Chapter Forty-Eight: Rushing Back to the Phoenix Clan Brothers

As Feng Qinghe had anticipated, the day before the martial competition, Qin Junwei, the master of Purple Cliff Hall, arrived at the Phoenix Clan with Elder Liu Ruhui and a host of disciples, making quite the spectacle.

Yet their visit was not merely to support Feng Tianwu; curiosity about the rumors drew them, eager to probe the truth behind You Xiyue and Jun Yang.

The Phoenix Clan’s guest courtyard had long been occupied by You Xiyue and Jun Yang. Unwilling to provoke them, Feng Tianwu arranged for Qin Junwei and Liu Ruhui to stay in Feng Tianyang’s quarters.

Receiving the delegation at the foot of Phoenix Perch Mountain, Feng Tianwu explained apologetically, “Grandmaster, Master, the guest courtyard is already occupied, so I’ll have you stay in Tianyang’s residence.”

Qin Junwei smiled warmly but declined, “Such a vast clan as yours surely has room for a few more guests. As visitors, we should stay in the guest courtyard, not disturb the host’s chambers.”

“But…” Feng Tianwu wanted to persuade him further, but one glance at Qin Junwei’s smiling face revealed a steely resolve that brooked no refusal.

“Then… I must trouble Grandmaster and Master…” Feng Tianwu relented.

Qin Junwei’s expression softened, “Lead the way, please.”

“Yes.” Feng Tianwu led the party up the mountain, unease gnawing at his heart.

Cultivators as they were, their steps were swift, and they soon reached the guest courtyard. Just as they approached the gate, they were confronted by a man so covered in soot he was nearly unrecognizable.

“Who are you?” Feng Tianwu asked, puzzled.

“Don’t you recognize someone as handsome as me?” the man replied with casual insolence.

Even Elder Liu Ruhui, standing behind Feng Tianwu, couldn’t help but twitch his lips. Other than those gleaming white teeth, there was nothing to discern—certainly nothing handsome.

Just then, laughter erupted from behind.

They turned to see Ming Chenyu and Ye Linyi arriving.

Ye Linyi clutched his stomach, pointing at the soot-blackened man, unable to contain himself. Between fits of laughter, he stammered, “You… you… exploded…”

He never managed to finish the sentence.

Ming Chenyu, shaking his head at the two, finally translated, “He means, you blew up my family’s courtyard and then bolted. You ran quick enough, I’ll give you that.”

Yan Qingye protested, “I didn’t run because I blew up your courtyard. I heard someone was bringing trouble to the Phoenix Clan, so I rushed over to help!”

Ming Chenyu shot Yan Qingye a helpless look and pulled Ye Linyi along. The closer Ye Linyi got to Yan Qingye, the harder he laughed; that pitch-black figure, so absurd it was hilarious, finally had him squatting on the ground in stitches.

Angered, Yan Qingye raised a fist to strike Ye Linyi.

Ye Linyi, nimble as ever, hopped away, deftly dodging every blow.

Ming Chenyu coughed to regain order. “Master is still waiting for us in the courtyard.”

Only then did the two stop their scuffle and walk over.

With peace restored, Ming Chenyu finally regarded Qin Junwei with a slight nod.

“Hall Master Qin, it’s been a while.”

Qin Junwei’s smile didn’t falter as he assessed the group. “Young Master Ming, indeed. Are you all heading to the guest courtyard as well?”

Yan Qingye pressed his blackened face forward, forcing Qin Junwei to step back. “We’ll be staying with our master in the guest courtyard these days. There’s too many of you; you seem noisy, so go stay elsewhere.”

“You—!” Liu Ruhui stepped forward, ready to argue, but Qin Junwei restrained him.

“In that case, we won’t disturb the young masters. We’ll go to the main quarters.”

Qin Junwei turned to Feng Tianwu, “I was presumptuous. I didn’t realize the young masters were visiting as well. Please lead me to Tianyang’s residence.”

Feng Tianwu frowned at Yan Qingye and the others, lowered his head in assent, and led the Purple Cliff Hall entourage away.

Once they had gone, Yan Qingye muttered, “That old fox Qin Junwei, always smiling, gives me the creeps. Who knows what schemes he’s hatching.”

Ming Chenyu watched the departing crowd, offering no rebuttal.

The Qin family was only one step away from becoming the thirty-second layer of the continent’s five great clans. To say they were content would be a lie.

In recent years, Purple Cliff Hall had aggressively recruited disciples from all the major families. Those non-direct heirs who returned from Purple Cliff Hall always seemed a bit… off.

“They’re gone. What are you two still staring at?” Ye Linyi waved a hand before their eyes.

Ming Chenyu glanced at Ye Linyi thoughtfully. Thankfully, the Ye family still had their brilliant third son, Ye Linzhou. Without him, the Ye family would be in danger—sold out and still counting coins for their betrayers.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Linyi asked, eyes wide.

“Nothing. Let’s go find Master.” Ming Chenyu strode into the guest courtyard.

Yan Qingye quickly cast a cleansing spell and followed.

You Xiyue and Jun Yang had heard the commotion outside. They were sitting in the pavilion, enjoying spirit oranges.

Ye Linyi’s mouth watered at the sight.

Jun Yang, noting Ye Linyi’s lack of restraint, grabbed three oranges and tossed them to the trio.

Yan Qingye, less awed than before—after all, nothing his master ate was novel—bit straight into the fruit, its tender spirit juice bursting on his tongue.

“I was just thirsty. Studying alchemy these past few days has exhausted me.”

Jun Yang shot Yan Qingye a sideways glance, wondering how he could say that with a straight face. He and You Xiyue had mostly used Yan Qingye to amuse themselves, witnessing every step of his alchemical attempts—including today’s sudden explosion.

If anyone was truly weary, it was Ming Zhu, tending to the injured of the Ming family while constantly watching out for Yan Qingye’s mischief.

“How’s your seventh uncle?” Jun Yang asked Ming Chenyu.

Ming Chenyu started, surprised at the sudden concern. Then, seeing Yan Qingye munching the spirit orange, he understood and smiled, “He’s probably mourning the courtyard and the rare herbs.”

Yan Qingye pouted, “I’ll have my father compensate your seventh uncle. It’s his fault for giving me such a lousy furnace.”

Ming Chenyu sighed. Was the furnace really bad? Ming Zhu had been generous—only three top-quality alchemy furnaces, and Yan Qingye had destroyed two.

“Have you finished refining the Purple Spirit Restoration Pill?” You Xiyue asked Yan Qingye.

Yan Qingye froze mid-bite, looked from You Xiyue to Jun Yang, who was barely suppressing laughter. “Little Master, you two were… spying on me?”

“Hmm?” You Xiyue raised a brow.

“You… were watching me?” Yan Qingye changed his tack.

“Yes,” You Xiyue admitted easily, “for amusement.”

“….”

“Pfft…” Suddenly, Ye Linyi choked on his spirit orange, coughing loudly.

“Serves you right!” Yan Qingye snorted, scratching his head in embarrassment as he looked at You Xiyue. “I did manage to refine it.”

This surprised everyone. No one had expected Yan Qingye to succeed in such a short time.

“Where’s the pill?” You Xiyue inquired.

Yan Qingye’s face twisted in hesitation. After a moment’s struggle, he reached into his dimensional pouch.