Chapter Forty-Six: The Beauty in the Valley

That night was one of profound anger and humiliation for the disciples of the Seven Absolutes Sect atop Moonwatch Peak.

A mysterious youth broke into Moonwatch Peak under the cover of darkness, severely injuring the sect leader’s personal disciple with a single move. He then successively defeated two elders, causing a blaze to erupt in the sect’s rear quarters. In the end, not only did this enigmatic youth escape from the sect leader—whose cultivation had already reached the Innate Realm—but before leaving, he even managed to wound the leader’s arm.

Furious, Sima Yan believed the youth, having taken his full-force strike, could not possibly escape Moonwatch Peak regardless of his abilities, and promptly ordered his disciples to scour the mountain through the night in search of the intruder.

At their leader's command, the entire Seven Absolutes Sect was stirred into action. Disciples bearing torches could be seen everywhere upon Moonwatch Peak. Sima Yan made a ruthless resolve: even if he had to turn the mountain upside down, he would tear the youth—whose actions had thrown the entire sect into chaos—limb from limb.

Deep within the dense forest, Qi Fei, who had escaped Sima Yan’s grasp, hid in a concealed cave. Gathering what remained of the primordial energy within him, he hastily set up a mystical barrier at the cave entrance—a technique Elder Sun had taught him. His pale face now bore a sickly, iron-blue hue.

Qi Fei coughed up blood, his trembling, bloodied hands showing traces of shattered bone. With much difficulty, he retrieved a bottle of hemostatic powder from his robes and smeared it haphazardly over his wounded palms.

Staring at his mangled hands, Qi Fei, having survived by a hair's breadth, could not help but give a bitter smile. Though he had tempered his body through martial arts—refining his muscles, washing his marrow, and reaching physical mastery—he was still far from achieving the supreme state where the body itself became saintly. Even with the wondrous aid of the Spirit Jade, without a trusty weapon in hand, these hands would eventually be ruined given enough trials.

He swallowed a few healing pills and leaned against the cave wall, regulating his breath. The voices of searching disciples echoed continuously outside. Qi Fei knew the illusion he’d placed at the entrance was but a stopgap—the cave was not a place to linger.

Once he had gathered another strand of primordial energy, Qi Fei slipped quietly out of the cave. Gazing at the distant torchlight and the flickering forms of patrolling disciples, he realized that with the sect in such an uproar, escaping the mountain by night would be difficult. Perhaps, he thought, it would be better to do the unexpected.

Utilizing the cover of night and his Bloodshadow Evasion technique, Qi Fei avoided the disciples combing the lower slopes and made his way once more to the summit, just outside the Seven Absolutes Sect’s main grounds.

As he was preparing to sneak into the sect’s stronghold, he noticed a secluded little valley near the peak. A group of disciples stood guard outside, seemingly undisturbed by the chaos elsewhere on the mountain.

A thought arose in Qi Fei’s mind: since this valley was so heavily guarded, it was likely a forbidden ground of the sect. Rather than risking the main compound, he would use Bloodshadow Evasion to slip into the valley and hide from danger.

With that decision made, he circled around the disciples stationed at the stronghold, silently making his way toward the secluded valley.

Upon reaching its edge, Qi Fei gathered his primordial energy. Bloodshadow Evasion flared to life: to the guards outside, only the faintest whisper of wind brushed past their ears before his form vanished like a ghost, entering the tranquil valley in an instant.

Under the shroud of night, the guards outside were startled but could not see through the supernatural evasion. They searched the valley’s perimeter in vain, never suspecting that Qi Fei had already slipped past them.

Once inside, Qi Fei quickly concealed himself behind a large boulder. After a brief rest to recover more energy, he began to survey his surroundings.

At the center of the valley stood an exquisite pavilion, several meters tall. Though it was late, a faint light glowed within. Focusing his energy into his eyes, Qi Fei could make out the silhouette of a woman moving about inside.

With the valley so heavily guarded and the place so tranquil, isolated from the outside world, could the woman within be a relative of the sect leader?

Just then, a commotion arose outside the valley, sending a chill down Qi Fei’s spine.

Though he had used Bloodshadow Evasion to slip in, he had not expected the disciples outside to be so cautious; even the slight breeze left in his wake had aroused their suspicion, and now they intended to search the valley.

Wounded as he was, with only a shred of energy left, even facing an ordinary disciple could spell doom. With no other choice, Qi Fei steeled himself and dashed toward the pavilion.

Reaching its base, he leapt up, kicked open a carved window, and darted inside.

Raising his bloodied, ghastly hand, he subdued the woman within. “Don’t make a sound, or I won’t be merciful.”

Startled, the woman cried out, “Who are you? How dare you break into Moonwatch Peak at night?”

In the lantern’s glow, Qi Fei caught sight of her face and could not help but draw a sharp breath.

It was not that her features were ugly and frightening, but rather that her jade-like skin and breathtaking beauty struck a chord in the young, inexperienced Qi Fei, leaving him momentarily at a loss.

He steadied himself, suppressing the strange emotions stirring within, and forced a harsh tone. “Who I am doesn’t matter. If you want to live, find a way to send the disciples searching the valley away.”

A glint of surprise flickered in the woman’s eyes. She glanced at his wounded hand and exclaimed, “You’re hurt?”

Qi Fei was taken aback, then retorted, “What business is that of yours? Even if I don’t use my hands, it would be nothing to kill you.”

She frowned, displeased. “Hey! Must you threaten violence at every turn? I’m just a weak woman—aren’t you afraid you’ll frighten me?”

Qi Fei flushed with embarrassment, then grew wary. By rights, breaking into a maiden’s chambers by night should have terrified her, yet she remained calm and composed. Why?

Suspicious, Qi Fei probed her cultivation. Sure enough, she was as she claimed—no martial arts training, merely a delicate woman.

Though puzzled, he felt somewhat reassured.

Just then, voices rang out from outside: “There was a disturbance at the valley entrance earlier. Fearing an intruder might startle Miss Zhuo, we’ve come to search the valley. We beg your pardon, Miss Zhuo.”

Qi Fei’s heart stirred. Since her surname was Zhuo, she was likely not Sima Yan’s daughter. Perhaps a relative of one of the elders? Or a secret mistress kept by the sect leader?

Holding his breath and furrowing his brow, he signaled for the young woman to quickly send the disciples away.

Unruffled, she walked to the window and replied softly, “There’s nothing amiss here. If you’ve finished your search, please leave.”

The disciples obeyed and soon, the sounds of searching filled the valley. A short while later, finding nothing unusual, they quietly withdrew.

“Who are you?” Qi Fei asked, his face puzzled.

She smiled serenely. “That’s a question I should be asking you. You break into my chamber at night and ask who I am—don’t you think that’s a bit absurd?”

Though surprised by her beauty and poise, Qi Fei was not the sort to lose his head at the sight of a pretty woman. He replied coldly, “I’m not a good person. If you want to live, answer honestly and don’t force me to harm you.”

She seemed vexed by his lack of gallantry and sighed, “Consider me, Zhuo Jiner, unlucky to have met a bringer of calamity like you tonight. Now you know who I am—what about you? What’s your name?”

Qi Fei’s heart skipped a beat. If Zhuo Jiner could reside alone in this valley, she must have deep ties to the Seven Absolutes Sect. If he took her hostage, perhaps he could use her to escape Moonwatch Peak.