Su Baiyi followed Feng Yuhan through the narrow secret passage, barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through. A few luminous pearls embedded in the walls cast a faint glow, offering just enough light to illuminate their path. Feng Yuhan remained silent throughout their journey, occasionally letting out a soft cough. Su Baiyi’s mind wandered to the young man in green he had rescued on that rainy day. Could it be that their injuries shared the same cause?
After walking for a short while, the two finally emerged from the passage into a spacious underground stone chamber. At the center of the room was a pool emanating a subtle medicinal fragrance. Su Baiyi asked, “Sect Leader Feng, is this where you recuperate from your injuries?”
Feng Yuhan nodded slightly, then removed his upper garment and entered the pool. Leaning against the edge, he closed his eyes and said, “Young Master Su, I’ve suffered grave injuries. If I stay away from this medicinal pool for too long, the internal energy in my body begins to flow backward. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“How long has this condition persisted?” Su Baiyi asked.
“Six months ago, my younger brother, along with several experts from the Heavenly Water Manor and the Heavenly Book Hall, ambushed me on the banks of the Li River. I was forced to retreat into the Changze Mountains. To break through their encirclement, I hastily practiced the martial art described in that book. I managed to return to the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm, but my body suffered severe backlash,” Feng Yuhan sighed softly. “You mentioned you’ve also studied the Book of Immortals. Have you ever experienced anything similar?”
Su Baiyi pondered for a moment. It seemed that both the young man in green and Feng Yuhan had experienced a brief surge in power after forcefully practicing the Book of Immortals, but both encountered intense backlash. The green-clad youth had been on the brink of death, covered in festering sores, while Feng Yuhan, with his profound cultivation, was barely able to endure, relying on this medicinal pool to stabilize his inner energy. Su Baiyi replied, “What I practiced was different from yours. I cultivated the core principles of the Book of Immortals. After completing the cultivation, I didn’t gain any powerful techniques, so there wasn’t any backlash… Well, unless you count not being able to sleep.”
Feng Yuhan suddenly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, “I understand now. Years ago, when Shanglin Heavenly Palace divided the Book of Immortals among the major sects, our Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm received the Blade Volume. It contained blade techniques and mental cultivation methods, but it seems to have lacked the overarching core principles of this martial art. What you practiced must have been those core principles.”
Su Baiyi nodded slowly. “That aligns with what my second sister-in-law told me. But if it’s useless for martial arts training, why would the Shanglin Heavenly Palace want every sect to keep it?”
“When we first received this secret manual, my father warned me to safeguard it carefully but never to practice it privately,” Feng Yuhan sighed softly. “It’s likely related to the Battle at Heaven’s Gate on the southern coast all those years ago. However, I didn’t participate in that battle, so I don’t know many of the details.”
Su Baiyi scratched his head. “I’m really curious about what happened on the southern coast back then.” Among all the people he’d met, most hadn’t been involved in that battle at the Heaven’s Gate, and those who had were keeping their lips sealed tight. What had actually happened that year? And what was this ‘Book of Immortals’ really about?”
“Young Master Su, I hope you don’t mind me asking for a favor,” Feng Yuhan suddenly said.
Su Baiyi bowed respectfully. “Sect Leader is too polite. Please, go ahead.”
“Before the grand ceremony, find a way to take my foolish son down the mountain. If he stays at the Qingming Academy, he’ll be under the protection of the Confucian Sage. No one would dare harm him there. If I’m fortunate enough to recover from my injuries, I’ll find a way to reclaim the Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm and bring him back. If I fail, let him remain at the Academy forever and never return!” Feng Yuhan said.
Su Baiyi smiled. “But Senior Brother Feng is quite formidable.I bet he’s already plotting how to draw his sword and make his move at the ceremony to snatch the position of Sect Leader!”
“Achoo!” In the neighboring Jade Dew Mansion, Feng Zuojun sneezed violently. Unfazed, he quickly rubbed his nose and continued, “When the time comes, the disciples still loyal to our main branch will stand up. Then, Senior Sister,you’ll lend your support in the name of the Academy. After all, the Confucian Sage’s reputation is known throughout the world. With the academy’s backing, my ascension to sect leader will be a natural course. As for you, Xie Yuling, you’ll seize the opportunity. If push comes to shove, just claim that Jiangnan’s Four Great Families also stand on my side!”
“What do the Four Great Families in Jiangnan have to do with your Daze Prefecture?” Xie Yuling asked.
“Then what do Heavenly Water Manor and Heavenly Book Hall have to do with our affairs in Heavenly Dawn Cloud Realm? They claim that as fellow members of Daze Prefecture, we should stand united. Well, as major sects in the martial world, we should be in cahoots too!” Feng Zuojun declared loudly.
Nangong Xi’er helplessly tapped the table. “Is that how you use the phrase ‘in cahoots’?”
“Never mind that. The point is, if we stir up enough chaos in this pond, my second uncle’s grand ceremony to ascend as Sect Leader surely won’t be able to proceed. Besides, the Confucian Sage is clearly nearby. Who knows, he might just show up!” Feng Zuojun said smugly.
“One moment it’s ‘surely,’ the next it’s ‘who knows.’ How is this any different from courting death?” Xie Yuling shook his head.
“My father once said, ‘In life, there are no guaranteed victories. Once you step into the martial world, you’re always gambling. Gambling with fate, with your blade, with yourself.'” Feng Zuojun gritted his teeth. “For my father’s sake, I can’t back down!”
“Achoo!” Feng Yuhan, lying in the medicinal pool, sneezed. He coughed lightly and said, “He’s still too young.”
“Youth is always something to be happy about. It shouldn’t be a flaw.” Su Baiyi smiled. “That’s what my master told me.”
“Indeed, youth shouldn’t be a flaw. It’s precisely because of youth that there are so many opportunities. Perhaps one day, when his blade techniques are fully mastered, he’ll be able to return to the mountain again and avenge me.” Feng Yuhan replied.
“Senior Brother Feng said that you, Sect Leader, were a notorious womanizer who only cared for beautiful women and neglected your child. Now it seems that Senior Brother Feng was wrong,” Su Baiyi suddenly leaned forward.
Feng Yuhan licked his lips. “Could we not mention beautiful women? I’ve been trapped in this stone chamber for so long… it hasn’t been easy.”
Su Baiyi instantly understood the implication in Feng Yuhan’s words and, somewhat helplessly, placed his palm on Feng Yuhan’s shoulder.
“What are you doing, Young Master Su? Although I’m desperately pent-up, I only fancy beautiful women! Handsome young men? That’s my sister’s taste!” Feng Yuhan joked.
“Sect Leader Feng, I can save you,” Su Baiyi said in a serious tone.
“You can save me?” Feng Yuhan was taken aback.
“I once used this method to save a young man, but the procedure might sound alarming. I’m not sure if you, Sect Leader Feng, can accept it,” Su Baiyi said slowly. “I can absorb your cultivation, including the part from the Book of Immortals that’s causing your internal energy to flow backward. However, you may need some time to recover afterward. Also,that part of the martial arts from the Book of Immortals will disappear. Unless you practice it again, your body won’t have any more issues.”
Feng Yuhan exclaimed in surprise, “Really?”
“Really,” Su Baiyi placed his other palm on Feng Yuhan’s shoulder.
Thank you.