Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Whoosh!

The old man's speed surged, and with Feng Xiao in tow, they vanished into the horizon like a streak of fire.

"This…"

Qin Zi hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously in his mind, "Master, should we… keep chasing them?"

Sigh. "Forget it. The bit of soul power I managed to recover is almost depleted again," the golden-haired woman's voice replied with resignation.

Qin Zi was stunned, then lowered his head in guilt. "Master, I'm sorry. I was too impulsive."

He knew that his master's soul power was difficult to recover, and they had only recently found some herbs in the tomb to help restore a small portion. Now, it was all used up chasing Feng Xiao.

"Don't feel guilty. I'm your master. It's only right to step in when necessary," the golden-haired woman said, shaking her head with a hint of teasing in her voice. "Besides… if anything happened to you, your father wouldn't let me off the hook."

Qin Zi's eyes lit up.

"That's right! My father! My father is so powerful; he should be able to help you recover your soul power, right?"

He asked excitedly.

The golden-haired woman smiled gently, but with a knowing glint in her eyes. "Don't even think about it. He wouldn't do that."

"Why not?" Qin Zi asked, puzzled.

"Do you remember what your father said the night he revealed his true identity to you?" the golden-haired woman asked with a smile.

Qin Zi thought for a moment as she continued, "He made it very clear back then. I'm here to train you to become a strong warrior, and in return, you'll help me revive one day. That's the agreement between us."

"And as for him… he's just a witness, observing our agreement."

Qin Zi nodded, still somewhat confused. "If it's an agreement between us, then what's the point of having a witness?"

The golden-haired woman fell silent for a moment.

Then a bitter smile appeared on her beautiful face. "With him as a witness, neither of us can break the agreement."

"If you become strong and don't fulfill your promise to revive me, he may or may not punish you. But if I fail to teach you properly or abandon you… I fear I'd face a terrible fate."

Hearing this, Qin Zi's expression shifted. Did that mean his father had essentially threatened his master??

He took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Master, don't worry. I will fulfill my promise. I, Qin Zi, may not have many virtues, but I always keep my word. I won't betray those who've been good to me."

The golden-haired woman nodded in satisfaction, her tone gentle. "I know your character well; otherwise, I wouldn't have taken you as my disciple."

"Qin Zi!"

Just then, a golden light streaked across the sky at astonishing speed. It was the City Lord of Minghao, Bai Chen.

"City Lord Bai," Qin Zi greeted respectfully.

"What happened? Where's Feng Xiao?" Bai Chen asked anxiously. If Feng Xiao had indeed been killed, it could spell big trouble.

"He ran away," Qin Zi replied nonchalantly.

However, the more indifferent Qin Zi appeared, the more uneasy Bai Chen felt, especially considering how intense the conflict had been earlier.

"Are you sure?"

Bai Chen frowned.

"I'm sure."

Qin Zi answered calmly.

Bai Chen scrutinized Qin Zi's eyes, finding no sign of deceit. Finally, he sighed inwardly.

So be it.

As long as Qin Zi was alive, Bai Chen could consider his promise to Qin Chuan fulfilled. Whether or not Qin Zi had killed someone was not his concern.

It was none of his business.

Let Qin Chuan worry about it.

Based on his instincts, Bai Chen believed that with Qin Chuan's strength, dealing with the Feng family should be manageable.

And if not… well, it wasn't his problem. He'd just have to write off this investment of goodwill as a loss.

"Qin Zi, what's going on with your cultivation?" Bai Chen finally asked the second most pressing question.

"It was a forbidden technique… one with serious side effects…"

As he spoke, Qin Zi's powerful aura rapidly weakened. His eyes rolled back, and his body went limp, falling from the sky.

Whoosh!

Bai Chen moved swiftly, catching him in time.

"From the Yuan Dan stage to the peak of the Pure Yang stage… just what level of forbidden technique is this? Qin Chuan, who exactly are you?"

He took a deep breath, feeling even more curious and respectful toward Qin Chuan.

…

In a forest clearing.

Boom!

A red light crashed down like a meteor, the impact shattering trees within a ten-meter radius and creating a deep crater in the ground.

Cough, cough…

Coughing echoed from the crater. The old man who had been fleeing with Feng Xiao was now sitting on the ground, coughing up blood.

Feng Xiao anxiously supported the old man. "Uncle Lu, are you okay?"

He glanced nervously at the sky behind them, terrified that Qin Zi might still be chasing them.

"Don't worry. I changed direction after shaking him off. He shouldn't be able to track us."

The old man's voice was weak.

Feng Xiao sighed in relief, then clenched his fists, his expression turning vicious.

"Qin Zi! No matter what fortune you've gained, once I return to the family, I'll have someone tear you to pieces!"

His heart was filled with murderous intent, alongside greed.

Qin Zi's sudden surge in power must have come from some incredible treasure.

And such a treasure… should belong to Feng Xiao alone! "Uncle Lu, are you sure Qin Zi won't chase us?" Feng Xiao asked again.

"Probably not. Besides… I used the Blood Burn technique, so even if he did, I wouldn't be able to keep flying."

The old man's voice was faint.

Feng Xiao's eyes flickered, then he casually asked, "Uncle Lu, do you think the family would send a Nirvana-level expert to hunt down Qin Zi if he killed one of our people?"

The old man hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't think so. Your fight with Qin Zi was a battle between peers. If you lost, then that's that. But if a family elder were to intervene, it would be a disgrace."

"The Feng family cares about its reputation. Neither the family head nor the old patriarch would allow such a thing."

A cold glint flashed in Feng Xiao's eyes as he asked, "But what if Qin Zi killed one of us?"

"What?"

The old man was stunned. Then, realizing what Feng Xiao meant, he felt a chill run down his spine. He tried to move away, but it was too late.

Slash!

A sharp Pure Yang sword pierced his chest, instantly extinguishing his already severely depleted life force.

"You… you…"

The old man's bloodstained hand trembled as he pointed at Feng Xiao, his eyes filled with disbelief and resentment.

He had been killed by the very person he had protected.

What a cruel irony!

"Uncle Lu, you've protected me for years. Now, this final act of loyalty will secure the Feng family's future. Consider this your last service to the family."

Feng Xiao stood up, looking down at the dying old man with cold indifference.

"W-Why…" the old man gasped with his last breath.

"Heh."

Feng Xiao smiled and swiftly withdrew his sword.

Whoosh!

Blood gushed from the old man's chest as he collapsed, lifeless.

Feng Xiao held his sword, smiling. "Because… only if Qin Zi kills you will the family send someone to hunt him down."

He sneered inwardly.

Qin Zi, no matter what great fortune you've obtained, even if you've beaten me for now, you'll die soon enough, and your fortune will become mine! Just then, a calm voice sounded.

"Killing just him might not be enough."

Whoosh!

Feng Xiao's hair stood on end, his pupils shrinking as he gripped his sword, scanning the surroundings warily.

"Who's there?!"

The sound of footsteps crunching on fallen branches came from the forest ahead.

Slowly, a figure in a black robe emerged from the shadows.

"Who are you? What do you want? I'm the Feng family's young master. Think carefully about the consequences!"

Feng Xiao's face paled, his body trembling instinctively as if he were a prey cornered by a predator.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here to help you."

The black-robed figure approached slowly, a reassuring smile on his face, his voice exuding a sense of trustworthiness.

"H-Help… how?"

Feng Xiao stammered.

"Like this."

The black-robed figure extended a slender, pale finger and slowly drew a line across the air in front of him.

Boom—

A blinding golden light, like a sword slashing through the heavens, swept across the sky, carrying an overwhelming force…