Chapter 34: I Will Remember This Name!
"My name is Ling Feng."
Ling Feng's memories gradually became clearer as he recalled the pursuit by Xiao Qinggang and others, leading him to reopen the Asura's Eye.
He remembered slaying many demonic beasts following that. Eventually, he lost his footing, tumbled into the water, and upon waking up, discovered himself in this unfamiliar place.
"Thank you both for saving my life."
Ling Feng checked his condition and discovered only minor bruises on his hands and feet, with no significant injuries.
Additionally, an unknown medicinal energy circulated within his dantian and qihai. This medicinal potency was comparable to the spiritual power found in the Sunfire Crimson Fruit. Refining this medicinal energy could potentially elevate his cultivation to a higher realm.
Astonished, Ling Feng wondered about the identities of the two women. Despite being strangers, they generously provided him with such precious items for healing.
Of course, while these items held great value for him, their rarity and significance might not be as pronounced for the women.
"Oh, saving a life is no small matter, a mere "thank you" just doesn't cut it," Qiao Qiao wrinkled her nose at Ling Feng, shaking her head. "No, no, it's not sufficient. It lacks sincerity."
Ling Feng's expression paused as he sat up from the ground. He looked at Qiao Qiao, then at Yue Yunlan, finding himself momentarily perplexed by the young ladies before him.
Gratitude for saving one's life should indeed not be taken lightly, but considering he had nothing of significant value, could he really offer himself in return?
"Enough, Qiao Qiao, stop teasing him," Yue Yunlan rolled her eyes, a trace of resignation flashing in her gaze. Despite their master-servant relationship, they shared a sisterly bond, and Yue Yunlan often found herself unable to rein in the mischievous girl.
Qiao Qiao stuck out her tongue, obediently stepping back a few steps.
"Mr Ling, am I right?" Yue Yunlan's gaze fixed on Ling Feng's eyes as she inquired calmly, "How did you end up falling from the waterfall?"
Though Ling Feng was reluctant to deceive the one who saved his life, he couldn't disclose the matter of the Emperor's Eye casually. He had to craft a tale, explaining, "During my training in the vast wilderness mountains, I unintentionally encountered a group of demonic beasts. After fighting until I was exhausted, I leaped into a river, and that's how I ended up drifting here with the current."
"Hmm, that does sound reasonable," Yue Yunlan nodded slightly. Despite harboring some suspicions, she chose not to inquire further.
"In any case, I must extend my thanks to the two young ladies. May I inquire about your names?"
"My surname is Yue, and my name is Yunlan," said Yue Yunlan as her vermilion lips softly parted. With a brief, subdued look at Ling Feng, she then retracted her gaze. "Since you are unharmed, Mr Ling, and I have pressing matters, let us bid farewell here."
"Yue Yunlan... the misty clouds and graceful peaks, they carry their own refined allure."
Ling Feng looked deeply into Yue Yunlan's eyes and uttered slowly, "I will remember this name."
"Remembering won't help you, you know, our miss is..."
"Qiao Qiao!"
Qiao Qiao, on the verge of revealing Yue Yunlan's identity, was promptly stopped by Yue Yunlan. With a tongue-tied pause, Qiao Qiao redirected the conversation, saying, "I suggest you forget about our miss as soon as possible."
A subtle amusement flickered in Ling Feng's heart. While acknowledging Yue Yunlan's undeniable beauty and extraordinary presence, he hadn't quite reached the stage of love at first sight.
"Qiao Qiao, hold your tongue!"
Yue Yunlan shared a rueful smile with Ling Feng, then gestured to Qiao Qiao. Astonishingly, the master and servant ascended on the wind, quickly fading from Ling Feng's sight.
"Wind Riding Technique!" Ling Feng's eyes flickered with surprise. Even for martial practitioners in the Pulse Formation Realm, temporary flight in the air typically required the utilization of true qi.
Yet, Yue Yunlan and the other girl effortlessly glided through the air without the need for unfurling wings of true energy. Their strength appeared to match that of his master, Duanmu Qingshan!
How old could they possibly be? Surely not beyond twenty!
"Gulp." Ling Feng swallowed hard. No wonder Qiao Qiao suggested forgetting about Yue Yunlan. Clearly, for them, he and they belonged to entirely different worlds.
"With the Emperor's Eye, it won't be a challenging task to surpass Young Miss Yue given enough time."
In a short while, Ling Feng's inner turmoil settled, replaced by a firm sense of determination.
For him, the utmost priorities were to rapidly strengthen himself, reclaim The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion from the Yan family in the Eastern Capital, and unravel the mystery of his own identity.
"I'm not certain what Young Miss Yue fed me, but for now, let's refine that medicinal potency. Afterward, it's time to return to Wenxian Sect."
Despite having slain Xiao Qinggang and others, the incident remained unknown, and there was no suspicion directed towards him.
Their deaths were meaningless!
...
Within a day, Ling Feng adeptly assimilated the potency of the Jiuling Jade Dew Pill. As anticipated, his cultivation experienced yet another breakthrough, propelling him directly to the pinnacle of the seventh stage of Qi Formation!
The effectiveness of this pill was many times stronger than the Qi-boosting pills given to him by the sect leader of Wenxian Sect.
In addition to advancing in cultivation, his meridians and physique had become more robust. Imagine those born into privilege; through daily practice with such pills, they could effortlessly ascend to the Pulse Formation Realm.
However, Ling Feng also had the Emperor's Eye. His future achievements might not necessarily be inferior to those geniuses emerging from major forces.
"It's time to return. The pills I made for Master should have been used up by now."
With significant progress in cultivation and achieving perfection in swordsmanship and martial arts, Ling Feng decided it was time to return to Wenxian Sect.
After an extensive search, Ling Feng finally located his position on the map. Quickly identifying the route, he prepared to make his way back to the sect.
At this moment, sunlight streamed through the dense forest, creating a dappled pattern on the ground. The beams, filtered through the thick canopy, illuminated a clear path forward.
At the same time, on the other end of the deep forest, a group of practitioners appeared.
Seven individuals, consisting of five males and two females, were uniformly attired, each shouldering a three-foot Qingfeng sword. They appeared relatively young, with the oldest among them looking to be in their early twenties.
At the forefront strode a strikingly handsome man, wearing a white jade crown. With a tall and imposing figure, he radiated a dignified presence. Between the opening and closing of his eyes, a sharp brilliance gleamed, revealing an intense and compelling sharpness.
This person was, in fact, a qi cultivator at the tenth stage of Qi Formation!
"Senior brother Li deserves our gratitude this time. Without him, we might have perished under the demonic claws of the Blackwind Demonic Bull!" spoke a female swordsman on the left with a delicate tone. Her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the leading man, brimming with admiration and affection.
This female swordsman possessed an above-average appearance, yet her figure was voluptuous, accentuated by the disciple's uniform that traced exaggerated curves on her body. Between her eyebrows and eyes, a captivating allure further enhanced her charm.
In comparison, the other female disciple appeared much more ordinary.
Senior Brother Li clearly enjoyed the admiration in the eyes around him, casually assessing the woman's well-defined figure with a sidelong glance. Chuckling, he said, "Junior Sister Li[1], what are you talking about? As a senior brother, it's my duty to protect everyone!"
"Senior Brother Li truly lives up to being sword elder's last disciple[2], demonstrating formidable swordsmanship that sets him apart in the world!" Another disciple chimed in, praising, "Including Wenxian Sect and Qiankun Sect as the three major sects in the Xianzong Mountains alongside our Liuyun Sword Sect is utterly laughable. Clearly, they haven't witnessed Senior Brother Li's remarkable abilities!"
"Without a doubt, Senior Brother Li, with a single stroke of his sword, could effortlessly sweep through every inner disciple from both sects!"
"Haha, not at all!" A hint of pride adorned Senior Li's face. "But mark my words, there will come a day when I'll sweep through the Wenxian Sect and Qiankun Sect, making them realize that in the Xianzong Mountains, only our Liuyun Sword Sect stands unrivaled. Those two sects are merely fit to trail behind, carrying our shoes!"
"On that day, as a junior brother, I will personally carry the sword for Senior Brother!"
"I'll be there, cheering for Senior Brother!"
"I'll warm the bed for Senior Brother!"
...
The group enthusiastically praised Senior Li, leaving him disoriented about his surroundings.
At that moment, a quieter disciple from the Liuyun Sword Sect beside them suddenly spoke up, "Senior Brother Li, there's someone ahead!"
"Hmm?" Senior Li lifted his gaze, and indeed, there appeared a raggedly dressed youth at the far end of the dense forest.
"It appears to be attire similar to that of Wenxian Sect disciples!" A cold smile graced Senior Li's lips as he strode briskly towards the figure.
"Is it a disciple from the Wenxian Sect who's on his own? How intriguing, hehe..."
The others joined in, their eyes carrying a playful and mocking glint. This was about to get interesting!
1. Senior Brother Li and Junior Sister Li do not share the same surname Li, they are not related by blood. ☜
2. It literally means the last disciple of a master. ☜