Chapter 179: Reasoning

    ~~~

    Though Feng Zhis servant is dressed in dark clothes with barely an inch of her skin exposed, Liu Jin has no problems recognizing her Qi. In the past, her androgynous appearance caused him to think of her as a man, but stepping into the True Realm has taken his sensing abilities to a new level.

    What can you tell me about your master? He asks.

    Feng Zhis servant does not immediately reply. She looks at him with wary eyes. Her Qi is tense, her body ready to flee at a moments notice.

    To think Disciple Qing detected my presence so easily impressive.

    You could not hide from me before I entered the True Realm, Liu Jin points out dryly, remembering when she tried to sneak into his room to deliver one of Feng Zhis threats. This much is only to be expected.

    Indeed. You have grown greatly, Disciple Qing. However, I will not betray my masters secrets.

    Does that mean you can tell me things as long as they are not secret? Liu Jin asks. He raises a finger, and she flinches. For example, you were hiding outside Lady Lings mansion. Feng Zhi must have ordered you to keep an eye on Feng Hao. Am I right?

    The servant does not answer. Even her Qi goes utterly still, as if not moving could somehow make him forget shes there.

    When you saw me leave Lady Lings house, you decided to follow me. Why? Did Feng Zhi tell you I merited special attention?

    Liu Jin thinks about it and nods.

    Yes, that sounds like something hed do. Hes too paranoid.

    Of course, considering everything that has happened recently, it might be better to call Feng Zhi properly paranoid. Fi?ndd new updates at novelhall.com

    Do not insult Young Master Feng Zhi! the servant yells. Her Qi hisses like an angry cat. Steel glints under her sleeve. A dagger, most likely.

    Must you show such hostility to me? Liu Jin wonders. He takes a single step toward the servant, and she immediately backs away. You keep treating me like I am about to attack you. Am I that scary? People keep saying that I am. I must confess it is beginning to hurt me.

    I have nothing to say to you!

    I am not forcing you to betray your master, nor do I have any interest in hurting Feng Zhi, Liu Jin calmly tells her. I just need you to answer a few questions. Surely that cannot hurt anyone?

    Her reply to his well-reasoned attempt to calm her down is to flee. She makes it a grand total of three steps away from him before he cuts her off, appearing in front of her in the blink of an eye. Steel flashes in the night as she draws her blade.

    Stop.

    Liu Jin brings the full weight of his Qi down on her, and she falls, unable to bear his presence. Her eyes look at him with fear, yet there is resolve behind that fear. The will to never betray her master.

    Liu Jin sighs.

    I am used to feeling threatened by people much stronger than me, he says, his lips forming a thin line. Being on the opposite side I cannot say I like it.

    Liu Jin releases her from his presence and offers her a hand.

    If you will not talk, at least take me to your master. Give him as much of a warning as you want. I have no intention of attacking him. Even if I wanted to, it should be clear I am not his match. If you cannot trust me, at least trust your masters strength.

    The servant stays silent for a long while.

    Very well.

    Still, she does not take his hand.

    ~~~

    Feng Zhi''s manor is far different from Lady Ling''s. That is not to say it is an ugly place. Nor is it dirty or rundown. As a building, it is not lacking in the slightest. It is just sober. Quiet. There are no ornaments on the large garden surrounding the property, no flowers, and not even a small pond.

    The character of its owner is not reflected at all.

    Feng Zhi''s servant went inside a little over a minute ago and has yet to come out. The way Feng Zhi''s Qi spikes every now and then tells Liu Jin that Feng Zhi is already aware of his presence. He has just chosen not to come out yet.

    Is he going to make him wait?

    It starts as a nagging worry, but as the minutes pass, it becomes an annoying reality. Liu Jin shakes his head and crosses his arms. What exactly has he done to Feng Zhi to warrant this sort of treatment? No, the answer to that is obvious. He got too close to Feng Hao, and Feng Zhi''s protective streak is as deep as the sea.

    "You have a lot of nerve."

    Feng Zhi appears before him in a blur of speed. Hair like flame and eyes like gold stand out even in the dark of the night as if they shone with a light of their own.

    "You threaten my servant," Feng Zhi says. His Qi rises just enough to be threatening without being deliberately overt. "Then you demand an audience with me?"

    "Young Master, I threatened no one and kindly asked for an audience," Liu Jin says. "If being stronger than the people I speak to is all it takes for my words to be taken as a threat, then Young Master threatens people all the time."

    "I do."

    Liu Jin is left blinking, not having expected such a blunt and easy admission.

    "That''s a sad way of looking at things, Young Master."

    Spy?

    "You approach my brother and ingratiate yourself to his mother. Then you happen to "uncover" Elder Cheung''s crimes, giving Elder Xue control over the Medical Pavilion, boosting your position, and successfully sabotaging my uncle''s efforts to win the tournament."

    Liu Jin grimaces. When Feng Zhi puts it like that, it does sound awfully suspicious.

    Then you just happen to be in the fight in the Sparring Hall, and you also happen to be there when Xun Huwen attacked my brother, which by the way, happened days after you visited Elder Xun, whose main disciple just happened to show up in time to save you.

    You have been keeping an eye on my movements, Liu Jin notes.

    Any fool would realize the need for that after your first month here! Feng Zhi yells at him. Since you came here, things have been thrown into disarray. I thought I had decades to prepare for the fight between my father and uncle! Instead, my father has been chosen as the next Patriarch, and Feng Hao will be under more pressure and scrutiny! Dont even get me started on everything that happened in the Dead Plains! I hear Elder Xue has even been talking to my father about the Storm Dragon Empire lately!

    Liu Jin''s eyes widen.

    "What?"

    "Oh, so there is something your master did not include you in?" Feng Zhi indulges in momentary superiority. "Good. Let that make you feel how everyone else feels caught in your schemes!"

    "Young Master, there is a misunderstanding-"

    "No, I will not allow you to use your words on me! Feng Zhi points a finger at him. I do not trust you, Qing Jin, and I will not allow you to pry any secrets from me! You are exactly like the snakes you summon, and I am done entertaining you!"

    Feng Zhi vanishes in a flash, leaving Liu Jin alone in the front yard. However, he feels neither sorrow nor disappointment. There is only one thought running through his mind.

    He needs to talk to Elder Xue.

    ~~~

    Extra Scene

    ~~~

    I apologize, Young Master, his servant, Third Light, says once he returns. Even though he had detected my presence before, I underestimated his ability.

    It doesnt matter, Feng Zhi says. None of it does.

    My lord-

    Leave, he says. Unlike the increasingly rebellious Qing Jin, his servant has no problem following his orders. Shes gone from his room before he has finished sitting down, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

    Huang Shing will surpass you.

    Of all the insufferable

    You are still in the First Level of the Earth Realm, Young Master. That has not changed in all the time this one has known you.

    Arrogant

    I wonder, by the time the next Crimson Cloud Tournament arrives, will you still be as you are now?

    Truths...

    Feng Zhi tries to take a deep, calming breath, but no amount of breathing can stop him from digging his nails into his palms so hard he draws blood. It is not as if Qing Jin is the first to tell him something like that. Many have used his lack of progress to taunt him and spread rumors about him.

    However, Qing Jin wasnt even in the Spirit Realm when they met.

    In a matter of months, Qing Jin has gone from bowing his head before him to meeting his eyes as though they were equals! Its not just him, either. Everyone has grown. Every single disciple that has come in contact with that damnable Qing Jin has experienced some form of growth. Its obvious hes involved in it, but Elder Xue is allowing him to act as he pleases! She must be the one truly behind everything. His father should not allow that woman so much freedom, but he is far too busy analyzing what happened in the temple to care!

    His father

    Little Hao is already in the Spirit Realm, yet you who made contact with the relic in the temple are content to stand still?

    Feng Zhi growls. As if a level of the Earth Realm could be compared to the levels below it! If he were anyone else, people would not find his growth objectionable in the slightest!

    Do you know why you remain still, son?

    Shut up

    You are hesitating.

    Stop.

    Your path, like mine, is one of destruction. However, there is no desire for destruction in you. You have decided your priorities to take precedence over your methods and, in doing so, hampered yourself.

    Feng Zhi stands up abruptly. His Qi flares as if trying to vanish the specter of his fathers words.

    He needs to see Yi Jiao.

    ~~~