Seeing Yun Qi strike with a fierce move, Lei had no choice but to dodge when Yun Qi attacked his face directly. Lei shifted his body, narrowly avoiding the palm strike. Although Yun Qi’s palm was full of force, Lei could sense that the internal energy was not enough to be fatal, merely intended to stun.
Yun Qi deliberately wanted Lei to dodge, and seizing the opportunity, he quickly flashed forward to exploit the exposed weakness after Lei’s sidestep, leaping to break away and head towards the side room.
Lei realized he had fallen for the trick, immediately spinning around and leaping with internal energy, catching up to Yun Qi mid-air. He reached out to grab Yun Qi’s back, pulling him down by several feet and simultaneously striking with another palm.
Yun Qi, caught by Lei’s grab and sensing the follow-up move was formidable, was forced to turn back. His right palm blocked Lei’s capturing hand, while his left hand met Lei’s other palm. Instantly, both retreated several steps – one landing on the ground, the other barely maintaining balance on a rockery.
“Why must you make things difficult?” Yun Qi said persuasively while standing on the rockery. “I have no ill intentions. I simply wish to speak with any of the three guards.”
Lei paid no attention, only thinking of buying time, convinced Yun Qi intended to harm Xiao Jin. “Flowery words!” Lei shouted, leaping onto the rockery and attacking Yun Qi with full force, his palms striking at critical points with maximum power.
Yun Qi knew the situation was dire. Lei was renowned for his palm technique, with unmatched rigidity and years of dedicated practice. A direct confrontation would be unwise.
His long sword emerged, blocking Lei’s palm wind. No matter how fierce Lei’s technique, he was still human flesh and could not easily withstand a sharp blade. Yun Qi had learned an exquisite sword technique elsewhere.
“Excellent sword skill!” Lei repeatedly tried to strike but was forced to defend against Yun Qi’s sword, which consistently targeted vital points with precision. Lei was momentarily at a disadvantage, forced only to defend. Yet, being a simple martial arts enthusiast, he couldn’t help but praise his opponent’s skill, even in combat.
“You flatter me,” Yun Qi laughed, continuing his sword moves while contemplating how to escape quickly.
“Young Master Yun is looking for my master. My master has instructed that if you come, I must guide you. Please, this way.” Feng spoke and was about to lead Yun Qi, and Lei naturally followed them to the side room.
“Young Master Yun, my master just managed to escape from the fire with the help of Dian and Xuan Liu on the night before the complete collapse of the Ao Long Mountain Villa. However, he was severely injured and has been recuperating. Tonight’s healing is the most critical, and we cannot be disturbed by external factors, for fear of qi deviation. That’s why Lei is particularly nervous and unwilling to let anyone enter rashly.” As Feng walked, he briefly explained Xiao Jin’s condition.
Yun Qi asked curiously, “If there’s no mortal danger, why declare his death to the world?”
“Young Master Yun may not know, but the black and white worlds are inherently opposed. My master has three identities, but everyone only knows two – the Crown Prince and the White Xiá Sword Master. They don’t know that the Black Jade Fan King is also my master. By simultaneously possessing these two identities in the martial world, he hopes to maintain a balanced state, but he has also made many enemies. Now that my master is seriously injured, if his enemies learn of this, they will surely strike to kill. So, at least in one aspect, announcing his death can temporarily conceal his whereabouts.” Feng spoke concisely but analyzed the situation clearly and logically.
Yun Qi nodded, realizing how much effort Xiao Jin had put into this world with good intentions, yet the world might not appreciate his efforts. “I understand. What about the other aspect?”
“That would require you to ask my master directly,” Feng smiled mysteriously, offering no further explanation.
Yun Qi stopped pursuing the matter, knowing all would be revealed once he met Xiao Jin.
Entering the room, he found Dian, Yu, and Xuan Liu waiting in the outer chamber, their faces showing concern. They were surprised to see Yun Qi, with Xuan Liu almost speaking before being stopped by Dian.
“I will help him,” Yun Qi whispered to the five, “Wait outside and make absolutely no noise.” This was specifically directed at Xuan Liu, as Yun Qi still couldn’t fully forgive her for poisoning Bing Zhi, despite her later providing the antidote.
The five nodded silently. Feng pointed to the inner room, indicating Xiao Jin was inside.
Yun Qi cupped his hands in gratitude and entered the inner room.
“So, you came to this courtyard to personally verify whether I’m still alive.” Xiao Jin couldn’t help but nod slightly, a look of approval flashing in his eyes. Yun Qi seemed to have undergone a transformation. However, Xiao Jin couldn’t understand what had caused Yun Qi’s change.
“No, not just that. I came this time to understand your true intentions.
“Yun Qi shook his head and asked, “Why did you create the illusion of your death? Feng just told me one side of the story, but I want to know the other side.”
Xiao Jin had speculated that Yun Qi would come looking for him, but he didn’t expect Yun Qi’s thoughts to be more agile than he had imagined.
“For the same reason as when you helped me heal my wounds – for Bing Zhi.” Xiao Jin’s deep black eyes poured out gentle love.
Yun Qi did not interrupt; he waited for Xiao Jin to continue speaking.
“Actually, even without this incident, I had a vague plan to deceive the world with my ‘death’ and then completely be myself, the Xiao Jin who loves Bing Zhi. This time, Bing Zhi being kidnapped only accelerated my plan. The situation that night was indeed beyond my expectations, but it perfectly fulfilled my plan, successfully creating the illusion of my death. I went with the flow, came here to heal, while the court announced my death, and the destruction of the Ao Long Mountain Manor was also widely acknowledged.”
“Basically, no one would doubt the authenticity of my death.”
“As long as I can deceive them for a moment, with talents emerging in the martial world, I will be forgotten within a few years.” Xiao Jin expressed his thoughts. Since Bing Zhi’s incident, he regretted choosing to watch over her from the shadows. He now understood that he should have always been by her side to protect her.
Yun Qi was somewhat puzzled, “Did you deceive just the martial world, or the court as well?”
“Everyone in the court is in the dark, except for my father the Emperor. Those ministers are shrewd in court politics but know little about martial world affairs.” Xiao Jin’s tone became somewhat helpless, “If the martial world weren’t always unstable, I wouldn’t have taken on so many identities.”
Yun Qi quickly digested everything Xiao Jin had said and asked, “The Emperor actually agreed to this?”
“I’ve long been tired of all this. I just never had anyone who could make me decisively leave. Now, Bing Zhi is my greatest motivation. No one can stop me from doing what I want, not even my father.” Xiao Jin spoke with some pride, his gaze filled with self-confidence, but then his tone suddenly lowered, “Moreover, my brother Xiao Hui is no worse than me. He just always hides his abilities to avoid confrontation because I’m the eldest son and was sent to my master from a young age. My father feels some guilt and treats me specially.”
My father doesn’t want our generation to repeat past mistakes, and having just one prince avoids brotherly conflicts. Alas, from now on, I can no longer share my father’s worries.
“Do you know why I took the initiative to find you?” Yun Qi, after hearing Xiao Jin’s account, went straight to the point.
