’ll run out of spiritual energy eventually. You’re only at the peak of the Yang Tomb Realm and can’t generate your own energy. You’re nothing but a dead dog in my eyes!” Qin Dongli’s temper flared, veins bulging on his forehead.
“Fellow Daoists, let’s end this here. There’s no need for a fight to the death.” A gentle, melodious voice interrupted them.
Someone exclaimed, “The Yaochi Holy Maiden!”
Mingyan looked towards the voice and saw a group of Yaochi celestial maidens approaching, like a vision from a celestial palace. However, he didn’t see Ning Feixuan. One figure, however, was shrouded in mist, her voice like a celestial melody, but her form unseen… It must be Ning Feixuan, choosing not to reveal herself publicly.
“Why is she hidden in mist? They say the Yaochi Holy Maiden is renowned throughout the Eastern Continent for her beauty. Why won’t she show her face? Are the rumors false?” someone whispered. Qin Dongli, overhearing this, glared at the crowd. “Whoever dares gossip about the Holy Maiden, step forward and slap yourself, and I’ll spare your life!”
He was quite protective of Ning Feixuan… Mingyan observed Qin Dongli, memorizing his appearance.
“Since the Holy Maiden has spoken, I’ll comply.” Mu Chong’s expression softened, and he bowed respectfully. “Holy Maiden, would you be willing to visit the Mu family?”
Qin Dongli sneered. “To visit your crippled elder brother?”
Mu Chong glared at him, then turned back to the Yaochi Holy Maiden, ignoring him.
“Thank you for the invitation, Young Master Mu, but I’m here to invite the Huang family to the Peach Banquet at Yaochi. After that, I’ll return to the Sacred Land. I have many duties to attend to and don’t have time to visit the Mu family. The Mu and Qin families will also receive invitations. I hope you’ll both attend.” The Yaochi Holy Maiden’s voice, though unseen, was incredibly pleasant. He had been too nervous and excited during their reunion to notice, but now, listening to her voice was a true pleasure. Mingyan smiled. She was beautiful, kindhearted, and had a lovely voice. Having such a benefactor was truly a blessing.
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