Chapter Forty-Eight: The Way of

Within the pavilion, having listened to Zhuo Jin’er’s words, Qi Fei could not help but show a look of concern, inwardly admitting that he had indeed underestimated the complexity of this matter.

To Qi Fei’s surprise, after Zhuo Jin’er finished speaking, she actually released the restraints on herself. Qi Fei snapped back to his senses and quickly withdrew the hand he had half-wrapped around her.

“What are you afraid of? If I wanted to kill you, would I have lifted the arcane restraints on you?” Zhuo Jin’er shot him a glare, seeming somewhat displeased.

Having already witnessed the power of this enchantress, Qi Fei no longer dared to underestimate the seemingly harmless beauty before him. Still shaken, he forced a bitter smile and said, “I’m not afraid of you killing me, but I am truly terrified by your mysterious art of mind reading.”

A sly smile flickered across Zhuo Jin’er’s face as she replied lightly, “Though the arcane arts are boundless, in this world, what immortal magic could truly read the human heart?”

Qi Fei was momentarily stunned, then erupted in anger, “You tricked me?”

Zhuo Jin’er feigned helplessness and spread her hands, “Indeed. I am clever enough that I can get you to confess everything without using any immortal art. I trust I did not disappoint you?”

Though furious, Qi Fei could not help but secretly admire Zhuo Jin’er’s cunning.

Earlier, Zhuo Jin’er had seen through his use of the Bloodshadow Escape Art of the Heart Demon Sect, throwing his mind into chaos, and then immobilized him with an arcane restraint. She had clearly already deduced that he was not a disciple of the Heart Demon Sect, but deliberately set a trap to make him believe in her supposed mind-reading technique. Her intelligence and shrewdness were indeed formidable.

With doubts still lingering, Qi Fei couldn’t help but ask, “Zhuo Jin’er, since you saw through my use of the Heart Demon Sect’s secret art to infiltrate the valley, how did you determine I am not a disciple of that sect?”

Zhuo Jin’er smiled slightly. “That was no great feat. When you entered the valley, you triggered the arcane formation I set up. Though it is harmless, it lets me sense every disturbance within the valley. When I saw you perform the Bloodshadow Escape Art, I thought you were a Heart Demon Sect disciple and grew curious, so I withdrew the restraints around the pavilion. But upon meeting you, I sensed your cultivation in martial arts, which is unlike a Heart Demon Sect disciple. Moreover, had you truly belonged to them, you could have simply declared your sect. Not just the Seven Absolutes Sect, even all of Mount Cangyun would not dare make you an enemy.”

Qi Fei shook his head with a wry smile. “Had I known the Heart Demon Sect’s name was so formidable, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.”

Sighing, a thought suddenly struck him. “Miss Zhuo, if I were to use the Heart Demon Sect’s name, could I persuade Sima Yan to turn against the Xuan Zhen Monastery?”

Zhuo Jin’er slowly shook her head. “Do you think the name of a demonic sect can be borrowed so easily? Even if the Seven Absolutes Sect wouldn’t dare harm you for fear of the Heart Demon Sect, Sima Yan could still spread the news, and before long, you’d have righteous masters from all over hunting down a fake disciple of the Heart Demon Sect.”

Qi Fei let out a soft sigh, worry creasing his brow.

In his battle with a master of innate cultivation, he had glimpsed the mysteries of martial protection, but suffered grave wounds. Though the wondrous powers of the Spiritual Jade could slowly heal these injuries, he feared he might not recover in time for the coming struggle for the sect leader’s seat atop Qingyang Peak. Hearing Zhuo Jin’er’s analysis only made him more unsettled. Not wishing to see his benefactor-master or Elder Sun fall into peril at Qingyang Peak, Qi Fei was at a loss as to how to alter his fate.

Zhuo Jin’er, perceptive and quick-witted, seemed to see through his confusion and laughed. “You wish to use the Seven Absolutes Sect’s power against the Xuan Zhen Monastery? That is not so difficult as you think.”

Qi Fei was taken aback. Though wary of Zhuo Jin’er, he couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask what brilliant plan Miss Zhuo has? Might you help me achieve my wish?”

Zhuo Jin’er pursed her lips and muttered, “Want to hear my plan? I doubt we have the relationship for that.”

Qi Fei felt a flicker of annoyance, suspecting another trap. Resigned, he could only force a bitter smile. “Miss Zhuo is peerlessly clever, a master of the arcane arts. I dare not presume closeness, but hope you might give me some guidance. I will surely repay the favor.”

Zhuo Jin’er laughed lightly. “Qi Fei, you are clever yourself. Do you know why I am staying in this valley on Moonwatch Peak?”

Qi Fei paused, realizing she would not ask without purpose, and pondered her words. After a moment, his eyes widened in shock. “Could it be that Sima Yan also intends to act against Xuan Zhen Monastery?”

The Seven Absolutes Sect was a martial sect—only if its leader Sima Yan reached the innate level could they challenge the Xuan Zhen Monastery. Yet Zhuo Jin’er’s mastery of the arcane was profound, and the sect had yielded this valley near their grounds for her—surely Sima Yan had invited her as an arcane ally against their rivals.

Zhuo Jin’er, clearly pleased with his insight, clapped her hands. “Exactly. You have not disappointed me.”

“If I had known the Seven Absolutes Sect had invited a master of the arcane to deal with Xuan Zhen Monastery, I wouldn’t have come to Moonwatch Peak to suffer,” Qi Fei sighed, yet his face shone with excitement.

Zhuo Jin’er smiled faintly. “Now that you understand, have you thought of a plan for your own survival?”

Qi Fei appeared calm, but was quietly gathering his energies. “Miss Zhuo, your powers are immeasurable, and I am gravely injured. I can only leave my fate in your hands.”

Zhuo Jin’er knit her brows in mock distress, murmuring, “If only you hadn’t guessed it. Then I could have killed you. But now that you see through my identity, it seems a pity to kill someone so clever.”

Though Zhuo Jin’er’s face was all innocence, her mind was deep and calculating. Qi Fei had no wish to be further entangled and answered coldly, “You needn’t frighten me further. My courage is small and I cannot endure these torments. If you wished to kill me, you wouldn’t bother with so many words. If you spare my life, you must have your reasons. Tell me, so I may decide my course.”

Zhuo Jin’er started, then laughed sweetly. “Qi Fei, you truly are clever. I do enjoy dealing with clever people. Very well—if you agree to help me with three tasks in the future, I’ll let you live tonight.”

Qi Fei, having quietly gathered several strands of energy, refused outright. “Miss Zhuo, I cannot agree to such terms. No one can predict the future. If I exhaust myself accomplishing the first two tasks, and for the third you ask me to die before you, I’ll have lost everything. Besides, even if I agreed now just to save my skin, would you believe me?”

“You really are exactly as I hoped,” Zhuo Jin’er replied, her eyes sparkling. “Very well. In the future, you need only help me kill a single, thoroughly evil enemy, and tonight I will let you go.”

Qi Fei was confused. “Miss Zhuo, with your mastery of the arcane, do you truly have an enemy you cannot defeat?”

A flash of hatred passed through Zhuo Jin’er’s gaze. “Everything I know was taught to me by that villain. How could I kill him on my own?”

Qi Fei broke into a cold sweat, realizing her target was her own master. He wondered why, having met her by chance in this pavilion, she would confide such secrets to him.

Knowing there must be more to the story, yet feigning ignorance, he asked, “Are you joking, Miss Zhuo? If your master taught you all your arcane skills, how could he be your bitter enemy?”

Zhuo Jin’er did not answer directly, instead asking softly, “Qi Fei, have you ever heard of the Way of Yin and Yang?”

Qi Fei thought for a moment and slowly shook his head. “Half a year ago, I was a nobody in Mount Cangyun. Had I not met my master, I would have no cultivation at all. Even now, I know little of the world’s sects, and I have never heard of the Way of Yin and Yang.”

A sharp glint appeared in Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes. “The Way of Yin and Yang, like the Heart Demon Sect, is a renowned demonic sect. I was taken in as a disciple by its leader as a child. I owe my life to the sect and my arcane powers to its master. By rights, I should be loyal to both—but a few years ago, I stumbled upon a secret.”

Realizing the Way of Yin and Yang was as infamous as the Heart Demon Sect, and seeing the hatred in Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes, Qi Fei feared being drawn into the enmities of such sects and dared not listen further. “Miss Zhuo, I have no wish to learn your sect’s secrets. But if your enemy is the leader of the Way of Yin and Yang, famed across the land, how could I possibly help you slay him? Are you not asking the impossible?”

Seeing that Qi Fei did not wish to hear more, Zhuo Jin’er’s expression dimmed, and she sighed. “With your current skills, you are indeed no match for the leader of the Way of Yin and Yang. But do not forget, I possess the mysterious art of mind reading. Do you think you could hide your secrets from me?”

Qi Fei no longer trusted Zhuo Jin’er’s words and was about to retort when his expression suddenly changed.

He recalled that when Zhuo Jin’er had claimed to use her mind-reading art, she had pressed her palm to his chest, and the chill from her hand had stirred the Spiritual Jade within him to another strange reaction. Could it be that she truly had uncovered the secret of the Spiritual Jade he carried?