Chapter 84: The Calm Before the Storm

"Qin Yi, have you lost your mind?" Mu Fengqing returned to the wooden chair, glaring at Feixue, the sword about to pierce Qian Fu, and shouted at Qin Yi, whose expression showed no intention of holding back.

Qin Yi ignored his anxiety, remaining calm and unruffled.

At that moment, the residual force of Feixue’s strike had already reached Qian Fu, causing his abdomen to shrink back as if pushed by an invisible hand.

Qian Fu’s gaze was dull, his hope extinguished.

A sharp whistle echoed.

Just as everyone was about to witness Qian Fu being either gravely injured or killed, Feixue abruptly returned to the sheath at Qin Yi’s waist, all in the blink of an eye.

A heavy thud resounded.

Despite this, Qian Fu was still blasted far away by the lingering force, landing hard on the flagstones and passing out.

Qin Yi withdrew Feixue, feeling helpless. Qian Fu could risk everything to kill him, for cultivating on Mount Taiyi meant little to Qian Fu. But not so for Qin Yi—here were all the people he cared about.

Though the blow hadn't killed Qian Fu, it would be days if not weeks before Qian Fu could even get out of bed. Worse still, due to the pill he had swallowed, a careless move could snap his meridians, but that was none of Qin Yi’s concern; it wasn't he who made him take the pill.

Qin Yi turned to leave, uncaring whether Mu Fengqing announced the outcome. He didn’t believe all these disciples would turn a blind eye.

"Qin Yi, you’ve injured your fellow disciple so badly, to the point of almost destroying his meridians. I have grounds to revoke your right to participate in the martial contest."

But before his steps carried him away, Mu Fengqing’s voice rang out across the stone plaza.

Qin Yi did not turn, yet he could hear the sly tone in Mu Fengqing’s words.

Everyone present could sense Mu Fengqing’s intentions.

Qin Yi merely laughed coldly. "Go ahead! Be sure to tell everyone on Mount Taiyi about every detail of today's contest. And take all these witnesses with you—it’ll be very convincing."

Mu Fengqing squinted, the corners of his mouth curled up. "Very well! You don’t believe I’d do it, do you? Just wait for your qualification to be revoked and the punishment from the elders. I will report everything to the Discipline Hall."

Qin Yi still did not turn, but instead flew away on his sword, leaving only a chilly warning: "You’d best do it—and revoke my qualification. Otherwise, tomorrow I’ll let you taste that sword yourself."

The crowd exchanged confused looks.

Mu Fengqing sneered, about to retort.

But the only response was a chorus of boos from the plaza, some even from the disciples of the Discipline Hall who had come with him. After all, he was the head of the hall, and many had followed him here.

Mu Fengqing said no more, his face darkening as he sat back in the chair.

Returning to Cloud Soaring Island, Qin Yi’s first thought was to bathe and tidy himself up, but no sooner had he arrived than he ran into Master Zi Xuan and Zhu Chunfu. To his greater surprise, Jiang Yao was there as well.

Qin Yi felt nothing but embarrassment. Today, his dignity was utterly ruined.

On the Viewing Platform, the three watched the disheveled Qin Yi.

"Hahaha... Who’d have thought you’d end up like this! Serves you right, you arrogant brat!" Zhu Chunfu was the first to break into laughter; in truth, Qin Yi had never seen him restrain himself.

Even the usually ethereal Master Zi Xuan had a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, but he knocked Zhu Chunfu’s head, scolding, "You dare laugh? I told you to go with him and you refused. Now you have the nerve to laugh."

Zhu Chunfu rubbed his aching forehead and muttered, "Master, you were laughing too, and yet you hit me!"

Zi Xuan knocked him again and said sternly, "Are you the master now?"

Zhu Chunfu was left speechless, feeling his master as unreasonable as ever.

Zi Xuan looked at Qin Yi. "Go clean yourself up."

Jiang Yao said gently, "Let’s go."

Qin Yi felt his reputation was ruined, but he had nothing to say.

"Will you wash me?" he asked, forcing a smile as he turned to Jiang Yao, mischievous.

Jiang Yao blushed, but smiled, "I always felt uncomfortable after you saw me that time. I must even the score."

Qin Yi shrugged, but the thought made his blood race.

Unfortunately, things did not go as he wished; he never expected that he’d end up bathing with his trousers on, leaving him rather frustrated.

Still, Jiang Yao’s back-scrubbing was truly comfortable. If those who admired her knew, especially someone like Mu Fengqing, they’d no doubt come after him with a blade.

As for those who regarded Jiang Yao as a goddess, hearing of this, they’d find it unbelievable, refuse to believe it, and perhaps accuse the messenger of slander, maybe even fight them.

Much like how ordinary people cannot imagine the lives of those like Nan Shenjun.

Though they live as ordinary people, it’s beyond imagination.

Qin Yi lounged on the edge of the bath, eyes closed, smiling. "Snotty Yao, don’t you find it unpleasant to scrub my back? How about I try it for you next time?"

Jiang Yao continued her work, replying coldly, "Call me that nickname again and I’ll strike you with my sword. If you try to scrub my back now, I might not hold back."

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Qin Yi chuckled, "Wait till the day I get my turn..."

He asked, "Did those people make it to the finals today?"

Jiang Yao replied, "Junior Sister Bai advanced."

Her tone was tinged with pride.

She continued, "Wang Yuncheng also advanced, and eliminated that Li from Sword Cliff Peak, who was highly regarded. You should be careful."

Qin Yi was not surprised; if Wang Yuncheng, bearing two families' secret arts, couldn’t make it, Qin Yi would have considered him lacking.

Jiang Yao went on, "Mu Fengqing advanced too."

Qin Yi wasn’t surprised. He disliked Mu Fengqing, especially for his designs on Jiang Yao, but had to admit his talent was considerable.

Qin Yi asked, "What about Zhang Chen? Who eliminated him?"

Zhang Chen’s cultivation and combat ability were inferior, but Qin Yi had thought he might make it.

Jiang Yao replied, "He lost to Mu Fengqing, and was reportedly badly hurt."

Qin Yi opened his eyes, speaking seriously though his tone was calm, "Seems that sword must be tasted."

He was ever more determined to let Mu Fengqing suffer that sword, for Jiang Yao’s sake, and Zhang Chen’s.

Jiang Yao said blandly, "Tomorrow’s finals will be tough for you. Be prepared for the worst."

She paused, then suggested, "Perhaps I should talk to Junior Sister Bai. If she were her old self, she might not help—might even make things worse—but she still respects me."

Before she finished, Qin Yi stopped her, "No, no, when have I needed others’ help? You know I hate owing favors, except to Master and my brothers on Cloud Soaring Island, and to you. The rest, I’m still thinking how to pay them back."

Qin Yi boasted, "Besides, with my strength, I need no help. It’s just Wang Hong’s brother and a junior—piece of cake."

Jiang Yao frowned, scrubbing his back harder.

Qin Yi cried out in pain.

Jiang Yao stopped, stood, and said, "That’s enough, finish up yourself."

She turned to leave.

"Wait, help me a bit more! I haven’t had enough!" Qin Yi protested, rising from the tub.

Water splashed everywhere, but embarrassingly, his trousers, soaked and heavy, slipped off as he stood.

Just then, Jiang Yao turned, catching everything in full view.

Her face flushed crimson, and she dashed out, leaving a voice filled with shame and anger: "Qin Yi, you lecher! Don’t make me strike you!"

But she was already gone; her words carried little weight now.

Qin Yi stood naked for a while before feeling chilled, slipping back into the tub, his face full of embarrassment. He hadn’t meant it.

After a quick wash, he dressed in clean robes and stepped outside. Jiang Yao had scrubbed him well enough.

Outside, dusk had fallen. Jiang Yao sat at the wooden table beneath the courtyard tree; Master Zi Xuan and Zhu Chunfu sat there too, sipping tea.

Qin Yi joined them, settling in comfortably. Zhu Chunfu, grinning, poured him tea, eyeing Jiang Yao’s flushed cheeks and Qin Yi’s smile.

Zi Xuan said, "The finals tomorrow will be difficult. Be careful."

Qin Yi nodded, unconcerned. "What’s there to fear? I won’t lose so easily, and nothing’s likely to happen with you all here."

Zi Xuan smiled, "Don’t mind the outcome too much."

Before Qin Yi could reply, Zhu Chunfu laughed, "Master, you needn’t worry. He’s not new to this—he won’t lose, let alone get hurt."

He turned to Qin Yi, mischievous, "If you dare lose, our brothers will mock you forever."

"Zi Xuan, your disciple gravely injured mine today. How will you answer for that?"

Suddenly, a deep voice called from the far side of the Cloud River outside the island.

Qin Yi frowned, recognizing the voice.

A moment later, a flash of red light flickered over the courtyard. All four looked up to see a crimson cauldron crashing down from the sky.

Zi Xuan merely smiled, waving his hand gently. The cauldron shifted direction and settled softly in the courtyard, raising not a speck of dust.

From atop the cauldron, the round figure of Li Ding hopped down, pointing at Qin Yi and angrily addressing Zi Xuan, "Zi Xuan, your disciple ruined my disciple’s meridians. What do you propose?"

Qin Yi frowned and replied coldly, "He took a pill to force the fight—what’s that to me?"

Li Ding said, "But that pill was refined by your senior, and it was confirmed to have no side effects."

He looked at Zi Xuan, "Are you saying your third disciple’s pills are faulty?"

Zi Xuan replied calmly, "Li, let me examine your disciple."

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Li Ding waved his hand toward the Cloud River, "Bring him over."

A group of disciples in Mount Taiyi robes approached, carrying a stretcher bearing the unconscious Qian Fu, setting it before Zi Xuan.

Zi Xuan placed his fingers on Qian Fu’s wrist, frowning after a moment.

Qin Yi frowned as well.

Li Ding waved his disciples away.

He said to Zi Xuan, "Relations between Mount Taiyi and the Qian family are tense. Your disciple’s actions may not be wise."

Jiang Yao, silent until now, spoke, "Li Shishu, no need to mention the Qian family. Qian Jia Qing was killed by me. There’s nothing more to say."

Zi Xuan’s gaze became complex.

Li Ding looked shocked—a disciple killed Qian Jia Qing with a single strike. For a peak master, this was hard to accept. He also knew Jiang Yao, though improved in appearance, was still poisoned.

Li Ding said, "If things between Mount Taiyi and the Qian family are already so bad, there’s nothing more to discuss. I don’t really care about my disciple—your third disciple is still here. But I must give my juniors an explanation, or their hearts will be cold."

Zhu Chunfu laughed, "You finally remember me, the genius."

Zi Xuan glanced at Qin Yi.

Qin Yi shook his head; that sword ought not have killed Qian Fu unless the pill was faulty.

Zi Xuan looked at Zhu Chunfu, smiling slyly, "You want an explanation? Simple. Just say the pill had some issues—not fully without side effects, only showing under special circumstances. We’ll take the blame."

Zhu Chunfu’s face darkened, "Master, is this how you treat your disciples?"

Zi Xuan said sternly, "What, do you want your fifth brother to be sent away?"

Zhu Chunfu fell silent, realizing there was no arguing.

Li Ding was still dissatisfied, "No, I want your third disciple to spend some time at Jade Spirit Peak."

There it is—the fox’s tail revealed.

Zhu Chunfu’s face darkened further, "Li Shishu, really, I can visit Jade Spirit Peak from time to time."

"Fine, no problem," Zi Xuan agreed readily.

Zhu Chunfu finally lost his temper, "Master, am I still your disciple?"

Zi Xuan only smiled.

Li Ding ignored Zhu Chunfu, smiling at Zi Xuan, "Wise as always, Master. I’ll take my leave."

No sooner had he finished than he flew away atop his cauldron.

Zhu Chunfu’s face remained dark.

Zi Xuan said, "Third, don’t be afraid. It’s only for a while."

Zhu Chunfu said nothing, clearly unhappy.

Zi Xuan suddenly smiled, "Third, do you know why Li Shishu is so eager to have you over? He’s never done this before."

Zhu Chunfu, curious, asked, "Why?"

Zi Xuan smiled, "I hear he recently acquired a treasure and wants to refine a special pill. That must be why."

Mentioning treasures and pill-refining, Zhu Chunfu’s eyes sparkled.

Zi Xuan continued, "It’s for your own good. You’ll see something rare, maybe even help refine it. Afterwards, Li Shishu might give you something valuable."

Zhu Chunfu’s eyes shone.

Zi Xuan continued, "Think about it! Is there any other disciple on Mount Taiyi who could make a peak master do this? Only our exceptionally talented third."

Hearing this, Zhu Chunfu was moved almost to tears—his master hadn’t praised him like this in ages.

After a moment, Zi Xuan’s tone grew serious, "And, if you complete this task, I’ll allow you to go out and travel."

At these words, Zhu Chunfu’s joy overflowed, grabbing Zi Xuan’s hand, "Really, Master? I can go out?"

Zi Xuan smiled and nodded.

Zhu Chunfu, ecstatic, ran off, not to be seen.

Qin Yi watched him vanish, and asked curiously, "Master, you really agreed to let Senior Brother travel?"

Qin Yi knew well why Zhu Chunfu remained at Mount Taiyi, while he himself had wandered for years—it was simply Master’s concern for the third brother.

Zi Xuan shook his head, "Keeping him here forever is not a good thing."

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