Chapter 48: The Junior Brother Is Too Idle

The next second.

The expected impact did not arrive, nor did he feel any pain.

Lin Fei opened his eyes with a trace of surprise.

He saw Xia Yi’s figure frozen mid-air, as if held in place by some mysterious force.

Lu Shuli’s figure appeared behind her. It turned out that she had reached out in the nick of time, firmly grabbing the little girl’s ponytail just a second before Xia Yi could crash into Lin Fei with the momentum of a fierce tiger.

Lin Fei remained silent for a moment, then, with a complicated expression, said softly, "Thank you for saving my life."

...

"Lin Fei! I encountered a huge horned dragon inside the mountain belly just now! But it was too timid; the moment I lunged at it, it got so scared it ran straight away!"

"I got lost in the forest for a very, very long time before I finally managed to find my way out."

"And just now, beneath the waterfall, there was an exceptionally large turtle. It actually glanced at me."

Having not seen each other for over a year, Xia Yi crouched beside Lin Fei, chirping like a cheerful little bird as she recounted her adventures.

Lin Fei closed his eyes and said nothing, quietly listening.

Everything seemed to have returned to the past.

The surrounding air also seemed to grow harmonious, carrying an indescribable peace and tranquility.

After a long silence, Lin Fei finally opened his eyes and gently tapped Xia Yi on the head.

Then, his gaze shifted to the white-robed woman sitting quietly in the distance.

Lu Shuli said softly, "When Junior Grandmaster learned that you were injured, she kept fussing about coming to see you, so I brought her along."

Lin Fei pondered for a moment, only then realizing that the "Junior Grandmaster" Lu Shuli referred to was none other than Xia Yi.

"These days, the outside world is filled with songs of your deeds. You are the most famous figure in the Sword Sect now."

Lu Shuli’s gaze fell upon Lin Fei’s hands, a hint of surprise in her tone: "But I didn't expect your injuries to be this severe."

Lin Fei did not reply, merely listening quietly.

Of course he knew how severe his injuries were.

Had it not been for his exceptionally vast sea of Qi and his unique physique, he might have passed out long ago during the battles in the Hundred-Battle Realm.

Lu Shuli remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I was in closed-door cultivation at the time. By the time I came out, everything was already settled. Otherwise, I would have gone to Qingyi Peak myself."

Lu Shuli did not state the purpose of her visit, but Lin Fei had already guessed it.

As it turned out, she had come to apologize.

A trace of puzzlement tinted Lin Fei’s tone: "What does any of this have to do with you?"

Lu Shuli shifted her gaze to Xia Yi and gently shook her head, "No, it has everything to do with me."

Lin Fei said, "She is merely an ignorant little girl."

"I am nothing of the sort!" Xia Yi puffed out her chest, akimbo, and retorted with utter unconvinced defiance, "I am already fully grown!"

However, her words seemed to go unnoticed by the two of them, being completely ignored.

Lu Shuli gazed at Lin Fei, a trace of apprehension in her tone: "Ning Baitao is the nephew of Cui Lianyun from Xiling Mountain. Acting the way you did will likely bring you trouble in the future."

Lin Fei nodded slightly, his tone calm: "I understand."

Lu Shuli’s surprise deepened: "You truly understand?"

Lin Fei closed his eyes, his voice low: "I always enjoy pondering things in my spare time, and such obvious matters are not difficult to foresee. The reason Qingyi Peak could act so recklessly and even direct Ning Baitao is not hard to fathom."

Lu Shuli fell silent for a moment, her eyes filled with confusion: "Yet you still chose to do it. Why?"

Lin Fei’s voice was firm and resolute: "In my eyes, there is only victory and defeat, never ability versus inability. I firmly believe that anything comes down to the difference of a single sword strike, even if Cui Lianyun stands behind him, or anyone else for that matter."

He paused briefly before continuing, "Likewise, if he offends me, no matter the circumstance, I require only a single sword. Whether or not to draw the sword is my choice; but once the sword is drawn, life or death becomes his destiny."

Though Lin Fei’s words were somewhat elusive, Lu Shuli still grasped their core meaning: "Is this your Sword Dao?"

Lin Fei answered indifferently, "This is the Grand Dao of all sword immortals."

Lu Shuli’s eyebrows arched slightly, a hint of challenge in her tone: "Is this your personal view?"

Lin Fei gave no answer, merely raising his head to gaze at the sky in silence.

...

During these days, Dongming Mountain had once again regained its long-lost vitality.

Numerous figures arrived in succession.

Zhao Xiuquan walked with steady steps to the cliff terrace, claiming to represent Beiyou Mountain and coming specifically to pay a visit.

Having not seen him for over a year, Zhao Xiuquan’s physique had grown even more robust, and his temperament had become much calmer and more steady, making him a completely different person from before.

Only his breathing remained slightly disordered, a result of being the most severely injured person up on Qingyi Peak.

Aside from the disparity in cultivation realms, the primary reason was that Fang Zhenghua originated from Xiling Mountain and it was inconvenient for him to strike, while Xia Yi was the Junior Master of Nanmi Mountain.

In comparison, Zhao Xiuquan’s background was the weakest, making him the most suitable target for retaliation.

Another round of casual conversation followed.

As they parted ways, Lin Fei casually handed a sword manual to Zhao Xiuquan.

The instant Zhao Xiuquan caught a glimpse of the cover of the sword manual, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly shook his head in refusal.

"Just something to practice with in your spare time."

Lin Fei leaned lazily against the back of his chair, speaking in a relaxed tone, "If you feel it is inappropriate, simply do not practice it."

Zhao Xiuquan’s expression shifted between hesitation and struggle, and finally, he simply bowed deeply to Lin Fei to express his gratitude.

"Though Beiyou Mountain has not produced any exceptionally talented disciples over the years, it always manages to give rise to figures capable of contending with those so-called geniuses at critical moments."

Senior Brother Yan Qiu had appeared on the cliff terrace at some point, watching Zhao Xiuquan’s departing figure as he remarked with emotion, "Like Di Yuan, and like him, both can be described as ‘late bloomers.’ Peak Master Xiao You’s eye for selecting disciples is unmatched across the entire Sword Sect."

Lin Fei’s curiosity was piqued, and he asked, "In Senior Brother’s opinion, between Zhao Xiuquan and Fang Zhenghua, who will achieve greater things in the future?"

Yan Qiu shook his head, a flash of profound depth in his eyes: "Hard to predict, but looking toward the future, I favor Zhao Xiuquan slightly more."

"I hold a different view. Shall we place a wager?"

It seemed the youngest junior brother had indeed been far too idle lately.

Yan Qiu refused with a smile, "No wager."

Lin Fei rolled his eyes in boredom and shook his head.

Right at that moment, at the foot of the Sword Sect mountain, Zhao Xiuquan tightly grasped the sword manual, his expression a mix of joy and anxiety.

Suddenly, he brushed past a passerby.

He caught a glimpse of that person’s face.

Instantly, a look of incredulous shock surfaced on his face.