Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

The Martial Artists on the Canglan Continent were indeed just as Ling Xiao had previously thought. The path they walked was one of "entering the Dao through martial arts." However, none of their great families had been able to perfect this route or establish any definitive Cultivation Techniques. They relied entirely on individual serendipity and pure luck.

Furthermore, once someone reached the Sword Saint Realm, they would be automatically drawn into the Holy Sanctuary... ’Huh? Wait, automatically drawn in?’ A startling thought suddenly surfaced in Ling Xiao’s mind. ’Could it be that the Saint Domain Emperor from the Ancient Era did this on purpose? To prevent the people of this world from easily mastering the Cultivation Techniques for entering the Dao through martial arts?’

The more Ling Xiao thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Entering the Dao through martial arts wasn’t impossible. After all, the most powerful person he knew to have achieved it was none other than the creator of the very sword techniques he had relied upon since arriving in this world—Dugu Qiubai!

’That senior,’ Ling Xiao thought, ’was someone who took entering the Dao through martial arts to its absolute zenith! By now, he’s probably carefree in the Immortal Realm, or perhaps he has even ascended to the legendary Divine Realm!’

Ling Xiao’s distraction lasted only an instant. Meanwhile, Qin Feng saw that Song Mingyue was not only with a man just as handsome as himself, but she was also pretending not to know him. The flames of jealousy roared in his heart. Fortunately, his composure wasn’t just for show. Indeed, how could someone who had reached the level of a Sixth Rank Demon Sword Master at such a young age be so simple?

Qin Feng shot a deep look at Ling Xiao, who stood beside Song Mingyue, then turned to his subordinates and said, "Don’t be so rude in the future, or you’ll have me to answer to!" With that, he turned to Song Mingyue with a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "My apologies, miss. I mistook you for someone else. Please forgive the disturbance."

He shot his men a glare before turning to leave.

Song Mingyue’s hand was gripping Ling Xiao’s arm tightly. She, who had never known the meaning of fear, had panicked the moment she saw Qin Feng. When she caught a glimpse of Ling Xiao’s expressionless face from the corner of her eye, she thought he was angry with her. Her heart seized with anxiety, which was why she had insisted that Qin Feng had the wrong person. She clung to Ling Xiao, terrified that he would leave her side.

A girl in the throes of passion, no matter how shrewd she might normally be, will become less sharp, plagued by insecurity.

The two of them skipped dinner and went straight back to their room upstairs. The moment they were inside, Song Mingyue immediately whispered her explanation, "Ling Xiao, I... I really didn’t know we would run into him here."

Ling Xiao, whose mind was still preoccupied with the secrets of the Holy Sanctuary, was taken aback by her words. He then saw a nervous look he had never seen before in Song Mingyue’s eyes as she gazed at him, on the verge of tears. He immediately understood. Opening his arms with a smile, he said, "Come here. Hug."

Hearing Ling Xiao’s gentle, coaxing words, a brilliant smile finally bloomed on Song Mingyue’s face. The tall woman wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek against his neck, and whispered in his ear, "You scared me. Please don’t be like that again, okay? My heart belongs only to you, in life and in death! I don’t have the slightest bit of affection for that man from the Qin Family!"

Ling Xiao wrapped an arm around Song Mingyue’s slender waist, pulling her closer. He chuckled. "Silly girl. I was just lost in thought. That guy’s name was Qin Feng, right? I couldn’t care less about him."

Song Mingyue finally let out the breath she was holding, though she still frowned. "I can’t believe we ran into him here. How annoying!"

Ling Xiao just smiled. ’Song Mingyue is my woman now,’ he thought. ’Qin Feng must be the one who’s truly suffering. He must know this inn only had one room left, and here we are... one man and one woman!’

Ling Xiao was right. The moment Qin Feng turned away, his face grew dark. The family members trailing behind him didn’t dare breathe a word. None of them could understand why their young master, who had been in good spirits just a moment ago, was suddenly so displeased.

The more astute ones, however, vaguely guessed that the young master must know the girl who was with that pretty boy. Even though she wore a veil, her figure, her skin, and the indistinct features behind the fabric all suggested she was a great beauty. Judging by the young master’s reaction, he probably had feelings for her. Seeing the woman you like acting like a couple with another man—how could he possibly be in a good mood?

Those chosen to accompany him on this trip were no fools. Though they acted outrageously arrogant toward outsiders, they were as docile as kittens before Qin Feng, the true young master of the Qin Family’s main branch. Unfortunately for them, their obedience didn’t mean Qin Feng would spare them his wrath.

"Stop embarrassing me like this!" Qin Feng berated them harshly, his heart a blazing inferno. How had he recognized her as Song Mingyue at a glance? He had seen the jade pendant at her waist. It was the token given after her father, Song Yi, had casually agreed to the marriage proposal, giving an identical pendant to Qin Feng, who had also been just an infant in swaddling clothes at the time.

As he thought of this, Qin Feng couldn’t resist lifting a corner of his white robes, revealing the cool jade pendant at his own waist. It was said that this jade, a type of frost jade, was mined from the depths of the sea. Wearing it was said to ward off all illnesses; it was warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Qin Feng took the pendant in his hand, toying with it as his heart churned in turmoil. He had lost his virginity to his personal Maid at the age of thirteen or fourteen. While not obsessed with the affairs of men and women, he was far from ignorant.

Seeing Song Mingyue’s graceful bearing as she walked, and knowing that the two of them—a man and a woman, alone together—were calmly staying in a single room, how could he not understand what had happened between them?

Most people are like that: lenient with themselves, but strict with others. Thus, Qin Feng felt it was no big deal that he was no longer a virgin. ’But for her to not be one! And that woman is supposed to be my fiancée! A woman whose beauty could topple nations...’ If he felt no anger at this, he wouldn’t be worthy of being called a man!

"Sea Domain Song Family! You’ve gone too far!" Qin Feng spat the words through gritted teeth.

Not one of his followers dared to make a sound. They were all members of the Qin Family, of the same generation as Qin Feng, but they were from the family’s branch lineages. Only Qin Feng was from the direct line of descent. And in the Qin Family, anyone not from the direct line was treated no differently than a servant.

Ordinarily, Qin Feng would have had no need to come to East Sea Dragon City, as this great gathering was being hosted at his own home, on an island in the East Sea. His sole purpose in coming here was to wait for Song Mingyue. The Sea Domain Song Family was bound to send someone to such a major event, and for these kinds of gatherings, the great families almost always sent their younger generation—partly to gain experience, and partly to make new connections.

He hadn’t expected this grand gathering to attract so many people from hidden families and sects. And the more obscure the family or sect, the earlier they seemed to arrive, to the point that it had become impossible to find a vacant inn in the entirety of the vast East Sea Dragon City...

If meeting Song Mingyue had been a pleasant surprise, then seeing her with Ling Xiao—and realizing she was no longer a virgin—was an immense torment for Qin Feng.

"Elder Brother, perhaps... we should head back today?" one of Qin Feng’s younger cousins, one with a closer family tie to him, dared to ask from behind.

"We’re not going back! Come, we’re going to the City Lord’s Mansion!"

Qin Feng hadn’t wanted to go to the City Lord’s Mansion. Even though East Sea Dragon City was practically the Qin Family’s backyard, he didn’t care to interact much with worldly figures. He would rather stay at an inn than be bothered to look up the local City Lord.

After Ling Xiao and Song Mingyue finished dinner, they engaged in Dual Cultivation, though it was more about the playful intimacy shared between lovers in bed.

After their lovemaking, Song Mingyue whispered, "I don’t know if going to this gathering is the right decision. I don’t know much about that Qin Feng, but from his behavior today, he’s clearly a schemer. Husband, maybe we shouldn’t go. Really... it’s not like there’s anything that great to see."

But Ling Xiao just chuckled and held her tighter. "Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, there won’t be any problems. Worst comes to worst, we’ll just grab the Deep Sea Poison Dragon Eye and jump into the ocean! HAHA!"

"Oh, you..."

Song Mingyue gave Ling Xiao a gentle glance and said no more. ’It’s best not to provoke a man’s pride,’ she thought. Otherwise, even someone as calm as Ling Xiao might be driven to do something drastic. That much, Song Mingyue had come to understand.

As long as one is alive, the desire to compete will always exist.