Chapter 36: From Now On, He Is Your Young Master Uncle

Border town.

The inn where the horses were left for safekeeping.

In a private courtyard room, Qin Yue was sitting by the window, gazing at the greenery outside, while sending a voice message.

“Thank you for your concern, sister. I’m fine. The moment I sensed something was wrong, I left right away. It just so happened I could retrieve my horse from the town.”

After a while, Tang Qingxuan’s magnetic, regal voice sounded from the transmission stone.

“That’s a relief. A monster appeared in Yandang Mountain. Feng Qianning may already have died inside. We’re contacting the sect’s Dao Realm experts to handle the demon. Let’s regroup in North Border City later.”

“I may not be able to travel with you. The Directorate of Pursuit still has many tasks for me. I’ll join you after I finish here. By the way, I still have your treasured mirror. Should I return it to you now?”

“No rush, keep it for your protection. Return it next time you visit Zhaoyang Sect…”

Qin Yue put away the transmission stone. From behind came a clear, cold voice: “Heh, sister, sister… You say it so sweetly. Why don’t you tell her the demoness of the Demonic Sect is right here by your side?”

Qin Yue glanced back at Feng Qianning, lying on the bed, her face so pale she could have been from the Ice Abyss.

“It’s said the demonesses of the Demonic Sect are covered in treasures—great demon artifacts, inheritances from the Dragon Palace, peerless divine weapons. If I told them, wouldn’t I be losing out?”

“Then here I am. Come and get them, if you dare.”

The arrogant and domineering demoness, now weak and bedridden, was still sharp-tongued.

“If you have the energy to talk, you’d better focus on healing. Hurry back and refine that cauldron. Didn’t you hear? They’re sending experts to deal with the monster. We have to get ahead of them.”

Feng Qianning was silent for a moment before speaking: “I won’t have the chance. But you know the Earth-Evasion Technique. Go there yourself. When their experts arrive, lure the monster away. Then sneak in and refine it. That cauldron is a precious treasure, originally meant to suppress such evil things.”

Qin Yue thought for a moment and did not refuse. “What exactly is that monster? Do you know it?”

“It’s a Transforming Serpent—a beast with a human face, jackal body, and serpent tail. Legend says its appearance brings floods and disaster…” Feng Qianning’s voice was cool and ethereal as she looked at him.

Qin Yue smacked his lips. “I bet such a demon has an inner core, which must be beneficial to cultivation. At the very least, its blood and gall are rare treasures. It would be best if we could slay it as well.”

Feng Qianning was speechless. “Those great demons in Demonbeast Valley treat you so well, yet you still harbor prejudice against demonkind?”

“Prejudice? That thing is clearly a calamity.”

Feng Qianning looked at Qin Yue and suddenly asked, “Why are you getting so close to the people from Zhaoyang Sect? What’s your aim?”

She knew his origins well and wouldn’t mistake him for someone eager to join, as Hu Jiuyan had.

Qin Yue replied, “I didn’t mean to get so involved. I should thank you for making me famous. Now everyone thinks I’m a successor of Green Bamboo Garden. I also came across that bamboo scroll by chance, which they bought from me. Since I didn’t ask for the Withered Leaf Sword Classic, they must think I intend to join their sect and learn their arts that way…”

Feng Qianning asked, “And what do you really want?”

Qin Yue walked to the bedside, sat on a chair, picked up an apple, and began peeling it casually.

“You know where I come from. That’s not something you should ask.”

Feng Qianning’s gaze lingered on his hands as he peeled the apple, and she said quietly, “That’s not necessarily true. There are plenty who value their lives above all, who’d call their enemy ‘father.’ Why should the Ice Abyss people be any different?”

“I’ll go to Zhaoyang Sect, but only to collect a debt—and to learn more about them. Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll never lose a hundred battles.”

“Know yourself and your enemy… never lose a hundred battles?” Feng Qianning murmured, then asked, “Are you really from the Ice Abyss?”

“What else? Haven’t you seen my skin?”

“Then why not just join them?” Feng Qianning said.

Qin Yue paused, the apple peel nearly finished before it snapped.

“What do you mean, go undercover?”

Feng Qianning’s long lashes trembled. She looked at him in surprise, then softly said, “If you truly want to understand them, a superficial acquaintance won’t do. I never expected you’d have so much contact with them by accident. That day, I purposely struck at you to solidify your identity as a Green Bamboo Garden successor, just to help cover up your Ice Abyss origins.”

“Why didn’t you kill me that day?” Qin Yue asked.

“Which day?”

“The first day we met.”

“You’re a runaway from the Ice Abyss, a natural enemy of Zhaoyang Sect. Even if you wanted to call them father, you couldn’t.”

“What happened while I was unconscious…”

“Nothing! I merely transferred a bit of spiritual power to you. That’s all.”

Just casually?

Qin Yue glanced at her slender, pale hand. Feng Qianning instinctively pulled it under the blanket, then glared at him.

He smiled, split the apple in half, handed her a piece, and took a bite of the other himself. It was sweet.

Feng Qianning hesitated, then took a small bite, but suddenly began coughing violently.

She struggled to sit up, took out a handkerchief, and covered her mouth. The cloth was soon stained with a touch of bright red.

“Your wound…”

“It’s nothing.”

“The previous injury hasn’t fully healed, has it?”

“There hasn’t been enough time. I just need to rest for a while.”

Qin Yue sighed inwardly. At this rate, there might be no chance for the Transforming Serpent.

Feng Qianning set her half of the apple aside. “Things are in your favor now. You can join Zhaoyang Sect openly, investigate them from within, learn their secrets. Only then can you face them calmly in the future.”

Though she hadn’t known much about this youth before, the fact that he saved her from the underground palace in Yandang Mountain without coveting her treasures was enough to earn her trust.

“What’s the current situation in the Heavenly Net Sect?” Qin Yue asked after a moment’s thought.

Feng Qianning looked at him. “If you want to join the Heavenly Net Sect, you’re welcome. But are you sure you want to join a Demonic Sect?”

“Is the sect wealthy? Does it have abundant resources? Supreme scriptures and powerful masters?”

“…”

Feng Qianning stared at him, speechless for a long time. “It has all of that. But we’re the Demonic Sect!”

Qin Yue smiled. “Aren’t I a demon in the eyes of the world as well?”

Feng Qianning silently took a small bite of apple, chewed and swallowed slowly.

After a while, she spoke again. “You don’t have to be now. I’ve already established you as a Green Bamboo Garden successor.”

“Oh, please. Successor of Green Bamboo Garden? I don’t even know how to cultivate grand medicines.”

Feng Qianning was taken aback. “What do you mean? If you don’t know how to cultivate herbs, why do those great demons treat you as an honored guest?”

Qin Yue hesitated. “It’s a special technique. It actually extracts the essence from the grand medicines, but makes them look more vibrant than ever.”

“There’s such a sinister art in the world?” Even with her wide experience, Feng Qianning was stunned.

She scrutinized him—he was indeed from the Ice Abyss, she’d checked carefully before. Could it be that among the generations of runaways from the Ice Abyss, someone had risen in secret?

She pondered for a moment. “That’s troublesome. Even if it won’t be exposed right away, you’ll slip up eventually. You really can’t join them. It’s too dangerous…”

Qin Yue said, “This technique can also transfer the essence from one grand medicine to another.”

Feng Qianning’s eyes lit up. “Rob from Peter to pay Paul?”

Qin Yue nodded.

“This technique is quite something. You could redistribute the essence of the sect’s greatest medicinal treasures into ordinary herbs, and mass-produce top-grade ones…”

Imagining the scene, a faint smile appeared on Feng Qianning’s cold, beautiful face. She was clearly very satisfied with such a devious method.

That smile was breathtaking.

“In that case, there’s no obstacle for you to join Zhaoyang Sect! Later, I’ll bring you back to the sect to meet the elders. Once you’re formally initiated, then—”

She suddenly fell silent, both their gazes turning to the door.

The next moment, there was a gentle knock.

“Junior brother, are you inside?”

Qin Yue got up and opened the door. Hu Jiuyan rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly.

Choking up, she said, “I’m so glad you’re safe. I was terrified. I thought you’d gotten in trouble saving the Saintess, and now she can’t be reached. Who knows if she’s alive… What will we do, junior brother…”

All the pent-up emotions in her heart spilled out the moment she saw Qin Yue.

“Your Saintess is fine. She’s right here.” Qin Yue gently patted her trembling back and whispered in her ear.

“Ah?” The heroine jolted, broke free, and darted into the inner room.

She saw at once the Saintess, propped against the headboard, holding a small piece of apple and looking at her with a strange expression.

“Martial aunt…”

Hu Jiuyan rushed to the bedside, grasped Feng Qianning’s hand, and asked tearfully, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Little Qin brought me back. Don’t worry.”

Little Qin?

Qin Yue, who was closing the door, paused.

But Hu Jiuyan didn’t think much of it. Her eyes were red, but a smile broke through. “That’s good. In that chaos, everyone was fleeing, I never thought he’d be able to save you…”

She couldn’t help but ask, “How did you and Qin Yue meet, anyway?”

“He’s the son of an old friend who entrusted him to my care,” Feng Qianning replied without missing a beat.

“No wonder you treat him so well.” Hu Jiuyan was relieved. So this junior brother was genuine after all?

The son of an old friend—he was a junior, but clearly valued. He’d certainly be accepted into the sect…

“Yanyan, I’m planning to accept him as my disciple on behalf of my master. From now on, he’ll be your junior martial uncle,” Feng Qianning said coolly.

Hu Jiuyan: “…”

She was stunned. Looking from the Saintess to Qin Yue, who was equally dumbfounded.

“But… why?”

“He’s highly skilled and powerful—not suited to be a mere new disciple,” Feng Qianning said solemnly. “Didn’t you see the positions the other great sects offered him? Would it be right for him to join us as the lowest-ranked disciple?”

That… didn’t seem quite right.

Hu Jiuyan was at a loss. “But, but…”

“No buts. I’m not older than you, yet I’m still your senior,” Feng Qianning said with a bright, satisfied smile.