Chapter Seventy-Four: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada

In the Heaven of Parted Regrets—no, it was Feng Yulin of the Wind Jade Forest—he opened his mouth to argue.

But suddenly, several figures swooped down from above.

“Hentian? You... are you Hentian?” A young woman in a long green silk robe twisted her hands in disbelief, her face as pale as death. “Isn’t she the little aunt? How could she be Grandmaster Cai Xia? And besides, Grandmaster Cai Xia perished long ago—how could she possibly be here?”

Standing behind her, to the right, who else but Qin Jun? He handed the red swaddled infant in his arms to a young man in a yellow robe beside him, then stepped forward and gently supported the agitated woman, whispering with concern, “Mother, your body has not yet recovered. Please, do not get upset.”

Feng Ka’er understood: the woman in green was Qin Ruhua. The yellow-robed youth, whose features bore some resemblance to Qin Jun, was likely his half-brother, Qin Feng.

What a scene this was! Caught in the act, so to speak. Feng Ka’er suppressed a laugh behind her hand, feeling sorry for both women: what was so good about that dead snake demon? One flower planted in a pile of dung was bad enough, but now two blossoms on the same heap—what a tragedy! Even though Gong Cai Xia’s long hair veiled her face, one could tell she had once been the youngest True Person in the Azure Cloud Sect, and her qualities could not have been lacking. As for Qin Ruhua, she was strong yet gentle, a mid-level leader with real power in the sect. And the dead snake demon? In terms of character, he was evasive and wore more than one mask. With Gong Cai Xia as proof, he was a genuine mischief-maker. His cultivation was only at the Core Formation stage, making him Qin Ruhua’s junior. The only thing he had going for him was his handsome face—which might not even be his true appearance!

“I’m sorry, Ruhua,” Feng Yulin sighed softly.

Qin Hanyan lowered her eyes and held Gong Cai Xia in silence. Qin Ruhua's suspicions were not unfounded. Back then, during a trial in the southwestern miasma seas, Gong Cai Xia had not perished. But as a cultivator, she fell victim to a soul-searching technique, her cultivation lost, left as little more than a walking corpse, barely clinging to life. Who among cultivators does not have a few mortal enemies? Moreover, because of Feng Yulin, many in the sect harbored deep resentment toward True Person Cai Xia. Fearing for her safety, Qin Hanyan secretly brought Gong Cai Xia back to the sect, claiming to the outside world that she was her long-lost younger sister. She never told anyone this secret; even when she went into seclusion and left Gong Cai Xia in Qin Ruhua’s care, she never revealed a word.

Qin Ruhua’s mind raced. She took a deep breath, pointing at Gong Cai Xia in Qin Hanyan’s arms, and asked, “Did you return for her?” Back then, the scandal of True Person Cai Xia’s forbidden relationship with her own disciple had shaken the sect—how could she not have heard?

Feng Yulin glanced at Gong Cai Xia. “No. I didn’t know she was still alive. If I had...”

Feng Ka’er, ever sharp-eyed, noticed how Gong Cai Xia’s back suddenly stiffened.

“Enough!” Qin Ruhua interrupted fiercely, pushing Qin Jun aside.

She stepped forward. “Junior Master Feng, today is my son’s betrothal—a joyous occasion. I will not tolerate any complications. Leave at once! You are not welcome here!”

“Ruhua, I—” Feng Yulin gazed at her, eyes filled with sorrow too dense to disperse—burdened with helplessness and regret.

“Go! Leave!” Qin Ruhua would not listen. She turned away, white light flashing in her right hand as a three-foot broadsword appeared. With a swoosh, she cleaved a large blue stone in half. “Feng, from this day forth, our bond is severed—like this stone.”

“Ruhua!” Feng Yulin cried out in anguish.

But Qin Ruhua raised her sword and pointed beyond the courtyard. “I’ll say it again: for Han’er’s sake, I don’t wish to fight you. Don’t force me!”

Feng Ka’er was stunned. Throughout history, women have been known for their deep emotions. Even in modern times, few women could be so resolute and decisive in matters of the heart.

At that moment, Qin Ruhua—the elder from the bride’s side—spoke as well: “Feng Yulin, since Ruhua has made her feelings clear and no longer wishes to see you, just go. Go as far as you can, and never set foot in the Azure Cloud Sect again!”

Ah, so it should be. No matter the ‘helplessness’ or ‘hidden pains,’ a man’s infidelity must be exposed and mercilessly banished! The ancients truly lived with flair. Three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere—so why, when it comes to love, did women seem to regress as they evolved?

Feng Ka’er felt a pang of regret.

The dead snake demon, however, nodded helplessly in assent. “I dare not disobey the elder’s command. Only, I beg your permission to take Cai Xia with me.”

Hearing this, Qin Ruhua stomped her foot and, with a few leaps, vanished from sight. Her cool voice lingered in the air: “Feng’er, Jun’er, why are you just standing there? Go!”

The two brothers shook their heads and followed.

Their own mother had suffered such humiliation, yet they showed no response? Feng Ka’er was puzzled and sought advice from Feng Jiu with her divine sense.

“Humiliated?” Feng Jiu glanced at her with a strange look in his eyes. “Love between men and women is mutual. Where’s the humiliation in that?”

Feng Ka’er nearly choked on her own saliva, covering her mouth and left speechless. Yet, thinking it over, perhaps that was true—after all, everyone was an adult, responsible for their own actions.

On the other side, Qin Hanyan had already bristled with anger, drawing her sword and pointing it at Feng Yulin’s nose. “Feng, you didn’t kill Cai Xia, and you’re not content? What more do you want?”

Feng Yulin didn’t even blink, facing the sword tip as he explained, “Elder, please let me explain. I have no other intentions—I only want to take Cai Xia to seek treatment for her injuries. Elder, trust me—I know someone who can heal Cai Xia.”

“Truly?” The sword tip drooped slightly as Qin Hanyan looked down at her little sister nestled in her arms, her heart wavering.

Feng Yulin nodded firmly.

“Who is it?” The sword tip pressed once more against his nose. Qin Hanyan frowned and demanded.

Feng Yulin smiled. “Why, it’s the Saintess of our Feng clan.” Fearing disbelief, he spread his arms openly. “Back then, your esteemed sect master personally destroyed my nascent soul and shattered my dantian, thinking me more than dead. But she could never have imagined the boundless power of our Saintess, who brought me back to life. Elder, look at me now—not only alive and well, but I’ve also reformed my golden core. Cai Xia’s wounds are not as grave as mine were—Elder, believe me, the Saintess can heal her.”

In those years, Feng Yulin had been caught stealing a sect treasure. According to sect rules, the elders sentenced him to the harshest punishment: his body left exposed for three days after execution, the sect master carrying out the execution herself. Qin Hanyan had witnessed it with her own eyes—he was truly dead, body and soul scattered. She could hardly believe her ears. “The Saintess? That Feng Ka’er girl?” How could that be? That little brat who’d shared roasted wild chicken with her at Wild Pheasant Slope? She was only at the early Qi Refining stage!

“Hahaha!” Feng Yulin laughed heartily. “She was just a decoy to fool you all—how could she be our Saintess! Did you think we didn’t know? My poor daughter—her umbilical cord hadn’t even been cut before your sect master strangled her to death! To think you’d dare to impersonate the Saintess and muddle our Feng lineage—despicable!”

Hearing this, Feng Jiu cast a sidelong, mocking glance at the person beside him, transmitting with his divine sense: “So you’re a complete imposter after all!”

“So what? When did I ever say I was the Saintess of the Feng clan?” Feng Ka’er glared at him.

Feng Jiu touched his nose and pointed outside. “Let’s watch.”

Outside, with a clatter, Qin Hanyan’s sword fell to the ground. She staggered back several steps in shock. Gong Cai Xia, startled by her reaction, shrank into her arms, trembling violently.

There was no time for comfort. Qin Hanyan’s voice trembled. “You mean... that child wasn’t Cai Xia’s daughter?” Back then, when Feng Yulin was caught, Cai Xia had been so distressed that her labor came a month early. Qin Hanyan was away training and couldn’t return in time; by the time she did, Cai Xia had already given birth. Because it was a difficult birth, Cai Xia was gravely weakened and could not care for herself. The sect master, moved by the child’s talent, took her straight from the birthing room to raise on Sacred Glow Peak. Due to Feng Yulin, Cai Xia cared little for the child. The one who visited the child most on Sacred Glow Peak was Qin Hanyan herself, who had no blood relation but had sworn sisterhood with Cai Xia.

Now, after Feng Yulin’s words, sorrow welled up in Qin Hanyan as she clung tightly to the woman in her arms. “Cai Xia, you silly girl! Did you always know that child wasn’t your own? The sect master used Feng Yulin’s life to force you, didn’t she? Tell me, what was the sect master after?”

But ever since her injury, Gong Cai Xia could not speak, let alone answer. Her only response was to tremble harder.

Feng Yulin bent to pick up the sword from the ground, gently stroked Qin Hanyan’s back, and looked toward the noisy front courtyard, his eyes blazing with hatred. “What else? They coveted the inheritance secret techniques of the Feng clan!”

It turned out that after joining the sect, Feng Yulin’s swift progress made the sect master and others suspect he had acquired the Feng clan’s inheritance. When she couldn’t get it, she framed him. In the dungeon, the sect master threatened Feng Yulin daily with Cai Xia and her unborn child, demanding the secret techniques. Feng Yulin had none to give, but no matter how he explained, she wouldn’t believe him. In the end, the sect master truly strangled the newborn and used the corpse to threaten Feng Yulin, saying if he did not yield, next time it would be Cai Xia’s corpse before him. Driven to desperation, Feng Yulin fabricated a technique, claiming as a man he had only scraps, and the complete inheritance was with the clan’s Saintess. The sect master believed him and, thinking he was now worthless and fearing her crimes would be revealed, executed him under sect law.

The circumstances of those years confirmed his story, so much so that Qin Hanyan could not doubt him. But hierarchy was strict and the sect master’s secrets were involved; she dared not draw conclusions. Taking back her sword, she warily scanned the front courtyard. “The urgent matter is to heal Cai Xia. The rights and wrongs of the past can wait until she recovers—then all truths will come to light.”

Feng Yulin nodded. “Elder speaks wisely. There’s no time to lose—let’s go now.”

With that, the two leapt onto flying swords, carrying Gong Cai Xia away in haste.

“Hey, Meatbird, this Saintess Feng Yulin mentioned sounds awfully powerful. Could she be the one you’re searching for? Should we follow and see?” Feng Ka’er watched their disappearing figures, asking with her divine sense.

Feng Jiu’s gaze glimmered as he looked into the distance. “Wait a moment.”

Puzzled, Feng Ka’er followed his gaze and saw several black shadows flicker in that direction, furtively trailing after Qin Hanyan and her group.

Someone was laying a trap! Feng Ka’er instantly understood.

“How interesting. Let’s join the fun,” Feng Jiu rose, arching an eyebrow with a light smile. The Feng clan’s techniques were no rarity to him, yet he sensed nothing familiar in Feng Yulin’s aura. Was Feng Yulin truly a descendant of the Feng clan? He was genuinely curious.

(To be continued)

Tongtian Codex, Chapter Seventy-four: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada—updated!