Chapter Seventeen: Master and Disciple

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After returning from the sect’s main hall, Mo Zhanpeng strode into his residence and bellowed angrily, “Kneel!”

Qi Fei, though still young and impulsive, understood well that he had violated the sect’s rules and disobeyed his master’s orders—a grave disrespect toward his teacher. Moreover, Mo Zhanpeng had just risked open confrontation with Huo Zhongmou in the main hall for his sake. Remembering this, Qi Fei knelt down without hesitation.

Mo Zhanpeng, his anger unabated, sat and took a sip of tea before speaking through gritted teeth, “Today, I gave you the command token and ordered you to capture that scoundrel. I specifically told you not to take his life, yet you dared defy my orders? If that villain were not so wicked that even death was too kind, and if it were not for the sect leader’s leniency, I would have killed you myself!”

Qi Fei slowly raised his head, his expression steady. “Master, do you know why I disregarded your command and slew that evildoer?”

Mo Zhanpeng was momentarily stunned, then let out a furious laugh. “Well, well! So you think you’re justified? Tell me, then, why you ignored my orders and killed Ma Deyuan.”

With a calm confidence, Qi Fei replied, “Though I only returned to the sect last night, I had already gathered much information. Now, our Danxia Sect is being suppressed by both the Xuan Zhen Temple and the Seven Absolutes Sect; the situation is dire. I was sent to apprehend Ma Deyuan, but unexpectedly, in his panic, Ma Zhong dragged Elder Huo into the matter. The outer disciples were already in a fervor, and I feared the situation would spiral out of control, igniting internal strife within the sect. So, I executed Ma Deyuan with decisive force to quell the public outrage.”

Mo Zhanpeng sneered, unwilling to believe Qi Fei’s arguments. “So by your reasoning, not only should the sect refrain from punishing you, but you deserve a reward?”

“I would not presume so,” Qi Fei answered.

Mo Zhanpeng’s tone grew grave. “Do you realize how dangerous today was? If not for the sect leader and the elders considering the great merit you brought by presenting the Essence Gathering Pill, how could you have escaped punishment?”

Recalling how his master had defended him in the main hall, Qi Fei was moved. “Master’s kindness, I will never forget. But if I had not personally ended that villain, how could I ever face my friend who died with regret, in the afterlife?”

Mo Zhanpeng sighed deeply and shook his head. “You certainly distinguish between gratitude and enmity, but do you understand how perilous the Cliff of Reflection is?”

Qi Fei nodded. “I heard of the Cliff of Reflection while still in the outer sect. They say disciples who commit grave but not capital offenses are confined there to meditate on their mistakes. Since I have broken the sect’s rules, this is an opportunity to focus on my cultivation.”

“The Cliff of Reflection is spoken of with dread by every disciple,” Mo Zhanpeng cautioned. “Its dangers are beyond your imagination. To cultivate there in peace is far from easy!”

Qi Fei, puzzled, asked, “The cliff is guarded by the elders’ arcane wards. If I simply focus on cultivation and do not disturb the wards, what danger is there?”

Mo Zhanpeng replied solemnly, “I have taught you before: the most crucial aspect of martial cultivation is a resolute heart. The Cliff of Reflection is shrouded in eternal darkness. Over time, how will you maintain your composure? Over the centuries, numerous disciples have succumbed to the despair and solitude there, perishing within those wards. Furthermore, Huo Zhongmou bears you a grudge; the wards he set are not so easily overcome.”

Qi Fei’s face grew thoughtful, then he declared resolutely, “To have killed Ma Deyuan with my own hands, I have no regrets, even if it costs me my life.”

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“So be it. There is no need for you to seek out Yifan to practice the Qi Absorption Technique. For the next few days, I will personally instruct you in the art of condensing energy into spirit.”

Recalling the Bloodshadow Lord’s earlier advice, Qi Fei reflected that the path of cultivation was fraught with peril and allowed no carelessness. Now that his master was guiding him, mastering the Martial Spirit did not seem so daunting.

After expressing his gratitude, Qi Fei followed Mo Zhanpeng to a vast secret chamber.

The chamber was about forty feet high, its doors forged from solid steel several inches thick, splitting in the middle. In this spacious room, Qi Fei could sense the flow of spiritual energy in the air, likely due to an array set to gather spiritual power.

Mo Zhanpeng instructed Qi Fei to open the Qi Absorption Technique manual and imparted the cultivation essentials to him, word by word.

Previously, the Bloodshadow Lord had taught Qi Fei some cultivation methods in a hurry in the mountain valley. Now, under Mo Zhanpeng’s careful guidance, Qi Fei comprehended the martial arts principles’ subtleties and began to understand some of the mysteries he had encountered while practicing the Profound Heaven Heart Sutra.

Though the Profound Heaven Heart Sutra that Qi Fei possessed far surpassed Danxia Sect’s breathing and meditation techniques, he was still a novice in martial cultivation. With Mo Zhanpeng’s guidance, he gained much from this experience.

While Mo Zhanpeng and Qi Fei trained in the chamber, the sect leader, Lu Qingxuan, was also in a secret room, having summoned his trusted disciple, Zhao Jin’an.

Lu Qingxuan, setting aside any airs of a sect master, asked anxiously as soon as Zhao Jin’an entered, “Have you made any progress on the task I gave you?”

Zhao Jin’an bowed his head and replied, “Last night, while Qi Fei was bathing, I secretly checked his discarded clothes but found nothing unusual. Qi Fei entered Cangyun Mountain that night. My fellow disciples and I searched the mountain thoroughly but found no trace of hidden treasures.”

Lu Qingxuan showed disappointment, sighing, “Did you alert anyone during your search last night?”

Zhao Jin’an quickly responded, “I followed your orders carefully, fearing to alert the elders. Last night, I instructed my brothers not to speak of it, and told no one your true intentions.”

Satisfied, Lu Qingxuan nodded. “Good. I have always trusted your work. Qi Fei has already experienced the effects of the Essence Gathering Pill—how could he have given all his pills to the sect? If he spoke truly, and there was indeed a senior master’s cave in the valley, he would have come away with more than a few bottles of pills. He must be hiding more treasures.”

“Master, I do not understand. Why did you send Qi Fei to the Cliff of Reflection? Won’t that make it impossible to find clues to his treasures?”

Lu Qingxuan sighed and shook his head. “I had no other choice. Qi Fei is bold to the point of recklessness; he broke the rules for vengeance. If I let him off lightly, Huo Zhongmou would never let it go.”

Zhao Jin’an nodded thoughtfully. “Now that our Danxia Sect is suppressed by Xuan Zhen Temple and the Seven Absolutes Sect, and our elders continue to feud among themselves at this critical time, I only hope Elder Xu and the others can safely deliver the Essence Gathering Pills to Marquis Weiwu. With his support, we might survive this crisis.”

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Lu Qingxuan slowly shook his head, his tone somber. “I fear Elder Xu and the others will not return.”

“Master, why do you say this?” Zhao Jin’an blurted, alarmed.

Lu Qingxuan’s face was clouded with worry as he forced a bitter smile. “The Xuan Zhen Temple and Seven Absolutes Sect are powerful—no match for our Danxia Sect. The sect is restless; last night the Grand Elder and I took extra precautions.”

“This morning, the Grand Elder and I selected three elders, including Elder Xu, who are all loyal to the sect. They did not take the Essence Gathering Pills with them; their mission was only to test the elders who were in the alchemy room last night. If all went well, they should have returned by now. Their delay can only mean misfortune has befallen them.”

Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Jin’an’s brow. “Master, if this is true, then Xuan Zhen Temple and Seven Absolutes Sect must already know of Qi Fei’s offering. What should we do?”

Lu Qingxuan took a deep breath. “Those sects don’t wish to destroy us completely; they covet our rear mountain’s vast medicinal fields and our alchemy techniques. At this point, we can only offer them a great tribute of pills in hopes of survival. As for that bottle of Essence Gathering Pills, we won’t be able to keep it.”

“Since you and the Grand Elder suspect Qi Fei is hiding treasures, why not seize him? If we can force him to reveal the location of the pills and treasures left by the senior master, why should our Danxia Sect submit to others?”

Lu Qingxuan sighed heavily. “The Grand Elder and I already have a plan. If Elder Xu and the others had returned during today’s ceremony, we would have interrogated Qi Fei immediately. But now that they are missing, it means there’s a traitor among our elders. Even if we could force Qi Fei to give up his secrets, the traitor would tell the rival sects, and they would benefit in the end. It’s better to imprison Qi Fei at the Cliff of Reflection, let the traitor forget about him, and then, when the time is right, the Grand Elder and I will seize his treasures.”

Zhao Jin’an still looked uneasy. “But what if Qi Fei has no treasures?”

A cold glint flashed in Lu Qingxuan’s eyes. “If that is the case, then Danxia Sect will be at the mercy of others, never to rise again.”

In the quiet chamber, a long, weary sigh echoed, followed by a heavy silence.