Chapter Sixty-Four: The Qian Family's Ambush

At this moment, Qin Yi and his companions had reached a stretch of mountain road winding through a deep valley. Valleys, being natural catchments, were always damp, and teemed with wildlife. The lushness of the vegetation here meant the trees flanking the path soared high overhead, their intertwined branches and dense leaves veiling the road in perpetual shadow.

Old Jiang stroked his snow-white beard, surveyed the surroundings, and let out a sly chuckle. "What a fine place for murder and burial."

Jiang Fengnian laughed and asked, "Elder, do you harbor such inclinations yourself?"

Old Jiang’s lips curled in disdain, and he scoffed, "You scholars are the ones with all the twisted thoughts. Rest assured, even if you begged me to act, I’d refuse. I know full well what you’re thinking: you just don’t want me meddling, so that Qin Yi and Zhang Chen can have an unimpeded path in cultivation—wielding power yet never learning its best use."

Qin Yi grasped the hilt of Feixue at his waist and said with a smile, "No need for either of you to intervene. We’ll handle this ourselves."

Old Jiang snorted at that, "Watch your tongue, boy, lest you bite it off with such boasting."

Just then, as the group bantered, several loud noises broke the stillness of the surrounding forest.

Zhang Chen, recognizing these were not the sounds of animals but of men moving stealthily through the woods, grew impatient. "Since you’re already here, why keep skulking about like frightened women? Come out and face us!"

At his words, the commotion in the underbrush grew even more intense. Finally, several figures burst forth from the forest on either side, blocking the path ahead. When all five had assembled, Qin Yi and his party finally got a clear look at them: five figures, each cloaked head-to-toe in black robes, leaving only their eyes visible.

Qin Yi eyed the five shrouded men with amusement. "What’s with all this secrecy? For all I know, you could be old acquaintances. Why not take off those hoods, let’s see who’s who, share a drink, some meat, maybe make new friends. Wouldn’t that be better?"

At that, the leader of the black-robed figures gathered his energy, and with a sharp motion, the robe exploded into tatters, revealing a face that was neither entirely unfamiliar nor unknown to them.

It was none other than Qian Jiaqing, brother to the current head of the Qian family, Qian Jiashun.

Qian Jiaqing was the first to reveal himself, and the other four followed suit, shredding their black robes and exposing their faces. Among them, Qin Yi recognized another: Qian Hongfu, son of the current Qian family head.

Qian Jiaqing, ignoring Qin Yi—whom he believed to be his father’s murderer—turned instead to Old Jiang and Jiang Fengnian. "He and I have a blood feud," he said. "Surely you elders won’t interfere in our personal matters?"

Old Jiang ignored him, still holding his battered black oil-paper umbrella with a prideful air. Jiang Fengnian, however, smiled and replied, "We have no intention of interfering. But if you, a senior, use your cultivation to oppress the younger generation, that would be improper."

With a single sentence, Jiang Fengnian had effectively boxed Qian Jiaqing in.

Qian Jiaqing frowned but could only acquiesce. Whether in status or cultivation among the human race, Jiang Fengnian was far above him—he dared not overstep. He glanced at Qian Hongfu beside him. "Hongfu, you know what to do. I won’t need to teach you."

"Of course," Qian Hongfu replied, stepping forward.

Qin Yi watched, shook his head, and scoffed, "He’s not up to the task."

Qian Hongfu snorted in return. "And you think you’re that Qin Yi?"

"Hey now, don’t forget about me!" Zhang Chen interjected, growing restless. "Why don’t you four come together? Save us all the trouble of going one by one and wasting time."

Qian Hongfu spat out each word: "How shameless…"

Qin Yi laughed. "Let’s just do it, then. No need to drag this out."

Before Qian Hongfu could respond, Qian Jiaqing cut him off. "Arrogant whelps. Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll oblige you. Don’t hold back."

"Yes, Eighth Master," the remaining three responded in unison, stepping forward to join Qian Hongfu.

Qin Yi, observing the four lined up, turned to Zhang Chen with a grin. "Zhang the Unaccomplished, I’m curious—after all that time spent pestering Old Jiang, did you learn anything useful?"

Zhang Chen offered a mysterious smile that even left Qin Yi momentarily at a loss. "Don’t worry, Qin the Unrighteous. Watch how I scatter them like chaff."

Qin Yi merely smiled, then looked past the four opponents to Qian Jiaqing. "So you still believe we killed your father? I see no point in defending myself by casting blame elsewhere. Come then, whatever move you make, I’ll answer it."

Qian Jiaqing’s face remained expressionless. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Kill them."

At once, the four surged forward. Qin Yi’s sword, Feixue, flashed from its sheath, the blade arcing through the air, leaving a snowy trail as he charged to meet them.

Behind him, Old Jiang called out gruffly, "Boy, don’t rely on flashy but useless moves, or your swordsmanship will be beyond saving!"

Without turning his head, Qin Yi replied with a confident laugh, "Then I’ll count on your guidance, Elder."

Meanwhile, as Qin Yi and the four clashed, Zhang Chen recited an incantation, his hands dancing through a sequence of gestures. Suddenly, the air itself grew thick with humidity. A verdant sigil formed before him, wreathed in drifting mist that carried the fresh scent of plants.

"A water talisman," someone murmured.

The talisman complete, Zhang Chen slapped it toward the four Qian family fighters. It shot forward, but halfway through, it seemed to falter and exploded in midair, splashing green water everywhere. Yet instead of falling to the earth, the water gathered itself, forming a dragon of emerald water that surged toward the four in an unrelenting torrent.

Witnessing this shift, Qin Yi withdrew from the melee, gazing at the water dragon in astonishment.