Why do I have so many masters?

Having emerged from the Eight Gates Sword Formation, one actually has to ascend further to reach the true mountain gate of Qingfeng Edge.

However, stepping out of the formation already signifies entering into the mountain gate of Qingfeng Edge. Continuing upward, one would tread the White Jade Steps that lead straight to the heavens. If it were night now, with no other lights around, only the stars and moon above, each step taken would ripple the steps below.

With every step ascending the Jade Steps, one is no longer an ordinary person.

This naturally evokes a feeling of detachment from the mundane world and a sense of profound mystery. As Huong Luoyu had said, it is the ultimate in grandeur, something he greatly envied. Stepping through the mountain gate, one faces a colossal stone sword standing in the center of the practice ground.

Dominant and majestic.

On the spine of the sword, the three characters for Qingfeng Edge are inscribed, each stroke fierce and penetrating to the bone. The artistic conception is far greater than that of any so-called calligraphy master in the mortal world, remarkably distinguished.

The old man followed behind Gong Yu and Wang Anfeng, standing on the last step.

He looked at the three characters for Qingfeng Edge so close at hand, yet he didn't lose his composure as he had at the foot of the mountain. He simply took a deep breath and then raised his right foot, lightly stepping on the threshold of the mountain gate.

A glimmer of jade light shone forth.

Ripples spread all around.

Even though the sound of his footsteps was faint, to him it was as resounding as the deafening roar that heralded the creation of the heavens and the earth.

The old man's body trembled slightly.

Wang Anfeng stood at the entrance of the mountain gate, feeling an uncommon calmness within.

After all, this was his second time entering what's called the foremost Hidden Sect among the sword sects of the world, and both times he had followed behind Gong Yu. Only back then, he was but a novice fresh into the Jianghu, whereas now, much had changed.

And at that time, he was not alone.

There was Baili Feng, Tuoba Yue, and Xue Qinshuang.

When he left Qingfeng Edge, he also had Fu Mo, his Master who had never traveled so far from home in his life.

Now standing at the entrance to Qingfeng Edge, the view before him was identical to that of years past. Heaven and Earth do not change in the slightest, and neither do the mountains and rivers. Only people change.

But today's Qingfeng Edge was different from the serene mountain gate he remembered from before.

In the direction that Wang Anfeng was looking, aside from the disciples of Qingfeng Edge in white sword robes, there were also many young martial artists obviously from other sects, and not all of these martial artists used longswords—some were unarmed, while others wielded long knives and heavy spears.

In the air, there was a certain restlessness stirring.

And this restlessness became more acute when the rest saw Gong Yu personally ushering Wang Anfeng up, but it quickly stabilized again, going unnoticed by those around, yet to Wang Anfeng, who had an unusually keen sense of qi mechanism, it was still evident.

A youth, around twenty-four or twenty-five years old and dressed in lavish clothes, came up to them. Bowing to Gong Yu with a fist-palm salute, he smiled and said,

"Elder Gong Yu, the commotion just now was so great. May I ask what happened?"

"We were still meditating in the Quiet Room and did not know anything about it."

Gong Yu's expression was distant as she said indifferently,

"It's nothing. There was a slight oversight with the Eight Gates Sword Formation at the foot of the mountain, and a danger arose in the camp below."

"That is all."

Gong Yu did not tell the truth, but her expression seemed aloof. Apart from Wang Anfeng and the old man who was overwhelmed by the grandeur of Qingfeng Edge, no one else knew the real situation. The youth simply nodded as if he understood, and only then turned his attention properly to Wang Anfeng and the old man, smiling he asked,

"Are this brother and the elder gentlemen from the camp below the mountain?"

The old man came to his senses and nodded cautiously, not denying it. Astute with age, he didn't repeat Gong Yu's lie, nor could he possibly reveal that the huge disturbance was caused by the unassuming young man beside him carrying a wooden sword. He simply replied with a wry smile,

"Indeed, this old fellow was in the camp below, where I encountered this young brother."

"It's thanks to the help of this young brother and Lady Gong Yu that this old man's worthless life wasn't lost down there."

The old man shook his head and sighed as he stroked his sword.

He meant every word of it, his expression sincere and straightforward. Since he was telling the truth, even the face-reading techniques among the various Jianghu factions couldn't detect anything out of place or problematic.

He also took advantage of the injuries on his body to make his own breath seem erratic and unstable, like that of an aging martial artist who hadn't quite succeeded in cultivation, a commoner of maybe Eighth or Ninth Grade.

The reasons why the woman named Gong Yu chose to hide the truth from this young man were unknown to him, but she surely had her reasons, even if it was simply that she didn't like doing so.

Having lived for such a large part of his life, with one foot nearly in the coffin, he was exceedingly clear in his mind about which side he should be on.

He was definitely sword-obsessed, but being obsessed with martial arts didn't mean he was a fool.

Could a fool have survived to this age in the Jianghu?

The youth's gaze swept over the old man's earnest expression, putting aside his doubts and merely nodding with a smile, "I see."

"In that case, the two of you really should thank Elder Gong Yu."

He attributed the fact that the two of them were able to survive to this point to Gong Yu's intervention. When he reached this point, his voice paused slightly, then he looked again at Gong Yu, whose face remained as cool and indifferent as ever, and said with a smile,

"Gong Yu senior, since these two were injured below the mountain, I have a few subordinates who are skilled in the art of healing. Perhaps they could take care of them?"

For the first time, Gong Yu glanced at him and said indifferently,

"Since they were injured by my Qingfeng Edge, why should outsiders interfere?"

The young man's heart skipped a beat, realizing he had misspoken. He composed himself, clasped his fists, and apologized,

"I was presumptuous…"

"I hope Gong Yu senior will excuse my intrusion."

Gong Yu nodded slightly and replied,

"Huangfu young hero, your grandfather did not send you here with a classic tome for you to concern yourself with the affairs of this sect."

"Please practice your martial arts on your own."

The expression on the young man's face became visibly stiff. After composing himself, he forced a dry laugh and added,

"My name is actually Yuchi."

"Huangfu brother is currently practicing martial arts on the back mountain and is not here…"

After a pause, Gong Yu nodded and said,

"So it is Young Hero Yuchi…"

"In that case, please go to the back mountain to practice your martial arts."

The ice-cold expression on that frosty face did not change, nor did it show even the slightest embarrassment.

Then, signaling Wang Anfeng and the old man to follow him, he left Young Hero Yuchi standing there, his face alternating between pale and flushed, rooted to the spot.

Afterward, just as Gong Yu had said, she summoned a disciple and ordered the disciple to take the elder behind them to the Pill Pavilion in Qingfeng Edge to be treated.

Wang Anfeng remembered that place as well. Three years ago, Xue Qinshuang, who usually enjoyed drinking and competing in the martial arts, was forcibly kept in the Pill Pavilion, where she was made to eat vegetarian for a long time.

It was said she had tried to escape, but unluckily had run straight into Gong Yu and the Great Elder, and thus was captured and brought back.

At that time, he had also seen Xue Qinshuang's injury—it wasn't at all necessary to ground her or control her diet.

He had wanted to say something, but then considered the dangers the young woman had caused, as well as the frightening injuries she bore, so he kept silent, pretending to be nothing more than a wooden figure.

He watched the young woman sigh every day as she faced plain porridge, vegetables, and radishes in distress.

When he secretly roasted fish with Elder Jiu Zizai in the back mountain and the two little maids from the Scripture Pavilion, his thoughts would sometimes drift to Xue Qinshuang, confined as she was. However, to make sure the young woman could heal peacefully, he had to lie to the old lady from the Pill Pavilion.

He had no choice but to harden his heart and suppress the tempting thought of secretly 'feeding' the girl.

He struggled with the decision for a long time.

He regretted it so much that sometimes he would toss and turn in bed, clutching his blanket.

But Jiu Zizai had such an appetite that if you gave him anything, not even the fish bones would be left for him. He was left with no chance for second thoughts, and the next day when he visited Xue Qinshuang, all he felt was guilt in his heart.

However…

When Xue Qinshuang, somewhat wronged and listless, had finally calmed down, she was... very, very good.

Thinking back, Wang Anfeng became lost in thought, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably curling up slightly. Yet he felt this thought was such a disservice to Miss Xue, so he pressed his lips together, dispelling the idea and apologizing repeatedly in his heart.

At that moment, Gong Yu had already come to a halt, standing at the entrance of a side hall.

"Master is waiting for you inside."

The woman's voice was flat, no warmer than when she had been speaking with the young man earlier, but Wang Anfeng was startled nonetheless.

He knew the identity of the woman before him—although young, she had already reached the pinnacle of Fifth Rank and it was said that she could step forward at any moment if she wished, slated to be the next leader of the hidden Sword Sect of Qingfeng Edge, renowned across Heaven and Earth.

In her mouth, 'Master' could only refer to one person.

The current Sect Leader of Qingfeng Edge, wielder of the Divine Weapon Five Phoenix Sword and standing at the pinnacle of the world-renowned list—a pinnacle of Fourth Rank martial artist a decade ago, and whose current level nobody could be certain.

Wang Anfeng had come this time hoping to find out the whereabouts of Elder Jiu Zizai.

Before coming here, he had entertained the notion that such information would inevitably require contact with the elders and Sect Leader of Qingfeng Edge, but he had not expected the Sect Leader herself to be waiting for him here.

Gong Yu seemed to know what he was thinking, and looking sideways at him, she said calmly,

"You are special…"

PS: Here's the second update for today…