Chapter 58: Wish Fulfilled

Qi Fei found it difficult to fathom Zhuo Jiner’s actions and could not help but ask, “Is Chu Yanran your enemy?”

Zhuo Jiner smiled faintly and replied calmly, “I’ve never met her before. How could there be any enmity between us?”

“Then why do you scheme against her? You must know that she is a top martial artist at the peak of the Innate Realm. She’s not someone easy to deal with,” Qi Fei pressed, unable to comprehend.

“She is the sister of the Marquis of Might, Chu Yuanshan, and a rare martial prodigy of the Chu family in Yongzhou. To deal with the master of the Yin-Yang Sect, she must die,” Zhuo Jiner answered unflinchingly.

Qi Fei gazed at Zhuo Jiner’s serene expression, inwardly shocked. So this was her purpose in coming to Cangyun Mountain—to kill the famously powerful Marquis of Might’s sister, one of the ruling lords over the nine counties of Yongzhou. By forging an alliance with such a bold and unscrupulous woman of the demonic path, he feared he might truly lose himself to darkness, unable to extricate himself.

Before he could recover, Zhuo Jiner’s lips curled with a sly smile. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Do you want to know the reason behind all this?”

Qi Fei shook his head repeatedly, unwilling to be involved, and forced a bitter smile. “Miss Zhuo, I will certainly stand with you against Xuanzhen Temple and the Yin-Yang Sect. But since Chu Yanran is a top expert at the peak of the Innate Realm, I fear that my abilities are simply insufficient.”

Zhuo Jiner shook her head slowly. “Though Chu Yanran is formidable, she may not be my match. With your assistance, I will set the stage to slay her.”

Qi Fei was reluctant to become Chu Yanran’s enemy, but he dared not refuse Zhuo Jiner outright. As he hesitated, her melodic laughter rang by his ear.

“All right, I’m off to find Sima Yan and ask for the Yin Fiend Blade Manual. Don’t take the opportunity to rummage through my private belongings in my chamber!”

Any courage or resolve Qi Fei had mustered was instantly shattered by Zhuo Jiner’s teasing words. He nearly collapsed in fright—this woman was truly his nemesis.

With a tinkling laugh, Zhuo Jiner invoked her mysterious Daoist arts and glided out the window. Left alone in the pavilion, Qi Fei could only shake his head and sigh, half amused and half exasperated.

This mischievous Zhuo Jiner had toyed with him more than once, yet her profound Daoist skills were unfathomable. If she spoke the truth and even dared lay traps for a peak Innate master, how could he hope to rival such a demonic enchantress?

Qi Fei dared not linger. He quickly slipped out of the pavilion and found a quiet spot in the valley to ponder how he might break through his current bottleneck and achieve the sixth level of Martial Dao—Essence Return.

He recalled how he had risked everything at Cliff of Reflection, shattering his own limits to attain the fifth level, where inner energy could be projected outward. Later, fate allowed him to merge his martial qi with Daoist true essence.

Now, his body brimmed with robust primordial energy, and his martial soul was daily tempered by the spiritual jade. In theory, his breakthrough should have come naturally. Yet, try as he might, he could not reach the Essence Return realm.

In the stage of projecting inner energy, one’s true qi could be shaped into sword energy or protective force. But to reach Essence Return, martial qi had to further refine the martial soul, transforming it into an even purer, almost tangible form. Qi Fei’s dilemma was that his true qi had already merged with Daoist essence to become primordial energy. To further refine it through his martial soul proved vexing.

He sat quietly in the valley, channeling the abundant spiritual energy into his Ice-Fire Martial Soul. His primordial energy was immense; if only he could refine it further and truly return essence to its source, he would become unrivaled among all beneath the Innate masters.

Yet, progress could not be forced by will alone. Despite his efforts, the Ice-Fire Martial Soul could not further purify his primordial energy.

Faint voices of disciples drifted from outside the valley—Zhuo Jiner must have returned. Qi Fei rose to greet her.

Seeing her radiant expression, he was reassured and hurried forward. “Thank you, Miss Zhuo. I trust you have obtained the Yin Fiend Blade Manual from Sima Yan?”

A hint of pride flashed across her face. She produced a long wooden box from her back and tossed it to him. “Catch. Today I not only borrowed the Yin Fiend Blade Manual for you, but also secured a saber from Sima Yan. It may not be a legendary weapon, but it is far from ordinary. How will you thank me?”

Qi Fei caught the long, narrow box with one hand and laughed heartily. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Zhuo. I gratefully accept.”

A trace of worry clouded Zhuo Jiner’s face as she sighed. “Though I obtained the manual, Sima Yan seems to be growing suspicious of you. He probed me for information several times. Given that you previously appropriated his sect’s spiritual herbs, he will not let you off easily. Next time you see him, you’d best keep your distance.”

Qi Fei was startled. Sima Yan was no ordinary figure; his suspicions were, in hindsight, inevitable.

Zhuo Jiner drew closer, produced a thin booklet from her bosom, and announced, “Qi Fei, I’ve brought you the Seven Absolutes School’s martial arts manual. What will you give me in return?”

“Rest assured, Miss Zhuo. I promised before to exchange the Heart Demon Sect’s ‘Illusory Heart Dao Record’ for your Yin-Yang Daoist manual. I will not go back on my word.” Elated, Qi Fei quickly slung the box with the saber behind him and accepted the manual from her hands.

Zhuo Jiner pouted, “You do know how to take advantage of me. No matter—I’ll remember that you owe me a favor.”

Though he had only met her a handful of times, Qi Fei had already grown familiar with her unpredictable temperament. Fearing further teasing, he tucked the manual into his robe and cupped his hands. “Miss Zhuo, I must go study this manual at once. I will never forget what you’ve done for me today, you can be sure of that.”

But as he turned to leave, Zhuo Jiner would not allow it. She seized his sleeve, protesting, “I’ve been bored in this valley for days and finally have someone to talk to. You think you can just take the manual and go? Not so easy!”

Qi Fei hesitated, then quickly responded, “Does Miss Zhuo mean for me to stay here with you a few more days? A man and a woman alone in a secluded valley—surely that would be improper?”

A blush colored Zhuo Jiner’s cheeks, as though her true thoughts had been revealed. She spat softly, “Who asked you to stay? I just… just wanted to chat with you.”

Seeing her shy demeanor, a strange emotion stirred in Qi Fei’s heart. Then, catching himself, he quickly dismissed the absurd thought, deciding she must have cast some bewitching spell. He must not lose face before her.

“In that case, I’ll keep you company for a while.”

To Zhuo Jiner’s surprise, Qi Fei did not flee as he had before, but remained with composure.

In the valley, the two sat in silence, gazing at one another, unable to find words.

Bathed in sunlight, Zhuo Jiner’s silky hair fluttered in the breeze, framing flawless skin and exquisite features. Her face was tinged with shyness, her expressive eyes clear and pure as budding snow lotuses.

Staring at this peerless beauty, Qi Fei felt awkward and wondered why she could not let him go. To make his escape, he deliberately let a hint of infatuation show in his eyes.

Thus, they sat quietly for a long while, until Zhuo Jiner, cheeks burning, finally turned and fled into the pavilion, leaving Qi Fei to slowly recover his composure.

Watching her hasty retreat, savoring the moment’s flavor, Qi Fei could not help but smile wryly.

This time, it seemed he had won.

(P.S. Thanks to Hehe Wuming for the kind reward. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated—I will keep going.)