Chapter Three: Longing for a Master-Servant Pact

Feng Anlin let out a mocking laugh, saying nothing. That tone of contempt drove Feng Yanhua to madness again; he rushed over, seized Feng Anlin by the collar, and roared, “What are you laughing at? What’s so funny, Feng Anlin? I heard you have a son? Tell me, how should I treat your son?”

Feng Anlin jerked his head up, his body trembling. “What do you intend to do to Ahe?”

“Ahe? So that’s his name? Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to take good care of him—as his fourth uncle, of course. Hahaha…” Feng Yanhua burst into wild laughter, then raised his dagger again and plunged it toward Feng Anlin’s core.

“Ah…” Feng Anlin screamed in pain.

Watching Feng Anlin writhe in agony, Feng Yanhua’s face twisted further. He twisted the dagger inside Feng Anlin’s core, then brutally excavated Feng Anlin’s Phoenix Core.

“I’ve heard this Phoenix Core is a rare treasure, capable of boosting one’s cultivation beyond its limits. Today, I’ll put it to the test with yours. Hahaha…”

Feng Anlin lost consciousness immediately. Feng Yanhua snorted, holding the Phoenix Core, and strode out of the forbidden chamber on Phoenix Perch Mountain.

Feng Qinghe wanted to step forward and rouse Feng Anlin, but this was only a memory. He could only watch, powerless to intervene.

“Father…” Feng Qinghe bit his lip, tears welling in his eyes.

No one knew how long had passed before Feng Anlin finally awoke. He moved his fingers, and suddenly a jade token appeared in his hand.

“So that elder’s calculations were right after all,” he murmured bitterly.

Unwilling to accept his fate, Feng Anlin crushed the jade token. A blinding light engulfed the entire chamber.

In the next instant, the room was empty—Feng Anlin had vanished without a trace.

The scene shifted; Feng Qinghe followed Feng Anlin to an island that seemed like a celestial paradise, where spirit beasts roamed freely and rare spiritual herbs grew everywhere.

“You’ve come?” The voice seemed to come from nowhere, ancient and deep.

“The elder’s foresight was truly accurate. As expected, I’ve come. I imagine the others won’t be far behind?” Feng Anlin said with a hint of self-mockery.

The voice was emotionless. “You are the third.”

“So, two others are already buried here?”

“State your last wish. Time is short.”

“Yes, time is short…” Feng Anlin lay down with resignation, his voice growing weaker. “Will the one who fulfills our wishes be stronger than us?”

“Yes.”

“Very well… I hope that person will take my son as a disciple… help him become… the Phoenix Clan’s patriarch…”

Feng Anlin’s voice faded away completely.

A gust of wind swept by, covering Feng Anlin’s body with sand. Spiritual grass sprouted instantly where he lay, as if no one had ever been there.

Feng Qinghe returned to the present.

“Father…” Feng Qinghe knelt, covering his face as he wept.

You Xiyue sat on a rock, propping her chin up, patiently waiting for Feng Qinghe to compose himself.

Junyang coiled around You Xiyue’s shoulder, his tail swaying. “How long have you kept those juniors behind sealed?”

“Oh, not long. Only two hours or so.”

“Tsk~ You call that not long.”

Feng Qinghe, his eyes red, stood up and walked to You Xiyue. He knelt down again. “Master, you know where my father is buried, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“Could you take me to pay my respects?”

“No.” You Xiyue refused without hesitation. “That place is inaccessible to you.”

“May I ask why, Master?”

You Xiyue nudged Junyang with her shoulder. “You tell him.”

Junyang cleared his throat and spoke as gently as he could. “Qinghe, that place is your master’s Life Island. Besides her, her contracted beast—that’s me—and the native life on the island, no one else can set foot there. Your father was able to go because he formed a contract with the island.”

“Life Island?” Feng Qinghe was puzzled. “Is that contract related to his last wish?”

“Yes, it’s connected. Life Island is like your Light Breeze Sword. When you dripped your blood on it, it acknowledged you as its master and became your life weapon. Star Island is the same—your master dripped her blood to make it her life island.” Junyang explained patiently.

“Is it possible to make an island acknowledge an owner?” Feng Qinghe felt everything today was beyond his comprehension.

Junyang nodded. “Islands can recognize a master, but only one, never more. No one else has the fortune for it.”

“If… if I formed a contract with Master, could I visit the island?”

This time, You Xiyue was the one surprised. “You want to form a contract? You do realize an ordinary contract isn’t enough.”

“I know. It would have to be a master-servant contract.”

You Xiyue sighed helplessly. “Why are you so determined?”

“This is all I can do for my father now.” Feng Qinghe’s gaze dimmed, his voice choked with emotion.

You Xiyue had seen all of Feng Anlin’s memories and knew just how horribly he had died. After a moment’s thought, she said, “You can do much more for him: you can avenge him, become the Phoenix Clan’s patriarch, and fulfill his last wish.”

She paused, then added, “Besides, the spiritual energy on Star Island is so dense that even with a contract, you can’t set foot there at will. Right now you’re only at Nascent Soul stage—if you went, the spiritual pressure would crush you. Wait until you reach the Tribulation stage; only then can you barely withstand it. If you still wish to form the contract at that time, I’ll agree.”

“Thank you, Master.” Feng Qinghe bowed again. “I will work hard.”

You Xiyue waved her hand. “Get up. If you keep bowing, your clan’s juniors will turn into scarecrows.”

Only then did Feng Qinghe remember he still had tasks to complete in the lower realm.

“Master, what about them…”

You Xiyue glanced over, and at that moment a group of people suddenly broke free from their restraints, swaying a bit before standing upright.

“Qinghe, this wild girl…” A pretty young woman, now able to move, rushed to the front, pointing at You Xiyue in indignation.

“Enough,” Feng Qinghe interrupted her coldly. “Feng Ling’er, she is now my master.”

“M-master? You really took her as your master?” Feng Ling’er stared in disbelief. “Qinghe, don’t be fooled by her—she’s so young!”

“Feng Ling’er, I’ll say it again: she’s my master now. If you insult her again, I’ll challenge you to a duel to defend her honor.” Feng Qinghe’s tone was severe.

Feng Ling’er’s lashes trembled as she stared at Feng Qinghe, unable to believe it. “Qinghe, how can you treat me this way…”

Junyang watched the scene with great interest, wishing he had a bag of seeds to snack on.

Feng Yuechi tugged at Feng Ling’er, trying to comfort her. “Ling’er, third brother has more experience than us. If he’s accepted this… senior as his master, he must have his reasons.”

“Hmph.” Though Feng Ling’er said no more, she flung off Feng Yuechi’s hand irritably and stormed toward Cloud Mist Mountain on her own.

The others exchanged glances, then followed after her. Feng Qinghe turned to You Xiyue. “Master, will you join us?”

You Xiyue pressed a jade token into Feng Qinghe’s hand. “Carry this with you. If you run into trouble, break it, and I’ll come right away. Go on ahead.”

“Yes, Master.” Feng Qinghe bowed, put away the jade token, and hurried after the others.