Chapter 26: Undercurrents Stirring

Early the next morning, Qin Yi and his two companions set out at dawn, determined to reach Fish-Dragon Fort before nightfall. Their journey in the daylight was as smooth as ever, with no incidents along the way. As the sun began to sink behind the western hills, the distant silhouette of Fish-Dragon Fort finally came into view.

At this hour, gentle trails of smoke curled above the rooftops, for the New Year was approaching. The houses within the fort pressed tightly together, rising and falling with the uneven ground. Bathed in the golden glow of sunset, the fort’s outer wall seemed warm and inviting—a modest barrier, not high by any measure, yet it enclosed all who called this place home.

“We’re finally here,” Zhang Chen said with a smile as he gazed at the fort from afar. The joy on his face was genuine. Though he was never the most welcome presence here, this was still his home, the place of his birth. He had been away at Mount Taiyi for four years now, and during those years, he’d missed this place dearly. Were it not for his shame at having failed to improve his cultivation—and the fear of being ridiculed upon returning—he doubted he could have stayed away for so long.

Qin Yi, too, looked at Fish-Dragon Fort, his heart brimming with anticipation at the thought of home. In his past life, he had been an orphan. Although Cloud-Soaring Island had become home to him, and Master Zixuan had treated him as both father and mother, surely this feeling would be different.

“Jiang Yao, have you ever wished for a home?” Qin Yi turned to her and asked. But Jiang Yao’s expression was odd. Qin Yi, curious, pressed her, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Yao gazed intently at the fort, her face grave. “There’s a cultivator of the Golden Core stage within the fort—someone whose strength is at least on par with mine. There are also five Nascent Soul cultivators, none of them weak.”

Both Qin Yi and Zhang Chen were startled, especially Zhang Chen, who blurted, “Are the two households at the end of the southeastern street inside the fort safe?”

Qin Yi was curious as well. A cultivator as powerful as Jiang Yao would be a renowned figure in Lingzhou—why would such people come to this remote place?

“It’s too far—I can’t sense clearly,” Jiang Yao replied, shaking her head. She then soared forward on her sword, closing the distance to the fort. After a few moments of sensing, her face darkened. “All six are gathered where you mentioned.”

At this, Zhang Chen’s mind went blank. The next instant, he dashed forward impulsively, muttering, “Nothing will happen, nothing will happen. Father, Mother, wait for me—I’m coming to save you.”

With a flick of her finger, Jiang Yao immobilized Zhang Chen where he stood. Qin Yi stepped forward and said, “Don’t be rash. We need to assess the situation first.”

Suddenly, Zhang Chen seized Qin Yi’s hands, as if grasping his last lifeline. “Qin the Unrighteous—no, I should call you Qin Yi.”

Qin Yi was taken aback by this sudden remark.

“You never really tried to hide it. I’m not a fool—I’ve noticed. I don’t know what happened, but you’re not quite the same as the brother I once knew. The reason I never said anything is partly because I didn’t want to face it, and partly because, over these four years, I realized you’re still very much like my old friend. Maybe we’re not as close as brothers, but in my heart, you’re already my friend. Now, your parents—at least in name—and my own might be in danger. You’re not going to stand by and watch, are you?” Zhang Chen poured out his heart, perhaps expressing everything he’d meant to say these past four years.

“Who says we’re not brothers?” Qin Yi gripped Zhang Chen’s right hand firmly. Sometimes, fate simply falls into place. In his past life, Qin Yi had never had a brother to share life and death with—but now, he did.

“Brother!” Zhang Chen squeezed Qin Yi’s hand tightly, calling out with emotion.

“All right, enough. Don’t look at me like that, you’re making my skin crawl,” Qin Yi joked, pulling his hand back. Two grown men staring at each other like this—what must that look like? Especially with a woman standing nearby.

“Get lost!” Zhang Chen punched Qin Yi in the chest, and the two exchanged grins.

Seeing Qin Yi so delighted, Jiang Yao’s smile blossomed as well. So it always was—his happiness became her own.

“I have good news,” Jiang Yao said with a smile. “There’s no sign of a fight inside the fort yet.”

“Good, then let’s come up with a plan,” Qin Yi said, glancing at both companions before looking at Zhang Chen. “You should reach the Nascent Soul stage first.”

“Mm!” Zhang Chen nodded and immediately sat cross-legged to begin.

“Jiang Yao, lend me Snowfall,” Qin Yi said, reaching for the snow-white sword at her waist.

“Don’t push yourself. If you’re in danger, I’ll come to save you,” Jiang Yao replied, handing him the sword.

“So little faith in me?” Qin Yi laughed, stroking the blade in his hands with a nostalgic air. “Old friend, we’re about to fight side by side again.”

“It’s not a matter of faith. It’s that your current cultivation can’t put me at ease,” Jiang Yao reminded him, not letting him forget that he was no longer who he’d been a year ago.

“All right, all right,” Qin Yi replied, then muttered, “Wait till I catch up with you—then we’ll see who gets a spanking.”

Unfortunately, Jiang Yao overheard him. With a rare, playful smile, she replied, “I’ll be waiting.”

By then, Zhang Chen had already succeeded in advancing to the Nascent Soul stage. With the help of the Nascent Soul’s birth, it was only natural he’d be quick—otherwise, Qin Yi wouldn’t have had him do it right then and there.

Seeing the other two still flirting, Zhang Chen couldn’t help but complain, “Qin Yi, you’re still at it!”

“What’s a strategy session without you? We were waiting for you,” Qin Yi replied with a smile, then grew serious. “Jiang Yao, you’ll hold off the Golden Core cultivator. As for the rest, it’s up to the two of us.”

“Understood,” Zhang Chen answered, unfazed.

Qin Yi continued, “I want you to sneak into Fish-Dragon Fort and lay down runes near your home. With your Nascent Soul-level spiritual strength and the profundity of the Celestial Talisman, the runes you set should be enough to hamper their fighting abilities.”

“Understood!” Zhang Chen replied. He knew he couldn’t fully hold back all five adversaries, but a few tricks to throw them off should be possible.

“And you?” Zhang Chen suddenly asked. Qin Yi had laid out everyone’s role but his own. Did he plan to face the enemy head-on? Zhang Chen dared not imagine it—not because he underestimated Qin Yi, but because his current cultivation simply didn’t inspire confidence.

“So you don’t believe in me either?” Qin Yi’s face darkened. He could understand Jiang Yao’s doubts, but even this brat didn’t trust him? He gazed at Fish-Dragon Fort and smiled. “Just wait and see—I’ll show you what it means to be Heaven’s favored child.”

“I’m going in first,” Jiang Yao announced, taking the lead as she flew toward Fish-Dragon Fort. She landed some distance away.

“I’m going in too. I have a game of hide and seek to play,” Zhang Chen said, heading off in another direction.

Qin Yi watched the two of them depart, unable to help but twitch his lips.