In the blink of an eye, lightning flashed and energy exploded. The white-haired elder stomped his right foot hard, inner qi bursting out as he forcibly broke free from Li Sifeng's grip. His body staggered backward, but even so, Li Sifeng's dagger still pierced into his chest, spraying blood into the air.
The old man stumbled back over ten steps before steadying himself. Looking down, he touched his chest—luckily, the wound wasn't deep. He exhaled a long breath in relief.
But when he looked at his right sleeve, it was torn to shreds, and three bloody claw marks were visible across his wrist. A chill ran down his spine as his eyes fixed on Li Sifeng in shock.
'Such strength! And that speed—far too fast!'
Jiang Nian stood frozen, staring in disbelief. Even though his face was covered in dust, he could barely process what he had just witnessed.
What did he just see?
The man he thought was the strongest—Grandpa Du—had been injured by a boy his own age?
He had seen it clearly. Li Sifeng hadn't ambushed him. It was Grandpa Du who attacked first—but Li Sifeng's counter had been faster.
The white-haired elder, whose name was Du Xuanfeng, took a deep breath and looked at Li Sifeng. His voice was low and heavy. "Good technique. What's your name?"
Li Sifeng clenched his teeth and snapped, "Get off this mountain now, or I'll kill you!"
Even though he secretly admired Jiang Zhaoxia's fearless way of killing enemies, now that it was his turn, his own heart pounded with fear.
He wasn't usually so violent, but when it came to protecting Qingxiao Sect, he couldn't hold back.
Jiang Zhaoxia was the strongest in Qingxiao Sect. If he were taken away, then if the Seven Peaks Alliance or the Qing Sect attacked, it would be the end of them all.
Du Xuanfeng let out a cold laugh, the sound sharp and chilling. His eyes glinted with killing intent as he gathered his qi. His robes and hair fluttered, his entire aura growing fierce and oppressive.
"I've walked the jianghu for decades. I've heard plenty of threats like yours, boy. None of them ever ended well."
His tone hardened as he spoke, switching from politeness to self-reference as "this old man." His presence became suffocating—completely different from the kindly elder before.
Li Sifeng's body tensed. The surge of spiritual energy inside him boosted his courage, and his expression twisted into something feral.
If Du Xuanfeng was a raging old tiger, then Li Sifeng was a lone wolf—vicious, untamed, and unyielding. The tension between them was so thick that Jiang Nian stumbled back in fright.
"What do you think you're doing, Sifeng?"
A calm but commanding voice suddenly rang out, freezing Li Sifeng in place. His face paled, and he turned his head in shock.
There, standing on a thin tree branch not far away, was Jiang Zhaoxia. His tattered clothes fluttered slightly in the wind, and even in his plain garb, he carried an aura that felt ethereal and unshakable—like an immortal descended from the heavens.
Jiang Zhaoxia's face was expressionless. His sharp eyes were fixed not on Li Sifeng—but on Du Xuanfeng.
For some reason, Du Xuanfeng's heart trembled under that gaze.
He had roamed the martial world for decades, faced countless masters, and rarely felt fear. But being stared at by this young man sent a shiver down his spine.
'Impossible,' he thought. 'How could someone so young have such presence?'
When had Qingxiao Sect produced not one but two prodigies of this level?
It was unbelievable.
Li Sifeng had already made him wary—but this newcomer made him feel utterly powerless.
His instincts screamed that if he dared to make a move now, he'd die horribly.
"Third Senior Brother, I…" Li Sifeng stammered, realizing he could no longer hide what he'd done.
'Third Senior Brother?'
Du Xuanfeng's eyes widened. "You… you're Jiang Zhaoxia?"
"Big Brother!" Jiang Nian cried out, his face lighting up with admiration. In his eyes, Jiang Zhaoxia's appearance was awe-inspiring—stronger, fiercer, and more heroic than he had ever imagined.
But Jiang Zhaoxia didn't react to his call. His eyes remained locked on Du Xuanfeng as he said coldly, "Sifeng, I asked you a question. Has your Third Senior Brother lost his authority now?"
Li Sifeng trembled all over. Terrified, he quickly explained everything that had happened.
'I'm doomed,' he thought miserably. 'Third Senior Brother's definitely going to beat me up this time.'
He'd attacked his senior brother's own kin. That wasn't a small mistake.
But after listening, Jiang Zhaoxia's face didn't change at all. His voice was icy. "You did well… but not well enough. You should've just killed them outright."
The words stunned everyone—Du Xuanfeng, Jiang Nian, even Li Sifeng himself.
"But… but they came to find you," Li Sifeng stammered. "And that kid—he's your younger brother…"
Jiang Zhaoxia's voice was calm, emotionless. "I only have two younger brothers—Sifeng and Man'er."
Li Sifeng fell silent. His chest tightened, a mix of warmth and something heavy he couldn't name. He was too young to understand the complex ache in his heart.
Du Xuanfeng finally spoke, his tone strained. "Jiang Zhaoxia, the events back then weren't as you think. Your father only asked Lin Xunfeng to take you up the mountain because he had no other choice."
Jiang Zhaoxia's gaze was like ice. "I don't care what he was thinking. I only believe what I saw—and what I remember."
He drew his sword from his waist. The blade pointed straight at Du Xuanfeng. "This is your last chance."
Du Xuanfeng's face twisted. He clenched his teeth and turned toward Jiang Nian. "Young Master, we're leaving!"
Jiang Nian hurried after Du Xuanfeng, and the two quickly disappeared down the mountain path without looking back.
Jiang Zhaoxia sheathed his sword, then leapt lightly into the air, landing gracefully before Li Sifeng. As he descended, Li Sifeng noticed faint winds swirling around his body.
"The Gale Technique?"
Li Sifeng asked curiously.
Without answering, Jiang Zhaoxia raised his hand and gave him a firm smack on the head. "Your cultivation's shallow, and your body's not yet developed. The next time you face an enemy, make sure to end it with one strike. Don't drag it out."
Rubbing his head, Li Sifeng asked, confused, "Third Senior Brother, you really wanted me to kill them?"
'So ruthless!'
For the first time, Li Sifeng looked at Jiang Zhaoxia with genuine admiration. He wanted to become just like him.
"Of course," Jiang Zhaoxia said simply, then turned to leave.
Li Sifeng hurried to follow.
From afar, Jiang Nian glanced back one last time. The sunlight filtering through the forest made Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng's silhouettes seem closer than brothers. Within moments, both figures vanished from sight.
…
In the courtyard, Li Qingqiu sat at a table writing with a brush, while Li Dongyue stood beside him, fanning away the heat. Sweat dripped down her face, yet she didn't seem tired. Her gaze never once left him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Li Qingqiu noticed Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng returning, but he didn't pay much attention—he was busy copying the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra.
Jiang Zhaoxia walked straight to him and reported everything that had happened earlier.
When Li Qingqiu finished listening, he glared at Li Sifeng and snapped, "So you've grown bold, huh? Acting first and reporting later?"
Even Li Dongyue was surprised. She hadn't expected their youngest junior brother to be so fierce—it never showed in his usual behavior.
Li Sifeng pouted. "I was afraid Third Senior Brother would leave with them."
Jiang Zhaoxia snorted. "There was never any misunderstanding back then. My so-called father wanted to marry the daughter of a noble family, so he forced my mother to her death and tried to throw me away too. If not for Master arriving in time, I would've been killed by his own disciples. Go ahead and relax, Senior Brother. I'll never go back. I'll always stand by you."
The Jiang family had been a martial clan, though, like many in the jianghu, they wanted to turn respectable and leave the bloodshed behind.
When Lin Xunfeng had first brought Jiang Zhaoxia up the mountain years ago, Li Qingqiu overheard him discussing the matter with a friend. Everything Jiang Zhaoxia said was true.
Li Qingqiu nodded, then glared at Li Sifeng again. "Remember this—before doing anything, you report to me first. Whether I agree or not, I still have to know. I'm not just your senior brother—I'm the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect."
Li Sifeng was already showing signs of his Fate's awakening. He'd have to be careful with him from now on.
Li Qingqiu wasn't worried about betrayal—the boy's loyalty was absolute. What worried him was Li Sifeng's tendency to act recklessly with good intentions, which might one day cause trouble for the whole sect.
He wasn't cultivating for himself alone; he had to guide every one of his junior brothers and sisters toward immortality. Not a single one could be left behind.
He had raised them all—changed their diapers, put them to bed. To him, they weren't just disciples. They were family.
"I got it," Li Sifeng mumbled, his lips pursed. Around his seniors, he looked like a harmless little kitten, soft and obedient.
"Go play," Li Qingqiu said with a dismissive wave. He was too irritated to look at him any longer for fear of losing his temper.
Sensing that his senior brother was genuinely angry, Li Sifeng quickly turned and ran off.
Jiang Zhaoxia frowned. "Senior Brother, the Jiang family showing up now—it's not just about me. I think they're after Qingxiao Sect too."
He was right. The sect might still be small, but its territory was vast—enough to draw unwanted attention.
Li Qingqiu nodded calmly. "I know. We'll deal with soldiers when they come, block water with earth when it floods."
Then his tone shifted. "Tomorrow, take Huang Shan and Yu Lin down the mountain to the nearest town. Buy some fabric and hire a tailor to come up here. It's time Qingxiao Sect had proper robes. And don't be stingy with the money."
Right now, everyone in the sect wore patched-up old clothes. They looked less like cultivators and more like poor farmers.
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded. "I'll see if I can find other ways to earn money too."
"Take care of those two boys," Li Qingqiu reminded him. "They need some training, but make sure they don't lose any limbs."
Huang Shan and Yu Lin were the oldest among the second-generation disciples, and Li Qingqiu placed high hopes on their future. He wanted to train them early.
"I'll be careful," Jiang Zhaoxia said, then turned to leave.
Li Qingqiu glanced at Li Dongyue and said, "You should rest. I'm not that hot."
She smiled, shaking her head. "I'm not tired, Senior Brother. About the robes—will they be the same for everyone? Or will there be differences between the male and female disciples?"
Beads of sweat rolled down her flushed cheeks, and strands of hair clung to her face.
Li Qingqiu sighed helplessly but let her continue fanning him. "There'll be small differences, but the overall design should make it clear we all belong to the same sect."
"That's great! Senior Brother, tomorrow Second Senior Brother said he'd take me down to the village to trade for seeds and grain. I'd like to bring Sijin and Ning'er with me—is that okay?"
"Of course. If any heavy lifting needs doing, make Yu Chun do it. You and the girls just help him carry a few things."
"Got it!" she said happily.
The two chatted idly as sunlight streamed across the courtyard, stretching their shadows long and thin.
As the sun set and the moon rose, day turned to night, and a new day dawned.
With Zhang Yuchun and Jiang Zhaoxia each leading groups down the mountain, Qingxiao Sect grew noticeably quieter.
Li Qingqiu didn't go to the Underground Spiritual Lake. He had to stay behind and guard the sect in case of any trouble.
At noon, after lunch, he went alone to the mountain gate, sat cross-legged, and began meditating while waiting for their return.
The mountain breeze brushed against his hair. Slowly, Li Qingqiu's heart grew calm and still.
He had finally grasped it—the feeling of cultivation.
Peaceful. Free. Without a single worry in his heart.