Volume 5 Chapter 12
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Volume 5 Chapter 12: Crossroads
Just as Xu Qingfan and the others entered Jiuhua Mountain, not far from its foot, a solitary figure silently looked up at the majestic mountain, his expression complex.
This figure was none other than Feng Qingtian, who had suddenly vanished from Jiuhua Mountain.
After a long while, Feng Qingtian sighed softly, a look of determination appearing on his face, as he was about to turn and leave.
But suddenly, a mist surged before Feng Qingtian, quickly forming into a human shape—it was Number 33, one of the four Snake Guards under Zhang Xusheng’s command. Seeing Feng Qingtian about to leave, he said in a deep voice, "Are you just going to leave like that?"
Feng Qingtian replied calmly, "What else should I do?"
A hint of anger flashed in Number 33’s eyes as he whispered, "You promised me that if I helped you get out of Jiuhua, you would come with me to meet my master."
Hearing what Number 33 said, Feng Qingtian just smiled faintly and replied, "I lied to you."
Anger flickered in Number 33’s eyes as he harshly said, "Feng Qingtian, the battle you had with Xu Qingfan has left you seriously injured. I suppose you no longer have any fighting strength left, right? In the past, I wasn’t a match for you when you were at your full power, so I spoke to you kindly. But do you think I still fear you now? If you obediently come with me to see my master, I’ll pretend this never happened. But if you persist, I’ll have no choice but to take you by force."
Hearing Number 33’s threat, Feng Qingtian instead displayed a rare smile, though his gaze grew even colder as he stared at the slightly changing expression of Number 33, calmly saying, "Do you want to try fighting me? You can give it a shot."
Seeing Feng Qingtian’s confident expression, Number 33 hesitated, especially due to Feng Qingtian’s chilling gaze, which filled him with fear. Yet, remembering Zhang Xusheng’s orders, he gritted his teeth and transformed into a mist, rushing swiftly towards Feng Qingtian.
…
After roughly the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Feng Qingtian slowly withdrew the blazing flames surrounding him. Ignoring Number 33, who lay pale on the ground, he turned and walked away into the distance.
Number 33 cried out unwillingly, "Feng Qingtian, you’re seriously injured now and it will take more than a decade to fully recover. To defeat me, you even burned part of your own life, worsening your injuries. Only my family master can quickly heal you and bestow stronger powers. Right now, the cultivation world is in chaos, and in your current state, you might be killed anywhere. Seeing my family master is your best and only choice."
Hearing Number 33’s words, Feng Qingtian turned back to glance at him and said slowly, "I spared your life because you told me about the secret passage Zhang Xusheng left in Jiuhua Mountain. I owe you a favor but if you keep rambling, don’t blame me for losing patience."
Seeing Number 33 obediently fall silent, Feng Qingtian nodded in satisfaction before turning once again to walk into the distance. Just as Number 33 had said, Feng Qingtian was gravely injured, and upon leaving, anyone could see his staggering steps. Yet Feng Qingtian continued moving forward, step by step, down what might be a divergent path but also held his hope.
"Feng Qingtian, wait a moment. Talk with me before you go."
At that moment, from the direction where Number 33 was, a voice suddenly emerged, stopping Feng Qingtian.
Hearing this voice, a flicker of murderous intent appeared in Feng Qingtian’s eyes, thinking it was Number 33 trying to stop him again. However, he soon realized the voice was different. It was lazy, elegant, wicked, and distant, all at once, blending into a seamless whole that wasn’t bizarre but instead evoked an uncontrollable fear from deep within Feng Qingtian’s heart.
Feng Qingtian suddenly turned his head and saw a handsome and mysterious middle-aged scholar dressed in white. This man had appeared near Number 33 without Feng Qingtian knowing when. With deep, curious eyes, the man studied Feng Qingtian as if he were admiring a perfect work of art.
Seeing this figure, Feng Qingtian was shocked. Although he had only seen this figure from afar once many years ago, he would never forget it.
Furthermore, the sight of Number 33 prostrating in reverence beside him confirmed the identity of this figure.
This suddenly appearing scholar was none other than Zhang Xusheng, who had previously wiped out Feng Qingtian’s entire Feng family single-handedly!
Seeing Feng Qingtian’s stiff posture and frozen expression, Zhang Xusheng smiled slightly and said slowly, "You don’t need to be nervous. I am actually thousands of miles away. This is just a projection here through my connection with Number 33, posing no threat to you. I am just very interested in you and want to have a conversation."
Upon hearing Zhang Xusheng say this, Feng Qingtian realized that Zhang Xusheng’s figure was somewhat ethereal, and he could see through it to the scenery behind. As Zhang Xusheng had said, it was indeed just a projection.
Even though it was just a projection, the terrifying pressure it created still made Feng Qingtian’s body tremble, with a strong urge to bow down. This impulse was so intense that if not for Feng Qingtian’s proud nature and the knowledge that this was his family’s enemy, he might have actually knelt.
Taking a deep breath, Feng Qingtian steadied himself and slowly asked, "What do you want to talk about?"
Despite Feng Qingtian trying his best to calm himself, he could clearly feel the tremor in his voice. This was due not only to the anger and agitation of seeing his enemy but also to the uncontrollable fear that arose with Zhang Xusheng’s appearance.
Hearing Feng Qingtian’s question, Zhang Xusheng smiled slightly and said slowly, "I’m just a bit puzzled. Jiuhua and I are both your enemies. But you should understand that although you have some talent and work hard at your training, if you continue like this, you might never have much hope of getting revenge on Jiuhua in your lifetime. After all, there are many excellent disciples in Jiuhua’s generation, some of whom aren’t much weaker than you. Not to mention getting revenge on me. Yet, if you join me, you could easily gain great power. And I’ve promised you, I would never hold back just because you want to kill me, so why don’t you join me?"
Feng Qingtian said coldly, "It’s true that by joining you, I could quickly heal my injuries and save myself centuries of training, gaining the power to threaten Jiuhua Mountain. But you should also know that Jiuhua Mountain is not my ultimate target. Ultimately, you destroyed my entire family, so my final target is still you. If I gain power through you, no matter how strong, it will always be your power, and I will never be a match for you. Even the slightest possibility originally present is lost."
Zhang Xusheng nodded with a smile, "I see, I didn’t expect your ambition to be so great. And from your tone, it seems you’ve already found a way to defeat me?"
Strangely, when Zhang Xusheng asked this, his face showed no concern or worry, but rather excitement.
Feng Qingtian snorted coldly but didn’t respond, seeming to tacitly agree.
Seeing Feng Qingtian’s reaction, Zhang Xusheng smiled even more broadly and said softly, "Well, Feng Qingtian, grow up quickly. Let me see what methods you will use to defeat me and to what extent you will succeed. Just thinking about it makes me look forward to it even more."
As he spoke, Zhang Xusheng’s figure gradually faded and was about to disappear completely.
But upon hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, Feng Qingtian’s face showed shame and anger, seemingly provoked by Zhang Xusheng’s indifferent attitude. Before Zhang Xusheng’s figure vanished completely, he suddenly shouted angrily, "Zhang Xusheng, are you really so confident that I can’t threaten you at all?"
"Not at all, Feng Qingtian. I see great potential in you, a potential even greater than my own back then. You are fully capable of achieving anything. The reason I’m not concerned about your future plans against me is precisely because I’m eagerly anticipating it. I don’t want to spoil the future surprise."
"Feng Qingtian, do you know what I like the most? I am part of a group called ‘Ming,’ where many people fear me. Because they fear me, they want to get rid of me. Yet, each time, I kill them just when they think they’re about to succeed. It’s that despair of sudden failure at the brink of success that I anticipate the most. Every time I see it, a feeling of deep satisfaction fills my heart, leaving me with endless enjoyment. Feng Qingtian, I also look forward to the day when you will bring me that kind of satisfaction and anticipation."
"But alas, Feng Qingtian, you are still too weak now. Killing you at this moment brings me no joy at all. You’re still an unripe fruit with so much potential to grow. So hurry up and mature quickly. Let me shatter your hopes at the peak of your strength, when you think you’re about to kill me. Only a fully matured fruit tastes the sweetest when plucked."
"Feng Qingtian, work hard, grow faster and faster. I’ll be waiting for you at the top of the mountain peak."
As these words were spoken, Zhang Xusheng’s figure finally disappeared completely, leaving only Number 33 still bowing and trembling before Feng Qingtian. Even as Zhang Xusheng’s servant, Number 33 feared Zhang Xusheng no less than anyone else.
Staring at the towering Jiuhua Mountain before him, even though Zhang Xusheng had vanished and the once terrifying pressure had dissipated, Feng Qingtian still trembled all over. This time, it wasn’t out of fear but because of the deep disdain in Zhang Xusheng’s words, filling Feng Qingtian with both anger and a sense of helplessness.
With fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms, blood dripped continuously from his fingers. Yet Feng Qingtian remained oblivious, only hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words echo in his mind over and over again.
"Feng Qingtian, I also look forward to the day when you will bring me that kind of satisfaction and anticipation."
"But alas, Feng Qingtian, you are still too weak now. Killing you at this moment brings me no joy at all."
"Feng Qingtian, work hard, grow faster and faster. I’ll be waiting for you at the top of the mountain peak."
"I will definitely kill you in the end, Zhang Xusheng! By then, I will also relish in the fear on your face!" Feng Qingtian silently vowed.
Thinking of this, Feng Qingtian suddenly took out a plaque from his sleeve, which was actually the ancestral tablet of the Feng family. By chance, Feng Qingtian had discovered the secret hidden within, the mystery of how the Feng family and other "Mythical Beast families" emerged in the cultivation world. This was Feng Qingtian’s greatest leverage against Jiuhua and Zhang Xusheng in the future.
After wiping it for a long time, Feng Qingtian slowly put the tablet away, then started walking step by step into the distance. Though still staggering, he was more determined than before.
It might be a wrong path, but Feng Qingtian had to continue walking it. This was the road fate had planned for him, and it was also his own choice. Regardless of the outcome, Feng Qingtian would never regret it.
…
Thousands of miles away, in an elegant courtyard, Zhang Xusheng stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the moon and stars in the sky among a bamboo grove. A faint, elusive smile appeared on his lips, its meaning forever inscrutable.
Bao Qingfang stood not far from Zhang Xusheng. After a long hesitation, he finally asked tentatively, "Master, will you really let Feng Qingtian continue like this? The Mythsical Beast families of old had some remarkable figures. If Feng Qingtian is so sure he has a way to deal with you, maybe he’s already discovered the ancient secret of the Mythsical Beast families."
Zhang Xusheng smiled slightly and said softly, "The secret of the Mythsical Beast families? I’ve known it for a long time. This calamity of ‘Darkness’ has some connections with the appearance of the Mythsical Beast families back then. But if Feng Qingtian has only these means, then I would be disappointed."
Seeing Bao Qingfang still wanting to say something, Zhang Xusheng calmly interrupted, "Enough. If everything is laid bare, I won’t have that sense of anticipation anymore."
Then, Zhang Xusheng paused for a moment and slowly said, "Even if Feng Qingtian continues to develop like this, his progress is still too slow. Interesting things should be concentrated together to be more interesting. We must help Feng Qingtian improve faster. Here’s what we can do—I will go meet ‘Tian’ and ‘Earth,’ those two elders, and have them invite Feng Qingtian to join the ‘Dark’ organization. Only then can Feng Qingtian advance more quickly."
As he spoke, Zhang Xusheng revealed a faint, expectant smile, as if imagining how much Feng Qingtian would grow in the future.
Bao Qingfang was slightly taken aback but said, "But the ‘Dark’ organization already has sixteen core members, are you suggesting he becomes a reserve member?"
Zhang Xusheng replied softly, "He should be a full member; only then can he progress faster. As for the fact that the ‘Dark’ already has sixteen members, we don’t need to worry about that; we can eliminate the newly joined ‘Lie’ and ‘Zhang.’ Those who are already fully mature and almost rotting hold no promise compared to the fresh potential Feng Qingtian has."
And so, the fate of the newly inducted ‘Lie’ and ‘Zhang’ in the ‘Dark’ organization was decided by a mere game of Zhang Xusheng’s.
Though reluctant to admit it, seeing Zhang Xusheng’s calm and self-assured expression, Bao Qingfang realized that, to some extent, this world indeed revolves around certain individuals, like Zhang Xusheng and the two elders, Tian and Di.
