Chapter 7 – The Culprit

“I’m going to kill the rooster.” This was Feng Ye’s initial thought after being forced to get up by Fang Yang.

“Shixiong, stop daydreaming!”

Fang Yang’s righteous words broke through Feng Ye’s sleepy haze, and he realized he had accidentally voiced his true feelings.

Fang Yang stood in front of Feng Ye’s bed with his hands on his hips. He lifted up the blanket wrapped around Feng Ye and said plaintively: “Shixiong, with your current level of cultivation, you can’t even kill a rooster!”

Feng Ye: “……” 

Although he had purposely created the image of a useless shixiong, he suddenly felt it had gone too far.

Feng Ye could only explain feebly: “Shidi, I’m not that weak…..”

Feng Ye’s mood was a bit complicated for a moment. He didn’t know whether to be happy about his successful disguise or to be upset that it was too successful.

Did his performance really make him look like such a piece of trash?

Judging from Fang Yang’s reaction, the answer was probably yes.

Feng Ye sat up in bed. Thanks to Fang Yang, he was completely awake.

“Shixiong, hurry up. Let’s practice swordplay for a while, then have breakfast, and then do chores after breakfast.” Fang Yang was holding a wooden sword in one hand. Although he remained standing there, he could no longer suppress the urgency in his words.

His schedule was set in stone, counting every second.

Unfortunately, Feng Ye didn’t have such thoughts. His movements were still sluggish even though he was awake, showing the reluctance of both his body and mind.

Fang Yang waited quietly for a while before finally becoming impatient. He saw that Feng Ye was deliberately buying time, so he just switched both wooden swords to one hand and used his free one to drag Feng Ye out.

“Ai, ai, ai, wait for me to put on my shoes!” Feng Ye only had a boot on one foot, with the other still bare, and hopped two steps on one leg as he was dragged by Fang Yang.

Seeing this, Fang Yang mercifully stopped, glaring like a tiger watching its prey as Feng Ye donned his footwear.

“Pff.” Hao Chen had woken early for some reason, and was leaning against the door as he watched this scene, unable to hold back a low chuckle. He tapped the handle of his closed fan against his lips, pretending he didn’t have a smile on his face.

Feng Ye looked up at Hao Chen while putting on his shoes. The previous night had been uneventful. Hao Chen had stayed in his room to rest and hadn’t done anything.

But this didn’t mean he wasn’t going to do anything. He probably knew that Feng Ye was keeping an eye on him, so he hadn’t made a move.

Feng Ye lowered his head and adjusted the legs of his trousers. In this posture, nobody could see his expression. His eyes narrowed slightly, and the sleepiness on his face vanished as he quickly considered what to do next.

As for Hao Chen’s reason and purpose for seeking him out, Feng Ye knew nothing. He also knew nothing about Hao Chen’s identity and strength. In such a situation where the details were unclear, the one who made the first move would be at a disadvantage.

In any case, he had plenty of patience. Sooner or later, he would wait for this old fox to show his tail.

The best strategy was to stay put to gain an advantage over the exhausted enemy. Feng Ye made his decision. He straightened his trouser legs, raised his head, and yawned as if he was still sleepy.

His performance was that of a completely hopeless waste. Seeing this, Fang Yang feared he would fall asleep again, so he pulled Feng Ye after him as he rushed out.

And Hao Chen remained standing there, supporting his chin with his fan. He sent a thoughtful look after Feng Ye’s unwilling back. 

When he returned to his senses, the two brothers had already run off.

He’d lost them.

Hao Chen was not in a hurry. He unfolded the fan in his hand and pulled a fan bone from the outermost section. This fan bone that looked like a bamboo slip abruptly turned into a black feather in his hand.

This feather had a beautiful luster beneath the sun, and although it was black, it gave off an inexplicable sense of brilliance.

Hao Chen swiftly threw the feather into the air, and instead of fluttering down, it transformed into a black crow.

It was an ordinary crow, just like any other. If one difference could be pointed out, it was that it was generally more beautiful than other crows, but it was overall commonplace.

“Caw – caw –” The ordinary crow called out twice, flapped its wings, and flew into the sky.

Looking down from the sky, the crow had a panoramic view of Lingxiao Sword Sect. Its black pupils scanned the ground like a hawk and quickly located its target.

Hao Chen, who had closed his eyes, opened them at that moment and walked leisurely in Feng Ye’s direction.

At the open space behind the mountain.

Fang Yang spoke earnestly to his shixiong, who was staring up at the sky: “Shixiong, stop daydreaming. A day’s plan starts in the morning. Hurry up and practice your swordplay.”

“Oh,” Feng Ye responded perfunctorily, and continued to look up at the sky without moving. Just then, a crow flew over his head.

It looked like an ordinary crow, without any trace of demonic aura or spiritual power on its body.

Am I imagining things? Feng Ye thought uncertainly.

“Shixiong!” Fang Yang called out again, hating iron for not being steel.

“En?” Fang Yang at last returned to his senses and looked over, only to see Fang Yang’s big face right in front of him.

Seeing that his Useless Shixiong was finally looking at him, Fang Yang stuffed a wooden sword into his hand and urged him to begin cultivating.

Feng Ye looked at Fang Yang, then at the wooden sword in his hand. He had originally intended to use the excuse that he’d only agreed to get up, not to practice swordplay with Fang Yang.

But he felt that if he really said those words, Fang Yang would be so angry that he’d want to part ways with him.

So, with great reluctance, Feng Ye grasped the hilt of the sword. The moment he took hold, the familiar sensation caused Feng Ye to unconsciously make an artful sword movement, his actions so agile that it seemed as if the sword was an extension of his arm.

This was certainly not something a person who was unfamiliar with swordsmanship could do.

Feng Ye sent Fang Yang a guilty look. Fortunately, Fang Yang had his back to him and hadn’t seen anything.

Just as Feng Ye breathed a sigh of relief, he saw a figure swaggering toward them not far away.

That ghost is still here, Feng Ye thought as he regarded Hao Chen.

Unlike the avoidant Feng Ye, Hao Chen smiled and raised his eyebrows when he saw Feng Ye, seemingly delighted: “Fellow Daoist Feng Ye walks so fast. I could barely keep up.”

Not fast enough to get rid of you, Feng Ye slandered inwardly.

But on the surface, he smiled with a hint of apology: “My shidi and I were so focused on practicing swordplay that we forgot about Fellow Daoist Hao Chen. Please don’t take offense.”

“No wonder, no wonder.” Hao Chen smiled and waved his fan. “I’ve long heard that the Lingxiao Sword Sect has excellent swordsmanship. I wonder if I can see it today?”

He looked at Feng Ye as he spoke, as if expecting him to demonstrate a few moves.

Feng Ye naturally would not do so. He knew he would be easily exposed when holding a sword, so he would never brandish one in front of Hao Chen.

However, before he could find an excuse to refuse, Fang Yang took the initiative to step in: “My shixiong’s swordsmanship…..I’ll do it.”

There was a dubious pause in his speech. Feng Ye could guess with his eyes closed what he was thinking. Useless Shixiong’s swordsmanship…..no, Useless Shixiong has no sword skills at all. In order not to lose face for Lingxiao Sword Sect in front of another sect’s disciple, Fang Yang took over the responsibility of demonstrating.

Feng Ye, who had perfectly imagined his fellow junior disciple’s mental journey: “……”

Although Fang Yang had indeed helped him out, he wasn’t happy about it.

Hao Chen’s mood at this moment was surprisingly similar to Feng Ye’s, somewhat speechless. He didn’t actually want to see a sword dance – he just wanted to test Feng Ye’s background, and hadn’t expected someone to disrupt him halfway.

But it was difficult to take back the words he had already spoken, so he could only smile and make a “please” gesture.

Feng Ye and Hao Chen each took a few steps back to leave some space for Fang Yang, then stood to his left and right, watching Fang Yang dance with the sword.

Fang Yang’s sword moves were not very complicated, and could be said to be quite basic. One chop, one cut, one slice, and one jab.

But his movements were fierce, and even though it was just a wooden sword, a sound like iron being unsheathed could be faintly heard.

Unfortunately…..he was still very lacking in skill. It looked impressive, but in fact had many flaws. His foundation was unstable, the angle of his sword was wrong, and force was applied in the wrong places. Wrong, wrong, wrong, nothing was right.

Feng Ye inwardly pointed out the flaws. It would have been better if he hadn’t watched. The more he watched, the more he itched to move. Although Fang Yang practiced very hard, he unfortunately lacked the guidance of a master. Even though he buried his head in practice and saw some improvement, most of it was in vain.

Feng Ye still admired his shidi of his. He wanted to give him some pointers, but…..Feng Ye glanced at Hao Chen from the corner of his eye and happened to meet his gaze.

Both of them smiled awkwardly but politely, then turned and pretended to attentively watch Fang Yang.

Hao Chen was really a nuisance. With him around, Feng Ye felt like he was being restricted everywhere.

He had to think of a way.

A way to avoid Hao Chen and communicate with Fang Yang. Feng Ye’s eyes shifted, and he suddenly had a good idea.

However, this idea still required some preparation, so Feng Ye set it aside for the time being, planning to do it when he returned to his room in the evening.

Clap, clap, clap. A burst of applause suddenly rang in his ears.

Feng Ye realized Fang Yang had finished his sword dance. Hao Chen cooperated very well by giving a round of applause, and Feng Ye also applauded quickly.

Although there were a lot of thorns he yearned to pluck out, for now, he decided to encourage his shidi first.

“Your reputation is well-deserved,” Hao Chen flattered with a smile. Feng Ye said nothing. Clapping against his conscience was already a huge concession.

Fang Yang scratched his head in embarrassment when he heard this. He had always practiced swordplay alone, and this was his first time doing it in front of others. In fact, he was actually a little nervous.

But judging from the reactions of the two audience members, his performance was pretty good.

Although these two audience members were equally useless, and their appreciation ability was questionable, Fang Yang still couldn’t suppress his joy.

He was so happy that he even forgot to urge Feng Ye to practice his swordplay, and instead shyly changed the subject: “That’s pretty much it. Let’s go get breakfast.”

This proposal was unanimously approved by the two losers, and the three of them went down the mountain to the cafeteria together.

Although they had gotten up very early, the trip back and forth took quite a bit of effort, and most of their fellow disciples had gotten up by now.

They met many of them along the way, all wearing black and white Daoist robes. Feng Ye and Fang Yang wore the same robes, and didn’t stand out.

But Hao Chen was different.

As a foreign disciple with unique clothing and a face that would stand out anywhere, Hao Chen drew the attention of other Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples along the way.

This was very normal, but it felt a bit strange to Feng Ye. It would have been fine if those people were only looking at Hao Chen, but their eyes would also drift toward him from time to time.

After being stared at by four or five groups of people in succession, Feng Ye couldn’t help but look back at them.

But as soon as he did so, those people looked away as if frightened.

Feng Ye: “ ? ”

Feng Ye doubtfully withdrew his gaze. He noticed from the corner of his eye that as soon as the group of people saw him turn back around, they immediately stared at him again, whispering to each other occasionally.

Feng Ye: “ ? ? ? ”

Have I been exposed? Feng Ye couldn’t help but think, touching his face.

It was still that ordinary face. His true appearance hadn’t been exposed.

Then what had gone wrong?

Feng Ye couldn’t even eat breakfast, endlessly wracking his brains.

And the culprit was sitting opposite Feng Ye, eating breakfast with an innocent look on his face.

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Chapter 6 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 8