Chapter 162: Retreating to Advance

"You master and apprentice dared to stand by and watch my senior brother die in the Xianyun Sect, which means you deserved to die!"

Not only did these words leave Zhang Yu momentarily dumbfounded, but even Fei Chengji, who had been hesitating whether to make a move, came to an abrupt halt.

"Your senior brother? Pu Pingping? ... Are you from the Futu Sect?" Zhang Yu asked hastily. Disregarding his body's extreme discomfort, he grabbed the wooden stick in front of him, disbelief ringing in his voice.

Fei Chengji’s face darkened. Instead of showing the same shock as his disciple, he thought about it seriously: could it be possible? Then he realized it was entirely possible!

This man's attitude had been brimming with arrogance from the very beginning. If he didn't fancy himself a member of the Futu Sect, how could he be so aggressive, completely disregarding someone of his own caliber as a Golden Core Completion cultivator of the Dan'ya Sect?

What spoke even more volumes about his identity was that this man possessed a Metal Spiritual Root. The move with which he had unexpectedly shattered his substitute puppet was the renowned "Heart-Piercing Sword." Pu Pingping also knew this technique. Others might not have known, but Fei Chengji had long since heard that the Futu Sect recruited Metal Spiritual Root experts precisely so they could eventually execute the "Heart Sword." Pondering this, the more Fei Chengji looked at Lu Yanchang, the more he felt this must be the case.

This was simply too bullying. Pu Pingping had been inferior in skill and died in the secret realm; what did it have to do with him and his master? Even though the Dan'ya Sect and the Futu Sect were currently on friendly terms, and disciple Zhang Yu had entered the secret realm to cooperate with Pu Pingping, they couldn't just pin the blame entirely on them!

A wave of unmitigated anger welled up within Fei Chengji, and he thought with bitter grievance, "I really must go back and speak with Master. Sect Master Dai should exercise some discernment when recruiting rogue cultivators; bringing people like this into the sect simply ruins its atmosphere."

Angry though he was, Fei Chengji could not vent it. Instead, he had to secretly rejoice that thanks to his caution, the fight had not yet reached an irretrievable point, or else he would have come out the loser regardless of the outcome.

Taking advantage of the opponent's daze, Lu Yanchang carefully pondered Hongjian's words. Just a moment ago they were trying to beat each other to death, and the next moment they had to find a way to let bygones be bygones. Finding a middle ground was truly no easy task.

Fortunately, Hongjian had also told him to make himself at home, so he feigned deafness to Zhang Yu's question, casually flicked the wooden stick in his hand to send Zhang Yu sprawling flat on his face, and raised his hand, making a motion as if to hurl a spell at Zhang Yu.

"Stop!" Fei Chengji moved. With a sharp cry, he made the first move, casting a spell that erected a huge shield between Lu Yanchang and Zhang Yu, protecting the latter.

Having exposed his whereabouts and fearing that a slow tongue would bring the opponent's "Heart-Piercing Sword" down upon him, he hurriedly shouted, "Hold your hand! Don't you know that the Dan'ya Sect and your sect are allies? We came to the Xianyun Sect precisely to help your senior brother. How can you fail to distinguish friend from foe and kill indiscriminately?"

Lu Yanchang put on an unreasonable expression, looking sideways with contempt at Fei Chengji, who was three tiers higher than him. "Allies? That's a fine thing to say. A dignified Golden Core cultivator died in the secret realm—it's clear that you didn't do your utmost, or perhaps even colluded with others to harm him!"

Zhang Yu almost burst into tears. This was truly a case of wanting to condemn someone, and having no trouble finding a pretext, and he was just terribly unlucky. Previously, this lunatic had asked him what had happened in the secret realm. Not knowing the other's background, Zhang Yu had conveniently omitted the part where he had tipped off Pu Pingping, making the whole thing impossible to clear up!

Fei Chengji, however, was much calmer than Zhang Yu. Regardless, hadn't this lunatic refrained from attacking? Even though his words were infuriating enough to kill a man, as long as he was willing to communicate, that was fine.

Fashions of phrasing crossing his mind, Fei Chengji spoke calmly, "Sect Master Dai's disciple, the young lady Qi—your martial aunt—is also in the Xianyun Sect. If our master and apprentice really had a hand in Pu Pingping's death, she wouldn't have let us leave so easily."

Lu Yanchang let out a cold snort. "That woman," he said, showing considerable disdain.

Fei Chengji thought to himself, "Truly untamable." Pretending not to hear, he continued, "Your master, Nangong Jiu, is also someone I am very familiar with. It is precisely because of this friendship that our master and apprentice came to help. Besides, Pu Pingping's cultivation technique is the same as yours: the 'Heart-Piercing Sword.' With just that, let alone one Foundation Establishment Completion cultivator, even three or five would be no match for him."

The opponent seemed to find these few flattering words quite agreeable; his expression eased somewhat, and he nodded, "That goes without saying."

Fei Chengji gave a bitter smile. "His meeting with disaster must be the work of some rare treasure. Our eagerness to return is precisely to report urgently to the sect. If all else fails, we will ask Master Ji Youyun to take action and hunt down that black-robed rogue cultivator who obtained the rare treasure. That would be truly avenging him."

Lu Yanchang seemed stunned by the name Ji Youyun. After being dazed for a moment, he said, "Put that way, it does make some sense."

In truth, the reason he had remained silent for so long was that the task Hongjian had assigned him was now complete, and he was listening to Hongjian's continued voice transmission. Only then did Lu Yanchang finally understand that Hongjian wanted to impersonate someone from the Futu Sect and return to Dan'ya. He couldn't help but marvel inwardly: this girl really had quite some nerve.

Seeing him withdraw his murderous aura, Fei Chengji also put away his shield and said, "Since all the misunderstandings have been cleared up, let's leave it at that. Convey my regards to your master."

Fei Chengji's words contained a subtle undercurrent of restrained pride. Speaking of which, although Mu Fengwang and Dai Mingchi could not compare in terms of cultivation realm, they belonged to the same generation after all. The rogue cultivator before him, cloaked in the guise of the Futu Sect, was a full generation junior to him. Though Fei Chengji only shared a nodding acquaintance with Nangong Jiu, he could not help but deliberately make this remark so that this arrogant junior would know his place.

Lu Yanchang acted as if he didn't understand at all. Staring wide-eyed as Fei Chengji produced medicinal pills for Zhang Yu to take, he suddenly said, "Then I'll accompany the two of you to the Dan'ya Sect and see what Sect Master Mu has to say."

He was actually latching onto them. The master and disciple looked at each other in dismay, speechless for a moment.

Still, it was better than last night when he had attacked directly without a word of greeting. Fei Chengji could do nothing with such a person, so he had to take a step back and say, "Fine. Senior Stone of your esteemed sect is currently recuperating on our Chilian Peak. He is your proper martial uncle, and Elder Qi Tianbao is there as well. You can tell them all about this matter."

If I can't manage you, there are those who can. Fei Chengji thought with lingering resentment.

Setting off once more, it was still Fei Chengji carrying the tormented and nearly flayed Zhang Yu on his flying magical artifact. Lu Yanchang insisted on piloting his own magic tool, refusing under any circumstances to board Fei Chengji's artifact.

Weighed down by Lu Yanchang, the speed of the three was much slower than before. Fei Chengji didn't mind too much; with an outsider added to the group, some pleasantries were naturally required along the way.

"This... disciple of Nangong Jiu, I don't know your name yet. You must have taken up apprenticeship quite recently, right?"

In Fei Chengji's view, if the other had been apprenticed for a bit longer and the imprint of a major sect ran deeper, the rough, wild manner of this rogue cultivator would naturally fade. Even if he remained insufferably arrogant, at least he wouldn't be so blatant.

"Heh, your cultivation technique is mediocre, but your insight is quite sharp. Correct, my name is Xiao Guangdu. I just took my master very late last month. The two people you mentioned just now, I haven't even met them yet."

Lu Yanchang had actually intended to report an existing figure under Nangong Jiu's lineage, but unfortunately, neither he nor Hongjian knew much about the Metal Spiritual Root cultivators recruited by the Futu Sect. Hongjian had told him to improvise, so Lu Yanchang had casually made up a name. Mindful that once he arrived at the Dan'ya Sect and met Qi Tianbao, his deception would likely fall apart, and having no idea how Hongjian planned to handle such a glaring flaw, he decided to preemptively spout a couple of sentences to cover himself, useful or not.

Mediocre cultivation technique... Fei Chengji no longer had the energy to be angry with this fellow surnamed Xiao. In truth, though, realistically speaking, his technique was indeed inferior to the other's "Heart Sword" legacy.

The "Heart Sword"... At the mere thought of it, Fei Chengji's heart stirred.

If this person could truly master the "Heart Sword" in conjunction with talismans in the future, he could not be underestimated. Fei Chengji had already felt a tightness in his chest and wanted nothing to do with this fellow surnamed Xiao, but as his mind became active, he couldn't help chatting with him again.

Through this chat, Fei Chengji actually made some different discoveries. Aside from being arrogant and unreasonable, this Xiao Guangdu possessed a sense of chivalry and warmth rarely found among disciples of major sects. For instance, he and his senior brother Pu Pingping hadn't been close enough to share a pair of trousers, yet the moment Pu Pingping died and he happened to hear about it, he disregarded the fact that his cultivation was lower and rushed over to exact revenge.

By the time they neared the Dan'ya Sect, both master and disciple had unconsciously changed their impressions of "Xiao Guangdu" significantly.

At this moment, Lu Yanchang suddenly made a request. He asked Fei Chengji to land in Tongcheng, a few hundred miles away from the Dan'ya Sect, saying that his younger sister was cultivating there and he, as an older brother, wanted to visit and check on her.

It seemed Xiao Guangdu's sister was a rogue cultivator. Upon further inquiry by Fei Chengji, it turned out to be true: his sister was said to possess good natural aptitude, a Water Spiritual Root, and had already reached Foundation Establishment Completion, but because her inner demons were too heavy, she had long been unable to form her Core.

While Xiao Guangdu went to see his sister, Fei Chengji thought over the matter back and forth, hesitating endlessly. It was Zhang Yu who discerned his master's intentions and said softly, "Master, why don't you take a look at that woman? If she is moldable, simply take her in as your disciple."

"She is a water cultivator..." Fei Chengji's hesitation was not without reason. If she could only serve as a bridge, this favor would be taken for nothing by the Water Spiritual Root faction within the sect.

Zhang Yu, however, had his own reasoning: "If it's truly as that Xiao Guangdu says, for her to get rid of her inner demons and successfully form her Core is merely a matter of entering the sect's secret realm once. The sect has never explicitly stated that our Xiangji Peak cannot accept Water Spiritual Root disciples. You, Master, are at the Half-Step Nascent Soul stage; surely you can't teach a mere Foundation Establishment Completion cultivator? Look at the Xianyun Sect—they don't care about these things at all, and aren't they doing fine? If you've made up your mind, Master, I'll go talk to Xiao Guangdu."

Fei Chengji stroked his beard, pondered, and slowly nodded. If he could keep Xiao Guangdu's biological sister under his thumb, given the fellow's temper, one could foresee how great the future benefits would be.

As for his master, Mu Fengwang, he wasn't worried in the least. The rift between the water and wood lineages of the Dan'ya Sect had a long history. Because Lingxuhu, Jin Donglou, and others had died unclearly, after Mu Fengwang assumed the position of Sect Master, the conflict between the two lineages of cultivators had become even more intense than before. Xiangji Peak taking in Water Spiritual Root disciples happened to be a good method he hadn't thought of previously. The more Fei Chengji thought about it, the more brilliant it seemed, and he figured Mu Fengwang certainly wouldn't object.

Who would have thought that Zhang Yu, who had felt so confident, would run headfirst into a brick wall? Xiao Guangdu actually refused him.