The next day, the weather cleared, with wisps of clouds drifting across the spring sky.
The streets remained unusually quiet, rainwater reflecting the cloud-filtered sunlight while fallen leaves floated upon it, creating a scene of profound solitude.
When immortals fight, lesser beings suffer. With Ji Chen arriving with such formidable presence, ordinary folk dared not venture out lightly.
Not only the Ji Family, but the entire city was cautiously awaiting the Awakening of Insects.
After that, regardless of who emerged victorious, life would eventually return to normal.
Song Qianji and Ji Chen returned to the Phoenix Immortal Pavilion.
Surprisingly, the pavilion had been completely renovated and reopened for business.
A new group of patrons filled the establishment, chatting and laughing as if last night's deadly confrontation had never occurred.
Song Qianji sat by the window, gazing down at the empty streets: "Did you deliberately spread the news to keep uninvolved people away?"
Ji Chen laughed: "Brother Song overthinking it! I simply have a notorious reputation - people naturally fear me!"
Song Qianji noticed Ji Chen's attitude toward him had genuinely improved, addressing him as "Brother Song" with every sentence, his smile radiating innocent enthusiasm, just like back in Thousand Canals.
Yet Ji Chen didn't truly trust him. What purpose did this performance serve?
"Bring us some peanuts, melon seeds, dried fruits, and preserves. Also a pot of premium White Chrysanthemum Tea and a plate of freshly steamed Five-Colored Phoenix Cakes." Ji Chen called to the waiter while telling Song Qianji, "Since it's your first visit, Brother Song should try White Phoenix County's specialty tea snacks."
"I've heard White Phoenix County is expensive. Are you treating?" Song Qianji asked.
"Someone else is paying - no need for me to cover it." Ji Chen chuckled.
After they placed their order, other patrons began ordering tea and snacks. No one drank alcohol, transforming the Phoenix Immortal Pavilion from a wine house into a tea parlor.
Patrons sat around square tables sipping tea, cracking melon seeds and eating peanuts, the atmosphere refined and tranquil.
Song Qianji scanned the surroundings: "No killing intent."
"Today's visitors are only here to watch me." Ji Chen said, "If I didn't show up, the Ji Family would have to search the entire city for me. Might as well come drink some tea."
As they spoke, the tea and snacks arrived.
White Phoenix County customarily used celadon tea bowls with wide rims. The tea appeared pale, topped with a layer of fine white tea foam.
"Your tea, honored guest." The serving waiter smiled warmly.
Ji Chen raised his cup for a sip, sighing contentedly: "You probably didn't expect, Brother Song, that White Chrysanthemum Tea contains no actual chrysanthemums - the tea foam simply resembles chrysanthemum petals unfolding."
Song Qianji looked down. The chrysanthemum-shaped tea foam swirled and transformed, coalescing into a clear pattern floating in the celadon bowl.
It resembled a captivating peach blossom piercing the cerulean void.
Song Qianji's heart stirred slightly.
Sitting close to Ji Chen - a Grand Formation Master sensitive to spatial Spirit Qi fluctuations - any cultivator's message transmission would inevitably disturb the spiritual energy.
This mortal tea master's technique required no manipulation of Spirit Qi.
Even with Ji Chen sitting opposite him, differing angles and lighting prevented him from seeing the pattern in Song Qianji's bowl.
Such meticulous planning, such clever methods.
His sudden appearance and involvement in this situation would undoubtedly reach the Ji Family's ears.
If they took no action and made no contact, that would be truly strange.
As Song Qianji raised his cup, the intricate tea foam dissipated completely, leaving no trace.
"Where can one see peach blossoms in White Phoenix County during spring?" Song Qianji asked.
"Only one place in all White Phoenix County blooms with peach flowers." Ji Chen said leisurely, "Peach Blossom Creek, ten li south of the city."
Song Qianji suddenly declared: "I need to buy something."
"Why tell me you're going shopping?" Ji Chen wondered, "Are you buying something for me?""To spend your money," Song Qianji said honestly. "I'm broke."
...
After nightfall, Song Qianji did not return to the Ji Family's abandoned garden with Ji Chen.
He came alone to Peach Blossom Creek, carrying three memory jades.
Memory jades were expensive yet widely available, sold in major shops across the Four Continents.
Having depleted his funds collecting materials for sword forging, he had to borrow money from Ji Chen to purchase these.
He then simply modified them, polishing them into small jade pieces embedded in his sword hilt and belt.
Hoping they would prove useful tonight, Song Qianji thought as he entered the stone pavilion and sat down.
Tea and snacks were already prepared on the stone table—identical to the daytime specialties of White Phoenix County: white chrysanthemum tea and phoenix cakes.
Song Qianji called out loudly, "Song Qianji has arrived. Please show yourself."
Another voice responded as if prepared long ago:
"Fellow Daoist Song, our first meeting. I am Ji Guang, current head of the Ji Family."
A man emerged through the peach blossoms. Dressed in white brocade robes with a jade crown, he waved a folding fan as he greeted Song Qianji courteously.
His features bore some resemblance to Ji Chen's, but his demeanor was dignified like a refined young master. Only upon closer inspection could one detect the arrogance and unease in his eyes.
Song Qianji thought for a moment and said, "It's you."
He had seen this man at Huawel Sect before.
Back then, the man had been rendered speechless by Song Qianji's retorts, trembling behind his father. Yet in his previous life, he'd still become family head.
Ji Guang sat upright, brushing fallen petals from his robes. "Peach Blossom Creek is remote and deserted. I came personally to demonstrate my sincerity!"
Song Qianji maintained a polite attitude. "I appreciate your trouble, Family Head Ji."
"Since you're willing to come, Fellow Daoist, there's room for discussion. Let's speak plainly—why have you come to White Phoenix County?"
Song Qianji said, "I originally came to White Phoenix Mountain seeking a specific artifact fire to refine my lifebound magical artifact. But halfway here..."
He trailed off, seeming somewhat troubled.
Ji Guang smiled. "Did you accept a commission to protect Ji Chen?"
Ji Chen shouldn't have any surviving friends or relatives. Who could possibly hire Song Qianji?
"No." Song Qianji shook his head.
"Then could it be..." Ji Guang exclaimed in surprise.
"Gain his trust, then kill him!"
"Destroying both body and spirit!" Ji Guang drew a sharp breath. "Who hates him that much?"
"He offended too many people while competing for the Formation Master inheritance, as you well know." Song Qianji appeared vexed.
Ji Guang frowned, suspicion in his eyes.
Suddenly, Song Qianji made his move—tossing his sword onto the stone table with the hilt toward Ji Guang and the blade pointing at himself.
He declared, "I never part with my sword, but tonight I'll set it aside. Let us speak with complete honesty."
"Glad to help share your burdens." Ji Guang's confidence surged immediately. He cupped his hands, suppressing barely detectable delight, though he remained cautious and probed, "How far have you progressed, Fellow Daoist? Do you need my assistance?"
If the other claimed the matter was mostly settled and requested help at a specific time and place, it would surely be a trap to lure him into Ji Chen's formations.
"Killing is easy, but gaining trust is hard! Especially since I've had no prior connection with this Ji Chen! What progress can there be?" Song Qianji said angrily.
Ji Guang nodded inwardly. He had investigated thoroughly—no one had heard of any past association between Song Qianji and Ji Chen or Ji Xing.
Things seemed to make sense now.
Song Qianji hinted, "If I could learn more about his past, it might help me. If this deal succeeds, ten million spirit stones—we split seventy-thirty."
Ji Guang laughed inwardly. No matter how powerful Song Qianji's Solitary Light Sword techniques were, rogue cultivators would always be short-sighted.How could it compare to having the backing of family resources?
"What's so difficult about that? Fellow Daoist, don't worry. Do you know why I chose Peach Blossom Creek as our meeting place tonight?"
The peach grove surrounding them was dense, and the sound of falling blossoms in the night was unusually clear, like a light drizzle.
"Why?" Song Qianji played along.
"Because Ji Chen would never come here. Ji Xing died at Peach Blossom Creek—he refuses to set foot here for the rest of his life!" Ji Guang's tone even carried a hint of pride.
He wasn't facing an upright gentleman of the righteous path, but a Rogue Cultivator with a fearsome reputation, rumored to stop at nothing.
The other's hands were stained with more blood, no cleaner than his own.
"Go on." Song Qianji seemed quite interested, proactively leaning forward to pour tea for the other.
His cold gaze reflected in the tea broth.
Ji Guang threw his head back and drank the tea, clearly enjoying the treatment.
The further Song Qianji listened, the calmer his expression became, as if devoid of any emotion.
The moon reached its zenith, and all that needed to be said had been said.
Ji Guang escorted Song Qianji out of the stone pavilion: "Looking forward to our next meeting."
Song Qianji gave Ji Guang a deep look: "Until next time."
He took his sword with him.
...
"Brother Song is back?" Ji Chen was reclining on a soft couch, feigning sleep with his eyes closed.
Song Qianji, who was in the middle of climbing over the wall, paused and grunted in response.
"Who did Brother Song go to see?" Ji Chen asked. "You reek of peach blossoms."
Song Qianji sighed helplessly: "You've already guessed, so why ask?"
He hadn't told Ji Chen in advance about meeting Ji Guang, and he didn't know what Ji Chen might be thinking now.
Would he think he was a spy sent by the enemy, or that he'd been bribed by them?
But to reveal the truth, he could only act and coax—using force was out of the question, lest people think it was a forced confession.
Song Qianji simply climbed back over the wall: "I have matters to attend to, I'm leaving."
Everything would become clear tomorrow morning—no need to explain too much now.
Ji Chen watched Song Qianji's retreating figure disappear and sighed with slight regret: "Why didn't you jump down? The trap was already set."
...
Two days before the night of Jingzhe, a major event occurred in White Phoenix County.
This event was so shocking that it stunned the entire Cultivation World.
The weather was pleasant that day—light clouds, gentle breeze, and clear sunlight.
The streets were still empty, with cultivators from various factions waiting for tea in Phoenix Immortal Pavilion, appearing harmonious at first glance.
Suddenly, Ji Guang's voice rang out through the streets:
"Originally, Ji Chen wasn't useless. It was my father who tricked him into studying Talismans, making him fail to learn anything for eight years."
"Ji Xing was young and ignorant back then. Just threaten her with her brother's future and life, and she'd obediently drink the poison herself. No medical cultivator could ever detect it..."
"This isn't my fault either. The Cultivation World follows the law of the jungle—blame them for being too stupid themselves. The family has developed quite well under my leadership all these years, hasn't it?"
Everyone rushed to the windows, where Ji Guang's phantom image actually appeared in the air outside.
Ji Guang waved a folding fan, his expression venomous and gloomy, completely lacking his usual dignified patriarch demeanor.
"Look! Someone's playing a Memory Jade!"
"Could it be fake?"
"Nothing fake could be this clear—you can even see his pores!"
The entire hall was first horrified, then erupted in uproar.
Some people rushed into the streets and found another Memory Jade hanging over the city gate.
Yet another was conspicuously displayed right in front of the Ji Family mansion.
The Memory Jades were quickly located by the Ji Family and smashed to pieces.
But the news had already spread, and some cultivators who enjoyed watching the excitement used new Memory Jades to copy the content.“We cultivators from family backgrounds, who among us doesn’t have parents, siblings, and relatives? How could our own clan produce such scum and—”
“Acting like one happy family on the surface, while scheming for wealth and lives behind closed doors! What vicious hearts!”
“We’d be less than human if we didn’t avenge this! It’s only right for Ji Chen to seek revenge!”
By the time Ji Chen woke and stepped outside, he noticed people no longer feared him as he walked through the streets.
The crowd was swept up in emotions of sympathy, shame, and even shared indignation.
Someone shouted to him, “Young Master Ji, we support you!”
Ji Chen was stunned, muttering to himself, “Has the world gone mad, or have I finally lost my mind completely?”
It wasn’t until he reached the entrance of Phoenix Immortal Pavilion that he encountered Song Qianji.
Song Qianji stood in the pale morning light of spring, a faint smile on his face:
“Ji Guang and his son, along with their lackeys, are indeed despicable. But some in the Ji Family were unaware—the ignorant shouldn’t be blamed. Must you kill every last one?”
Ji Chen stared blankly for a moment before retorting, “So it was your doing. Who asked you to interfere?” He snorted coldly, his expression darkening. “Don’t expect any thanks from me.”
“Fine, no thanks needed.” Song Qianji turned to leave.
Ji Chen tugged at his sleeve. “Come with me.”
“Where to?”
Ji Chen didn’t answer directly. “I’ll take you somewhere.”
As if on a spring outing, the two wandered leisurely beyond the White Phoenix City walls.
The place Ji Chen led him to wasn’t far—a serene spot with clear streams and lush hills.
Song Qianji climbed to a vantage point and gazed into the distance, where a haze of crimson bloomed across the opposite slope.
This hill faced directly toward Peach Blossom Creek.
Now, with peach blossoms in full bloom, spring’s radiance was dazzling.
Not being amidst those hills made their beauty all the more striking.
Ji Chen dispelled the arrays and concealment spells. Suddenly, the ground beneath Song Qianji seemed to shift, revealing an ancient locust tree and a small earthen mound.
Ji Chen crouched, patting the mound gently. “I’d like to speak with my sister alone first. I’ll call you over in a bit.”
“Of course.” Song Qianji stepped away, quietly admiring the peach blossoms across the creek.
The spring breeze carried Ji Chen’s voice, faint and distant as if from another lifetime:
“Xiao Xing, do you remember Song Qianji from Hua Wei City back then? He’s quite capable now—he even came to rescue me.”
Song Qianji felt somewhat awkward; he hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.
But Ji Chen’s enunciation was clear, and Song Qianji’s senses, honed beyond those of ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivators—especially his hearing—picked up every word.
He listened quietly for a while as Ji Chen praised him, about to retreat further when the tone abruptly shifted:
“But the vengeance that’s due must be taken by my own hand. Once it’s done, I’ll find a way to set up an array and burn him, sending him down to keep you company.”
Song Qianji turned his head, his smile stiffening.
Wait, burn who?
If I recall correctly, I just helped you!
Ji Chen patted the small mound as if stroking a young girl’s forehead.
In the wind and mist, paper money burned like shattered butterflies dancing in flames.
“If you’re not satisfied with him, it’s alright—send me a dream, and I’ll burn a new one for you next year.”
“But the Cultivation World has been in a slump lately—no truly impressive figures have emerged. The young are too green, the old too decrepit. Ziye Wenshu died too early; this ‘Hundred Battles Undefeated’ Song Qianji is already a rare find.”
“All those so-called heroes at Phoenix Immortal Pavilion, with their fancy titles like ‘Spring Rain Sword,’ ‘Flowing Cloud Chain,’ and ‘Ghost Head Blade’—none can withstand a single strike from Song Qianji. With a fierce man like him by your side down there, no ghost would dare bully you!”
Song Qianji’s face turned ashen.
Thanks for the compliment! Thanks to you and your whole family!Ji Chen continued, "See how boring the world has become since you left? Don't feel too bad—you haven't missed much..."
But Song Qianji was no longer listening. He grabbed his sword hilt and charged straight toward the grave mound.
If he didn't beat Ji Chen until peach blossoms bloomed all over his face today, he'd never understand why the flowers I planted were so brilliantly red.
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