Chapter Seventy: Declaration of War

With Qin Hanyan’s diagnosis, most of Feng Ke’er’s injuries had healed. She no longer needed to rest in bed and could begin some rehabilitative training—such as practicing sword moves, as long as she refrained from channeling her spiritual energy.

Seizing the opportunity, Feng Ke’er reported that the low-grade magical sword assigned to her by the sect had unfortunately gone missing. Naturally, she placed all the blame on Li Hentian—at the time, she had been practicing her swordsmanship when that fellow came dragging a snake’s tail behind him. Startled, her hands and feet turned to jelly, and in panic she dropped the sword, summoned the Phoenix Blood Crystal to conceal herself, and fled. She could swear she went back later to look for it, but after searching the entire area, she never found the sword again.

At the end, she clenched her fists indignantly. “Great Aunt, do you think that scoundrel might have picked up my sword? But with his cultivation, there’s no way he’d be interested in a mere low-grade magical weapon.”

Qin Hanyan gave a soft laugh. “He wouldn’t care for it, of course. But for someone like you—an early-stage Qi practitioner without a weapon for self-defense—wandering the forest would be quite inconvenient.”

Feng Ke’er had a sudden realization. “How infuriating!”

The outcome of her report was twofold: first, the matter of the lost sword was now in the open; second, Qin Hanyan gifted her a high-grade magical longsword, and, while demonstrating, shared her insights and experiences on the Flowing Cloud Sword style suitable for Qi cultivators.

According to Qin Hanyan, this was the very first high-grade magical sword she had ever forged herself—a memento of great significance, not given lightly to just anyone.

Honestly, Feng Ke’er wasn’t terribly impressed by a mere high-grade magical weapon. However, given her current public persona as a greenhorn at the early Qi stage, she accepted the sword with exaggerated delight and gratitude.

Yet, Qin Hanyan’s commentary on the Flowing Cloud Sword was truly enlightening. She was right: the fundamentals were crucial. The simpler something appeared, the deeper its hidden complexity. These were basic entry-level sword moves, yet in her hands they flowed like an endless river, each move brimming with infinite variations.

With Qin Hanyan’s guidance, Feng Ke’er felt her understanding of swordsmanship had risen to a new level. As soon as her mentor left, she was eager to mentally rehearse what she’d learned.

But then Qin Jun pushed open the door. “Was Great Aunt here just now?”

Feng Ke’er nodded. “She came to help heal my injuries. She said I’ve almost recovered and can try practicing sword techniques, but I must be careful not to use spiritual energy.”

Qin Jun responded distractedly, “Oh,” then stood there wringing his hands, visibly troubled.

Did Li Hentian sow discord when he went out? Feng Ke’er’s heart sank, and she took the initiative. “Big Brother, is something wrong?”

Qin Jun hesitated, but finally came over and sat sideways on the edge of her bed. “Hengdi, do you have some misunderstanding with Uncle Li?”

“He told you that?” Feng Ke’er raised an eyebrow, inwardly thinking, as expected!

But Qin Jun waved his hands. “No, no, Uncle Li said nothing. I guessed. You used to be closest with him and never treated him so coldly. In fact, just now you weren’t merely cold—you seemed wary.”

What sharp eyes for a brat, Feng Ke’er thought, but she denied everything, insisting he’d misunderstood. Then she took out her brand-new longsword and, with a flourish, changed the subject. “Look! Great Aunt just gave it to me!”

“Hmm, not bad,” Qin Jun replied, but then flashed his own sword. “But mine’s a bit better—mine is a low-grade spiritual weapon. Mother had it custom made for me.”

Feng Ke’er, feigning disappointment, put her sword away and pouted. “Big Brother, when will Mother come see me?” Secretly, she was drawing a big “No!”—the less she saw of that woman, the better!

Qin Jun sheathed his sword and grinned. “Soon. Mother sent a message this morning saying she’s much recovered and will personally arrange Hanmei’s forty-day celebration. She said by then you’ll be fully healed, so she’s already informed the outer sect’s supervisor to allow us both a trip back to the inner sect.”

“That’s wonderful!” Feng Ke’er clapped her hands in apparent glee, though her heart was sinking—Heavens, are you toying with me?

With her diversion, Qin Jun forgot his previous line of questioning and began chatting excitedly with her about the upcoming celebration.

It was only then that Feng Ke’er learned the “Forty-Day Family Banquet” resembled a baby’s full-month feast in later generations—a gathering where friends and family were invited for a meal and to give gifts. The difference was that before eating, a respected elder with many descendants would shave the newborn’s hair.

According to “Uncle Li,” the elder chosen to shave little Qin Han’s hair was the clan’s ancestor herself—the sole elder of the Qin family in the sect, who was on the verge of ascending and had long secluded herself from worldly affairs. Yet, as the Qin family’s numbers had dwindled, and in the past fifty years only little Qin Han had been born, the ancestor was overjoyed at the news and insisted on personally shaving her great-great-great-great-grandchild’s hair.

Feng Ke’er nearly fainted at the news. There was only one thought in her mind: Escape!

By all accounts, this “Ancestor” was several thousand years old and possessed the highest cultivation in the Azure Cloud Sect. If such a person wasn’t a “human sage,” she’d be a “human monster.” For an impostor like Feng Ke’er, the pressure was staggering!

After Qin Jun left, Feng Ke’er lay back, hands behind her head, pondering how she might slip away unnoticed before the celebration.

Truthfully, in the outer sect—with her current cultivation and the Azure Sword at her side—she could have roamed freely and even sneaked out of the sect before. Unfortunately, her luck had run out: the sect gates were now closed, the outer sect was under strict reorganization, and the Grand Elder was personally supervising. The difficulty of sneaking off had soared. On top of that, thanks to the blood-scented sachet, Great Aunt’s care was as omnipresent as air—she couldn’t make a single false move.

After much thought, she concluded that her top priority was to somehow remove Great Aunt’s ever-watchful protection.

But that was easier said than done! Especially since, after her little complaint today, Great Aunt had left with a look full of concern and worry. If not for Feng Ke’er’s “serious injuries,” the old lady would have probably tied her to her own belt for safekeeping.

So, applying openly to leave was out of the question.

Only subterfuge remained. The simplest and most direct way would be to steal the blood-scented sachet. But that raised new problems: first, while Feng Ke’er had the Phoenix Blood Crystal and could manage theft easily, she herself couldn’t act—her every movement was under Great Aunt’s watchful eye; second, Great Aunt was at the Void Transformation stage, and her standards for would-be thieves were high—an ordinary person wouldn’t stand a chance!

After racking her brains, Feng Ke’er finally devised a wicked plan: since the task was so difficult and challenging, why not let the enemy do it?

All signs pointed to Li Hentian being determined to destroy her. Yet he was extremely, exceedingly afraid of Great Aunt. Heh, if he were to learn about the blood-scented sachet...

Without delay, Feng Ke’er set her plan in motion, “accidentally” letting slip to Qin Jun Great Aunt’s dissatisfaction with Li Hentian, using her own coldness toward him that morning as a pretext. Great Aunt, too, had concluded that she must be afraid of Li Hentian. Though Feng Ke’er denied it repeatedly, Great Aunt remained suspicious, believing Li Hentian must have treated her harshly.

Qin Jun, always loyal, was appalled to hear that she might have gotten their beloved Uncle Li into trouble, and immediately scolded her fiercely, saying he would go and warn Uncle Li.

Feng Ke’er feigned terror, leaping up to clamp a hand over his mouth. “Big Brother, please, don’t tell Uncle Li! I beg you…”

“Why not?” Qin Jun pried her hand away, glaring. “Hengdi, you must take responsibility. Do you want Uncle Li to be reprimanded by Great Aunt without even knowing why? After all he’s done for you?”

“It’s not that. Great Aunt made me promise before she left not to say a word to Uncle Li,” Feng Ke’er replied softly, head bowed. “She said she was afraid if he found out, it might cause misunderstandings and affect his relationship with Mother and Hanmei.”

“I see.” Qin Jun scratched his head and sat down.

Over the next day or so, Feng Ke’er noticed him distracted and troubled, and felt a twinge of guilt—was she becoming a bad person, using anyone and everyone to achieve her ends?

But she quickly consoled herself: the problem was, “Uncle Li” was dead set on killing her! She had to save herself! With her pitifully weak cultivation, what else could she do but use her wits?

Qin Jun only struggled for a day and a half. By the afternoon of the third day, he winked at Feng Ke’er. “It’s fine, you don’t have to worry about Uncle Li anymore.”

She raised an eyebrow.

He nodded gleefully. “Uncle Li asked me to tell you he has no misunderstandings about you. He’ll treat you as he always has. And he won’t let this affect his relationship with Mother and Hanmei.”

Feng Ke’er understood instantly: treat her as always—meaning, kill her without mercy!

The wretch had formally declared war!

Fine, then—bring it on! Who’s afraid of whom?

By her calculations, the “meat bird” would soon emerge from seclusion. Last she checked, he was at the peak of third rank—equivalent to the peak of the Core Formation stage. Even if his breakthrough failed, his cultivation would still be much higher than Li Hentian’s.

Her little schemes clattered along merrily, and she entirely forgot her earlier vow: when she reached Foundation Establishment, the first thing she’d do would be to break their contract!

In a flash, forty-nine days passed, and the day arrived for Feng Jiu to emerge from seclusion.

That day, Feng Ke’er rose early. With Great Aunt’s watchful protection still in effect, it was clear Li Hentian hadn’t succeeded yet. In this situation, if the “meat bird” came strutting over after his retreat, her secret would be completely exposed. So she kept close watch on the valley, ready to contact him telepathically the moment he emerged.

(To be continued)