Chapter 724: If you’re cruel, then I’m crueler (1/2)

Despite the sword sect master’s alarm, Long Feiye remained calm.

“Master, your disciple has never fought battles I couldn’t handle. You know this,” Long Feiye intoned.

“On what means do you know you can control the Lustbite’s force?” the sword sect master retorted.

“By the fact that this disciple only broke through the seventh level within a single year. As long as master is willing to undo the seal, this disciple will definitely control the energy released within a month.” Long Feiye had enough self confidence or else he wouldn’t have bothered coming at all.

“It’s too dangerous…” the sword sect master stared at his eyes and reminded, “You should know that a single moment of carelessness could cost you your life this month!”

“That’s why this disciple willingly accepted your punishment despite not committing any crimes. Being locked in the Abstinence Courtyard is safer than staying atop the mountain. At least it’ll avoid raising Cang Qiuzi’s suspicions,” Long Feiye had taken a step back in the Grand Concubine Yi kidnapping issue, not only because he trusted his master, but because he had his own plans in mind.

Realizing this, the sword sect master said, “It looks like you’ve come prepared.”

“Disciple is like master. I don’t wish for the sword sect to fall into internal strife, nor do I want chaos in the martial arts circles. All I want is to get rid of Cang Qiuzi,” Long Feiye paused, then added, “The power of the Lustbite Seal is the power of the East Qin imperial dynasty. This disciple needs that strength.”

The sword sect master didn’t monitor the political climate of Cloud Realm Continent, but he knew that Long Feiye’s words showed an interest in reviving his empire. The power of the martial arts circles might not constitute a main force, but they were a mighty source of support. At the very least, they couldn’t be given to the enemy. The last example of that happening was Duanmu Yao borrowing their forces to trouble Ning Cheng.

Claiming the City of Daughters wasn’t purely for vengeance or a gift for Han Yunxi, but also Long Feiye’s first step in aweing the martial arts circles. Once he earned the championship at the Celestial Mountain ranking matches, who amongst them would dare to raise their heads or block the way in his presence? After a long, long period of silence, the sword sect master finally relented.

“Feiye, this power comes from your East Qin imperial clan. If you want to unseal it, then master has no right to stop you. But I only ask that you remember this: if you cannot control the power of the Lustbite Seal, then it’s not just a matter of cultivation insanity. You might lose your very life.”

Long Feiye was the only member of the East Qin imperial clan to ever use the Lustbite Seal. Even the sword sect master couldn’t predict the effects of its backlash upon unsealing.

“This disciple has already considered the consequences carefully,” Long Feiye replied.

“We can delay another day until you go to the Abstinence Courtyard. Think it over again,” the sword sect master coaxed.

“No need,” Long Feiye’s icy eyes only held determination. The sword sect master dropped the issue then. He knew his disciple too well. Once he decided on something, he’d never change his mind or regret it.

“Fine, this master agrees to help!” the sword sect master said. “But no matter what, you mustn’t fail Celestial Mountain. Or your imperial mother!”

Celestial Mountain’s peace needed Long Feiye, just as the revival of the East Qin Empire did. Heavy burdens rested on his shoulders.

I won’t fail Han Yunxi either, Long Feiye said privately to himself. To his master he added, “Master, I ask that you please keep the Lustbite Seal a secret from Yunxi.”

Very soon, the sword sect master sensed something amiss. “She doesn’t know about your identity?”

“Mm,” Long Feiye admitted silently.

“Why hide it from her?” the sword sect master was no fool. There was definitely something fishy about this. Han Yunxi wasn’t just a woman Long Feiye kept by his side, but a wangfei he cradled in the palm of his hands. But she doesn’t know about Long Feiye’s identity?

She’s his closest confidante, and she’s still ignorant? Why?

Long Feiye considered the question for a long time before he finally replied, “Private affairs.”

Private affairs? So I have no right to probe? The sword sect master forced a smile. Even Yao Yao, the disciple he doted on, had never dared to reply him like this, yet Long Feiye did. It was often Yao Yao who flattered and curried favor with him while acting spoiled, but Long Feiye was always going against him, contradicting him, or acting brusquely. Sometimes he couldn’t figure out who he showed bias to more, her or him.

In the end, the sword sect master stopped digging and said coldly, “You were the one who brought her up the mountain. Look after her yourself, this grandmaster won’t take responsibility if she’s lost.”

“Understood! Then this disciple will meet master again at Abstinence Courtyard.” Long Feiye prepared to leave, but the sword sect master lazily called him back.

“What’s the rush? There’s one more thing this grandmaster needs to tell you.”

“Master, this disciple has enough matters to deal with,” Long Feiye rejected directly.

“This one is indispensable,” the sword sect master grew unhappy. When Long Feiye didn’t speak, he patted the seat to indicate that he should sit down.

Long Feiye didn’t. “If master has words, please say them outright.”

“You and Yao Yao are still–”

“It’s better for her to treat her wounds. The rest can wait until after recovery,” Long Feiye interrupted. It was clear that he knew what his master had been trying to say. If this was the past, Long Feiye would have left long ago without another word. But since he had to stay on Celestial Mountain for awhile and ask his master for a favor, he stopped. Moreover, Han Yunxi was here too, so his best strategy was to stall for time.

The sword sect master nodded. “That’s true.”

A shrewd look flashed in Long Feiye’s eyes. If master agrees, then this means he probably has the means to save Duanmu Yao. If he can heal a dantian that can’t even gather qi anymore, then Gu Beiyue might have hope, too. After all, Gu Beiyue still had the skills to deflect true qi injected into his body. His overall injuries were in a better state than Duanmu Yao’s.