Chapter Fifty-Six: Forming an Alliance

Inside the pavilion, Zhuo Jin’er listened quietly as Qi Fei finished recounting his tale. Her enchanting eyes sparkled as she asked, “Qi Fei, aren’t you afraid I might spread word of this?”

Qi Fei merely smiled and shook his head. “You had already guessed the origin of my fortune before, so what need have I to hide it now? Besides, in the future, you will need my help to deal with the Sect Master of the Yin-Yang Dao. As long as that master lives, you would never risk exposing me.”

Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes shone, and she laughed sweetly. “Indeed, you’re bold. I haven’t chosen the wrong person to help me. But tell me, what brings you here today?”

Qi Fei raised his hands with a wry smile. “I imagine you saw the pitiful state of my hands that day. If not for the Dan Ding Sect’s miraculous medicine, I fear I would have lost the use of them entirely.”

A sly glint flashed in Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes as she replied with a smile, “With your fortune, even without the Dan Ding Sect’s medicine, a little time would be enough for you to recover. Talk of crippling injury seems exaggerated.”

Qi Fei gave a bitter smile. “That may be so, but what I’ve cultivated is not the Golden Martial Soul that turns flesh into weapons—invincible and indestructible. Though blessed with fortune, I am still far from the supreme realm where the body becomes sacred. Relying solely on my fists is no long-term solution. Most of my techniques are adapted from the Xuanxin Sword Sect’s sword arts, which will surely arouse their suspicion one day.”

Catching the implication, Zhuo Jin’er raised her brows in surprise. “I know what you’re thinking. With your cultivation, you can only adapt the sword forms into fist techniques; you cannot reach the level of transforming their essence. But I am no martial arts master and know nothing of such cultivation. Coming to me for help seems a bit much, doesn’t it?”

“I do not seek guidance in martial cultivation,” Qi Fei replied, “but rather hope you might help me borrow the ‘Creation Martial Canon’ of the Seven Absolutes Sect from Sima Yan.”

Zhuo Jin’er shook her head in exasperation. “Is this not still an unreasonable request? You know well that the ‘Creation Martial Canon’ is the Seven Absolutes Sect’s greatest treasure. Why would Sima Yan ever share such a secret art?”

Qi Fei knew he was asking much and hurried to explain. “Sima Yan once said that if you helped him deal with the Xuan Zhen Monastery, he would reward you greatly. Now, with my senior brother—Yin-Yang Dao’s martial fanatic—eager for a look at the Yin Fiend Blade Technique within the Canon, surely Sima Yan would agree after weighing the benefits.”

“Even if that’s the case, why should I help you borrow the Canon?” Zhuo Jin’er gazed at Qi Fei, a look of puzzlement in her eyes.

Qi Fei had already prepared his answer. “You wish to join forces with me against the Yin-Yang Dao Sect Master. If I gain the Yin Fiend Blade technique, my martial skills will greatly advance, giving us more chance of victory when the time comes.”

Zhuo Jin’er seemed moved. “So, you too have cultivated that cold, domineering Ice Martial Soul?”

Qi Fei slowly circulated his internal energy and, before long, a chill emanated from his palms.

Zhuo Jin’er watched the frosty aura swirling at his fingertips, her mind racing. Then, her expression grew serious. “It isn’t difficult for you to get the Yin Fiend Blade technique, but if I help you, what will you offer in return?”

Qi Fei drew from his robe the bottle of peerless elixir from the Dan Ding Sect. “If you help me obtain the Yin Fiend Blade technique, this elixir will be yours.”

Zhuo Jin’er pouted, displeased. “You drive a hard bargain. That elixir is half mine already, yet now you use it to trade for the Yin Fiend Blade? Where’s your sincerity?”

With the battle for supremacy at Qingyang Peak between Danxia Sect’s factions approaching, Qi Fei gritted his teeth. “My master also taught me the Heart Demon Sect’s supreme technique, the ‘Illusory Heart Record.’ If you do not mind, I will trade this unparalleled demonic art for your Yin-Yang Dao secret and the Yin Fiend Blade technique.”

As a member of the demonic path, Zhuo Jin’er naturally knew the power of this Heart Demon Sect art. Her eyes flickered. “Bloodshadow True Lord is indeed generous to impart the ‘Illusory Heart Record’ to you. Aren’t you afraid I might simply kill you once I have it?”

Qi Fei’s heart skipped, but he maintained his composure. “Without ample precautions, would I dare come see you? Before coming, I already had my master send disciples down the mountain. If I do not return, word will spread throughout Yong Prefecture that a disciple of the Yin-Yang Dao is hiding in Mount Cangyun.”

Zhuo Jin’er was unmoved, sneering coldly. “Trying to threaten me? Even so, I could easily disappear before your people arrive—do you think you could trap me here before the experts of Yin-Yang Dao come?”

Qi Fei’s supposed precautions were nothing but a spur-of-the-moment bluff. Seeing it failed to intimidate her, he put on an air of mystery and smiled. “You’re mistaken. I may not know the true extent of the Yin-Yang Dao Sect Master’s power, but even just invoking his name was enough to make Sima Yan surrender the Dan Ding Sect’s medicine. One can imagine how formidable he must be. I know my cultivation is shallow; fortune or not, I may never match him. I suspect you came to Mount Cangyun not just to escape danger, but with a deeper plan—perhaps to use the chaos here to prepare for your future confrontation with the Yin-Yang Dao Sect Master?”

Zhuo Jin’er’s expression finally changed, her gaze sharpening with a flash of murderous intent. Qi Fei met her stare unflinchingly.

After a long silence, Zhuo Jin’er sighed. “I underestimated you. Yes, I have other plans for being here. Did you know there is another innate martial expert in the Seven Absolutes Sect besides Sima Yan?”

Qi Fei quickly shook his head. “Today, I only wish to exchange the ‘Illusory Heart Record’ for the Seven Absolutes Sect’s Yin Fiend Blade technique and a Yin-Yang Dao secret art. I want nothing to do with your feud with the Yin-Yang Dao.”

Zhuo Jin’er raised her eyebrows, glaring. “I spared your life before and you promised to help me kill the Yin-Yang Dao Sect Master. Now you have guessed my intentions—do you really think you can just stay uninvolved?”

Qi Fei could only smile bitterly, at a loss for words.

Zhuo Jin’er huffed, “If you dare go back on your word, I won’t let you off lightly.”

Her tone was half scolding, half playful, leaving Qi Fei flustered. He hurriedly pleaded, “All right, I admit I was wrong. As long as you don’t harm me, I’ll help you with your enemy someday. But you must also promise to help me against the Xuanxin Sword Sect.”

Zhuo Jin’er was still not satisfied. “We’ll talk about that later. Now that you’ve revealed my hiding place, anyone in the outer halls of Danxia Sect who knows must not be left alive.”

Qi Fei drew a sharp breath—this witch was ruthless indeed, far beyond his own capacity. Fearing for his master and the others, he quickly said, “Rest assured, I haven’t told anyone about your hiding place. What I said before was only a desperate bluff.”

Zhuo Jin’er stared at him, then frowned angrily. “You dare deceive me?”

Qi Fei was unafraid. “Just repaying you for the time you used your unfathomable mind-reading art on me. Now we’re even. Since both our enemies are among the greatest sects in the land, if we are to join forces, let’s not scheme against each other anymore.”

Zhuo Jin’er smiled slightly and raised her hand. “Agreed. Let’s consider it settled.”

Qi Fei breathed a long sigh of relief and raised his hand, striking palms with Zhuo Jin’er to seal their pact.

The moment his palm touched her soft, delicate hand, a strange, indescribable sensation surged through Qi Fei. Before he could regain his composure and withdraw, Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes glinted mischievously, and she playfully traced her fingertip across his palm. In his flustered state, Qi Fei found himself instinctively grasping her hand.

A heavy silence filled the room. After a long pause, both simultaneously cried out in surprise.

Qi Fei stumbled backward as if struck by a powerful mystical force, shouting, “Zhuo Jin’er, what witchcraft have you used?”

Zhuo Jin’er was furious. “You scoundrel! You take advantage of me and then try to play the victim?”

Knowing himself in the wrong, Qi Fei stood up awkwardly, his face burning with embarrassment, wishing he could disappear into the floor.

Seeing his awkward, bashful expression, Zhuo Jin’er’s anger faded. She rapped him sharply on the forehead and pouted, “If you ever dare behave so rudely again, you’ll regret it.”

Her affectionate gesture and shy demeanor left Qi Fei overwhelmed. He wondered whether forging this alliance with the witch would bring fortune or disaster. Now, he could only hope to help his master quell the sect’s internal strife as soon as possible, then leave Mount Cangyun far behind, putting as much distance between himself and the sorceress as possible.

Sensing his thoughts, the keen-witted Zhuo Jin’er asked suspiciously, “You’re not thinking of how to avoid me in the future, are you?”

“Of course not,” Qi Fei replied firmly.

“Really?”

“Truly, I’m not.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

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