Chapter Thirteen: Reunion with the Master

From afar, above the sea of clouds, a streak of red light flashed, like a rolling crimson curtain. As the light drew nearer, Qin Yi and Zhu Chunfu could finally make out its true form: it was a young girl.

She wore a plum-red dress, the flowing fabric unable to conceal her graceful, curvaceous figure. Her long, lustrous hair danced in the wind; her skin was as pale as winter snow. She had delicate, exquisite features, and her eyes were large, clear, and sparkling with life.

“Jiang Yao,” Qin Yi murmured softly as he looked at the newcomer. He guessed she must have heard about yesterday’s mountain induction ceremony and had come to see him.

“Junior Sister Jiang Yao?” Zhu Chunfu asked in bewilderment, evidently puzzled as to why Jiang Yao would act so abruptly. Even if she wanted to find Junior Brother Qin Yi, there was no need to approach him this way—especially since this Qin Yi was his fifth junior brother, not the fourth.

Jiang Yao paid Zhu Chunfu no heed. She called back her sword, Hanmei, gripped it in her hand, and, before Zhu Chunfu could react, flew straight toward Qin Yi.

Qin Yi saw her coming with sword in hand and made no move to resist. He knew full well he stood no chance against even a casual strike from her, given his current cultivation. Jiang Yao saw his resigned demeanor yet showed no intention of stopping. Her sword continued its thrust, and in the next instant, Hanmei’s chilling blade hovered at Qin Yi’s throat.

Qin Yi’s mouth was parched, his throat dry. He considered whether to reveal his true identity—after all, he trusted those present.

Zhu Chunfu, witnessing this, mustered his strength to rush towards Qin Yi. If Jiang Yao accidentally killed his junior brother, who had been on Mount Taiyi less than a day, how could he ever answer to their master? In his panic, he forgot that with such a commotion on Tengyun Isle, their master was already well aware of what was transpiring.

“Jiang girl, you’ve gone too far!” At that moment, a voice rang out from within Tengyun Isle—it was Master Zixuan. Instantly, Hanmei’s sword aura halted before Qin Yi’s throat, unable to advance even a hair’s breadth.

Qin Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief. His sensitive identity was best left unexposed for now, especially to Jiang Yao. Yet, with the tension over, Qin Yi’s thick-skinned nature resurfaced. He looked at Jiang Yao and shamelessly said, “Fairy sister, why are you so ruthless? Even if you wanted to snatch someone away, this is overkill! You’re so beautiful, just say the word and I’ll come whenever you call.”

Jiang Yao was composed and did not react with anger. She glanced at the sword named Feixue in Qin Yi’s hand, then called out towards Tengyun Isle, “Master Zixuan, are you sure he isn’t Qin Yi?”

“Junior Sister Jiang Yao, his name is indeed Qin Yi, but Master said he is not my fourth junior brother,” Zhu Chunfu hurried to explain, worried Jiang Yao would mistake this Qin Yi for their other junior brother.

“Did your master not tell you about the inspection your Uncle Qingfu performed yesterday?” At this moment, Master Zixuan soared out from Tengyun Isle and addressed Jiang Yao.

“Then why was he able to catch Feixue so easily?” Jiang Yao remained unconvinced, her eyes fixed on Qin Yi and the snowy-white sword in his hand.

Master Zixuan shook his head in resignation. “Don’t be stubborn. You’ve traveled with him long enough—you should know the traits of a Supreme Dao Embryo by now, shouldn’t you?”

Jiang Yao still seemed unwilling to let the matter go. She stared at Qin Yi as if trying to see straight through to his soul. Under her intense gaze, Qin Yi felt uncomfortable and feigned shyness. “Fairy sister, you’re so lovely. If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll get embarrassed.”

Zhu Chunfu burst into laughter at Qin Yi’s antics, unable to contain himself even in Master Zixuan’s presence.

Master Zixuan ignored the pair’s antics, as if he could not be bothered to spare them a single glance.

Jiang Yao turned away from Qin Yi, summoned Feixue from his hand, and rode her sword away into the distance.

Qin Yi watched her departing figure, his gaze clouded. At close range, he had noticed something was off about Jiang Yao’s complexion. For cultivators, especially one as beautiful as her, such ill health was not normal; it was the result of something accumulating over time, not under her own control.

“Do you want to know what’s going on with Jiang Yao?” Master Zixuan asked gently, noticing Qin Yi’s distraction.

“Yes.” Qin Yi answered heavily, his tone cold. In the next instant, he realized something was amiss, but before he could explain, Master Zixuan struck him lightly on the back of the head.

“You rascal, still trying to hide things from me?” Master Zixuan glared at him in feigned anger, having sensed that the spiritual mark he had left in Qin Yi’s body was now missing its third layer.

“Master, you found out.” Qin Yi managed a helpless smile. He hadn’t expected to be exposed so soon, but with his current cultivation, there was no way he could remove his master’s spiritual mark.

“So, Qin Yi, you’ve been deceiving us!” Zhu Chunfu immediately caught on and swung a playful slap at Qin Yi, though Qin Yi dodged it with ease.

“Heh, I really had no choice!” Qin Yi laughed sheepishly. He really had been forced by circumstance. Though he trusted his master and brothers, his current identity was still too sensitive.

“I don’t know what happened to you, but since you’ve returned, your master would risk his life before letting any harm come to you. Don’t worry.” Master Zixuan showed a rare smile as he looked at Qin Yi.

With an emotional sob, Qin Yi finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He dropped to his knees before Master Zixuan and called out, “Master.”

“Enough, get up. It’s only been a year—how have you turned so sentimental?” Master Zixuan helped Qin Yi to his feet, but his own eyes were brimming with tears even as he teased Qin Yi for being soft-hearted.

Zhu Chunfu, watching the two of them, also found his eyes misting over. The four brothers had all been orphans, and their master and fellow disciples were the only family they had—each one indispensable.

“Master, what exactly happened to Jiang Yao?” Qin Yi asked urgently. He suspected her condition was related to the events of a year ago, but he did not know the details.

This time, however, Master Zixuan shook his head regretfully. “I’m not entirely sure, either. Since Jiang Yao returned to Mount Taiyi a year ago, she’s rarely been seen. Besides, you know your Uncle Xue and I don’t exactly see eye to eye.”

At this, Qin Yi smiled wryly. It seemed Uncle Xue still bore a grudge against his master, and he had to admit that, in his past life, his inability to confirm his relationship with Jiang Yao sooner was largely due to Uncle Xue’s efforts.

“Ahem!” Sensing perhaps he was being underestimated, Master Zixuan cleared his throat loudly and declared with righteous resolve, “A man should deal with his own affairs.”

Qin Yi and Zhu Chunfu exchanged a look and smiled, their feelings perfectly understood without another word.