Qin Yangling was so terrified that his soul nearly left his body. He immediately knelt down, his mind blank, unable to utter a single word. Why had his master suddenly appeared? From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Jiang Li Fei descending from the clouds, and suddenly, realization struck him—was it her?!
Zhengxu Zhenren saw the disheveled young girl lying at Qin Yangling’s feet, her arms twisted unnaturally—whether broken or dislocated, it was unclear. Rage surged through his heart. He had always assumed this disciple was merely flirtatious by nature, fond of dalliances with women, but who could have imagined he would attempt to violently assault a female disciple in the former residence of Qing Cheng Xian Ren?!
Just as he was about to speak with chilling severity, the sound of rushing wind echoed overhead once more. Qingle Zhenren landed hurriedly in the courtyard, and upon seeing Le Cailing’s pitiful state, she gasped sharply. Rushing forward, she gathered the girl into her arms and carefully examined her. Discovering she had merely fainted from fright and had not suffered any true violation, Qingle Zhenren immediately cast a healing net over her broken arms. Then, she turned her furious gaze to Qin Yangling. After a long moment, she looked at Zhengxu Zhenren without uttering a single word.
Zhengxu Zhenren saw the icy coldness in her eyes. Qing Yue Elder had always been gentle and kind-hearted, so her current silence spoke volumes of her fury. Though she said nothing, the weight of her gaze sent shivers down one’s spine. He knew then that this matter could no longer be overlooked or excused—Qin Yangling’s actions had gravely violated the disciples’ code of conduct.
Overwhelmed with disappointment and fury, Zhengxu Zhenren spoke calmly, “Qin Yangling, disciple of Mount Tai Mao, has violated the disciples’ code and shall be expelled from the Cloud Sea. At mao hour tomorrow, he is to report to the Discipline Hall, where thirty Discipline Elders will be summoned to deliberate on his punishment.”
Qingle Zhenren let out a cold laugh but remained silent. Cradling Le Cailing, she swiftly flew away.
Expulsion from the Cloud Sea was an exceptionally severe punishment, especially for a direct disciple who had trained for decades. Moreover, summoning thirty Discipline Elders meant the incident would spread like wildfire through No Moon Court by the next day, utterly shaming Qin Yangling.
Li Fei saw Qin Yangling’s ashen face and Zhengxu Zhenren’s barely contained rage. Guessing the master likely had more reprimands for his disciple, she immediately bowed in respect and swiftly rode the clouds back to Jade Fall Peak.
Ri Yan was seething with indignation. “To have my thoughts sullied by such a shameless wretch! No Moon Court truly declines with each generation! What worthless disciples they raise!”
Recalling the earlier events, Li Fei also felt a chill. Qin Yangling had been so brazen! His actions were likely tied to Zhengxu Zhenren’s leniency. These cultivation disciples entered academies or Immortal Sects at a young age, devoting themselves to rigorous training in Immortal Techniques. Strength in cultivation dictated everything, and talented disciples were excessively indulged. When they erred, their masters were reluctant to punish them, inevitably breeding individuals like Qin Yangling.
Noticing Ri Yan still muttering angrily, she couldn’t help but ask, “Ri Yan, did you truly know Qing Cheng Xian Ren? Is he still alive, or has he passed away?”
His unexpectedly detailed knowledge of human cultivation methods, his familiarity with Hu She Feng, and the unmistakable nostalgia in his words when speaking of Qing Cheng Xian Ren—could the two have shared a deep connection?
Ri Yan fell silent for a long while before suddenly sighing deeply. His massive form gradually dissipated into nothingness, his hoarse, aged voice now distant and unfathomable. “Even if he lives, it must be a fate worse than death. Do not disturb me—let me be for a while.”
A fate worse than death? Was it because of the grievous injuries inflicted by the Yaksa? After all these years, had they still not healed?Ri Yan never spoke again. Ever since returning from the Eastern Sea, the fox had become particularly prone to melancholy. Li Fei stood blankly on the corridor for a while, lost in thoughts of the Sea Fall incident overseas, and couldn't help but feel sorrowful too. Her mind wandered between fleeting imaginings and lamentations over her own fate, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
The thirty elders of the Discipline Hall quickly decided on Qin Yangling's punishment: banishment beneath the Cloud Sea, forbidden to return for a year. This meant that even if he won the upcoming Martial Competition Tournament and secured a spot to return, he would still have to remain below for the full year before being allowed back to Mount Tai Mao.
The punishment was neither too severe nor too lenient. It was likely that Zhengxu Zhenren had intervened to mediate. Qingle Zhenren was naturally very displeased. After Le Cailing woke up, she cried for three days straight, panicking at the sight of people and especially men. A few days prior, a male disciple had carelessly wandered near the Disciple Rooms of Purple Mist Peak, and the mere sight of him had frightened Le Cailing into fainting. The incident with Qin Yangling must have traumatized her deeply—not only from the shock but also from the sudden transformation of the gentle scholar she once admired into someone unrecognizable, filling her with terror.
Qingle Zhenren had deliberately brought Le Cailing to Jade Fall Peak. If not for Li Fei secretly sending out a wooden bird to alert the elders, Le Cailing's ordeal might have been far worse. Even though Chongyi Zhenren wasn't at Jade Fall Peak, Le Cailing still trembled with fear when she emerged, looking utterly pitiful. When she saw Li Fei, she could only bow tearfully in gratitude.
Li Fei's dislike for her softened somewhat. She whispered, "Be more careful in the future. It's fortunate nothing worse happened this time."
Le Cailing, pale-faced and tearful, replied, "There won't be a next time. I've resolved to continue cultivating the Heavenly Zither Arts and never have any dealings with men again in this lifetime."
With that, she bowed deeply to Li Fei and said softly, "Back in Chestnut Blaze Valley, I offended you many times. I was arrogant and selfish, but you, junior sister, set aside past grievances and saved my life. I will never forget this kindness. If the opportunity arises in the future, I would go through fire and water for you without hesitation."
Li Fei quickly helped her up, unable to hold back a laugh. "What 'fire and water'? It's not that serious."
Le Cailing murmured, "But that's how it's always said in the operas..."
"Operas?" Li Fei laughed even harder. Le Cailing, embarrassed, wiped her tears and smiled too. "There were a few senior brothers and sisters in Chestnut Blaze Valley as well. I should go and apologize to them properly."
Seeing how Le Cailing mentioned meeting male disciples—trembling with fear yet resolute—Li Fei couldn't help but feel a bit impressed.
Qingle Zhenren watched the two girls with a smile before suddenly asking, "Li Fei, I heard from Guangwei Zhanglao last time that Lei Xiuyuan plans to participate in this Martial Competition Tournament. Is that true?"
Li Fei nodded. "Yes, he made a duel agreement with Senior Brother Qin."
Qingle Zhenren's expression darkened at the mention of Qin Yangling. "That Qin Yangling is utterly unreasonable! Challenging a disciple who's only been here for five years! Li Fei, though I hate to say this, once Lei Xiuyuan leaves Cinnabar Cave, you should advise him. Qin Yangling is about to break through his fourth Bottleneck—he's not someone you can handle. Disciples who haven't been here for ten years aren't even required to participate in the Martial Competition Tournament. Don't let a moment of pride lead to recklessness. From what I've seen, Lei Xiuyuan has a very proud temperament and refuses to fall behind. If he loses to Qin Yangling, it could be a heavy blow to him. It's better to avoid confrontation for now."Persuade? If Lei Xiuyuan could be persuaded, he wouldn’t be Lei Xiuyuan. He had always been the type to push himself to the limit—once he committed to something, he would see it through even at the cost of his life.
Li Fei realized she hadn’t seen him in many days, and a pang of melancholy struck her. She smiled and said, “I won’t persuade him. He has his own convictions. If he accepted the challenge, he will surely win.”
Qingle Zhenren was slightly taken aback. Hearing such words from a girl of sixteen or seventeen was enough to make one reassess their relationship. This was no mere infatuation or impulsive youthful fancy.
She couldn’t help but feel a touch of emotion. Such a young, well-matched couple, childhood sweethearts—rare even in the entire cultivation world. One couldn’t help but feel happy for them.
Lei Xiuyuan had stayed in the Cinnabar Cave for over two months this time. With the Martial Competition Tournament just days away, he finally emerged leisurely—and deliberately chose the dead of night to do so. Li Fei was sound asleep when she was startled awake by the sound of snowballs hitting her window.
Groggily, she went to open the window, only for someone to leap inside without warning, startling her. A wave of bone-chilling cold followed, and she was pulled tightly into an embrace still carrying the scent of wind and snow.
“Took you so long to open the window. Trying to freeze me to death?”
The familiar, cool voice rang above her head. Li Fei gasped and looked up to see Lei Xiuyuan gazing down at her with a smile. For a moment, she was stunned, staring at him blankly. Was she… dreaming?
“Xiu Yuan?!” she exclaimed, only for him to immediately cover her mouth.
“Trying to wake your shijie and Master?” Lei Xiuyuan pulled her down to sit on the edge of the bed. Puddles of melted snow dripped from his clothes, soaking the bedding. Li Fei noticed how icy his body felt and instinctively grasped his hands—both were freezing cold. “Why are you so cold? Didn’t you use an Immortal Technique to protect yourself?”
Only then did she notice the exhaustion etched on his face. Testing his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, she was shocked to find his spiritual energy nearly depleted! How had he even flown here? Had he rushed straight from the Cinnabar Cave without stopping? The remnants of his energy couldn’t even sustain a basic protective spell!
Li Fei gripped his wrist and immediately channeled Wood Elemental Spiritual Energy into him. Lei Xiuyuan collapsed onto her bed, murmuring wearily, “Let me sleep for a while.”
Before he could finish, he was already deep in slumber.
Li Fei hurriedly draped her quilt over him and sat by the bed, studying him. After months apart, he seemed taller, his features more defined, the youthful softness in his face diminished. His sleeping expression was oddly endearing—his brow smooth and untroubled, his face innocent and serene.
Coming in the middle of the night, completely drained of spiritual energy—this was exactly the kind of reckless, bold stunt only Lei Xiuyuan would pull.
She continued pouring Wood Elemental Spiritual Energy into his meridians before quietly rising to close the window. Returning to the bedside, she found Lei Xiuyuan still asleep, though his pallor had improved. Brushing aside the stray hair fallen over his brow, she accidentally stirred him—his lashes fluttered slightly as he woke.
“Go back to sleep, it’s alright,” she whispered.
But he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her onto the bed, burying his face against her chest. Half-asleep, he murmured, “Stay like this. Don’t go.”Don’t go like this?! Li Fei lay stiffly on the bed, not daring to move a muscle. Was she supposed to lie there like a wooden doll until he woke up? Lei Xiuyuan had fallen back into a deep sleep, and Li Fei remained motionless, staring blankly past his head at the tightly shut wooden window. The sound of his slow, deep breathing filled her ears, and gradually, drowsiness crept over her—but she still didn’t dare sleep. How could she possibly share a bed with him?!
Li Fei stayed rigid for what felt like ages, her head nodding as exhaustion weighed on her, struggling to stay awake. Just as she was drifting off, she suddenly felt a hand slip into her hair, pressing against the back of her head. Then, a warm blanket was draped over her. Lei Xiuyuan shifted upward, resting his head on the pillow so they lay face to face.
He studied her for a long moment before leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead, murmuring, "Sleep. Starting tomorrow, you’ll have to call me ‘Senior Brother.’"
Li Fei’s drowsiness vanished instantly. Only now did she notice the unusual fluctuations of spiritual energy around him. A mix of joy and shock rushed through her. "You broke through the third bottleneck?"
Lei Xiuyuan chuckled, pressing her head against his chest. "Starting tomorrow, I’ll be a direct disciple. So, little junior sister—call me ‘Senior Brother.’"
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