Chapter 22: None of Your Business

The Enforcement Hall is responsible for upholding the rules and regulations of the Sword Sect. In recent years, as the older generation of elders and deacons has retreated from public view, the balance of power has gradually shifted toward the younger generation. Among these young power-wielders, Feng Qian is undoubtedly the most prominent.

The surrounding disciples witnessed the scene, whispering to one another with varied expressions on their faces. Lin Fei watched Feng Qian’s arrogant posture; though he found it tedious, he could not help but feel a twinge of displeasure. He remained seated while the other stood, and that condescending attitude irked him. It had been a long time since anyone dared to speak to him in such a manner. In the past, he would have severed that arrogance with a single strike of his sword. Even now, he possessed absolute confidence that he could easily defeat his opponent, whether it was Feng Qian or anyone else. However, taking action would only invite trouble, so he chose to endure.

Feng Qian, unaware of Lin Fei’s internal thoughts, assumed he was merely intimidated by the reputation of the Enforcement Hall. His disdain deepened as he said coldly, "I don't care how you managed to deceive Senior Sister Lu into trusting you, but do you truly believe that with your current state, you could obtain the inheritance of a Sword Spirit?"

Lin Fei nodded, his tone calm: "I can."

Feng Qian was so irritated by the reply that he nearly laughed aloud. He mocked, "By relying on that chicken leg in your hand?"

Lin Fei pondered for a moment and answered with genuine seriousness: "That could work, too."

His response caused the surrounding disciples to stifle laughter, while Feng Qian’s expression grew even darker. A burst of exaggerated laughter erupted from the crowd—a mix of genuine amusement and lingering dissatisfaction with Feng Qian’s haughty demeanor.

"Since when is the Enforcement Hall in charge of supervising the disciples' cultivation instead of laws and regulations? This is getting more and more interesting," a slightly teasing voice rang out, breaking the silence.

The crowd turned to see that Ye Xianghan, who had previously departed, had returned to the foot of the mountain.

Feng Qian remained cold and replied in a deep voice, "Such a slothful person is truly a disgrace to our Sword Sect."

Ye Xianghan sneered in return, "And what the hell does that have to do with you?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. The onlookers gasped, shocked that this Uncle-Master from Nanmi Mountain, usually known for her cold and haughty exterior, possessed such a fiery temper—and that she would resort to cursing directly. Of course, as an Uncle-Master, she certainly had the seniority and the right to do so.

Feng Qian’s face turned livid. He offered no response, merely glared at Lin Fei before turning on his heel and leaving.

Lin Fei emerged from behind Ye Xianghan like a ghost, cradling the young fox. He flashed a brilliant smile at her, as if awaiting praise. Ye Xianghan ruffled his hair and handed him a freshly roasted chicken, her gaze then shifting to the retreating back of Feng Qian.

Lin Fei was never a man of good temper. He found the high-ranking cap on Feng Qian’s head to be an eyesore, bobbing about like a mallet. Thus, he suddenly spoke up: "Wait."

The man ahead stopped and turned to face him.

"How about a wager?" Lin Fei proposed.

Feng Qian said coldly: "Speak."

Lin Fei stood up, brushed the dust from his clothes, and said in a relaxed tone: "If I obtain an ancient sword, you will grant me one request. If I fail... well, I shall be at your disposal."

Feng Qian’s tone remained devoid of warmth: "It must be an ancient sword with a Sword Spirit inheritance."

Lin Fei arched an eyebrow, answering with confidence: "No problem."

Feng Qian’s figure vanished into the night, but a great stir rippled through the crowd. All eyes turned to Lin Fei, filled with skepticism and confusion. A journey into the Sword Tomb was not only a test of strength but also a matter of destiny; both were indispensable. Was Lin Fei truly that confident in obtaining a Sword Spirit’s inheritance? What could he possibly gain from such a wager?

Lin Fei watched the direction in which Feng Qian had departed, his expression as calm as water. Ye Xianghan, however, wore an expression of admiration. She understood better than the others what it meant to remain on the Sword Tomb mountain for half a day without suffering any harm. In a sense, Lin Fei was undoubtedly a true genius of the sword.

Lin Fei turned to her and suddenly asked, "Uncle-Master Ye, do you have high hopes for me?"

Regardless of Feng Qian’s arrogance, the fact that Ye Xianghan was willing to offend Xiling Mountain to protect Lin Fei suggested something far deeper than mere expectations.

Ye Xianghan understood his meaning and smiled: "Before Xia Yi came to find me, someone had already asked me to look after you."

Lin Fei was silent for a moment before saying, "Lu Shui-li?"

Ye Xianghan corrected him with a smile: "You should call her Senior Sister Lu now."

Lin Fei said nothing more, but a glimmer of realization crossed his eyes. He thought to himself that the little girl was more thoughtful than he had imagined, having anticipated that Feng Qian would come to cause him trouble.

It was precisely because of Lu Shui-li’s request that Ye Xianghan had displayed such a firm stance.

"I have never seen Shui-li take the initiative to ask for help for a man before," Ye Xianghan said, gently patting Lin Fei on the shoulder with a note of encouragement. "You must do your best!"

Lin Fei looked at Ye Xianghan, a look of confusion on his face. Do his best? What did he need to do his best for?

Time passed like a white horse galloping past a crack in the wall, fleeting and swift. The effects of the sword pressure training began to manifest; the disciples' stamina had improved significantly, and the number of steps they could climb continued to grow.

Lin Fei, as expected, remained the laziest of all the disciples. Even the exceptionally talented Xia Yi would take the young fox to the mountain for training during her spare time, while Lin Fei had not cast a single glance toward the mountain since the first day.

During this time, news arrived from the outer sect. A young girl named Qin Qianqian, previously of mediocre talent, had suddenly seen her cultivation skyrocket as if she had been enlightened, and her comprehension of the sword path drew praise even from the deacons. It seemed she would soon break through to the Mortal Realm and officially enter the inner sect.

Another piece of interesting news was that the caretaker of Tianya Peak was lamenting in despair, scolding the disciples who often practiced at the summit. The reason was that several branches of his carefully tended glazed wood tree had been snapped by someone, leaving the tree mangled and severely marring its beauty.

In the day-to-day cultivation life of the Sword Sect, Lin Fei’s hobby of fishing became a minor topic of conversation, adding a touch of amusement to their otherwise monotonous lives. However, these idle talks did not truly distract them from their focus on cultivation.

Recently, Lin Fei seemed to have developed a particular fondness for fishing. By the stream south of the Sword Tomb, he would often wear a straw hat, prop his fishing rod casually to the side, and lounge on the grass, enjoying the tranquility of the afternoon. For such behavior from Lin Fei, the others were long accustomed to it and were no longer surprised.