Chapter Sixty-Nine: Even Good People Complain First

So, it turns out that the Man in the Black Robe was none other than the Heaven of Sorrow! Feng Ke’er’s entire body tensed as she flipped herself upright on the couch, alert and wary. She resembled a hedgehog, bristling with spikes.

Heaven of Sorrow, seeing her reaction, sat down at the edge of the low couch with a teasing smile, raising his eyebrows playfully as he asked, “What’s wrong, Heng’er? It’s only been a few days, and you don’t recognize your uncle, the Celestial Master?”

Deliberately, unmistakably so—he was absolutely doing this on purpose. Feng Ke’er warily scooted backwards, her lips pressed tightly together, remaining silent.

“Heng-di?” Qin Jun finally realized something was amiss. Bewildered, he leaned over and reached out to touch her forehead. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?”

“Big Brother, my head hurts…” Feng Ke’er seized the opportunity, nestling into the crook of his arm, acting coy and vulnerable.

“How could that happen?” Qin Jun was startled. “Did you take your elixir today?”

“I just did,” Feng Ke’er replied weakly, her gaze lingering on the empty ceramic bowl placed in front of the couch. The implication was clear: there’s the empty bowl as proof, she had genuinely dissolved the medicine in water and swallowed it just moments before.

“So that’s it. Just lie still and don’t stir your true energy,” Qin Jun breathed a sigh of relief, gently helping her lie back and carefully tucking in the blanket.

Feng Ke’er glanced at Heaven of Sorrow beside her, mouth slightly open.

Before she could speak, Qin Jun straightened up and explained on her behalf to Heaven of Sorrow, “Uncle Celestial Master, if it weren’t for Ancestor Aunt arriving in time, Heng-di would’ve almost fallen victim to that fiend’s soul-searching spell. But Heng-di was gravely injured, unconscious for three days and nights. Ancestor Aunt has many affairs to attend, so she couldn’t come daily to heal him, but she granted him the Rejuvenation Pill. Heng-di’s cultivation is weak and he’s wounded, so it’s natural he can’t withstand the pill’s potency. That discomfort just now was from the medicine, nothing more. Uncle Celestial Master, please don’t take it to heart.”

Feng Ke’er closed her eyes, knitted her brows, and let out a feeble moan.

Heaven of Sorrow’s gaze circled her face, then he rose. With a magnanimous wave and a familiar smile, he said, “It’s nothing. Since healing is the priority, I’ve come at the wrong time—I’ll return in a few days to visit Heng’er.” He then carefully urged Qin Jun to take good care of “Heng’er.”

The two left the room, one after the other, their conversation fading into the distance.

Feng Ke’er opened her eyes, staring at the door for a long while, fists clenched, her face twisted with deep resentment and bitterness.

As expected, a flash of red light erupted. Ancestor Aunt stood in the room, hands clasped behind her back.

“Heaven of Sorrow was just here?” she asked, though she already knew. “You’re afraid of him! Why?”

Feng Ke’er’s eyes brimmed with tears: Ancestor Aunt, you are wise beyond compare. Honestly, I can’t beat him! I’m terrified!

Fine, she admitted she was a bad child. Once she equated Heaven of Sorrow with the Man in the Black Robe, she immediately began plotting against him.

If I can’t defeat him, can’t I outwit him? Just because I’m not a villain, doesn’t mean I can’t lodge a complaint first, right?

So, she used Qin Hanyan’s shadowing skills to deliberately act in an exceedingly abnormal manner. Qin Hanyan did not disappoint, arriving immediately.

Seeing Feng Ke’er lying in bed, eyes cast down, hands gripping the sheet, trembling, Qin Hanyan was puzzled. With a wave of her hand, she shut the half-open wooden door tight with a creak.

“What happened, Heng’er? Will you tell Ancestor Aunt?” She sat at the edge of the low couch, patiently wiping away tears at the corner of Feng Ke’er’s eyes. “Don’t be afraid; Ancestor Aunt has placed a barrier at the door. No one outside can hear us.”

Only then did Feng Ke’er lift her eyelids and stammer, “Ancestor Aunt, he… he’s not Uncle Celestial Master.”

Like a bolt from the blue, Qin Hanyan’s eyes widened in shock. “What!”

Feng Ke’er sat up and, omitting and editing as needed, recounted how the Man in the Black Robe murdered Old Master Chen and destroyed the evidence.

“Ancestor Aunt, I thought I hid well enough not to be discovered. But apparently, I was wrong. He must have known I was there.” Feng Ke’er hung her head low, like a child who had done something wrong.

“You said, after he removed the ghost mask, his face changed twice?” Qin Hanyan’s expression grew colder.

Feng Ke’er nodded vigorously, meeting her gaze. “Ancestor Aunt, I saw it clearly. When he took off the mask, first he showed the face of Uncle Celestial Master. Then he spoke to Master Chen; their voices were low, and I couldn’t catch what they said. But I saw him change to another completely different face: pale and fair, with slender eyebrows and beautiful phoenix eyes. Master Chen was so frightened he screamed, ‘It’s you!’”

“Long eyebrows? Phoenix eyes? Red lips, pale face?” Qin Hanyan inhaled sharply, eyes narrowing and distant. “Impossible… No wonder…”

Feng Ke’er tugged cautiously at Qin Hanyan’s sleeve. “Ancestor Aunt?” Inwardly, she rejoiced: it seems these two not only know each other well, but there’s a history of bad blood. Heaven helps me! Even if Uncle Celestial Master tries to talk his way out, Ancestor Aunt will never believe him.

Heavens, you are truly my benefactor!

Qin Hanyan came back to herself, looking grave. “You’re right. His cultivation is at the Condensing Pill stage, far above yours. How could a patch of shrubs hide you? What happened next?”

“Afterwards, I was terrified. When he left, it took me a long time to recover,” Feng Ke’er said. “I thought that was the end of it. Who knew he didn’t kill me right then, but chased me all the way to the Forest of Ten Thousand Ants.”

“He entered the Forest of Ten Thousand Ants!” Qin Hanyan was thunderstruck. “He could enter the forest!” Impossible! Her cultivation surpassed his by a whole realm and she couldn’t break the barrier. Even the Sect Leader, with higher cultivation, couldn’t deal with it. How did he manage it at his Condensing Pill stage?

“Yes. He was really writhing about inside the forest,” Feng Ke’er nodded again, vigorously.

“Writhing?” Qin Hanyan was baffled.

Feng Ke’er replied with utmost certainty, “He still wore the same ghost mask and black robe, but his lower body had changed: his legs became a single green serpent’s tail.” She demonstrated with her hands, “It was this big, covered in dense, gleaming scales, the tail tipped like a cone—truly terrifying.”

Now, Qin Hanyan could no longer sit still. She sprang up, pacing rapidly back and forth, then rushed over. “Are you sure it was the same person?”

“He never removed the ghost mask, but his voice was the same,” Feng Ke’er frowned just as deeply.

“Oh? He spoke! Heng’er, repeat his words exactly.”

Feng Ke’er straightened up, imitating that false voice: “Qin Heng, come out, I see you!”

Qin Hanyan snorted dismissively. “Cheap trick!”

Feng Ke’er echoed, “Exactly, that’s what I thought. So I stayed hidden and didn’t come out.”

But suddenly, Qin Hanyan grabbed her right wrist, eyes flashing. “Heng’er, how did you hide? His cultivation is far above yours; if he wanted to kill you, how could you evade him?”

Feng Ke’er lowered her gaze. Honestly, she confessed, “Forgive me, Ancestor Aunt, I shouldn’t have hidden this from you.” She took out the Phoenix Blood Crystal from her storage pouch with some pain. “I have this. It lets me become invisible.”

Qin Hanyan stared at the object in her hand, petrified.

Ten breaths passed before she released her grip, stammering, “Is this… the Phoenix Blood Crystal?” Truthfully, such a sacred artifact had never appeared in the lower realm. She had never seen the real thing, only glimpsed a similar pattern in an ancient jade slip fragment years ago. Supposedly, the treasure was called the Phoenix Blood Crystal, which could render one invisible. Whether this was true or not, she really had no certainty.

Feng Ke’er met her gaze, clear-eyed, nodding again, inwardly thinking: Ah, telling a lie is truly difficult. Who knows how many times I’ve nodded today—my neck aches.

“How did you get it?” Qin Hanyan thought of another issue. “Those rumors about the Fire Phoenix appearing in the outer sect recently—are they true? Did you see the Fire Phoenix?”

Feng Ke’er shook her head in confusion. “I never saw the Fire Phoenix. Before coming to the outer sect, Mother instructed me to keep a close eye on the Wind Clan disciples of Great Green Mountain. So, I always stuck close to Bodhi Seed. I saw him secretly take out this Phoenix Blood Crystal once, admiring it alone—it was precious to him. So, I guessed it must be a valuable treasure. One time, while he slept, I searched him and found it. Later, after advancing in rank and bonding with it by blood, I learned it was the Phoenix Blood Crystal.”

So, the Wind Clan’s saintess truly came for the Fire Phoenix. Moreover, it was highly likely already in their hands. Qin Hanyan asked seriously, “Does anyone else know about its existence?”

That question… But Feng Ke’er quickly dismissed her doubts. Qin Hanyan’s character was above reproach; she wasn’t the type to kill her own kin for treasure.

“No. Too many mouths, I dared not tell anyone. I meant to hand it over to Mother in person, but never had the chance.” Feng Ke’er pretended to have a sudden realization. “Oh! Ancestor Aunt, I understand now. That fiend must have been after the Phoenix Blood Crystal. That’s why, though he could have killed me outright, he preferred to use the soul-searching spell.”

“Your reasoning is sound.” Qin Hanyan nodded approvingly. “Remember, never show your treasure. Especially now, with your low cultivation, you must be cautious. Also, treasures belong to no one by right; since it’s bonded to you, it’s your fate. And today’s conversation must never be told to a third party—not even your mother.”

“Hide it from Mother? Why?” Feng Ke’er feigned innocence. Heng’er is a good child, always listens to Mother!

Qin Hanyan didn’t hide anything, and explained plainly, “First, your mother was badly injured when she gave birth to Han’er, and hasn’t recovered yet. Second, Heaven of Sorrow is too suspicious; I need time to investigate. Your mother trusts him deeply and they are close. If she hears of this, she may not be able to keep calm. I don’t want to alert the enemy.”

In her view, everything made sense: Heng’er had stumbled upon Heaven of Sorrow’s secret, so he tried to use the rumors in Forest of Ten Thousand Ants to kill Heng’er and silence her. But Heng’er had the Phoenix Blood Crystal, could become invisible, and escaped. Thus, both to kill her and seize the treasure, he made another attempt in the valley.

Despicable! He nearly succeeded! Qin Hanyan’s gaze turned icy, as if speaking to herself, “If it really is him, I’ve long wanted to settle an old score…”

“What old score?” Feng Ke’er feared she might accidentally reveal something, and quickly interrupted. Experience showed that some gossip was best left unheard. On the surface, she was gossiping; in truth, she was shutting it down.

Qin Hanyan paused, embarrassed, and laughed it off, changing the subject. “Hehe, nothing. Just some old grudges among us elders. Oh yes, let me check if your injury has improved…” Saying this, her right hand’s two fingers pressed gently against Feng Ke’er’s wrist.

Inwardly, Feng Ke’er drew a cross, grinning mischievously: Uncle Celestial Master, is it? You dare provoke me openly! Humph! Ever heard of the Thirty-Six Stratagems’ ‘borrow a knife to kill’? Just wait for Ancestor Aunt to expose your true colors!

(To be continued)

The Universal Tome, Chapter 69—Good People Also Complain First: completed.