Chapter Thirty: Feng Qian

A fresh wave of commotion rippled through the crowd. People looked at one another, stunned to discover that this matter had actually captured the attention of that formidable figure from Nanmi Mountain.

Even more unbelievable was the fact that she had actually agreed to the request.

Lin Fei’s expression remained as calm as still water. He had sensed that unique presence from the very beginning; his intent had been to draw her out to speak for herself. Xia Yi’s identity was no trivial matter; joining as an ordinary disciple would inevitably invite a host of unnecessary troubles.

The young girl tugged secretly at the corner of Lin Fei’s robe and asked curiously, "Are you not coming with me, then?"

Before Lin Fei could answer, he was interrupted by another cold voice.

"He would like to, but does he even have the qualifications?"

The crowd erupted. With the elders of the four great peaks present, who would dare to be so insolent? Some followed the sound of the voice and then wore expressions of realization. It was Feng Qian of Xiling Mountain. Only he had the audacity to be so blunt.

In recent days, the wager between Feng Qian and Lin Fei had become a hot topic, growing more intense by the hour, to the point where even the elders had heard of it.

"May I ask... where is your sword?" Feng Qian stepped to the front of the crowd, making no effort to hide his intentions. Unlike the others present, he was the first to notice Lin Fei descending the mountain. He had been keeping a close watch on Lin Fei, so he was certain that the other man carried no sword.

No sword, naturally, meant the wager was lost.

Perhaps because the preceding events had been so bizarre, everyone else had forgotten about it, but under Feng Qian’s reminder, the gaze of everyone present converged almost simultaneously on Lin Fei’s hands. They were indeed empty.

The looks directed at him began to change; some were filled with pity, some with sighs, some with disdain, and others were brimming with mockery. In the eyes of many, Lin Fei had been arrogant to challenge Feng Qian to a bet, and his failure was entirely of his own making.

Feng Qian showed no mercy, continuing, "Forget about a sword spirit inheritance; you don’t even have a single sword. But I suppose that’s to be expected—it’s the result of your constant laziness and arrogance."

With the elders of the four great peaks nearby, along with disciples who had spent the last two years with Lin Fei, Feng Qian spoke with unrestrained audacity. Yes, he had done it on purpose. He wanted to humiliate Lin Fei in front of them all, to shatter that inexplicable pride and confidence of his once and for all.

This was his punishment for Lin Fei’s arrogance.

Yet, it was a pity that Lin Fei’s demeanor remained as detached as ever, as if those words had not stirred even the slightest ripple in his heart.

Beyond the silence in the arena, a subtle atmosphere permeated the air. Zhao Xiuyuan wore an expression of wanting to speak but holding back, for he had witnessed with his own eyes Lin Fei’s heroic feat of ascending the peak by riding his sword. Fang Zhenghua’s face was etched with confusion. Xia Yi’s gaze was the most peculiar; she looked at Feng Qian as if he were an irrational fool.

The elders of the four great peaks were of profound cultivation and soon sensed this anomaly. They cast inquisitive glances toward Lin Fei, and subsequently, their expressions began to undergo a subtle shift.

"Relying on a little cleverness and talent will not take you far in the path of the sword..." Feng Qian felt the moment was ripe and prepared to deliver his final verdict. "You should know that the Sword Sea of our Beiyou Mountain is of immense benefit to cultivation."

Before his words had faded, he was abruptly interrupted by another voice, one that sounded almost overbearing.

Gu Chuanqiong of Beiyou Mountain said to Lin Fei, "Furthermore, our Peak Master Xiao also thinks highly of you. Would you be willing to come to Beiyou Mountain and give it a try?"

Feng Qian heard this and doubted his own ears.

"The Sword Sea is fine, but it is ultimately an external object. Cultivation must rely on oneself." The second to speak was Su Yueke, who said with a beaming smile, "Since you and Xia Yi are so close, why not come to my Nanmi Mountain? Besides, our Shui Li thinks highly of you as well; it is much easier for young men and women to communicate."

Guan Shao was silent for a moment before he too spoke up: "Although you have had disputes with the disciples of my Xiling Mountain, cultivation in the sword path is paramount. If you are willing to come to Xiling Mountain, we will certainly cultivate you with all our might."

Three figures renowned within the Sword Sect had suddenly made a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn in their attitudes, acting like the enthusiastic waiters at a tavern in a mountain town. This sudden change left everyone present bewildered.

"What are you all..." Feng Qian finally regained his senses, his face full of confusion. He looked around and found most of the disciples equally dazed.

"Do you want to know the reason?" Lin Fei looked at him and, without waiting for an answer, said to himself, "Because your cultivation is too shallow, that is why you cannot see my sword."

As his words fell, a ray of white light gradually brightened between the boy’s brows. The light slowly coalesced, gradually revealing the silhouette of a small sword.

Lin Fei said faintly, "You should know what this means."

Upon seeing this, Feng Qian’s face turned pale in an instant, and for the first time, an expression of incredible shock appeared in his eyes.

A strange silence descended upon the entire arena. Although the crowd did not understand the true meaning of the sword seal, seeing Feng Qian suddenly look so utterly demoralized, they all realized that he had lost this wager completely.

"It seems you have realized that I have won," Lin Fei said. "Then, according to the agreement, you must grant me one request."

Feng Qian was filled with reluctance, but he clenched his fists and said in a low voice, "Speak."

Lin Fei looked at him and stepped forward, his footsteps sounding unusually clear in the silence. The surrounding crowd held their breath in unison, staring intently, waiting for what was about to happen.

What exactly did he want to do?

Feng Qian was not only the personal disciple of the Xiling Mountain Peak Master but also held a position in the Law Enforcement Hall. Did Lin Fei really dare to lay a hand on him in public?

For some reason, the elders of the four great peaks, who should have had the qualifications and power to intervene, did not say a word.

Lin Fei walked up to Feng Qian and stopped. He reached out his hand.

Feng Qian held his head high and closed his eyes, looking as though he were at his mercy yet without a shred of fear.

Suddenly, Feng Qian felt the weight on his head lighten. He opened his eyes in confusion, only to see that his headpiece had fallen into the other man’s hand.

Lin Fei scrutinized him carefully, as if contemplating something, then said slowly, "No wonder I always felt something was wrong with you; it turns out it was this headpiece."

The boy continued, "Although I still don’t find you very pleasing to the eye, you look much better than before."

Lin Fei patted Feng Qian on the shoulder and said with a serious tone, "Don’t wear this headpiece again in the future; you look more comfortable this way."

Feng Qian’s expression became incredibly complex—alternating between pale and flushed, a truly spectacular sight to behold.