Chapter 47: Acquaintance

Hearing Lin Fei's words, Fazhao was struck dumb, frozen as if petrified, and remained lost in thought for a long time.

The master of the West Ridge peak—likely a sword cultivator in the Void-Breaking or even the Saint Realm, a towering figure who upheld the laws of the Sword Sect—and Lin Fei had actually dared to attempt to execute his disciple right before his eyes. And when stopped, Lin Fei's only thought was... to try executing him again?

Fazhao's expression turned complicated. He sighed, "Your temperament is truly identical to that of the Sect Master back then."

"With a sword heart as clear as glass, pointing directly to the Great Dao—we sword immortals, so called by the world, have always been like this."

Lin Fei gazed at Fazhao, his eyes filled with gratification. "If you can break through this mental shackle, the Saint Realm will be within your grasp."

Fazhao looked back at him, as if silently asking whether Lin Fei truly considered himself a mighty sword immortal.

Lin Fei did not care in the least. He merely shrugged casually, as if to say that he indeed was a mighty sword immortal.

...

Just as their gazes locked and the atmosphere grew tense, Yanqiu slowly walked down from the mountain, breaking the heavy silence.

He smiled and said, "I knew the Junior Brother would need this."

A pill emanating a cyan glow flew from Yanqiu's hand, tracing a graceful arc through the air.

Lin Fei reached out, caught it, and swallowed it without a moment's hesitation. Immediately, a gentle spiritual energy rippled through his chest and abdomen, filling his entire body with vitality as if he had been reborn.

Yanqiu did not ask what had happened. He merely asked, "Junior Brother, would you like to rest for a while, or go up the mountain now?"

Lin Fei shook his head slightly and walked directly toward the solitary wooden house at the foot of the mountain. As he walked, he said, "Eldest Senior Brother, you needn't worry about me. I'll just meditate here for a moment."

Yanqiu paused, then turned to look at Fazhao.

Fazhao simply let out a soft sigh, shook his head helplessly, and turned to leave.

Lin Fei entered the wooden house, sat cross-legged, and suddenly remembering something, asked, "Can we accommodate one more person on the mountain?"

Yanqiu stood at the threshold of the wooden house and asked, "Is it that little girl named Qin Qianqian?"

Lin Fei nodded, a trace of apology in his tone. "I have some bad blood with Ning Baitao, the master of the Azure Wing Peak."

Calling it "bad blood" was a massive understatement on Lin Fei's part.

What he had with Ning Baitao went far beyond a mere grudge; he had practically snapped Ning Baitao's natal flying sword in two and nearly destroyed his cultivation realm—a truly devastating outcome.

Had it not been for this, Lin Fei, usually a man of few words, would never have made such a request.

After a moment of contemplation, Yanqiu slowly replied, "East Sound Mountain does not shelter outsiders, but she may stay temporarily until Master returns and we make a final decision."

"That works too," Lin Fei responded.

Then he asked, "What about the Azure Wing Peak?"

Yanqiu smiled faintly, his tone relaxed. "Just tell her to come over."

...

This played right into Lin Fei's hands. Seeing that Yanqiu was still standing at the doorway, he invited, "Eldest Senior Brother, care to come in and sit for a while?"

Yanqiu's expression stiffened slightly, and he quickly refused, "No, no."

Lin Fei added, "It's actually quite comfortable inside."

Yanqiu shook his head repeatedly, his tone firm. "Really, no need. Really, no need."

After exchanging a few casual remarks, Yanqiu turned and began his ascent up the mountain.

When he reached the halfway point, he looked back at the wooden house and could not help but shake his head.

Why did his Junior Brother enjoy living in a dog kennel?

It was truly beyond comprehension.

...

Yanqiu walked leisurely along the mountain path, passing by the winding stream where a golden carp suddenly leaped from the water, tracing a golden arc as if greeting him and jumping joyfully.

He stepped into the misty forest, where the surrounding fog seemed to possess a spiritual awareness, parting automatically on either side of his path to clear a smooth way for him.

Leaves drifted down through the air, seemingly guiding him forward.

When he reached the foot of the waterfall, a spiritual tortoise was leisurely basking in the sunlight. Upon seeing Yanqiu approach, it suddenly opened its eyes and let out a familiar, affectionate call.

Yanqiu continued onward until he reached the summit.

Standing on the cliff terrace, he gazed into the distance at the rolling mountains and rivers, then immersed himself in a sea of books.

The man's long hair fluttered in the wind, exuding an indescribable sense of untamed freedom and ease.

His experiences over the years were much like this ascent: whether facing churning oceans or treacherous peaks, his journey was always smooth and unimpeded. His profound fortune far exceeded anything the members of the Sword Sect could imagine.

Yet, from the moment he first stepped into the Sword Sect, no matter how the external world shifted and changed, he had always maintained an air of unhurried composure.

Lin Fei had once praised the immense spiritual fortune of this mountain, but he did not know that the spiritual tortoise and the golden carp were actually spirit beasts that Yanqiu had carefully raised since childhood.

The true fortune of East Sound Mountain was not the legendary "Asking Heaven," but Yanqiu himself.

...

East Sound Mountain was located in the most secluded corner among the four main peaks of the Sword Sect. Its remote geographical position made it seem as though it were cut off from the rest of the world.

No matter how turbulent the outside world became, this place always maintained an enduring tranquility and peace.

With the rising and setting of the sun, the rolling and unrolling of the clouds, the warmth of the sunshine, and the growth of all things, every single day on East Sound Mountain was filled with vitality and life.

However, Lin Fei had recently begun to feel a touch of boredom.

He had grown weary of the repetitive scenery day after day.

Due to the excessive exhaustion of his body, Lin Fei's arms were wrapped in thick bandages, rendering him almost entirely immobile. Like a living puppet, he could only lie quietly on the chair atop the cliff terrace every day, letting his thoughts drift far away.

No matter how mesmerizing the landscape might be, after countless repetitions, it inevitably grew insipid and dull.

Yanqiu would sometimes offer to read to Lin Fei to help pass the long hours, but Lin Fei always politely declined.

He already slept enough each day, and during his waking moments, he did not wish to be lulled back into a dream by his Eldest Senior Brother's voice.

Until one day.

Lin Fei felt as though his body had finally begun to recover slightly, and the scenery that had previously bored him gradually started to look pleasing once more.

"Lin Fei!"

A crisp, melodious voice pierced through the roar of the waterfall, echoing from below.

The voice was both familiar and faintly distant.

Lin Fei opened his eyes and directed his gaze toward the base of the waterfall. Standing there was a young girl whom he had not seen in over a year—no, she should now be called a young woman.

In the span of a single year, her once slightly chubby cheeks had thinned out, her features had become refined and translucent, and her figure had blossomed with the graceful elegance of spring willow branches.

The only thing unchanged was her signature ponytail. Once resting just against the back of her head, it now cascaded all the way down to her waist.

Xia Yi's eyes curved into two crescent moons. The moment she spotted Lin Fei, she hopped in place with excitement, then strode briskly up the stone steps beneath the waterfall.

"It seems she really has grown up."

A smile hung on Lin Fei's lips, but the very next instant, his expression abruptly froze.

Because as Xia Yi charged onto the cliff terrace, she showed no signs of slowing down; she was heading straight for him.

Based on past habits, Lin Fei knew she would undoubtedly hurl herself directly into his arms.

Yet, clearly, Xia Yi had forgotten that she was no longer that feather-light little girl, nor did she remember that Lin Fei's injuries had not yet healed and he could not withstand her impact.

Lin Fei's expression shifted drastically as he hurriedly shouted, "Stop!"

But Xia Yi seemed not to hear him. She had already leaped into the air, preparing to tackle Lin Fei.

"Oh no."

Lin Fei's heart sank. Resigned, he closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impending collision.