Chapter 221

Tong Lao and A Zi were instantly startled, hurriedly turned their heads, and saw a white shadow flitting, as if a white cloud drifted down onto a huge ancient tree in the distance; if she hadn't spoken, no one would have known she was already nearby.

Feng Yi saw the newcomer all in white, her figure like a tender shoot just sprouted, graceful and swaying, her eyes flowing with water-like light, as if speaking to someone, but unfortunately her eyes and nose down were covered with white silk, preventing him from seeing her full appearance, a pity, he thought: "Indeed, as the saying goes, enemies don't meet unless they are destined; she still came looking for me."

The newcomer's lovely eyes, like autumn water, glanced up, down, left, right at Feng Yi, secretly nodding: "What a handsome young man!"

A Zi's heart stirred: "This person's eyes are so beautiful." She glanced sideways at Feng Yi, seeing him stare at that woman with a strange expression, instantly feeling ill at ease; then she looked at Tong Lao, seeing her face very odd, mixed with shock, anger, and a hint of contempt.

Ah Zi and an unnamed white-clothed person

Feng Yi

Tong Lao, Ah Zi, and the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands

An unnamed white-clothed person

She saw that A Zi was only sixteen or seventeen, yet with willow-browed, powdered face, autumn-water eyes, cherry lips glowing, though young, she was extremely pretty; in two years, when her body matured, she would be even more alluring.

Tong Lao sinisterly smiled: "A Zi, be careful, this despicable person specializes in seducing men, from nobles down to her own disciples, she lets none escape."

Tong Lao and Li Mochou

Ah Zi and Li Mochou (the white-clothed person)

The white-clad lady laughed coquettishly, her waist swaying, saying: "Little girl, your mouth is so sweet; why not come back with me? Let me teach you a whole set of skills—you'll be highly skilled and beautiful, then what man could you not get?"

Feng Yi laughed: "You want to take her away—do you think I'm just a decoration?"

Tong Lao couldn't hold back, shouting: "Why be polite with this despicable person? Kill her!" She leapt down from Feng Yi's body.

Li Mochou (the white-clothed woman), her senior sister Wuya Zi, Ethereal Mist Peak, Spirit Vulture Palace, and unnamed external demons

Tong Lao and Li Mochou

Tong Lao and Li Qiu Shui

But you never expected that, by a twist of fate, someone would actually carry me down the peak.

Hehe, you came up empty, feeling disappointed, right? Though today I still came to find you, I'm certainly no match for you, but you think you can get something for nothing, steal my lifelong divine skill—absolutely impossible! Look, what is this?

As she spoke, she lifted Feng Yi's hand, revealing the gemstone ring on his thumb.

Li Qiu Shui was originally calm and composed, fairy-like, but now her body trembled, she became excited, crying out: "The sect master's seven treasures ring!" She glanced at Feng Yi: "Who are you? Where did you get this?"

Tong Lao said: "This is naturally his gift; why bother asking when you already know?"

Li Qiu Shui's gaze fixed on Feng Yi, she slowly said: "Who are you?"

Feng Yi, the Sect Master of the Carefree Sect

Li Qiu Shui, Feng Yi, and the Four Evils

Western Xia Imperial Consort, the Four Great Evils, Western Xia First Rank Hall, and General Helian Tieshu

Feng Yi and the Imperial Consort

Li Qiu Shui and Wuya Zi

She thought of herself having become the Western Xia's imperial consort; if Feng Yi had learned this from Wu Ya Zi's mouth, this, this…

Feng Yi, Li Qiu Shui, Wuya Zi, and Dali Boundless Mountain

"Departed as an immortal?" Li Qiu Shui murmured: "Senior brother, did you really die? Did you really just die like that?" Her brows and eyes full of desolation.

Tong Lao felt both joy and hatred, speaking in a dark voice: "Li Qiu Shui, Wu Ya Zi was killed by you; back then, if it weren't for you colluding with Ding Chun Qiu to harm him, how could he have died so easily?"

Li Qiu Shui's eyes suddenly brightened: "Senior brother, though the successor you found is indeed handsome and refined, even a noble's son cannot compare…" She gave a soft "hehe" laugh.

The Xiao Yao Sect is perfect in every way, except for its flaw of judging by appearance. And Li Qiu Shui, throughout her life, loved handsome, refined beautiful men; although she is younger than Tong Lao and Wu Ya Zi, she is ultimately an old woman in her eighties, yet this saying is spoken softly and gracefully.

Feng Yi hearing this, couldn't help feeling a tingling to the bone, his heart fluttering; afterwards, just as he usually does when encountering a gorgeous, charming beauty, he gave her a smile.

This doesn't necessarily carry any intention; it's merely a courtesy, expressing his friendliness.

Shui Sheng, Qi Fang, Hong Lingbo, Li Mochou, Xiao Longnv, Cheng Ying, Guo Fu, Lü E, Ah Zhu, Ah Zi, Wang Yuyan

But Feng Yi's original intention in smiling at women never changes, regardless of whether his own woman is present.

In this regard, he neither avoids nor conceals it, just as he told Wu Ya Zi: why hide? If acceptable, stay together; if not, part amicably—better than leaving regrets.

Wu Ya Zi probably never knew, even to his death, whom he truly loved.

Tong Lao and Li Qiu Shui also loved Wu Ya Zi till death—why bother?

【42】 Tong Lao and Li Qiu Shui also loved Wu Ya Zi till death—why bother?

Seeing Feng Yi smile at her, Li Qiu Shui returned a faint smile; with every frown and smile, her robes stirred in the breeze, truly full of charm.

Tong Lao saw her still flaunting her allure, and Feng Yi gazing at her just as he did at himself, both startled and angry, her brows knitting, she shouted: "Feng Yi, did you take the wrong medicine? What woman don't you want to see?"

Tong Lao, Feng Yi, Ethereal Mist Peak, and unnamed beauties

A Zi also changed her expression, looking at Tong Lao, her face showing annoyance, she shouted: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Feng Yi immediately realized the trouble, sighing inwardly: "A Zi's temperament—how could she bear quadruplets? Or is it just a fleeting eye craving? That would be a lifelong regret; if I want to succeed, I don't know how hard it will still be—what should I do to achieve my goal?"

Unnamed sisters, Tong Lao, and Li Qiu Shui

Only hearing Li Qiu Shui say: "Senior sister, you're still like this even in old age—people want to do what they want, but you always force others; if things don't go your way, you yell and scold—what's the point? Junior sister advises you, it's better to be polite to others."

Tong Lao, Li Qiu Shui, and the Carefree Sect Sect Master

Li Qiu Shui, the Sect Master of the Carefree Sect, and Feng Yi (young master)

Li Qiu Shui and an unnamed young master

Li Qiu Shui's words, gentle yet alluring, simply make one lose their soul; although Feng Yi's inner strength is deep, he still felt her temptation.

Li Qiu Shui's title of "Immortal Sister" passed another severe test.

Without waiting for Feng Yi to speak, Tong Lao immediately cursed: "You thieving despicable person, you are the most shameless wretch under heaven."

You framed me back then so I couldn't grow up, snatched Wu Ya Zi, and continued to seduce men, engaging with his disciple Ding Chun Qiu in acts unbecoming of humans; you, such a pig-dog–like shameless wretch, deserve heavenly thunder.

Wu Ya Zi, on his deathbed, still remembered me, wanting people to protect me; Feng Yi's coming here is precisely to not allow you, this utterly despicable wretch, to continue living in this world.

Before she could finish, Li Qiu Shui's eyes flashed with light, a white shadow swaying, swift as a startled wind, floating like a cloud.

Then a mass of white shadow descended from the sky, instantly feeling a cold wind blast the top; Tong Lao, whose skill was weakest, only felt her skin about to split.

Feng Yi, at that moment, flicked his sleeve, pulling Tong Lao back, and thrust a palm strike straight up into the sky.

Li Qiu Shui felt his palm wind condense into something solid, mighty and peerless; he was startled and dared not delay, turning his palm force—with a peng, a fierce wind sprang up all around, shredding leaves and branches as he floated back, his feet suddenly pivoting, whirlwinds rising from his soles.

Li Qiu Shui felt greatly astonished, thinking to himself, 'How can this person be so formidable?' His gaze swept back and forth over Feng Yi.

Feng Yi released his palm force and then withdrew it, not pursuing, and said lightly, 'Princess Consort, you do not acknowledge me as sect leader; out of respect for Mister Wu Yazi, I could let it go, but if you intend to harm Tong Lao, that is absolutely out of the question.'

The more Li Qiu Shui looked at Feng Yi, the more astonished he became; he suddenly shook his head and said, 'Your martial arts—my senior brother could not teach such skill, and your internal energy is not that of the Xiao Yao Sect.'

Feng Yi smiled and said, 'It doesn't matter who taught me the martial arts; as sect leader, having received the transmission from Wu Yazi is enough.'

Tong Lao, having escaped death, saw Feng Yi's palm repel Li Qiu Shui and felt both startled and delighted, thinking, 'He grows stronger against the strong—truly unfathomably deep!' Only then did she come to her senses and call out, 'Feng Yi, if you don't kill her, just injure her badly so she cannot come looking for you for three months!' Li Qiu Shui's heart gave a start, and he laughed, 'Young sir, don't be fooled by my senior sister's flower-like beauty; she is actually a ninety-six-year-old old woman, not a maiden of seventeen or eighteen—don't let her enchant you.'

She had originally relied on her divine skill, not taking any of them seriously in the least; who would have thought Feng Yi's martial arts were so formidable? She had intended to squeeze him out, saying he was not of the Xiao Yao Sect and thus had no right to meddle in their sect's grudges, but when he showed no sign of falling for it, she began spouting nonsense again, trying to confuse everyone's minds.

A Zi, hearing these words, recalled Feng Yi's recent performance, and her dark, gleaming eyes stared straight at Feng Yi.

Tong Lao had always guarded her purity like jade, never entertaining such a thought; but thinking of Feng Yi's scorching gaze fixed on her, she wondered, 'Could he really be intending something with me?' As soon as the idea arose, her cheeks burned like fire, feeling utterly ashamed.

However, Feng Yi is naturally lascivious; with women he is far worse than Wu Yazi. If it were not for Tong Lao's aged voice, which fails to arouse him, he would not mind having a fleeting romance based solely on her appearance.

Upon hearing this, he showed no reaction, merely gave a faint smile and said, 'Miss Li, if you will not heed my good advice, then please make your move.' He slightly lifted his palms, and dust drifted outward from his feet, instantly forming a perfect circle just over three feet wide, so neatly drawn that even using a compass one might not achieve such a shape.

Li Qiu Shui, a connoisseur of martial arts, saw that this single move alone proved the opponent's internal energy and martial arts were transcendent and sublime, utterly astonishing. His heart gave a start, his smile faded, and he softly sighed, 'Since Wu Yazi has made you sect leader, and I too am a member of the Xiao Yao Sect, why do you single-mindedly protect her?'

Speaking, he extended his left hand to lift the white silk covering his face, revealing a snow-white visage.

A Zi gasped in great astonishment, seeing that her face was crisscrossed with four extremely long sword cuts, forming a 'well' character; because of these four sword wounds, her right eye protruded and the left corner of her mouth slanted awry, an indescribably ugly sight.

Li Qiu Shui's eyes flickered as he said lightly, 'Many years ago, someone used a sword to carve my face into this state. You are the sect leader of our school; tell me, should I avenge this grudge or not?' As he spoke, he slowly lowered the veil.

=9+book_

A Zi heard this, frowned, and could not help sticking out her tongue at Tong Lao, making a grimace, meaning to say, 'I wasn't wrong just now, was I? You also did something sorry to others.'

Tong Lao, whose words always took effect, upon encountering A Zi, this world‑troubling devil, felt both angry and amused, and said, 'Not bad—your face is what I slashed. When I was twenty‑six, I could have grown tall and been like ordinary people, but it was your attack that caused me to deviate into demonic practice, turning me into a dwarf thereafter. Moreover, you conspired with Ding Chunqiu to harm Wu Yazi; this deep hatred and great grudge—should I not take revenge?'

Feng Yi shook his head and said, 'Your affairs, even if Mister Wu Yazi were present, might not be resolvable, let alone me.'

Therefore, as for the rights and wrongs between you two, I have no intention to inquire; I only say this, Miss Li: within three months, you are not to seek trouble with Tong Lao.

Li Qiu Shui extended his index finger, lightly pressed it against his face, shook his head and said, 'You are indeed extraordinary. However, if you speak like that, don't blame me for not observing rank.'

Feng Yi sank his face, gave a cold laugh, and said, 'Then don't blame me for not showing mercy.'

Li Qiu Shui gave a soft hum, his figure swaying—east a dodge, west a sway—light as dawn mist, thin as evening fog; Tong Lao exclaimed in alarm, 'Be careful, that is the Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step.'

Before his words had finished, Feng Yi saw a white flash before his eyes, a beam of white light lunging at his throat; his whole body felt as if plunged into an ice cellar, he gave a cold laugh, lightly flicked his sleeve, and covered the white light.

With a 'si' sound, Feng Yi's sleeve was pierced by the white light; then came a 'hum' as Li Qiu Shui grunted, his figure flickering, a beam of white light shot out, with a 'duo' sound, embedding itself in a tree.

This time A Zi saw clearly that the white light was a dagger not exceeding a foot in length; she leapt forward, pulled it out, and saw that the dagger seemed made of crystal, allowing one to see through it.

Tong Lao witnessed this scene, feeling both startled and impressed, and thought to herself, 'How can this brat's internal energy be so profound?'

She well knew Li Qiu Shui's deep foundation and formidable martial arts; even if she restored all her power and faced him, the odds would be barely even, yet Feng Yi could sweep away the blade with his sleeve—his internal energy is indeed mighty, but to knock Li Qiu Shui's weapon away with a flick of the finger is simply inconceivable.

As it turned out, Li Qiu Shui, seeing the situation unfavorable, employed the Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step to disrupt Feng Yi's vision, then intended to take his life with his weapon.

But Feng Yi's internal energy is profound beyond compare, far above Li Qiu Shui's; even as his sleeve was pierced by the dagger, he used the 'Flicking Finger Divine Ability' to strike the weapon.

Speaking solely of finger‑flicking technique, none under heaven can match the mighty force of the 'Flicking Finger Divine Ability'; Feng Yi's mastery has long reached the peak of perfection, and if struck by it, Li Qiu Shui would naturally be unable to retain his weapon, feeling terribly ill at once, he flushed red, unable to retaliate, merely turned his feet and employed the Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step to evade.

This Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step is an extremely superior martial art, not only capable of evading any move under heaven, but also a dynamic practice for cultivating internal energy; thus, when Duan Yu originally obtained the scroll, the Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step came after the Northern Dark Divine Skill.

Originally, one was to first cultivate the Northern Dark Divine Skill, absorb others' internal energy, and only after one's own internal energy had become quite deep should one then practice this.

Because each step of the Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step involves the whole body's movement being intimately linked to internal energy, it is far more than mere walking.

Although Li Qiu Shui's internal energy is deep and he has mastered the Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step to perfection, when he ran and attacked Feng Yi, the latter's powerful internal energy surged, disrupting his blood flow, bringing him close to the danger of severed meridians.

Thus he could only focus on harmonizing his meridians, daring not to launch another attack.

Therefore, even if Duan Yu knows the Lotus‑Step Micro‑Step and the Six‑Meridian Divine Sword, he never dares to practice them simultaneously, fearing a backlash on himself.

Otherwise, in the original plot, Murong Fu would not have had to rely on a large tree merely to oppose the Six‑Meridian Divine Sword.

In the time it takes to speak, it is already done; Feng Yi and Li Qiu Shui's exchanges are subtly varied, their advances and retreats as swift as lightning.

A Zi's heart pounded wildly, her view a blur; she saw Li Qiu Shui dart left and right, a white substance appearing and disappearing without pattern, and in the blink of an eye she saw Feng Yi rise and fall, seeming illusory.

Li Qiu Shui was like a mass of white smoke, drifting with the wind, elusive and unfixed; Feng Yi's body seemed to have lost its weight, floating like a spirit feather, wondrous beyond compare, and one could not tell whose light‑skill was superior.

Li Qiu Shui, however, only felt a green shadow weaving and crisscrossing, no matter how she leapt and twisted, she could not shake it off; with her power fully exerted, for a moment her skin showed white tinged with blue, and her body burst with piercing cold.

The Light‑Skill of the Ancient Tomb School is unmatched under heaven; Feng Yi, gathering several supreme divine abilities in one body, possesses internal strength that looks down on past and present; this display of circling Li Qiu Shui in rapid sprints truly resembled rising from the earth to the heavens.

A Zi and Tong Lao, separated by several zhang, both felt the strong wind scrape their faces like blades, retreating repeatedly; they only saw the green shadow flashing continuously, encompassing all directions, omnipresent, as if condensed into a cyan qi wall, while Li Qiu Shui's speck of white shadow was compressed smaller and smaller.

Tong Lao could not help but stare, mouth agape, wondering what kind of light‑skill Feng Yi possessed that could match Li Qiu Shui's body technique; after watching a while, she only felt the green shadow flashing incessantly, making her dizzy and vision blurred.

Li Qiu Shui was even more astonished, never having imagined such a divine person existed in the world; she felt the opponent's mighty wind surging in all directions, her blood congealing, her qi coagulating, the stronger her internal energy, the greater the impact she received, gradually feeling she had no power to resist.

Li Qiu Shui realized that prolonging the fight was disadvantageous; he instantly shifted his form, thrusting both palms forward, his body like a willow bending in the wind, his right hand drawing back, his left palm power swooping around Feng Yi and rushing toward Tong Lao several zhang away.

This move was precisely the 'White Rainbow Palm Power,' flexible and direct, wondrous and marvelous, hard to defend against. Seeing that Feng Yi was hard to oppose, she unleashed her bottom‑of‑the‑box secret technique, hoping to 'besiege Wei to rescue Zhao,' but when her palm power reached midway, it seemed blocked by an invisible barrier, twisting and swaying, unable to advance.

Li Qiu Shui's arm grew hot, his body involuntarily jerked, his face turned deathly white; he felt a palm wind press his chest with heat, hastily he leaned back, sliding out a zhang, his feet as if on a spring, legs unmoving, he sprang up stiffly.

In an instant, the illusions vanished; Tong Lao and A Zi fixed their gaze, seeing Li Qiu Shui standing motionless, devoid of vitality, like a doll made of pasted white paper.

Feng Yi stood with his hands behind his back, smiling faintly, and said, 'Will you leave on your own, or shall I send you away?'

Li Qiu Shui's expression turned wooden; he suddenly gulped saliva and trembled as he said, 'You… what have you done to me?'

No sooner had his words fallen than he felt a chill in his chest; lowering his gaze, he was startled to see his upper‑garment falling away in pieces like white butterflies drifting on the wind, and on his jade‑white chest there now appeared a purplish‑red palm print, while a faint fresh fragrance began to permeate the air.

Li Qiu Shui hastily covered his chest with his sleeve, at which moment he felt his five viscera and six bowels clenched together, his body seeming about to fall apart.

As it turned out, although Li Qiu Shui had dodged quickly, he was still struck in the chest by Feng Yi's palm; Li Qiu Shui himself only realized it belatedly, and Tong Lao and A Zi had not even seen the exchange clearly until now.

Li Qiu Shui's eyes flashed, and he chuckled, saying, 'You are the Xiao Yao Sect's sect leader; you want to feel my chest, yet you fear I won't allow it? Why go to such trouble?'

In the blink of an eye of masters' exchange, Feng Yi's palm struck Li Qiu Shui's chest; he merely felt this was the most convenient, and if it had been a man, he would have made the same choice at that instant—not intending to attack a woman's private parts.

But Li Qiu Shui's remark inevitably invited speculation, and Feng Yi had not expected her to be so shameless; even with his thick‑skinned composure, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

A Zi, however, flushed red to the ears, and shouted, 'Shameless!'

It was unclear whom she was cursing.

Tong Lao laughed loudly and said: "If that lowly person had any nerve, how could they have lured his disciple?"

Li QiuShui gave a faint smile: "Senior Sister, keep scolding slowly; we'll meet again."

Li QiuShui gave a coy laugh towards Feng Yi, one hand covering the chest, turned and left, swift as wind and lightning, darting into the forest and vanishing without a trace.

Feng Yi raised his eyebrows: "Return to Ethereal Peak!"

Then his eyes rolled, and with a puff, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

(End of chapter)