Fanfic: Lay Flat

Chapter 84

Han Feng cried out in alarm,

"Senior Brother Gao!"

"Stop wasting time! You're both only at Qi Refining. If you stay, we're all going to die, and the evidence against the Ye family won't make it back to the sect.

Junior Sister Jiang has the weakest cultivation—are you really willing to watch her die here? Leave now!"

Gao Hai shoved Han Feng forcefully, then took out a Bloodlust Pill and swallowed it. Drawing his sword, he charged at the three enemies.

Han Feng felt a mix of pain and gratitude. His emotions screamed at him not to abandon his comrade, but logic dictated that staying meant certain death for all of them. No one would survive, and the evidence would be lost.

"Senior Brother Gao! I'm sorry! If I make it back to the sect, I'll avenge you and uphold justice!"

Han Feng grabbed Jiang Surou, spreading his wings behind him, and sped away.

The little fox leapt onto his shoulder. Han Feng used his left hand to scoop up the blue-haired little girl, while his right hand held Jiang Surou. Together, they raced westward at full speed.

Whether the little girl was human or demon, she was kind-hearted. Such a young life didn't deserve to end here.

With all their strength, Han Feng and Jiang Surou fled as fast as they could.

While flying, Jiang Surou used her communication jade slip to send frantic messages:

"Master, please save us! The Ye family has betrayed us. They're the ones refining the blood pill and are trying to kill us to cover it up!"

"Big Brother! Come save us! The Ye family is killing people to refine pills and now wants to silence us!"

"Father! Help us, please!"

She sent messages to her master, her father, and her brother. But when help would arrive, she couldn't be sure.

After all, sending messages was like sending texts—when or if they'd be seen depended on chance.

—

Meanwhile, Gao Hai was locked in a fierce battle with the three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Ye Qingyun's expression was dark as he growled,

"Those two brats are escaping with the evidence. We need to kill them quickly!"

The other Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ye Liuchuan, snorted,

"They won't get far. Let's deal with this one first. If we don't finish him and he escapes into the sea, we'll never find him again. Kill the strongest first!"

With that, the three immediately swarmed Gao Hai.

Despite having taken the Bloodlust Pill, which temporarily boosted his combat strength, Gao Hai was up against a rampaging evil cultivator and two mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators.

A single Bloodlust Pill wasn't enough to bridge such a massive gap.

Roaring with fury, Gao Hai fought with reckless abandon, desperate to take the three down with him.

But two fists couldn't match six hands. Within just a couple of minutes, Gao Hai was covered in wounds, and even his heart was pierced by Ye Qingyun's sword.

Knowing his end was near, Gao Hai roared,

"Traitors to the sect! You'll die with me!"

Bloodied and battered, he gathered all the spiritual energy in his body. Channeling it into his meridians, he prepared to detonate his Foundation Platform, unleashing a burst of destructive energy.

Turning his head westward, he muttered,

"Junior Brother Han, it's up to you now. Our sect must not allow scum like this to exist!"

"Not good! He's going to self-destruct! Fall back!" Ye Qingyun yelled, immediately retreating.

The three enemies moved as fast as they could, but Gao Hai detonated himself in a deafening explosion.

A massive shockwave, carrying chunks of flesh and blood, ripped through the air, slamming into the three Foundation Establishment cultivators and sending them flying.

They crashed heavily to the ground, coughing up blood and writhing in pain. The self-detonation hadn't killed them, but it had inflicted serious injuries.

"Damn it! We underestimated him!" Ye Qingyun cursed through gritted teeth.

"Get up! Chase those brats down! Don't let them escape!"

The other two struggled to their feet and immediately resumed their pursuit of Han Feng and Jiang Surou.

As they flew, Ye Qingyun said grimly,

"We need to hurry. If those brats manage to contact the sect, and a Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivator arrives, we're finished."

The evil cultivator, overhearing this, frowned and said,

"You're saying your sect's experts might come?"

"Exactly. But we can kill those two before they do!" Ye Qingyun replied.

The evil cultivator shook his head and said,

"Then you handle it. I've got other matters to attend to. If you need me, meet me at the usual spot. I'll wait three days. If you don't show, I'm leaving."

With that, he turned and flew eastward.

He was afraid. He bore no personal grudge against Han Feng and saw no reason to risk a confrontation with the Yin-Yang Sect's elites just to kill him.

And so, he fled.

Though Ye Qingyun was furious, he was helpless. The evil cultivator could afford to walk away, but they could not.

As members of the Ye family, they had ties to the sect. If they didn't eliminate Han Feng and recover the evidence, it would spell disaster for their family.

As Foundation Establishment cultivators, they quickly closed the distance. Despite Han Feng's considerable speed, he was still only at Qi Refining. The absolute difference in strength was undeniable, even with his Wind-Attribute Spirit Root and winged treasure.

In no time, the two pursuers appeared on the horizon behind them.

"They're catching up! Senior Brother Gao must have fallen!" Han Feng said, his face dark with anger.

At that moment, the blue-haired little girl stirred slightly in his arms and weakly murmured,

"Water… water…"

Han Feng, still focused on escaping, replied anxiously,

"Don't talk. We'll get you water once we're safe!"

"Throw me into the water… into the sea… quickly…" the little girl muttered faintly.

Han Feng frowned deeply. How could he abandon a child in this situation?

Jiang Surou suddenly said,

"Do it! If she's a demonic beast, and we're surrounded by the ocean, she must be a sea-dwelling demon. The seawater could help her recover.

The enemies are after us, not her. They won't chase her."

"Alright!"

Han Feng immediately dove down, lowering his altitude before releasing the little girl into the sea.

Without the additional burden, their speed increased slightly. But the pursuers behind them drew closer and closer, as if they could reach them at any moment.

Seeing this, Han Feng made a decision. Removing the Gale Wings treasure from his back, he fastened them to Jiang Surou and said,

"Quick, refine them and use them to fly faster!"

Jiang Surou protested,

"No! What about you? These wings are Wind-Attribute. They're more suited to you."

"Stop arguing! I have my own way. Just refine them now!" Han Feng roared.

Seeing the urgency in his tone, Jiang Surou didn't hesitate any longer. She immediately began refining the Gale Wings.

Meanwhile, Han Feng handed the little fox and the bronze mirror to Jiang Surou as well.

"I'll draw them away. You run!"

Chapter 85

"Han Feng!"

Watching Han Feng charge back toward the enemy without hesitation, Jiang Surou cried out, her voice trembling. Tears instantly filled her eyes.

In moments of crisis, true feelings are revealed. At this critical juncture, Han Feng was willing to face three Foundation Establishment cultivators alone, risking his life to buy her a chance to escape.

In that moment, Jiang Surou's heart shattered.

The woman who had always been steadfast and unyielding finally understood what love truly was.

"Go! I'm fast—they won't be able to catch me. Hurry and get reinforcements!" Han Feng's voice rang out, jolting Jiang Surou back to her senses.

But Jiang Surou didn't run.

"I'm tired of abandoning others to save myself."

She turned to the little fox and asked, "Can you swim?"

"Of course I can," the little fox replied, nodding quickly.

Jiang Surou pressed the bronze mirror into the little fox's paws.

"Put this in your storage bag. Dive to the bottom of the sea and hide. When reinforcements arrive, give this to them.

Little fox, I hope we meet again someday!"

With that, she released her grip and tossed the little fox into the ocean.

The little fox panicked, crying out,

"Don't leave me behind—"

Splash!

The little fox hit the water, its cries muffled as it sank into the sea.

Jiang Surou glanced down one last time, reluctant to part, but she steeled her resolve. With a determined look, she drew her sword and charged after Han Feng, heading straight for the enemy.

—

[Han Feng has gifted his Dao partner the mid-grade spiritual treasure: Gale Wings of the Spring Current. In return, you have received a tenfold blessing: upper-grade spiritual treasure—Crane Radiant Plume Feather. Would you like to claim?]

"Claim!" Han Feng responded without hesitation.

In an instant, a pair of pure white crane wings appeared on Han Feng's back. The wings spread wide, radiating a brilliant glow. Each feather stood upright, sharp as an arrow.

At Han Feng's command, the feather-like arrows shot forth in a barrage, raining down upon the enemies.

Ye Qingyun and Ye Liuchuan were stunned. They quickly activated their protective spiritual energy while swinging their swords to deflect the incoming feathers.

But these feathers came from the Crane Radiant Plume Feather, an upper-grade spiritual treasure. While not indestructible, they were far beyond the capabilities of Foundation Establishment cultivators to destroy.

Han Feng continued to manipulate the feathers to attack while using the Wen Qingfeng technique from the Xun Art to enhance his speed and conjure whirlwinds to push the enemies back.

At that moment, Jiang Surou arrived at Han Feng's side, fighting alongside him.

Seeing Jiang Surou hadn't fled, Han Feng's face twisted with anger and anxiety. He roared,

"Why did you come back? Run! I'm fast—they can't catch me!"

"Don't think I don't know you're trying to sacrifice yourself to save me. No matter how fast you are, you're still in the Qi Refining stage. How can you possibly defeat two mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators? If you die, I'll die with you. I won't abandon you to save myself!"

"You… you're such a fool!" Han Feng cried, both touched and exasperated.

"You're the fool," Jiang Surou said softly.

"Then let's fight together!" Han Feng declared. Drawing his sword, he charged toward the enemy.

Ye Qingyun sneered and barked orders,

"One each! Finish them quickly!"

Ye Qingyun rushed at Han Feng while Ye Liuchuan targeted Jiang Surou.

Han Feng avoided direct confrontation. With a flap of his wings, he grabbed Jiang Surou and soared upward, narrowly dodging their attacks. Using his agility, he circled behind them and slashed out with his sword.

The two sword beams struck Ye Qingyun and Ye Liuchuan, causing their protective spiritual energy to tremble.

Ye Qingyun smirked coldly.

"Not bad, kid. But here's the difference: we can afford to make mistakes countless times. You two make one mistake, and you die!"

He wasn't wrong. As Foundation Establishment cultivators, they wouldn't die even if Han Feng struck them a hundred times. But if they managed to land a single blow on Han Feng, it would be enough to severely injure or kill him.

After all, Han Feng was just a penniless Qi Refining cultivator with no significant defensive treasures, relying only on his speed.

As the two enemies attacked again, Han Feng grabbed Jiang Surou and dodged. Thanks to their flight treasures, the pair moved faster than before. Like two butterflies, they weaved through the air, evading deadly strikes with agile precision.

"Damn it! These two brats are too fast. We can't drag this out—if reinforcements arrive, we're done for!" Ye Liuchuan growled.

"Use the Black Compass!" Ye Qingyun ordered.

Ye Qingyun pulled a compass from his storage pouch. Infusing it with spiritual energy, he tapped several points on its surface. The compass began to glow, projecting a massive eight-trigram array into the air.

The array was enormous, spanning nearly a mile. Its trigram symbols—Heaven, Earth, Fire, Water, Thunder, Mountain, Wind, and Lake—each lit up with radiant light.

At its center, the Yin-Yang fish rotated slowly, emitting a powerful suppressive force that bore down on Han Feng and Jiang Surou.

The overwhelming pressure immediately slowed them down, making their evasive movements sluggish and clumsy.

Their faces paled in horror. They knew they were in grave danger.

Sure enough, Ye Qingyun and Ye Liuchuan grinned savagely as they closed in.

"Han Feng, didn't you say you were fast? Thought you could run? In this domain, even a dragon would be coiled, a tiger crouched.

You little brat—you ruined our plans to acquire the blood pill. Not to mention, you crippled several of our Ye family disciples recently.

Now, let's settle all our scores. Leave your life here!"

With that, Ye Qingyun raised his sword and slashed at Han Feng.

With their movements hindered by the array, Han Feng couldn't dodge in time. As the enemy's attack closed in, he quickly embraced Jiang Surou and shouted,

"Wrap us in your wings!"

Jiang Surou immediately obeyed, wrapping them both in her wings. The enemies' attacks struck at the same moment.

Boom!!!

The impact sent them hurtling through the air, blood spurting from their mouths. They crashed into the eight-trigram array with a heavy thud.

"Oh? Still alive? Let's see how many more hits you can take!" Ye Qingyun sneered, preparing to strike again.

Both Han Feng and Jiang Surou were gravely injured. Their meridians screamed with pain, and they were barely holding themselves together.

Suddenly, Han Feng noticed the trigram symbol for Wind, the Xun position, glowing faintly on the array. It seemed to resonate with the Wind-Attribute power within him.

Among the eight-trigram positions, Xun governs the Wind!

Perhaps… there was a sliver of hope there.

Clutching Jiang Surou tightly, Han Feng staggered toward the Xun position.

The two enemies relentlessly pursued him.

Fortunately, Han Feng was currently at the Water, or Kan, position, just a step away from the Wind position. He quickly reached the Xun position.

As soon as he stepped into the Xun position, a surge of Wind-Attribute energy flooded into him, more familiar and powerful than anything he'd ever felt before.

Chapter 86

Upon reaching the Xun position, Han Feng immediately activated the Xun Art, integrating himself into the wind. Although the suppressive force of the array remained, his speed increased significantly compared to before.

The two Ye family cultivators charged at Han Feng again, but he utilized the power of the Xun position to unleash two whirlwinds, forcing them back.

"Run! We can still escape!" Jiang Surou whispered weakly.

There's no escaping…

Han Feng knew this all too well. If escape were possible, he would have already fled with her when she first came back for him.

Their speed was no match for their pursuers. They could only rely on their winged treasures to execute more agile dodges.

The suppressive force from the eight-trigram array bore down on them, emanating beams of light from the runes below that lashed toward Han Feng and Jiang Surou like whips.

Clearly, Ye Qingyun intended to bind them completely and finish them off with a single strike.

Han Feng and Jiang Surou tried desperately to fend off the beams of light, but their numbers were overwhelming. For every beam they shattered, several more would lash toward them. Eventually, the two were ensnared by the unrelenting onslaught.

The pair of enemies approached slowly, their eyes glinting with malice.

Han Feng let out a bitter laugh and said,

"Senior Sister, it looks like we're not getting out of this."

"If we can't escape, then so be it. The path of cultivation is fraught with peril. To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening—that's enough.

If I can die holding the hand of the one I love, I consider myself lucky.

In this life, we'll walk hand in hand to the underworld.

In the next, I hope we'll find each other again."

"Hearing you say the words 'the one I love' makes my death worth it." Han Feng sighed and mustered his strength to hold Jiang Surou's hand.

High above, Ye Qingyun raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow.

"You two little brats can be a pair of miserable lovers in the afterlife!"

But just as the sword was about to strike, a strange melody echoed upward from below.

The beautiful, lilting song of a little girl's voice drifted through the air, "La~la~la," the tune enchanting.

Everyone turned toward the source and saw a wave cresting on the ocean's surface, lifting a blue-haired little girl into view.

Her once dirty and injured body was now spotless, her blue dress pristine and elegant. Her large eyes, small nose, and round face made her look utterly adorable.

"Yoohoo~ Riding the waves to greet you!" she sang joyfully.

Holding the little fox in her arms, the girl waved enthusiastically at Han Feng and Jiang Surou, her crescent-moon smile lighting up her face.

"The little girl? She came back?" Han Feng murmured in disbelief.

"Hmph, just a little sea demon. Do you really think she can save you?" Ye Qingyun sneered.

The little girl waved her hand, and in an instant, countless sea creatures surged out of the water.

Sharks, tuna, starfish, conchs, seahorses, octopuses, stingrays… an army of sea demons emerged, each emanating an overwhelming aura far surpassing the strength of Ye Qingyun and Ye Liuchuan.

Any one of these sea demons could easily dispatch the two of them.

And there weren't just a few—there were tens of thousands.

Ye Qingyun and Ye Liuchuan stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the endless horde of terrifying sea demons.

"Fifth Brother… Th-this many monsters… They could destroy our entire Yin-Yang Sect with ease!" Ye Liuchuan stammered.

"Run… Run for your life!" Ye Qingyun screamed, his voice cracking as he turned and fled without a second thought.

The little girl's expression turned serious as she waved her hand and shouted,

"Take them down!"

The sea demons roared in unison and charged toward the four of them.

Han Feng and Jiang Surou were utterly dumbfounded.

Wait… did "them" include us?

Realizing her mistake, the little girl quickly corrected herself, shouting,

"Not those two! The ones running away—get the ones running away!"

The massive shark that had opened its jaws to swallow Han Feng and Jiang Surou paused mid-attack. After a brief moment of confusion, it cast them a doubtful glance before turning to chase after the fleeing Ye family cultivators.

However, the momentary delay allowed the two to get a head start. In the end, a dolphin caught up to them and swallowed them whole, grinding their bodies to bits with a crunching sound.

The other sea demons roared in protest at being denied their prey.

Covering her mouth, the little girl giggled and said,

"Alright, thank you all for helping! There's still a scar-faced man who bullied me. Keep an eye out for him and give him a good beating!"

The sea demons, showing surprising intelligence, nodded at her before diving back into the ocean.

With the death of the two Ye family cultivators, the Black Compass lost its master. Now unclaimed, Han Feng quickly flew over and retrieved it.

"Ah, you're injured! Let's go heal your wounds. There's an island over there—we can rest and recover there," the little girl said with a smile.

"Thank you," Han Feng replied, taking Jiang Surou's hand as they flew toward the nearby island.

Once they landed on the shore, the little girl arrived in a wave, hopping onto the beach. She bounced over to join them as Han Feng and Jiang Surou sat on a rock and swallowed Revitalizing Pills.

The little fox jumped onto Jiang Surou's lap, exclaiming happily,

"I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried about you!"

"You little rascal, you're lucky to still be alive," Jiang Surou said, gently holding the fox and stroking her wet fur.

Meanwhile, Han Feng cupped his hands toward the little girl and said,

"Thank you for saving us. I'm deeply grateful."

The little girl giggled.

"You saved me too. It's mutual. We're good friends now!"

Raising her small hands, she cheerfully added,

"My good friends, tell me your names!"

"I'm Han Feng, this is my wife, Jiang Surou, and our good friend, the little fox.

Miss, what's your name?"

"Me?" The little girl tilted her head, looking thoughtful. After a moment, she replied hesitantly,

"I have lots of names. My friends in the sea call me the Spirit of the Ocean, or Hai Ling.

The fishermen on land call me Sea God or Sea Goddess.

My mermaid sister calls me Little Immortal.

The Dragon Princess gave me a name: An He Yu. She likes to call me An An.

Then… some big demons just call me Little Girl.

What do you want to call me?"

Han Feng scratched his head awkwardly.

"Uh… let's go with An An. It's a nice name."

"Okay! You can call me An An," the little girl said cheerfully.

Her innocent, carefree smile was infectious, bringing a rare moment of lightheartedness to Han Feng and Jiang Surou.

"An An, how were you able to summon so many sea demons to help you fight?" Han Feng asked.

"Because they're all my friends!" An An said proudly.

Reciting poetically, she added,

"'Wherever ships sail across Min waters, where winds rest between heaven and sea, throughout the four oceans, all are my friends. Even across ten thousand miles, we are like family.'

Across every ocean in the world, I have friends."

Chapter 87

"You really are amazing," Jiang Surou said, pulling the little girl closer and gently stroking her hair. "You're so cute. What kind of demonic beast are you?"

"Huh? A demonic beast? I thought I was a goddess!" An An exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. She had always believed herself to be divine.

"Hehe, you silly little girl. What kind of goddess is so weak she can't even beat a Qi Refining cultivator?" Jiang Surou teased.

"That's different! I might be weak on land and in the sky, but in the ocean, I'm incredibly strong! Plus, I have many friends to help me. In the sea, no one dares to bully me.

And I really am a goddess. I'm the Spirit of the Ocean, the embodiment of the ocean's will, imbued with its power.

Demonic beasts are animals that gained intelligence through cultivation.

But me? I'm the ocean itself, born with intelligence.

I may be weak on land, but in the ocean, I'm unstoppable!"

The little girl puffed out her chest proudly, her confidence shining through.

Han Feng chuckled and asked,

"But you still needed help from other sea demons to deal with two Foundation Establishment cultivators, didn't you?"

"Uh… uh…" An An stammered, momentarily at a loss. "Oh, stop nitpicking! I'm still super strong, okay?"

The little girl's face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to brush off the comment.

"Yes, you're very strong. We're really happy to have met you," Han Feng said with a smile.

The little fox chimed in enthusiastically,

"Yes! Little Fox really likes Sister An An!"

"And An An likes you too!" the little girl exclaimed, scooping up the little fox and spinning around joyfully on the sand.

"An An, why were you in that human city on Jue Ming Island?" Jiang Surou asked.

Hearing the question, An An's cheerful expression faded. Hugging the little fox tightly, she replied,

"An An likes making friends and playing. The fishermen on the island treated me as a sea goddess, so I often went ashore to play with them.

But this time, bad people came. They set up a big formation and started killing all the townsfolk.

I couldn't return to the sea. To protect the townsfolk, I had to fight the bad people.

But I'm too weak on land. I couldn't beat them and had to watch helplessly as they slaughtered those innocent people.

The townsfolk built temples for me, offered statues of my likeness, and even wrote poems praising me:

'Sheltering the southeast, breathing across thousands of miles, calming the stormy waves—our source of peace and safety.'

They believed in me, but I couldn't protect them. It was all my fault."

Seeing the little girl's sorrowful expression, Jiang Surou quickly comforted her,

"An An, don't be sad. Those were the bad people's crimes, not your fault. Don't punish yourself for something that wasn't your mistake.

When we return to the sect, we'll report everything to bring those villains to justice. The sect will avenge the innocent townsfolk."

"But the bad guy who killed all those people got away! I've sent my friends to chase him down. They must catch him and punish him!" An An said, her cheeks puffing up in determination.

Jiang Surou nodded.

"That's good to hear. An An, would you like to visit our sect with us? It's only a hundred miles inland from the coast. Our home is there."

An An shook her head and said,

"No, no. The human world is too dangerous. Many humans are greedy and arrogant. When they see me, they want to capture me or kill me.

I know there are good humans and bad humans, but I'm too weak on land. I have to avoid human experts.

You two are good people, but you're too weak to protect me.

However, if you're willing to visit me in the ocean, I'd be so happy to host you.

I can introduce you to Shark Uncle, Dolphin Elder, Mermaid Sister, and Dragon Princess.

The Dragon Princess's home is huge, though it's far away. She lives near the Demon Emperor Continent, which is very far from your Tianxing Continent."

Han Feng nodded. He knew that this world was called the Nine Realms, a vast world dominated by oceans and dotted with nine massive continents. These continents were positioned like the eight trigrams, with the largest one in the center.

Their Tianxing Continent was located in the southeast, while their Yin-Yang Sect was on the southeastern coast of the continent—a truly remote and isolated corner of the world.

"Thank you, An An. We'll definitely visit you when we have the chance."

"And how will you find me?" An An asked playfully, tilting her head.

"Uh… we'll stand by the ocean and shout your name?"

"That won't work! I can't hear you from far away. Here, I'll give you a gift," An An said, untying a golden conch shell from her waist and handing it to Han Feng.

Curious, Han Feng examined the conch and asked,

"What's this? Is it made of gold? It looks valuable."

"Hmph! It's not about money!" An An pouted.

"'Know that gold is no treasure; bravery and friendship surpass pearls and gems.' This is my gift to you. It's a token of the bond we forged, a testament to our shared courage and kindness.

Your bravery and kindness have earned recognition from the Spirit of the Ocean. You've gained An An's friendship. From now on, we're good friends.

If you want to visit me or need help with something on the ocean, just blow this conch. I'll hear it and come find you.

Remember, anywhere in the world where there's an ocean, you can blow this conch, and I'll hear it. I'll come to you right away."

"This gift is incredibly precious. We'll cherish it," Han Feng said solemnly, carefully storing the conch in his pouch.

"Good," An An said, smiling sweetly. "Remember, blow the conch if you need me. I'll come no matter what. And don't be shy—I want to take you to meet my friends.

Mermaid Sister and Dragon Princess are both very close to me."

"Of course, An An. When we have the chance, we'll visit you in the ocean for sure," Han Feng promised.

An An beamed, but suddenly looked westward and said,

"Oh no, the human experts are here! I have to go. Remember, if you're in trouble, come find me!"

With a small leap, she landed on a wave that lifted her up and carried her away.

She waved her small hand and called out,

"Farewell for now. Until we meet again!"

"Goodbye, An An!" Han Feng and Jiang Surou replied in unison.

An An disappeared into the ocean, leaving only ripples behind.

"The Spirit of the Ocean… what an adorable little creature," Han Feng said with a smile.

"She really is. I like her a lot," Jiang Surou agreed.

As they turned to look westward, a streak of light descended from the sky, landing beside them.

It was their master, Peak Master Si Yu.

Chapter 88

When Peak Master Si Yu arrived, her gaze swept the area with a cold, murderous glint before settling on Han Feng and Jiang Surou.

The two of them quickly stood and bowed.

"Greetings, Master."

"Where are the enemies?"

"They're dead," Han Feng replied.

"Dead? Weren't there three Foundation Establishment cultivators? Did you kill them?"

"They were killed by sea demons," Han Feng explained.

"Earlier, Senior Brother Gao Hai stayed behind to cover our escape and was killed by the enemies. Later, two Foundation Establishment enemies chased us, but on the way, they were devoured by a group of sea demons that suddenly appeared. We managed to hide onshore and narrowly escaped."

Han Feng deliberately left out any mention of An An, the Spirit of the Ocean. He believed that the fewer people who knew about her, the better. He was used to keeping secrets.

Jiang Surou understood his intention and nodded along.

Si Yu sighed and said,

"Poor Gao Hai. He was a disciple with excellent aptitude and character. With proper training, he could have become a great cultivator. What a pity his life ended so soon."

Han Feng felt a pang of sorrow. Although he hadn't known Gao Hai for long, the senior brother's sunny disposition and selfless sacrifice had left a deep impression on him. Gao Hai had given his life to hold back the enemies, allowing Han Feng and Jiang Surou to survive long enough for An An's rescue.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Han Feng and Jiang Surou owed their lives to Gao Hai.

"Master, did Senior Brother Gao Hai have any family?" Jiang Surou asked, raising her head.

She wanted to repay the debt by aiding Gao Hai's family.

Si Yu shook her head and replied,

"Gao Hai was a child I picked up outside the sect when he was three years old. He was an orphan, raised entirely by me.

It's my fault. I underestimated the enemies' strength. I should have sent more people.

When I received your distress call, I rushed over immediately, but I was still too late. Thankfully, the two of you are safe."

Han Feng's heart sank. Gao Hai, an orphan raised by Peak Master Si Yu, was like a son to her. Si Yu must be devastated by his death.

"Master, before Senior Brother Gao Hai passed, he entrusted us with evidence of the Ye family's crimes. We can use it to accuse them."

He turned to the little fox. "Little fox, bring out the bronze plate."

The little fox nodded and retrieved the bronze plate from her storage pouch.

Si Yu took the plate, scanned it with her divine sense, and then stored it away, saying,

"I understand. Let's go retrieve Gao Hai's body."

"Yes, Master."

The three of them flew back to Jue Ming Island. With Si Yu's help, they traveled swiftly and soon arrived at the site.

Unfortunately, despite searching thoroughly, they found no trace of Gao Hai's body.

After surveying the area for a moment, Si Yu shook her head and said,

"There are strong residual fluctuations from a spiritual energy explosion here. With no body to be found, it's likely Gao Hai self-destructed in the end."

Han Feng and Jiang Surou lowered their heads. They had already suspected as much but hadn't wanted to voice it.

The reality that their senior brother had sacrificed himself so utterly, leaving no remains, was difficult to accept.

"Alas, a rootless man in life, rootless in death. Even if he wished to return to his roots, there is no root to be found.

It is what it is. Let's go."

Si Yu sighed deeply and led the two disciples back to the Yin-Yang Sect.

—

Upon returning to the sect, Si Yu said,

"I will meet with Elder Tie Lian to present the evidence. Let's see how he decides to handle this.

The Ye family's actions are utterly heinous, tarnishing the sect's reputation. Their crimes cannot go unpunished.

You two should rest and heal for now. When the Enforcement Hall summons you, go and testify."

"Understood, Master!"

After Si Yu left, Jiang Surou turned to Han Feng and said,

"I feel that Senior Brother Gao Hai shouldn't be forgotten so easily.

Even though there's no body, I want to create a cenotaph for him, carve a tombstone, and commemorate him properly."

"That's only right. Let's do it together."

—

The two of them headed to the market at the foot of the mountain and purchased a high-quality coffin from a funeral shop. They also commissioned a tombstone and bought wreaths, incense, candles, and spirit money before returning to the mountain.

They went to the inner sect residences at the top of Luoxia Peak. Servant disciples lived at the foot of the mountain, outer sect disciples lived on the mountainside, and inner sect disciples resided at the summit.

As an inner disciple of Peak Master Si Yu, Gao Hai had lived with several other senior brothers and sisters.

When they arrived, they encountered a group of Foundation Establishment senior brothers.

"Junior Sister Jiang, what brings you here?" one of the senior brothers asked curiously.

Jiang Surou explained everything that had happened. Upon hearing the story, the senior brothers were all filled with righteous indignation.

"The Ye family is insufferable! Killing so many innocent mortals to refine blood pills and then silencing fellow disciples to cover their tracks?!"

"Senior Brother Gao Hai met such a terrible fate, leaving no body behind. This cannot be tolerated! Let's go destroy the Ye family!"

"Yes! Let's call the three Core Formation senior brothers and wipe out the Ye family to avenge Gao Hai!"

"The damned Ye family is nothing but a den of scoundrels. Not a single good person among them. They ought to be exterminated!"

"These sect traitors have tarnished the sect's reputation. It makes me furious! Let's go and annihilate them!"

The disciples, enraged, were ready to gather reinforcements to attack the Ye family.

Suddenly, one of the senior brothers stepped forward and shouted,

"Enough! Silence!"

His commanding voice startled the disciples into silence.

Peak Master Si Yu had a total of three Core Formation disciples, twenty Foundation Establishment disciples, and three Qi Refining disciples.

Han Feng counted the group. Excluding the deceased Gao Hai and the absent Ye Longyuan, the other twenty-two disciples were all present.

The one who had spoken carried the strongest aura of the group. Standing in the center, he was clearly one of the Core Formation disciples.

The group approached Han Feng, and Jiang Surou introduced them,

"Han Feng, this is Senior Brother Shang Yun, Master's first disciple and a top-level Core Formation cultivator.

These two are Senior Brothers Liu Xing and Wang Dao, both Core Formation experts as well."

"Han Feng greets the senior brothers."

Shang Yun nodded and said,

"So, you're the new Junior Brother Han that Master recently accepted. I've heard about the battle in the ancestral secret realm, though I wasn't there myself.

As for this matter, I've heard everything. I have only one question: where is Master now?"

"Master has taken the evidence to the Enforcement Hall," Han Feng replied honestly.

"Exactly. Even Master knows this matter must be handled by the Enforcement Hall.

And you lot? You're talking about grabbing weapons and charging at the Ye family? Are you out of your minds?"

Chapter 89

Shang Yun glared at the more than twenty junior brothers and sisters before him and said coldly,

"First, sect rules strictly forbid infighting. Violators are severely punished, and murderers must pay with their lives.

Do you intend to destroy yourselves over a group of Ye family rats? Master has spent the past hundred years accepting only twenty or so disciples, and you want her to lose them all in one go?

Do you want her to bear the shame of raising a group of murderers?

If it were as simple as directly taking action, Master would have done it herself. As a Nascent Soul peak cultivator, do you think she can't wipe out a small family like the Ye family?

Second, don't underestimate the Ye family.

The Ye family has been developing for hundreds of years. Their lineage has grown extensive, with at least ten thousand members. Though most are in the Qi Refining stage, they likely have over a hundred Foundation Establishment disciples and no fewer than five Core Formation elders!

Do you think our group of twenty or so can take down the Ye family? That's pure wishful thinking."

A female disciple retorted indignantly,

"Senior Brother, why are you boosting the morale of others and undermining our own? Are we just going to let the Ye family massacre countless mortals and kill our fellow disciples? The Ye family has even tried to assassinate this junior brother multiple times!"

She pointed at Han Feng.

Shang Yun sneered and said,

"Of course not. Anyone who dares harm my junior brother will see their entire family exterminated. Only then can my hatred be appeased!

But rushing in recklessly won't work. Not only will we fail to get revenge, but we'll also bring disaster upon ourselves.

I already have a plan. Too many ears are around here. Let's gather some of Gao Hai's belongings and bury them in a cenotaph. We'll discuss the plan at the burial site."

Hearing this, the disciples' spirits lifted. They followed Shang Yun's lead.

—

Together, they entered Gao Hai's room and packed some of his clothes and personal items.

Han Feng brought out the coffin, and the group placed the items inside. Then they carried it to the sect's burial grounds in the back mountain.

Each mountain peak had a burial ground in the back for deceased elders or disciples.

They chose a suitable spot, dug a large pit, and placed the coffin inside. They erected a tombstone and laid wreaths at the site.

Han Feng and Jiang Surou knelt by the grave, burning spirit money piece by piece.

Shang Yun surveyed the quiet burial grounds and said,

"There are no outsiders here. Before Gao Hai's grave, let's discuss how we'll destroy the Ye family and avenge him."

"Senior Brother, we'll follow your lead!"

"Alright. According to Junior Sister Jiang and Junior Brother Han's account, they, along with Senior Brother Gao Hai, traveled to an offshore island to investigate a massacre where mortals were killed to refine pills. They aimed to apprehend the rogue cultivator responsible.

As we all know, two Ye family members arrived after them. Senior Brother Gao Hai sacrificed himself to cover the escape of his two Qi Refining junior disciples.

Gao Hai did nothing wrong. As a senior brother and a strong cultivator, he was duty-bound to protect his weaker siblings. He was brave and honorable.

And thanks to their efforts, the evidence he entrusted to them was successfully brought back.

But have you considered what Elder Tie Lian will do with this evidence once it's handed over to the Enforcement Hall?"

A male disciple spoke up,

"With Elder Tie Lian's reputation for impartiality, he'll definitely hold the Ye family accountable and impose severe punishment."

Shang Yun nodded.

"Good. Now here's the problem: Who will be punished?

The culprits have already been devoured by sea creatures, leaving no witnesses. Even if the evidence proves that the two Ye family members orchestrated the murders and pill refining, the Ye family can simply argue that it was their personal actions and had nothing to do with the rest of the family.

How does it relate to the entire Ye family?

In any system, punishment is individual. You can't execute someone just because their relative committed a crime. Collective punishment doesn't work that way, nor would it truly harm the Ye family.

So the likely outcome is that the case will be deemed unresolved, and the matter will be dropped. The Ye family will continue as before, while the blame is pinned on the two deceased members."

Han Feng stopped burning spirit money, stood up, and said,

"But Ye Qingyun explicitly said that the blood pill was meant for Ye Longyuan!"

"And what's the point of that? Ye Longyuan didn't actually consume the pill, did he?

Ye Longyuan can easily claim that he was in seclusion the entire time and had no knowledge of the outside events. He can just say those two uncles of his acted on their own."

Shang Yun smirked bitterly and continued,

"How did I not see through him before? That seemingly humble and respectful Junior Brother Ye turned out to be such a despicable, ruthless, bloodthirsty scoundrel."

Han Feng added,

"What if we capture the rogue cultivator and bring him in as a witness?"

"To what end? The rogue cultivator only interacted with Ye Qingyun and the other Ye family member. How much could he possibly know?

At most, he'd shift the blame onto Ye Qingyun and his accomplice. Do you honestly think he'd claim the entire Ye family instructed him?

That's impossible, and no one would believe it."

With a cold smile, Shang Yun said,

"As I've said before, punishing one or two people isn't our goal. Our goal is to destroy the Ye family entirely—wipe out every last member and remove this den of snakes and rats from the Yin-Yang Sect.

To achieve this, we need to escalate the situation.

If we can't resolve the conflict ourselves, we'll make it so big that someone who can will have no choice but to step in.

Right now, the Enforcement Hall has the evidence, but given the severity of the issue, they'll need days to deliberate and judge.

Those days are our opportunity.

Junior brothers and sisters, in the coming days, we must spare no effort in spreading the word both inside and outside the sect.

We need to publicize the Ye family's massacre of tens of thousands on Jue Ming Island to refine blood pills for Ye Longyuan's cultivation breakthrough.

Not only should the sect's disciples know, but also the surrounding regions, powers, and even other sects.

We need to blow this up. Let the whole world know that the Ye family is an evil clan that slaughters cities to make pills. Let everyone know that there are people in the Yin-Yang Sect who engage in such atrocities.

Create an uproar so massive that the sect's reputation suffers. Let the sect's disciples and elders demand severe punishment for the Ye family.

Let the other major families and elders, who stand to gain more resources and positions with the Ye family gone, join in the call for punishment.

Even external sects will step in to condemn the Yin-Yang Sect for harboring such vile behavior.

Outsiders won't care who specifically committed the crimes; they'll only see it as the sect's doing.

Likewise, if another sect had someone this evil, we'd criticize the entire sect rather than the individual."

Shang Yun's words left everyone silent, their faces filled with a mix of shock and resolve.

Chapter 90

The more Han Feng listened, the brighter his eyes became. He quickly chimed in,

"Senior Brother, that's a brilliant idea! This way, the Sect Master, under pressure from both inside and outside the sect, and concerned about the sect's reputation, combined with the collective demands of all disciples, will have no choice but to agree to expel the Ye family entirely.

If the Sect Master still refuses, then we'll keep stirring up trouble. The bigger the uproar, the more unbearable the pressure will be. I don't believe the Sect Master can ignore that.

After all, this sect doesn't belong to the Sect Master alone. It's governed by numerous elders who make decisions together. Major matters must be discussed collectively.

Even the Sect Master can't act arbitrarily.

Besides, I think the Sect Master is a reasonable person. Perhaps we won't even have to escalate things that far. He might expel the Ye family willingly, using this as an opportunity to uphold justice."

Shang Yun smiled and replied,

"Junior Brother Han, you're quick to catch on. That's exactly it. According to the sect's rules and regulations, we can't outright destroy the Ye family. But that doesn't mean the Sect Master and Elder Tie Lian don't want to punish them. Maybe they're just waiting for the right moment.

Over the next few days, I'll take the lead in forming an 'Anti-Ye Alliance,' rallying as many people as possible. With Junior Brother Han as our figurehead, we'll have an even stronger case.

Thanks to your performance in the secret realm, Junior Brother, everyone in the sect already views the Ye family unfavorably. They see you as the long-suffering victim of the Ye family's persecution. With you as our representative, publicly known for your deep hatred of the Ye family, we'll surely gather plenty of disciples to fight against them.

The day the Ye family is expelled from the sect, we'll chase them down and destroy them completely.

The Ye family may have tens of thousands of members, but only a few thousand are part of our Yin-Yang Sect. The rest are mostly Qi Refining cultivators below the fifth layer or ordinary mortals.

Even with their large numbers, not every Ye family member has exceptional talent or is a cultivation prodigy capable of becoming a disciple.

Once they leave the sect, we'll hunt them down and annihilate them.

After all, killing fellow disciples is a crime, but killing outsiders or villains isn't.

The Ye family is wealthy and resourceful. We won't even need to rally many people—other prominent families won't miss the chance to carve up such a juicy target.

The Ye family's fate is sealed. They'll face total annihilation!"

Shang Yun wasn't wrong. The Yin-Yang Sect had tens of thousands of disciples, but the surrounding population in the area amounted to millions. Within a thousand-mile radius of the sect's territory, the population exceeded hundreds of millions.

The Ye family, with its tens of thousands of members, was a small fraction of the sect's total disciples. If they made up even one-tenth, they would essentially control the sect.

As Shang Yun explained, greed was a powerful motivator. The combination of public outrage and the Ye family's wealth and resources was enough to make other prominent families take action.

Once the Ye family was expelled, they would face utter destruction, with no place to bury their dead.

Shang Yun turned to Han Feng and said,

"Junior Brother Han, you don't need to do anything for now. Stay home and keep a low profile. Leave everything to me.

When the Enforcement Hall schedules a trial and summons you to testify, let me know immediately. I'll inform everyone and gather all the disciples to watch and cause a scene.

I'm well-connected with many prominent families. I'll give their leaders a heads-up and have them prepare to divide the Ye family's wealth. During the trial, they'll help us push the case forward.

Junior Sister Jiang, your Jiang family also needs to contribute significantly to this effort."

Jiang Surou nodded firmly.

"Understood. When I return, I'll speak with my father and grandfather to inform them about this matter."

"Good."

Shang Yun walked over to Han Feng, placing a hand on his shoulder. With a serious expression, he said,

"Junior Brother Han, I understand how you feel. Senior Brother Gao Hai died to save you. You must feel deeply guilty.

But as long as we can eliminate the Ye family, it will be a victory for the sect and for the mortal world—removing a cancerous tumor once and for all. Senior Brother Gao Hai's death will not be in vain.

He died an honorable death. He was a hero!"

"Senior Brother, rest assured. This isn't just about avenging Senior Brother Gao Hai. It's also about avenging myself and the tens of thousands of innocent mortals who were slaughtered."

Han Feng walked to the tombstone, knelt down, and kowtowed four times, his expression resolute as he said,

"Senior Brother, thank you for saving my life. Watch over us from the heavens. I swear to avenge you and destroy the Ye family!"

The other senior brothers, watching this scene, nodded in approval.

Han Feng, they thought, was a loyal and righteous junior brother.

Through this experience, Han Feng had also come to better understand his senior brothers and sisters. They were a united and caring group.

It seemed Peak Master Si Yu had a good eye for disciples.

As for Ye Longyuan, before he targeted Han Feng, who would have believed that the polite, humble, and elegant young man was actually a sinister, scheming villain?

Of course, if Han Feng hadn't been in the picture, and Ye Longyuan had successfully won over Jiang Surou, he might have remained a virtuous gentleman—sunny, hardworking, and an exemplary figure admired by all. He might have been loyal to the sect and a shining beacon of goodness.

But jealousy had clouded Ye Longyuan's judgment, leading him down a dark path.

Han Feng had changed Ye Longyuan's character, and Ye Longyuan had changed Han Feng's.

Han Feng had started as a laid-back, conflict-averse individual who only wanted a peaceful pastoral life.

Now, his bitterness and deep-seated grudges had all been forced upon him by Ye Longyuan.

Since that was the case, there would be no turning back—it would be a fight to the death.

—

After everyone dispersed to carry out their tasks, Han Feng and Jiang Surou returned to their small loft. They sat down to meditate and heal their injuries, consuming Revitalizing Pills.

Both of them were still seriously injured and in poor condition, having endured their pain while handling their responsibilities.

After taking the pills, they gradually calmed down.

Jiang Surou turned her head to look at Han Feng and sighed softly,

"Han Feng, I realize I don't know you as well as I thought. Especially before, I only saw you as an ordinary, timid person.

But after everything that's happened, I've discovered you're actually very brave.

You left our Jiang family's main group and went off alone to look for Wang Mian.

You dared to fight an entire group of enemies to avenge your brother.

And this time, you gave me your winged treasure so I could escape while you faced two Foundation Establishment cultivators alone.

You may seem lazy on the surface, but deep down, you're braver than anyone.

This time, you really moved me."

"And you're amazing too. In the end, you didn't run away. You came back to fight alongside me. But you were a bit foolish—you should've just run."

"You're the foolish one!" Jiang Surou said, smiling tearfully.

She gazed at Han Feng, tears streaming down her cheeks, and suddenly hugged him tightly.

"Han Feng, thank you. I'm so glad to have you."

Han Feng hugged her back. Seeing her crying uncontrollably, he knew she was moved by his actions and still grieving for Gao Hai.

He wanted to comfort her but didn't know what to say.

After a moment of thought, he lifted her chin with his finger, put on a smug and playful expression, and teased,

"Well, well. Weren't you the cool and aloof type before? Why are you crying now?

Have you fallen for me?"

Chapter 91

Jiang Surou, who had been softly crying, was caught off guard by Han Feng's sudden teasing gesture.

But it didn't end there. The little fox jumped onto the table, stood upright on her hind legs, placed one paw on her hip, and extended the other forward. Mimicking Han Feng's tone and expression, she said smugly,

"Well, Miss Ice Queen, weren't you all aloof and unapproachable before? Why are you crying now? Have you fallen for this fox?"

Seeing the two of them, Jiang Surou couldn't help but laugh through her tears. She slapped Han Feng's hand away and rolled her eyes dramatically. Then, she grabbed the little fox and rubbed her head vigorously.

"You too? Learning from this scoundrel to bully me?"

"And why is it always the little fox getting bullied? Is it because I'm easy to pick on?" the little fox protested loudly.

After some playful banter, Jiang Surou's mood improved considerably. She stood up, washed her face, and composed herself.

"Alright, let's go to my family's house. We need to let my father know about this situation. The Jiang family must also step up and help ruin the Ye family's reputation even more."

"What? Go to your house?" Han Feng asked, suddenly feeling a bit nervous.

"What's the matter? You're getting nervous now?" Jiang Surou teased.

"It's just… it's my first time visiting your family. Shouldn't I bring a gift? Isn't it rude to show up empty-handed?"

After all, according to Han Feng's principles, visiting his wife's family for the first time without a gift felt improper.

Jiang Surou raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Oh? So now you're treating us as a married couple?"

"Well, aren't we?"

"Then why do we live separately? Isn't it strange for a married couple to live apart?"

"Um… our courtyards are just separated by a wall, aren't they?"

"Still, that's living apart."

"Alright then, pack your things tomorrow and move into my courtyard."

"And why don't you move into mine?"

"I can't leave my herbs."

"And I can't leave my loft."

…

The two stared at each other for a moment before sighing simultaneously.

"Fine, let's leave it as it is for now."

In the end, Han Feng went to Jiang Surou's family home empty-handed.

—

The Jiang family's residence was situated at the foot of Yin-Yang Peak, in the central area of the sect's mountain base. The large estate had the Jiang family plaque prominently displayed at its entrance.

Han Feng had passed by this place a few times before and knew it was Jiang Surou's home.

When they arrived, several Jiang family disciples greeted them warmly. After Han Feng's performance in the ancestral secret realm, he had earned the admiration of many members of the Jiang family.

Now, the younger generation of the Jiang family regarded Han Feng as a role model.

The Jiang family was a large clan with many members. Jiang Surou's house was in the second courtyard on the western side.

"Father, Mother, I'm home!" Jiang Surou called out as she stepped into the courtyard.

It was already dark by then. The day had been exhausting, filled with too many events.

However, no one answered her call.

Just then, a Jiang family disciple came running over. Han Feng recognized him.

The disciple, panting, said,

"Sister Jiang, I thought I forgot something when I saw you earlier. Your father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law all went out to rescue you!"

"What? They went to rescue me?" Jiang Surou exclaimed in shock. She quickly took out her communication jade slip and found several missed messages from her father and brother, all asking where she was.

Judging by the timestamps, she must have been in the middle of an intense battle when the messages came through, so she hadn't noticed them.

Her family, unable to locate her and growing increasingly worried, must have set out to find and rescue her themselves.

Hurriedly, Jiang Surou replied to each of them.

"I'm already home. Come back quickly! I'm waiting for you here!"

After sending the messages, the two of them entered the living room and sat down to wait.

"I completely forgot," Jiang Surou said, feeling a bit guilty. "When I sent out the distress calls earlier, I didn't just contact Master—I also contacted my father and brother. When they couldn't find me and didn't know my exact location, they must have kept searching. Meanwhile, I completely forgot about it."

Hearing this, Han Feng smiled and said,

"Having family who cares about you is such a wonderful feeling."

"By the way, Han Feng, we've known each other for so long, but I've never asked about your background. Are your parents… are they deceased, or did they go somewhere else?"

"I don't know either. My family lived in a small mountain village not far west of Luoxia Peak. We were farmers.

When I was thirteen, my parents spent all their savings to buy me a spot as a servant disciple at Luoxia Peak so I could cultivate.

A month later, when I went home during a break, I found the house empty, covered in dust. Clearly, they had been gone for some time.

I asked the neighbors, but they didn't know where my parents had gone.

To this day, I've never seen them again. I have no idea where they went."

Han Feng paused before adding,

"I think… they're still alive. Probably."

Jiang Surou felt a pang of sympathy. Taking his hand, she said,

"I understand how you feel. Losing your family and living alone in such a large sect—it's normal to feel unsafe. Even with such excellent talent, you didn't dare show it and only wanted to protect yourself. You've had a hard time."

She smiled gently.

"Don't worry. From now on, I'll protect you."

Seeing the understanding and concern in her expression, Han Feng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He wasn't hiding his talent out of fear—he had genuinely been a useless layabout.

"Alright, I'll count on you to protect me," Han Feng said, chuckling as he ruffled Jiang Surou's hair.

The affectionate gesture made Jiang Surou's heart flutter.

—

Half an hour later, the Jiang family members returned. Han Feng met Jiang Surou's father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law.

Her father, Jiang Qingzun, was steady and composed. He nodded politely at Han Feng, but her mother's attention was entirely on her daughter. Grabbing Jiang Surou, she anxiously asked,

"Surou, are you alright? Are you hurt? Let me take a look."

Watching this, Han Feng felt a warm sensation in his chest.

Family… It's been so many years since I've felt this.

"I'm fine, Mother. If it weren't for Senior Brother Gao Hai and Han Feng risking their lives to save me, I wouldn't have made it back. But I'm perfectly fine now—don't worry."

"Surou, tell us everything that happened," Jiang Qingzun said sternly as he took the main seat.

Jiang Surou recounted the events in detail. After listening, Jiang Qingzun and Jiang Huaiyang erupted in anger, cursing the Ye family for their shameless and brutal actions in slaughtering mortals and harming fellow disciples.

Jiang Qingzun's face darkened as he slammed the table with his palm.

"This cannot stand! Even if those two Ye family members are dead and the evidence against them is inconclusive, the Jiang family will not let this go. They dared to harm my daughter and son-in-law and even murdered fellow disciples. Our Jiang family and the Ye family are enemies to the death!"

"Father, we already have a plan to deal with the Ye family. It's already underway.

It was our Senior Brother Shang Yun who came up with the plan. We're going to create public pressure and force the sect leadership to act!"

Chapter 92

Jiang Surou explained their plan in detail.

After listening, Jiang Qingzun nodded and said,

"Not bad. It's a solid plan. It avoids internal conflict among sect disciples, which would bring punishment from the Enforcement Hall, while ensuring the Ye family's complete eradication to eliminate future threats.

This is a good plan. Our Jiang family must contribute, and we must contribute significantly.

Here's what we'll do: tomorrow morning, I'll convene a meeting with the elders within the family and explain what needs to be done. I'll ensure every Jiang family disciple participates in spreading this message.

And when it comes time to hunt down the Ye family, the entire Jiang family will take action—we'll leave not a single one of them alive!"

"Good. When the time comes, Han Feng and I will also be there to take our revenge personally!" Jiang Surou declared.

Hearing this, Jiang Qingzun glanced at Han Feng and said,

"Don't worry. When the time comes, Ye Longyuan will be left for you to kill personally. You'll have your chance to eliminate your archenemy yourself."

"Thank you, Uncle," Han Feng said, standing and bowing respectfully.

"Sit down, Han Feng," Jiang Qingzun said. "Over the next few days, we'll be busy spreading this news. But the Ye family isn't foolish—they'll surely resent you two and may try to eliminate you to silence their most critical witnesses before the trial.

I think you and Surou should stay here at the Jiang family residence for now. With our Core Formation elders and myself here, I can guarantee your safety."

Han Feng clasped his hands in gratitude and said,

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle, but I think it's better if we stay at our home on Luoxia Peak."

Hearing this, Jiang Qingzun frowned.

"What's wrong? Do you find the Jiang family's hospitality lacking? Or is it that staying here makes you feel too constrained?"

Han Feng shook his head.

"Not at all, Uncle. It's just that if the Ye family does send people to assassinate us, it could actually work in our favor.

If they attempt to silence us, we'll gain even more evidence of their crimes, which could be used to create greater public outrage and strengthen our case against them.

I've previously fought two mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators. I'm not boasting when I say that while I can't defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it's impossible for them to kill me instantly and escape unnoticed.

As long as I can hold out for a short time, the Core Formation elders on the mountain and Master Si Yu will sense the spiritual energy fluctuations from the battle and come to our aid, potentially capturing the assassins alive.

I don't think the Ye family would be willing to sacrifice a Core Formation expert just to assassinate us.

If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to ask Uncle to lend us a defensive array capable of withstanding a single attack from a Core Formation cultivator. Once the matter with the Ye family is resolved, we'll return it to you."

Jiang Qingzun considered this for a moment before nodding.

"You make a good point. Using yourselves as bait to lure the Ye family into making further mistakes could be effective.

I'll personally set up a defensive array for you two. But don't say anything about borrowing it—it's yours to use.

You know, Han Feng, you're an excellent young man in so many ways, but you've never truly considered the Jiang family as your own or thought of us as your family.

Your character, morals, and talent are outstanding. I've said before that I wouldn't misjudge you, and we've long treated you as one of our own.

This time, when you risked your life to let Surou escape while staying behind to fight, I knew you were a true man. Entrusting Surou to you was the right decision.

We're family now, so let's not make distinctions. Come, let's go."

—

Jiang Qingzun stood up and led the Jiang family members and Han Feng to Luoxia Peak.

When they reached Han Feng's courtyard, Jiang Qingzun asked,

"This is your place?"

"Yes, Uncle. All the herbs inside were planted by me," Han Feng replied.

"No, what I mean is… you two aren't living together yet?"

"Father! What nonsense are you saying!" Jiang Surou exclaimed, her cheeks flushing as she scolded him.

"Our living arrangements are none of your business. We're happy as we are."

"Alright, alright, I won't meddle. By the way, did you two receive the monthly resources the Jiang family sends to its direct descendants?"

Hearing this, Jiang Surou shot Han Feng a glare and said,

"We received them."

The last time the Jiang family sent resources, Han Feng initially tried to decline but ultimately gave everything to Jiang Surou instead.

These resources included pills, spirit stones, and special items like Fire Spirit Crystals and Water Spirit Crystals.

Han Feng's reasoning was simple: he didn't want to owe the Jiang family too much, and giving these items to Jiang Surou allowed him to receive tenfold returns through his blessing.

In truth, the Jiang family's resources remained within the Jiang family (through Jiang Surou), while Han Feng's gains came purely from the blessings he received.

Since his relationship with Jiang Surou was still in its early stages, having just developed into romantic love, it hadn't yet evolved into familial affection. He didn't see himself as part of the Jiang family.

For Han Feng, dating and marriage were two entirely different matters. He didn't yet understand that Jiang Surou's possessions were essentially his, and vice versa.

Jiang Surou, unwilling to let her family know that Han Feng had given her all the resources, kept this to herself. Otherwise, Jiang Qingzun might feel that Han Feng didn't regard them as family, which could create unnecessary tension.

Jiang Qingzun carefully set up a powerful defensive array, encompassing both Han Feng and Jiang Surou's courtyards.

Seeing this improved array, Han Feng dismantled his own randomly-teleporting Blood Armor array, saving it for future use when traveling.

With everything in place, the Jiang family members returned to their home. Before leaving, Jiang Huaiyang patted Han Feng on the shoulder, offering words of encouragement and praise.

Undoubtedly, Han Feng's brother-in-law was a good man.

—

By the time Han Feng and Jiang Surou returned to their loft, dawn had arrived. Exhausted from the day's events, they were mentally and physically drained.

The two collapsed onto Han Feng's large bed and fell asleep in each other's arms, while the little fox dragged her small nest outside to sunbathe comfortably.

—

Meanwhile, chaos erupted throughout the sect.

The events of the previous day, amplified and spread by intentional efforts, quickly became the talk of the entire sect.

In no time, everyone—disciples, elders, townsfolk in the sect's nearby settlements, and even people in surrounding regions—knew the story.

The Ye family's heinous crimes of massacring tens of thousands of mortals to refine blood pills for Ye Longyuan's cultivation breakthrough had shocked everyone.

And when the righteous trio of Gao Hai, Han Feng, and Jiang Surou discovered the atrocity, the Ye family attempted to silence them through murder. Gao Hai, outnumbered, died heroically, while Han Feng and Jiang Surou barely escaped with their lives, gravely injured but carrying critical evidence back to the sect.

The news spread like wildfire, igniting outrage across the sect.

Disciples denounced the Ye family for tarnishing the Yin-Yang Sect's reputation, which had plummeted, turning them into a pariah among neighboring regions.

Even in the towns below the mountain, Yin-Yang Sect disciples were met with hostility and scorn from mortals.

After all, the common folk, being mortals themselves, empathized deeply with the victims of the massacre.

"If they can kill tens of thousands of mortals for pills today, what's stopping them from killing us tomorrow?"