Chapter 134: Xiaowan

Watching his junior sister charge toward him like an enraged hedgehog, Chi Yunchuan abruptly sheathed his long saber and pulled his entire frame inward. He seemed to shrink instantly, becoming as soft and formless as cotton. The incoming arc of fierce vital energy crashed against him like a mud ox entering the sea, vanishing without a trace. Suddenly, his body expanded violently once more, accompanied by a sound resembling beans popping in a hot sieve—crack, crack, crack! The surrounding air currents detonated like a string of firecrackers, tightly wrapping his entire figure in a swirling vortex of wind.

The young woman in white spun at blinding speed, cutting straight toward him. With the two of them in such close proximity, a rapid succession of heavy impacts rang out. The air whistled sharply, and lights and shadows flickered like lightning as neither could breach the other's defense.

"Moyun Cannon!"

Chi Yunchuan let out a sudden roar, exhaling a breath to project his voice, and punched forward. His arm shot out like a massive, immensely powerful python, blasting straight through the vortex of energy. *Rumble—*

His fist struck his junior sister's swirling defensive arc, producing a prolonged, ear-splitting shriek reminiscent of a punctured balloon. Lightning and vital energy exploded violently. At the same time, the young woman in white was sent plummeting backward like a kite with a snapped string, completely unable to control her momentum as she hurtled straight toward the sea below.

This strike of the Moyun Cannon embodied Chi Yunchuan's most formidable and vigorous battle intent, instantly shattering his junior sister's chaotic dancing arc. Yet, it also subjected him to a severe backlash of force. Chi Yunchuan retreated dozens of paces in mid-air before barely managing to steady himself. Glancing down, he saw his junior sister about to crash into the ocean, and realizing it was too late to offer assistance, a look of profound shock crossed his face.

A streak of white light flashed past. Lin Feng effortlessly caught the young woman, a faint, orchid-like fragrance drifting into his nostrils. Frowning slightly, he carried her down to the beach.

"Many thanks to this brother for stepping in to save her." Chi Yunchuan hurried over, cupping his fists toward Lin Feng.

The girl appeared to have been knocked unconscious by her senior brother's supreme technique, her brows furrowed in a motionless slumber.

"It was merely a matter of raising a hand. Farewell." Lin Feng smiled, turning to leave.

"Brother, please stay!" Chi Yunchuan hurriedly waved and called out, "I have a somewhat unseemly request to make. It is dreadfully abrupt, but I truly hope brother can help me with this matter."

"Oh? What is it?" Lin Feng turned back, looking at the short-haired, red-robed young man with a hint of surprise.

Seeing that there was no one else around, Chi Yunchuan cupped his fists and smiled, "I earnestly implore brother to help me look after my junior sister here until she wakes up. Would that be convenient for you?"

"Hm? Since you are her senior brother, why not stay and look after her yourself instead of asking a complete stranger?" Lin Feng looked at him skeptically, asking with a trace of puzzlement.

"To be frank with you, brother, my junior sister has a peculiar temper. Once she wakes up, she will surely refuse to return to the island. Before departing, Master said that she should be allowed to go her own way. As her senior brother, I do not wish to make her unhappy, yet I accidentally knocked her unconscious just now—a truly helpless measure. If brother can assist me, Chi Yunchuan will be eternally grateful." The young man smiled somewhat constrainedly.

"So that's how it is. Think nothing of it, I'll gladly do you this favor," Lin Feng replied with an easygoing smile.

"In that case, I leave her in your care. Thank you." Chi Yunchuan cast one last look of deep affection at his junior sister, cupped his fists in salute, and turned to dash back toward the interior of the island.

"This fellow is truly a martial artist of genuine character." Watching the retreating flash of red, Lin Feng turned around, placing his back to the unconscious maiden as he gazed out over the boundless sea.

"At its absolute peak, the martial path ought to be on par with Daoist sorcery. A robust physical vessel can withstand sharp blades and sword auras, but I wonder if it can shatter the void and attain immortal transcendence?" He suddenly recalled the explanations from the treatise *Discourse on Martial Arts*. When a martial artist's realm enters the Grand Master stage, they achieve profound insight into their own viscera and marrow, forging bones of iron and a semi-completed physical form. Yet, their spirit and convictions remain exceedingly fragile, incomparable to Daoist practitioners. Unable to withstand the harassment of various inner demons and distracting thoughts, they easily succumb to paranoia and heterodox paths, plunging into a state of irredeemable ruin.

Cultivating the physical body through martial arts differs from the Daoist, demonic, and Buddhist schools, all of which possess clear mental doctrines and beliefs. When achieving breakthroughs in their techniques, martial artists frequently lose themselves within the vast, myriad world, trapped by stubborn obsessions that prevent their cultivation from progressing further. Consequently, the Divine Land has historically produced very few pinnacle martial arts experts; managing to produce one or two Martial Saints in a century is already an extraordinary feat.

A martial arts Grand Master in actual combat is no match for a Golden Core stage expert. However, should they wield divine weapons and precious armor, their combat prowess can be significantly amplified.

***

"It's you?" A startled, light gasp came from behind. The young woman in white appeared to have regained consciousness.

"Oh, I'm glad you're awake. Farewell!" Lin Feng glanced back at her.

"Wait! Where did my senior brother go?"

"Unclear. He just went back onto the island, and I have a journey to catch. Farewell!" With that, Lin Feng prepared to summon his sword and ascend into the sky.

"Don't go! Are you heading to the Divine Land? Take me along!" A flash of white, and the young woman blocked his path.

"Take you? Where are you going?"

"That's none of your concern! Will you help me or not? If not, fine!"

"I'm sorry, but it really isn't convenient for me to take you along. You'd best seek out another expert." Lin Feng shook his head; bringing a young girl along on his travels presented far too many inconveniences.

"You really won't help? No way!" The young girl suddenly let out a loud shout, momentarily startling Lin Feng.

"Wait here for me, I'll be right back!" With those words, the young woman in white darted back toward the island, leaving a bewildered Lin Feng standing foolishly in place.

"We aren't even acquainted, are we? Why is she suddenly latching onto me?" He smiled bitterly and shook his head, intending to fly away on his sword, but suddenly felt it might be improper. "Forget it, a favor's a favor. At most, it'll take a few days to reach Great Gan; surely she won't follow me all the way back to my mountain."

Before long, the spirited young girl hurried back, having changed into martial artist attire. Perched on her left shoulder was the four-eyed spirit vulture, while a bundle was strapped across her other shoulder, giving her the full appearance of someone setting out on a long journey.

"Let's go." Maintaining a stoic expression, she stepped up beside him.

"Uh, you'd better stand steady." The Moyun Sword rose upright, and Lin Feng pulled her hand, having her stand behind him. He couldn't help noticing that her hand was as soft and pliable as cotton—he would never have imagined a martial artist could possess such tender palms.

With a howling wind, they pierced through the clouds on the flying sword. Suddenly, Lin Feng felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw the iron beak of the four-eyed spirit vulture clamped firmly into the flesh of his shoulder, its eyes gleaming with timidity. Behind him, a pair of hands grabbed his collar, pulling with all their might as his robes fluttered furiously in the wind.

"You two, stop grabbing! I'll fly slower!"

With these two burdens in tow, his usual daily travel distance of tens of thousands of miles plummeted to a tenth of its speed. And that wasn't even the worst of it—he had to look after their meals and daily necessities, and find a small island to spend the night whenever evening fell. On several occasions, the urge arose within Lin Feng to banish them into the Yinque Palace, but he managed to restrain himself with a supreme effort.

"Dinner is ready!" On a deserted, uninhabited island, Lin Feng was carefully roasting oysters over a fire. Holding a red lotus flame in his left hand and managing palm-sized oysters with his right, he watched as the creature called "Four-Eyes" stretched its neck in anticipation. Hearing that dinner was served, the bird immediately let out two excited squawks.

"I told you I don't eat these dirty things!" Xiaowan sat hugging her knees atop a reef, gazing out at the ocean as if lost in thought.

"If you won't eat, you can starve. Four-Eyes, these are all yours!"

A pile of roasted oysters was neatly arranged on the smooth reef. Upon hearing those words, the four-eyed spirit vulture rolled its eyes in rapid succession with immense excitement, nodded repeatedly at Lin Feng, and eagerly began pecking away.

***

Cultivators who have formed their Golden Core can completely undergo *bigu* (abstinence from grain), rendering food and sleep entirely unnecessary for a lifetime. Martial artists, however, are different. Regardless of whether one's cultivation has reached the level of a Martial Saint, eating and drinking remain essential. Lacking a Golden Core within their bodies to supply energy, going even a single meal without food leaves them thoroughly uncomfortable.

The previous evening, Lin Feng had seen Xiaowan take half a flatbread from her bundle to eat. Judging by today's events, if she continued to refuse food, she would simply have to endure hunger.

"Roasted oysters are fresh and tender; if Wuzhui were here, he'd surely be drooling. 'Dirty'? She doesn't seem to have a particular aversion to grime—she was able to visit the beast pens where the stench was overwhelming, yet she refuses this and rejects that? This girl is truly difficult to cater to."

Shaking his head, Lin Feng faced the crashing waves and sat cross-legged in meditation.

His nightly cultivation session was indispensable. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he could simultaneously consolidate his cultivation realm and refine his Golden Core.

With the moon high at the zenith, he awoke from his meditation. Glancing around, he found the surroundings entirely empty, save for Four-Eyes dozing off in intermittent naps.

"Hm? Could she have gone off looking for food? What on earth is there to eat on an island like this? Forget it, I'll go check if there's anything left."

Searching through his mustard seed pouch, he managed to find only two steamed buns as hard as stones. Sighing, he stood up and looked around. The young girl was sitting alone in the distance, quietly facing the ocean.

"Do you have something on your mind? It's late; you should rest. We still have to travel tomorrow." Walking up behind her, Lin Feng spoke softly.

"When I was at soaring Heaven Island, I often sat by the sea like this until morning, quietly waiting for daybreak. When the sun finally rose, it was so warm, so warm..." Deep nostalgia surfaced on her face, and her gaze softened. Borne by the sea breeze, her words carried a hazy, ethereal quality.

"What about your master? Does he not care about you?"

Xiaowan's slender body seemed to tremble slightly. Staring straight ahead at the sea, she countered with a question: "Your master must be very good to you, right?"

"How did you know? Master taught me swordsmanship and bestowed immortal swords and magical treasures upon me. This debt of gratitude is something I, Lin Feng, can never fully repay in this lifetime. All I can do is cultivate diligently and strive not to fall behind, so as to bring honor to the old man." Lin Feng sat cross-legged beside her, the two of them chatting intimately like old friends.

"You have a good master." Xiaowan slowly turned her head, looking at Lin Feng with a faint smile that revealed two dimples.

Lin Feng smiled as well, tilting his head up as he continued, "Master is a wonderful person, though he is very strict. All of us fellow disciples hold him in awe and reverence, the disciples of the sect fear him, demonic evildoers dread him, and righteous practitioners revere him. Master's character is upright and staunch; he truly is a good person. What about you, Xiaowan?"

Xiaowan's expression gradually grew cold. After a long silence, she finally answered his question: "My master is selfish, cold, and utterly devoid of affection. Aside from power and martial arts, there is nothing in this world he holds dear."

"Ah? Surely not? From what your senior brother implied, he still respects your wishes—otherwise, why would he let you wander outside without returning? No matter how bad a master might be, he wouldn't completely abandon his disciples," Lin Feng reasoned.

"Because I have no utility to him! I am useless to him! Only the Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother can help him achieve his dream of ruling the Divine Land! In his eyes, martial prowess comes first, power comes second, Senior Brother comes third, and I—his own biological daughter—don't even rank fourth!" Xiaowan shook her head, gritting her teeth as though venting all her accumulated grievances, her voice rising significantly in volume.

Stunned into speechlessness, Lin Feng never imagined that Xiaowan's master was actually her own father. Every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite; caught off guard, he stood at a loss for how best to comfort her.