I Can Handle This!

Duanmu Qingshan observed Ling Feng, face lit with excitement.

"Not only do you have the ability to heal me, your cultivation talent is the highest I've ever seen!"

"But, with all you know now, even the fact that as my disciple the entire sect will come to hate you, do you still want me to be your master?" he asked in a solemn tone, eyes fixed on his disciple's face.

Ling Feng took a deep breath and nodded.

"A teacher for a day, a father for life!"

"Good!" Duanmu Qingshan said, laughing with delight. "I truly haven't misread you…"

After laughing for several seconds, a moment of calm silence descended upon the two until Duanmu Qingshan spoke once more.

"In the sect my wife once belonged to, the Palace of Nourishing Flowers, there is a supreme sword technique called the Burial Jade Sword of the Shifting Flowers. She gave me the sword canon to keep safe, and I have guarded it for over a decade from Lin Canglang and anyone else who has dared covet it. But I will not keep it hidden from you, my disciple. I will give everything I have to teach it to you."

"The Shifting Flowers Burial Jade Sword?" Ling Feng scratched the corner of his nose. For the previous sect master to have lost his life over this secret method, it had to have been a hundred times more valuable than the Starshatter Sword Art.

"However," Duanmu Qingshan continued, "the Shifting Flowers Burial Jade Sword requires its cultivator to at least be in the Vein Coagulation Boundary before practicing. Right now, you are just at the 4th stage of Coagulating Qi – quite far from achieving that great realm."

Taking a deep breath, Duanmu Qingshan returned to his usual calm manner.

"Our sect owes me much for all they have done," he said, crossing his hands behind his back. "And now I think it's time for me to collect an interest…"

"Ling Feng, with the sect master jade token, I want you to go the Hidden Scriptures Pavilion and the Pavilion of Elixirs and Medicines and take out anything you need."

"This…"

Ling Feng pressed the jade token firmly between his fingers, a forced smile clear across his face.

"Master, although this token is good, I don't think I have the strength to protect it."

"You can rest easy. Since I dare give you that token, I naturally have the means to make sure it remains in your possession," Duanmu Qingshan said, swatting Ling Feng's doubts away with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Don't be afraid to take anything from the sect. Whether it be a medicinal pill, a cultivation method, or a divine weapon, if you like it, you take it! With me as you backer, you need not worry about anything!"

"Em," Ling Feng nodded. Since his master dared say such words, he must have already made the necessary arrangements. This meant he no longer needed to hide in Small Bamboo Peak. He could finally exercise his right as an inner disciple.

. . . . .

The next morning, a form as energetic as a bird, flew through the mountain forest.

Today was Ling Feng's first time being outside of Small Bamboo Peak since arriving at the Questioning Immortal Sect. As he moved further from the peak, crude bamboo houses transformed into majestic buildings and palaces until finally, he arrived at a gigantic martial arts field. Inner disciples from the various peak lineages came to this place every morning to train. Quite a few of them were already practicing some basic fist and sword techniques.

"Hey, isn't that the disciple who joined the lineage of Small Bamboo Peak a few days ago?" asked one disciple who recognized Ling Feng immediately.

"Man… that fellow's luck must be pretty good. Usually, disciples that enter the Small Bamboo Peak are injured and gone within three days. How has he lasted this long?" asked another.

"I say it doesn't matter how. Since that boy entered Small Bamboo Peak, he won't have a good end. Let's stay far away from him. We don't want to get tangled up in his affairs."

"You're right!"

Immediately, the whispering disciples began to move away from Ling Feng as if he was plague-ridden.

Ling Feng snorted coldly at them.

'You'll see soon enough how wrong you are.'

He lifted his leg to leave, when suddenly, a surprising voice called out to him.

"Ling Feng? Is that you?"

Ling Feng turned around to see Wang Danfeng, the outer sect elder who had brought him to the sect.

Wang Danfeng looked Ling Feng up and down. A head shake followed. Walking up with a heavy sigh, he grabbed Ling Feng's arm and began leading him away from the martial arts field.

"Little Ling, aren't you clear about your current situation? You shouldn't be here. It would be terrible if the Meteor Peak disciples were to find you!" Wang Danfeng whispered.

"Relax, Uncle Wang. I'm all right."

Ling Feng smiled softly. Wang Danfeng had not forgotten his grandfather's benevolence.

Wang Danfeng, seeming more anxious than Ling Feng about his position, fumbled in his sleeves for three porcelain bottles.

"Here, take these bottles of Qi Coagulation Elixirs," he urged.

As he handed them over, he said, "Ling Feng, I think it would be best if you left Small Bamboo Peak and came to the outer sect with me. Although the treatment there can't compare to the inner sect's, I can make sure you aren't bothered by the inner disciples."

"I appreciate the kind offer, Uncle Wang. But no one in the sect dares bully me!"

A look of disdain flashed across Ling Feng's face. Then, with a smile, he returned Wang Danfeng's gift and headed back to the martial arts training ground.

"This boy…"

Wang Danfeng stared blankly for a while. Ling Feng had changed since he'd last seen him. The youth's entire aura mirrored a precious sword sheathed within in its scabbard. Even hidden as it was, the overbearing sharpness of its edge shook his mind.

While Wang Danfeng recovered from his shock, several well-dressed disciples appeared in front of the bluestone steps of the martial arts field. One of them took a moment to scan the grounds, becoming momentarily stunned after spotting a familiar figure. His surprise transformed into a sneer as he said, "Ling Feng, oh, Ling Feng. I thought you were hiding behind Old Ghost Duanmu. What gave you the courage to come here?"

The person who was speaking to Ling Feng was Shi Tailong. It had taken him ten days to completely heal from the wounds Ling Feng's master had inflicted on him. But because Duanmu Qingshan was too strong, Shi Tailong did not dare ask him for revenge. Ling Feng had become the natural object of his hatred.

"Boy, it seems like instead of choosing the road to Heaven, you have decided to rush into Hell. Without Old Ghost Duanmu to protect you, do you want me to break your left leg first or your right leg?" Shi Tailong asked with a fiendish grin. He had suppressed the fire in his belly for too long. Today, he was finally going to get the chance to vent.

"Woah, isn't that Senior Brother Shi from Meteor Peak? Ha. It looks like something interesting is about to happen!"

Many Coagulating Qi disciples gathered around in anticipation of the conflict to come.

Wang Danfeng, composure regained, clenched his fists and went forward a step.

"Originally, it is Senior Brother Yang's favorite disciple. While I don't know how Ling Feng has offended you, I hope you can be magnanimous and let him go."

Disdain flashed across Shi Tailong's pupil.

"Old man, get out of my way or prepare to accept the consequences of interfering in the inner sect's affairs!" he growled. It didn't matter that Wang Danfeng was an elder. He owed the man no respect. The difference in their status was simply too great. If a martial artist wasn't in the inner sect, they weren't important. Not even Wang Danfeng's higher cultivation base could change that. He outmatched him in standing and in future potential.

"It's okay, Uncle Wang. Leave the rest to me."

Ling Feng's eyes were cold, and his tone light, such as a cloud drifting along a gentle breeze.

"Little Ling…"

Wang Danfeng clenched his fists in frustration. He had promised to protect Ling Feng, yet he was powerless in this situation.

"I have to say, Ling Feng, I truly admire your courage. But even that admiration won't stop me from making sure you die a miserable death."

The imagined sight of Ling Feng's lifeless body brought a ferocious smile to Shi Tailong's face.

Ling Feng crossed his hands behind his back and began to speak very slowly, "Now is that how a lowly disciple should address his martial uncle?"