Chapter 189: with translation of chapter title

On Divine Arrow Peak, inside the pavilion.

Nie Jin Feng was sitting opposite Zhang You Long, drinking tea.

"Peerless talent?

I never expected that brat's aptitude to surpass yours, junior fellow disciple—no wonder he could learn the Thunderbolt Arrow so quickly!

Zhang You Long puffed on his dry tobacco, the hazy smoke swirling, his eyes bright as morning stars.

"If that's the case, learning the Storm Thunder Dragon in a month isn't impossible.

"Ha! One month? Absolutely impossible!

Nie Jin Feng spoke decisively, his tone extremely firm.

"Junior fellow disciple, it's not me, your senior fellow disciple, saying this—why bear a grudge against a youth? The better his talent, the more certain we are to obtain the Divine Weapon Secret Realm, right?

Zhang You Long shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"He has repeatedly provoked my Wind Thunder Valley, even killing over ten mountain-guarding disciples in the valley.

If I hadn't discovered his archery talent was not bad, and that he might earn the Divine Weapon's recognition, I would have already killed him in Fengyang City.

A flicker of coldness appeared in Nie Jin Feng's eyes.

"What do you plan, junior fellow disciple? Wait until he becomes the master of the Divine Weapon, then kill him and seize it?

Zhang You Long held his pipe, his eyes dark and inscrutable.

Given his understanding of his junior fellow disciple, such an act is definitely something he would do.

Otherwise, the martial world wouldn't call him the Eight-Armed Evil Dragon; it would be the Eight-Armed Divine Dragon.

"I have already made a three-article agreement with him; after the matter is settled, we will owe each other nothing.

If he then provokes my Wind Thunder Valley again, even with the Divine Weapon in hand, I will surely kill him." Nie Jin Feng's tone was icy.

"That's excellent!

Hearing the answer he wanted, Zhang You Long then leisurely resumed puffing his dry tobacco.

If it weren't for our opposing positions, I would actually quite like that brat's personality.

It's a pity, but the martial world and the imperial court are fundamentally strangers.

To be able to part amicably is already extremely difficult; asking for more would be too much.

Moreover, with that brat's talent, he could even hope to contend for the true transmission of the Dao Sect; Wind Thunder Valley is ultimately too small a temple to keep this hidden dragon.

"Huh?

Just as the two fell silent, each lost in thought, a streak of light shot straight from Yunzhou City toward Divine Arrow Peak.

"Old Five?

Seeing the thunder eagle flying straight toward the pavilion, Nie Jin Feng raised an eyebrow.

Wasn't he just sent to deliver the thunder-strike ironwood bow to that brat? How did he come back so quickly?

Could it be that the brat spoke rudely, driving his own disciple back?

Having Yan Jue Ming deliver the bow was something Nie Jin Feng had carefully considered.

Among the true transmission disciples, Yan Jue Ming's temperament is the gentlest—unlike Yue Shan, who hates evil like an enemy—and he also listens to Nie Jin Feng the most.

Even if he harbored objections to that brat, out of respect for his own face, he surely wouldn't lay a hand on him.

But how could he have returned so soon after descending the mountain—less than an hour?

"Master, Senior Uncle.

Yan Jue Ming lightly landed from the thunder eagle, carrying a sandalwood long case, and respectfully bowed to the two masters.

"Is that brat not at home?

Nie Jin Feng raised his brows, his tone somewhat displeased.

After landing, Yan Jue Ming had been observing his own master.

Seeing his master's displeased expression, he hastily said, "Reporting to Master, Qin… Colonel Qin is at home!

He had originally intended to say Qin junior fellow disciple, but upon reflection, since his master had not let slip, it seemed he temporarily did not want others to know their relationship, so he quickly corrected himself.

Regarding Yan Jue Ming's slip of the tongue, Nie Jin Feng merely gave him a strange glance, didn't pursue it, and only frowned, saying:

"Since he's at home, why did you bring the bow back?

Hearing his master's slightly reproachful tone, Yan Jue Ming's heart jolted, and he immediately explained, "Colonel Qin had me bring it back.

"What is this brat up to?

Yesterday he himself said he wanted to practice archery with the ironwood bow; I gave it to him, yet he didn't practice—is he trying to toy with me?

Nie Jin Feng's face darkened, not noticing at all that Yan Jue Ming's expression outside the pavilion had turned extremely strange.

Indeed, the ironwood bow was actively sent out by the master.

Furthermore, from the master's tone, it was Qin junior fellow disciple who made the request, and the master agreed.

But when did the master become so easygoing?

In his mind, his master had always been someone who spoke once and stood firm.

Even toward us true transmission disciples, he rarely showed a pleasant expression.

But now, the master's attitude toward Colonel Qin is indeed somewhat indulgent.

This made Yan Jue Ming increasingly convinced that his guess—that rumor… was true!

"Reporting to Master, Colonel Qin… has practiced!

To avoid causing a misunderstanding between his master and that 'Qin junior fellow disciple' due to his unclear delivery, Yan Jue Ming hurriedly defended Qin Shuò.

Since he became certain that Qin Shuò was his master's illegitimate son,

every word and deed of Nie Jin Feng, in Yan Jue Ming's eyes, has completely changed.

Just like this moment, Nie Jin Feng is clearly expressing his dissatisfaction with the Qin surname.

But after adding the filter of "illegitimate son", in Yan Jue Ming's eyes it became a daily father‑son confrontation.

Practiced?

Nie Jin Feng, of course, didn't know what Yan Jue Ming was thinking; he merely frowned and said:

I didn't tell him to practice thirty times a day?

How long has it been…

If I had known he'd be so inattentive, I shouldn't have agreed to send the Thunder‑Struck Iron‑Wood Bow for him to practice archery.

Did the master personally assign a cultivation task to Junior Brother Qin?

Yan Jue Ming's heart stirred, and a hint of envy appeared in his eyes.

He remembered that when he first entered the sect, the master had said, "The master leads you to the door; cultivation depends on the individual."

To achieve success in martial arts, one can only rely on one's own diligent effort.

So over these years, this master of his, aside from giving daily pointers, never assigned them tasks.

They rely on their own cultivation and insight, turning to the master for advice only when they hit a bottleneck.

But this Junior Brother Qin…

Sigh! Blood‑related, indeed they're different!

Yan Jue Ming's mind wandered, yet he said:

Qin Xiao Wei possesses extraordinary talent, and with the master's personal guidance, he has already cultivated the Violent Wind Thunder Dragon; wanting to rest a day is perfectly normal.

On the way back, he kept thinking about how he should get along with the master, this 'illegitimate son'.

From the current signs, the master likely intends to nurture this Junior Brother Qin into the Young Valley Master of Wind Thunder Valley.

As the master's true‑transmission disciple, he naturally ought to give his full support.

Thus, he cannot stand by and watch ill will arise between this father‑son pair over such a trivial matter.

Therefore, whenever Nie Jin Feng showed dissatisfaction with Qin Shuo, Yan Jue Ming immediately began to make excuses for him, thereby conveying to the master his intention to befriend the junior brother!

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he noticed the mountain atmosphere suddenly freeze, even the wind at the summit seeming to stop.

Looking up, he saw the master staring straight at him, face full of disbelief:

"What did you say? That brat has cultivated the Violent Wind Thunder Dragon?"

"Huh?"

Yan Jue Ming's thoughts were already scattered, his mood chaotic,

At this moment, the master's question startled him, and he nervously glanced at Nie Jin Feng and Zhang You Long:

"This… what's the problem?"

"Are you sure he's displaying the Violent Wind Thunder Dragon?"

Zhang You Long, who had been leisurely smoking nearby, also lost his composure, jumping to his feet and staring intensely at Yan Jue Ming.

"Certainly!"

Yan Jue Ming nodded decisively.

"Is it just a single dragon head, or the complete Violent Wind Thunder Dragon?" Nie Jin Feng asked again.

"The complete Violent Wind Thunder Dragon!"

Yan Jue Ming looked bewildered.

Wasn't Junior Brother Qin's archery taught personally by the master?

How come it sounds as if the master knows nothing about his progress?

Thinking this, he tentatively asked, "Master, when did you start teaching Xiao Wei archery?"

No sooner had he spoken than he felt it improper to pry into the master's privacy.

But the next moment, he heard an answer that struck him like lightning.

"Yesterday!"

Nie Jin Feng muttered, his tone incredulous.

"Yesterday?"

Yan Jue Ming first froze, then his heart filled with shock.

At this moment, he finally understood why the master and his uncle wore such petrified expressions.

"One day!"

His own Junior Brother Qin…

He took only one day to cultivate the Violent Wind Thunder Dragon that he himself had failed to achieve in half a year.

Such talent…

In an instant, Yan Jue Ming's whole body went numb!