Chapter 98: Secret Dalliance

The meadow they were in turned silent. Feng felt at ease. To have finally confessed his failings and given voice to his new convictions was an indescribable relief.

He had initially wanted Lianshi to be the first to hear his confessions, but her continued absence had prevented such a thing. Left with few recourses, he instead sought for someone else to hear the resolution of his guilt before his will might falter.

Lingyu was close to Lianshi, perhaps even the Young Miss’s closest confidant. The older heiress doted on her younger sibling fiercely, and though familial ties played a part, it was never a guarantee of closeness.

Their brittle relationship with the Matriarch — their mother — ironically saw to it that the two daughters formed lasting bonds, united in mutual sympathies.

In any case, having someone close to Lianshi hear his declarations helped to affirm his determination.

“So you won’t marry anyone else?” Lingyu quietly asked.

“No.” Feng shook his head. “Your sister will be the only one. If she’s willing to forfeit so much of her future for me, then she deserves nothing less than my full devotion.”

“And what if…” Lingyu was hesitant. “What if she was okay with more?

The Young Master grimaced. “You mean if she sought the company and marriage of others? It would not change a thing for me. I would still take no lover except her for as long as she would still have me.”

“No, not that!” Lingyu hurriedly interjected. “Lianshi won’t… I mean… What I meant to say was… If she was alright with you taking others, would you…?”

The Younger Miss was having a hard time looking at him. Feng frowned at her question but gave it some thought.

“I can't imagine she would be fine with that,” the Young Master answered. “But… If she does agree to such an arrangement, it would likely be more for my sake than hers. I wouldn’t do that to her.”

“No, you… Ugh…” Lingyu groaned. Her hands pinched her eyes. “I… Look, she talked about this to me before… a while back…”

Feng looked dubious. “She spoke to you of this specific topic? And she expressed her willing consent to her lesser husband having multiple paramours? Why would she say that?”

“W-well, it’s more like… only for… one specific instance… in a few years…”

Lingyu’s face was beet red. Perhaps the topic of consortship embarrassed her. Still, Feng found it strange that Lianshi would have discussed this with her. There were sisters. Maybe it was just a case of idle talk.

“That really does not seem like her,” Feng replied with a puzzled look. “I can’t see her willingly agreeing to such a thing. I have spent time with your sister, and she’s not the type to share. Except with those she cares about, at least.”

Lingyu stared pointedly at him.

Silent seconds passed. Feng shuffled in place uncomfortably. “What? I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?”

To his surprise, the wraith spoke up.

“How are you still this dense? Did the centuries in the whirlpools of Samsara somehow turn your brain to mush?”

Feng stiffened. He wasn’t sure how to respond to that. He thought back: “Do you make it a habit to be cryptic? You could just tell me things directly, you know?”

“I can’t believe you once somehow managed to convince the Fox to join the rebellion via seduction. You have the emotional depth of a rock sometimes.”

Meanwhile, Lingyu sighed. “I give up. Just… think about it, okay?”

The Young Master nodded, clearly unsure of what he was supposed to think of.

~~~

The pair continued their sparring for some time. As the sun was beginning to set, someone else arrived, leaping from tree to tree with powerful legs.

The female disciple landed before them, limbs coated in chitinous plates. For a moment, Feng hoped it to be Lianshi, but that was not the case.

The figure was familiar and welcome, nonetheless.

“Lady Lingyu,” Disciple Jin greeted, bowing respectfully. Her green eyes flicked when she glanced at Feng. “Young Master.”

Her voice was poised, her posture composed, but Feng still caught the slight hesitation when she turned to greet him. Their eyes met, and Jin flushed slightly before looking away, shuffling shyly with a step back.

Feng — caught off guard by her gaze — could not help but be affected by her embarrassment and did the same.

Lingyu noted the exchange and glared at her bodyguard. “Have you come for a reason, or are you just here to shamelessly steal m—, I-I mean, my sister’s Fiancé again?”

The Younger Miss’s slight stutter did nothing to dull the scathing words delivered, causing the disciple to blush and bow deeper.

“I have news, my lady,” Jin valiantly informed with remarkable steadiness. “Matriarch Chen’s caravan has been sighted within the lower valleys of the Phoenix Mountain. The group is due to arrive at the Sect in a few hours. I thought it was best to inform you.”

“Oh.” Lingyu’s face fell. “I see. Any word of my sister?”

“Disciple Shao is still with her, though I’m not sure where. She is supposedly somewhere close to the Phoenix Mountain, however.”

“That’s good enough. Once Mother reaches the monastery, Lianshi should be able to smell her presence,” Lingyu sighed. “I suppose I should ready myself to greet the great Matriarch, then. Shall we return to the main compound?”

“A-actually,” Jin coughed, face red. “I was hoping… I might be able to talk with the Young Master first? In… private…”

Lingyu’s glare intensified with each word uttered. Jin’s expression was terribly embarrassed; she could barely look up from the ground.

‘I can’t believe you!” Lingyu seethed. “He’s due to marry in two weeks!”

“It’s not for that!” Jin protested, blushing hard. “I swear, I don’t have any illicit motives! I just want to talk to him!”

“I may be young, but I’m not stupid, Senior Sister,” the Younger Miss shot back in a deadpan voice. “There are only so many things you might want to ‘discuss’ with him in private.”

While the two bickered, Feng sent out a tiny bead of his qi towards Jin. From the moment she appeared, he thought he sensed something strange about her.

His qi senses had improved by leaps and bounds over his recent gains in cultivation. The turbulent flow of spiritual systems held many secrets, the least of which were the individual’s emotions. Though Jin hid hers exceptionally well, Feng still sensed it.

A well of panic, not at something as mundane as mortification, but from a genuine sense of danger.

“Jin, is this important?” Feng called out, cutting into the girls’ conversation. Jin looked at him, her face hesitant.

“It is,” the disciple replied. “I would not take up your time if I could avoid it, but the matter is pressing.”

“Alright.” Feng nodded. He looked towards Lingyu. “Would you be alright waiting here a moment? I’ll discuss things with Disciple Jin, and then we can return to the monastery together.”

At the Younger Miss’s dubious frown, Feng chuckled. “Sister-in-law, I just made a vow of devotion to Lianshi. I’m hardly going to break it now. Such cravenness is too much even for one as lowly as I. Besides, I believe Jin’s motives are pure, despite what our history might indicate.”

The female Core Disciple blushed further but did not comment.

“Fine, fine… I’ll trust you,” Lingyu sighed. “But if you take too long, I’m coming after you. And I’m not as forgiving as Lianshi.”

“No harm will come to him, Mistress,” Jin said as she bowed slightly. “Or, erm, anything inappropriate…”

Lingyu snorted. After a moment of goodbyes, Jin led Feng further into the woods.

The two travelled without a word, the female disciple leaping fast while Feng pushed himself to keep pace. Though his cultivation now exceeded hers, the conditioning of the Carnivores gave them excellent physical mobility. The terrain of the woods hindered his ability to use the [Fiery Comet Step] as well.

Still, Jin moderated her pace well. For a full minute, they ran deeper and deeper into the forest valley. Feng decided to break the silence.

“I meant it when I said I believe your motives to be pure,” Feng called out over the rushing wind. “But you must admit, this is a little suspicious.”

“We are almost there, Young Master,” Jin shouted back. “Please endure a little longer.”

The Young Master had met Jin a few times in the weeks before. He had made no effort to avoid her, and after a few awkward but cordial conversations, a rapport was built between them. Feng would consider her a friend, but he had no interest in pursuing whatever attractions had bloomed during the night between them.

He believed Jin harboured the same thoughts as him. And her panic earlier felt genuine. So why would she—

Then, he felt it.

A sudden surge of power in the air — a new, overwhelming presence. Feng stumbled in surprise. Jin slowed down, and when the Young Master’s wide eyes met hers, she looked away, her shame rendering her unable to meet his gaze.

No wonder she did not tell him what she intended. Feng understood what this new presence meant.

And who it belonged to. He was too close. There was no escape now.

“I’m sorry, Young Master,” Jin mumbled.

Feng waved his hands. “It’s alright. I quite understand.”

The disciple was not at fault. She likely had no choice in the matter of luring him there.

Jin continued moving, though she no longer needed to take the lead. The powerful pulse of qi was enough of an indicator of where Feng needed to go.

Seconds later, the pair burst into a wide clearing. Jin immediately halted at the meadow’s edge and bowed deeply. “I have brought him, Honoured Mistress.”

Feng landed in front of her, straightening his back and standing poised before the lone individual waiting for them in the clearing.

The woman exuded grace and sophistication in every part of her appearance. Richly embroidered silk robe in vibrant twilight shades, her hair was styled elaborately with hairpins, combs, and jewels of precious stones. Her face was hidden behind a midnight veil, and in her hands was a razor fan with its edges rimmed in ruby-red steel.

Even with her expression hidden, Feng could feel the moment her eyes landed on him. Her attention and presence were impossible to ignore.

Spirit Realm, First Step.

The Young Master bowed as low and respectfully as he was taught to do.

“I greet the esteemed Matriarch of the Split-Headed Carnivores.”

Matriarch Chen Zijing, the greatest Carnivore of the Fang Mountains, had finally arrived.