Chapter Sixty: The Master's Old Subordinate
The next morning, Ye Chi subconsciously turned over. The sun gradually rose, and the temperature also rose. He was awakened by the heat. He stretched in a daze, and the memories of last night belatedly flooded his mind. He was slightly startled and then realized—where was his master?
Looking to his side, he found no one beside him. Ye Chi then looked up ahead and saw everyone awake, but Ya Feiyu was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't help but worry, so he sat up, thinking he might as well go outside and stretch his muscles. He walked to the outside of the cave and looked around. Soon, he found Ya Feiyu in a tree.
The man, sitting in the tree, glanced at him and gave him a nonchalant look. His silver eyes revealed neither joy nor anger, and Ye Chi couldn't help but feel a little guilty under his gaze, but he still respectfully said, "Good morning, Master."
Ya Feiyu nodded reservedly, his expression so indifferent as if he didn't care at all about his disciple's offense last night, making Ye Chi feel that his guilt was somewhat unnecessary.
He scratched the back of his head and forced a smile, asking, "Did Master get up very early?"
Actually, he hadn't fallen asleep at all. Ya Feiyu glanced away guiltily, but luckily he was used to keeping a straight face, so Ye Chi didn't notice anything amiss: "Well, I'm not that sleepy."
He paused, then asked, "How was your rest?"
Ye Chi smiled and obediently replied, "Not bad, Master, don't worry!"
Ya Feiyu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, nodded slightly, and then turned to the side, gracefully landing down from the tree. The morning sunlight was very gentle, shining on Ya Feiyu's face, bringing a touch of warmth that made him look much warmer.
"Let's go." His usually icy, indifferent silver eyes softened, now filled with the gentle warmth of spring. "Let's reunite with the sect leader."
Ye Chi was almost stunned. Hearing this, he came back to his senses and nodded: "Okay."
——
The remaining days went relatively smoothly.
Nothing happened during the journey, and finding accommodation was not as difficult as on the first day. Ye Chi was so dazed that he wondered if he was finally about to have good luck.
Before the snow-capped mountain, a large and bustling crowd gathered.
As the grandest event in the cultivation world, the Lingshan Sword Tournament naturally attracts people from all sects, as well as some independent cultivators, all hoping to showcase their skills on this stage and perhaps stand out to become the next master in the cultivation world, leaving a lasting legacy.
Ya Feiyu became famous because he defeated the previous champions in the Sword Tournament, thus winning the title of "Number One in the World".
However, this time, Ya Feiyu does not intend to participate.
He was of a detached nature and had no interest in these heated battles. His presence as an accompanying elder further dashed the hopes of those who were eager to fight – with Ya Feiyu not participating, they lost their chance to spar with the world's number one.
Before the conference even began, Ji Pengde led his group into the venue first. As a prominent sect, they naturally sat on a high platform, ranking first among the top ten sects, which was quite impressive.
As Elder Tianxue's chief disciple, Ye Chi was in no hurry to go on stage. He stood beside Ya Feiyu and thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of showing off.
If the male protagonist were still here, he would also be standing here as the chief disciple of Rumeng Peak in the original book. At that time, the book described how others were jealous of the male protagonist, and now that I see it, it is indeed quite satisfying.
Ye Chi was secretly delighted and couldn't help but ask Ya Feiyu, "Master, when will I go on stage?"
Ya Feiyu glanced at him and said calmly, "Tomorrow."
The Lingshan Sword Tournament is divided into three groups, and each group is further divided into three stages. The groups are divided according to cultivation level, and the three stages are: selection, competition, and peak showdown.
Before the official duel begins, there will be a segment where past champions of the tournament will perform. Thinking of this, Ye Chi tilted his head, a sly glint in his eyes. Ya Feiyu glanced at him, feeling a chill run down his spine; he sensed something was amiss with this kid. He said irritably, "What's wrong with you now?"
Feeling wronged by the unwarranted insult, Ye Chi pouted and asked, "Will Master be going on stage later?"
Of course. Ye Chi was asking a question he already knew the answer to. The book deliberately explains this: if Ya Feiyu hadn't been missing at the time, we would have been able to witness his swordsmanship at this year's Lingshan Sword Tournament.
As expected, Ya Feiyu paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Ye Chi smiled and said, "Disciple will definitely prepare a recording stone and wait to watch Master's performance."
Ya Feiyu: "..."
He always felt that beneath Ye Chi's innocent smile lay a mind full of wicked thoughts, but he had no proof. Ya Feiyu paused for a moment, then turned away from him, her gaze fixed on the stands.
At noon, a phoenix cry came from the horizon. In the distance, in the clear blue sky, shadows were vaguely flying towards them. Upon closer inspection, they were several cultivators riding cranes. They swept across the sky, leaving behind a trail of crimson light and a shower of golden dust.
There were also many mortals present, who were amazed by the sight. The young cultivators who were attending the conference for the first time also exclaimed in surprise. However, on the high platform, several old cultivators had long been accustomed to the scene before them, and each of them wore a bored expression. Ya Feiyu propped his cheek up and looked up. A crane feather fell down and he caught it.
Good morning, everyone!
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the center of the platform. A man in red robes called out, "Just now, we scattered two crane feathers. Cultivators who found the feathers, please stand up! Don't be shy! Come on!"
Ya Feiyu froze, his fingers trembling slightly, as if he wanted to throw the feather aside. But Shen Qinghe was sitting next to him. The woman slowly turned her head, her gaze falling on Ya Feiyu's hand. She didn't speak, but just looked at him with a half-smile.
As he hesitated, someone in the crowd suddenly stood up and, led by the crowd, came to the center of the platform, holding the feather in his hand.
Ya Feiyu's pupils contracted slightly.
The person in front of me was a young man with a strong build. His skin was bronze, probably from years of sun exposure. He was handsome, but had a scar on his face.
This person was very familiar to Ya Feiyu, too familiar—in his previous life, when he became a demon, he built a fortress of his own, and the person in front of him was his personal bodyguard and trusted subordinate, Mo Huanchen.
In his past life, Ya Feiyu found Mo Huanchen in a mass grave. Although he was also in a daze due to a qi deviation at the time, he still saved this dying man. Therefore, Mo Huanchen willingly followed Ya Feiyu and was his most capable and loyal subordinate in his past life.
But he remembered that when he first met Mo Huanchen, he didn't look like he does now.
The scar on Mo Huanchen's face was left from a serious injury sustained during a mission, and it wasn't there before. Yet, the Mo Huanchen before him looked exactly like the one he had before his death in his previous life...
Ya Feiyu's eyes dimmed. He heard the host's repeated calls; they were searching for the other person to receive the crane feather. As the fourth call faded, he finally stood up.
Mo Huanchen's gaze instantly locked onto him.
A hush fell over the hall. No one had expected that the other person to find the feather would be Ya Feiyu. Even the usually talkative host fell into an awkward silence. But he would never let the situation become tense, and he forced a smile and said, "I never expected that the other person to obtain the feather would be Lord Tianxue! This competition is sure to be quite exciting!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the venue erupted in cheers again. However, Ya Feiyu ignored him. He leaped down from the high platform and landed lightly on the platform. He walked slowly over, exuding the composure and pressure of a powerful figure.
Mo Huanchen stared intently at him, but without malice or murderous intent. Ya Feiyu glanced at him indifferently and saw a familiar look in Mo Huanchen's eyes.
Just like a fierce hunting dog that has found its master, no matter how ferocious it looks, its eyes are still soft.
Ya Feiyu glanced down at her, then slowly nodded, her face calm, but her heart was in turmoil.
Mo Huanchen shouldn't be here.
He was a woodcutter. Although he had reached the Golden Core stage through self-study of immortality due to his good aptitude, he was still a country bumpkin. He shouldn't know about the Spirit Mountain Sword Tournament, much less travel all the way from his mountain village. He didn't have a sword; he must have come on foot. Ya Feiyu didn't know how long it would take him. He only knew that Mo Huanchen's hometown was at least ten days away, even by sword.
Someone who shouldn't be there showed up, and his eyes looked very strange.
Ya Feiyu closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, trying to calm her racing heart.
—Some people, like him, were reborn.
Fortunately, the person he was reborn was not an enemy he had made in his previous life, but Mo Huanchen, his subordinate.
The host was still hyping up the atmosphere in his ear, which was incredibly annoying. Ya Feiyu automatically ignored it until Mo Huanchen started to move. Only then did he realize that the host had announced the start of the fight.
Since it was just a small appetizer before the main event, the two of them couldn't use their swords, so Mo Huanchen attacked with his bare hands. He was very fast, like lightning, and easily flashed in front of Ya Feiyu.
Ya Feiyu was only stunned for a moment. After he came to his senses, he quickly dodged. The two were inseparable. Mo Huanchen's physical skills were stronger than his cultivation, while Ya Feiyu was the opposite. Once Mo Huanchen gained the upper hand, he would hardly have a chance to resist.
However, the physical techniques Mo Huanchen used were all taught to him by Ya Feiyu.
How could he not be familiar with it?
While casually dodging, Ya Feiyu observed Mo Huanchen's every move. The man's movements seemed to be slowed down, and every small action could not escape Ya Feiyu's eyes. Suddenly, a cold light flashed, and Mo Huanchen's pupils widened in astonishment. He saw that Ya Feiyu's figure was already behind him, and one hand had grabbed his neck.
If Ya Feiyu was an enemy, then Mo Huanchen would undoubtedly be dead by now.
He blurted out, murmuring softly, "Master..."
Ya Feiyu's eyes darkened.
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