CH 52

Unfortunately, Pei QianYue wasn’t human, so it didn’t seem like he planned to show any compassion either.

After hearing Feng Ci’s words, he only adjusted himself slightly so that his highly noticeable thing was no longer poking Feng Ci. 

But he still didn’t let Feng Ci go.

Feng Ci really wanted to hit someone.

But before he could say anything, Pei QianYue lowered his head and whispered next to his ear: “Before, Master had promised me a next time. But now that you’ve become like this, who knows when that will happen.”

To even feel aggrieved. 

Feng Ci sneered: “Why not now then?”

Pei QianYue really seemed to enjoy Feng Ci’s current state anyways— go ahead if you’re so capable.

“No.” Pei QianYue said quietly: “This body isn’t yours.”

After taking a visit inside the illusion, Feng Ci finally gained a rough understanding why Pei QianYue cared so much about this.

Because he had once fallen to the temptations of the flesh and failed to recognize Feng Ci correctly.

Pei QianYue didn’t bring this up in front of Feng Ci so Feng Ci didn’t ask about it, but from what he could see, this had really affected Pei QianYue deeply. Perhaps it’s because he considered being tempted by the empty shell of the flesh to be… a kind of betrayal towards Feng Ci.

Along the same line of thought, even though Feng Ci’s soul was currently residing in the physical body of this youth in front of him, ultimately it wasn’t Feng Ci’s own body. Pei QianYue also didn’t want to touch it more than necessary.

AD

Demons(妖) were clearly the most lustful creatures, yet he just had to be so earnest regarding this matter. 

Not even willing to kiss in the past.

“Forget it then.” Thinking here, Feng Ci suddenly felt that this little snake was actually pretty adorable and said with a smile: “You can keep holding it in.”

Pei QianYue tightened his arms around Feng Ci. Half a moment later, he started to lament quietly.

“I knew I shouldn’t have let you off so easily that time.” Pei QianYue said with a sigh. 

At that time, Pei QianYue didn’t think they’d be leaving the illusion so quickly. Therefore, he gave Feng Ci a slight taste of the sweetness first, thinking that there’d be plenty of opportunities to progress gradually. Who would have known that……

“Alright, alright.” Feng Ci couldn’t withstand Pei QianYue’s unsatisfied, sulky look and said comfortingly: “Just wait a few days…… once this body gets a little better, we can think of something else.”

Pei QianYue replied quietly: “En.”

It was probably unlikely to retrieve his physical body any time soon, but it’s not like there’s no other way either. For example…… 

Thinking here, Feng Ci jolted in realization.

What was he doing?

Was he actually thinking seriously about how to help Pei QianYue sleep himself?

Feng Ci: “……” 

This was so ridiculous that he was about to scold himself for being utterly hopeless. He clearly knew that Pei QianYue was acting pitiful to gain his sympathies, yet he still fell for it.

Spoiling the baby to this extent, he’s probably the first to do so since ancient times.

But this little snake has really suffered plenty because of him.

Not to mention previously inside the illusion, even though Pei QianYue had already suppressed it for a very long time, he still ensured that Feng Ci came first. 

……Forget it.

Feng Ci consoled himself silently and stopped thinking about it. He tossed these trivial thoughts to the back of his head and started to contemplate on the most important matter at this moment.

“Tell me…..” Feng Ci asked: “With the heavy injuries on my body right now, can Xiao Que still bring me back to life?”

Pei QianYue said: “Before Master woke up just now, I sent him a message.” 

Trying to find a physical body that resonated with Feng Ci’s soul within a short period of time was not that easy. Therefore, after learning that this physical body was severely damaged, Pei QianYue’s first response was naturally to find a way to heal him.

Xiao Que was born in the Shaman’s Valley and exceptional in the Art of Healing. He was a perfect option.

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After conversing for a while, Feng Ci slowly felt the exhaustion in his body.

Pei QianYue also noticed it. He lowered Feng Ci’s body down onto the bed and laid down next to him: “Go to sleep. I’ll keep you company.”

Feng Ci acknowledged him quietly and very quickly fell asleep. 

Feng Ci wasn’t too sure exactly how long he slept.

His body’s aches and pains kept him in a constant state of partial consciousness, half-awake and half-asleep. His head was also heavy and groggy, but he could feel Pei QianYue holding him the entire time, occasionally helping him change positions so he could lay more comfortably.

In this muddled state, Feng Ci heard a familiar voice.

“……This disciple has boarded the flying ship and arrived in GuangLing as soon as possible. Will you be……” 

“Just wait there.”

“……Yes. But there are numerous people inside GuangLing and also plenty of cultivators. We have anchored the ship outside of GuangLing City. The government officials have already come three times to ask……”

“Wait.”

Pei QianYue’s voice was soft and ice-cold. Hearing it, Feng Ci couldn’t help but laugh: “Stop making things difficult for him.” 

A mirror made of water and light floated in front of the bed. Inside the mirror was Xiao Que’s figure.

Pei QianYue stopped paying attention to the person inside the mirror. He pulled Feng Ci closer into his arms and raised a hand to test the temperature on Feng Ci’s forehead: “Were you woken up by the noise?”

“No, I didn’t sleep very soundly.” It’s only now that Feng Ci discovered his voice was so hoarse, he could hardly make a sound. After a night’s rest, not only did he fail to recover strength, his body actually felt even more tired and feeble.

He asked: “What’s wrong with me?” 

Pei QianYue: “You had a slight fever overnight.”

Feng Ci felt exasperated.

No wonder he felt like he didn’t sleep very well overnight. Now he’s really become a sick mess.

Of course, Pei QianYue was also very ridiculous. 

To let Feng Ci rest more, he insisted that Xiao Que must wait outside of GuangLing City with the flying ship. But that was LangFeng City’s flag ship. It went without saying just how ostentatious and eye-catching it was.

Feng Ci sighed and said: “Xiao-Shixiong, just wait for a moment longer. We’re coming right now.”

“Yes.”

As if seeing his savior, Xiao Que hastily responded and then, almost like he feared Pei QianYue’s wrath, he swiftly cut off the connection between the communication mirrors. 

Refusing Pei QianYue’s suggestion to rest a bit longer, Feng Ci insisted on leaving right now. Pei QianYue couldn’t do anything about it so he ordered Xiao ChengXuan to find several coats with fur linings. Wrapping Feng Ci up tightly from head to toe until only a pair of eyes remained visible, Pei QianYue finally carried him out of the room.

Outside, it was just about the break of dawn.

In the early morning, Broken Sword Manor was completely silent and tranquil, not even the slightest human voice could be heard. Only Xiao ChengXuan guarded outside their door.

During that battle, Xiao ChengXuan was actually hurt pretty seriously by association. It’s only now that Feng Ci observed this person’s poor complexion. The exposed areas on his wrists and neck were all wrapped up in bandages. 

But Xiao ChengXuan’s outward presentation still remained the same. Seeing the two people come out, he even bowed to greet them.

“According to the Immortal Master’s instructions, this one has already told my younger brother to lead the sect disciples in searching of an uninhabited area deep within the mountains to seek refuge temporarily.” Xiao ChengXuan said: “After the sun rises, the entire world will know the news of Broken Sword Manor’s ‘destruction’.”

“En.” Wrapped up securely, Feng Ci couldn’t even nod his head. His voice was also muffled within the heavy coats: “You did well. Thank you for the hard work.”

Xiao ChengXuan: “You’re too courteous, Immortal Master. You were injured to this extent for my Broken Sword Manor. To this, I…..” 

Feng Ci hated being treated like a sick mess by others and hastily interrupted him: “Oh right. The events that happened in Broken Sword Manor, the true identity of that mysterious murderer, as well as my identity…,.. I hope Manor Master Xiao can temporarily keep these a secret.”

That day when he battled against the body puppet, Feng Ci drew his blade.

The people of the world might not know how Grandmaster QianQiu looked, but that famous and renowned QianQiu sword was recognizable by all within the cultivation world. Back then on LinXian Terrace, Feng Ci only needed to display a bit of his sword aura and that group of Immortal Alliance rebels had already recognized him. This time, he drew his sword genuinely and had a serious and arduous fight. Exposing his true identity was inevitable.

Not to mention, Pei QianYue was also present. 

Pei QianYue’s identity was exposed immediately, right from the start. Even if Xiao ChengXuan didn’t realize at the time, observing Pei QianYue and Feng Ci’s interactions and relationship afterwards was enough to let him take a good guess.

Xiao ChengXuan answered: “Please do not worry, Immortal Master.”

Actually, even if Feng Ci didn’t mention this, he wouldn’t have talked about what happened in the last few days.

Since Feng Ci’s awakening, Xiao ChengXuan has yet to ask any questions related to that murderer. 

Why was Grandmaster QianQiu’s physical body being controlled by someone, why the rampant slaughtering of cultivation sects, and why was Broken Sword Manor selected— How could Xiao ChengXuan not suspect, question, and guess the answers to these questions internally? But he understood clearly, there were some things that he shouldn’t ask.

Feng Ci felt relieved and had Pei QianYue carry him out.

The place where he rested yesterday was inside the inner courtyard; in other words, the courtyard where he had lived previously. The inner courtyard wasn’t too affected by that fight. Everything looked the same as usual. The more they walked outside, the messier it became.

The front yard of Broken Sword Manor was practically in ruins. 

The corpses of sect disciples could be seen everywhere. The viscous blood has already dried up, leaving behind mottled marks on the white jade bricks.

Xiao ChengXuan’s ‘corpse’ was also laying fallen in the yard, both eyes staring upwards, wide open to the sky. The entire corpse appeared in a dried and shriveled state.

Broken Sword Manor was to announce to the outside that it had been destroyed. Naturally, people will be coming here to investigate.

These were all false images that Xiao ChengXuan prepared in advance. 

He walked to his ‘corpse’, looked down at it, and laughed bitterly: “Seeing my own dead body lying here… really feels weird.”

Feng Ci felt very sympathetic towards this.

However, he has seen stranger things. For example, his own body inexplicably waking up on its own and then even giving him a good beating.

The mountains in the morning were shrouded by clouds and mist. Carrying Feng Ci, Pei QianYue walked to the entrance of the mountain. 

Feng Ci suddenly said: “Wait a second.”

Pei QianYue halted in his steps.

The mountain gate of Broken Sword Manor had also collapsed during the fight.

Amongst the gravel and rubble, that plaque with the words ‘Broken Sword Manor’ laid shattered into several pieces, covered in dust. 

Feng Ci withdrew his gaze from that name plaque and asked Xiao ChengXuan: “Not going to take it with you?”

He still recalled that the words on this plaque were written by the founder of Broken Sword Manor himself. It held great importance to Broken Sword Manor.

However, Xiao ChengXuan shook his head: “No need.”

He said: “Since it’s necessary to pretend that the sect has been destroyed, wouldn’t it be very strange to take this thing with us?” 

Feng Ci felt somewhat surprised by his answer.

In fact, Feng Ci felt somewhat strange that Xiao ChengXuan would agree, without any objections, to letting Broken Sword Manor vanish from this world.

Xiao ChengXuan still didn’t know why the cultivation sects were being destroyed, nor did he know how long they needed to hide in anonymity.

The longer that this matter remained unresolved… the longer Broken Sword Manor disciples cannot walk amongst JiangHu, and it’d be another day where they cannot recruit new disciples. 

This was basically no different than other cultivation sects that have disbanded their disciples.

Judging from the past few days of interactions, Xiao ChengXuan seemed to have a certain obstinate dedication towards Broken Sword Manor. If he didn’t mind having Broken Sword Manor ‘vanish’ from the world, then he wouldn’t have persisted so adamantly back then, to the point of choosing rather to fight to the death with the mysterious murderer instead.

As if guessing Feng Ci’s thoughts, Xiao ChengXuan smiled: “Previously, it was my belief that since I inherited Broken Sword Manor, I should uphold the ancestors’ wishes and integrity, and share the same fate as Broken Sword Manor.”

He stood with a hand behind his back in front of the mountain gates and gazed down at the broken pieces of the plaque: “But I finally understand now, Broken Sword Manor has never been abstract, intangible symbols.” 

“It is not a manor, a magic item, or a name plaque.”

“As long as the people are still here, Broken Sword Manor is eternal.”

In the past, he was too concerned about those insubstantial things and insisted on facing the enemy alone. On the contrary, this had almost caused harm to the sect disciples. If it weren’t for Feng Ci and Pei QianYue’s assistance, Broken Sword Manor would have been completely destroyed by now. What honor and integrity would there be to talk about then?

Xiao ChengXuan said: “People can only have hope and opportunity if they’re alive. If they die, they have nothing at all[/tn].” 

“If they die, they have nothing at all…..” Feng Ci repeated softly.

Pei QianYue noticed Feng Ci’s response and lowered his head slightly.

Feng Ci didn’t mind and continued to say: “It’s good that you can think like this. If the plaque is gone, you can just get another one. Worst comes to worst, when this thing is over, I’ll write one for you personally.”

Xiao ChengXuan started smiling: “Then I’ll have to thank you ahead of time.” 

LangFeng City’s flying ship was docked right outside of GuangLing City, a distance not too far from the Broken Sword Manor. However, Feng Ci couldn’t travel by flying sword at the moment. As such, Pei QianYue had Xiao ChengXuan prepare a ferry at the foot of the mountain. The two people boarded the ferry and disembarked.

The other disciples of Broken Sword Manor had already evacuated in advance. After sending off Feng Ci and Pei QianYue onto the ferry, Xiao ChengXuan also left this place via flying sword.

It was later in the day now. The sun has finally risen slowly. The morning mist dissipated under the sunlight. The warm rays of the sun reflected off the surface of the water, sparkling and shining.

Under Pei QianYue’s spiritual powers, the ferry cut through the surface of the waters and sailed towards GuangLing City. 

Feng Ci had stayed inside that Phantom Spirit Cauldron for such a long time, it’s been a while since he has seen daylight. For a second, he felt somewhat novel and pestered Pei QianYue to go up onto the deck to bask in the sunlight and watch the sunrise.

Naturally, Pei QianYue didn’t approve.

“It’s windy on the deck. Master still has a fever.”

Taking advantage of Feng Ci’s heavy injuries right now, Pei QianYue held Feng Ci firmly in his arms and even lowered the curtains on both sides of the ferry. Not even the slightest breeze could pass through, let alone the sunlight. 

Perhaps people with illnesses were often more headstrong than usual, Feng Ci said stubbornly: “I want to see. Do you still listen to my words or not?[/tn]?”

“Yes, I obey.” Pei QianYue was not persuaded and said coolly: “Once Master’s body recovers, you can look however you want.”

Feng Ci: “But I want to see right now.”

Pei QianYue: “No.” 

Feng Ci: “Just for a brief moment.”

Pei QianYue: “No.”

Feng Ci: “……”

If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t move at all, he’d be itching to throw this person into the water. But he couldn’t. He could only use the only thing he had exposed outside, his eyes, to glare viciously at Pei QianYue. 

However, this move was useless on Pei QianYue because this person couldn’t see.

Feng Ci was both angry and annoyed. Eyeballs spinning around, he suddenly had an idea.

He lowered his eyes and said seriously: “Pei QianYue, have you ever heard of this one thing?”

Pei QianYue: “What?” 

As Feng Ci said this, Pei QianYue lowered his head to test the temperature on Feng Ci’s forehead. His forehead pressed against Feng Ci’s forehead, bringing a slightly chilled sensation.

The distance between the two people was extremely close. Feng Ci raised his eyes to look at the other’s handsome face, which had become extremely clear and distinct due to the other’s close proximity. He used a very flat and ordinary voice to say: “It’s just…… I seem to have heard previously that a fever is best suited for…… that kind of thing. Do you know why?”

Pei QianYue’s arms around Feng Ci stiffened abruptly. Even the expression on his face tensed.

Feng Ci finally couldn’t hold back from revealing a slightly wicked smile. 

He rested in Pei QianYue’s arms and said softly, word by word: “Because…… it’s very warm.”